2010:365:73 U is for Ulu

This is a photograph of an ulu.  It's an Inuit all-purpose knife mainly used by women, so the English translation is "woman's knife".  It is versatile in the extreme   With it you cut your child's hair, skin an animal, cut food and trim blocks of ice to form an igloo.  

My modern version has a wooden handle and steel blade although traditional uluit had slate blades and bone/antler handles.  A small, 5 centimetre blade, is used to cut sinew when sewing, the ulu shown in the picture is the general purpose size and it is possible to have blades twice as long, up to thirty centimetres.  

If you click on the title of this posting it will take you to the Alaskan Ulu site where there are photographs, demonstrations and recipes.
I have a good collection of knives but the ulu is among the most useful of them all and will peel an apple as neatly as any British designed knife.  The board I use with the ulu has a slight concave surface and it's particularly useful when chopping herbs.

Like a number of the other 365Project pictures I changed my mind about the illustration at the last minute.  Umbrella seemed an obvious choice and I debated 'blue' or 'white' or perhaps 'black' until I was using the ulu to chop an apple for lunch.  

Having taken a few shots of the umbrella I might as well post one of them here - you too can admire the wonderful pattern that the spokes make against the white fabric!  

God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
Grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

The Collect of the Sixth Sunday after Easter.