Gabe,

I used to have a bit of energy. Until I got crook. It's mellowed somewhat. It's amazing what some rest can do.

It will take me a few days to answer your last two posts, have much to do.

With the whole root, the bark that I have used with best success is very flaky, like a tough dry puff pastry. I just rub it off with an old stainless knife. Some is tougher and more persistant and I just hammer or break up the roots (the root system is smallish) and pry/scrape off the bark. Then I chop the tougher bark up with a small cleaver and just break it down to near dust with a mortar and pestle. I leave the root body behind and just take the bark, dirt and all. It comes away easy. I have seen so-called alkanet root for sale years back which looked a lot different so I held back. But maybe the plant is real. I suspect that it's hard to get nowadays because the bark can't be washed easily, and dirt would be a no-no with AQIS etc etc nowadays.I suppose with the ground root, they'd have to look pretty hard to see the dirt! I might see about getting some out of France via a specialist freight broker I know, but looking at the paperwork I have run by them in the past 3-4 years I don't fancy my chances.

I'll have to ask the local PO about the oil. Some of our mail leaves by air I'm told. That may create a problem if previous experiences from the UK are anything to go by. Yes, it is a local grown source. Very small production, but I'm told there are others here (?).

With the alkanet, the colours change with the pH. Refining and/or modifying of oils when making finishes can change the pH, so we have to bear that in mind. It needs storing in the dark, cold and dry best. It is not good when it comes to being light fast. Ditto red oil storage. This aspect sometimes makes me wonder why I bother with it. Some of the aniline dyes are very good, but they are not real healthy either. At the end of the day if you are getting good reds and holding them, you are onto a good thing. I don't think you could steep a red oil too strong, though.

I'll re-read your posts and maybe send an email so I don't clot your thread with waffle.