When I quiet the frantic noise around me and engage in some directed but repetitive task, I find that my mind settles from its usual spinning, and that I can perceive the rafters and support beams of my sanity. I’ve got a lot of stuff crammed in among those beams, and the down time tasks like those I’m doing today offer me a chance to take down some of the more precarious stacks of boxes in my mind, and re-stack them in a more stable manner. Usually, I end up with a bit more room up there, as well as better access to the things I’ve been needing.
I needed some of that, so I’ve been cooking and cleaning today. Made a batch of gazpacho with all farmers market and out-of-the-garden ingredients (except for the olive oil, salt, pepper, and tobasco). Then I cleaned the car, which desperately needed it. Now I’m settling in to brew a batch of “whatever’s laying around” ale. Looks like I’ve got about 7.5 lbs of light and amber malt extract (3.3 lbs liquid, the rest dry). I’ve got 3oz of hops (Hellertrau and Northern Brewer), a packet of british ale yeast, and water. This still leaves ~6lbs of dark and extra dark extract for another batch sometime. Have to pick up more hops and yeast for that though. Since I’ll have the sink filled with sanitizer, I plan to bottle the Mountain Brew today. That means that in a couple of weeks, it’s tasting time. Wheeee.
Woot.
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