Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine gradually feels a bit better...

I was really worried about my physical heath yesterday, with aches, headache and a scratchy throat. Today I feel fine, and if I continue feeling well for the next few days I will be confident I have avoided the dreaded plague.

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 71 ~

Day 71/100 (page 15) - I remember making this embroidered patch back in 2017, when my grey popover dress was torn on a nail. Since the dress is now too worn out to wear, I chose to salvage the patch for my stitchbook project. The flower here was designed to match the floral japanese fabric I used as an edge binding, I am going to see if I can find any remaining scraps... it would be fun to add that to this page!

※※※

Oh huzzah! I found out that there is a setting on the computer that was turned off, that made all the scroll bars disappear. It has been driving me crazy ever since the most recent update, as navigating pages is difficult without a "handle"... true, they do take up a little bit of real estate on the page, but now I no longer need to either wave the cursor about at random, or use the keyboard arrows repeatedly...

※※※

Mom recieved her first dose of Paxlovid this morning, and is doing as well as could be hoped for... still coughing, still tired, staying in bed in isolation, and they are carefully watching her O₂. I wish there was some way for her to have a radio, or some music, or something besides just laying in bed. But then I also wish her whole situation was different. Sigh and alas...

※※※

I did several things today that would have been difficult for me in past years. I guess I have gotten to the age of I just don't care, combined with the age of I try and be cheerful, kind, and a bit funny (if appropriate) when talking to strangers... Phonecalls were terribly difficult for me for years decades, and still are at times, but much easier than when I was younger. I called the phone company to let them know that a huge tree had fallen against the phone lines on the next block, in back of a vacant house. No one there is likely to call it in as a problem, since the house has been vacant for months. And I called the care home where my mom is, to ask for more information on her status, despite my not knowing who to ask for, since the head nurse is on vacation. I was able to get answers to my questions, and cheerfully commiserate with the substitute about how busy her day was likely to be...

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	5 tiny triptychs	tapemeasure fob	recycle bin
7	mushroom tinyprints	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	pages 12 and 13	x	x
9	page 14	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 gratitudes -  
1. finding the magic setting to get my scroll bars back!!
2. Paxlovid for mom
3. This morning the weather was dry and not too cold, so my morning walk was pleasant, and I found a few more signs of springtime...

Time of Isolation - Day 1017

strolling and scrolling along

in which our plucky heroine appreciates small things...

Again I started the day with going for a walk outside... what did I notice on my walk? I saw a pair of mallard ducks also out for a walk, these are not common in my neighborhood, as we have no ponds. I also noticed that the violets in my front yard have started blooming. They are so similar in size and shape to the fallen plum blossoms, and are only a little lighter in color. I don't know how these almost white violets arrived here, but they return every spring. Sometimes I also have some pink violets blooming a bit later, but nowhere are there any violet violets!

※※※

~ Scythian scroll ~

what I do so I don't fret: I work on scribal artistry... I spent some time adding in shading to the golden Scythian beasts, raw umber over the yellow ochre works well. Depending on what angle you look at the painting, and what angle the light is at, the single layer of metallic looks either bright gold or dull yellow. I will be adding more layers of metallic paint before I start on texturing the background, which represents a felted wool textile.

※※※

Not much news about my Mom today, my brother responded that she is fatigued, congested and coughing, and that he is pretty sure they have ordered Paxlovid...

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 70 ~

Day 70/100 (page 14) - finished up the last of the embroidery. Tomorrow I will start on page 15, and use the embroidery from mending my grey popover dress (originally made in 2015, and mended in 2017) as the centerpiece. That dress fabric has become too worn in some spots continue wearing, but I am hoping to be able to salvage the neckline and hemline to use on another dress

※※※

I am feeling puny tonight, and will go to bed early, despite all the work left undone still. My head hurts and my throat feels rough. I hope it is just stress. If I feel well tomorrow, I am going to make cookies to send up to Olympia, and will save out a few to reward myself for doing difficult things.

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	5 tiny triptychs	tapemeasure fob	recycle bin
7	mushroom tinyprints	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	pages 12 and 13	x	x
9	page 14	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 gratitudes -  
1. violets in the lawn
2. Past Me cleverly stashed away "Family Size" Ricola bags
3. I remembered how much I like homemade coleslaw, and made to go with dinner

Time of Isolation - Day 1016

wishful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine desires better habits...

I keep wanting myself to go out for a walk first thing in the morning, but not actually doing it.* Not only is the activity of outdoor sunlight soon after waking proven to help with sleep regulation, but I am certain there will be other yet unknown to me benefits to starting my day with a walk. This morning once I got up and dressed and saw that it was a lovely sunny day outside, I thought, today!

I have had such success so far with the stitchbook project, why not treat morning walkies the same way? Plus starting in the early springtime is surely the best choice to create a habit, as the climate is often moderate. (In the summer, first thing in the morning will avoid dreadful heat, and by next winter, the habit should be set) So, with timer in one pocket of my chore jacket, and Nandina and Almandine in the other I set out...

※※※

~ 100 day walking photos - day 1 ~

1/100 - The growing shoots of the lovage plant tower far overhead as Nandina and Almandine enjoy a spot of sunlight in the front yard garden.

※※※

I am worried. Just found out that my elderly mother has tested positive for Covid. We are waiting to hear back from her physician if the drug interactions between Paxlovid and her current medications mean that use of the antiviral is possible and safer than not prescribing. What a dreadful situation. This will be her second bout with the virus, she had an asymptomatic case back in January 2021.

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 69 ~

Day 69/100 (page 14) - I love the look of the narrow clear lines created by outline stitch. And here also, the sweet pawprints return...  I am sewing with a single strand of DMC floss, doubled. I like stitching with a John James "Chenille" needle, as it has a nice large eye which makes for easy threading, and I often knot the end of the thread, as there is nothing worse than losing a needle into carpeting.

I've also decided that if I can figure out a way to include my motto "Proficere lente sed proficere" somehow on a page, that would be great, since "incremental progress is still progress" surely describes part of the essence of the 100 day stitchbook project. Wanting to plan ahead seems rather contrary to how I have been approaching the stitchery, but since it is my book, I can change the rules when I want to.

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	5 tiny triptychs	tapemeasure fob	recycle bin
7	mushroom tinyprints	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	pages 12 and 13	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 gratitudes -  
1. work that is challenging enough to keep me from brooding
2. the scent of daphne
3. familial consensus

Time of Isolation - Day 1015

Tuesday tidings

in which our plucky heroine takes a trip to outer Gresham...

Today was time for a trip to the dentist. The transportation logistics worked out smoothly. I completed a number of my everyday chores much earlier in the morning than I had intended... And, of course, extra early awakening also meant that by midafternoon a nap was required after I returned home from the excursion. And despite my sleep/wake being all discombobulated again overall, the day went well...

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 68 ~

Day 68/100 (page 14) - you can probably see where I am going with this... I plumb love those curly clouds and couldn't resist adding a few here. But also very much loved the adorable dog pawprints, so rescued them to reapply between the cloud and the raven!

※※※

Going to the dentist was exhausting. First the waking up at 4am because my brain wanted to make certain I was not going to oversleep and not be ready in time for my ride to a 1pm appointment. (note to Subconscious Self: seven hours time cushion is excessive) Being around random people, some who are unmasked in public is difficult for me now. That said, overall I would rate the experience a 6/10. The good part was that my teeth are in good shape, the hygienist was impressed with the condition of my teeth and gums, and dear Dr Moon was as well when she gave me the examination. So my efforts to take better care have made a difference. They both were amused/confused but accepting of my "nose mask", which I kludged together from a cut up N 95 and some Mask-Tite adhesive strips. By the time I got home I was so tired that I just fell asleep all afternoon. So much for sorting out my sleep/wake cycle...

※※※

I think my experiment to avoid wheat/gluten is not helping me to have less rosacea. My skin looks absolutely no better than when I started six weeks ago. I don't intend to go hogwild with eating wheat products, but will allow myself an occasional indulgence.  It is more important to my overall health to reduce the amount of grain food total in favor of more veggies and more protein.

※※※

a new tiny print from my distant past... Back in the early 80's I cut up pink erasers into thirds and carved a dozen seasonal motifs. Somehow I've managed not to lose most of them across the miles and the years, and they are still in good enough condition that all the details still print well.

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	5 tiny triptychs	tapemeasure fob	recycle bin
7	mushroom tinyprints	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes -  
1. XLB for the win. We stopped here for outdoor food on the way home from the dentist. It was almost their closing time, and they were all out of the favorite, soup dumplings. Instead, tried a new to me menu item "five spice popcorn chicken", which was delicious, and so perfectly fried and ungreasy it seemed as if it had been baked, served with lemon wedges and fried fresh basil leaves as a garnish. It is such a Very Rare Treat to get food I didn't cook for myself.
2. I will never get tired of being able to video chat; today with my friend Leslie almost halfway across the planet... in addition to our usual topics, we ended up going down a geography rabbit hole. (Her location turns out to be further north than mine by a substantial amount, but her climate is currently rather ahead of us in the springtime season)
3. two new little 6" square pans, which will be used to attempt homemade fresh rice noodles, because homemade chow fun
4. My teeth and gums were in good enough condition as to warrant comments...

Time of Isolation - Day 1014

a very minimal Monday

in which our plucky heroine has not yet caught up on sleep...

so plans on an early bedtime...

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 67 ~

Day 67/100 (page 14) - I cut off about ⅓ of one of the small Japanese indigo scraps (a gift from my pal Ursel) to use to help bridge between the silk piece from yesterday and the background. I didn't want the page to be entirely brownish, and figured adding in some indigo blue would help both connect the raven patch to the background, and connect the page to the rest of the book.

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	5 tiny triptychs	tapemeasure fob	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes -  
1. I found a local source for Looza Mango Juice! Yum yum yum... now I can once again make desserts like "mango jello"
2. today was dry and sunny, perfect for bike riding
3. had a nice phone chat with my oldest friend Sharon

Time of Isolation - Day 1013

art and artifact

in which our plucky heroine is feeling creative...

There are more things I want to make than I have time in the day for making...

※※※

~ a tiny triptych ~

This is what I made from some of the wee block prints I made earlier... Five of these small triptych folders will be added to my growing collection of handmade treats for the Advent of a Better Year Swap. When closed the folder is just over 1⅛" square, and the outside is covered in origami paper.  I was jokingly calling these "The Gods of Northwest Winter Weather, which led to an interesting Crafternoon discussion. I'm tempted to make more of these tiny triptychs, possibly with different paper covers, and if I can find some more ⅛" ribbon, it wouldn't be too hard to add a ribbon closure. I do very much want to make more micro block prints both linocut and saf-t-cut... (and maybe some printed patches as well, which would be fun for the advent treat collection)

※※※

It is a month into increasing my medication dosages, and I am not seeing the improvement my PCP suggested might happen, but rather the numbers I track at home are actually worse than they were at the lower dosage. I will be curious to find out if at my three month check-in if there is any other areas of improvement.

※※※

Day 66/100 - An overview of thirteen pages of the 100 day stitchbook project. When completed in April there will be twenty pages... I don't understand the why of it, but this process and activity seems to feel currently like a kind of natural language and behavior for me...

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 66 ~

Day 66/100 (page 14) - found a scrap of ikat silk blockprinted with some of the Novgorod ravens (from the block I carved for Marya's Laurel elevation rubakha (undergown) and thought it deserved better than to languish in a drawer... Base fabric is a bit of printed cotton from some of the fabric that Cricket brought back from Japan, the same piece that the Akita puppy on page 1 is from.

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	5 tiny triptychs	tapemeasure fob	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes -  
1. Past me acquired much DMC embroidery floss
2. Ann Wood for sponsoring/coordinating the 100 day stitchbook project
3. some excellent Crafternoon discussions, and a chance to chat with Rois

Time of Isolation - Day 1012

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine is ready for early bedtime...

Apparently it snowed last night, since when I awoke, there were fragments of snow in all the shadows around the yard. It remained cold (mid 40's F) when I went out later for a bike ride, cold enough that I wanted my wool Totoro gloves, and cold enough that there were still snow fragments around the edges of cars that had remained parked. That said, and despite that I found a wooly cardigan and my canvas chore jacket were needed for comfort, I was seeing some folks out and about on the street in flip flops and tank tops! Sunny skies ≠ warmth, necessarily...

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 65 ~

Day 65/100 (page 13) - The final touch is a bit subtle, but emphasizes the landscape aspect...

In addition, I took some time during our delightful fortnightly Sewing Nomads zoom meeting to continue and complete the new embroidery on page 4. That page has always felt somewhat incomplete to me, and I was inspired, after adding the cloud outline to page 13, to add another "layer" of meaning to page 4. I'm quite pleased with the transformation:

※※※

It took me ages to find someplace to buy a package of paper clips! Fortunately I had the time to make some phone calls, but I was quite shocked that they were so hard to find. I finally tracked some down at the local art store (where they were in the clearance section, and were not going to be replaced on the shelf) I am just old enough to remember when a "stationery store" was something small and local, with paper goods and office supply sorts of notions, and various delightful items. I fear those have gone the way of the local grocery store to be supplanted by a big box shop, that is harder to get to, and only sells things in big boxes. Sigh and alas.

But why, you may wonder, does our plucky heroine want some paper clips? Well, as I add printmaking to my creative endeavors, I will need a place to hang up the tiny prints I make, while their ink dries. (since I am using oil based ink, that takes a few days a least.) I can hook mini clothespins to a paper clip, and hang the other end of the paper clip off a high cord and create a tidy and out of harms way drying rack

※※※

~ the Raincoat Project progress report ~

Not the best selfie ever, but I just didn't feel like setting up the tripod and all that faffing about with self timer... The outer shell of the raincoat is finished, and I'm most pleased with how it turned out. The length is perfect, and it will be roomy enough for layering. The shoulders are what please me the most, being worth all the effort I put in to properly fit the chore jacket. My alteration of the back of the shawl collar worked just as I had hoped. I really like the contrast of the black collar with the brown coat, and will alter the facing to have that be a feature. I think that combined with the black toggle fasteners, and possibly black edgebinding, it will definitely have a distinctive style.

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes - 
1. more spring flowers today, and the star magnolia buds are starting to break open!
2. kale and sweet potato makes an interesting variation on colcannon
3. it was so very good to have zoom time with my Mud Bay pals tonight.

Time of Isolation - Day 1011

très fatigué Friday

in which our plucky heroine remains somewhat unstuck in time...

I finally managed to get to sleep sometime after 2am. I am not sure why I am enmeshed in insomnia... Yesterday was not entirely wasted, and despite the headache/peculiar pain in my eye which took up much of the day I made progress on many of my projects. Today a bit less, but still some.

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 64 ~

day 64/100 (page 13) - cloud motif in counter-changed outline stitch... I think I will add some stylised tree embroidery (where the chalk marks are currently) to complete this tomorrow...

It also occurs to me, that if I added the outline of a deer to page 4 it might feel more complete to me; I had been considering adding deer to this page, but trees felt more correct somehow

※※※

Since one of my goals for this year is to do more with printmaking, I was very excited to find out that there will be a four session online free class on the process of reduction linocut, which is a thing I have been really wanting to learn for ages, and seem to be now finding information readily available. Perhaps it is one rare good thing about "The Algorithim"? or just my own good luck reasserting itself? (I remember scouring the printmaking books at Powells in the Before Times and finding zilch). I have most of the needed supplies already, and will enjoy learning more skills

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes - 
1. free class in exactly my current interest!
2. being included in an online social event next month
3. making good progress on the Raincoat Project, and remembering that The Perfect is the enemy of the Good Enough! It is starting to look like a coat.

Time of Isolation - Day 1010

another busy day

in which our plucky heroine tries to pay attention to the good, even though focus is a bit more of a challenge...

am continuing to make progress in various directions, despite setbacks. This morning was much colder than the previous several days, and I have returned to wearing a wool cardigan indoors, and multiple layers outdoors...

※※※

Tiny print Tuesday, just a tad tardy... I've been meaning to try printing these little 1" square blocks up for a while now, and it also seemed like a good chance to try out the Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash ink I bought last year... I love how the ink handles, and am curious how long it will take to dry. I want to set up a small scale drying rack for these; I have some mini clothes pins, and if I can find some paper clips I'll be all set!

My intention with these is to create some little celestial tryptichs as additional artifacts both for the tinyworld, and to use as Advent Swap gifts... Once they are dry, I will have to see how that turns out.

※※※

I woke up today with a dreadful pain in my left eye. Very scary. It hurt to open and close it, so I immediately headed to the washroom and splashed cool water, which did little, then used some of the lubricating eye drops from my emergency first aid, which helped a bit. Over the course of the day, it continues to improve. I think I must have had a speck of dust or pollen or something, and will continue paying careful attention.

※※※

~ 100 day stitchbook - day 63 ~

Day 63/100 (page 13) - started on the outline embroidery for the cloud overlay. Nina Paley's tips on drawing the cloud spirals were really helpful. I spent a bit more than half an hour on the stitchery this morning, and could have spent more than twice that, but am determined to not embroider all day long!

※※※

In my ongoing effort to get my raincoat finished during the actual rainy season this year, I started on the sleeves. Getting the topstitching done involves diving inside the sleeve starting at the wide end, and stitching a few stitches at a time while gradually shoving the tube of sleeve further along and carefully holding the fabric layers in the correct orientation. Doable, but a challenge nonetheless...

※※※

I was able to do a bit more on the Scythian scroll last night and today. Hard to believe that filling in the background between the gaps in the antlers took several hours, most of which was figuring out what parts of the counter-changed patterning should be visible so as to make the background appear contiguous and carefully transferring my drawing into the spaces. Pretty happy with the results:

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes - 
1. letter from Lisa - I sent on a copy of my "Requiem" blog post to her, and got a lovely message in return. It is never a bad thing to share with folks the positive difference they have made in life...
2. I am a doofus. My dental appointment is next week, not today. That allows me time to try and DIY a nose mask for when I am at the dentist office getting my teeth cleaned. I have ordered some medical double sticky tape and will attempt to cut down one of my regular masks to fit just my nose.
3. Past me, which somehow decided to try a different flavor of sauerkraut. OlyKraut "Eastern European" flavor, which contains not just cabbage, but also onion, carrot, green apple, and some grapefruit juice and caraway for extra flavor. Unlike my reaction to the standard stuff, this is yummy!

Time of Isolation - Day 1009

wishful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine misses Earth That Was...

nothing to do but go ahead on, and make the best of Earth that is Now... I do my best to find things to appreciate, and to share those things here and wherever I find myself.

※※※

~ Scythian scroll~

This is the current state of the Scythian scroll... hopefully in the next few weeks I will find the time to add more layers to both the background and to the golden beasts that are the focal point. I have been learning so much while working on this project!

almost finished with the first layer of underpainting the background. I had to add a very light layer of metallic paint to the beasts (not as reflective as it appears in the photo), because there are places where they overlap some of the golden yellow background motifs. I still need to draw in the places in the background motifs that underlay the complicated beasts openwork areas and fill those in.

note, the small blank oval in the upper left is actually marked "seal goes here" to indicate where the official Kingdom seal should be placed.

※※※

Today was the last day Green Zebra was open. I had to go inside and look around one last time. Most of the stock was gone, but there were a few random things remaining, all at 75% off. I bought several small containers of bulk maple syrup, which I will decant into canning jars and waterbath process for safe long term storage. Lisa, the CEO, was working the register, so I had a chance to say goodbye to her in person. We both tried not to cry. It is a big loss to our community both the local residents and the workers.

※※※

100 day stitch book project - day 62 ~

day 62/100 (page 13) - stitched down the selvage strips... and on to thinking about adding more cloud motifs, this time in embroidery...

some times I love my brain... I have a rubbishy memory but once in a while it pulls something out of the data banks just when I need it! I was wanting to add some asian/himalayan style clouds to my current stitchbook page, and when mulling it over, I remembered that Nina Paley had written a blog post about how to draw them, and how to think about drawing them, which I apparently read back in 2011!

Spiral In, Spiral Out
※※※

I am feeling really frustrated about the current laissez-faire attitude about COVID infection. So many people I know, who are fully vaccinated and boostered, are currently catching the virus and becoming ill, some really ill. The CDC party line no longer requires masking or any other precautions even in medical and dental facilities, which makes getting necessary care unnecessarily dangerous, particularly for anyone with a medical history that puts them at high risk. I am high risk, for multiple factors in the past entirely out of my control. I have an upcoming dental appointment for "cleaning and checkup". I don't want to not care for my teeth, but the idea of spending time in an indoor semi-public space with my mouth open for long periods of time has me terrified. I even tried to figure out if there was some way to tape a mask over my nose, but that proved to be impossible. Preventative care should not be a deadly gamble...

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes - 
1. maple syrup for future use
2. This explanation of reduction printmaking is really understandable
3. my suggestion for a simple doggish enrichment hack (for a friends dog) was successful

Time of Isolation - Day 1008

a sunny day

in which our plucky heroine appreciates the weather...

'tis a lovely "first day of spring"... the weather is moderate, at least for today. I noticed that the ornamental plum trees in the front yard are beginning to be dusted with pink, as their buds open. Every day the nubbins on the quince tree get larger. And, best of all practical changes, it was dry and breezy, which meant that I could hang todays laundry out on the clothesline!

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 61 ~

Day 61/100 (page 13) - picked up two scraps that had fallen to the workroom floor, and after a bit of judicious snipping and moving around, et voila... (I may add more clouds as just outline stitched motifs in white against the turquoise background)

※※※

Put in several hours this evening painting in the background of the scroll for Raven. I've almost finished the first layer of underpainting, and dabbed a bit of the Finetec metallic paint on the Scythian beast for better contrast. Once I figure out the details that underlay the beasts' head and antlers, I can get the rest of that layer completed. There will be at least two more layers of painting on the background, and probably three more on the beasts ..

※※※

Yesterday I found the larger part of a very empty animal skull in my driveway. Based on the size, and the shape of the teeth still present, I am guessing cat rather than rodent. It was a little baffling, but also interestingly shaped, so I picked it up and moved it to the front porch. When I returned from my bike ride, the skull was not where I left it, though I found it again in one of the empty planter pots nearby, with some of the bone around the eye sockets chewed away, and a rather pissed off squirrel (now named "Skullbiter") staring at me from the tree branches.I moved the skull inside one of the salad table cages, where it should be safe from further depredation for the time being, until I can find the time to draw it.

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes - 
1. air dried clothing, the first of this year
2. Firesign Theater, courtesy of YouTube
3. leftovers for dinner, so yummy!

Time of Isolation - Day 1007

faith is the ground, stubborn is the crop

in which our plucky heroine remembers what she used to say decades ago...

I remember the many years where only my stubborn determination kept me going, years when I was bitterly unhappy. (I haven't felt like that in a long time now, though nowadays I struggle instead with isolation)

I've been making slow somewhat steady progress in various directions on various current projects. One lesson of the 100 day stitchbook is that even taking small chunks of time every day is useful. The wires for the new regalia orders are getting shaped. I refurbished refurnished the worm bin with fresh bedding. Every day a bit further on the raincoat. I'm calling Mom more, even though it hurts. I've even made some sketches in my bujo for the Enamel Art Jam.

※※※

~ signs of springtime ~

Lovage sprouting in the front yard is a sure sign of the season... as is the start of flowers on the forsythia in the parking strip, and the very beginning of buds on the quince tree...

※※※

Progress on the raincoat project - both pockets are done now, and the side front seams, and the center back seam. Hopefully tonight I can carve out some time to get the shoulder seams done as well, and maybe the sleeve underarm seams... After that, I will be able to attach the sleeves to the side panels, and assemble the shell of the coat. Then it will be time to really do some good thinking about how to generate a lining pattern, and how to attach the lining... and also to do more sampling of the best way to treat the edges...

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 60 ~

Day 60/100 (page 12) - after wondering what on earth I could usefully add to the page, I then happened to find the missing bag of tulle scraps. A layer of slightly sparkly translucency across the quarter circle seems just right.

I meant to mention earlier that after struggling for several days with how wiggly/flimsy the silk fabric scrap was to work with (despite my overcasting the edges), I decided to use padstitching to attach the silk rectangle to a supporting rectangle of midweight linen. The very small stitches on the front are connected with fairly long stitches on the back side, in a stitch that is related to running stitch or hem stitching. I learned this technique when exploring Renaissance tailoring, and every once in a while it is just the right thing to use...

※※※

I've been trying to phone Mom several times a week. I can't tell if her flat response is from the disease or from medication. At least she knows who I am. I guess this is, for me, a new sort of chronic pain I will learn to live with. I miss both my parents something fierce. Maybe if I had not been so connected to them in my adult life it wouldn't hurt so much, but like everything else in the past, "can't make it didn't happen."

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	5 strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	7 lotus star booklets	rebedded worms	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes -
1. the bin of worms is still very much alive, despite a few weeks of neglect
2. I found a box of rice lasagna noodles in the pantry, and they work really well
3. stubborn persistence works almost as well as true motivation

Time of Isolation - Day 1106

weekend whatnots

in which our plucky heroine notices more signs of spring...

There were purple crocus flowers, and here and there some narcissus in peoples yards earlier today when I went out for a bike ride. Now, this evening, the rain has returned, and is bucketing down most noisily... time to go spend an hour or so at the sewing machine, working on the raincoat project.

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 58 and 59 ~

Day 59/100 (page 12) - a bit of running stitch geometry helps define the corners... 

Day 58/100 (page 12) - added the calyxes and stems to the persimmons, and a bit of couched stitching instead of the running stitches curve. I'm glad I decided to make one of the persimmons red, it'd be a lot less lively with all of them just orange..

※※※

I've been putting in a small bit of time every day on some small star books for the Advent swap later this year, and have them partially finished. I still need to add the internal text and any cover decorations. I plan on the Marge Piercy quote* inside the books, and using the little sun and moon blocks to print squares for the front and back covers. When these are done, I will have completed twelve of the many tiny gifts needed. At this rate, I will hopefully be finished well before October, which is when the randomised swap packets will be put together and mailed out, so that everyone will receive their assortment in plenty of time before December 1st. I will probably save the rest of the origami papers in the package, the ones that I didn't use on the covers, for wrapping paper on all thirty-one of the gifts before the swap/exchange happens this autumn.

※※※

Today I found out that my youngest nephew is coming to spend the summer here in Portland... He will be staying with one of his online friends, and plans on getting a job for a few months before returning back to college in the autumn. I hope he will enjoy his time here, have fun adventures with his friends, and maybe find some time to stop by and say hello to his old auntie...

※※※

March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 9	chore jacket snaps	recycle bin
2	strawberry needlekeeps	rain capelet neckline	yard waste bin
3	page 10	Stanley power strip	ceiling fan blades
4	page 11	pruned elderberry	more ceiling fan blades
5	-	-	yard waste bin
6	x	x	recycle bin
7	x	x	crocs of slip-n-fall
8	x	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 gratitudes -
1. new sewing machine needles, which will make the raincoat project just a tad easier
2. enough asparagus that I can make an asparagus quiche tomorrow
3. social time with friends

Time of Isolation - Day 1105

* "this night the sun and moon dance, and you and I dance, in the fire of which we are the logs, the matches, and the flames." - Marge Piercy