eclogue disgustful alsop

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty, find opportunity.

Albert Einstein

The other day I bought one of those little watermelons the size of a soccer ball that are much better for small households than the mammoth wheelbarrow sized watermelons of our youth.

So I ate a couple of slices and really enjoyed it with a sprinkle of salt.  As I was starting to throw away the rinds I remembered how my mom used to always make watermelon pickles and we'd have them at Thanksgiving so I searched for a recipe and next thing I knew I had them simmering away since I had everything I needed:

Watermelon Pickles, Like Mama Used to Buy because HER Mama made them.  

• 1 4-pound piece watermelon, quartered

• 8 cups water

• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons coarse salt

• 2 cups sugar

• 1 1/4 cups apple cider vinegar

• 8 whole cloves

• 8 whole black peppercorns

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1/2 teaspoon pickling spice

• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

preparation
Cut watermelon pulp from rind, leaving thin layer of pink on rind (reserve pulp for another use). Cut green outer skin from rind; discard. Cut enough rind into 1 x 1/2-inch pieces to measure 4 cups. Combine 8 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt in large pot; bring to boil. Add rind pieces and boil until tender, about 5 minutes. Strain. Transfer rinds to large metal bowl.
Combine remaining 2 teaspoons salt, sugar and next 7 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour over watermelon rinds in bowl. Place plate atop rinds to keep rinds submerged in pickling liquid. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Strain liquid from rinds into saucepan; bring to boil. Pour over rinds. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Repeat straining and boiling of liquid and pour over rinds 1 more time. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Chill in covered jars.)

Well, hers were canned and were OK to eat months later.  These are just refrigerated and will never make it until Labor Day!

Then I found that there is a new fad in Japan 

making costumes for babies out of the rinds.

So, I still had lots of watermelon flesh left so I stuck it in the blender with some lemon juice (Meyer lemons are in-  yessss!) and some artificial sweetener, but I would of course preferred real sugar.  This liquid I keep in a pitcher and dilute about 1 part watermelon to 2 parts soda water and it is incredibly refreshing and delicious. I found the biggest glass I own in the way back of the top cupboard.  Yum

I bet these babies are sticky.

Other things to do with Watermelon:

target practice

multi-melon dragon carving

and carving likenesses of the Groton Fisherman

(you have to frequent Gloucester for this one)

Or finally, this:

And so, with that, I am on my way to take the dogs to daycare so I can get on the turnpike and head to Ft. Lauderdale to the regional SAQA meeting.  Halfway there I am picking up a woman who goes more frequently (hell, Cameron Diaz goes more often than I do!)  It's a bit out of my usual circle but I feel that if I go perhaps I will meet a new quilting buddy.  I desperately miss having someone to bounce ideas and thoughts off, not to mention hitting galleries and getting into trouble.  But if that mission is a failure, at least I will find out what's going on around here more directly.  A win/win.  If I could only be transported...  I'll report back on the experience, meanwhile I must go pack a lunch and brush my teeth.

LATER:  Long ride down there and back, even considering I had company half way.  There were about 13 members there and all busily planning a few shows that open soon, and a few that are (ga) not until 2015.  Perhaps if I start now...  Anyway I got the requisite measurements for one show I'd like to enter, and info on another.  Met a few new women  for the next time I go, which right now appears to be the day I fly out of here for Thanksgiving---to take my watermelon rinds to Boston!  It was a bit gratifying that some of these women had indeed heard of me before.  

And they didn't run.  

(this might, or might not, have something to do with Gloucester too)

And a little goodbye for the day~~presented to me by one of my anon. readers~~

'bless her heart'.  Think hard-  who do you know that *I* know and has a mind that would send this to me?  Yup, L'il Ole Her!  

Tomorrow maybe I'll get back to art.  Or not.  Maybe I'll turn this into a recipe blog.