some days...

    I had my youngest son harvested a small armload of cattail leaves yesterday.  I have  never tried them for making paper, and thought, "Hmmm, they have great vertical fiber in them,  and I have a seemingly endless supply, so let's try."  I am avoiding using the tops for now, as the fluff will get everywhere.  Yesterday I cut them into smaller pieces and then set them in a pot to soak over night, as I do with most plant fibers for paper.  Small problem: these are water plants, and thus water repellent.  So unless I let them sit for well over a week to rot out, I think I will be boiling them today.
    Funny how some days the most obvious things elude you!