Streaming Stories. Scrubbing Things.
Monday was Waffle Day, and yes I indeed made waffles.
Wednesday I was given a gift: a 12-inch Ozark Trail cast iron skillet. Left outside for several years, I put it on deck for a weekend restoration project. Who cares if it’s not a Wagner or Griswold? It still deserves love, and maybe I can give it . . .
Thursday was a difficult day. It rained all day and my back hurt and I had four hours of team building along with it being the first of our summer/fall registration weeks and sending out graduation/commencement communications and I simply was not ready for Thursday at all.
But I got all the communications running like they should and then went to the afternoon exercises and they weren’t bad at all and in fact I started to feel a bit better and then I remembered that Thursday was the Day of Three Birthdays: my mom, my father-in-law, and my oldest nephew all have birthdays on the same day (different years of course). I text my nephew, called my mom, and went out for supper with my father-in-law and other family. I had a Reuben sandwich and a cupcake, and come to find out my mom had a Reuben, too! I swear we didn’t coordinate that.
Here’s what mine looked like:
On Friday I got to sleep in just a little bit before heading to day two of team building. I set up a vinegar bath for the pan and then headed out. The second day of training was good as well and actually a bit of fun and then I went grocery shopping and came back home.
If I’m being vague about the training it’s that we were asked not to go into detail until the other half of our department goes this week and I know some of them read this blog. But I took notes so I can write it up next weekend.
Anyway, after two, four-hour cycles of soak-scrub-dry, the pan was almost down to bare iron. I was able to do one more two-hour cycle before d&d and then dried it to prevent flash rust and planned to pick up again on Saturday.
I forgot to say that the only tub I had big enough for my cast iron project was the tub we usually use for packages, so I put a note on it saying “no packages” and our carrier knocked to make sure we were okay and to check where they should leave things in the meantime – I love our postal carrier.
D&D was fun as we had our second session of the Shadows of Virtue campaign, which was somewhat detailed by Poppet Discourse as one of our team was working on a prop for his presentation of The Crucible by Arthur Miller. He was using a kit and things didn’t quite go according to plan and we were all having fun and then we realized that he’s our DM for our alternating Friday campaign and we hope there are no hard feelings. (I jest, Jax does not hold grudges like that.)
If you’re near New London, CT consider seeing the production:
Back to the iron. This is what I started with Saturday morning:
By early afternoon almost all the old coating was gone, revealing grooves as if someone purposefully yet erratically tried to score the bottom. I didn’t want to do much more soaking and risk pitting the pan. So this is what I had to work with:
Three hours baking in the oven with three coats of oil followed by an overnight cooldown and this is the result. There’s some spots where I’m going to have to watch for flaking, but I think it’s ready for use – I can’t wait to see this after a couple months with some natural seasoning built up!
But what about the podcast? Oh, I’ve finished season four and started season five of The Magnus Archives and it’s feeling like I have to keep listening to get to the end, like a good book one can’t put down. I’m glad the podcast has wrapped up the storyline so I can hear the story without needing to wait for the next release date. But there’s also enjoyment with taking the slow path, like I am with you Old Gods of Appalachia.
Today is Sunday, March 31, and it’s Trans Visibility Day: Whether a trans person is out or has visibly transitioned or not, they are still trans. Today recognizes the reality of their lives and struggles, celebrates their triumphs, & advocates for their rights. I ask you to stand in support & solidarity – not just today, but every day.
Today is also Easter Sunday. I spent time with family and returned one bookshelf richer. I have now put on The Matrix, I have two sugar cookies and some lemonade, and the recliner is in the “recline” position. There’s no going back now.
What have you been doing?
Running In My Head 