time it was

in which our plucky heroine goes to bed early...

...in the hope of sleeping through the midnight boomstick and 'splosion foolishness... no luck, as there was such a shake-the-windows loud noise just after 11 that I may have levitated up off the bed out of my sound sleep. And now I am awake, and will wait until the intermittent adrenaline junkies get it out of their systems. My tiny festive meal for tomorrow is all prepared, and the black eyed peas are simmering in the crock pot overnight; I've prepared cooked greens, and spiced corn pancakes, and this year I made a saffron cream sauce sweetened with golden syrup to put over the carrot coins.

※※※

~ always ~

"The verses are a roadmap of how to live a good life and be a good person, each of them punctuated with that rousing chorus:

Ring the old year out
Ring the new year in
Bring us all good luck
Let the good guys win "

- Charles de Lint

※※※

2025 has been the 11th year of using SMART goals as a tool for personal accountability and well being, and it continues to be helpful. 

I actually do what is more of a slight variation on SMART goals (which are intended to be "Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely"), but I change out the "Achievable" to "Achieved". I only include what I have done, not what I hope/intend to do in the future. This keeps my interaction with record keeping positive, while also encouraging me to continue to act in ways that can be recorded as positive actions.

Training theory says that X-ing out tickey-boxes is a Useful Signal and helps in changing habits.  That as certainly proved true over the last decade... For me, the combination of a monthly active chart that I add to with every blog post, and a larger whole year chart that is filled in every month with progress, continues to work well to encourage my efforts to move forward over the year, as well as showing me both where I am investing my time, and where I could use a bit more attention. 

There is something very satisfying about seeing the actions of a whole year delineated, and to notice all the things that were created, or repaired, or let go of in the last year, despite how little it felt like, and how much still remains undone or unfinished...

SMART goals challenge 2025

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blood orange marmalade	bike headlamp	yard waste bin
2	heraldic enamel	passport photo	recycle bin
3	crayon roll	crystal necklace	recycle bin
4	xp2 undies	passport applied for	recycle bin
5	pot lid rack	pattern longjanes	recycle bin
6	aluminum stitch markers	pear tree planted	recycle bin
7	"wing it" vest	stripe sleeves	squirrel nest
8	tiny valentines	milliput handles	recycle bin
9	heartfelt ornament	horse earring	yard waste bin
10	dragon garland	more broach handles	art exchange
11	strawberry rhubarb sauce	black keyboard covers	many dead weeds
12	running horse prints	turtleneck collar	recycle bin
13	6 dozen cookies	rainbow fibulae	yard waste bin
14	lino block carved	bucket handle	recycle bin
15	tiny faux patchwork quilt	grey pinafore	recycle bin
16	quince pie	pruned marjoram	yard waste bin
17	multiple lino proofs	slipper soles	recycle bin
18	6 quince breads	bicycle derailleur	yard waste bin
19	flooring Caer Cardboard	"a-y-a" replaced	recycle bin
20	mocha cake	worm bin bedding	yard waste bin
21	6 button books	cleaned hallway air grilles	recycle bin
22	blue skirt Opal	hem long janes	2 arborvitae
23	2 pr undies toiles	points on fibulae	plastic trash bin
24	model for F.L.A.G	pruned baby persimmon	greenwaste bin
25	heraldic fern painted	weeded half the SWP's	recycle bin
26	XP2 sun protection	shipova planted	recycle bin
27	heraldic plaque	smoothed half side gate	greenwaste bin
28	spicy peanut sauce	got TDaP vaccine	recycle bin
29	3 prs undies	persimmon mulched	greenwaste bin
30	pendant for Cricket	pruned figs	recycle bin
31	2 more prs undies	2024 taxes	danger bug
32	2 amanita softies	hip joints for tinyfolk	greenwaste bin
33	Laeriel enamel	added pea trellis	recycle bin
34	Laeriel setting	planted Seckel pear	recycle bin
35	12 tiny Totoros	Juliet tomato planted	greenwaste bin
36	Cloud Mountain cowl	marigolds planted	greenwaste bin
37	Raven scroll	pear branchlets weighted	greenwaste bin
38	black floral scarf	turtleneck to Eames top	recycle bin
39	4 jars strawberry- rhubarb preserves	more trellis for peas	greenwaste bin
40	sunblock mitts	concrete blocks moved	recycle bin
41	catch tarp for porch	planted sprouty taters	persimmon prunings
42	mini 3D plant stand	dyed yarn brown	greenwaste bin
43	7 pebble kittens	replace clothesline	recycle bin
44	4 jar storage trays	new smoke alarm battery	recycle bin
45	4 jar storage lids	repair ropechain clasp	window AC
46	dried basil	6 prs Beth pants	apple tree prunings
47	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	prune² Wanda plum	greenwaste bin
48	3 kitchen towels	mulch peartrees	recycle bin
49	4 barkcloth tea towels	Eames top	greenwaste bin
50	yellow triangle pouch	filter box legs	big apple tree prunings
51	knitted pony	new house roof	greenwaste bin
52	8 jars quince apple  rosewater sauce	defrost chest freezer	greenwaste bin
53	6+ jars fig lemon marmalade	repair garden hose	recycle bin
54	dried pears	right eyeglass temple	greenwaste bin
55	4 jars pickled beets	tiger block	recycle bin
56	11 jars salsa verde	bright rayon top width	greenwaste bin
57	5 jars strawberry rhubarb	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
58	5 jars spiced applesauce	bike rear wheel	recycle bin
59	6 lunaria pod ornaments	new apron straps	recycle bin
60	5 more lunaria ornaments	frame for Pyle cartoon	LFL books

overflow SMART goals!!!

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
61	5 golden origami dragons	box fan grille	recycle bin
62	5 mini amanitas	needle gauge herb stripper	greenwaste bin
63	18 penny luck envelopes	pruning elderberry	greenwaste bin
64	10 holly&bells ornaments	pruning nandina	recycle bin
65	more penny luck envelopes	picked moar figs	greenwaste bin
66	clothespin bag	picked plums	recycle bin
67	5 jars pickled beets	small radiator foot	recycle bin
68	1# hand weights	spex temple	fridge science experiments
69	a dozen owls	got Novavax jab	yard waste bin
70	many jars of Awesome Sauce	wheelbarrow tire	recycle bin
71	24 more owls	cardigan cuffs	recycle bin
72	7 jars of Awesome Sauce	reattach wheel to wheelbarrow	recycle bin
73	8 dishcloths	vegetable steamer leg replacement	-
74	mat for angels print	leather scissors sheath	-
75	2 pairs undies	chopshop cardigan mended	-
76	knitted shrew	horse kerchief dots	-
77	1 pair undies	more chopshop repair	-
78	2 alphabeast  drawings	printer connection	-
79	1 alphabeast  drawing	black knit slip	-
80	phone pouch	15 origami giftwrap	-
81	transit pass case	case for phone	-
82	-	horse kerchief details	-
83	-	much pruning	-
84	-	angels print framed	-
85	-	vegetable steamer legs	-
86	-	shrew eyes	-
88	-	Gamma bucket lid	-
89	-	one page of the embroidery transfer	-
90	-	daypack mended	-
91	-	cleaned keyboard	-
92	-	undie waistband	-
93	-	Otterbox case	-

today's gratitudes -
1. good folks near and far
2. all the blessings the bright world still offers
3. hope, the gem at the very bottom of the box

Time of Isolation - Day 2013

a surprise and a treat

in which our plucky heroine gets more than she bargained for...

After lunch took a walk over to Sewlarium only to find out that they were closed so decided to check in at the Goodwill to look for buttons (ie mens shirts that might have enough, and of an acceptable color). Found some in a perfect dull teal blue, and thought, hmmm... 11 buttons for $6.99, not bad. When removing them from the shirt I realised that there were two smaller secret undercollar buttons as well (that will be perfect for the upper buttonhole on the tower placket). I had never seen hidden collar buttons before; rather than the usual buttonhole in the collar point, these had a wee twill tape button loop sewn into a seam in the undercollar.

※※※

~ further resipiei progress ~

Finished embroidering line 7: "Put in mor water." This has me not about a halfway done with the second page. The first page has just as much text and more illustrations, so I expect it will take longer. 

※※※

The flannel is a non-symmetrical woven plaid. Glad I noticed that while laying out the bias cut front bodice, and not after it was cut out.  Instead of cutting double layers, after cutting out a single layer piece for one side, it was flipped over and carefully matched with the correct plaid stripes to mirror the alignment on the other side.  Never too old a dog to put new tricks into use; I'd heard of doing this, but never before needed to put it into practice.

※※※

There is this annoying thing the body does, when for some reason it gets a nasty glitch in the sub-scapularis region. To the point of it being painful to breathe. It has done this on random occasions for at least the last fifty years. No obvious activity sets it off, and after making breakfast and been up for a while this morning, there it was. Bah! Getting dressed was a challenge. While I managed to do a few housey chores, eventually gave up and went back to bed, trying not to move. Very thankfully, whatever structural alignment was out of whack sorted itself while I was napping, as I woke up about an hour later able to take a deep breath again. 

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	1 alphabeast  drawing	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	phone pouch	cleaned keyboard	x
7	transit pass case	undie waistband	x
8	x	Otterbox case	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- secret undercollar button surprise
- stupid body glitch only lasted half a day
- clever trick to mirror non-symmetrical plaid 

Time of Isolation - Day 2011

Sunday betwixtmas

in which our plucky heroine has an unexpected visitor...

Early this afternoon, the doorbell rang! I practically jumped out of my skin, as I had been sitting and reading, but to my surprise and delight it was my friend Drusa (Kate). I'd not seen her in person in I don't know how long, certainly since before she moved away, so getting to exchange multiple hugs, and some porch visit time was really special. The knitted shrew I made earlier this winter was for her, as shrews are her special favorite animal, and she really likes it. And is enjoying the bonus Advent Swap treats. She gifted me with some homegrown eggs, and an assortment of her homemade goat milk soap. I am so happy she stopped by to visit!

※※※

~ moar Advent Swap treats ~

an additional assortment of tiny treats, including a maneki neko bell, a lampwork pendant that is also a top, a crocheted/knotwork flower?, a star bedecked packet of rhubarb seeds, a hand painted gold star sticker, a box of red bead cubes that look like coral, and a delightfully painted mushroom depicting a tree in a floral landscape. That folks come up with such a wide variety of things that fit in 1¼" space never fails to amaze me!

※※※

Today I found out that the Liberty-esqe fabric is truly Liberty lawn, and was a gift a number of years ago from my friend Cricket, purchased when she was in London. I shall treasure it even more, and enjoy adding it to my new sewing project. It will become the accent fabric for my teal plaid shirt

Speaking of which, Past Me cleverly downloaded all the many pages of the tower placket instructions and put them in a notebook, in the bookcase with the other sewing tomes. This will be everso useful when I get to that stage in the shirtmaking, since I have only ever made a tower placket once before,back in February of 2020, when I made the grey houndstooth plaid flannel shirt.

※※※

Winter 6PAC Lucky7

dk neutral overlayer - dk neutral bottom - dk neutral coat - alt color overlayer - alt color bottom - alt color top - color link top-

- brown linen pinafore - brown jersey long janes - brown raincoat - teal linen pinafore - teal jersey long janes - teal floral blouse - teal/cream/brown plaid shirt

This is the current wardrobe sewing plan, subject to change as whim decrees, but this group of garments will be a very welcome and easy to integrated addition.  It's tempting to add accessories, a la Vivienne Files - thinking about an Alabama Chanin headscarf, or blue painted shoes to replace the pair that wore out...

※※※

Thinking ahead to New Years, it seems like a good idea to do some cooking ahead. The menu is fairly set. Black-eyed peas, greens, carrot coins, and Sister Gigi's corn pancakes (an optional but delicious and appropriate addition). Since the big box of greens was on sale at GrocOut today, I will cook those today and freeze them. There may be room in the freezer for some of the corn pancakes as well, if I use frozen corn as an ingredient.

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	1 alphabeast  drawing	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	phone pouch	cleaned keyboard	x
7	transit pass case	undie waistband	x
8	x	Otterbox case	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- a clear instructional tutorial for sewing a tower placket
- a surprise visit from Drusa
- "Digger", by Ursula Vernon

Time of Isolation - Day 2010

sew the good stuff

in which our plucky heroine shares her plans...

this morning, our Sewing Nomads discussion touched on our sewing plans for 2026. I remembered how back in the days of SWAP, Boxing Day was the official day to "start your sewing machines", which might be why I was inspired to work on my new plaid flannel shirt yesterday.  I've no need for 13! new garments in my wardrobe, despite how many items are beginning to wear out, but a half dozen would be a good start to replace the all ones past refurbishment. (mending my clothing stops happening when the weave of the base fabric becomes too weak to hold stitches.

Not sure if it was CCL or I who first mentioned a winter 6PAC plan, but there was enthusiasm for the idea, as a way of cheering one another on, and before we were done, Turquoise had added an additional channel to our group Discord. My additional exhortation today was to "sew the good stuff". At my stage of life, it feels foolish to save the best fabrics for some future special occasion, and more satisfying to turn them into garments to enjoy wearing. So, this pretty plaid will become a shirt accented with what is probably Liberty lawn. I'm going to attempt one step past a 6PAC into a Lucky 7, with two pinafores, two pairs of long janes, a shirt, a blouse, and the interminable raincoat. With TNT patterns for all the basic garments, and only a few steps left to complete on the raincoat, it should be possible to finish all of these in the next few months.

** 6PAC = Six Piece Awesome Collection, the wintertime one is two inner layers, two outer layers, pants, and a coat
* SWAP = Sewing With A Plan, eleven garment sewing challenge from the late lamented Stitchers Guild, rules changed every year

(more useful information about the 6PAC concepts here on the Fabulous Dr E's Fabulous Blog)

※※※

~ Tana lawn fabric ~

This lovely fabric, which feels and looks like Liberty Tana lawn, is going to be the accent fabric for my new flannel shirt, being used for the underside of the cuffs and collar, the lower portion of the tower placket, and for the bias binding around the neckline. I wish I knew who gave it to me, so I could thank them, as I've no memory of purchasing it myself!

※※※

My Otterbox phone case is actually transparent on the not-screen side, and once I found out how to remove it again, I was able to measure out and cut a piece of fancy handmade and screen printed paper to fit in the clear space. A bit more fun than the basic black effect. This current season seems to be include (indulging in?) various small efforts to brighten everyday life. 

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	1 alphabeast  drawing	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	phone pouch	cleaned keyboard	x
7	transit pass case	undie waistband	x
8	x	Otterbox case	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- my Otterbox has a clear back, and today I figured out how to add a piece of decorative paper, so the mobile phone is not all black.
- the Havarti from Costco is tasty, with tiny crystals that crunch
- a multigenerational button box, even if no longer in the container I remember from childhood...

Time of Isolation - Day 2009

A small improvement

in which our plucky heroine has a fairly quiet day indoors...

Doing a little bit of productivity, and a fair amount of planning. If I had rain boots, going out for walks in foul weather would be less fraught. This will require research, and possibly contacting Tullia

※※※

~ the right tool ~

Sewing a transit pass case: while I missed, I am sure, much of the useful content since I do not speak Japanese, I was able to follow enough of the video to create a functional and useful case. Instead of using what appears to be double sticky tape to hold the clear vinyl in place, I used washi tape just on the edges and removed it when done with the internal edge stitching, as shown in a different tutorial. Had to forgo the tiny D-ring, for lack of such hardware, but a leather loop and split ring serve the same function. The new finished case is nowhere near perfect, but it is perfectly functional and a lot less flimsy than what was previously in use...

※※※

Earlier this evening I started cutting out plaid flannel shirt, mostly becasue it is actually a fairly simple sewing project, the only two challenges being properly mirroring the bias plaid front, and then adding the tower placket to the sleeves. My intention is to cut out the rest of the pieces tomorrow, and put in some time every day until it is finished. It may not yet have made much difference, but moving even one packet of fabric and pattern out of the emporium and into the wardrobe is helpful. Another warm wintertime flannel shirt will be very welcome.

※※※

If the forecast is correct, tomorrow might be a good day for a bike ride to the post office. Today was Much Too Damp! 

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	1 alphabeast  drawing	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	phone pouch	cleaned keyboard	x
7	transit pass case	undie waistband	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- knowing that done is better than perfect
- Mt Dishmore is (temporarily) vanquished
- being able to talk about deep topics with my friend Mischa

Time of Isolation - Day 2008

these are not the colored lights you are looking for

in which our plucky heroine sleeps in...

Last night my sleep was interrupted with about a two hour long visual migraine. While it is a blessing that it is only the visuals and not the pain that so many of my friend experience, it is very distracting. What it looked like (irrespective of if my eyes were open or closed) was what started out as a flashing star shaped hatch mark in one corner of my peripheral vision, and gradually spread out in an ever expanding curve across my entire field of vision, looking very much like multicolored flashing lights of a carnival or fun fair. It was impossible to return to dreamland until the neuro-storm had finally finished and drifted away beyond the range of sight. 

It is a peculiar phenomenon, that only happens very rarely, maybe once every five years or more. The first time it occurred, back in the mid 80's, I had no idea what was wrong and why I suddenly could not see anything in my surroundings. The school nurse was convinced that the sudden flashing blindness was caused by my "hyperventilating" (which was her diagnosis for almost everything other than active wounds). I am grateful that my first migraine happened in the classroom and not as it did for my mother, who first had one while driving on the freeway in Los Angeles!

※※※

~ sparkle in snow ~

The ditsy printed design on the oldest of my knit turtleneck tops is apparently meant for christmas; it took me a number of years to notice that scattered amongst the wintery scene, here and there a few of the ¼" conifer trees have colorful decorations. 

※※※

As planned yesterday, today's dinner was an Eastern European-esque version of spinach rice bake: barley, cabbage, mushrooms, onion, cheese, eggs. It was tasty, but as suspected, would have been improved with a different cheese. Maybe kashkaval, maybe chevre, or some combination of the two. Tillamook was too bland.

this recipe from my childhood is become a staple breakfast dish, or equally well as a potluck contribution, should we ever have social gatherings again...

~ Spinach Rice Bake ~
1 C cooked starch (rice, kasha, bulgar etc)
1 C shredded cheese
1 c cooked veg, chopped
2 eggs
2 T melted butter
2 t chopped onion
⅓ C milk (or 1 T dry milk and ⅓ C water)
½ t Worcester sauce
½ t dried herbs (or such fresh herbs as seem pleasing)

10 x 6 baking dish, 350°F, 20 - 25 min

※※※

I've found the missing miniature bed with the hand painted canal boat roses, in a "somewhere safe" that wasn't really deeply hidden, huzzah! Now all that remains missing from the tinyworld is shoes, Opal's birkies, and two pair of winter boots. Those can all be remade much more easily than furniture, so I am relieved. Just as I am thinking and planning for various human scale refurbishments and project for 2026, am also looking over how things stand in the tinyworld and what projects come next...

※※※

wishing joy to all who celebrate:

























※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	1 alphabeast  drawing	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	phone pouch	cleaned keyboard	x
7	x	undie waistband	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- reliable recipes, the cooking equivalent of TNT sewing patterns
- sewing machine walking foot
- Mischa reading "A Child's Christmas in Wales" aloud
- finding the lost tinyworld bed

Time of Isolation - Day 2007

wistful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine misses the Before Times...

which is really nothing new, I'll probably feel that way more or less for as long as Fortune lets me continue walking in the bright world. Doing what I can, with what I have, where I am, right now as the saying goes, is the best I can manage.

※※※

~ W is for... ~

wolf, and wisteria, the calendar illustration which I just finished inking today. And a bit more time tonight has been spent working on the last of the drawings for the AlphaBeast calendar for 2026. Currently pencil sketching the design for the final motif: "O is for otter and orchid". Once that is completed, I can start putting together the actual pages with months and dates... Fingers crossed that this year I manage to get it all completed, printed, and mailed out before the end of the year.

※※※

Found a tutorial online to sew a simple cross body, three-pocket folded pouch to hold a mobile phone, and decided that would be a great option to let me easily keep music and podcasts handy, but also easily move said phone safely out of the way when doing things that involve water, like washing hands, or dishes

Combined some linen from a former SCA gown, some extra large vintage snaps, a length of the colorful twill tape from B&K, and finally an embroidered OCF peach patch that has been living on my pinboard for years. Very satisfying to give a second or third life to textile bits and bobs... I'm planning on a matching small case for my transit pass, to fit in one of the pockets, inspired by this tutorial, and this tutorial, and this one as well. None of them are perzactly what I want, but each has tips that will be useful.

※※※

Tomorrow I plan on making an "Eastern European" version of my standard spinach rice bake, substituting purple barley for the rice,  and cabbage and mushrooms for the spinach. If I had had the time, a different cheese than the usual Tillamook sharp would have been better, but needs must. I may try substituting a mixture of farmer cheese and kashkaval next time.

※※※

"If I knew the way, I would take you home..."

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	1 alphabeast  drawing	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	phone pouch	cleaned keyboard	x
7	x	undie waistband	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- more progress on the resipei embroidery
- The internet was only out for a few hours, and Sister and I had a phone chat instead of a video chat.
- new handy phone carrying pouch

Time of Isolation - Day 2006

tiara Tuesday

in which our plucky heroine is making plans...

Time to think about projects for 2026. Though there are several major categories that need my attention, today my daydreams were mostly about wardrobe sewing, as it has become obvious that some of my everyday clothing is becoming noticeably threadbare. While not yet unwearable, some will be better suited to yard and garden duty rather than wearing out and about in the bright world, once I stitch up fresh new replacements.

Back in the halcyon days of Stitchers Guild, the clever Dr E came up with the concept of a 6PAC, being multiple smaller groups of garments than SWAP, and spread throughout the year. I was not the only one who took this idea to heart, and over time used this concept to build my wardrobe.  With that thought in mind, my current intention is to use fabrics on hand in brown and teal, and make 2 pairs of long janes (brown jersey and teal jersey), 2 heavy linen pinafores (solid brown and solid teal), and two shirts (plaid and floral)

※※※

~ rather rakish ~

When Sequoia saw the tiny tiara, he was certain that it had been meant for him, and none of the other tinyfolk had the heart to dissuade him... (also, new floral dog bed courtesy of Mackayla)

※※※

Apparently I've somehow misplaced the whimsical tinyworld bed that I assembled (from a laser-cut solid wood kit), painted, and decorated with canal boat roses sometime in 2022 or 2023. I was even thinking last night for a while that I had simply imagined the whole thing, but found photographic evidence here on the blog. I hope to find wherever the "someplace safe" it was put away is, as all of the usual spots are coming up empty, and the kits were a limited run from an artist in the UK.  

※※※

Took time today to work on the remaining unfinished calendar drawings. Wolf/wisteria is almost completely inked, which leaves only otter/orchid left to sketch and ink. Checked in at the copy store and the per page charge for not-color card stock copies is only about 40¢, which means I can probably send more folks calendars than I did last year (when I printed full color images from the 100 day stitchbook project) Yay!

※※※

Discovered the online magazine "Craftsmanship" when I followed an article link to the essay: "Could Small Still Be Beautiful?" an interesting read. I am going to enjoy poking around and reading other available articles.

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	1 alphabeast  drawing	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	x	cleaned keyboard	x
7	x	undie waistband	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- some of my memory is preserved here in the blog universe
- according to UK gardening sites, one can still plant crocus bulbs on Christmas Day, though they may bloom later than usual. (since there was a crocus bulb in one of the advent swap gifts)
- the rainbow jingle-heart is an audible pocket reminder of connection

Time of Isolation - Day 2005

axial tilt and all that...

in which our plucky heroine hangs on...
while we swing around the Sun towards lengthening daylight

※※※

~ seasonal song ~

TIL that there is two degrees of separation between our plucky heroine and Cat Farber! The musician was one of the founding members of the Caer Lutris SCA household (along with three of my good friends) though she had left before I ever joined ...

※※※

Finished all of line 5 on the resipei embroidery and begun line 6. There was a lot of time on zoom today, and embroidery is perfect handwork. Eventually this portion will be done and I will start on the other half: lines 1 - 4, and the ingredient list

Tomorrow I'll be back at working on the final two drawings for the 2026 calendar, and will check in at the copy store to find out what my printing options are; my timing was off yesterday, and I arrived after they were closed. I'm hoping for some resume weight stock in a warm Kraft paper color, or barring that, light cardstock. We shall see...

※※※

"The Shortest Day", with the venerable words by Susan Cooper (first written for Christmas Revels in 1974) and with gorgeous illustrations by Carson Ellis, is my very favorite picture book...

"So the Shortest Day came and the year died 
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow‐white world Came people singing, dancing, 
To drive the dark away. 

They lighted candles in the winter trees; 
They hung their homes with evergreen; 
They burned beseeching fires all night long 
To keep the year alive. 

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake 
They shouted, reveling. 
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them 
Echoing behind us ‐ listen! 

All the long echoes, sing the same delight, 
This Shortest Day, 
As promise wakens in the sleeping land: 
They carol, feast, give thanks, 
And dearly love their friends, 
And hope for peace. 

And so do we, here, now, 
This year and every year. 
Welcome Yule!"  

~ Susan Cooper

※※※

Young friends coming to visit in person is a wonderful treat. That they had made gifts for me (and for all the tiny folk who live here) was extraordinary, and made this longtime birthday feel very special indeed. They made a miniature lighted tree, and a tiny rosebud brooch, a fancy apron for Almandine, a soft dog bed for Sequoia (though he also claimed the sparkly tiara) a palette of paints and an assortment of paint brushes no longer than ½", a garland of glittery origami stars almost taller than I am, a hand embroidered "Sign of Iron" from The Dark Is Rising, and a terrarium ornament with a mushroom cap lid. How I am worthy of all this generosity I don't know, but will accept with as much grace as I can. 

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	-	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	x	cleaned keyboard	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the younger Olympia friends, who brightened my birthday with an in-person visit and many many handmade gifts
- phone calls from family far away
- leftovers for dinner that were very tasty and meant I could spend my time being social and not cooking dinner

Time of Isolation - Day 2003

Saturday snippets and bits

in which our plucky heroine goes to the farmers market...

The last market day of the year, and there were fewer food vendors and more handcraft vendors, not surprisingly. I had been hoping for some leeks, but got there too late in the day. Instead, I brought home what looked like skinny leeks but was actually young garlic; I'm guessing the farm was thinning the garlic crop? I also brought home some locally grown Purple Karma barley to try; it is whole rather than pearled, so takes longer to cook, and has a very different texture than the mucilaginous pearl barley...

※※※

~ not bigger than a breadbox ~

But in fact it started out as just that... but now is in the process of being converted into a studio apartment for Opal. Not really set up yet, just some of the Caer Cardboard furniture moved in temporarily. Kenya and Sequoia are visiting while Opal puts her feet up for a few and thinks about what to deal with next... I'm thinking maybe a worktable, at least one bookcase, maybe an armchair instead of the couch, and a single bed insted of the big double clothespin bed. The flooring is contact paper on bristol board, and will anchor future color choices. Opal really likes "Danish Modern" MCM style, which isn't surprising given her heritage.

※※※

The resipei embroidery project is perfect handwork to take with me when on transit. I get to fill some otherwise useless time with satisfying progress, and it isn't so absorbing that I miss my stop!

※※※

Note to self (and to share)... do not use or purchase again "Anchor Hocking" brand lids for waterbath canning, even if they are $2 cheaper (and what is usually a reputable brand). Of the 12 lids in the box, tried using them with several recipes, more than half the lids did not seal. All the "Ball" brand lids used at the same time sealed properly. I have been canning for years, and never had this kind of problem before. Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action...

※※※

Yesterday when I was chatting with the B's about food over the phone, Barb described her "Green Soup" which sounded so appealing that I had to pick up some broccoli and some potato just to make a version of it myself. (she was telling me how she had to adapt due to them having an all day power outage; she used Mom's hand food mill instead of a stick blender) 

I had made some good strong chicken bone broth earlier in the week, and used that as a base. Added the broccoli, the yellow Finn potato, and all the other greens from the fridge (spinach, garden mix, and the remnants of bok choy). Cooked a small onion and half the bunch of green garlic then added that as well. Seasoned with some of Penzey's "Justice" mixture and a good spoonful of chicken better-than-boullion. Once it was all cooked and softened, the stick blender turned it into a fragrant green-flecked pot of delicious dinner (and several future meals). Since it was originally a broccoli-cheddar soup in theory, I added a few cheese cubes for garnish and was happy.

※※※

This evening my laptop started behaving in a most peculiar way... it repeatedly threw up a banner across a quarter of the screen letting me know it was trying to "cast", while not allowing me to do anything else. I have never seen that before, and AFAIK had not told it to do so or pushed any new buttons?? Fortunately I was able to call Karen, and ask if John was free and could help with my computer problems. Once he called me back, he was able to talk me through poking around in the settings folder and turning off a bunch of stuff I never use, which seems to have at least stopped the giant banner from obscuring the screen, and lets me type again. It is a bit alarming how dependent I've become on the pixel world to keep in contact with the human world.

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	-	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	x	cleaned keyboard	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- my sister in law is wonderful, I would be her friend even if she wasn't married to my little brother!
- John was able to do remote tech support on the phone, and we got my laptop to stop filling the screen with peculiar messages
- asking for help instead of panicking, and getting help 

Time of Isolation - Day 2002

Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine attempts to plan her day...

It is really raining hard, and forecast for all day and at least two inches of precipitation, so outdoor time isn't really going to be a thing. Let's try something different, and start off the day with an assortment of intentions, and see if that helps, and how many can be checked off the list before bedtime:
☑ excess (indoor) cardboard boxes into wheelie bin
☑ put up 4 oz jars of diced quince (that cooked overnight)
☐ add waistband to flower undies
☐ pack up cotton lycra (to clear sewing table)
☑ wash dishes
☑ cook: kale bulgur salad, chicken soup,roast carrots
☑ 15 min resipei embroidery
⇓ vacuum living room and put vacuum away
☐ make bed

※※※

~ take small stitches ~

This slow beginning of the "resipei" embroidery project continues to please me very much, both in the doing, and in the resulting linear quality of the chain stitches...

※※※

As I was craving some movement yesterday evening, went out for a bit of a neighborhood walk. Stopped by the drug store while out and about, and brought home a pack of 100 ordinary index cards for the hundred day "Objects of my Affection" drawing challenge that starts in two weeks. My intention is that by making it "not precious" it will remove that particular mental barrier. I figure I can use any sort of not-paint mark making tools, but will probably just use my regular EDC 0.9 SumoGrip mechanical pencils.

※※※

This evening I noticed that the amaryllis on the windowsill has finally showed signs of life, there are leaf tips emerging from the center of the bulb. It probably took all that time to generate some roots, since it had none obvious when it first arrived here... It will be exciting if it actually grows a flower stalk and blooms!

※※※

There are only three more partially baked quince in the produce drawer in the fridge, probably enough for another batch of quince sauce. Today's batch, cooling on the card table, became 9½ 4oz jars of quince rosewater sauce, suitable to complement something savory (like cranberry sauce does), or as an ingredient in a sweet dessert of some sort.

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	recycle bin
5	-	daypack mended	recycle bin
6	x	cleaned keyboard	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the scent of quince, while ripening, or while cooking...
- Cathy shared both a short Kestrel video and 8 pages of another story the kiddo wrote, about cats, that had me literally LOL
- while hunting excess cardboard boxes tonight, found the lost knitting stitch markers, and the miniature embroidery I did several years ago to begin a decorated tiny armchair like the one I made for Ånni!

Time of Isolation - Day 2000

end of an era

in which our plucky heroine considers colors...

This morning I met Gersvinda and Ursel at the MetroPaint outlet. After over 30 years, the facility is closing down; they are selling all the remaining paint at 75% off: gallons are $4, quarts are $1, and some colors are already completely sold out. It seemed like a good time to pick up enough of this excellent paint for the Acorn Cottage exterior. Deciding from what colors were still available, (and what didn't match my immediate neighbors houses) the new future outdoor wall color will be "Pebble Path" a sort of warm taupe/grey. I also chose an assortment of their other colors for various uses inside the house; a total of 8+ gallons (and two trim brushes) for less than $45 total cost.  At that price for most of the paint, I can justify the future expense of acquiring a brighter color for doors and dark brown/black color for the trim. 

※※※

~ days 14 to 17 ~

More delightful advent trinkets in the last few days: a translucent penguin?, a color changing ring, a sealing wax bas-relief, and a tiny jar of "cosmic pickles" no bigger than my thumbnail that will be a perfect addition to the tinyfolk's larder shelves.

※※※

Last night I noticed that the stitching holding the shoulder straps on my denim daypack were coming loose, so I transfered the contents to the other one. Backups are useful. This evening I opened up the seams to get access to the attachment points, and stitched all the loose bits back in place. Both of my daypacks are looking "well broken in", not surprising since one or the other get used every day. The denim one was made about two years ago, and the black twill one was made back in 2019

※※※

Gradually working my way through the assorted produce on hand, turning it into ingredients for dinners, freezer meals, or shelf stable preserves for the pantry. The kale will become more kale bulgur feta salad. The remaining quinces will be turned into 4 oz jars of sauce. The persimmons are being dried to last the year. There are cooked greens to be added to either a rice bake or a crustless quiche. All that remains is some carrots, and cabbage which will be added to the chicken broth made earlier along with some yard herbs and the drumstick meat to make a good soup...

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Gersvinda and her trusty truck, who drove me and my gallons of paint back home from MetroPaint.
- a particularly timely break in the stormy weather
- I know how to cook, have a kitchen and all the tools needed

Time of Isolation - Day 1999

a few tiny Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine is grateful for homegrown bounty...

The persimmons, picked before tree ripe (because squirrels) have been finally getting to the right stage to be peeled and cut into slices for the food dehydrator. Which is now humming away sitting on top of the washer. I shoved the bag of cement currently in residence there as far over to one side as safely possible to make space to run the dehydrator. There are enough additional persimmons on the folding table in the kitchen to do at least one or two additional batches once the current batch is dried. I also put aside 2 cups of pulp to make spiced persimmon pecan tea bread. 

※※※

I started the "resipei" embroidery (in red on linen) project, and had to hold myself back from just doing that all the rest of the day. The difference once the stitchery follows the marked out lines is so satisfying. I'm using a single strand of the DMC floss, doubled; the stitched lines nice and thin, and chain stitch will smoothly follow the sharp curves of letters and words. This will see me through the December and into the new year at the very least.

※※※

Currently re-reading Digger (the Omnibus Edition) by Ursula Vernon, and Basin and Range by John McPhee. Reading about geology is about as peaceful as reading cookbooks, when it comes to bedtime books. The omnibus Digger is much too LARGE a book to read in bed, but makes a nice mealtime companion. Very grateful to Mischa for sending it to me, back in the Before Times.

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pairs underwear	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	knitted shrew	shrew eyes	yard waste bin
3	1 pair undies	Gamma bucket lid	recycle bin
4	2 alphabeast  drawings	one page of the embroidery transfer	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- "Digger" by Ursula Vernon
- homegrown persimmons = homegrown sweetness
- Helga remembered I wanted eye dropsfrom Costco, they were on sale, but not in stock when we shopped a few weeks ago, so she picked some up for me today while she was there. 
- Gersvinda is going to give Ursel and I a lift from Metro Paint tomorrow. 

Time of Isolation - Day 1998