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By Mark Zeiger, March 22, 2020

It has often been said that the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. For a long time, I’ve wanted to fully learn a particular knot that would be a very useful one in my life. Perhaps, by sharing it here on the blog, I’ll come closer to that goal.

The constrictor knot is a very simple knot that holds extremely well. It will not come loose on its own, and, if pulled too tightly, may not come off at all! It’s very useful for closing bags, securing bundles, seizing rope ends, and many other jobs. My most trusted knot guru, Brion Toss, (see The Homestead Reference Library: The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice) says “to know this knot is to constantly find uses for it” and says that it can do almost anything a hose clamp will do. That’s impressive!

A constrictor knot closing a bag (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).

Continue reading 'The Constrictor Knot Deconstructed'»

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By Mark Zeiger, December 19, 2019

The other day, while preparing to bake some cornbread, I peeked in the oven to make sure there was nothing in there before I preheated it. I found forgotten treasure: some scones Michelle had made a week before!

We welcomed the unexpected bounty of the next morning’s breakfast suddenly arranged, but soon realized that the scones had dried out considerably as they sat, neglected, in the oven.

No problem. Michelle took care of it with this simple process, a variation on the steaming we do instead of microwaving when we want a fast, hot meal without drying it out (see Fast Cooking: Steam Vs. Microwave):

The inside of the pan arranged (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).

Continue reading 'Steaming Dried Baked Goods'»