Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine is feeling scattered...

An assortment of small chores all day long starting by waking up early in order to do more fig tree hacking before wheelie pickup happened. Found a ripe fig hiding in the green fig tree that was actually yummy. Filled the bin with chunks of fig branches, and got it to the curb in time. Yay me! Still lots of pruning to do, but also managed to roughly cut back the forsythia, which seems to be trying to take over the sidewalk

※※※

~ ongoing refurbishment ~
. 

The front door of Acorn Cottage, with a repainted screen door grille, but not yet fully refurbished and repainted. The other photo shows why replacing the screening is a good idea. Today I washed both the glass panels of the storm/screen door, which took more time than imagined, but along with cleaning the door itself, has made a big difference. My plan is to use the rest of the spray paint to paint it the same bronze color as I did the grille and the mailbox, which will coordinate with the dark brown future trim color. The actual door itself, currently purple, will be painted turquoise.

※※※

All the Jill Barklem Brambly Hedge hardcopy books the library has are always checked out. Not surprising. Aside from the four seasonal ones, there is "Sea Story" where the mice travel downriver to the ocean to acquire several barrels of salt from their coastal cousins. I'd never read that one before, and it wasn't available as an ebook, so it was a treat once my number got to the top of the holds list. Rode my bike to the library this morning to pick it up, and it is now probably my favorite of all.  

※※※

My adventure taking the free summertime shuttle to Pittock Mansion was foiled by the limited schedule; the idea of sitting there on the mansion grounds for several hours waiting for the next go round of the bus was not the best way to spend the better part of a day. Chores and work may not be as novel, but are also necessary, and since the weekend is forecast to be slightly cooler than usual, enameling is on the docket instead. Possibly interspersed with some sewing, since those happen in the same workroom... 

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	painted mailbox	greenwaste bin
4	glass button earrings	Strombecker lamp	recycle bin
5	poppy pod earrings	reglue earrings	greenwaste bin
6	red cube earrings	porch storage	x
7	x	painted grille	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
- did not break my toe when I dropped the clipboard on it
- woke up early enough to fill the greenwaste bin before the truck arrived to empty it
- zucchini stir fried with panko and lemon is really good

Time of Isolation - Day 2228

if you give a mouse a cookie

in which our plucky heroine recognises project creep...

The repainted mailbox, and replacing the grubby Rubbermaid tote bin with a new dark brown "deck box", seems to be inspiring other changes around the Acorn Cottage entryway... This morning I removed the aluminum grille from the front screen door and scrubbed it in the tub prior to spray painting. How did I never notice the very bad condition of the fixed screen underneath (hint: it was/is mostly obscured by the grille). It looks as if former tenants or owners had a cat, or a dog that really wanted outside, since there are various holes and scratched places in the screening. No wonder there are sometimes mystery insects in the house. 

I know how to replace normal (detachable) windowscreens, but this one is integral to the screen door and there is no visible way to detach it for repair. Bah! The only thing I can think of is to cut away most of it and hand sew in a piece of new screening without holes. That seems an excessively laborious and peculiar way to deal with the issue, if less of a faff than removing the door itself from the frame. I have been unable to figure any way to remove the screened section from the door, and all my online searching has been in vain. It also occurrs to me that if worse came to worse and I cannot correctly detach the old damaged screen I could even cut away the old screen and GLUE new screen in place using silicone adhesive. Again less than ideal, but possible.

P.S. Once the paint had dried and the grille been reattached to the screen door, the offending damaged screen is again much less visible, so must needs patiently wait until I figure how best to make repairs. The newly painted grille looks great!

※※※

~ small and sculptural~

These small mare and foal charms weigh only 2 grams and are 21mm (¾") tall. Their blue/green patina, which coordinates with my most recent favorite colorway initially inspired ideas of yet more earrings. Though it occurs to me that these also are a great size to be a tinyworld artifact, an "antiquity"  to be sitting on a shelf or mantelpiece. They remind me somewhat of the little votive horse artifact in the very start of Coppola's "Black Stallion" film, before the shipwreck scene.

※※※

Thursday mid-August throwbacks: Eighteen years ago Jen came to visit, time goes by in a flash, fourteen years ago G and I broke up, nine years ago there was a total solar eclipse, four years ago I began building Caer Cardboard... It is interesting to me to semi-randomly look backwards into the bits of the past captured by my writings here

※※※

I found a few more of Perlenwunderwesen's beaded creature patterns.  I want to make salamanders for my friend Acantha, similar to the ones shes researched. I figure I can adapt the axolotl pattern, once I find beads of the correct colors...

※※※

Sent a message to the Kickstarter I backed, asking them about converting the CAD files to STL files so I could take them to the library makerspace and print them, and got a reply the next day saying that they would send me STL files, once they were ready, maybe even later this month. (The pillboxes won't be ready until much later this year) I'll need to take another workshop at the library to remember how to use the 3D printers, but learning new things and practicing new things is always good. Maybe I can use the larger size model to make one for a friend who needs more space for their meds?

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	painted mailbox	greenwaste bin
4	glass button earrings	Strombecker lamp	recycle bin
5	poppy pod earrings	reglue earrings	-
6	red cube earrings	porch storage	x
7	x	painted grille	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- blogging is an ongoing hobby and useful aide-mémoire
- Vera of Perlenwunderwesen generously shares her genius patterns for beaded creatures
- some large cardboard pieces that worked well to support the grille while I was spray-painting it

Time of Isolation - Day 2227

wishful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine gathers estimates...

Yesterday there were multiple phone calls made to various tradesfolk, in an attempt to garner information about costs of the two most urgent repairs: replacing the kitchen faucet, and dealing with the rotten boards on the front porch. For obvious reasons, most of the places cannot give actual estimates over the phone, but several of them have a substantial and non-refundable fee just to show up and look at the problem; some of the price ranges for "labor to replace faucet" seemed rather boggling (ie 350 to 400 dollars for less than an hour of effort). When I happened to mention to one person I was asking about the porch repair that we were also needing a faucet replaced, they mentioned that though they weren't an actual plumber, they could legally do that job as well. So, tomorrowthis morning they will have a look-see and talk about options.

※※※

~ This will be fun ~

I recently re-read the first book of the Wildwood Chronicles to refresh my memory of the story. In our current world where so much content is put out there generated by text prompts fed by stolen art, the splendid efforts of Laika studios are worth much appreciation and support. I enjoy learning about how the myriad artists and artisans create the animation, and turn the story and artwork (also made by local human people) into something really special. 

※※※

A number of the items ordered online have begun arriving. Best is the new kitchen faucet, and thankfully it is as pleasing to look at and touch in real life as it appeared in the tiny shop photos. The "deck box" ordered at the same time arrived a day later, and for something made of six plastic panels is both remarkably sturdy (I can sit on it, though wouldn't use it to replace a stepladder) and looks surprisingly acceptable. It was, in addition an absolute doddle to assemble. No tools or excessive strength needed, the parts just lock together with integral wedges. This will look better on the porch than the old blue Rubbermaid tote. The several bags of dark brown sugar from Wholesome, a small changeable rainbow time-timer, and a few more beads for making foxen and assorted equines (unicorns and horses oh my) also arrived.

※※※

Since there is more of the bronze spray paint left in the can, it ought to be possible to use tape and newsprint to carefully mask away around the screen doors and paint them a nicer color than their current trashed and scratchy white. Careful examination of said doors made me realise that both the exterior, and with care the interior sides could both be painted.

※※※

There is nothing to concentrate the mind and engender tidying like knowing that someone other than myself will see the house. In the Before Times, this happened regularly as part of preparing for my monthly Crafternoon social gathering. Since the pandammit began, the tidying, not so much. 

Between yesterday and this morning, I turned Mt Dishmore into clean dishes, moved the assorted canned goods and home canned jars of food off the counters and into the pantry, cleared the dining table, and vacuumed the kitchen and living room. Also put the usual under-the-sink into a different area so as to make the faucet guts visible, and cleared away the barriers currently keeping the bad wood zone of the porch from being stepped onto. The piles of papers have all been consolidated into one so they can be sorted, and the obvious recycling put in the bin. The difference it makes is huge. The time it took was less than I'd have guessed. 

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	painted mailbox	greenwaste bin
4	glass button earrings	Strombecker lamp	recycle bin
5	poppy pod earrings	reglue earrings	-
6	red cube earrings	porch storage	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

yesterday's gratitudes -
- 5 flavor eggplant, always good, plus I managed to remember it was on the stove and I didn't burn it.
- the new faucet looks as good in person as it did online
- I was brave. I made multiple phone calls. It is less traumatic than it was ten or twenty years ago.
today's gratitudes -
- the deck box was astoundingly easy to put together, and looks acceptable
- my mother first introduced me to Miyazaki films
- we never get over grief, with luck we learn to live with it. I miss mightily my dear friends and family that are gone from the bright world, and do my best here as long as I remain

Time of Isolation - Day 2226

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine is feeling tired...

Though insomnia has got its claws into me, am doing my best to notice the good, appreciate kindness, and manage what self care is possible these days. More sleep would help, though.

※※※

~ kitchen motto #2 ~

Made this ages ago, when I was first learning enameling and taking classes from Oma Michele at the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle and it has graced my kitchen spaces ever since. The sentiment "when in doubt, add onions" still rings true, all these years later.

For those who may be curious: kitchen motto number one is "never argue with a woman with a knife in her hand"...

※※※

The earrings I made earlier, from acorn caps and miniature mushrooms, already needed repair. The tiny loops I glued into the acorn cap to attach to the earwires began slipping out of place. Superglue is both strong and brittle, so not the right adhesive for the task. Fortunately it happened while I was at home, so no pieces lost. Epoxy was used to reattach the loops, and once it hardened after several hours, a few minutes with a 3M bristle wheel on the flex shaft dulled the shine to match the rest of the acorn cap. I'll use a bit more of the epoxy to reinforce the other tiny loops that hold the mushrooms in place, for security sake, and all will be well. Glad to have figured this out prior to my Calder-esque earring project.

※※※

Was thinking earlier about how so many of my age peers are getting various body parts replaced with better functioning aftermarket options. So far I have managed all original body parts (with some missing, and greater or lesser amounts of  wear and tear). I suspect that giving up my car, which forced me to walk and ride my bike more, have been of more help than annoyance as far as my mobility. I am remembering what Dr Rockstar (Dr Winter) my oncology surgeon said to me when I asked him how best to recover from my surgery and he told me: "use it or lose it, walk as much as you can manage to". I continue to take that approach as best I can, knowing that luck as well as determination have both helped

※※※

. 

Learn something new every day. Friday when I turned the corner there was a flicker right on the sidewalk about ten feet away from me. It seemed to be eating ants. Apparently they are mostly ground feeders and ants are a preferred food! The photos from my phone aren't that great, but the first one shows the flicker digging into the cracked sidewalk and the second one is most identifiable as a local flicker... 

※※※

Well dang insomnia has come for an extended visit and my usual strategies are not helping. Been going to bed before 11 and  waking up anywhere between 1245 to 3am in the deepest of gloom. I plumb hate that. Even in the BeforeTimes 3am was always a Bad Thing full of bad thoughts, and now that waking life is not always an escape from that, it is an ongoing struggle.

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	painted mailbox	greenwaste bin
4	glass button earrings	Strombecker lamp	recycle bin
5	poppy pod earrings	reglue earrings	-
6	red cube earrings	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- epoxy is more robust than superglue. Remember this and don't use superglue on earring components
- Not having a car for the better part of 20 years has forced me to remain more physically active. This is a good thing.
- I chose well when picking my neighborhood when I moved here. That remains the good thing about living here, that it is walkable with much of what I consider necessary. Groceries, a library, a post office, and bus lines. (The art supply store arrived later but is an unexpected benefit)

Time of Isolation - Day 2225

NFS

in which our plucky heroine cogitates...

and continues to make a modicum of progress. Mt Dishmore is diminished though not gone. Mt Washmore is almost dry on the clothesline and will be put away before bedtime. I figured out that making the beaded dragon in two halves and joining them together is easier than having very long loose wires flopping about, and lets the wire ends be neatly tucked inside the dragon tummy.

※※※

~ better ~

The mailbox has been successfully repainted to a dark hammered bronze. It is an improvement that probably only I will notice, but it makes a difference to me. And once (eventually) when the house and trim are repainted, it will look quite suitable indeed. I first removed the mailbox and attached it to the clothesline in the side yard for the first coat of paint. Once that was dry it needed to return to the front walkway. The 2nd coat of paint was applied in situ the next day, after taping many old newspaper sheets all around to catch any overspray. 

.
※※※

Now that the smoke has temporarily cleared, it will be good to order replacement filters for my portable air cleaners, for the house, and for my P100 as well. Bought some white duct tape to reconstruct the Corsi-Rosenthal box.  No way to know if the winds will bring the smoke back this summer, but nothing wrong with being prepared.

※※※

Many many years ago after some trading circle or barter fair I came home with some small pieces of mammoth ivory. Looking through my supplies and materials for something to complement some vintage bone buttons, a few of the fragments seemed almost Calder-esque, and created a very appealing sort of dynamic symmetry.

The challenge is how best to neatly attach such tiny pieces together while still allowing independent movement. My first thought yesterday was to use jump rings, but rings large enough to function that way looked too clunky. My new idea is to form very small wire arched "staples" to be glued in place and somehow interlinked. There will need to be experiemtation.

※※※

I just discovered this brand new magazine "Purl" all about knitting techniques. I've just ordered a copy of their first issue which has just made it into print. The theme of the first issue, very appropriately is "cast on" and it appears that it will be a Useful Reference.

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	painted mailbox	greenwaste bin
4	glass button earrings	Strombecker lamp	recycle bin
5	poppy pod earrings	-	-
6	red cube earrings	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Past Me made corn pancakes and froze them
- spray paint is easy
- my dear friend Mischa

Time of Isolation - Day 2222

throwback Thursday and other thoughts

in which our plucky heroine spends a good chunk of the day gallivanting...

※※※

~ on the trail ~
.
 . 

After seeing a post online about one of the crows being near the oncology building, decided that this morning would be a good time to continue my quest. Crow #13 "Back Alley Flora" was at the intersection of N Flint and N Broadway nowhere near the listed N WIlliams location at all. Of the three crows I ran across today, this one was my favorite, being painted with delightful illustrations of often found alley and vacant lot plants, complete with both common and scientific names.

※※※

Throwback to former Augusts: five years ago recovering from jaw surgery, creating Alamandine, scribal art enthusiam, ten years ago making popover summer dresses, noticing earlier ripening of tree fruit, decluttering workroom, grinding enamels into painting enamels. Fifteen years ago was Handfix™, and being not-single, (and waiting in the wings a yet unknown dire diagnosis.)

※※※

Since tonight is wheelie bin night, it seemed wise to fill up the greenwaste bin first thing, before the heat of the day, so picked up the loppers andstarted cutting back the green fig. It is a vigorous grower, and keeps trying to trespass on the neighbors garden bed. There is a lot more of that fig that needs pruned out, but the most egregious branches are now in the bin, along with the ones that were literally dragging on the ground. It will take at least two more full bins before that fig tree is less rowdy, and there are other trees (hello quince, and apple, and black elder, and persimmon) that also are waiting for me to get to their summer pruning.

※※※

My new 7in7 idea is to combine vintage bone underwear buttons with a few precious mammoth ivory fragments to create "mobile" earrings. By drilling some holes and some wire bending of jump rings, two slightly dissimilar assembleages might become a pair of earrings.  

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	painted mailbox	greenwaste bin
4	glass button earrings	Strombecker lamp	-
5	poppy pod earrings	-	-
6	red cube earrings	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- recipes that bring back long gone memories
- free newspaper to mask overspray (2nd coat of mailbox paint)
- Hutch's Peanut Sauce*, delicious enough to make almost anything edible, and easy to mix up to dress a cold summertime salad

Time of Isolation - Day 2221

~ Hutch's Peanut Sauce ~

1½  T nut butter
2 ½ T oil (or coconut milk)
2 T tamari
2 T brown sugar
2 t vinegar
½ t cayenne
1 T chopped green onion
1 T minced cilantro

notes: originally served over cold poached chicken and iceberg lettuce as a dressing. I use either peanut butter or almond butter. The frozen chopped cilantro since it already is mixed with oil needs less additional than the recipe calls for. Make as spicy or mild as desired.

workable Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine hopes for improvement...

I ordered a kitchen faucet from Home Despot, and also an actual "deck box" to replace the tatty plastic tote that lives on the front porch and has magic marker instructions to the postie written on top. While the faucet isn't my ideal dream option (which doesn't exist, apparently) it seems to meet enough of my criteria, and after months and months of looking I remind myself that done will be better than perfect. Progress on my goals for this summer is proceeding.

※※※

~ a distant memory ~

At some point when I was young there was assorted Strombecker dollhouse furniture. The images I've seen of various pieces of this distinctive wooden furniture are peculiarly resonant, though I've no idea when I played with them, or where they ended up over distant years and many many moves. There once was a table lamp similar to this one, but with a green base, so when I found two for sale on Etsy at an affordable price I clicked "purchase"... 

Unfortunately the interface had already sold them to a different buyer but didn't tell the seller, who was most apologetic, and offered me this yellow base one instead, at a discount. It was in "as-is" condition, and it was obvious on arrival that the lamp base had at some point met up with teething, either a puppy (or maybe a child?) 

My first stage repair was to fill in the multiple divots with wood putty, and once that solidified, carefully sand it back to smooth with 400 grit abrasive paper. While I was originally going to repaint it a solid color, it is tempting to just leave it as is; the variegated color reminds me of a large pottery lamp we had back in the 1960's

※※※

Today began the process of spray painting the mailbox dark bronze. Every exterior side has been sanded with fine sandpaper, washed, and dried, as per the 0.7mm tiny instructions on the back of the can of Rustoleum. The mailbox has been removed from the wall and is currently attached to the clothesline next to the chain link fence and propped in place to allow each surface being painted to be vertical. 

Astonishing how something so quick makes such a difference. It still needs at least a second coat all around, but the hammered finish dark bronze is already so much more attractive than the former patchy appearance. The second coat should deal with the one spot where I touched the paint before it was fully dry; I'll spray it in situ (after the mail is delivered tomorrow) instead of removing it to the the side yard, and tape up plenty of newspaper around the area to protect against overspray. Then it can sit there overnight until truly dry. 

※※※

Still mulling over the 7in7 earrings challenge since #7 has not been made (and I also missed #1). This afternoon while chatting with Mischa I remembered bells! I have two different tiny sizes, stored for some reason in the in the drawer of washi tape?! that might be perfect components for a pair of dark brown earrings. Hmmm...

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	painting mailbox	-
4	glass button earrings	-	-
5	poppy pod earrings	-	-
6	red cube earrings	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- chainmail pot scrubber, also can hold paintbrushes to dry vertically
- Home Despot has free home delivery
- homemade kombucha

Time of Isolation - Day 2220

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine gets an unexpected wake up call...

The smoke alarm just outside the bedroom chose this morning to let me know it was hungry for a new battery. Since there were no 9 volt batteries on hand, it meant an after-breakfast shopping trip. Which was also a chance to acquire a threaded wooden handle for the nylon boat hook, acquired to raise and lower the future insulated curtains on the west facing window. Imagine if you will me riding my bicycle, one basket lined with grocery sacks to prevent the end of the 5 ft dowel from sliding backwards, and the front end poking out beyond the handlebars. Must have looked rather like jousting!

※※※

~ follow the crows #30 ~

Early this morning it was cool enough that a bike ride to the St Johns Library was pleasant. Starting my "Follow the Crows" excursions with the one painted by Carson Ellis seemed very appropriate. Am currently re-reading Wildwood to renew my acquaintance with the story and locations, and also looking forward to rambling around to find as many of the 30 crows as possible in the next few months... (This blog post comments about a few of the crows the writer found)

※※※

Today it feels like I have used up all my earring making creativity in the last five days. That isn't true, of course. But the small wooden wall cupboard that holds my earrings is already much more crowded now. Rather than force a design, I'll continue to trust in my good  brain and gently wait a bit while tackling housey chores. (grey/taupe earrings, and a dark brown pair as well, would still be welcome) 

※※※

After a rack of dishes gets washed, a bit of a beadwork break is in order, to start on the tiny tricolor guinea pig for Ashe. It is a lot smaller than the fox or the dragon, so might be quicker to finish. It would have made sense to pick up some more of the thin brass wire while at the hardware store this morning, but I forgot... With luck there will also be time to make some of the purple sparkly beaded dragons this week to mail out as gifts to various friends.

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	-	-
4	glass button earrings	-	-
5	poppy pod earrings	-	-
6	red cube earrings	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- search function on blog, that let me find a precious recipe somehow no longer in my hardcopy recipe box
- hardware store had an inexpensive threaded wooden pole handle
- My friend Leslie found a buyer for her house, so she can move forward with life changes.

Time of Isolation - Day 2219

trust your brain

in which our plucky heroine woke up with a new idea...

Remember those red cube shaped beads that have been a conundrum to me for months? Dunno if brainstorming earring ideas for the last several days has been shaking things loose inside my head, but this morning I woke up  with a brand new idea for a way to combine them with other beads that wants sketching, and looking through the bead bucket for possible companion beads. Stay tuned for later today, and Trust Your Brain, it is a good one!

※※※

~ day 6 of 7in7 ~

Well, this was interesting. My initial concept was to join the red beads together with wire, threading a single bead on each loop. That looked unfinished, so various combinations were attempted. Using 28ga brass wire from the hardware store was helpful as it remains inexpensive enough to play with. I kept combining beads in various ways, walking away to do housey chores and coming back with fresh eyes, and starting over until an arrangement felt right.

This current iteration highlights the red cube beads by surrounding them with 11/0 glass seed beads, freshwater pearls, a tiny turquoise bead at the base and a red white heart at the top. If these earrings are keepers, might buy some 28ga silver wire (thin enough for seed beads) and redo them, but for right now my goal is the freedom to use the materials I have on hand and play with them. I'm actually grateful that these uncooperative beads "forced" me to try over and over again to come up with multiple options, which is so different than the way my usual handcraft interactions occur. Usually I have a specific outcome desired, and all efforts are to bring that about. I've heard it described as "process vs project" and I'm usually more on the project end of the seesaw.

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	-	-
4	glass button earrings	-	-
5	poppy pod earrings	-	-
6	red cube earrings	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the creativity of my sleeping brain
- dipping my toes in the process end of the maker pool
- the postal clerk was really helpful 

Time of Isolation - Day 2218

Sunday satisfaction

in which our plucky heroine has a day of chores, online visiting and a tiny adventure...

Aside from making a start on the ever replenished Mt Dishmore and Mt Washmore, choosing to spend time indulging in creativity, and my always grateful for Sunday video visiting, there was a early morning transit trip to a new location: "Travel Portland" as they were one of the few locations mentioned online as having actual paper map pamphlets available for the Follow The Crows art installaion. Don't know if I will collect the whole set, as it were, but it will be fun to see all the various artist painted iterations...

※※※

~ day 5 of 7in7 earring challenge ~

Dried painted poppy pods, stacked atop a small turquoise donut bead and a vintage whiteheart. (Oops, looking closely at the photo there are spots that need a bit more paint) They are really lightweight for their size. My inspiration was this 2022 photo by Johanna from Finland of poppy pods made into 1:12  scale "pottery"...

※※※

None of us live forever... goodbye to John Crowley, writer par excellence... (may the four winds blow you safely home...)

※※※

I've been trying and trying to find some interesting way to use the small bright red dyed coral cube beads that came to me as part of the previous advent swap, but keep finding their angular "cubeness" difficult. Tonight, Vesta's comment during craft-n-chat about lobster claw clasps immediately caused me to jump to using these beads to make decorative stitch markers for my textile art friends. 

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	-	-
4	glass button earrings	-	-
5	poppy pod earrings	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- venturing downtown to get a hardcopy pamphlet/map for Follow the Crows
- air clean enough to dry laundry outside on the line
- the clothespins Acantha gave me are so good
- walked almost three miles today
- listening to Eva read "The Cat That Walked By Himself" 

Time of Isolation - Day 2217

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine enjoys blue sky...

This morning the AQI numbers were good, and it was possible to see all the way across the river to the west hills. An early morning bike ride before breakfast was an unmasked treat. It is still very hot here, but better less smoke-filled air is a huge improvement!

※※※

~ so kawaii ~

Tiny (1¼" x 2") foxes woven from beads and wire.  One is for my pal Mindy, and I think the other needs to live with Almandine...

※※※

Any time Past Me cooks enough for several meals, Future Me wins. There are corn pancakes in the freezer, and several different soups. Dinner is easy. Later tonight I am going to poach the chicken thighs from the fridge, and make some of Hutch's Amazing Peanut Sauce to go with, and try using the frozen cilantro as a test. Cold chicken salad is another excellent summertime meal

※※※

~ day 4 of 7in7 earring challenge ~

Some vintage glass buttons from my button basket seemed to need to be combined with the tiny pressed glass acorn bead drops. Simple, but effective and very wearable... So much fun rummaging through assorted bins, boxes and baskets full of many years accumulation of trinkets and treasures to find inspiration for more earrings.

※※※

While at the Fred Meyers store to refill my transit pass, I checked out their paint/housey repair section... Not only did they have Rustoleum spray paint, but perzactly one left in stock of the dark bronze color wanted. And it was on sale at 35% off! My lucky day!!

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	-	-
4	glass button earrings	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- acquired Rustoleum for mailbox renewal
- AQI is vastly less dreadful, currently at 31 (Fair) as opposed to almost 200 (Unhealthy, verging on Very Unhealthy)
- enjoying playtime created by 7in7 earring challenge

Time of Isolation - Day 2216

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine finds a new temporary obsession...

Yesterday was the second day of the 7in7 earring challenge, (which I just discovered late Wednesday night...) Lately I've been playing with found materials and recombinant parts of some of my older pieces anyway, so am using this challenge as a springboard to additional random creativity. When I saw these unusual acorn caps while out walking I had an idea for woodland themed earrings, added some cast and enamel mushroom charms Bill and I collaborated on decades ago and these will be just right for autumn.

※※※

Today is day 3 of the 7in7 earring challenge... This single small silver-plate teaspoon has been languishing in my tableware drawer for over three decades, and now has a new destiny as a pair of earrings. The bas-relief of oranges has always charmed me.. The spoon was thicker than I realised, so a bit difficult to saw through, but once cut into pieces each earring blank weighed only about 3 grams, so not too heavy for comfort.Some small silvery baroque freshwater pearls turned out to be good accents to add additional movement and catch the light.

※※※

~ found beauty ~

Blue lacecap hydrangea, seen halfway down the back parking lot stairs at Providence hospital. On my way back to the bus stop early yesterday morning, after my annual skin checkup, these blue flowers were very eyecatching. Awake at 5am in order to coordinate transit,  tired but spirit now good since my exam was all clear and the odd spot on my hand is a solar lentigo and not something dire...

※※※

The diseased leaves on my pear trees are caused by "rust" fungus which is alternately hosted on junipers, of which there are many around the neighborhood including the far side of my own driveway (mostly in the corner neighbor's front yard). Dang! My bigger Bosc tree has some damage, the baby Seckel pear is badly hit, and the baby Shipova seems untouched. There don't seem to be any good non-chemical way to control it, and I doubt that neighbors would be keen on my removing a chunk of their landscaping...

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	greenwaste bin
2	acorncap earrings	2nd pot lid rack	recycle bin
3	teaspoon earrings	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- spot on hand is solar lentigo and not melanoma. Whew!
- neighbors moved their car, managed to harvest more elderberries
- chopped up cilantro stems and a bit of yellow onion diced make a decent substitute for green onions in Sister Gigi's Corn Pancakes.
- in the kale/bulgar/feta salad kasha makes a great substitute for bulgar in terms of texture (and of course adds tasty kasha flavor)

※※※
 

Sister Gigi's Sweet Corn Cakes

4 ears sweet corn (or 2 c frozen) ½ c cornmeal or masa ½ c flour 1 t salt 1 t sugar ½ t baking powder ¼ t cayenne 1 large egg ¾ c buttermilk 3 T butter, melted and cooled 2 green onions, chopped small

If using fresh corn, cut the kernels from cobs, (you should have about 2 c) Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl, combine all wet ingredients in a bowl, mix together and add the corn and the green onions. Let rest in the refrigerator for at least a half hour or more (cornmeal will hydrate, texture will be nicer; if you use masa, might need more liquid than called for) Fry like pancakes 'till both sides are golden. serve with green salsa and sour cream

※※※

Time of Isolation - Day 2215

wishful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine is wishing for a different timeline...

... as I sit inside Acorn Cottage with both my air filters running and think: "this is the coolest and most healthful summer we will ever have". The light outside is the yellow-shifted color that our screens get when the late night filter is applied. Awake just before sunrise and the sky appeared a pleasant overcast cool day, until the sun rose

※※※

~ old dog new tricks ~

Recently figured out that the small block anvil has yet another use. Being squared on all sides, it is a great help for accurately aligning brackets that need to be all the way to the edge of something that needs to attach perpendicular to the wall.  ideas. Never saw this concept elsewhere, but perhaps this small anvil is uncommon? 

This is part of gradual progress on assorted housey improvements, a 2nd pot lid rack for back of door. Yesterday cut out and glued up the layered wood support blocks, then woodfiller smoothed and sanded them. This morning marked the door and painted the blocks. Once they are securely bracketed to the door, another vintage yardstick will be cut to length and attached, and et voila the larger lids will have a better (out of the way but still convenient) home. Voila!!

※※※

Handcraft progress: my Tabbycat Cowl continues to slowly grow as each day gets a few more rows of stitching done.  Noro Kiri yarn has such pleasing subtle variegation; Noro yarns were the first mulitcolor long shift yarn I ever saw years ago at Canvasworks in Olympia.

Laid out all the various recut pieces of bluegreen batik rayon for this year's summertime popover dress. Third time is the charm, fingers crossed it works well and hangs properly. It may be possible to add big "teacher" pockets instead of patch pockets (with care in how the remaining fabric is cut); this would be a worthwhile improvement.

※※※

The mason jar self-watering inserts to grow pea microgreens arrived today. I grew pea shoots in trays back in 2020, and this looks to be a slightly easier way to get the same results. Worth a try anyhow...

※※※

This was my yesterday: woke up early, put on mask to go outside in the peculiar light, poured water on plant babies, added water to the hydration station, hacked back the overgrown fern from next to the heat pump machinery (as indicated from research online it needs several feet of clearance, who knew?). Will check the air handler filter and order more if needed, also for auxiliary air filter and a new set to rebuild my homemade Corsi-Rosenthal after this current AQI uptick. I hate that we have fire season now, and barely any real summer anymore. Today another whole day indoors, attempting to remain sane by making progress on several projects.

※※※

4am is for certain when the brain weasels are at their strongest, and not the best time to return to the bright world from dreamland. Sometimes the worst nightmares may be those not filled with active evil and direct horror, but the ones that instead are a torment of missed opportunity and wrong choices, the ones that are thoroughly marbled with waking life. A good strategy for the former is useless against the latter.

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	-
2	-	2nd pot lid rack	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- electricity, which runs the equipment that make summer bearable
- Past Me bought a Very Small drill press, which is just right for some tasks
- 5 flavor eggplant, so tasty. 

Time of Isolation - Day 2213

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine begins to hide from the haze...

When growing up, there were the classic four seasons to the year: winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Now there are at least five as fire season intertwines with summer and autumn, and I sorrow at the change*... This morning after an early bike ride, went out to run errands knowing this was in the offing. By 2pm on the way home the air was becoming visibly hazy. After leaving the bus to walk the rest of the way home took off my mask, smelled how strong the smoke had become, and immediately put it back on. Our AQI is already at 114 right now (Unhealthy) and forecast to be over 200 (Very Unhealthy) later tonight and tomorrow and to then slowly decrease back to merely Unhealthy again over the next several days. Both indoor air filters will be deployed and no more outdoor activity at all until a necessary medical appointment later in the week, this will be an opportunity to focus on indoor housey chores.

※※※

~ incremental improvement ~

One of the two new small storage shelves is in place on the kitchen wall next to the chest freezer, sized just right for 5 "talenti tubs**". When I defrost the freezer later this month, shelf number two will go underneath this one, and have room for another five. My plan is to use these to hold dry goods like grain, pasta, and lentils etc, move the larger storage jars currently on my countertop into the pantry instead, which will free up counter space in the very small kitchen.

※※※

Saturday at the Hollywood farmers market in search of local cilantro, it was a surprise and a treat to run into my old friend SueJ, who I'd not seen in almost ten years. After that unexpected visiting, I did manage to find cilantro, and cucumbers, and some beautiful Japanese eggplants. The plan is to make some 5 flavor eggplant, and preserve most of the cilantro not used immediately, using this suggestion about freezing it in cubes with oil.

※※※

This idea of turning googly eyes into miniature drawer pulls seems quite clever, and there might be a few of those googly eyes left from last years Advent Swap. Hmmm...

Another tiny-ish treat is the creativity of Liza of HodgePodge Art Studio. Her world building and storytelling  about Mosshollow is delightful. While much of it is shared on Meta platforms, there is some here on YouTube.

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 Talenti shelves	Talenti shelf up	-
2	-	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- I have two good air filters
- quite a few Talenti tubs
- making some progress every day
- local produce at the farmers market

Time of Isolation - Day 2211

* I realise that Acorn Cottage currently is quite privileged to only have to deal with windblown smoke when so many locally and worldwide are dealing more directly with fire season, having lost homes, land, livestock and in some cases their own lives. This is not the timeline I signed up for...

** "Talenti tubs" are the very useful sturdy plastic containers with screw top lids that Talenti ice cream originally was packaged in. The current containers are somewhat less sturdy, and ice cream doesn't often make it onto the grocery list any more.

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine has a day of small bits...

So far the best was removing the "decorative" motif from the front of the mailbox. Careful observation of how it was attached showed that while the rivets in the front were substantial and recessed into the cast metal motif, inside the mailbox were two much smaller raised eyelets. With an oval cutting burr on the flex shaft it was possible to carefully reach inside the mailbox and grind away enough to pull the excrescent casting off the front of the sheet metal, leaving it with only two small visible holes. Milliput might seal those up before painting the mailbox "hammered dark bronze" with Rustoleum

※※※

~ recombinant ~

It is very satisfying to deconstruct my jewelry to put back together differently in a form that is more likely to be worn. The wire oak leaf outlines were made years ago, and originally had a vaguely acorn-ish group of beads hanging in the center. And the cast silver acorns that now supplant them were (by themselves) so dainty that they rarely were a first choice... 

※※※

Almost done with priming, painting and preparing the new small kitchen shelves. I found the jar of leftover kitchen wall paint, saved for future repairs, and there is enough to paint these shelves to match the walls. They aren't intended as a focal point, so was happy to have found the exact paint, and I really wish that Metro Paint was still a going concern, since I'd forgotten how excellent the paint is/was. Slightly thicker than melted ice cream, and it covers in one coat. 

※※※

In overall food news, have started looking around for cilantro seeds or starts. It isn't the best time of year to try and grow it, according to what I've been reading, but is worth an attempt. Will also try and get to the farmers market for some. Locally grown is less likely to have parasites. (added: just got a callback from the most local plant and garden store to Acorn Cottage and they have plenty of cilantro starts and also seeds, so I foresee a bike ride tomorrow...)

The other peculiar thing re food is that for the last several weeks have been looking for organic canned corn with no success. All the local grocery stores have none of the organic on the shelves. I like keeping a few cans with the "earthquake" pantry goods, since a can of corn + a can of beans (+ maybe a can of Costco chicken) + some seasoning = a dinner that only needs a can opener. Is it seasonal, or crop failure, or supply chain weirdness? Only time will tell...

※※※

July SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	15 tiny masu boxes	earrings recombined	greenwaste bin
2	black scarf hem	replace C O alarm	recycle bin
3	Brambly Hedge slip	painted pony spots	greenwaste bin
4	5 more bead frogs	mailbox de-uglified	overgrown lovage
5	"Cats Invade" books	small shelves painted	greenwaste bin
6	all the bead frogs	x	recycle bin
7	two beaded dragons	x	greenwaste bin
8	x	x	unripe grapes
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- Metro paint is so dense and works so well
- Tool Girl had useful attachments for the flex shaft
- There is a decent independent garden/pet/livestock store nearby

Time of Isolation - Day 2208