Jack of All Trades?

I read a fairly diverse selection of blogs, and there's been a common thread amongst most that simultaneously grates and inspires: most are, to some degree, thorough and polished.

I say it inspires because I think 'ooh, I should try to blog like X and then it'll all look great!' On the flip side it grates because, as a flawed human being with a bent towards jealousy, I think 'ugh, it looks so polished and perfect--how can I ever reach that standard?'

I would like this to be an example of how I sometimes get irritated for no reason, rather than an example to emulate. It's not something to be proud of...just sayin'. Polished websites are completely necessary, and just occasionally annoying to me personally.

(Now with the disclaimer out of the way...)

What it comes down to is that I feel like a little kid flinging a ton of paint on a canvas--it's messy, it's not particularly inspired or good, but man is it fun. But then the little-kid-me starts looking around and seeing the people who have been at it longer and are more advanced in their style and technique and how to apply it...and I start sighing and wondering why I can't be as 'good' as X.

It kinda applies to life, too--I'm sort of a jack of all trades, master of none in photography, writing, drawing, herbal remedies, horses, cooking, etc. I'm flinging my paint (interests) all OVER the place and having an absolute blast in the process. It's when the personal comparisons come into play that things get into the 'woe is me' territory. 

I realize that there will probably be people who will assure me that I'm very good at certain things...and I agree to some extent. But there will always, ALWAYS be someone better or a higher standard to reach for. And then I turn from my paints and go pout in the corner for a few minutes until inspiration strikes again. ;)

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On to less pitying stuff!

Tonight is round two of the cough drop experiment. I found a different recipe in a book of mine, but it calls for 2 whopping pounds of sugar to 1 1/2 cups of strong tea. I'm trying to figure out how these are supposed to be good for people. The thermometer (yes, my new thermometer that clips on to the pot is getting its baptism by fire--sugar, if you prefer--tonight) reads 230F, and it needs to reach 260F. Here's to another hour or so in the kitchen...

The recipe before the lozenges in my book is for pastilles, and they look more promising/healthy than the cough drops. The idea is to use dried herbs and honey/maple syrup, powder the herbs, and use the honey/maple syrup to form little balls. They can be eaten immediately or set out to air-dry for 1-2 days so they last longer. 

This seems like a better option because (a) there's not near the amount of sugar, and (b) using dried herbs will make it easier to keep the properties and oils of delicate plants from being destroyed by heat. Lemon balm (the stuff I used in tonight's experiment) is one herb that is very, very good for a person but hard to preserve or cook into anything because its properties vanish very quickly after drying or cooking...and that's just an example. So here's to more experimentation.

And now...I must needs get some wax paper cut into pieces so I can have a place to put these silly lozenges when they're done in all their sugary glory. 

('Must needs' was not a typo. I deliberately write and speak incorrectly when I'm tired or feeling funny. 'Go forth' is another random one that crops up when I see people.)

Anyway. On to cutting of wax paper!