From the Strawberry Patch...: cherries

I got a bright and early start this morning, making boo-boo packs to keep in the freezer, small soothers for those bumps and scrapes that occur all too often to the knees and elbows of our littlest loved ones. Using upholstery sample swatches and those cherry pits* (could this be the ultimate recycling project?) mentioned last week, I had twelve made up before nine o'clock! These are small; they measure up at 3.5" X 4.5", finished, and are just the right size for little hands to hold. I constructed liners for each one, for durablitiy, using up scrap fabric from the stash closet. After the boo-boo packs were done I began on the heating pads. I made them 8" X 8" and filled the first one until it felt "just right". I weighed it on a kitchen scale; the remaining pads were weighed for consistency; I ended up with ten heating pads and two slightly larger (than the above mentioned size) boo-boo packs when the day was done. These larger ones I finished with a lapped closure on the back so that the pit bag can be removed and the cover washed. The heating pads can be warmed in the microwave (for a minute and a half) and will deliver a warm hug (and a delightful cherry aroma) as the cold winter days, and nights, set in. I used about two thirds of the pits today and plan to make a few larger heating pads to keep here at home. The scent of the cherry orchard lingers. Mmmmm...