Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine is grateful...

... for being able to smell the appetizing scent of tasty waffles wafting out into the street from the FLAVOURspot. (some folks I know have lost that ability due to viral damage in the last five years) That scent takes me back through the years, to the Sunlight Cafe in Ravenna, when Mark and I would go there for brunch and a "Belgian waffle" as big as the plate, topped with strawberries and whipped cream, and years earlier, when I was in my teens our family sometimes went to the IHOP (near the Fresh Pond rotary on the outskirts of Cambridge) where waffles were a special treat, and there were three chefs in the kitchen that could have posed for the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. It wasn't till I was an adult that it occurred to me that waffles could be made at home, that only required a functioning waffle iron. A dysfunctional waffle iron, OTOH, is a dreadful thing indeed!

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This morning I went to two different farmer's markets... first was Hollywood, since their email featured 15# flats of organic paste tomatoes from Flying Coyote Farm at a very good per pound price. Used my entire "Senior Farm Direct" coupon book, and a bit extra, for some just gorgeous nightshade fruit (I added a few Japanese eggplant as well as the tomatoes) My wicker shopping cart was pretty full, so it was time to take those home before any further adventures... then I headed out to St Johns on my bike. After looking at my Awesome Sauce recipe, peppers and garlic were now on my list, which Happiness Family Farmwas happy to provide. This marks the real beginning of preservation season.

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Currently making a pink-themed triangle pouch for Kestrel's toy "Fishlet" who apparently is really fond of that color. I needed a break from the troublesome popover dress, and these are fun to make and quick to finish. Some remnants of quilting cotton in bright or soft pink leafy prints that make me think of seaweed. A vintage pink button from the 50's that looks a bit like sea glass. Braiding cord for it from dark and light pink embroidery floss in a four strand spiral, and realised that the sewing bird is of great assistance. I can sit and watch a film at the computer, and just braid away...

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	3 kitchen towels	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	greenwaste bin
9	x	x	big appletree prunings

today's gratitudes -
- the sewing bird works really well to anchor fiber for four strand braiding
- half the day was grey and cool
- the world of scent is still available to me, which unlocks memory

Time of Isolation - Day 1896

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine wonders what folks notice about their surroundings...

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~ not bigger than a breadbox ~

I rode past it again, on my way to post the tatting shuttle to Acantha, and took a closer look inside...

Hi! I'm Casey and I'm an artist. I'm selling some of my work through this here art box. Pay what feels right. Venmo@emotionalcowboy. Everything received through this art box will be donated to mutual aid. Tom Sellek box is available on the front porch for any questions or comments. P.S. I call dibs on being the local potter in the apocalypse!

it is tempting to leave a note for the potter, asking about possible options

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Little Wellington is really missing his people this time. Certain noises outside, or if the computer makes the dingdong doorbell sound of a zoom call incoming, he gets excited and dances around near the front door. When we go out for walks, he seems to be less enthused about walking very far, which is also not really how he has been the last few times he stayed here.

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Today the second batch of kombucha is ready to be transferred to the fridge, and I scooped out and set aside about half the SCOBY, which has really been filling up the jar. Apparently you can keep extra in what is quaintly called a "SCOBY hotel", as in a second jar for storing older layers of the culture as backup or to share, which seemed like a good idea, so I've set up one of the other quart jars in this way

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Getting frustrated with the batik dress. Added in tucks to adjust neckline, and while the neckline is improved now the whole bodice area feels uncomfortably "wrong" somehow. Wondering about just putting it aside, (and maybe piecing fabric remnants or even ordering some additional fabric to attempt a do-over of the whole upper half?) Am measuring various other popover dresses and tops I've made to see how they differ, as this is a new-to-me issue. Grrr....

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	3 kitchen towels	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	greenwaste bin
9	x	x	big appletree prunings

today's gratitudes -
- Once the overcast morning burned away, the day was still about body temperature, but by the late evening dogwalk it was pleasantly cooler
- kombucha brewing is going well
- friends being able to access medical care, at least for the time being

Time of Isolation - Day 1895

Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine notices subtle change...

Whilst walking Wellington just before dawn this morning I found several very overgrown rhubarb plants in the partially abandoned community alley garden, and picked one stalk. My plan is to make a small batch of strawberry rhubarb sauce with the pint of strawberries in the freezer.

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~ art is for everyone ~

These were in the parking strip, right near yesterday's message...

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Sewing thoughts: Ruthie suggested that small tucks or darts could reshape the popover neckline, which I'd not thought of. Some experimentation pinning tucks in places might will be a useful experiment. I think I've figured out why the issue occurred, the question is how to ameliorate? I'm also remembering a rayon dress I made back in the 90's where I pleated the entire upper bodice and then embroidered down the pleats, which was a very decorative effect. Design challenges are the opposite of boring!

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One of the other benefits of the years of blogging, is being able to look back at what happens in various months, repeatedly, over time. This gives both a sense of what to expect, and to notice what changes. Example being that early September often remains dreadfully hot, but by the end of the month it is often cooler and somewhat damp. And plums ripen mid-September as well, so planning for that now is a good idea (though the last time I walked down the alley, that two-legged bandits had picked all of the visible easy-to-reach unripe but already colorful plums from where the trees overhang the fence. I hope the fruit went to hungry folks)

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Palestinian purslane stew: this recipe looks interesting, simple, and tasty. Since there is a little purslane growing in the backyard, it'd be fun to try!

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	3 kitchen towels	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- a stalk of rhubarb from Very Overgrown plants in a neglected alley garden
- very much enjoying reading Saving the Season by Kevin West (reviewed here at "Food In Jars) 
- even a ten degree difference makes a difference

Time of Isolation - Day 1864

wishful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine dreams of cooler days...

It is still humid, but slightly less hot, and there were a few scattered and splattered raindrops when I rode my bike to the post office this morning, though unfortunately not enough to really count as precipitation IMHO. The numbers on the thermometer might be a few degrees lower, but as it is still above human body temperature, still not very comfortable to spend much time outside. Obviously, staying indoors is my best strategy. My wish for today is for coolness and grey skies, and enough rain across the forested lands to help slow or put out the many raging fires.

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~ remember this ~

another wish, to never forget the truth of these words...

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Batik dress progress report: all that remains is hemming the dress and adding pockets, but I am not entirely happy with the shape of the simple bound neckline, as it hangs pretty far away from my neck on both sides, more like a scooped neckline, which isn't a preferred style. Not quite sure why it is pulling outwards. It is wearable, but it reminds me too much of the muu muu dresses my nana wore (well basically my popover dresses are muu muus, but often I add interest with neckline area details) I want to design a more decorative yoke and apply that as an "afterthought".

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Neighborhood noticings:  School started this week, and the big new house on the other end of the block has a little going into first grade, and were getting photographed in the front doorway with their shiny new backpack and a big grin. Riding past the park, saw a man doing some sort of wheeled parkour, where he leapt and balanced atop the railing while on his scooter!

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	3 kitchen towels	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- I can stay inside and hide from the heat
- girded loins and made actual (if miniscule) admin progress
- cricket song at night is the soundtrack of summer

Time of Isolation - Day 1863

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine persists...

Hopefully, tomorrow the thermometer will be only showing double digits instead of triple digits. The ongoing heat is affecting the AQI, which has moved into the "poor quality" zone. Still better than those folks who are near fire zones, but this happens whenever there is an inversion layer, and the heat traps and creates pollution. I'd not thought to check, but noticing the color of the daylight reminded me. 

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~ stitch by stitch ~

Hand stitching the neckline binding to the batik rayon popover dress will be done by the end of today. The pockets and hems will be machine stitched.

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Today was a first. Someone who contacted me many months ago about a sewing job (that didn't happen, for various unrelated reasons) called again, and wants to go forward with it now. Sent me photos of what they want, with relevant specific information, and of the fabric they want to use, which is lovely. I'm happy when I get asked to make something that is feasible!

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~ something different ~

seeking out peculiar music online isn't my usual, but when Sidrea mentioned this, I was curious, and actually enjoyed it...

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	3 kitchen towels	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- a new chapter of SuperSupportive today
- Bee and Puppycat is so wonderfully weird
- Past Me last year bought lovely fabric to make a new dress

Time of Isolation - Day 1861

Sunday snippets

in which our plucky heroine is tired of triple digit heat...

and the little dog doesn't understand why midday walkies can't happen.

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~ fun with stickers ~

I found an A6 Japanese "Hobonichi" (pocket size half-year planner) for 99¢ at Goodwill, on the same day I found the square picture frame. Wasn't able to peel off the price tag, so covered it up with an assortment of sushi stickers... more whimsical! The layout was my favorite sort of useful, so looked it up online, only to find that Hobonichi is some kind of insanely collectible Japanese stationery brand... 

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Sewing news: refurbishing wardrobe and kitchen things... currently hand stitching the bias binding to the neckline of the rayon batik popover as my zoomtime handwork. Cut up the red and white old beach towel to three pieces perfectly sized for underneath the dish drainer, and serged the edges which turned the good parts into kitchen towels. They were sorely needed and will be nice and bright. The vintage bark cloth remnant ordered last week arrived really quickly. There is enough to make multiple tea towels (and an apron, if I'm careful about how I piece the sections together).

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Thinking about what condiments and preserves need to be added to the pantry shelves in the next few months. Pickled beets, salsa verde, and a whole lot of awesome sauce all need things that don't grow here in the backyard.  That led me to thinking about what is in season when, and this chart was very useful thing. There will be trips to the farmers markets soon, for beets, and tomatillos, and lots of roma/paste tomatoes...

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	3 kitchen towels	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- AC worked well all day long, and I got outside before 7am for watering and dog walking
- inspiring presentation by Raven about traditional gilding techniques
- TIL that the collective noun for the tiny scraps of gold leaf leftover from gilding is "skewings"
- five folks showed up for Crafternoon

Time of Isolation - Day 1860

still too warm

in which our plucky heroine remains crepuscular...

and little Wellington, here for more than a week, is not pleased with this. This is the 2nd day pushing 102°f (39°c); the inside surface of the west-facing mylar bubblepack window block is hot, and I've been thinking it might be good to add a second layer, which has long been a plan.

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~ wtf ~

Been making ice in the freezer for during the heat wave. Been making ice in the freezer for decades. Never seen anything like this before... (spike of ice is maybe 1 ½" tall extending from the top of the ice cube) Apparently "ice spikes" are a known, if rare, phenomenon...

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Friday was a trip to Costco with Helga, always nice to have a bit of a visit with her... and most but not all of what I was hoping to restock was in the store. I don't keep chocolate chips on hand in my pantry, but saw this recipe for a chocolate zucchini loaf that seemed like it would be a good way to use the large zuke in my produce box. Alas there were no Kirkland brand chips at all, only Nestle, and I have not bought anything from that conglomerate since the first boycott in the late 70's. I'll see if I can get some other chips at a different store, and divide the recipe in half so as to use pans I currently have in the kitchen... we shall see...

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Ate the last of the pickled beets today, and none of my blog posts have either a recipe or links to a recipe. Will have to wing it, once beets are acquired, with science/proprotion aid from the National Center for Home Food Preservation and flavor inspirations from various cookbooks

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Oh my goodness, the salad spinner that Ursel brought me is HUGE. Well maybe not if you are making salad for a big family, but it is a lot bigger than the small one that formerly was in use here at Acorn Cottage. Still, it will work well for washing greens and herbs, and I'm most grateful for it!

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Sewing progress on the rayon batik popover dress: most of the body panels are sewn together, still need to finish the neckline, sew the side seams, hem arm edges, and add pockets. Might be done tomorrow.

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	-	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Costco run with Helga Friday morning, before the heat ramped up high
- little Wellington is here for a long visit
- on of the small flex arm lamps is a good substitute for the integral LED sewing light on the serger.

Time of Isolation - Day 1859

Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine does some early morning yardwork, and gathers more windfall apples...

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~ big and little... ~

what a difference a few cuts make... this is why you thin treefruit! Doesn't stop them from becoming windfalls, but does increase the useable fruit to labor costs. I don't spray my trees, so there is often insect damage that needs to be cut away before the good parts can get turned into something tasty. (I keep meaning to remember to cover the tiny fruit with nylon "footies" at the same time as thinning, to prevent bug access) but have not managed to do so yet. Maybe I'll remember to do so next year... Nonetheless, there will be applesauce made!

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Just before lunchtime, remembered that tomorrow is wheelie bin pickup day. Decided that some pruning would be a good way to fill up the greenwaste bin, and that cutting back (more of) the half of the apple tree that broke would be helpful, and also allow easier access to pick the ripening apples. When most of that was four pieces were cut away with my little japanese pruning saw, I was well into the pruning rabbit hole, and nibbled at some of the dead plum thicket branches, then headed for the front yard and got the water sprouts from the persimmon, and lastly a few Very Long inner shoots from the elderberry. Wheelie bin is full, and I need a shower and some electrolyte drink, since it is over 90°f out there. I was wearing my white sunhat, and had been careful to drink plenty of water.

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Invariably, every day around 3pm a wave of snoreons rolls in and all I want to do is nap. Seems unrelated to whatever lunch consisted of. Going to try some in-the-house activity, since it is over 90 outside, and maybe a tepid shower. I have tasks for this afternoon that aren't "becoming horizontal"!

given the approaching triple digit temperatures, I watered the baby trees twice today already, and plan to do at least that much again early each morning til the air temperature moderates next week

wondering if this clever combination of stitchery and twig could be made much smaller and suitable for advent swap treats...maybe with orange beads instead of thread wrapped ones?

continuing to slowly carve the circular Laurel wreath printing block, which is on track to be finished by the end of the month. Haven't yet decided what fabric will be printed, since I don't really need new SCA clothing. Maybe a border print for my next modern dress or pinafore would be fun...

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	-	new apron straps	apple tree prunings
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	greenwaste bin
7	x	x	recycle bin
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Past Me thinned the apples
- Emergen-C electrolyte drink mix
- Ursel will be bringing me her unused salad spinner

Time of Isolation - Day 1858

wistful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine remembers...

If we are Very fortunate and very determined we may be able to build a liveable world among the ruins of the collapsing current systems. Being an adult is when you know that there are some parts of current reality that can't be shifted, while still doing what you can to shift what only seems to be immovable. I know that no matter how much I wish it so, I will always be short. And no matter how much I wish it so, and however bitterly I miss the life I worked so hard to create, the careless ease of the Before Times will not come again. But I also cannot say that there is no chance we can create a future worth living in, for the children that come after us.

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Today there was a new-to-me, though actually common, butterfly amongst the insects enjoying the mint blooms, a gray hairstreak butterfly. Very elegant grey coloration, with some subtle dark/light lines, and a vivid orange "false eye" at the rear end of the wings, and pointed "false antenna". Am enjoying looking at the varied life that is gathering nectar and pollen? from the mint underneath the side yard clothesline...

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Currently under an Extreme Heat Watch for Friday through Sunday, with the forecast in the triple digits. Have been doing what I can to prepare, it may be frivolous but extra ice cubes in the freezer will be welcome, as will meals cooked ahead that can either be eaten cold or merely heated in the microwave. Little Wellington will be here Saturday morning for a long dog sitting visit, but there will be no midday dog walks, only early morning and at dusk or later. Puppy must needs become crepuscular as much as our own plucky heroine is...

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~ nature was fun... ~

Stopped in at the local Goodwill, and found a square frame that was a good size for this favorite Strange Planet cartoon. With the frame painted black, it can join all the other water themed artwork on the bathroom walls...

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	-	new apron straps	-
6	x	frame for Pyle cartoon	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- mobility and sight, and paying attention
- it is cool enough tonight to open the windows and deploy the fans
- my life allows me to nap when tired

Time of Isolation - Day 1857

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine purposefully focuses on what is positive...

As it had cooled off a bit before sundown, a bike ride along the edge of the bluff seemed like a pleasant idea. High clouds were patterned like the fur of a mackerel tabby cat, which according to the internet precedes a change in the weather, and the forecast for the weekend is dreadfully hot once again. We shall have to see, but tonights bike ride at dusk was just delightful

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~ a beautiful windfall ~

The great benefit of thinning apples on the tree is that with fewer apples total, the resources available allow individual apples to grow larger. There will be more quince apple sauce in a few days

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making gradual progress on clearing the dining table of detritus and random papers... the box of sewing patterns returned to the sewing shelves, and the 8 page tutorial on sleeve plackets I'd printed out has been carefully placed in sheet protectors, which I cleverly in the past had bought a whole carton of, and stored with the printer paper. (that tutorial still needs the photo images to be redrawn or detailed, as the quality of the printing isn't as clear as would be desirable)

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that was baffling: while out riding my bike, saw a sign on a large fig tree for "free figs" but the whole tree only had (many many) unripe small second crop figs, nowhere near ready to eat. Indeed second crop figs almost never ripen here, and don't easily detach from the branches either.

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The podcast interview with T Kingfisher aka Ursula Vernon is now available online, and I look forward to listening to it soon! 

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	-	new apron straps	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- two beautiful windfall apples
- Past Me cleverly bought a box of 100 sheet protectors
- completed the second of four admin tasks (for this week)

Time of Isolation - Day 1856

Monday musings

in which our plucky heroine proceeds incrementally ...

The first waterbath preserves of this harvest season - there have been a few windfall apples already... Once the undamaged parts are cut away and peeled, they were combined with an equal amount of last years quince chunks from the freezer and simmer/steamed until well softened and the small amount of water mostly boiled away. My preference is for "chunky" sauce, so only slightly mashed, and after adding a just tiny spoonful of rosewater to each jar, the fruit sauce was processed for 15 minutes. Once cooled, there are three new jars on the pantry shelf. I think the portion of the backyard tree that survived has Gala apples, they are very flavorful, slightly golden color inside, but hard and crunchy - good for cooking

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~ pay attention ~

This looks like a protective roadside shrine. Black maneki-neko are thought to ward off misfortune, and the mirror may bounce bad luck "away"...

The other interesting thing seen recently while out on my bike was what appeared to be an unlabled painted breadbox on a post in front of a house, in the sort of position often seen for Little Free Libraries, or Free Little Art Galleries. Curious about the contents, it turned out it was a potters "honesty box" with several mugs and a set of plates, and a request to post the pay-what-you-think into a box on the house porch. I'll have to see if I can find it again, somewhere between Acorn Cottage and the post office

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The last time I was at the hardware store, picked up a pair of the smallest NiteIze S-biners they had, with the intention of replacing the straps on my kitchen apron. The apron washes up less entangled in the laundry without long straps attached, and some lengths of the twill tape from Beth and Karen was just the thing to turn into a pair long-enough straps with a loop on one end of each. All these sorts of assorted minor improvements and repairs will make life here just a bit easier to navigate... 

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Two ideas for largess projects: some more of the triangle pouches (using scrap fabric), and making block printed trim for garb (using 2 yard lengths of twill tape). There is already a good assortment of tiny stamps and blocks for printing trim, and of fabric printing inks on hand, though it isn't really a suitable craft for doing during online meetings. Sewing the triangle pouches is, though... and I do want to make one from the pink jungle background fabric for Kestrel's little toy "fishlet" who apparently loves pink!

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	3 jars apple/quince rosewater sauce	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	-	new apron straps	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Past Me cleverly stashed leftover quince chunks in the freezer
- one of the four admin tasks for this week is done
- some of the gifted twill tape is just right for new apron straps

Time of Isolation - Day 1855

shades of green

in which our plucky heroine does a little overdyeing...

Last year I picked up two native mock orange from the EMWSCD plant sale, and along with those bare root baby plants, there were giveaway treats: pamphlets about native landscaping, and a bandana with line drawings of invertebrates and plants. While the bandana was useful, it was also "caution sign" yellow, not a favorite color... so it had long been my intention to overdye it. Thinking about what color could combine with the vivid golden yellow and give a wearable-by-me result, it had to be a cool blue (hoping for a turquoise or teal result) 

While the initial dip into the Procion dye was not very promising, looking more like army-man green, eventually, and with the addition of the soda ash solution and some strong salt solution, after 40+ minutes of stirring over a simmer heat on the stove, the results are much improved: turquoise green. Actually the colorway is a lovely match for one of my summertime popover dresses, and will be a good addition to my headscarf and bandana collection

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The basil picked yesterday and tucked into the dehydrator is mostly crisply dry, and has yielded almost a 4oz spice jar full of spicy herbal goodness. Winter will be less dull for my preparing ahead...

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~ so kawaii ~

This painting of a tiny green cat sitting in the flowers (tulips?) is the other bit of artwork I brought back from my trip to the St Johns F.L.A.G. Some of my miniature linocuts are good to bring with to swap for new artwork.

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Listening to Grateful Dead - Live at Harpur College 1970-05-02

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	dried basil	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	-	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
- Internet Archive Grateful Dead archives of live music
- past me made tasty applesauce
- My friend Maeva is recovering really well from her knee replacement

Time of Isolation - Day 1854

the sweet scent of late summer

in which our plucky heroine takes an appreciative sniff...

This is one time of year when there are some of my favorite flower scents drifting on the air. I remember the first time I smelled Clerodendrum, on a trip through the city... we'd stopped for dinner at McMenamins Barley Mill Pub, and parked a few blocks away, and there was this amazing floral perfume that just overwhelmed me. Took me months, and librarian helpers, in those pre-internet days, to find out what the plant was.

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~ Clerodendrum trichotomum ~

Common names Harlequin Glorybower (or/also "peanutbutter plant") it has the most sweetly scented flowers, which turn into small metallic blue berries surrounded by bright red sepals. If you crush or rub the leaves, they smell sort of like peanut butter. The berries make a dyestuff known in Japan as "the other blue"...

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Progress on the elderberrry tincture: after freezing the elderberries for a day or two, they have been transferred into a mason jar, covered with 100 proof vodka, and stashed in the pantry for the next month and a half... the jar gets shaken up at least several times a week as alcohol and water extract healing compounds from the berries.

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Riding my bike on Thursday morning, and heard a sort of strange ping noise, which turned out to be a broken spoke, which sent the rear wheel enough out of true that it was dragging on the rear brakepad as well. Since I was out and about on errands, stopped at the re-opened bike shop in Kenton, dropped it off to be repaired, and headed for home on foot. Turned out that the wheel needed replaced due to age and former broken spokes. Not that bad, considering the bike is over 25 years old.

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Yesterday there was an instagram post from the St Johns Little Free Art Gallery, with photos of their current group show that just refilled the box, so was tempted to take an evening ride (fingers crossed it didn't rain on me)... there, as well as all sorts of 2D artwork was this adorable little 2" ceramic rattle/bell ornament shaped like a the love child of a gyoza dumpling and a grumpy goldfish. This reminds me of my intention to eventually create a sort of blank wreath that I can add the various trinkets from the advent swaps; this little fish would be a great addition...

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Insomnia bit hard last night, and then waking up from a nightmare at 3am didn't do me any favors either, so a long afternoon nap was inevitable. My planned chores and activity for today mostly didn't happen, though I did hang the laundry on the line before succumbing to magnetic bed attraction. First task on waking up again was to water the treelings. Then it occurred to me that the basil surrounding Juliet-the-tomato could be trimmed and the leaves set to dry for wintertime use, the kitchen smells wonderfully of basil.

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	-	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	-	bike rear wheel	window AC
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
- Ariadne mentioned Piel de Sapo melon, so when I saw some at the market, had to try it... so yummy!
- we didn't get much if any rain, but it has cooled down a little bit, and is a bit less muggy
- two delightful treats from the Little Free Art Gallery

Time of Isolation - Day 1853

Elderberry season

in which our plucky heroine continues enjoying small views of the natural world...

Tuesday morning I'd once again watered all the young trees and potted plants so they could survive another day of triple digit heat... and I noticed a bee had approached the empty hydration station (that I was about to refill). I slowly and carefully added water to halfway up the stepping stones. Got to see her stay and drink, and hopefully take the information back to her hive sisters.

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~ the harvest begins ~

One of this mornings activities was clipping most of the easily reached elderberries, and removing them from the stemmy clusters, to facilitate starting the process of preserving. This year my plan is to make an alcohol based tincture, as that is the most shelf stable option. It will require me to purchase some suitable alcohol, and most of what I've read suggests 100 proof vodka, not something I keep on hand here at Acorn Cottage!

Last year I tried freezing the berries before removing them from the stems, but ended up with a big bag full of stem fragments mixed with fruit, which was so annoying to try and separate that the whole thing went in the compost bin. It wasn't terribly difficult to pull the fruit off the stems this time, and now there is a tray of nice clean washed berries in the freezer awaiting the next step... Hopefully more berries will join the party, as the plan is to thin the black elder and gradually bring the whole plant a bit closer to the ground level for easier picking! According to my reading, they either get pruned in early spring, or after the fruit is ripe (which makes sense, so as to not cut off future abundance) Pruning video, and web info

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Slow if steady progress on the Laurel wreath circular border printing block - with only carving one leaf per day, my wrists will remain less cranky, and the block will still be completed by the end of the month.

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In the credit card saga, it continues being a terrible tangle... As you may recall, in the middle of July suddenly and unexpectedly I found my card invalidated. Apparently at the beginning of last month, the company decided for some internal reason having nothing to do with cardholders to reissue new cards to all, with new numbers. They did not mail out any notification of this change, and no new card showed up here at Acorn Cottage, despite being posted at the beginning of July. So, after contacting them, I was eventually (two weeks later) reissued a new card with a new number, so all should be good?? 

Not so fast... the new card, like all new cards, needs to be "activated" which usually (in the past) involves phoning in and answering many repetitive queries before finally being able to sign the back and use said card. Well... the phone tree was so troublesome, sending me round and round without ever moving on to the next stage, that it seemed like a better option to attempt to speak with an actual customer service person to make progress. Sigh. The polite gentleman on the phone kept trying, asking all the same questions over and over again, but finally told me that he could not activate the card and that it would be necessary to speak with some sort of upper level customer service. Who would (probably) phone me in the next several days. In the meantime, no useable card for at this point at least a month. 

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	-	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	-	-	window AC
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
- Kanopy has one of the films I had been hoping to access
- I found a local source that sells single replacement gaskets for Le Parfait, so I can reuse the jar I foolishly used to hold lacto-fermented red onions!
- watching a bee drink from the hydration station
- Even though the clusters are fragmented and partially empty, there still is quite a bit of ripe fruit on the European Black Elder in the parking strip.
- cooler weather this evening
- I managed to not lose my temper at the unfortunate customer service person, after I'd already spent an hour on the phone tree carousel, and with him not being able to help me either. Indeed, I apolgised to him for my grouchy voice, since it was not his doing that caused the problems. There is a special hell for the people who create and program dysfunctional phone trees, and I hope those people spend their afterlife in a forest of useless queries

Time of Isolation - Day 1850

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine has multiple tasks...

and only manages to get some of them done, the easiest ones of course! More laundry, the entirety of Mt Dishmore, and filling all the now finished canning jar boxes. (There are still several dozen unboxed, of less uniform sizes, an inventory of which will be useful for planning additional storage)

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~ it's a start ~

This is going to become a Laurel wreath border, for printing fabric. The motif is inspired by, though not a direct copy of, the border on this 8th/9th C woven silk textile fragment. I'd already carved a confronted pair of horses block back in January 2016, when I was starting to get enthused about the idea of using block printing to evoke the complex woven silk of early eras... That block has always been intended for the central motif.

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One of the tasks on my list for today was to contact Dr E and ask what was happening with the bone density scan she suggested. Lo and behold, today the phone rang and it was the scanning receptionist, wanting to know if I was ready to schedule an appointment! We had a pleasant thorough chat to clarify what would happen and how to be properly prepared. My only question was about masking, and she was very encouraging, and said that a note would be placed on my chart so there would be no surprises. I will be most curious to find out what the results are, given that I am fairly active.

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The next sewing project will be turning the turquoise batik fabric, acquired last year, into the popover dress it was always intended to become. And incidentally, making a start on the teal/turquoise themed sewing plan... Do need to remember to not partially cut out pattern pieces without leaving self a note and a diagram about what was intended for the remaining yardage 

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	-	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	-	-	window AC
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- bone density scan is scheduled
- hiding indoors is a legitimate strategy when the thermometer on the porch shows triple digits
- I did buy enough of the rayon batik fabric last year to make the next popover dress

Time of Isolation - Day 1848

Sunday snippets

in which our plucky heroine embraces crepuscularity...

Clarity about the different levels of heat danger announcements... while it won't be as bad as the year it got to 117°F on my front porch, it will still be plenty doggone hot for the next few days. ("Extreme Heat Warning" is the current forecast: 97 to 100+°F (36 to 38°C). It is often a few degrees hotter than the forecast here at Acorn Cottage, and indeed the thermometer on the front porch passed the 100°F tickmark this afternoon.

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~ wall and oak ~

Just in case it wasn't obvious, the retaining wall is labeled "THE WALL". And the oak tree is huge, with a diameter wider than my arm span, branches that shade the sidewalk and over the street on both sides of the intersection.

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Well that was fascinating... apparently hoverflies will land on wet laundry to get a drink, if the landscape is dry. First thing this morning while hanging the freshly washed "Mt Washmore on the clothesline, I'd observed (between trips indoors to get another armful) there were two of them hanging out on one of the tea towels on the line. Learn something new every day!

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Made another batch of kale salad, because it makes a large batch to store in the fridge as it is just perfect for future meals without additional cooking... but there were no raisins, which while not original add delightful tiny pops of sweetness. Karen suggested rehydrating and dicing up some of my dried persimmons, which was an excellent substitution, being both colorful and homegrown.

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Rather than edgebind the indigotiger popover hem extension, it will be easier to simply use the babyhem variation, since it is now long enough that losing a bit less than ¾" will be acceptable. The very bottom edge was serged to prevent fraying. Now if that edge is just turned towards the inside two times, the serged portion is enclosed and the whole triple layer can be topstitched. It is narrow enough that it just lays flat. I'd forgotten about this easy method, until I took a closer look at my second ever popover dress, the "blue moon batik" and noticed its very narrow hem...

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	4 jar storage lids	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	-	indigotiger popover  hem extension	recycle bin
4	-	-	window AC
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- YouTube is its own sort of Wayback Machine
- my plan for making canning jar storage boxes is well underway
- someone left a almost new copy of "smitten kitchen Every Day" in the little free library in front of Karla's house. Even if I don't make any of the recipes, Deb Perelman writes enjoyable commentary... and cookbooks make the best bedtime reading: the "chapters" are really short, and there is no nightmare fuel in the content...

Time of Isolation - Day 1847

tiger carousel

in which our plucky heroine holds onto her composure...

The weather is heating up as we head towards several days of Extreme Heat Advisory, so I made sure to get outside early to water the things-in-pots and the young trees. Will do so again tomorrow, but now I'm hiding inside the house with the AC on.

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~ 13+ tiger-go-round ~

The printed tiger patches have cured long enough for stitching together and attaching to the hemline of the indigo tiger popover dress. Thirteen are not quite enough to span the hemline, so the fourteenth will either be a partial tiger, or just some blank black fabric to make up the difference. Still not sure what fabric will be best for the very bottom edge binding, but it has been run through the serger to keep it from fraying until that is sorted out...

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Two excellent books from local little free libraries: A Ring of Bright Water by Gavin Maxwell, and Calico The Wonder Horse, a childrens story by Virginia Lee Burton. The former I somehow missed reading in my younger days, though I was much enamored of the animal tales of Gerald Durrell. Gavin Maxwell's writing is really evocative, painting word pictures of a vanished world. The latter has wonderful graphic illustrations that call to mind the block printed style of the Folly Cove Designers, active from 1938 -1969, a group that was led by Virginia. 

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Though the bug bites on my legs look much like flea bites, I have no idea how a flea could have gotten into the house. There have been two flea traps* set on different nights in different places, with zero results. And so currently there are orange peels scattered about in likely spots, a great deal of vacuuming, and next may be some dusting of diatomaceous earth into the carpet. 

* a flea trap is made by setting a shallow pan of water with some dishes soap mixed in atop either a plant start mat or a cat warming mat overnight, the varmints are attracted to the heat, jump into the water and drown. 

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The storage trays are finished, and three of the four lids have been cut out and taped together. Next I'll use the gummed paper tape to finish the edges and reinforce the corners. It is going to be so great to have more of the empty jars neatly stored away instead of on the kitchen countertop. I just found a half dozen more half-pints on the worktable under a stack of fabric, which is so not where they belong!

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 jar storage trays	tiger block	greenwaste bin
2	-	bright rayon top width	recycle bin
3	-	-	recycle bin
4	-	-	window AC
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the little Brother 1034D serger, a birthday gift in 2008, that has been every bit as much of a sturdy workhorse as it was reported to be, and still doing yeoman service here at Acorn Cottage. 
- I printed enough tiger trapezoids to make it most of the way around the hemline of the indigotiger popover dress
- two letters: AC (air conditioning)

Time of Isolation - Day 1846