G'day, people.
Linda, you're getting chickens? We built a chicken coop as a large, timber-framed 'cage' which we place over a rectangle of loose-laid bricks (no mortar). We filled the space inside the bricks with straw, grass clippings, compost etc and then put the cage over the top. The chooks therefore live on a giant compost heap which they scratch over. It's open to the ground so earthworms burrow up through it (and also provide snacks for the chooks). The heap keeps the chooks comfortable and warm. We have to keep the heap dry or it smells - otherwise, no smell. Every so often the bricks get pushed out by the contents so we dig it out and fill vegetable beds with the contents.
GN, good to see you on the morning thread. Sorry you're awake so early for you.
We got to church today and took the candle-making gear with us. As I suspected, nobody else remembered my offer to teach candle-making. Every year for the past three years, someone at church has told me they're going to take over making the Easter candle. And every year this person is suddenly unavailable, or too busy.
And again this year. But at least this year, making the candle down at church after lunch meant tat three people got to help and watch. We rummaged through the church recycling bins and found a Coke can, and a cardboard coffee cup, each of which I turned into a candle mould. So I was able to show people on principle, the problems we face making the church candle. They were also there for the beginning of the process to make the church candle, so they helped with the set-up. They were not there to see the biggest problem - the long copper pipe we use as a mould means the candle 'cavitates' as it cools and the cavity which forms around the wick and goes deep into the candle, MUST be filled with wax or you get a 'Roman candle' effect at some unknown time later in the life of the candle - the wick burns down to the bubble and suddenly goes "whoosh".
So I stayed at church for about four hours, babysitting the candle and chatting to a couple who are currently sleeping over there (have been there for about a week). I went for a swim while i waited, I sat and knitted (outside, still in a wet swimsuit - I forgot to bring a towel). The air was hot outside, the sort of furnace-hot wind that makes you want to stay in the water to keep cool. Even at the water's edge the temperature was over 35 C (95 F). What's the opposite of wind-chill? We had it today.
Finally the candle had been topped up for the third time, the cavitation problem mostly resolved (I hope) and husband collected me. We've left the candle in the church pantry, and the other two candles (made by other friends as part of the lesson) sitting on the church bookshelf.
The next task is to unmould the candle, hopefully in one piece (if it breaks, I do it again). Then I paint it. I still don't know what design to use yet. I use glass paint, but in the past I have used coloured wax.
Often I'm only getting the candle made in the week before Easter, so this year I'm getting in early. Every family in the church contributes a candle (even just a tea light) from their home, a candle they've lit themselves, perhaps for dinner or just because. It all gets melted down, and each year the previous candle contributes to the next. I make up the difference with beeswax, so our candle is never pure white, it's more a honey colour (and fragrance).
I know in yesterday's morning thread, some of you felt I should cancel the candle-making. But it was good therapy for me. I was very upset about J this morning, and watching wax melt slowly and pouring it into moulds was very soothing. Plus, with so much unknown looming up ahead of me in the next few weeks, getting the longest job out of the way now, is probably a good thing. And the more other people who know how to make this candle, the more chance I have of giving the task to someone else in the future.
Mind you, I've now been asked to do the Advent candles now.
Still, I've got a bit longer to do them. I'll just use soft drink cans for those. Easy. Small, short candles are generally simple to do. And no paint job needed.
Again, good therapy. I might work on those in the next few weeks.
I'm also knitting squares, for "wrapped with love". Again, it's therapy. I've knitted one so far for my cancer, and the one I just finished, I feel I did it for J. I cast off while at the hospital yesterday, waiting to visit her. When all the squares are complete, it gets sewn into a blanket which gets given to a homeless person somewhere. I'm going to suggest the local doctor's sets up a basket with wool and knitting needles, so people waiting can knit a row or two, then put it back in the basket for the next person. That's how I got into this - there was just such a basket at "Breastscreen" when I was getting tested for this cancer.
I see the oncologist on Tuesday, that's when I get the prescription for my anti-hormone pills and also maybe get told when the radiotherapy starts.
My sister W rang me tonight - our sister J is improving a bit, probably thanks to the prednisone she has been on. I'll post over in Watercooler in more detail.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Marg
Have to make room for a chicken coop you know.
