During Covid I bought a professional cotton candy machine, as one does. There wasn't any reason for it other than WOW look! You can buy a professional cotton candy machine. Click, buy, done.
In January I took a month off so I could organize my house. I needed to make room and this was the easiest way to do it. Now my head has plenty of space for all new and exciting anxieties. I got rid of the my basement is a disaster anxiety & made room for the, Do I need a toaster oven? anxiety which I didn't even know was lurking in my brain.
Of all the weird things I own and got rid of this January - this hulking cotton candy machine I kept. Complete with pink rolling stand. It's quite awful, I don't recommend it. The huge metal bowl was caved in on one side on the first one I ordered and the second time I tried to make cotton candy the machine exploded a little bit.
All the wiring was connected with crafty dollops of hot glue. You're never going to believe this but it was made in China. Anyhow ...
Machine number two arrived with a smaller dent so I knew things were tipping in my favour. I plugged it in, started it up, it exploded a little bit and in a final salute blew its fuse.
I soldered it back together, with actual solder. I'm a terrible solderer but I was really beginning to think that hot glue was an inappropriate choice by the manufacturer.
I've all but guaranteed you will not click an Amazon link to this machine but - I kept it after the purge. That says a lot about how fantastic it is.
Last weekend was my community garden's 3rd annual BBQ. Everyone brings a dish made from something they grew in their garden. Because I'm one of the two organizers of the event I don't bring a dish. I'm busy bustling around.
Except this year when I brought my own home grown candy floss.
And that right there is why I kept the belligerent cotton candy machine.
As for this weekend, I am going to make deck stairs. Perhaps.
I have never made deck stairs and know nothing about deck stairs, yet this weekend I am making deck stairs. Perhaps. Why? Because the last time I tried to hire someone to rebuild my fence, the first guy showed up drunk and the guys I hired built a fence where all the nails stuck 2 inches out the other side.
I'm gonna say those nails protruded right about ankle level to the sidewalk on the other side of my fence. Ever since then I've done pretty much everything myself.
So that's why, we are here now, with me building stairs. Technically they're steps I suppose. And possibly even a just a single step. To build any of those projects I don't need a drunk handyman, I need YouTube and the 25 years of home owner successes and failures I have behind me.
I will also need wood and probably cotton candy.
Hi Karen. Haven’t taken time to enjoy your posts lately. It just so happened that you posted this one on my birthday. I LOL several times, to which my husband says “what?”, so I feel obligated to share it with him. About 50% LOL on his end. Anyway, I learned that all those services are not exorbitantly expensive and in a pinch may be worth it. Today I canned broth and tomato sauce. I made dill pickle powder from dehydrated dill pickles from older home canning adventures. Dehydrated pickles were a surprise treat. Salty little green leathery shards. Can’t wait to try on popcorn.
GAh! I have never heard of making our own dill pickle powder but I have a pantry FULL of dill pickles. I shall report back. ~ karen!
If ever you want to get rid of it, put me on the waitlist! My daughter wants one soooooo bad lol
Looking forward to seeing how the porch stairs work out!
You've got this! I am 66 yrs now, and a few years ago I replaced everything except the base structure on my kitchen deck. I had not exactly no, but very little knowledge on how to do this. I replaced the decking, the stairs and the railings, and it looks and functions as it should. So, yeah, full speed ahead & pics when done!
You should try maple sugar cotton candy. I just saw it at the SD state fair. Smelled really good! I would think it'd taste similar to that maple butter you have a recipe for (which I tried over the winter = YUM!).
Building deck chairs sounds fun if the temperatures are temperate. Since you are in Canada, I would think they are but here in Austin, TX it is still hot hot hot and oh so humid. In other words…a sauna. If we get a breeze it is bearable. Still, I have cucumber vines that fried, 😭, and need pulling and leaves to sweep up. The trees seem to think it is fall even though the temps haven’t received that memo yet. Can’t wait to see your deck chairs…perhaps. Love your stuff! Great read always.
During summers at the cottage we used to visit a farm market in Brockville Ontario where a vendor of maple products sold cotton candy made from maple sugar. Now that is a mighty fine treat!
Jan
You definitely need cotton candy.
Making cotton candy would be a lot of fun for a neighborhood. How much sugar did it take for all those cups?
Each cup contains apx. 2 tsps. of sugar. ~ karen!
In other words, cotton candy is practically a health food!
Oh, now we need to watch a video of you making cotton candy. That makes you the number one person to invite to a party. Now I want a machine or to move into your neighbourhood!
The last couple of times I wanted short stairs (or steps) I purchased some metal stair stringers that just needed boards fastened to them. The first set were for a camper that was set up for the summer, when I got tired of the fold up step jumping out and hitting the back of my calf (I had a bruise there the entire previous summer). The second time was for my actual deck at home, and the third one were for a front step at my next house. This reminds me that I need a step off my deck at my current house to get to the side yard, so I'll be getting the fourth set I guess. The alternative is to distract the guys who've been renovating the living room for several months (they show up just enough and do just enough every other week to keep me from trying to find someone else to finish the job).
I could just do that, and I will, if my attempt at making stringers is a disaster. ~ karen!
Can’t wait to read that post!! Good luck!
What a great way to close out summer! And, of course, you bring the uniqueness to every occasion. :)
Hey Deb! Please allow me to fix your typo. “What a great way to close out August”. Summer ain’t over! 😎 Karen said so and she’s always right. Well mostly.
Truth!
I am in awe of all the stuff you do and attempt (stairs?!?) - please know that I hardly EVER use that word. So please feel very special! I'm sure the deck stairs will be beautiful and all that cotton candy in the tote is so pretty!
You never use the word stairs? I'm in awe of that. ;) ~ karen!
Did everyone enjoy the cotton candy or did the machine explode? I have visions of everyone being covered by the candy like a bad science fiction movie
Thanks for the laugh!
I fixed the machine and it's been fine. Because we don't have power at the community garden I made it all at home. ~ karen!
I bet it would be really good made from lemon drops. I wonder if adding a bit of citric acid would make the flavor a bit sweet-tart?
I actually have lemon flavoured floss sugar to make lemon floss and it's delicious. It takes like a perfectly sweetened glass of lemonade. ~ karen!
We have a fella locally who makes maple syrup, and once he made it into cotton candy- most amazing thing ever
That would be delicious! I wonder if he hammered up the hardened maple syrup. Hmm ... going to have to look into this. :) ~ karen!
Just WOW. To it all. You rock.
Honestly the cotton candy machine has become an obsession. Tonight I bought hard candies because you can make cotton candy with any hard candy (Werthers, Jolly Ranchers, Peppermints, LifeSavers ... ). Obviously I'm going to have to try that. ~ karen!
Wait. You can make cotton candy out of any hard candy? I’m clicking on that link.
I know. I KNOW! I haven't tried but apparently even sugar free candy works to make floss. ~ karen!
Rum lifesavers!
Maple syrup cotton candy?!
I might actually consider trying those flavors...
I've never been a fan of eating fluff...
(Unless it's frosting, mmmm.)