a dog on my doorstep

in which our plucky heroine takes a small detour...

meet the new denizen of Nandina's world -  a surprise packet arrived in the post box today, containing this charming Japanese carved wood Akita dog, just 3" tall at the tip of its ears. No note inside, a delightful mystery, edited: gift from my friend Eva... I was imagining that someone might have been emulating the spirit of our beloved late friend Russ, who sent anonymous gifts at random to people...)

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my friend Mari created a new holiday quite a few years ago, and it is one of my very favorite holidays - Ursus! ... here is what she has to say about it:

Hello Beautiful People! Have you heard about Ursus? Ursus is a long holiday that extends from Nov 30 to Jan 11. Why is it the middle of the silly season? The season of rushing and buying and frantic sewing? End of the year deadlines and family drama? Because Ursus is to remind us to find our inner calm- take time to relax- we celebrate by taking time to read a book just for fun, take a nap or have a cuppa with a friend. In the North we snuggle up with cozy socks and blankets and enjoy a bit of hibernation away from the cold. In the South, we might go to the beach, lounge in the hot tub, have a cool drink with mates. "But I don't have time to relax!!" Mate, no one else can relax for you. The stressors will all be there when the time you take is done- but you will be keener and better able to take on the world. So take a moment, take a deep breath and enjoy life and all it's wonder.
HAPPY URSUS!

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~ creativity challenge ~

Miniature (faux) hemostat sawn from a scrap of pewter sheet. A friend asked me if I could make one for the Frida Kahlo ofrenda she is creating... (the same friend I made a set of miniature papel picado for last week)

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	leather thimble	recycle bin
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	teal popover dress	yard waste bin
3	6 jars pickled beets	jelly cloth	recycle bin
4	5 jars pear chunks	30 persimmons dried	-
5	8 jars quince jelly syrup	many persimmons dried	-
6	sparkle horse kerchief	x	-
7	miniature hemostat	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - on the first day of Ursus, I let myself sleep in. I am grateful that I have a life where that is an option, in a world where so many people do not.

enough is as good as a feast

in which our plucky heroine is thinking about wardrobe planning...

I don't need to participate in SWAP, since I certainly do not need eleven or more new garments. This is, however, the time of year when I cogitate about clothing. My long ago desire to have enough clothing so that laundry could be done less frequently has finally come to pass, and now my personal sewing is mostly focused on replacing what is too worn to mend, or filling holes in my wardrobe (hello raincoat, I hear you).

It was interesting to fill out a grid of what I mostly have, with one axes being my three primary colorways, and the other axes being types of garments...

~{ 3 season wardrobe }~

#	BLACK/GREY	TEAL/INDIGO	BROWN
pinafores	grey linen black linen black corduroy black rib	dk denim denim jacquard turquoise essex	brown cavehorse brown corduroy
blouses	black/grey flannel	horses ditsy rickrack MCM floral prize floral	black/brown flannel mushrooms brown oxford
tops	many t-necks wintertime blk/grey stripe indigo/black plaid AC crow 30 Year	tie dye vine lt mushroom dk mushroom t-neck AC dot stripe	t-neck
outerwear	chopshop classic blackhorse akita patchwork stripey vest	galaxy lopi solbein classic vest	AC roses
dresses	lt grey stripe multi stripe	batik pinstripe
leggings	5 pair		1 pair
-

This sort of planning chart helps me think clearly about what I might want to make next, although some of what appear to be gaps are not, actually, when I stand in front of the closet choosing what to wear, since almost all of my clothing coordinates well enough to please my artist eye. I don't plan on making any more knit tops, since the drawer that holds them is chock full. Over the course of the next year, I plan on making one new pinafore, from the dk teal linen, and an AC jacket featuring the teal jersey,  because more than once I've wished for just those particular garments. Some of the knit fabric on the resource shelves is going to become more leggings, in the teal/indigo group, and maybe some with brown accent trim on the bottoms (since I don't have enough brown knit for a whole pair) Once I get a decent toile for a raincoat, I will probably make up the brown Goretex fabric, as I rather desperately need a replacement for the ancient 20+ year old very ratty looking outdoor jacket.

So looking at this and thinking... Since I have the niches in my everyday wardrobe filled with enough garments, the most useful use of my personal sewing time would be to get started on a coat toile for a raincoat. Now to work on shifting my brain to where it might enjoy making (probably multiple) toiles. There is a reason that I do most of my personal sewing with TNT patterns. I find fitting a new pattern to be challenging, with all the faffing about with mirrors and using my camera and tripod, and so on. But it would be lovely to just be able to have a new, well fitting raincoat. The only way around it is through...

Between the larger garments, what I really want to be sewing are smaller things... a new hat or two, some bedsocks, a winter kerchief in grey/black (now that I have finished the two AC ones I started earlier this month, they are in almost constant rotation, being warmer than the printed cotton lawn lawn ones I wear all summer). I'm also going to dig out the wonderful yarn I bought last winter, and start on a new cardigan... with audiobooks to keep me company.

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beauty in the time of isolation:

I never get tired of moss worlds. They always remind me of this song...

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After several years of not doing one, I have begun planning for a 2022 calendar. Returning to one of my early themes, it will be another alphasketch, with plants and animals and lettering.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	leather thimble	recycle bin
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	teal popover dress	yard waste bin
3	6 jars pickled beets	jelly cloth	recycle bin
4	5 jars pear chunks	30 persimmons dried	-
5	8 jars quince jelly syrup	many persimmons dried	-
6	sparkle horse kerchief	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - I have enough. Enough food, enough shelter, enough people who care about me. Enough that I am cogitating on how I can find ways to make a difference in a world that needs all of us doing what we can to help heal what is broken and care for what needs cared for

Sunday snippets

in which our plucky heroine appreciates the moment...

Thursday night I had a small, albeit special, festal dinner: stuffed turkey thigh roulade, wild rice, coleslaw with persimmon, and quincemeat crisp. The coleslaw was in lieu of the green salad I had planned, since my grocery order was missing any of the lettuce on my list, but instead the cabbage was bigger than my head! The quincemeat was from a jar put up a number of years ago, when I had added spiced pear to the mixture, and was especially good. I should make some spiced/pickled  pears again this year, for the next batch of quincemeat,  I'll need star anise, stick cinnamon, and white balsamic vinegar, none of which I currently have, and that my local store doesn't carry. Time to find a different resource pathway.

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beauty in the time of isolation:

It has been oddly warm for the last two days, and so going out for walks requires less in the way of layering. Nandina and Almandine begged to come along, so I tucked them safely in my front pocket. When we arrived where this tree overhangs the sidewalk, they wanted a chance to clamber among the branches, safely shielded from both the passers-by and any chance met corvids...

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I, for some reason, decided that getting a new pattern, the "Remy Raglan Top" from Sew House Seven, would be a good idea. I suspect that I want to have a number of interesting projects this winter*. It would be useful, certainly, to have a TNT pattern for a woven raglan top. I hope it won't take too many iterations of toile to get it to fit me comfortably, the pattern had had many excellent reviews, so I am hopeful!

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It is being a bit difficult to find items for my gifty wishlist. True, there are really big things on the housey list: A new roof, window awnings, insulation frames to fit into the windows... but the sort of smaller treats and necessities are a challenge.

I dug into Google Docs a bit, and lo and behold it isn't quite the monster I had built it up to be in my mind. Still not sure how to format the actual pages layout to print out as needed, but I was able to do some basic formatting on the one page in the document so far (font choice, justification).   As long as we can get everyone to send in their writings in the next two weeks, the gift for Dad will be on time...

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	leather thimble	recycle bin
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	teal popover dress	yard waste bin
3	6 jars pickled beets	jelly cloth	recycle bin
4	5 jars pear chunks	30 persimmons dried	-
5	8 jars quince jelly syrup	many persimmons dried	-
6	sparkle horse kerchief	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - Noticing that, aside from the really large tasks/items of house repair and refurbishment, that it has been challenging for me to find small useful items of beauty to add to my wishlist. Simply because there are so many niches that are already filled, or wishes from former years that have been granted.

* (see also my desire to learn how to make block prints in multiple colors)

gifty wishlist 2021 version

(this page is currently a work in progress, intended for the Sekrit Santa gift exchange, which just opened today. Really I've not thought about a wishlist for 2021 much at all, so it will take a while to fill out and find things both useful, delightful and actually available!)

in which our plucky heroine offers notes about useful and desirable gifts...

I've been participating in Duchess Daegmar's Sekrit Santa gift exchange for a number of years now. Most of what will make a real difference in my life are not things, but the gift of experiences, time, and the sharing of resources... because time spent together is the best gift of all, whether helping with household tasks or out adventuring in the wide world. Alas this year we are still afflicted by the plague, so still staying separate for safety. Since I have spent the last several years doing major decluttering; it is actually pretty difficult to find objects that fit the stated requirements: "keep the exchanged gift either handmade and/or homemade, or if purchased to be $25 or less."

It seemed a good idea to provide both general guidelines to what I like and do not like, as well as a modest annotated list of assorted Useful and Delightful things:

Random wishlist notes:

My favorite colors in general: The kind of blue that you get from indigo: nightsky and dark denim. The greyish color of natural linen. Taupe. Grey. Soft dull turquoise. The dark black brown of some kinds of undyed sheep wool. Bittersweet chocolate brown.

In general, food is not a Fjorlief treat. Our plucky heroine does not particularly like chocolate, and is very allergic to cherries and hazelnut. I particularly do not like scented things, and am very allergic to cedar.

I love handmade gifts, particularly those of the wooden, ironwork, glass or textile sort. My SCA life is mostly as a Norse/Slavic style person, so narrow handmade trim suitable for early period garb is always useful, as are period style lampwork beads. I mostly do not collect things, in particular I don't collect acorn kitsch, even though the house is named Acorn Cottage...

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Annotated wishlist items that are less than $25, in no particular order at all :

 

some textile tools, small helpers for sewing or knitting: This rainbow set of knitting stitch markers would be better than what I am currently using, and this needle gauge would be equally useful. I've never tried out the Clover "wonder clips" but see them used a lot in online technique demonstrations, when pins are not an option.

this sharpening set would help keep some of my tools in good condition...

I loved these albums years ago, when I had albums, and a stereo system to play them on... though those have long been lost in the mists of time, I do have a CD player that could probably play this combination of It's A Beautiful Day, and Marrying Maiden

Wake The Dead's combination of celtic-style instruments and arrangements, and Grateful Dead songs, makes me really happy. Any of the three CD's would be a nice addition to the Acorn Cottage library: Wake The Dead, or Buckdancer's Choice, or Blue Light Cheap Hotel

Michele reminded me that this rare flavoring "fiori di sicilia", is worth the effort of tracking it down

>I have been struggling too long with a not-very-good small plastic ladle, I think that this silicone 4T ladle would be a lot easier to work with and a good addition to my kitchen tools...

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Another place to look is my Etsy wishlist

Even though Etsy is more and more a manufacturers marketplace, there are still some handmade goods to be found there, as well as assorted useful tools for sewing and makerie

Etsy wishlist

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some rather more spendy things, in no particular order at all:

I love the yarns from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. maybe this Portland Puddles colorway  in their "Twisted" yarn would make some wonderful gloves and a matching cowl... or for something more neutral, this Obsidian colorway.  Another yarn I really love is Madeline Tosh, which has such inspired colorways. I particularly like their Whiskey Barrel,  the pleasing combination of neutrals, chocolate brown, and indigos meets so many of my wardrobe tickyboxes...

It would be helpful, once space is cleared in the carport, to acquire or build some sort of small footprint shed/cupboard to store the garden tools in, which are currently loosely stacked against the house wall. Of course that is predicated on actually clearing the carport.

I could really really use a scanner/printer that was compatible with my laptop. I don't know enough to even begin to look into what might be suitable. I need to check with those in my circle who are more tech knowledgeable than I am. In the Before Time, it wasn't so terribly inconvenient to go to the local copy store. Now, not so much....

It would be a very good and necessary addition to the infrastructure here to acquire an extension ladder, or at least a substantial regular ladder. One that is long enough to reach the gutters, and the attic hatchways... must needs do a bit more research as to what would be best... two different friends have mentioned that the recombinant style ladders have worked well?

a raised bed structure for gardening... 

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Overall, there are several areas of life here at Acorn Cottage that would greatly benefit from helpful attention, in the someday when we can all be in the same places again, help from those with stronger backs and possibly vehicular transport. As mentioned, the carport would be a happier place if it was reorganised and some of what is there and not needed went away. The backyard really needs yardwork done to make it less overgrown and possibly more level, which would make putting in raised garden beds easier. The several years that Mindy et al helped with the yardwork here were the best that the outside of the house ever looked. I have some but not all of the bits needed to make a new chicken house, which is necessary before acquiring new hens; still need to acquire some small lumber, 1x2s and 1x3s mostly. Weeding, always weeding, the side yard in particular. Clear out the gutters, ugh. And in the next year or two, the house needs exterior painted, and the roof will need replaced.

I will be adding to this list as I think of possible things that would be both useful and beautiful additions to my home and life...

assorted kibbles and bits

in which our plucky heroine focuses on what is going well...

I've been indulging myself with assorted small gifts: bright fabric for some new clothing, art supplies (for my planned efforts in the next year to learn more about printmaking), some of the best marzipan in the world, and a new paring knife for the kitchen. I've been missing having a small thin knife for ages, and after reading numerous reviews and recommendations online, I went with the Victorinox knife. While it doesn't look terribly impressive, it arrived sharp enough that I have needed to be very careful to pay attention when I use it. Prepping the persimmons for the dehydrator is a lot easier now, and it is becoming my first choice for many kitchen tasks... (I expect it will make boning the turkey thigh for roulade a lot easier)

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A lovely surprise visit... My friends Leah and Randall stopped by to drop off some fancy homemade preserves and flavored vinegars, and some of their gorgeous pottery, including a spectacular carved mug! Leah says it is ideal for wintertime tea drinking, as the narrow top helps keep the contents warm, and the rounded lower bowl is great for warming one's hands. It was good to have a bit of an outdoor palaver, however short and sweet.

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Last night I just finished reading "A Psalm for the Wild-Built" by Becky Chambers as my bedtime reading... Short and sweet and rather hopepunk. I love the worlds she builds, and the way she puts words together.

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~ creativity challenge ~

trying something new - adding a bit of embroidery to my reverse applique kerchief. The individual flower petals were really too small to be cut away, so adding some fly stitches adds a dark accent and some additional visual texture. (Still not sure what I want to do with all the tiny berries, tried some glass beads but that didn't look right. thinking of maybe detached chain stitch instead)

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Years and the better part of a lifetime ago, I saw Steeleye Span in concert, in a tiny concert hall above the Galleria in Harvard Square, with dancing girls and a mummers play; that memory burnished bright. Here is an autumn song medly from Maddy Prior, just right for now: Marigold/Harvest Home

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	leather thimble	recycle bin
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	teal popover dress	yard waste bin
3	6 jars pickled beets	jelly cloth	-
4	5 jars pear chunks	30 persimmons dried	-
5	8 jars quince jelly syrup	moar persimmons dried	-
6	-	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - I found a store in the Bay Area that has the amazing organic Italian marzipan in stock. Usually it is unavailable, even before the pandemic, even before supply chain issues. So I ordered some. Fingers crossed it arrives here safely

Sunday snippets and other cogitation

in which our plucky heroine perseveres...

I'm feeling calmer with returning to my isolated lifestyle, which is both a relief and very disturbing at the same time. I wonder at those in my friends and family who seem to be returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyle, who have eaten in restaurants indoors, or gather freely and unmasked with other folks in their homes, while most of them seem baffled that I still feel vulnerable even though I am vaccinated. I wonder if I will ever feel okay again, if I will ever be able to live in the world with ease again, if I will ever be able to teach again, or any of the other parts of life that gave meaning and joyful interaction to my existence... I was chatting on the phone with my Mom, about how I planned to make a turkey thigh * roulade again this year, and she asked me if anyone was coming over here for Thanksgiving. Ummm nope, don't plan on any festive meals with friends anytime soon. I am sad about that. Am I delusional? Are those who have basically returned to life as it was before?

After washing out my impromptu jelly cloth (made from some of the linen "cheesecloth/muslin" curtain fabric) I folded it in half to make a square and serged around the edges. I'm thinking about folding over each corner just a bit, to make "loops" which can then get cordage looped through them for ease in hanging it up when straining fruit pulp. Rather like a burden cloth, but much smaller and more porous. After washing, the thrifted fabric is actually nowhere near as scratchy, and might indeed be useful to make an SCA summer undergown, which is why I originally purchased it.

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beauty in the time of isolation:

Today was clear but cold, and as I've been allowing the rain to keep me indoors far too much for my own good, it felt like a pleasure to go outside and walk round in circles in the neighborhood, though I need to get better at judging how many layers are enough for comfort now that early winter has arrived. There are more varied mushrooms than I've seen before, and these, a few blocks from here, were by far the largest. The biggest ones were larger than my (albeit small) hands!

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Adventures from my sleeping brain: I found myself driving up the back roads in wintertime, headed to analog Seattle with my friend Maeva, on a quest to find some secondhand workshop tools. I suggested we stop south of Tacoma, to check the thrift stores, as we might have success without having to drive so far. The roads were really icy, and it had obviously snowed earlier in the week. When we overshot the Value Village, I tried to turn around via the side streets, which were in terrible condition, and not all in a grid. Managed to get the car turned around in a small parking lot without running into the parked cars. Tried to get back onto the main road, but there were children crossing the street which required stopping on a hill. With ice. Was trying to get the car moving again, but the wheels were not gripping well enough. For some reason there were pillows jammed into the footwell, that were interfering with my feet accessing the gas and clutch pedals. (dreamland is wierd) I kept pulling the pillows out and handing them to Maeva, while also doing my best to get the car moving in the times the light was green. It was super stressful. Then I woke up. Whew! SO many ways to interpret this, (as well as so many memories of the difficulty of winter driving, in Massachusetts, and Washington, and Idaho)

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The batch of quince jelly turned out to be quince syrup. Not a problem, since I have about 5# more quinces, and since I use fruit preserves as a topping for greek yogurt. Apparently the website comment "it is done when it reaches 220°F" is a loose guideline, and I should have also done a plate test as well... The rest of the quinces will become more jelly, possibly some quincemeat, and if there is some left over, for quince paste, aka membrillo.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	leather thimble	recycle bin
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	teal popover dress	yard waste bin
3	6 jars pickled beets	jelly cloth	-
4	5 jars pear chunks	-	-
5	8 jars quince jelly syrup	-	-
6	-	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - Little linen rice bags. I remembered them, better late than never, and popped them into the microwave before bedtime, remembering to also put a pyrex glass of water in at the same time (something about having enough moisture inside the appliance when using it?). It is lovely to have a nice warm nest to tuck my cold feet into, and it does make relaxing downward into sleep a lot easier, and their heat lasts for hours.


* how to bone a turkey thigh

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine has a slow day...

beauty in the time of isolation:

When I was visiting my folks, and staying in a hotel, I tried to get out and walk each day it was possible. Which mostly meant an occasional walk round and round the hotel parking lots before it was time to drive over to the apartment. Behind the Other Hotel, there were these bright birch trees, growing in the ditch between the back of the hotel and the stone bluff. One day when I was walking, I found many curls of birchbark blown down to the asphalt path, though the trees themselves seemed unaffected and unharmed. I picked them up and put them aside to bring home with me, as a gifting from the trees, along with the pine cone I found in a parking lot. I plan on attempting some little woven baskets, if I can manage it...

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Oooh, my new teal linen arrived. That was fast, I ordered it Tuesday, and it was on my doorstep Thursday midday! And then, today, the teal cotton jersey showed up as well. I'm going to have fun planning wardrobe projects for the coming year. The lopi yarn I ordered at the beginning of the year, intending to make a lopapesya cardigan, includes a lovely teal as one of the accent colors. The floral blouse I made last year will coordinate, as will the one I made in Trios cotton lawn.

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Planning a 90th birthday card/book for my father... rather like a zine, actually, but put together with a Coptic binding for durability and ease of opening. The whole project would be easier if I had a functional printer here. I don't really want to go to the copy store. Instead, I am going to ask my family members to go old-school style and mail me their comments and words for inclusion in the book.

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Quince jelly has two ingredients, fruit and sugar, just like citrus marmalade, which is its descendant. Though in the case of jelly, one strains out the actual fruit and leaves just the juice. The only other ingredient is sugar. I am tempted to try making a quince marmalade, if I can figure out how to grate the quinces.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	leather thimble	recycle bin
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	teal popover dress	yard waste bin
3	6 jars pickled beets	-	-
4	5 jars pear chunks	-	-
5	8 jars quince jelly	-	-
6	-	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - Podcasts - so useful as auditory companions when doing other chores that don't allow handwork. Washing dishes is much more pleasant when it is accompanied by music and interesting conversation. The most recent one I found  and enjoy is Katie Green's "The Green Bean Podcast".

well preserved

in which our plucky heroine is feeling a bit less fraught and more focused today...

Preserving season is definitely here, and the sugar and vinegar acquired at the beginning of the week are already in use. The beets are in their jars in the boiling water, and as I wait out the 30 minutes till they can be set on the counter to cool, I am looking up the metrics for canned pear chunks.  The house has a lovely sweet fragrance from the several pounds of cooked quinces now tied up in cloth and draining their rosy juice to make into quince jelly tomorrow.

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Last night, in that liminal space between awake and totally fallen asleep, I fell instead into a horror story, where the dark spaces in the bedroom were squirming and enlarging, and the tree shadows across the window were monsters oozing in through the drafty places. Thankfully I remembered to reach out to the bedside lamp switch, and turn that story off. It wasn't the first time that the wavy darkness before sleep scared me, but it was definitely the worst one. I'm sure I am not the only person who sees things.

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assorted minor repairs being made... my everyday leather thimble has, over the years, gradually stretched out enough that it often jumped right off my finger. Today I punched a new set of stitching holes and restitched it smaller. Much better now! The thimble has really been getting a workout, since I am repairing the damage done to my popover dress (I took it with me on my trip as a nightdress)

The hotel we stayed at, while modern and LEED certified, was quite poorly designed* as far as the comfort and useability of the rooms were concerned. My poor dress was snagged and torn by the dreadful hook-shaped large handles on the cupboards in the otherwise fairly useful kitchenette space. In order to get some matching fabric to mend the tear, I've had to cut away a patch inside the pocket, and patch that with a different piece of fabric. Hopefully when all this mending is done, the torn spots will be camouflaged...

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~ creativity challenge ~

... not yet completed, two reverse applique kerchiefs, my handwork projects of the last few weeks... These small packable stitcheries are a great handwork project for traveling, as it takes up minimal space and materials, but requires hours of labor and is suitable for distraction while flying to the East Coast and back on a necessary trip to visit Aged Parents. I followed the dimensions in the first Alabama Chanin book, but used stencils from my own collection. The teal and blue kerchief (started before my trip and finished on the plane heading east), with the same roses stenciling as my AC jacket, turned out to be both really comfortable to wear, and a bit warmer than my usual Indian blockprinted voile headscarves, so perfect for wintertime. I used "visible knots" on that one. The brown, black and teal kerchief is not quite finished; I still need to complete stitching the larger flowers, and decide if I want to embroider the many tiny flower buds...

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	leather thimble	recycle bin
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	teal popover dress	yard waste bin
3	6  4oz jars pickled beets	-	-
4	5 8oz jars pears	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	-	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - Electric lights. They turn on when you turn a switch, the end point of a lot of technology and human effort, and hopefully the damage done in the process is balanced by the great difference they make.



* whinge whinge whinge.... The hotel room had two queen size beds, so ostensibly intended for at least two or possibly up to four people. It had an almost full kitchen, with large fridge, cooktop, microwave, and dishwasher. The aforementioned cabinet handles were in the shape of large rectangular hooks that stuck out from the cabinet doors at hip height. There was no table space to sit at to eat, other than a desk cubby behind the large flat screen TV, that seated one person, and a movable very small side table that pulled up to the couch. The beds, which were to their credit quite comfortable, with pleasant bedding (no vellux thankfully) were unfortunately set atop sharp-edged platforms that stuck out at least four inches on all sides, presenting a grave danger to shins, particularly at the corners. (I used the bedspread to pad the corners on mine, after the first painful encounter. There was one office/desk chair, a couch that seated two on the other side of the room facing the TV, and a pair of rather peculiar high stools that were interestingly sculptural, though unintended to suit the posterior of any human I ever met; these perhaps could be pulled up to provide seating of a sort, though too tall for the countertop, and much too tall for the desk or the end table. The room did have climate control of a kind, but neither my sister or I was able to figure out how to set the temperature, which came on randomly as blasts of cold air, or on one occasion, when I set it at 68F, it just began to pour hot air out instead, and I had to open the window for moderation. I did suggest to the front desk that it would be helpful to have instructions available.

time for teal and turquoise

in which our plucky heroine throws caution to the winds (metaphorically) ...

The Saturday morning Zoom meetings with my online sewing pals from SG is just about the most delightful thing in my current life! Something about the focus on our creative lives with others who are interested in the same thing lifts my spirits in a way that nothing in the current reality does.

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considering sewing for myself:

In a fit of extravagant self indulgence, I madly ordered three yards of teal linen for a new pinafore, and two yards of teal cotton jersey for a cardigan jacket. I blame it all on our discussion about wardrobe sewing last Sunday. I don't need any new clothing other than a raincoat... but it would be fun slowly create a few bits that will coordinate well with my uncharacteristically bright tie-dye top.

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Did some cooking this past weekend, for meals to send over to my dear SR, who is recovering from major surgery. I made a quince crisp, two quiches, and a tuna noodle casserole. My new oven works really well! Am about to start on preserves and jelly with the quinces, some canned pears with the bag of bosc pears that came with my milk delivery, and making space to set up the dehydrator for the multitude of persimmons. Oh, and a bit of pickled beets, inspired by the salads at The Fishwife, back in the Before Times, when restaurant eating was less fraught.

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My trip east and back, the reason for which would have been a challenge even in the Before Times, seems to have disrupted my already tenuous emotional equilibrium. I've always been somewhat fearful of crowds, of unknown people in general, and the pandemic, with the necessary isolation and potentially deadly consequences of human contact, has exacerbated my reactions. I know of nothing other than "compound tincture of time" that will allow my nervous system to uncurl from the small reactive ball of fear it currently is.

This week I attempted to take care of needful (and a few desired) tasks, shopping to restock the pantry, the freezer, and the spice shelf. I double mask when I go into public spaces. Penzeys was just right, only one other shopper, and lots of space. A trip to Costco was overwhelming, though folks were mostly all masked, and afterwards all I wanted was to be at home, take a shower, and lock my doors. The next day (yesterday) I rode transit across town, to drop off some of my no-nightshade ketchup at a friends house, and the trip there and back again was just waaay too much for me. The busses no longer have seats blocked off, so people are sitting close together, and not everyone wears a mask correctly, even though the rules are clearly posted, and there is a mask dispenser when you board. I actually got off the bus home once it was within a mile of home, and walked the rest of the way.

Yesterday evening, I needed to pick up a few additional things at the local grocery, as Costco had had no cider vinegar. While I was locking up my bike, a houseless woman came up behind me without my seeing her, and startled me mightily by asking me something. I am embarrassed to say that I screamed, and even more so that I couldn't stop loudly telling her to please go away and leave me alone. I never react well to being startled by someone behind my back. I couldn't stop shaking after that, and the aftereffects of the adrenaline took several hours to dissipate. I am sure that the woman herself was harmless, probably just wanted to ask for a handout of some kind, but at this point, I don't want to be near any humans at all that I do not already know and love.

My pantry and freezer are now fully stocked up, and for any perishables, I can order them through my milk delivery service. I think I will take a sabbatical from any close contact with people, for at least a week or two. No going into a store, no public transit. Sort of a reset, hopefully...

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	-	-
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	-	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude -  vaccination, which most likely allowed me to escape viral harm while traveling...

pounds and pounds of persimmons

in which our plucky heroine makes ketchup...

I have several friends that cannot eat nightshade fruit in any form, and a few years ago, when my parking strip tree first had an abundant harvest, the idea of making persimmon ketchup crossed my mind. Persimmons have a similar pH to tomatoes, which makes substituting them in recipes easy as far as food safety is concerned. (persimmon pH : 4.4 - 4.7 ... tomato pH : 4.3 - 4.9)

Persimmon Ketchup


(adapted* from the tomato ketchup recipe, "Food In Jars" by Marisa McClellan)

4# persimmons,peeled and cubed
½ c chopped yellow onion (optional)
¼ c cranberries
1 c cider vinegar
6 T brown sugar
½ t celery seed
½ t mustard seed
½ t whole allspice
½ crushed cinnamon stick
¼ t ground black pepper

(optional) several sliced peeled beets **

{# = pounds, c = cups, T = tablespoons, t = teaspoons}

Combine persimmons, onions, and cranberries and cook until soft about a half hour or more. Pay attention that it does not stick to pan and burn, mixture will be thick.
Puree with a stick blender.

Add vinegar, sugar, and celery seed. Tie mustard seed, allspice, and cinnamon in muslin or use a tea ball, and add to mixture

If desired, add several peeled sliced beets, to shift the color of ketchup towards red.  (note for the beet averse, they are not left in the ketchup, merely simmered in the pot to add color)

Simmer over low heat until desired consistency, bearing in mind that it will thicken when cool. Remove beets and bag of spices. If a very smooth consistency is desired, force ketchup through a fine sieve before processing. I found using the porcelain pestle from my mortar made that process easier, and that I preferred it sieved. Celery seeds are tiny, but tiny ≠ nonexistent.

six 8oz jars, ½" headspace, process 10 minutes


* substitutions made: persimmon for tomato, cranberry for red bell pepper, black pepper for cayenne. I also entirely eschew the use of cloves as a seasoning, as my very first attempt at this recipe, despite reducing the amount of whole clove to a miniscule amount, resulted in a condiment that would serve well as a dental numbing gel, YMMV...

** my pal Cricket suggested using beets; undyed persimmon ketchup is a sort of yellowy-orange color...

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	-	-
2	6 jars persimmon ketchup	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	-	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - Bounteous sweetness from my little tree, enough to share with other people as well...

there and back again, once again

in which our plucky heroine returns from a long journey...

I went to visit my Aged Parents, who live just outside of Boston. It has been several years since we last saw each other - I'd planned on a visit in the spring of 2020, and we all know how that year unfolded.

I had* to fly, since there have been no roomettes available on Amtrak between here and Chicago for months now.  Air travel has not improved since the last time I was on a plane years ago.  Also, the number of people I saw who either purposefully did not wear their masks properly, or who removed their masks to eat or drink and then just didn't bother to replace them was very disheartening.

I was gone for ten days, and am now completely exhausted. Each day was spent with my family, primarily time with mom and dad during the day, and then at the hotel with my sister each night. I was able to spend one day visiting my brother and his wife, which was a special treat and a bit of a respite from the challenge of seeing how much more frail my folks are, and doing what little they allowed us to do to help them, as well as trying to sort out various needful paperwork such as getting medical proxy forms in place and suchlike. The good part of the trip was several chances to hear stories from my parents earlier lives together, and from when they were children. My older nephews and my sisters husband flew in for a long weekend, and made video recordings of the storytelling. I enjoyed the chance to connect with the nephews a bit; I never really spent any time with while they were growing up, since we all live so far from one another.

I wish that there had somehow been time to do a few "just for fun" things on this trip. I'd have loved to drive around and look at the various places I spent so much of my growing-up years, and compare and contrast the nowadays with the memories. I'd hoped to get to the MFA with my sister-in-law, as she suggested that seeing the Fabric of a Nation exhibition. It would have been a delight to take a few hours and drive up to Lowell to the New England Quilt Museum, and see the Salley Mavor  "Bedtime Stories" exhibition. I've never seen her work in person, though I own several of her books, both the ones for children, and the ones detailing how to create wee felt folk. One of those purchased by my mom in 2010, and signed by the author, as seen in this photo from the previous Salley Mavor exhibition. But there was no time. Museums and exhibits will, with luck, continue to happen. Time with parents is more specifically finite

Aging is hard. My dad will be 90 in January, and my mom is 87. Both are more than somewhat frail, both have multiple health issues, and my mom basically can't walk any more, and seems to be affected with some form of cognition issues. The basic activities of living take longer, and use more of what limited energy they have available. My parents are refusing most assistance that would make their lives easier, as having in home caregivers did not work out well for them. They have finally  at least agreed to have a once a week housecleaner. My dad is doing all the cooking, shopping, as well as all personal care for my mom, and his love for her is palpable. This will not end well, but is their choice. Even were I to tear up stakes and move across the country, I doubt they would not accept my aid.  My heart is breaking over and over again. I am glad I made the trip, despite the difficulty, as their situation could change in the blink of an eye... 

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beauty in the time of isolation:

New England in the autumn, even past the peak, still has such natural beauty

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	roses kerchief	-	-
2	-	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	-	x	-
7	-	x	x
8	-	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitude - the EMT folks from 911, who have more than once been called to pick my mother up from the floor when she has fallen, and returned her either to her bed, her wheelchair, or when needed, transported her to hospital.





* I prefer to use rail travel both for philosophical/ethical reasons and for safeguarding my health by not subjecting my lymphedema to the challenge of air travel