sort of slow Sunday

in which our plucky heroine does a fair number of tiny tasks...

... because incremental progress is still progress

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~ many tiny owl boxes ~

All during various weekend zoom meetings, origami does not require much of my concentrated attention, but gives my hands something productive to do... After my earlier dive into making wee owls from painted egg carton cardboard, those owls needed to be packed away to become part the next Advent Of A Better Year swap at the end of 2026. Hence, many many two piece rectangular boxes have been folded. I'm going to put my notes from this year's swap, the master copy about "what the swap is" for including with bonus boxes, and the contact info from participants, as well as my origami box master models, the instructions and preferred sizes. It might be time to give the swap it's own notebook. And think/research setting up a Discord server for next year.

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After rummaging around found a suitable frame, just right for the Cuisine of the Angels print, and made a narrow mat covered in metallic blue and silver Japanese paper to set it off nicely. It will be a perfect addition to my "gallery wall" on the west side of the kitchen above the chest freezer. 

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Not yet attaching the toggles to the raincoat, but did a bit of faffing about with cut paper and the sample toggle. Next step will be making an actual sample of the overlap to sort out specific placement of the various pieces. This is what results from choosing to follow my own concepts rather than following a sewing pattern. I get to figure things out myself, particularly since the various design choices combined in this coat project are no more particularly standard than my own size and shape. When it is done, it may see me out, depending on how long I remain in the bright world. There are already so many aspects of this that make me really happy. The fit is great, the length is great, and the pocket location/style/execution are probably the best I have ever done. Now as long as I can get the front closure to work (and not somehow screw it up at the last minute) I will finally have the raincoat of my dreams. This image of a wool topcoat with leather toggles is my placement reference, since it has been ages since I had a duffle coat, and must needs be paying attention to where the various overlap vs edges vs parts of the toggle should be placed.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief dots	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	recycle bin
6	24 more owls	case for phone	x
7	7 jars of Awesome Sauce	horse kerchief details	x
8	8 dishcloths	much pruning	x
9	mat for angels print	angels print framed	x

today's gratitudes - 
- all the bits and bobs on hand to frame the kitchen angels print: a thrifted frame, bristol board, decorative Japanese paper, and glue stick adhesive
- visible progress on the knitted shrew, have made it all the way to the top of page 5 (of 19 pages, but still progress) 
- the new electric toothbrush is noticeably smaller and lighter than the previous one, hence more comfortable to use. 
- my weirdly achy ribcage pain (rolled over wrong in bed?) is less intrusive than yesterday, and there were brief chunks of time when I didn't feel it.  

Time of Isolation - Day 1982

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine gets unwelcome news...

Today I got a "denied payment" letter telling me that my emergency room visit in October for my injured left eye is not an insurance covered service! WTF!?! I am going to challenge this denial, of course...(not that adding an additional metric crapton of dealing with paperwork and bureaucracy was on my bingo card, but what else can one do?)

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~ sour, savory, salty, spicy, sweet ~

Doesn't this look delicious? Just realised it is another "five flavor" recipe... Made enough salad on Thursday to have for lunch for the next several days...The fresh persimmon is so pretty and so tasty!!

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This evening had a visit from Ashe & Co - and an exchange of unexpected gifts. They kindly brought me the half pound of organic black-eyed peas from OFC, and the swift from Karen, both of which I'd asked if they would be willing to bring me from Olympia. They were coming down here to pick up their Advent Of A Better Year boxes, but also brought some surprises: one of their Halloween Trick or Treat bags full of treats: homemade crayons and coloring pages, a fancy pencil, stickers, a glowstick, and a few mini candies. They also made me four little advent surprise packages to make up for how I only accidentally gave myself 27 instead of 31 of the tiny gifts.... Awww, they are so thoughtful! Plus I got hugs!!

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Today was sunny in the middle of the day, and after hanging laundry out to get partially dry, pruning seemed like a good next thing to do starting by cutting back the overgrown mint under the clothesline. Moving a bit further east down the chain link fence, the feral grapevine got quite the haircut. Not only as much as I could reach of what has grown into the neighboring yard, but rather a lot of the vines as well. Next in the wheelie bin, valiant Juliet, the tomato plant met her end. Late November is beyond tomato season, and while she was still attempting to get her remaining fruit to ripen, the rain was causing it to split open, and the leaves were beginning to look rather blighted. (I imagine that in a greenhouse, one could keep tomato plants going far longer than out in the open: I remember that Chuck and Joan had a little room upstairs in Boxborough with a huge cherry tomato growing under lights all winter.)  Finally, as there was still plenty of space in the bin, I got the pruning saw and cut away some of the excessively tall elderberry branches, and the larger end of what I'd already pruned away from the green fig.  Not pruning related, but in outdoor news, earlier in the day I saw two hummingbirds, both with a vivid red spot on their necks that flashed when the light hit it just right...

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An interview with Naomi Kritzer, a SF/hopepunk writer I enjoy very much, and some links to two of her stories... 

"So Much Cooking"
"The Year Without Sunshine"
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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief dots	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	recycle bin
6	24 more owls	case for phone	x
7	7 jars of Awesome Sauce	horse kerchief details	x
8	8 dishcloths	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
- Ashe & Co came to visit, bringing unexpected gifts
- a new yarn swift from Karen to replace my broken one
- found six yards of waistband elastic in the notions cupboard, which will make my intention of several new pairs of long janes much easier to accomplish, having all the materials needed already on hand 

Time of Isolation - Day 1981

six years is a long time

in which our plucky heroine makes a somewhat festive dinner while attempting to keep in contact with folks faraway...

The wind is howling outside as I finish up writing here tonight, before doing the last of the evening chores and heading off to dreamland. I am right grateful that the wheelie bins are weighted at the bottom, else my recycle bin would surely have blown over and into the street by now!

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~ a singular feast ~

It was a meal in parts, not a "sit down all at one time dinner". The festive part was attempting to have at least one ingredient in each thing be homegrown. Probably the best of the bunch was the kale bulgur feta salad, where some cubed up persimmon stood in for my more usual tablespoon of raisins. If only fresh persimmon was not so perishable... the taste, texture, and color were a delightful change. (remind self to include fresh persimmon in salad more often in the next week or so). The additional tiny green salad featured some of the last homegrown Juliet tomatoes and home pickled farmers market beets. The roulade, last out of the oven, is stuffed with a local sourdough roll cut into tiny cubes, and seasoned with herbs from the front yard.

Making the turkey thigh roulade is quite a process. Not difficult, just time consuming. First step is to de-bone the turkey thigh, which would have been easier if the thigh purchased had not also included a good-sized chunk of the spine. (Indeed when first unwrapped, my first thought was chicken breast not turkey thigh; not amused to have paid thigh prices for backbone). Marinate overnight in a buttermilk brine: 1 C buttermilk/ ½ tsp salt. (I've been keeping dried buttermilk on hand since 2020, very convenient for things like pancakes, or in this case, marinade) Then remove from the marinade, pat dry, layer a small amount of stuffing over the meat surface, roll and tie roulade into a tidy bundle and roast for about 1½ hours @ 350°F until the skin is crispy and interior is 165°F. 

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Cut up one of the more well used vintage terrycloth towels: half to squares for dishcloths and half as a hand towel/hair towel. The overlock machine makes it really quick to do enough finishing to the edges for their second life. Some of the dishcloths made this way 7 years ago are starting to be worn to a ravelling, but their serged edges hold up quite well. (I pretty much only use paper towels for cleanup too gross for reuseables, but often use more than one cloth dishcloth per day.

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Just saying... Two factor authentication is beyond aggravating. I appear to have turned it off in all the settings (which seems to do as much as pushing the crosswalk button, which gives an illusion of having an effect, while doing nothing), but it persists every gorram time I log into the book of face, AND to my email accounts, AND to my blog. Yes, I understand it's "purpose", but to have to spend sometimes HOURS jumping between various devices typing in numbers too slowly for their preference, having to do it over and over again, and trying to delete links to broken mobile phones I no longer own. Visiting the land of Face is not so much delightful that this gate is worth repeatedly jumping over, though I am loath to give up my emails or my years long hobby of blogging. Such intensive security might be useful for someone with vast numbers of followers, or famous, or an "influencer" but I am not any of those. Sorry not sorry for the yelling, but I am almost tempted to turn Luddite at this point

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Have made a bit more progress on the knitted shrew project, am now all of 13 rows in, and almost to the point of beginning some really complex head shaping. This is probably the most complex knit pattern I have chosen to make; while Fox Paws is a complicated pattern, it has a limited number of rows and repeats, the Shrew has almost every single row different, and the gauge is miniscule. Not much to see yet, just a bit of the pointy end of the muzzle. By doing just a few rows each day, it is remains satisfying to see the small amounts of progress, and keeps my hands happy. (knitting for any length of time with tiny needles makes for unhappy wrists and fingers)

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief dots	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	recycle bin
6	24 more owls	case for phone	x
7	7 jars of Awesome Sauce	horse kerchief details	x
8	8 dishcloths	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the discarded autoclave-safe German stainless steel bandage scissors Nicole gave me years ago, ever since a handy pair of kitchen shears...
- my everso handy overlock machine, one of many thoughtful birthday gifts from my parents
- one of the random, not yet discarded, pot lids fits on the little crock pot, as a (temporary?) substitute for the broken original lid, hopefully it will work well... metal instead of glass should be okay, I use metal lids on all of my other pots and pans

Time of Isolation - Day 1980

wistful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine thinks forwards and backwards...

and feels a bit overwhelmed by memories of various prior harvest holidays, when the biggest challenge was getting the turkey thawed, or finding enough spots for overnight guests to sleep... I don't expect to live to see those kind of celebrations come again, but remain grateful that they did happen and that I have them to look back on...

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Yesterday afternoon while chatting with Karen there was much thinking about how to store my pantry items, and various ideas about kitchen reorganizing. One new idea is to remove most of the random contents of the hall closet and use that space for the backstock food, canned preserves, and assorted dry goods currently overflowing the small pantry shelves. That closet would need the righthand side reconfigured, as that half was set up as a coat closet by Former Owners, but it would be much more useful for food storage than just for storing replacement furnace filters and leftover bubble wrap!

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~ so many! ~

The small blue folding table, occasionally used when organising kitchen tasks, is currently entirely covered in not yet ripe persimmons. This makes working in my tiny crowded kitchen even more challenging. Once they are a bit further along they can be sliced and put into the food dehydrator, to become tasty dried fruit that several friends get every year as a holiday gift.

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Two bits of minor mending happened recently: the detached foot of the air filter unit was glued back on with RTV silicone, a most handy adhesive... and my reverse applique horse kerchief had some simple (additional) embroidery done to make the horse legs more visible, ditto mane and tail, which has greatly improved it.

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The Juliet tomato is done for the year. There were a few remaining partially ripe ones still on the plant, but  they had also split open due to excess water pressure from the recent rain. Nonetheless, that was a valiant plant, as any homegrown tomatoes in this late in the year is a truly amazing feat!  

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Seems like a doable goal to clear everything off the dining table, and begin to sort papers into recycle or keep, and to put anything else currently in residence there back where it belongs. It would be a treat to sit down to my "festive" meal with a pretty table setting, with maybe some of the hardy fuschia flowers in a little vase, rather than perching my dinner on the edge of the table after having pushed aside the detritus. So far an entire grocery sack of papers have been put into the wheelie bin for recycling, and there is a tiny handful of papers to put in the filing cabinet.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief dots	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	-
6	24 more owls	case for phone	x
7	7 jars of Awesome Sauce	horse kerchief details	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the hardware store agreed that the canning jars were faulty, and refunded my charge card the purchase price, despite my not having a reciept.
- There was a less expensive model of electric toothbrush at the drugstore, that uses actual rechargeable batteries instead of needing to sit on a charger overnight. Since my current toothbrush handle is disintegrating and can't be repaired, finding one that doesn't need plugged in every night is an additional plus, since it will open up one of the limited number of outlets, and save space on the already very overcrowded countertops. And the handle is thankfully almost all hard plastic, not the "soft plastic" that is prone to sudden disintegration.
- the grocery clerk kindly opened one of the large packages of brussel sprouts so I could purchase just a few, a more appropriate amount for both my tiny fridge, and for my festive dinner side dish tomorrow (probably to be oven roasted with lemon/butter/capers)

Time of Isolation - Day 1979

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine is mostly pleased...

In the interest of focusing on a small good, rather than the wistful (or the horror) now there is a batch of Awesome Sauce for Ashe & Co cooling on the countertop overnight, made using white vinegar instead of my usual cider vinegar, because of their apple allergy. As opposed to my previous failed attempt earlier this month, timely checking and stirring kept the thickening condiment from scorching, and there are at least five sealed jars ready to share when they visit later this week...

That said, the Anchor Hocking jar lids continue to be unreliable, two of the jars didn't seal. Buying that brand was an experiment that will not happen again. And much to my dismay, of my recent purchase of a dozen half pint mason jars, eleven of the twelve have flawed glass! I shall have to return them to the hardware store; have never before seen suchlike. 

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~ just before dawn ~

sometimes, to be out walking before the sun actually rises can be really lovely, the streets are still quiet; the quality of the light is extraordinary...

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Since the new-to-me mobile phone is not a current model, it was necessary to search aftermarket sites to find a protective case. I've been pretty happy with various Otterbox cases over the years, and managed to find one on Ebay, which arrived today from the east coast. The "Pursuit" series is a bit more "rugged" than cases I have had in the past, but I am most particularly pleased with the integral plugs to cover the access ports when they are not in use. Past phones picked up frelch when carried around in my pockets, which caused all sorts of problems. Also, this phone case has a clear back, which means that at some point a decorative paper insert can be added. 

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Very incremental tidying turned up an additional expansion rod, the sort commonly used for shower curtains. My other spare expansion rod, used to drape the shower curtain so it dries out between uses and doesn't get all moldy along the edge where it touches the tub, has also been used to create  a clothes drying rack over the bathtub. Now there will be twice as much space for heavier things that overload the drying rack in the laundry zone.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	-
6	24 more owls	case for phone	x
7	7 jars of Awesome Sauce	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- phone case ordered via Ebay is much better designed than any case previously used, with integral plugs to keep frelch out of the access ports
- found another expansion rod, which will add considerably to my ability to hang-dry clothing over the bathtub
- this charming late 19thC graphic of helper angels in the kitchen, found online by my pal Ursel... it reminds me of the whole set of Mary Azarian helper angel ornaments, found in a catalog of her work long ago, that I cut out, colored in, and have been in my kitchen for many many years now.

Time of Isolation - Day 1977

a successful Sunday

in which our plucky heroine speaks about how...

"Homegrown Tree Fruit Can Be Easy"... This morning I gave an online presentation based on my own experiences and the knowledge I've gained from "Grow A Little Fruit Tree", and it seemed to be very well received. There was plenty of discussion afterwards, which is always a good sign.

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~ Escheresque ~

Out and about on a cold wintery day yesterday, on the way to the farmer's market, before the rain returned...

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Oak gall progress report: the liquid contents of the jar full of crushed galls in rainwater are becoming darker, as the water slowly leaches the tannins from the galls. The plan is to give it several weeks to a month of steeping before taking any of the further steps to turn it into ink.

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many plans for future projects - sewing garments (long janes, slips, pinafores, undies, and a flannel shirt), sewing cross-body holders for phone and camera, finishing studio work commissions, an abalone horse brooch, insulating windowshades, etc etc.

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Much to my surprise, there are yet additional Juliet tomatoes starting to turn color on the plant in the backyard; perhaps the salad to go with the turkey roulade needs to be a tomato salad!! It has gotten close a few times, but not yet had an actual frost, though it is cold enough at night that I am making good use of two half size oil radiators, one under the computer desk while working online, and one in the bathroom for warmth while showering. 

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	-
6	24 more owls	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- My presentation this morning went quite well, and I did all the specific prep work writing earlier this morning (a benefit of talking about a subject I know well and am excited to share information about)
- have finally transcribed all the contacts into my mobile phone
- a surprise porch visit from Beth and Karen, who made an unexpected unplanned trip to Gresham and stopped by here on their way home

Time of Isolation - Day 1976

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine is currently Fjorlief the Forgetful...

and absent-mindedly forgot to check my own box of treats (wen sorting out the many boxes for the Advent Of A Better Year) and came up 4 short.. I'll put in a few of my own extra items, which won't be a "surprise" but will be a treat nonetheless. Probably I was so busy double counting everybody else and forgot about my own box tucked out of the way over on the nightstand

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~ Portland Frog says: ~

Seen behind a bus shelter on the way to my physical therapy appointment, not Shepherd Fairey AFAIK, but references their message infused artwork

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In the interest of using up my market coupons while there still is a fair amount of produce available, this afternoon a trip to St Johns seemed a good plan. Brought home nine beautiful red jalapeño peppers for the next batch of Awesome Sauce, and a lovely leek (intended for soup). I'll prep and freeze the peppers, since the tiny fridge is rather full right now, and chop and cook down the leek while I do some more prep for tomorrow

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My talk tomorrow noon is entitled "Homegrown tree fruit can be easy -  Concerned about supply chain issues, or just want to reduce your food miles... Growing tree fruit in your yard, while not as instant as annual vegetables, is easier than you might think. Keeping trees short by pruning means that you can care for them and harvest fruit while standing on the ground." So far I have an outline, and some useful facts, but have not done my usual "write out the entire speech". May do a bit more tonight, but am thinking that early to bed tonight and more writing in the morning might be better. Could re-read "Grow A Little Fruit Tree" as my bedtime book.

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a few more potential ideas for next years Swap projects:

tiny robins made from egg carton cardboard
half circle book in a tin with eggs 
how to create a shallow origami masu box

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	-
6	24 more owls	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- it was cold but wasn't raining this afternoon for my excursion to the farmer's market
- Long ago Jen made me a Totoro hat, which covers my ears in a delightfully warm way! 
- The shadowbox Advent Calendar that Acantha gave me, which has become more whimsical year by year

Time of Isolation - Day 1975

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine finishes some things...

Almost all the Advent Swap boxes went to the post office yesterday and today. The final extra bonus box still needs mailed; it was sort of a last minute "can we do this" and so didn't have quite enough tiny gifts until a good rummage around added some assorted mathoms, which needed to be wrapped. The weather for the last two days cooperated with sunny if brisk temperature, good for bicycle transportation. Not quite 40 boxes total this third year.. Found the explanation in last years files, of what the Advent Swap (aka "daily December dopamine") is about, and printed out copies to include in the "bonus boxes" for folks who may be baffled to receive a small box filled with thirty-one tiny wrapped trinkets.

The Advent Of A Better Year swap is in some way the best thing I have done with other people, being a way to facilitate connection and whimsy in a timeline where we need all the counterbalance to the darkening world that we can create

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~ making it easier ~

Every year at the time of the Advent Swap, return address labels seem like they would be really helpful... Until today, occasional searching over the last few years, whenever the idea came to mind, only turned up unappealing commercial options, and adding the task of designing my own to an already busy time of year didn't seem like fun. While whinging about ugly fonts and tacky graphics to my pal Karen, she started searching and turned up some options new to me.  When this oak leaf and acorn motif showed up on Zazzle, along with the option of switching the given text font with a whole extensive library of fonts, it wasn't too long before it was "add to cart"... The actual labels will of course include the actual address on the middle line, and will save having to write out my return address over and over and over again on all the (this year there were thirty-eight) parcels.

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Origami containers are so handy, for gift wrap and for organising the material world. It is tempting to make up my own small hardcopy booklet of instructions for my most often used styles; online tutorials are very helpful but not at all resilient if electricity or internet become erratic, just like having a hardcopy cookbook of basic favorite recipes, another project on the ever expanding to-do-soon list. Maybe just using a ring binder? or index cards, if any could be found that are not flimsy?  

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There has been a lot of mulling over in my head lately about what to sew first in the refurbishment of worn clothing. While there is a definite need for some new pinafores, I suspect that a few new sets of long janes is even more necessary as we head into colder weather. Today it was chilly enough that rather then heat the whole house higher, I instead turned on the under the computer desk mini radiator, which does perzactly what is needed. Local heating helps, whether half size oil filled radiators, or the rice bags that visit the microwave before warming the foot of the bed at night...

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	greenwaste bin
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	recycle bin
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	-
6	24 more owls	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Photoshop on the memory stick worked tonight, without my needing to install it on the laptop. !!
- the Advent boxes have been mailed out and everyone has had their tracking numbers sent to them
- managed to find enough mathoms to fill out the final unexpected bonus box
- Karen found for me a source of address labels that are pleasing to look at, and reasonably affordable 

Time of Isolation - Day 1974

not quite finished

in which our plucky heroine feels right foolish...

...in the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do fashion. While I did create two extra sets of Advent Swap gifts so we could offer more "bonus boxes", I plumb forgot to make enough origami gift wrappings to go with. Can you guess what my fidget task during zoom online has been for the last several days?

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~ ask Vesta ~

Wondering if this is the same curious fruit that Vesta was describing last week, that she called "the strawberry tree"... and is (apparently, according to various foraging websites) edible.

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I started a batch of special no-cider vinegar Awesome Sauce for Ashe & Co, but in the time while I was waiting for it to thicken up, distraction got the better of me and it burned to the bottom of the pan, alas. The condiment was not salvageable, and the pan probably will be, with substantial effort.

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spending time yesterday and today sorting tiny gifts into the various boxes for the Advent Swap participants, doing my best to give everyone a good assortment. Then there will be a bit of additional paperwork (addressing the boxes, and making a list so as to be able to give folks their tracking numbers) to prepare for the several trips to the post office to send them on their way. The weather forecast looks as if the next three days will be my best opportunity to ride my bike there without getting soaked...

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Started knitting Claire Garland's tiny shrew. I tried my thinnest yarn, but did not want to knit something I would have to do the entire project under the magnifying glass, so moved up one weight to "light fingering", using my 4/0 needles (1.25mm), which give a gauge of 8st/in. My gauge math says that the finished shrew will be about 3 1/4" tall (thank you Karen for assistance with proportional percentages). Have some places where after reading through it I do not really understand the pattern, but there is a lot of knitting yet before I get to that part.

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This season is so fleeting, yet beautiful. The falling leaves twirl and touch my head in what feels like benediction. The ginkgo tree near the post office has laid down almost but not all of the bright leaves on the ground around the trunk, as if it just stepped out of a golden gown. And there ought to be a word for that very ephemeral pattern that fallen leaves create on the rain wet sidewalk, almost like shadows, that remains for a few days after the leaves themselves have blown away

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	-
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	-
5	many jars of Awesome Sauce	15 origami giftwrap	-
6	24 more owls	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

yesterday's gratitudes -
- yarn tool swift will be a gift to me from Karen
- connected a bit online with dear Rois
- giant leek from farmers market made into ancient Roman lentil barley leek soup, for dinner
today's gratitudes -
- found missing checkbook and missing property tax paperwork
- my concern about peculiar bill from Walgreens was valid, the pharmacy manager said it was a scam, and he reported it. I also reported it to the FTC online this evening.
- found a lovely plant pot at the Goodwill store (two-toned "dark and milk chocolate marbled pottery, and just the right size) for my gifted amaryllis and it was even the "color of the day - 50% off", so only cost me $1.99! (Now I need to look up how to grow and care for amaryllis, our plucky heroine is not a particularly knowledgeable houseplant mother)

Time of Isolation - Day 1972

a parliament of owls

in which our plucky heroine makes more than enough...

Yesterday what I thought was the final box of treats sent here for the Advent Of A Better Year swap arrived on my front porch. Now I can have the fun of doing the mix-n-match of all the gifts to give all the thirty participants (and bonus boxes) the widest assortment possible. So much dopamine! Then two additional Advent Swap packages arrived today, which brings our official total up to 32!! I am astounded and pleased!

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~ full of personality ~

I love how different each of the owls looks, the slight variations in how the eyes are drawn, and how their feather tufts/horns turn out, really adds so much character... Once they all get their legs-gripping-twigs added, they will be all set aside until next years Advent of A Better Year Swap gifts.

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11 more jars of Awesome Sauce, done before midnight last night, but there were three jars that failed to seal. Sigh, that rarely happens, but I was using a different brand of jar lids (Anchor Hocking) than usual, perhaps that was the cause? Going to start on a single batch using white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar, so it will be Ashe-safe (my friend has a really bad apple allergy)

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Samsung S9 my nephew sent me was activated, and while as he told me it does indeed need a new battery but is nonetheless totally useable, holding a charge for at least a day (much less problematic than Moto-E had been, which required being recharged several times a day) 

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I seem to have misplaced the clamp that attaches my yarn swift to the table in a useable position. While surely the clamp must be somewhere in Acorn Cottage, it is not with the yarn handling tools, which all were perzactly in their designated home. This is perplexing, as well as a minor challenge, since the swift is useless without the clamp. Draping the skein of yarn to be wound into a ball over the back of a chair, while rather old-school, did work okay. With luck, hopefully the swift clamp will show up again at some point, as it is a lovely useful tool that does one job, but does it really well  ...

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In the process of sorting through my wardrobe to see what is worn out enough that needs to be replaced, I realised that I never wear the black knit slip with embroidered hemline, as the shoulder straps are much too long, which makes the waist too low, as well as the neck. It was not too difficult to cut away excess and hand stitched the added seams neatly.

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Apparently mid-November is much too late to be harvesting persimmons, as at least half the crop has been destroyed by squirrels. Must remember to start harvest next year once the fruit begins to be golden yellow, and not wait for tree-ripened, as the rodents will not wait anywhere near that long before beginning their depredations. If only they ate all of one, then on to all of another, but instead they take several bites from many. 

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	-
4	a dozen owls	black knit slip	-
5	many jars of Awesome sauce	-	-
6	two dozen owls	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

Yesterday's gratitudes -
- was able to activate the phone my nephew sent me yesterday, so am back in the land of the smartphone once again, albeit learning a new interface, but very glad it is thankfully Samsung and not Motorola...
- my "clunky" venerable Keen workshoe/oxfords with the massively thick soles - when I caught my foot on the support for a moveable street sign, not only did I not trip-and-fall, but I didn't harm my foot at all either! These shoes are getting old, and the join between the sole and the shoe is starting to crack, but I will keep wearing them as long as possible, since Keen no longer makes this style of shoe.
- Jen's box of Advent Swap treats arrived on my porch this afternoon, after its "scenic route" excursion from Olympia to PDX via Anchorage AK
today's gratitudes - 
- have managed to salvage some persimmons, at least enough to yield some dried fruit for the year ahead
- being able to read e-books again via Libby
- Ånni sent me an amaryllis bulb, in with the most recent box of advent swap treats. I have always wanted to try growing one of them.

Time of Isolation - Day 1970

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine is tired but busy ...

...currently making a double batch of Awesome Sauce, aka British Chili Jam; the kitchen smells amazing! Though truly, should know by now better than to begin such a project after dinner, as it takes several hours for the sauce to cook down enough that the pectin in the tomato thickens. With luck, I will be abed before midnight. (this condiment is worth it, though next batch shall start earlier in the day!...)

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~ wonderfully warm ~

A most delightful gift for me arrived today from my friend Ånni: these handknit fair trade embroidered wool fingerless mitts (lined with fleece for extra comfort and warmth) The colors of the embroidery and the style are a great addition to my Urban Fairytale flavored wardrobe. Also they are just the right thing for riding my bike this time of year, and the dense knitting + fleece creates extra padding between my hands and the handlebars, which is very welcome

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well this is a first... Ariadne sent her advent swap package from their town  to here (about a two hour drive) and it has been delayed. As in "go home postal service you are drunk" delayed. When first we checked the tracking number on Saturday last week, it appeared to have arrived in PDX and for some reason not made it to my satellite post office yet. This sometimes happens. Checking again when it still wasn't here over a week later, it seems that instead of sending it across town to our local post office, it was sent to Anchorage Alaska on Sunday?!? WTF?!?

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	-
4	a dozen owls	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- maslin pan is the best for cooking things down
- Joan Huntley, for first showing me one could put up food for pantry storage, and Cheryl, and Britta for encouraging me further. Also "Tigress in a Jam" for sponsoring CanJam, which year long challenge really allowed me to become comfortable with waterbath canning.  
- Ånni sent me a beautiful and useful gift - Nepalese embroidered lined wool fingerless mitts, with blue and white flowers on a black background, so pretty and so right for my wardrobe!

Time of Isolation - Day 1966

upson downs

in which our plucky heroine has adventures with tech...

Even though it is two down and one up, I am still counting today as a win... Getting the printer up and running felt really useful. My attempt to use Bluestacks to be able to access Snapseed on the laptop was less of a success. While it pulled Snapseed in just fine, the interface was much less intuitive and awkward than on a phone, and I couldn't find a way to modify my favorite tools to use them as formerly. So I went ahead and uninstalled those two apps. Finally, my trip out to Verizon this afternoon had no joy; there is some sort of hold on the account, the shop clerk had no idea why, but it meant that getting the Samsung activated in place of the flip phone was not going to be possible. I am trying to be patient, though it seems that every interaction with Verizon turns into one step forward two steps back . Tune in later in the week when hopefully it can all get sorted out? 

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Decided to attempt to solve the problems with the wireless printer, by uninstalling and then reinstalling it on the laptop. This was recommended by the Brother troubleshooting guide as well as by several friends I spoke with. It turned out to be very doable, and very slow, took over an hour to get everything re-downloaded and then updated a second time, but it was quite nice to send an image from the laptop across the room and hear the sound of the printer waking up to do it's job.

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Moar owls...  It was a good thing there were all those two dozen additional cardboard ovals cut out and ready, as the time spent sitting in the computer zone waiting for various programs and apps to download, or process things etc this evening as also time spent starting to paint them, making use of the tedium of waiting to also do some tedious but satisfying production work. All the painted owl backs are finished, and a reasonable start has been made on painting the (more complicated) owl fronts. They will still need little feathered owl horns glued in place, and their wire and twig feet assembled, before they'll be ready for final finish work, but it will feel good having that much done ahead for next years Advent Swap...

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Did a bit of experimentation to find a suitable origami box for the little owls. This simple box ends up fairly flat, and a 4" square makes a box that is about 1" x 2"; a 4¼" square folds into just the right size for a lid...

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	printer connection	-
4	a dozen owls	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- managed to uninstall and reinstall the wireless printer, and it is working again, huzzah!
- Costco had an 18 pack of (8oz) organic whole milk-in-a-box, something I'd never seen there before. So I bought it to add to the earthquake shelf.  
- online origami tutorials

Time of Isolation - Day 1965

Sunday snippets

in which our plucky heroine enjoys visiting friends in the pixel world...

Last winter I wanted to add red lentils to the earthquake storage shelf, more than just the little Talenti tub full, since they cook really quickly. Though I found a consortium of organic farmers in Montana that did direct sales and carried larger amounts, they have been out of stock for months. I was worried that there may have been a crop failure, but today when I checked, they were finally available again. The per pound cost is significantly less than what I can buy them for locally, though it means I need to figure out good storage for a ten pound bag. Probably another bucket and gamma lid set from TAP Plastics, like I use for my canning sugar storage. And this is another example of the Vimes Boots Theory in action. Right now I can afford to buy ten pounds of lentils at a time, rather than by the half cup full out of the bulk bins at the store.

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~ who's looking at you... ~

Tiny owl ornaments just over 1¼" tall, made from egg carton cardboard, feather scraps, thin craft wire, and some random twigs. These will all be packed away to wait for next year's advent swap... I've made a dozen so far, and cut out the ovoids for two dozen more... I suspect that by the time I finish those I will be quite done with tiny owls!

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Long ago when I was in school, we had a friend Hutch, a Vietnam vet. I still have a Vietnamese wedding blanket he gave me that hangs on the bedroom wall here at Acorn Cottage. I remember one time when we were all hanging out on a summer evening in the bus he and his lady lived in, and he cooked this delicious cold chicken salad for dinner. I still have and use that recipe, and think of him every time. I don't know if he is still in the bright world, as the last few times trying to track him down were not a success... not at the former address, and no listings online under either of the names I knew him by, back in the day. But if as they say, we are never all the way gone until the ripples we made have all disappeared, then he is still here, since I am still mixing up that sauce...

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	-	-
4	a dozen owls	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce (recipe from Hutch years ago) drizzled over a lettuce and arugala salad, with cold roast chicken from yesterday.
- Today was dry and breezy enough that it was possible to line dry the bed linens, so tonight will have the wonderful fresh air scent.
- online zoom visits, never not grateful for...
- Helga will be taking me on a Costco run

Time of Isolation - Day 1964

inky-dinky-doo...

in which our plucky heroine finds an ingredient...

I've never tried making ink, but then I've never found oak galls before. Out for a walk with Wellington early this morning, on one of the nearby streets there was something unusual. At first glance, my thought was mushrooms, but they were far too regular in shape, and there were a lot of oak leaves on the ground...oh, those must be oak galls! One of empty pickup bags served as to hold some to bring home, and there will be another gathering trip on our afternoon walkies. 

According to various online instructions, making ink takes a bit of time and effort, but isn't difficult. Basically you grind up the galls then steep them in rainwater for anywhere from a day to a month. An iron compound turns the brown liquid to deep black, so soaking some rusty iron (or steel wool) in vinegar for a time provides the iron. Combine the liquids after straining them. Gum arabic can be added for a thicker consistency, and some folks advise adding a clove to the finished ink to help preserve it. 

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~ it's beginning... ~

... to look a lot like Advent Swap! About ⅔ of the folks who've signed up have sent in their gifties, and the rest should arrive soon. Alas several folks forgot to include the return postage that allows me to mail back the filled boxes of treats, but hopefully that will also be rectified. It is exciting how many new people are in this year's group!

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Haven't yet become comfortable with Affinity.  I still need to learn how to  properly get the results desired. Something I am doing, or not doing, causes my photos to become less crisp and more blurry, which is the opposite of what I want. And I haven't yet figured out keep forgetting how to save properly either, in the format and location desired. (hint to self : it is via "Export" not either "Save" or "Save As") Patience grasshopper...

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~ mullein blossom ~

most of the plant is not only done flowering but grey-black and completely senescent, but here and there along the blossom stalks there are these new bright flowers.. a little confused as to the season, but lovely nonetheless...

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Earlier this week started some sample tiny owl ornaments, and since the results are pleasing, cut out enough oval discs from egg carton cardboard for another two dozen, which would result in one full set of swap treats for next year... They are the sort of small handwork task I can do while online 

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	more chopshop repair	recycle bin
3	1# hand weights	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the camera my dad gave me 20 years ago takes excellent macro photos.
- found the long time missing cap for my turned wood seam ripper
- oak galls!
- nephew Alex sent me his old Samsung S9 phone, which I intend to have activated. I need to replace the battery, since that is its weakness, and get it an Otterbox, but it might be the answer to my current phone dilemma.

Time of Isolation - Day 1962

Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine feels right clever...

Today was my first PT visit to get advice on maintaining and improving my bone density health. I came home with three simple exercises to start with, and will gradually increase the repetitions and sets as I become stronger. The arm and shoulder exercise should be done with a one pound weight in each hand; tonight while I was tidying up a box of randomness, there were some large bolts and hardware which reminded me of the fancy weights at the PT facility. The thought being the parent of the deed, it was the work of a moment to weigh out the right amount and use the nuts and washers to put together a pair of hand weights that each weighed a pound.

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~ it's a sign ~

After several days, it occurred to me that the postie was not seeing or looking at the LARGE blue tote box I put directly under the mailbox, despite my writing instructions on the top. So I made an additional sign from box cardboard, tied the sign to one of the porch chairs, and set it next to the blue tote which I moved just opposite the mailbox, right where the large puddle forms that has been their chosen dumping ground for my parcels. Success at last! There was a tiny parcel left between the door and the screen door this afternoon! (I hope that the other two items on today's "Informed Delivery" list arrive tomorrow, and not that they have been delivered somewhere else)

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Getting really exciting here, four Advent Swap packages arrived yesterday, and another box today. The card table used for stacking the contributions is starting to fill up! We have 18 folks who have sent boxes so far, and 9 more folks have said they intend to participate...

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Years ago I learned from Charlotte how to make an easy meal she called "kluski". It isn't quite what the internets describe, a Polish soft dumpling, but rather was a mixture of sturdy noodles, cottage cheese, and stir-fried and steamed mixed vegetables.  I now cook chopped onions till soft and golden, then add chopped mushrooms, while those continue cooking, the broccoli steams... At the same time, cook some robust noodles until they are the texture you prefer, when they are done, mix it together and eat!

When I lived in Massachusetts, one could buy "kluski" noodles at the grocery store, they were much thicker and narrower than "egg noodles" but the same sort of wiggly chunks. In my attempt to avoid wheat, recently noticed tinkyáda brand fusilli brown rice pasta, and while the style of pasta (thick hollow curly spirals) isn't the same, it is sturdy enough to have an appropriate mouthfeel and works really well as an alternative.

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	greenwaste bin
2	5 jars pickled beets	-	-
3	1# hand weights	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

Yesterday's gratitudes -
- tinkyáda fusilli rice pasta, very toothsome
- took advantage of sunbreak to get laundry mostly dry
- microwave "rice bags" warm the bed
Today's gratitudes -
- managed to get some serious fig tree pruning done despite the drizzle, and filled the wheelie bin. 
- finished up the rest of the cooked veggies in a second batch of kluski for lunch, so tasty.
- figured out a way to DIY one pound hand weights from large washers, nuts, and bolts. Using what is here, rather than shopping, makes me happy!

Time of Isolation - Day 1961

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine has one problem sorted...

So far up until today, it has been a struggle to find a way to process photo images. My pal Leslie pointed me towards Canva's Affinity, a robust three-fold program recently released as free. It seems like it will be a suitable replacement for my beloved venerable Photoshop, once I've learnt my way around, and Affinity also has layout and vector graphics capability, which are things new to me... A chance to learn some new skills, with a friend who is really familiar with the program to share pointers and answer questions. Who could ask for a better outcome?

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Attempted baking a small gingerbread, following this recipe. I suspect that using gluten free baking mix instead of wheat flour affected the results, as it was drier than I was expecting, and I could have been a lot more generous with the dried ginger. Using the other half of the lemon from the recent Demonology (Avgolemono) soup, a lemon glaze will probably improve it. (mix powdered sugar with fresh lemon juice, drizzle over cooled cake and let sit for at least a half hour) I'm really happy with my new wooden lemon reamer, which works much better than my former plastic juicer, though it leaves me the task of catching any lemon seeds...

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Late last month I ordered some new charger cables, initially thinking that was the problem with my phone. And having a few more cables is always useful. But I must not have been paying as much attention as would be advised when I placed my order, since I ordered one of the two Startech cables with the wrong type of connector, a "mini USB B male" instead of a "micro USB B male". Oops! The difference was obvious when they arrived. So... I phoned B&H customer service to find out what my options were. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that they would willingly take back my error, and indeed emailed me a return FedEx postage paid form, and will refund my payment once it arrived back in NYC. I will of course be ordering from them again, good customer service ought be rewarded!

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~ slightly more subtle ~

When this kerchief was new, the horse had appaloosa spots made from blue sequins, but in the interim, repeated laundering removed the blue color, so the center front had instead a group of very bright sparkly sequins, which didn't please me as much. Today all the sequins were removed and replaced with simple embroidered spots instead, just a bit less obtrusive...

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This is a fascinating bit of information, about how we come into the world wired for tactile communication... 

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November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	clothespin bag	horse kerchief	-
2	5 jars pickled beets	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Leslie pointed me towards the free "Affinity" graphics program
- generous return policy B&H Photo/Video (in NYC)
- the scent of gingerbread

Time of Isolation - Day 1960