in which our plucky heroine has a less than stellar day...
woke up to no internet, and soon realised there was no dial tone either. Spent hours on the cell phone trying to connect to Customer Service. Might get a technician here Thursday but more likely Friday!?! Am not pleased. Writing and posting via mobile phone is difficult, aggravating and awkward
today's gratitudes -
- managed to remove stuck bolt from salvaged wheelbarrow
- Vise Grips
- a long complicated hopepunk adventure in Dreamland
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Monday, September 29, 2025
my arm is a noodle
in which our plucky heroine gets her jab...
Last night a cold front came through, and the weather shifted. Drizzle, some rain, and the ground is damp with droplets. Apparently Wellington does not like the rain. We have repeatedly answered his whining, or little barks, or just sitting and staring at me with attempts to go walkies. Emphasis on the "attempts" rather than the "walkies". Quirky little dog is full of quirks.
When seeking out beads for the lunaria ornaments, an abandoned project also turned up, a bag of assorted black and white felt beads with two vials of japanese seed beads also black and white... intended to become "beaded beads" all counterchanged. Since now there were readily available beading needles, the felt beads have all been properly decorated. They are asking for some sort of appaloosa pendant next. Material objects are demanding, at times. Not quite sure where to take this, but it will be interesting.
After trying to take Wellington for a walk this morning, it was time to head out to the pharmacy in St Johns to try again to get my booster vaccine. Fortunately the little piece of cardboard (Medicare card found yesterday) contained the right bit of data needed for approval. "Make your arm be a floppy as a noodle" is the best instruction for a relatively painless injection. I wish someone had told me that as a child, since the less you tense up, the less resistance and thereby the less pain. I probably looked rather peculiar afterwards, with how I kept waving my arm around, in various range of motion directions while riding home again, but that does help with the aftermath of the jab, as does good hydration. Had I not felt the vaccination initially, I'd be uncertain it had even happened; my arm is not sore at all!
several day's gratitudes-
- knowing that the weather was going to shift, I picked all the figs that were ready, and now have enough to make a 2nd batch of fig-lemon marmalade
- was able to get my Novavax jab for 2025/26 today
- a good long conversation with my old friend Sharon
Last night a cold front came through, and the weather shifted. Drizzle, some rain, and the ground is damp with droplets. Apparently Wellington does not like the rain. We have repeatedly answered his whining, or little barks, or just sitting and staring at me with attempts to go walkies. Emphasis on the "attempts" rather than the "walkies". Quirky little dog is full of quirks.
※※※
~ just for fun ~
"above the clouds, the sun is always shining"
...those were words on a card mailed to me the year I lived in Idahell. They are a sort of minor touchstone. Tonight there was an online zoom intended for intuitive artwork, which I didn't really grok, but took to be something like freely artmaking without pre-planning. This is what mixing it up with crayons on a page in my journal turned into. Shapes that could be letters and words and landscapes. ~ just for fun ~
"above the clouds, the sun is always shining"
※※※
When seeking out beads for the lunaria ornaments, an abandoned project also turned up, a bag of assorted black and white felt beads with two vials of japanese seed beads also black and white... intended to become "beaded beads" all counterchanged. Since now there were readily available beading needles, the felt beads have all been properly decorated. They are asking for some sort of appaloosa pendant next. Material objects are demanding, at times. Not quite sure where to take this, but it will be interesting.
※※※
Shopping news: Today I ordered some back up single vision computer glasses from Eye Buy Direct, since my attempt to repair the temple/hinge with epoxy only sort of worked. And I ordered a pair of backup shoes from Ebay, since the shoes that best fit my feet are no longer being made. And as a treat after my jab, the new Carson Ellis calendar (I love her artwork) which reminded me that it is time to get back to inking in the drawings for my own "AlphaBeast" calendar for 2026...
※※※
After trying to take Wellington for a walk this morning, it was time to head out to the pharmacy in St Johns to try again to get my booster vaccine. Fortunately the little piece of cardboard (Medicare card found yesterday) contained the right bit of data needed for approval. "Make your arm be a floppy as a noodle" is the best instruction for a relatively painless injection. I wish someone had told me that as a child, since the less you tense up, the less resistance and thereby the less pain. I probably looked rather peculiar afterwards, with how I kept waving my arm around, in various range of motion directions while riding home again, but that does help with the aftermath of the jab, as does good hydration. Had I not felt the vaccination initially, I'd be uncertain it had even happened; my arm is not sore at all!
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | greenwaste bin |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | recycle bin |
| 6 | dried pears | picked plums | x |
| 7 | 4 jars pickled beets | small radiator foot | x |
| 8 | 11 jars salsa verde | spex temple | x |
| 9 | 5 jars strawberry rhubarb | got Novavax jab | x |
| 10 | 5 jars spiced applesauce | x | x |
| 11 | x | x | x |
| 12 | x | x | x |
several day's gratitudes-
- knowing that the weather was going to shift, I picked all the figs that were ready, and now have enough to make a 2nd batch of fig-lemon marmalade
- was able to get my Novavax jab for 2025/26 today
- a good long conversation with my old friend Sharon
Time of Isolation - Day 1926
Sunday, September 28, 2025
do you know where your towel is?
in which our plucky heroine is uncertain but does her best...
Whilst out and about on my bike this week, my brain came up with an alternate idea for the Babs brooch project - to use flat back bezels for the pearls instead of pearl cups! That project has had me stymied for months. When I mentioned this idea to Bill last night he agreed it was an idea he had used more than once, and gave me a few additional suggestions. I miss the days when we shared studio space and could bounce ideas back and forth so easily. Indeed, I miss a great deal from the Before Times and Days Gone By... but that world is gone forever, and it is up to us to make the best of the world we do live in.
Noticed yesterday that one of the few remaining bath towels are getting a bit threadbare in places. They must be almost forty years old now. The first one acquired in 1988, and the others made from fabric bought in Idahell a few years later.
Years later on one of the trips to West 12th Night, there was some fabric shopping in Berkeley and in Oakland. There is still a length of black waffle weave cotton on the fabric resource shelves, originally meant for a bathrobe, but now it will probably become as many bath sheet size towels as can be fit into however much yardage is there. And if needs must, fabrics-store.com also carries a very nice linen-cotton waffle weave.
Even more years ago than that, a waffle weave towel was a surprise and a delight in the hotel we stayed in in Rome, being eversomuch nicer and more functional than terrycloth. My travel companions thought it very odd that my souvenir was a towel, which took a good deal of effort to find a shop that had them for sale.
One side of my blue computer spex broke apart at the temple hinge. Since there is nothing to lose by trying to DIY repair it, given the expensive repair the last time the other side broke, I'm trying some JB Weld epoxy. They can sit on the workbench overnight and shall hopefully be somewhat solid in the morning. Fortunately my shop glasses serve almost the same function, and tis probably time to order another computer pair from "eye buy direct".
several day's gratitudes-
- the Hydration Station is in use again
- passed an ivy-covered wall that was humming, covered in bees
- waffle weave towels
- back up spex
- former shared studio with Bill was both educational and encouraging.
- unexpected old friend showed up at Crafternoon
- there were bead needles at the art store, and the set came with a very thin needle threader; for such tiny needle eyes, the tool wins!!
- after much rummaging, may have managed to find the vital bit of paper this afternoon after my unsuccessful attempt to get the jab this morning. (I've never needed it in the past for vaccination, only my insurance card...)
Whilst out and about on my bike this week, my brain came up with an alternate idea for the Babs brooch project - to use flat back bezels for the pearls instead of pearl cups! That project has had me stymied for months. When I mentioned this idea to Bill last night he agreed it was an idea he had used more than once, and gave me a few additional suggestions. I miss the days when we shared studio space and could bounce ideas back and forth so easily. Indeed, I miss a great deal from the Before Times and Days Gone By... but that world is gone forever, and it is up to us to make the best of the world we do live in.
※※※
~ back in service ~
In the last week or so, ever since it rained, there have been bees again at the hydration station. I don't know if they need more water this time of year, or if it took them that long to find it again, but it makes me happy to see them drinking. And in other buzzing news, while out walking Wellington this morning, we passed a wall covered in ivy, that was all abloom, and so full of bees that the buzz was audible half a block away. On days when despair dogs my footsteps, the life of the natural world lifts my heart.~ back in service ~
※※※
Noticed yesterday that one of the few remaining bath towels are getting a bit threadbare in places. They must be almost forty years old now. The first one acquired in 1988, and the others made from fabric bought in Idahell a few years later.
Years later on one of the trips to West 12th Night, there was some fabric shopping in Berkeley and in Oakland. There is still a length of black waffle weave cotton on the fabric resource shelves, originally meant for a bathrobe, but now it will probably become as many bath sheet size towels as can be fit into however much yardage is there. And if needs must, fabrics-store.com also carries a very nice linen-cotton waffle weave.
Even more years ago than that, a waffle weave towel was a surprise and a delight in the hotel we stayed in in Rome, being eversomuch nicer and more functional than terrycloth. My travel companions thought it very odd that my souvenir was a towel, which took a good deal of effort to find a shop that had them for sale.
※※※
~ elaborated lunarias ~
Earlier this month my original idea was to paint decorations on the lunaria pods. Even after a coat of nail polish on both sides, they were still really flimsy, and a backing of bright purple felt somehow wasn't just right. So each one was embroidered with a border of beads, and another layer of lighter purple felt attached, with a ribbon for hanging sandwiched between~ elaborated lunarias ~
※※※
One side of my blue computer spex broke apart at the temple hinge. Since there is nothing to lose by trying to DIY repair it, given the expensive repair the last time the other side broke, I'm trying some JB Weld epoxy. They can sit on the workbench overnight and shall hopefully be somewhat solid in the morning. Fortunately my shop glasses serve almost the same function, and tis probably time to order another computer pair from "eye buy direct".
※※※
At my yearly well woman oncology exam on Friday, found out that all the eastside facilities are moving to single new building, that is unfortunately a lot further away. Currently it's a single twenty bus ride from home; the new building isn't even in Portland, though thankfully still can be accessed on transit. I am not relishing the idea of spending over an hour and a half each way (two transfers/three different buses) plus a fair bit of walking in a location that is not intended for or amenable to pedestrian access. Grump!!
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | greenwaste bin |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | recycle bin |
| 6 | dried pears | picked plums | x |
| 7 | 4 jars pickled beets | small radiator foot | x |
| 8 | 11 jars salsa verde | spex temple | x |
| 9 | 5 jars strawberry rhubarb | x | x |
| 10 | 5 jars spiced applesauce | x | x |
| 11 | x | x | x |
| 12 | x | x | x |
several day's gratitudes-
- the Hydration Station is in use again
- passed an ivy-covered wall that was humming, covered in bees
- waffle weave towels
- back up spex
- former shared studio with Bill was both educational and encouraging.
- unexpected old friend showed up at Crafternoon
- there were bead needles at the art store, and the set came with a very thin needle threader; for such tiny needle eyes, the tool wins!!
- after much rummaging, may have managed to find the vital bit of paper this afternoon after my unsuccessful attempt to get the jab this morning. (I've never needed it in the past for vaccination, only my insurance card...)
Time of Isolation - Day 1925
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
waterbath Wednesday
in which our plucky heroine has been feeling a bit of a Brambly Hedge vibe...
as this time of year, every week involves transforming fresh food in various ways to be ready for wintertime, either shelf stable jars, or prepared in the freezer, or dried for pantry storage. Today was all about little 4oz jars. The small amount of frozen strawberries and diced rhubarb were turned into strawberry/rhubarb sauce, seasoned with grated orange peel and a bit of cinnamon. The bowl of windfall apples became spiced (cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise) extra chunky applesauce, which could be used later in the year for an individual crisp or cobbler. I've never made a fruit cobbler, but Mikki's description was tempting, and this recipe looks simple enough. With any luck, the vendor with the organic stone fruit will be at the market again on Saturday... but if not, there are still apples on the backyard tree.
※※※
Today was another very warm day, perfect for tackling Mt Washmore. By lunchtime, the laundry was dry and getting folded and put away. Mt Dishmore has been almost dealt with as well, despite the repeated need to wash canning funnels, ladles, and saucepans, and one more round tomorrow will have all the remaining unwashed containers and dishes on the rack and drying. Since I forgot to set my alarm, didn't wake up til 7, which only gave me an hour to put in time raking under the plum thicket. More weeds and crushed overripe plums into the wheelie bin. Took the shears and loppers to some of the dead branches inside the thicket, which always try and grab my hair or poke my arms. I wish it was possible to prune plums in the winter, when they aren't full of fruit and leaves, but will try and do what I can while it is still hot and dry before the rainy season starts.Cat ladders - who knew?
today's gratitudes -
- the tink noise that canning jar lids make when they have cooled down enough to seal
- Wellington is here for a few weeks
- some extra bananas from D&N will get turned into banana bread
as this time of year, every week involves transforming fresh food in various ways to be ready for wintertime, either shelf stable jars, or prepared in the freezer, or dried for pantry storage. Today was all about little 4oz jars. The small amount of frozen strawberries and diced rhubarb were turned into strawberry/rhubarb sauce, seasoned with grated orange peel and a bit of cinnamon. The bowl of windfall apples became spiced (cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise) extra chunky applesauce, which could be used later in the year for an individual crisp or cobbler. I've never made a fruit cobbler, but Mikki's description was tempting, and this recipe looks simple enough. With any luck, the vendor with the organic stone fruit will be at the market again on Saturday... but if not, there are still apples on the backyard tree.
※※※
~ conudrum completed ~
This morning, my final hand stitching closing both sides of all four of the corner seams completed the set of pillow shams. It did take a bit more than double the six hours of my initial estimate. V, who came to pick them up this afternoon, was really pleased with how well they fit the pillows, and with how closely they turned out to look like her initial concept.~ conudrum completed ~
※※※
Today was another very warm day, perfect for tackling Mt Washmore. By lunchtime, the laundry was dry and getting folded and put away. Mt Dishmore has been almost dealt with as well, despite the repeated need to wash canning funnels, ladles, and saucepans, and one more round tomorrow will have all the remaining unwashed containers and dishes on the rack and drying. Since I forgot to set my alarm, didn't wake up til 7, which only gave me an hour to put in time raking under the plum thicket. More weeds and crushed overripe plums into the wheelie bin. Took the shears and loppers to some of the dead branches inside the thicket, which always try and grab my hair or poke my arms. I wish it was possible to prune plums in the winter, when they aren't full of fruit and leaves, but will try and do what I can while it is still hot and dry before the rainy season starts.Cat ladders - who knew?
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | - |
| 6 | dried pears | picked plums | x |
| 7 | 4 jars pickled beets | small radiator foot | x |
| 8 | 11 jars salsa verde | x | x |
| 9 | 5 jars strawberry rhubarb | x | x |
| 10 | 5 jars spiced applesauce | x | x |
| 11 | x | x | x |
| 12 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- the tink noise that canning jar lids make when they have cooled down enough to seal
- Wellington is here for a few weeks
- some extra bananas from D&N will get turned into banana bread
Time of Isolation - Day 1921
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
a long and busy day
in which our plucky heroine sets her alarm for early...
because the current garden task is raking up the plums on the ground under the thicket, which task has to be done in the coldest part of the day, just around dawn, before too many danger bugs wake up. It is satisfying to rake everything out onto the burden cloth time and again. It usually takes at least four or five mornings to gather it all up, but just with today's rakings the greenwaste bin is almost half full of windfalls and weeds.
This year I left picking the plums a bit late, so while a bit more of the year's harvest has been lost than usual, the available freezer space is almost full, and there are enough frozen plums to last the year. Have made a note in the journal to start picking early in September rather than mid-month
While I may have missed Karla's yard sale, the remnants were on her lawn today with a sign: "FREE"... and there was a big old wheelbarrow. The only thing wrong with it was the tire was a mess. I think I can swap out the tire from my own wheelbarrow (the one with the damaged handles) and create one whole functional garden tool from two dysfunctional ones.
Just about done with the flat piping pillow sham conundrum project. Had I left the salsa verde for a different day, the final pillow would have had all the corners hand stitched tonight, but since it is too late for V to pick up the finished pieces, it may as well have the final stitching done early tomorrow. Sigh and alas, despite increasing my estimate, the total hours worked are double what I allotted and charged her for, (even without including all the time spent figuring out the tiny mitered corners, which I had no idea was in store for me). Each sham takes about three hours apiece, between cutting out the pieces, basting, sewing, pressing the piping, then hand stitching down both sides of each corner. Live and learn.
today's gratitudes -
- burden cloth is one of the best ideas I had and made, years ago, and use regularly
- WD-40
- free wheelbarrow, hopefully to make a Frankenbarrow.
because the current garden task is raking up the plums on the ground under the thicket, which task has to be done in the coldest part of the day, just around dawn, before too many danger bugs wake up. It is satisfying to rake everything out onto the burden cloth time and again. It usually takes at least four or five mornings to gather it all up, but just with today's rakings the greenwaste bin is almost half full of windfalls and weeds.
This year I left picking the plums a bit late, so while a bit more of the year's harvest has been lost than usual, the available freezer space is almost full, and there are enough frozen plums to last the year. Have made a note in the journal to start picking early in September rather than mid-month
※※※
Betwixt and between working on the conundrum project, the tomatillos from the weekend trip to the farmer's market have turned into eleven+ 4 oz jars of salsa verde. This is a savory/spicy addition to the pantry, although the jalapeno peppers bought at the same time were not spicy at all! I added about a quarter teaspoon of cayenne to the triple batch which added zing without adding pain. Peppers are so variable in their capsicum content
※※※
While I may have missed Karla's yard sale, the remnants were on her lawn today with a sign: "FREE"... and there was a big old wheelbarrow. The only thing wrong with it was the tire was a mess. I think I can swap out the tire from my own wheelbarrow (the one with the damaged handles) and create one whole functional garden tool from two dysfunctional ones.
※※※
Just about done with the flat piping pillow sham conundrum project. Had I left the salsa verde for a different day, the final pillow would have had all the corners hand stitched tonight, but since it is too late for V to pick up the finished pieces, it may as well have the final stitching done early tomorrow. Sigh and alas, despite increasing my estimate, the total hours worked are double what I allotted and charged her for, (even without including all the time spent figuring out the tiny mitered corners, which I had no idea was in store for me). Each sham takes about three hours apiece, between cutting out the pieces, basting, sewing, pressing the piping, then hand stitching down both sides of each corner. Live and learn.
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | - |
| 6 | dried pears | picked plums | x |
| 7 | 4 jars pickled beets | small radiator foot | x |
| 8 | 11 jars salsa verde | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- burden cloth is one of the best ideas I had and made, years ago, and use regularly
- WD-40
- free wheelbarrow, hopefully to make a Frankenbarrow.
Time of Isolation - Day 1920
Monday, September 22, 2025
Monday meandering
in which our plucky heroine wakes up before dawn...
Saturday morning the sky was all golden to the east when I was on my way to one of the bigger farmers markets, with the intention of getting there right when they opened. It was "senior day", which apparently happens once a year towards the end of harvest season, with unlimited $1 off every $4 purchase coupons for everyone over 55. To my great delight, there are now waiting on my kitchen counter enough organic tomatillos to make three batches of salsa verde, and an appropriate amount of jalapeño peppers
My treat for figuring out the flat piping shams conundrum was to order from Alibris a copy of The Ashley Book of Knots. This everso useful and encyclopedic manual was not in my collection, and adding a reference book or tool after solving a challenge and/or finishing a commission is my way of giving myself a bonus. (Trying to look up the instructions online for Mr Dawson for how to lash a fiberglass brush made me realise this particular gap in the library shelves here at Acorn Cottage.)
today's gratitudes -
- a phone conversation with Mikki
- figured out a way to do the mitered flat piping, albeit requiring lots of hand stitching, sigh
- The Ashley Book of Knots
- an almost new and very affordable pair of Arizona Birks on Ebay
Saturday morning the sky was all golden to the east when I was on my way to one of the bigger farmers markets, with the intention of getting there right when they opened. It was "senior day", which apparently happens once a year towards the end of harvest season, with unlimited $1 off every $4 purchase coupons for everyone over 55. To my great delight, there are now waiting on my kitchen counter enough organic tomatillos to make three batches of salsa verde, and an appropriate amount of jalapeño peppers
※※※
~ harvest season ~
Seven gallons of ripe plums have been added to the chest freezer. Now I need get busy raking up the windfalls for compost, bit by bit in the cool early morning before the danger bugs awaken. ~ harvest season ~
※※※
My treat for figuring out the flat piping shams conundrum was to order from Alibris a copy of The Ashley Book of Knots. This everso useful and encyclopedic manual was not in my collection, and adding a reference book or tool after solving a challenge and/or finishing a commission is my way of giving myself a bonus. (Trying to look up the instructions online for Mr Dawson for how to lash a fiberglass brush made me realise this particular gap in the library shelves here at Acorn Cottage.)
※※※
Sleep/wake is returning to a more functional schedule, though it would be even further improved would my cranky SI joint decide to be cooperative again instead of seceding from the rest of my structural components. Am currently setting an early morning alarm in order to get yardwork done, or prep for preserving. My hope this week is to turn the 15# of tomatoes in the freezer into Awesome Sauce in the pantry, plus fig lemon marmalade, and salsa verde. That will free up some sorely needed freezer space
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | - |
| 6 | dried pears | picked plums | x |
| 7 | 4 jars pickled beets | small radiator foot | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- a phone conversation with Mikki
- figured out a way to do the mitered flat piping, albeit requiring lots of hand stitching, sigh
- The Ashley Book of Knots
- an almost new and very affordable pair of Arizona Birks on Ebay
Time of Isolation - Day 1919
Friday, September 19, 2025
Friday fragments
in which our plucky heroine perseveres and preserves...
The last few days have been a bit of a struggle, as my body is not being cooperative despite my best attempts at nourishment and hydration. Despite that, there has been some progress made on both the dealing-with-harvest-season and on the flat piping conundrum.
Since there was a bunch of beets... well three big beets... in the produce delivery this week, and there were no more jars of pickled beets in the pantry, my mission was obvious. (abbreviated recipe for future reference)
Hopefully one of the farmers markets this weekend will have some organic tomatillos for less than the $7# that they are asking at the grocery store. This recipe for salsa verde is a good one, and every few years another batch or two needs made to replenish the pantry storage...
today's gratitudes -
- picked more plums and am gradually filling gallon ziploc bags in the freezer with frozen plum halves
- Milliput epoxy putty
- the scent of basil
The last few days have been a bit of a struggle, as my body is not being cooperative despite my best attempts at nourishment and hydration. Despite that, there has been some progress made on both the dealing-with-harvest-season and on the flat piping conundrum.
※※※
~ a worthwhile experiment ~
This year, not only did I manage to keep the Juliette tomato alive and happy in a big pot in the backyard, but as decoration, bought a six-pack of basil and a six-pack of marigolds, and planted them in a circle around the edge. So pretty to look at, and the basil grew well enough that I picked quite a bit earlier this summer and dried it for wintertime cooking. Today, noticed that even where it had been cut back, it was still putting on more growth, so another basket full went into the dehydrator today.~ a worthwhile experiment ~
※※※
Since there was a bunch of beets... well three big beets... in the produce delivery this week, and there were no more jars of pickled beets in the pantry, my mission was obvious. (abbreviated recipe for future reference)
1½# beets, 2c 5% ACV, 1c sugar, ¾t pickling salt, ¾cH₂O, 1cinnamon stick, ½t whole allspice, ¼t peppercorns. Boil beets a half hour until totally cooked through. Let cool, slip off skin and trim, then cut into slices or cubes and set aside. Mix all together syrup ingredients bring to boil, add beets and bring to simmer. ½" gap, process 30 minutes
※※※
The detachable stabilising foot for the tiny underdesk oil filled radiator snapped in half ages ago, run over by my desk chair. While it works just fine sans foot, repairing it turned out to be feasible. Super glue held the plastic pieces together, and the break was reinforced with the Milliput epoxy putty acquired earlier this year
※※※
Hopefully one of the farmers markets this weekend will have some organic tomatillos for less than the $7# that they are asking at the grocery store. This recipe for salsa verde is a good one, and every few years another batch or two needs made to replenish the pantry storage...
| 1# tomatillos ¼ c chopped onion 1 large green jalapeño ¼ c chopped cilantro 1 small clove garlic 1 t salt 2 T lime juice | Remove husks, wash, and simmer tomatillos till softened and color changes. Blend them with all the other ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. five 4oz. jars - ½" headspace - process 25 minutes |
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | - |
| 6 | dried pears | picked plums | x |
| 7 | 4 jars pickled beets | small radiator foot | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- picked more plums and am gradually filling gallon ziploc bags in the freezer with frozen plum halves
- Milliput epoxy putty
- the scent of basil
Time of Isolation - Day 1916
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Thursday thoughts
in which our plucky heroine notices that the season is shifting, as the daylight hours grow less. Still hot in the afternoons, but it cools down at night now, and this morning's ride to the hardware store was cool enough that a cardigan would have been useful...
It may have been a bit better to start picking the plums last week, as far too many of them are either windfalls or partially eaten by birds or squirrels, and it wasn't really a good crop this year to begin with. Still, I've been going out early in the cool of the morning, before the danger bugs wake up, and filling a bucket or basket with what I can reach. They get washed, and cut in half, pitted, and frozen to be part of my daily meals for the rest of the year. It might be necessary to deploy the fruit picking stick this year.
Another thing that happens this time of year, is the annual invasion of arachnids. I've learned to check the tub before showering... Three times in the last two weeks there have been rather large spiders in the bathtub. Fortunately, spider-catching stuff lives in the bathroom and the combination of transparent solo cup and postcard is usually enough to catch and release.
I'm trying to make homemade mustard, but unsure of eventual success. Despite soaking for over 24 hours, neither my mini food processor and/or my stick blender made much progress actually grinding the softened seeds. Maybe soak for another day and try again? The appliances may just not be robust enough for this task? The mortar and pestle worked well, but only a spoonful at a time, so not going to attempt the whole cup and a half!
today's gratitudes -
- eight hours of sleep
- multiple spider catching cups
- plum thicket
※※※
~ a dream of pie ~
~ a dream of pie ~
※※※
It may have been a bit better to start picking the plums last week, as far too many of them are either windfalls or partially eaten by birds or squirrels, and it wasn't really a good crop this year to begin with. Still, I've been going out early in the cool of the morning, before the danger bugs wake up, and filling a bucket or basket with what I can reach. They get washed, and cut in half, pitted, and frozen to be part of my daily meals for the rest of the year. It might be necessary to deploy the fruit picking stick this year.
※※※
~ pear candy ~
Filling and running the food dehydrator twice means that the big Fido jar is now full of dried pear "candy" (slices and bits). There may be enough pears still to do as much again...~ pear candy ~
※※※
Another thing that happens this time of year, is the annual invasion of arachnids. I've learned to check the tub before showering... Three times in the last two weeks there have been rather large spiders in the bathtub. Fortunately, spider-catching stuff lives in the bathroom and the combination of transparent solo cup and postcard is usually enough to catch and release.
※※※
~ conundrum ~
Our plucky heroine is baffled. Promised to make a set of four pillow shams with inserted ¼" flat piping around all four edges... which I thought would be straightforward, (though I've never done flat piping on outside corners). Turns out to be a technical challenge for which I've been unable to find any diagrams or instruction online or in my reference books, yet ready-made shams have that edge?!? My first idea, tried last night, didn't work well. ~ conundrum ~
※※※
I'm trying to make homemade mustard, but unsure of eventual success. Despite soaking for over 24 hours, neither my mini food processor and/or my stick blender made much progress actually grinding the softened seeds. Maybe soak for another day and try again? The appliances may just not be robust enough for this task? The mortar and pestle worked well, but only a spoonful at a time, so not going to attempt the whole cup and a half!
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | - |
| 6 | dried pears | picked plums | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- eight hours of sleep
- multiple spider catching cups
- plum thicket
Time of Isolation - Day 1915
Sunday, September 14, 2025
Eugene rinse cycle
in which our plucky heroine forgot to check the weather apps ...
In the middle of last night, awaken to the pleasant drumming of raindrops on the metal window awnings and roll over back into dreamland. In the morning, remember that most of yesterday's laundry is still pinned to the line, and cross "put laundry away" off today's list of housey chores.
※※※
~ "When Halley came to Jackson" ~
I just love this Mary Chapin Carpenter song (and the picture book that goes with it)
Put another round of Gersvinda pears into the food dehydrator. Once the whole bin has been processed, there may be enough to fill the largest Fido jar with pear "candy" goodness for the next year. This time I am peeling the pears before drying, as leaving the peel on last year was less than ideal.
weekend gratitudes -
- moar figs to turn into marmalade
- I was lucky to be alive in the bright world at the same time as my late friend Stef. Though we never met in person, we met online every week...
- the sound of rain and the scent of petrichor
- pancakes can become flatbread
- YouTube is full of origami tutorials, such as this big origami bowl
- Zoom remains a lifeline
In the middle of last night, awaken to the pleasant drumming of raindrops on the metal window awnings and roll over back into dreamland. In the morning, remember that most of yesterday's laundry is still pinned to the line, and cross "put laundry away" off today's list of housey chores.
※※※
~ "When Halley came to Jackson" ~
※※※
Put another round of Gersvinda pears into the food dehydrator. Once the whole bin has been processed, there may be enough to fill the largest Fido jar with pear "candy" goodness for the next year. This time I am peeling the pears before drying, as leaving the peel on last year was less than ideal.
※※※
It never occurred to me before that pancakes could be made ahead and used as flatbread. Eversomuch easier than making actual bread, and will be a nice alternative. Pamela's gluten free mix is my go-to, as it is really tasty, and even halving the recipe on the package makes more than our plucky heroine can eat at one time. A few flat-cakes stashed in the freezer equals a few additional fast meals on days when the cope-o-meter is pointing to E.
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | recycle bin |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | picked moar figs | - |
| 6 | x | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
weekend gratitudes -
- moar figs to turn into marmalade
- I was lucky to be alive in the bright world at the same time as my late friend Stef. Though we never met in person, we met online every week...
- the sound of rain and the scent of petrichor
- pancakes can become flatbread
- YouTube is full of origami tutorials, such as this big origami bowl
- Zoom remains a lifeline
Time of Isolation - Day 1911
Friday, September 12, 2025
Friday fragments
in which our plucky heroine writes a paragraph...
Tomorrow is the memorial for Stef... "(Unlike most here) I only knew Stef for a comparatively short while, but I could tell that we would probably be lifelong friends. I had no idea when we met how short that time would be. Though we never met in person, his generosity, creativity, and wide ranging knowledge was a joy to experience. When he found out I was interested in trying out role playing games he found egalitarian non-combative options (Golden Sky, and Wanderhome), and gently opened the door to another shared activity. I miss our weekly talks, and am sad that the future SCA road trip we had imagined will never happen. My life, and the greater world, are better for his having been a part of them."
Pruning pruning pruning - the European Black Elder has been greatly hacked back. Next up will be the Three Figs, lest they overgrow into the yard of my good neighbors, some additional thinning of the backyard apple tree once all the apples are harvested, and a bit of careful cutting back of the plum thicket (while it is still engine summer and not raining) just to remove the dead branches.There will be at least another two batches of applesauce, but without quince, as there are no more in the freezer, and those on the tree are not quite yet ripe
today's gratitudes -
- new chapter of Super Supportive
- the food dehydrator from Sam and Bob, that I use every year since they gave it to me when they upgraded
- bountiful homegrown tree fruit
Tomorrow is the memorial for Stef... "(Unlike most here) I only knew Stef for a comparatively short while, but I could tell that we would probably be lifelong friends. I had no idea when we met how short that time would be. Though we never met in person, his generosity, creativity, and wide ranging knowledge was a joy to experience. When he found out I was interested in trying out role playing games he found egalitarian non-combative options (Golden Sky, and Wanderhome), and gently opened the door to another shared activity. I miss our weekly talks, and am sad that the future SCA road trip we had imagined will never happen. My life, and the greater world, are better for his having been a part of them."
※※※
~ botanical bits ~
These tiny shiny things are the insides of the seed pods of Lunaria annua that seemed like a fun option to be decorated and turned to ornaments to share in the D3* Advent of a Better Year swap. Even after painting them on both sides with clear nail polish, they are still really fragile, so my thought is to back them with some wool felt. They might also be good to distribute to Free Little Art Galleries, the next time I feel like a bit of a ramble~ botanical bits ~
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Pruning pruning pruning - the European Black Elder has been greatly hacked back. Next up will be the Three Figs, lest they overgrow into the yard of my good neighbors, some additional thinning of the backyard apple tree once all the apples are harvested, and a bit of careful cutting back of the plum thicket (while it is still engine summer and not raining) just to remove the dead branches.There will be at least another two batches of applesauce, but without quince, as there are no more in the freezer, and those on the tree are not quite yet ripe
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | pruning elderberry | - |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | pruning nandina | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | - | - |
| 6 | x | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- new chapter of Super Supportive
- the food dehydrator from Sam and Bob, that I use every year since they gave it to me when they upgraded
- bountiful homegrown tree fruit
Time of Isolation - Day 1909
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
not a one trick pony
in which our plucky heroine is somewhat improved but still groggy...
Hoping for better sleep tonight. Managed to get things prepared for the pillow sham sewing job, made samples of the flat piping in several sizes before the customer arrived with the fabric, and yes, the ¼" width is what she wants. I cut her fabric into two 4 yard pieces then serged them into cylinders, which will behave better in the washing machine than if left as one extremely long flat piece. V will do the pre-shrinking in the same way she will wash finished shams, then bring me the washed and dried fabric. Hopefully soon, as they need completed before 9/28.
Spent over an hour in the middle of the day pruning the black elderberry in the parking strip, and filled the greenwaste bin again! And managed to get most of the Very Tall straight up water sprouts from the persimmon as well, which is a little difficult to work on as it is also currently full of unripe fruit
today's gratitudes -
- my brain made a Very Clever leap today
- knitting needle gauge=herb stripper for cilantro etc
- seeing Gersvinda at the grocery store
Hoping for better sleep tonight. Managed to get things prepared for the pillow sham sewing job, made samples of the flat piping in several sizes before the customer arrived with the fabric, and yes, the ¼" width is what she wants. I cut her fabric into two 4 yard pieces then serged them into cylinders, which will behave better in the washing machine than if left as one extremely long flat piece. V will do the pre-shrinking in the same way she will wash finished shams, then bring me the washed and dried fabric. Hopefully soon, as they need completed before 9/28.
※※※
~ a clever hack ~
I've been considering an herb stripper for ages, mostly because cilantro. Once saw a pretty ceramic one on Etsy, but never took that any further. Started thinking DIY yesterday, looked at a few tutorials, and suddenly flashed on my little spiral anodized aluminum knitting needle gauge... Never thought to use it in the kitchen, but it worked like a charm!~ a clever hack ~
※※※
Spent over an hour in the middle of the day pruning the black elderberry in the parking strip, and filled the greenwaste bin again! And managed to get most of the Very Tall straight up water sprouts from the persimmon as well, which is a little difficult to work on as it is also currently full of unripe fruit
※※※
well that was odd... when I looked at my original P100, I noticed that the elasotmer had a worn out spot going right through the center of the top. So is no longer anything like airtight. I will contact Lee Valley, as I would have thought it (the structural mask) would last longer than a few years...
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | needle gauge herb stripper | greenwaste bin |
| 3 | knitted pony | - | - |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | - | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | - | - |
| 6 | x | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- my brain made a Very Clever leap today
- knitting needle gauge=herb stripper for cilantro etc
- seeing Gersvinda at the grocery store
Time of Isolation - Day 1907
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
sleep hygiene
in which our plucky heroine attempts to readjust...
I am making good use of the alarm function on my phone to re-train my sleep-wake cycle. Yesterday was a sort of total mess, with much too long a nap from about 11am to 8pm. Then cooking a much too late dinner, finally sorting out the marmalade, which finally finished up past midnight. So I set my alarm for 7:30 this morning. Then when I was tired by around 3 in the afternoon, I set the alarm to only let me sleep for an hour.
Rode my bike to the hardware store just before lunch, though it was already getting quite hot out. The main street intersections were full of students heading out for lunches at fast food or food carts, so I needed to ride extra carefully; usually I have already done my out of the house errands long beforehand. Picked up some super glue to begin fixing the floor bracket for the little oil filled radiator. The bracket cracked in half, so once stuck back in the correct configuration with glue, I can reinforce and strengthen it with some of the Milliput epoxy putty, and it will be back in service this winter
today's gratitudes -
- cyclamen are blooming in various places around the front yard, courtesy of a few starts from my friend Kat many years ago
- the bag of latex gloves I got from Nicole years ago is almost but not completely empty; I use them for when I have to deal with hot peppers, or for things like epoxy.
- there is a new episode of the Great British Sewing Bee to watch today, and Kim once again shares a link that works for those of us on this side of the pond...
I am making good use of the alarm function on my phone to re-train my sleep-wake cycle. Yesterday was a sort of total mess, with much too long a nap from about 11am to 8pm. Then cooking a much too late dinner, finally sorting out the marmalade, which finally finished up past midnight. So I set my alarm for 7:30 this morning. Then when I was tired by around 3 in the afternoon, I set the alarm to only let me sleep for an hour.
※※※
~ tangy ~
Eight jars, six half pints and two quarter pints. Since I forgot my intention to use part lemon and part orange (to better imitate the flavor of Meyer lemons in the original recipe) the finished marmalade is very tangy. This is not a bad thing. The texture is really good, cooking the lemon+peel first in water (suggested in Kevin West's chapters on marmalade) keeps the peel tender, and tiny fig seeds add just a bit of unexpectedly pleasant crunch. ~ tangy ~
※※※
Rode my bike to the hardware store just before lunch, though it was already getting quite hot out. The main street intersections were full of students heading out for lunches at fast food or food carts, so I needed to ride extra carefully; usually I have already done my out of the house errands long beforehand. Picked up some super glue to begin fixing the floor bracket for the little oil filled radiator. The bracket cracked in half, so once stuck back in the correct configuration with glue, I can reinforce and strengthen it with some of the Milliput epoxy putty, and it will be back in service this winter
※※※
One of the housewarming gifts years ago were some cyclamen starts from my friend Kat. They survived underneath the sage and the hardy fuchsia, and have also somehow scattered around the front yard. Originally pink, they have mutated? reverted? to white, and seeing the little butterfly shaped flowers here and there brings happy thoughts about my friend.
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | - | - |
| 3 | knitted pony | - | - |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | - | - |
| 5 | 6+ jars fig lemon marmalade | - | - |
| 6 | x | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- cyclamen are blooming in various places around the front yard, courtesy of a few starts from my friend Kat many years ago
- the bag of latex gloves I got from Nicole years ago is almost but not completely empty; I use them for when I have to deal with hot peppers, or for things like epoxy.
- there is a new episode of the Great British Sewing Bee to watch today, and Kim once again shares a link that works for those of us on this side of the pond...
Time of Isolation - Day 1906
Monday, September 8, 2025
Monday music and miscellany
in which our plucky heroine has come unstuck...
In the last few days, my former more or less functional sleep wake cycle has been disrupted with odd insomnia. Three in the morning is not time to wake up and start the day, but returning to sleep doesn't happen, the sleep hacks that formerly helped are of no use. I lie awake, resting quietly in the dark, until dawnlight creeps through the edges of the east facing window. By the middle of the afternoon I fall into an exhausted nap, which only exacerbates the disruption. Time for a reset, somehow...
Not quite done with the fig lemon marmalade, it macerated in two halves overnight, then simmered the lemon for a few hours earlier today to help tenderise the peels, and finally with the sugar-and-figs added. Now it will be time to reboil it and bring it to the setting point. I like between 219 and 220°F, as a balance between a robust set and peel that is still succulent. It looks like there should end up with between four to five jars, we'll see...
As we head into September, it occurs to me that rather than continue to faff about with the batik (summer) dress project, it would do more good to work out the sample for the raincoat toggles, and finish that project before winter. It will be very welcome to go into the rainy season with an actual raincoat!
today's gratitudes -
- I got to ride the train cross country, several times in a roomette, and once in a room. Being rocked to sleep lying down on the train is the best sleep ever...
- This weekend I was able to find a bit of obscure information online that helped my friend Mr Dawson...
- insomnia, but not with nightmares
Time of Isolation - Day 1905
In the last few days, my former more or less functional sleep wake cycle has been disrupted with odd insomnia. Three in the morning is not time to wake up and start the day, but returning to sleep doesn't happen, the sleep hacks that formerly helped are of no use. I lie awake, resting quietly in the dark, until dawnlight creeps through the edges of the east facing window. By the middle of the afternoon I fall into an exhausted nap, which only exacerbates the disruption. Time for a reset, somehow...
※※※
~ "Dear Time" ~
cuts right to the heart, brought sobs out loud, so strong and true, worth the listen...
~ "Dear Time" ~
cuts right to the heart, brought sobs out loud, so strong and true, worth the listen...
※※※
Not quite done with the fig lemon marmalade, it macerated in two halves overnight, then simmered the lemon for a few hours earlier today to help tenderise the peels, and finally with the sugar-and-figs added. Now it will be time to reboil it and bring it to the setting point. I like between 219 and 220°F, as a balance between a robust set and peel that is still succulent. It looks like there should end up with between four to five jars, we'll see...
※※※
This morning started the actually not impossible process of dealing with the long delayed admin tasks. "Just do the one next thing" is my current motto, which seems to walk hand in hand with my longtime motto "incremental progress is still progress". Never to old a dog to not learn new tricks...
※※※
As we head into September, it occurs to me that rather than continue to faff about with the batik (summer) dress project, it would do more good to work out the sample for the raincoat toggles, and finish that project before winter. It will be very welcome to go into the rainy season with an actual raincoat!
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | - | - |
| 3 | knitted pony | - | - |
| 4 | 8 jars quince apple rosewater sauce | - | - |
| 5 | - | - | - |
| 6 | x | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- I got to ride the train cross country, several times in a roomette, and once in a room. Being rocked to sleep lying down on the train is the best sleep ever...
- This weekend I was able to find a bit of obscure information online that helped my friend Mr Dawson...
- insomnia, but not with nightmares
Time of Isolation - Day 1905
Sunday, September 7, 2025
"...please bring me a pony and a plastic rocket..."
in which our plucky heroine remembers the LongAgo...
All as a child, I wanted a pony. Children in books got ponies. I remember the pony man, who drove a cart through the neighborhoods, with a half dozen ponies strung behind. Sort of like an ice cream truck, and if there was some extra money, one could ride a pony while the cart went once around the block, but that was as close as it ever came in those early years.
partially stitched up but not yet stuffed or detailed
※※※
This afternoon I peeled and cut away the buggy parts of all the windfall apples, before turning them into the maslin pan along with a bag of last years quince chunks from the freezer. The intent is for yet more jars of quince-apple-rosewater sauce for the pantry, which I'll go deal with the water bath part after finishing this blog post. The sauce is just a bit over-cooked, so it now has a lovely golden rosey color, because quince goes from white to gold to rose to red the longer it cooks, but the longer it cooks, the more you need to be there to pay attention to the pan. I was zooming all afternoon between kitchen chores, and almost lost the whole batch by forgetting to check it as often as I ought. Foolish plucky heroine needs to remember that the magic box has timers that can be set!
today's gratitudes
- I managed to check on the apple quince sauce just before it started to stick and burn on the bottom, thereby saving a rather large batch of future food
- tiny knitted pony turned out rather well IMHO
- slightly cooler weather, enough so that I didn't need the AC today
All as a child, I wanted a pony. Children in books got ponies. I remember the pony man, who drove a cart through the neighborhoods, with a half dozen ponies strung behind. Sort of like an ice cream truck, and if there was some extra money, one could ride a pony while the cart went once around the block, but that was as close as it ever came in those early years.
※※※
~ DIY pony ~
The Acorn Hill Pony pattern on Ravelry turns out a very shapely knitted pony, and will make a good gift. The mostly flat "skin" is meant to fold and be stitched up in a clever way. I decided this pony needed some little felt ears stitched on, and a short visit to the fuchsia bush; it will be heading out fairly soon up to Olympia to join some of Kestrel's other toy animals ~ DIY pony ~
partially stitched up but not yet stuffed or detailed
※※※
This afternoon I peeled and cut away the buggy parts of all the windfall apples, before turning them into the maslin pan along with a bag of last years quince chunks from the freezer. The intent is for yet more jars of quince-apple-rosewater sauce for the pantry, which I'll go deal with the water bath part after finishing this blog post. The sauce is just a bit over-cooked, so it now has a lovely golden rosey color, because quince goes from white to gold to rose to red the longer it cooks, but the longer it cooks, the more you need to be there to pay attention to the pan. I was zooming all afternoon between kitchen chores, and almost lost the whole batch by forgetting to check it as often as I ought. Foolish plucky heroine needs to remember that the magic box has timers that can be set!
※※※
Tomorrow's kitchen tasks include finishing the fig and lemon marmalade, which is partially prepared today: the lemon slices submerged in water all day, and the figs cut up and macerating in sugar. It would be really good if I could make a start on some of the Awesome Sauce as well, since the 15# of tomatoes are taking up space in the freezer that is needed for plums.
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | - | - |
| 3 | knitted pony | - | - |
| 4 | - | - | - |
| 5 | - | - | - |
| 6 | x | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes
- I managed to check on the apple quince sauce just before it started to stick and burn on the bottom, thereby saving a rather large batch of future food
- tiny knitted pony turned out rather well IMHO
- slightly cooler weather, enough so that I didn't need the AC today
Time of Isolation - Day 1904
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Saturday surprise and other snippets
in which our plucky heroine heads into harvest season...
After looking up the recipe for fig and lemon marmalade it occurred to me to check if there were any more figs on the trees. Much to my surprise, there was almost a pound of ripe 2nd crop figs*! As there is about a pound and a half of figs, and the store only has organic regular lemons, no organic Meyer lemons, it will be necessary to make a few adjustments. Math for a proportionally slightly smaller amount of sugar, and substitute orange for some of the lemon (Meyer lemons = cross between oranges and lemons). The pears currently residing in the maslin pan had better get peeled, cored, and sliced onto dehydrator trays, as the pan is needed for making preserves
This simple knitted pony toy seems like additional handwork (which I am always looking for), and something I can make and donate for SCA childrens toys largess; it calls for a relatively small amount of worsted yarn, plus thicker yarn for the mane and tail, and I've both yarn and stuffing.
Most of the bark cloth purchased last month has become 4 new tea towels for kitchen use; leftover fabric can be pieced to make a kitchen apron, later on this year when that sort of faffing about seems like it would be fun...
I lack equanimity about some of the changes in our local neighborhood. When I first moved here, one of the corners of the shopping street a few blocks away was the sort of site I refer to as "cursed", it held a building intended as a restaurant, with some off street parking, but just a bit too big and with what I imagine just a bit too high of a rent for the folks who tried to make a go of it. Over the years, there were many attempts made, but the various restaurants soon closed. Then in 2013 Green Zebra opened there, as a sort of natural food corner grocery convenience store. They did really well, adding greatly to the mix of our neighborhood, expanded out into several other neighborhoods as well, but were finally done in by the supply issues of the pandammit, and closed in 2023. I shopped there purposefully and often, as the way to have good useful local business is to "vote with your dollars".
Once they closed, the site remained empty and "for lease" for the next two years. Now it is surrounded by fencing, filled with builders and machinery, and is being turned into a McDonalds. The fruit trees planted by the Green Zebra owners are being cut down. There is a local burger place a block and a half away, a little Mexican restaurant, a Thai restaurant, and two different bars-with-food, and there is another McDonalds three miles west down the same road.
Two blocks west on the shopping street, the moribund Arby's site is being turned into yet another Starbucks. On the same road there is already a Starbucks two miles to the west, and another one a mile to the east; it seems that every three miles isn't enough of that particular caffeination corporate saturation. The local coffee-and-pastries shop saw the writing on the wall and relocated to a different neighborhood.
Struggling to find anything positive at all in this situation at least a walking distance Starbucks means that acquiring bags of free coffee grounds for garden compost will be easy to do on a regular basis. On the other hand, I cannot find anything positive about McDonald's. Green Zebra made our neighborhood a much better place to live. McDonald's adds nothing at all.
Carson Ellis is one of my favorite illustrators, so when her 2026 calendar showed up on social media feed this past week, it went to the top of my list for next year. I'll visit the BuyOlympia warehouse next week and pick up a copy. And, this reminds me that it'd be a good thing to get busy and finish up my own 2026 calendar, which will revisit the theme of "AlphaBeasts".
today's gratitudes -
- independent mobility - our plucky heroine is still able to ramble around reasonable distances on foot, and indeed plans to do more of the same
- adequate public transit, to access a new to me part of the city
- I saved the tiny shiny screw found in the carpet, which turned out to be the one that fell out of the box fan grille!
*Yet more proof of climate shift, but the figs are welcome even though the extra heat and dryness isn't
After looking up the recipe for fig and lemon marmalade it occurred to me to check if there were any more figs on the trees. Much to my surprise, there was almost a pound of ripe 2nd crop figs*! As there is about a pound and a half of figs, and the store only has organic regular lemons, no organic Meyer lemons, it will be necessary to make a few adjustments. Math for a proportionally slightly smaller amount of sugar, and substitute orange for some of the lemon (Meyer lemons = cross between oranges and lemons). The pears currently residing in the maslin pan had better get peeled, cored, and sliced onto dehydrator trays, as the pan is needed for making preserves
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~ cool tool ~
Right before the end of last week, just before the de minimius exemption was removed, I lost my mind a tiny bit and ordered this agate burnisher (item G in photo) from a UK supplier. Wasn't sure if it would even be able to be delivered, but much to my delight it arrived safely in the front porch mailbox this week! It is a beautiful and well made tool, with a curved angled stone tip, and a solid metal ferrule and wooden handle. I'd been much inspired by the traditional manuscript gilding demonstration by my friend Raven Qara Ton, and while I had been given a kit of gilding supplies many years ago, it didn't include a burnisher. Perhaps in the months ahead, I'll return to scribal activities...~ cool tool ~
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This simple knitted pony toy seems like additional handwork (which I am always looking for), and something I can make and donate for SCA childrens toys largess; it calls for a relatively small amount of worsted yarn, plus thicker yarn for the mane and tail, and I've both yarn and stuffing.
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It has been a bit of a struggle bus week, so it really is time to get back to daily daily gratitudes. That simple practice makes a huge difference in my everyday well being.
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Most of the bark cloth purchased last month has become 4 new tea towels for kitchen use; leftover fabric can be pieced to make a kitchen apron, later on this year when that sort of faffing about seems like it would be fun...
※※※
I lack equanimity about some of the changes in our local neighborhood. When I first moved here, one of the corners of the shopping street a few blocks away was the sort of site I refer to as "cursed", it held a building intended as a restaurant, with some off street parking, but just a bit too big and with what I imagine just a bit too high of a rent for the folks who tried to make a go of it. Over the years, there were many attempts made, but the various restaurants soon closed. Then in 2013 Green Zebra opened there, as a sort of natural food corner grocery convenience store. They did really well, adding greatly to the mix of our neighborhood, expanded out into several other neighborhoods as well, but were finally done in by the supply issues of the pandammit, and closed in 2023. I shopped there purposefully and often, as the way to have good useful local business is to "vote with your dollars".
Once they closed, the site remained empty and "for lease" for the next two years. Now it is surrounded by fencing, filled with builders and machinery, and is being turned into a McDonalds. The fruit trees planted by the Green Zebra owners are being cut down. There is a local burger place a block and a half away, a little Mexican restaurant, a Thai restaurant, and two different bars-with-food, and there is another McDonalds three miles west down the same road.
Two blocks west on the shopping street, the moribund Arby's site is being turned into yet another Starbucks. On the same road there is already a Starbucks two miles to the west, and another one a mile to the east; it seems that every three miles isn't enough of that particular caffeination corporate saturation. The local coffee-and-pastries shop saw the writing on the wall and relocated to a different neighborhood.
Struggling to find anything positive at all in this situation at least a walking distance Starbucks means that acquiring bags of free coffee grounds for garden compost will be easy to do on a regular basis. On the other hand, I cannot find anything positive about McDonald's. Green Zebra made our neighborhood a much better place to live. McDonald's adds nothing at all.
※※※
Carson Ellis is one of my favorite illustrators, so when her 2026 calendar showed up on social media feed this past week, it went to the top of my list for next year. I'll visit the BuyOlympia warehouse next week and pick up a copy. And, this reminds me that it'd be a good thing to get busy and finish up my own 2026 calendar, which will revisit the theme of "AlphaBeasts".
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE |
| 1 | 4 barkcloth tea towels | box fan grille | greenwaste bin |
| 2 | yellow triangle pouch | - | - |
| 3 | - | - | - |
| 4 | - | - | - |
| 5 | - | - | - |
| 6 | x | x | x |
| 7 | x | x | x |
| 8 | x | x | x |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- independent mobility - our plucky heroine is still able to ramble around reasonable distances on foot, and indeed plans to do more of the same
- adequate public transit, to access a new to me part of the city
- I saved the tiny shiny screw found in the carpet, which turned out to be the one that fell out of the box fan grille!
Time of Isolation - Day 1903
*Yet more proof of climate shift, but the figs are welcome even though the extra heat and dryness isn't
Monday, September 1, 2025
Monday music, memory, and miscellany
in which our plucky heroine continues to pay attention to hope, beauty, and memory...
walking around outside at night, one glimpses fragments the beauty in other lives, through the lit windows of their homes... Someone on the next block lit an entire room with strands and strands of the tiniest fairy lights looped across the ceiling, like rows and rows of firefly bunting!
Though we have our own terrible difficulties to find a way to change, or to coexist with and to move forward from, hard times, disease and disaster are more the norm of human existence than many perhaps realise. Every tiny increment of help and hope have been hard won, whether by activism or by activity, and it doesn't do to forget that, lest those gains be lost...
I am grateful that I first encountered U Utah Phillips (decades ago when I was an impressionable 17 year old student) telling his stories in the back room at Smokey Joes Cafe, and had the great delight of hearing him perform several times over the years. Story and song are a place where history is kept alive, and education doesn't only happen in a classroom...
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Decided to cut apart the rayon batik dress just above where the waistline would be. Found out what the problem is, but not sure what to do about it, so further cogitation is needed. Apparently I somehow stretched or skewed the long side back seams when pressing the fabric before sewing it, and one side back seam is almost a cm longer than the other! My thought is that if I make a new bodice (that isn't skewed) I can sew the dress skirt on and the slightly uneven back skirt shouldn't be an issue, whereas it is obvious to me that being off by a cm was why the bodice shoulders and neckline felt so "odd"... I think I'll do some interesting piecing of various rayon scraps to create interest and avoid having to buy more fabric. Design challenges are more interesting than shopping, in my world anyway...
All the current windfall apples have been cut up, peeled and are simmering on the stovetop along with a freezer bag full of last years partially cooked quinces. Later tonight this sauce will be put up in halfpint jars with a bit of rosewater, and stored in the pantry. As I'd no other current handwork project, hanging out with pals for Crafternoon and then (after a bit of a dinner break) through some time with the Virtual Craft & Chat group. Now there will be more quince/apple/rosewater sauce for pantry storage.
Yesterday Gersvinda came by in the evening to return my fruit picker, and with the back of her truck filled with buckets and bins of pears. She left me with over 30# of pears in a huge blue bin, and there will be hours and hours ahead cutting them up preparing them for the food dehydrator. Not to mention the tomatoes now patiently waiting in the freezer. Those will be portioned out into right sized amounts for batches of Awesome Sauce, which will at least keep them tidier than their current loose all over the place state...
September SMART goals (x=extra)
today's gratitudes -
- Yesterday was a bit cooler, enough so that I didn't think about the AC until evening and I was working on applesauce
- online company whilst I cut up and peeled all the current windfall apples made a very tedious task easier
- 30+ pounds of pears
- I may be old, but I got to hear and see some amazing perfomers in the Before Times...
walking around outside at night, one glimpses fragments the beauty in other lives, through the lit windows of their homes... Someone on the next block lit an entire room with strands and strands of the tiniest fairy lights looped across the ceiling, like rows and rows of firefly bunting!
※※※
~ rabbit rabbit rabbit ~
Heading towards autumn, and it is time to turn to a fresh calendar page...it is Labor Day here, not the shopping opportunity it has become, but a holiday off from everyday work, created by the labor movement, (and gradually officially adopted) towards the end of the nineteenth century, as a day to honor the contributions of the working folk, all who labor to get the work of the world accomplished, and to remember (now more than ever) that together we are strong.~ rabbit rabbit rabbit ~
※※※
Though we have our own terrible difficulties to find a way to change, or to coexist with and to move forward from, hard times, disease and disaster are more the norm of human existence than many perhaps realise. Every tiny increment of help and hope have been hard won, whether by activism or by activity, and it doesn't do to forget that, lest those gains be lost...
I am grateful that I first encountered U Utah Phillips (decades ago when I was an impressionable 17 year old student) telling his stories in the back room at Smokey Joes Cafe, and had the great delight of hearing him perform several times over the years. Story and song are a place where history is kept alive, and education doesn't only happen in a classroom...
※※※
※※※
All the current windfall apples have been cut up, peeled and are simmering on the stovetop along with a freezer bag full of last years partially cooked quinces. Later tonight this sauce will be put up in halfpint jars with a bit of rosewater, and stored in the pantry. As I'd no other current handwork project, hanging out with pals for Crafternoon and then (after a bit of a dinner break) through some time with the Virtual Craft & Chat group. Now there will be more quince/apple/rosewater sauce for pantry storage.
Yesterday Gersvinda came by in the evening to return my fruit picker, and with the back of her truck filled with buckets and bins of pears. She left me with over 30# of pears in a huge blue bin, and there will be hours and hours ahead cutting them up preparing them for the food dehydrator. Not to mention the tomatoes now patiently waiting in the freezer. Those will be portioned out into right sized amounts for batches of Awesome Sauce, which will at least keep them tidier than their current loose all over the place state...
※※※
September SMART goals (x=extra)
| # | THINGS MADE | THINGS FIXED | THINGS GONE | |
| 1 | - | - | - | |
| 2 | - | - | - | |
| 3 | - | - | - | |
| 4 | - | - | - | |
| 5 | - | - | - | |
| 6 | x | x | x | |
| 7 | x | x | x | |
| 8 | x | x | x | |
| 9 | x | x | x |
today's gratitudes -
- Yesterday was a bit cooler, enough so that I didn't think about the AC until evening and I was working on applesauce
- online company whilst I cut up and peeled all the current windfall apples made a very tedious task easier
- 30+ pounds of pears
- I may be old, but I got to hear and see some amazing perfomers in the Before Times...
Time of Isolation - Day 1898
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