| Author | Content |
rcn48
Lexington, VA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
05:20 AM Post #4263225
| Brings back fond memories of making Pomander Balls with my children for holiday decorating :) It's been years! My children are grown now, but you may have encouraged me to make a few for my decorations this year :) Thanks!
Debbie |
Riverland
Northeast, LA
(Zone 8a)
December 05, 2007
07:19 AM Post #4263294
| Thanks for reminding me of this. I think I will make one too. Cindy |
girlgroupgirl
Atlanta, GA
(Zone 8b)
December 05, 2007
08:32 AM Post #4263386
| Fabulous, Carrie! Guess what I'm doing this year for our new closets!! Maybe they'll also help to take the "house sitting empty" of the house!
CONGRATS on your first article!! |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
10:46 AM Post #4263826
| Thank you - and it's much better than... what's that advice? Sticking some spices in a pot of boiling water? For your house, I mean. Plus, you probably can't spare that much water. xxx, Carrie |
Dea
Frederick, MD
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
11:15 AM Post #4263911
| Super article Carrie and I could almost smell them from your photos :)
|
LouC
Desoto, TX
(Zone 8a)
December 05, 2007
11:23 AM Post #4263931
| Thanks for bringing back happy memories of making these with my mother and my children. |
pixie62560
South China, ME
(Zone 5a)
December 05, 2007
02:39 PM Post #4264592
| Carrie great job! I had forgotten about these too, thanks for the reminder and great memories! |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
04:01 PM Post #4264841
| It's not too late! My husband (the Grinch post-heart-conversion) was floored by how Christmassy the whole place smelled while we were working on the model ball. Start one now! The prongs of a fork work really well to punch a lot of holes fast. [When I was little I remember them as being soooo tedious.] Do them (over a tray) while you're watching TV and you'll have one half done in no time! xx, C
This message was edited Dec 5, 2007 3:14 PM |
grampapa
Wheatfield, NY
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
04:09 PM Post #4264865
| I should make one, too! I like the fork idea...no sore fingers :) thanks, Carrie |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
04:13 PM Post #4264872
| Yup - now if only they made curved forks with, say, five or six tines, maybe in double rows, we'd be all set! x, C |
doss
Stanford, CA
(Zone 9b)
December 05, 2007
04:40 PM Post #4264954
| Great article Carrie! Well done and so entertaining. I remember doing these as a child and it's a memory that will be with me always, even down to the sore thumbs.
I think that if you don't use navel oranges it's easier because they have thicker skins - maybe you mentioned that? |
UniQueTreasures
Beaumont, TX
(Zone 8b)
December 05, 2007
04:58 PM Post #4265021
| Loved reading about this Carrie. I remember doing this with my daughters and the sore thumbs afterward. What an excellent idea to use forks to puncture the oranges. Those cloves were really rough on my thumbs! Many thanks for the reminder of what was otherwise a wonderful memory. Sounds like a great project to do with my grandkids.
Janet |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
05:26 PM Post #4265127
| Doss, I've only tried this with navel oranges - other types are a little harder to obtain in my area. I didn't know different kinds of oranges had different thicknesses of skins! But the fork and the rubber glove combined pretty much ameliorated the pain to just a happy memory. I DID mention that I found references to apples being used to make pomander balls - I think if one worked quickly, using the fork, an apple might work! I just wonder how long it would last - but the cloves are the preservative. Good luck - try it with your grandchildren! xx, Carrie |
doss
Stanford, CA
(Zone 9b)
December 05, 2007
05:53 PM Post #4265222
| Carrie, you probably have the kind of oranges they use for juice. Instead of a navel they have seeds. :-) |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
06:12 PM Post #4265277
| Nope, these are navel! :>] |
jcangemi
Clovis, CA
(Zone 9a)
December 05, 2007
06:33 PM Post #4265329
| This certainly brought back memories for me too! I can vouch for apples working just fine. I had one that I made as a child and hung in my closet and later placed in my lingerie drawer for years (talking 30+ years). It's probably a little trickier to put together since an apple is juicier and more tender than the rind of an orange, but the cloves did indeed preserve it. I know it's around here somewhere, though I did retire it from my drawer some time ago. I just couldn't toss it, as it still smelled wonderful. My Mom had little squares of tulle (sp?), like used for a bridal veil, which we tied them up in with a pretty ribbon that could be also used as a hanger. Thanks for the memory. 8-) |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
08:02 PM Post #4265627
| Glad to hear your report on the apples! Thank you. x, C |
victorgardener
Lower Hudson Valley, NY
(Zone 6b)
December 05, 2007
08:16 PM Post #4265679
| Looks like fun. I should try with my kids. But I know they will be tossed around as baseballs. I guess that would distribute the scent! Nice. |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 05, 2007
08:25 PM Post #4265709
| Victor - stick in a paperclip and then tie a ribbon around it and hang it up! Then they can't use it as a soccer ball. Plus the osmosis will work better, C |
Dutchlady1
Naples, FL
(Zone 10a)
December 05, 2007
09:29 PM Post #4265941
| Lovely article. |
daisyavenue
Long Beach, CA
(Zone 10b)
December 05, 2007
11:03 PM Post #4266377
| Very nice, Carrie! Accessible, fun, interesting and I can smell them already! Thanks! |
bbrookrd
nantucket, MA
(Zone 7a)
December 06, 2007
06:53 PM Post #4269136
| carrielamont, I can almost smell them just reading about these old favorites that I had long ago forgotten about. Time to begin making them again with some new tips and ideas from your article. I am going to buy a bulk bunch of nutmeg and do a wreath out of a variety of fruits for the living rm, I think and if I get to it soon. Thanks, Patti |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 06, 2007
11:06 PM Post #4269934
| Go for it, patti! x, C |
BlueGlancer
South/Central, FL
(Zone 9a)
December 10, 2007
12:59 AM Post #4279585
| Very nice article. : ) I think I will try one. We have lots of oranges around here.
By the way, how many holes do you poke into it?
~Lucy |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 10, 2007
10:47 AM Post #4280375
| The typical wisdom is that the surface of the fruit should be totally, completely studded with cloves. As you can see from the last picture, there are actually some strips of orange NOT covered. It's important to have lots of cloves because that's what preserves the fruit. Good luck with your project! x, Carrie |
BlueGlancer
South/Central, FL
(Zone 9a)
December 10, 2007
10:56 AM Post #4280396
| Thank you, Carrie. I guess I'm gonna have sore fingers. lol : )
Have a wonderful day.
~Lucy |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 10, 2007
11:30 AM Post #4280534
| No, no, punch the holes with a fork. Stick the cloves in while you're watching TV or watching the Amaryllis grow (LOL) or waiting for the bread to rise. Plus I think it bothers you more when you're a kid - I remember it hurting more than it did this time around. You'll do fine. x, C |
Islandshari
Kwajalein
Marshall Islands
(Zone 11)
December 16, 2007
07:06 PM Post #4301589
| Great fun, great memories, great ideas...just plain great article! I'd write more, but I have to start my own pomander ball!
Yokwe,
Shari |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 16, 2007
07:12 PM Post #4301601
| Shari, I have since seen many references to 'clove apples' in the Little House books! xx, C |
JuneyBug
Dongducheon CpCasey
South Korea
(Zone 4b)
December 04, 2009
12:30 AM Post #7333653
| Your article came out the day after I made one! The house smells wonderful now. ♪♪♫it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas♫♪ |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 04, 2009
04:08 PM Post #7335369
| It'll do that, won't it! Very nice. I can smell it now... |
TermiteTim
Guelph
Canada
December 09, 2009
09:05 PM Post #7353756
| Ok, have read all of this thread. Must try it. One with an apple and other with an orange. I think will try the sharp dohickey thingy on my Swiss army knife to puncture the holes in the friut and then insert cloves, cinamon sticks and maybe some ginger wedges. I know the smell will be aromatic and wonderful. But I'm also intrigued at the report of long term fruit mummification. Perhaps, it can be taken out year after year as a sort of Christmas ornament. I wonder if it remains edible? |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
December 09, 2009
09:47 PM Post #7353878
| Oh, I wouldn't try to eat it, TermiteTim! Not everyone has a SAK, but it sounds like it might get your knife dirty, no? Good luck with your project, and let us know how it turns out! Good to hear from you. |
