Shelly Tilly Capturing the Hornets' Nest
Nov 19, 2007 | From the kitchen of Rose
It was beginning to snow as Shelly climbed up to the top of the tall ladder and refusing my help managed to find a way to sever it together with the branch in a way that kept it from dropping to the ground. That left me free to run for the camera!
The grey and brown paper strips and swirls of the nest were amazingly beautiful up close and through one of the holes in the side one can see the pockets of the hive.
It's the largest one I've ever seen and astounding to contemplate that it is made from the hornets' saliva. Fortunately there were none still dwelling inside. Once the first frost comes they are said to leave the nest and the following year they rebuild from scratch. If left to the elements the next gradually disintegrates. I hope to hang this one from the porch ceiling in a place where the rain doesn't come slanting in to harm it. It's a treasure.
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Rose
01/10/2008 04:55 PM
thanks kathy-- in my excitement i forgot that crucial part! i love your flour anaolgy!
if you're all wondering who shelly belly is, you have only to look at the picture on top of this posting!
Shelley's grandmother was a famous cook from Denmark. This weekend I plan to make her ebelskiver recipe. This is a very light buttermilk pancake batter baked in a cast-iron pan with little round depressions so that the batter puffs up into dairy little balls. I'll be posting the recipe soon with Shelley's permission, which I'm sure she'll give as she is the soul of generosity!
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Anonymous
01/06/2008 10:24 AM
hey girlfrisend, love'd those spices.. hope all your holidays were super....everything is beautiful up in these mountains. let's get together again soon for some of your special coffee... love to all....shelly belly.....
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kathy harsany
11/27/2007 07:23 PM
actually the hornet nest is made from chewed up wood mixed with saliva. Omitting the chewed up material is akin to saying that bread is made from a leavening agent and a liquid. Flour helps a bit....
Actually the hornet nest is made of chewed up wood (hence the name "paper wasp) mixed with saliva. Omitting the chewed up material is akin to saying a cake is made of liquid and sugar.
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