having fun with time mismanagement

posted by jennifer:


being a slightly crazy person, i feel it is important to take on time consuming, and unnecessary projects..... especially during those times in your life when you are feeling overwhelmed with all the things that need to get done.  

this last week, i worked on two such projects.  
..... while waiting in the wings was a birthday party for my now 12 year old baby girl....
a camping trip....and a pile of laundry that continues to grow to this day.  

but, in the process of completing them, i was able to cross two things off my to do list.  always a satisfying feeling.  

the first project was making about 40 felt flowers to decorate my front arch for halloween/fall/day of the dead.
i ripped off the idea from target.  i saw similar decorations there and loved them.  after an initial attempt to make some felt flowers without instructions.... having them turn out a bit sad looking... and then finding a great youtube tutorial, i ended up with these beauties.


i like love them so much i already have plans on making about 50 cream colored ones...with snowy glitter for my winter decorations.  love! love! love!

i think they look just smashing.  and do you remember these crows?  i think they look right at home next to the flowers.

the second project was making pomegranate molasses.  

we have a longtime neighbor, who we finally met.  he approached us with a trade offer. he would take the fruits from our prickly pear cactus, and in exchange he would bring pomegranates over every day or two.  who could resist...i mean i honestly had thoughts about making prickly pear jam this year.  but in all honesty, they were the same thoughts i have had for the past 10 years.  i figured that i could put it off for another 10 years or so.  

and who could say no to pomegranates.  the first 5 days or so of him bringing over 2 or 3 pomegranates at a time, we were ready for them.  the kids were plowing through them.  what a great afternoon snack... not to mention the beautiful spray of pomegranate juice on the gray wall behind the couch.  pink and gray compliment each other dontchaknow.

but all of a sudden i had a pile of pomegranates.
and,  i had a brilliant idea.  pomegranate molasses.  i have used it before when making salad dressing.  you can find the recipe here.   i also like to  use it in marinades for chicken.   so i decided to learn how to make it.

i watched a youtube tutorial on juicing pomegranates.  

i found a recipe for the molasses.

and then the pomegranates sat on the kitchen table.  and the pile kept growing.  and a half dozen or so started to mold.  who knew they would mold...they just don't seem like fruit that would,  but i guess if you leave them sitting for a couple of weeks, it happens.

well, on tuesday, i finally got to it. 
 if you have a lot of time to kill.  and aren't opposed to stained fingers...and splatters on your walls, kitchen utensils, and kitchen curtain... then this is the project for you.

it takes 4 cups of pomegranate juice to equal 1 cup of pomegranate molasses.  i ended up with more like 5 cups of juice, so i have in my possession about 1.25 cups of precious pomegranate molasses.   and it only took about 6 hours.  i am not saying i will never make it again.  i am a bit crazy that way... but let's just say, i have an appreciation for pomegranate juice.... and understand more why it costs so much.  the same goes for the molasses made from it.

i just realized that i hadn't taken a picture of the completed molasses.  and thought i should probably take one to show how much it cooked down.  but really people, this to do list isn't going to take care of itself.  how can i expect to get things done when i drop what i am doing to take a picture?

i have a lot of time mismanagement to get to.

and i plan on having fun...and making a bit of a mess, when i am doing it.

cheers!