Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine gathers mathoms...

and an assortment of "extra" advent swap treats, and wrapped everything that wasn't already wrapped. Why? Well one of my friends posted today that they never saw any of the FB Advent Of A Better Year group posts before today, and had been hoping to participate this year. While I can't send them an entire bonus box, I want to send them a container of as much random daily dopamine as I can rustle up. Gol-darn ay-eye eff-bee algae-rhythms are not sharing messages or posts on that platform in any kind of reliable way. Fortunately said pal is local, so we can find a way to connect in person! 

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~ Advent Swap day 2 ~
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The origami box was really carefully folded, with a clever use of washi tape triangles to seal and decorate the wrapping... inside, a less than 1" tall little amber colored glass vase, just right for the tinyworld! (a single rosemary floret and a wee sprig of chickweed were about the right size)

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I keep adding things to the shadowbox over the last several years. All the books on the shelves have content (not blank books). The fire in the fireplace is built atop an LED tea light, and flickers nicely. Now, after queries from Ashe & Co. about the two small drawers at the bottom of the bookcases, I am wondering what needs to be stored in there? I was thinking about a functional magnifying glass. Also maybe things like a deck of cards, and maybe I can find the box of dominoes I made a few years ago...

I realised as I was falling asleep that I could make a functional miniature magnifying glass. Long ago we got a few dozen very small clear quartz cabochons for an SCA project, where they were used as magnifiers. When I checked this morning, I still had a few of them left in the Box Of Rocks... Will need some design work, but the fabrication is all within my skill set

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Took a midday break to ride out to the St Johns Tiny (free little art) Gallery. I've learned that if I like the art on display that month, to head over there as close to the beginning of the month as feasible. There were still quite a few of the paintings from this months show to choose one from; 2½" square gouache "snapshots" from a road trip the artist took. I took home one that showed scenery in the Columbia Gorge, and left a collage and two spherical floral pompoms in exchange.

The weather today was a bit raw, and my hands would have been happier had I worn the naalbound mittens instead of the embroidered fleece lined mitts. I also need to make self either an earflap cap to wear under the bike helmet, or the triangular layered ear covers that attach to the helmet rigging

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December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	-	vegetable steamer legs	fridge science experiments
2	-	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -  
- handmade lampworked glass tiny advent gift this morning
- carrot coriander soup cubes in the freezer = easy breakfast
- found all my singular samples of my own homemade advent treats.
- at the post office, I didn't want to deal with locking up my bike when all I needed was to drop the bill in the mail slot, so I rolled it alongside me through the door. Then the kind woman who was heading in after me, held the door so it was easier for me to go back outside. She wasn't at all fussed, just friendly and told me to have a safe ride.

Time of Isolation - Day 1984

the sweet scent of late summer

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

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

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~ Clerodendrum trichotomum ~

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

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

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

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

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

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

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

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

Time of Isolation - Day 1853

unexpectedly damp

in which our plucky heroine has a slightly soggy excursion...

There were a number of small errands to accomplish this afternoon, but I'd foolishly neglected to double check the weather before heading out. By the time I was walking from the bus stop down Glisan to visit the new free little art gallery, what had started by occasional drizzle had turned to swaths of intense rain. Even so, the weather was mostly manageable, and the #19 bus took me back to catch another bus to stop at Trader Joe's.... and then there was a deep puddle to step into, a crosswalk where the gutter was running wider that could be jumped, and deeper than the tops of my shoes. While looking for safest passage across, an impatient driver managed to splash my legs more than halfway to my waist. Splish squelch all the way home...

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~ a succulent assortment ~

Seen in the grocery store houseplant zone yesterday, the diversity of the leaf colors, patterns, and arrangement is delightful

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One additional reason for my visit to a new Free Little Art Gallery was seeing what looked like a tiny ceramic vase as one of the "art-ifacts" to be exchanged. It looked perfect for the denizens of the tinyworld. I brought with me an assortment of other small artwork, with hope that it would still be there. Much to my delight, it was, and proved a gorgeous 2" tall "hand painted made in Japan" bit of vintage porcelain. Shades of Miss Happiness and Miss Flower! and well worth the cold wet return journey home...

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Today included surprise chocolate milk! Apparently Alpenrose is actually part of Smith Brothers Farms, and has been for a number of years. Finally they are changing the name of the delivery service to reflect that, and as a way to sweeten the shift, added a quart of chocolate milk to the delivery?!? As it is a thing I never purchase, I tried it and yes, it is a thing I never will purchase, but it can be a perfectly useful ingredient.

Saturday is a ten year anniversary of an organisation I participate in, which will be having an online celebration. (since the suggested snack is cake (I am assuming because birthday), I will use an appropriate amount of said surprise liquid as part of the recipe I have for making a tiny cake, only it will be mocha, not just chocolate. (the rest will be frozen in suitable cubes for recipe uses)

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March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	6 dozen cookies	grey pinafore	art exchange
2	lino block carved	pruned marjoram	many dead weeds
3	tiny faux patchwork quilt	slipper soles	recycle bin
4	quince pie	bicycle derailleur	yard waste bin
5	multiple lino proofs	"a-y-a" replaced	recycle bin
6	6 quince breads	worm bin bedding	recycle bin
7	x	cleaned hallway air grilles	x
8	x	hem long janes	x
9	x	points on fibulae	x

today's gratitudes -
1. a "welcome to dairy provider change" gave a gift of chocolate milk! I never buy this, tried it, and decided to save it in large cubes in the freezer for baking, as it would be useful for, say, a mocha cake...
2. a house to go to and dry clothing to put on
3. Past me made corn pancakes and put them in the freezer for future meals

Time of Isolation - Day 1712

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine makes a warm cup of tea...

The air today felt colder than usual, and this afternoon on the way home from the post office, it started snowing. Not that it is cold enough for the snow to stick, but it was dropping in small clumps that hit my face, and the wind seemed to howl up my sleeves. Would that I had worn an extra flannel shirt, or wrapped one of the wool scarves around my neck before leaving the house! Tea when home was needful!!

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~ small but vivid ~

With great self indulgence, I took a few hours off this morning to take transit over to PDX-FLAG. When I saw their current display online last night, an Instagram video yesterday with the whole Free Little Art Gallery filled with Keith Haring-esque paintings, I just had to schedule an art swap into my week. Kenya really wanted one for the tinyworld; and fortunately there were quite a few still there this morning, so I left one of my little art pieces in exchange, as requested.

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My earlobe seems to be recovered from the infection, which is good, since tomorrow is the last day of antibiotics. I tried wearing a small earring for briefly today, with no trouble... 

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This trial vaccine against H5N1 in birds is a bit of good news, hopefully to be further developed... Selfishly, it may eventually make it more feasible to keep backyard poultry safely again...

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	"wing it" vest	more broach handles	recycle bin
2	tiny valentines	black keyboard covers	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	-
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes  -
1. There were still plenty of paintings to swap for at PDX-FLAG this morning! Kenya (and I) are both pleased...
2. earlobe seems to be recovered
3. The lemon potatoes recipe is also a keeper, being both rich and tangy. I substituted dried thyme for dried oregano (as a matter of personal preference)

Time of Isolation - Day 1670

one fish two fish red and blue fish

in which our plucky heroine feels creative...

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~ something fishy ~

Carved a neon tetra shaped block small enough to print on the sides of the little tetra charms, to be printed in opaque white on black silk. Once the white layer cures, I can add the red and metallic blue paint to define the fishes' markings. These will also become part of my collection of trinkets for the Advent of a Better Year in 2025 swap...

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Since I don't crochet, making a crocheted camisole top (the week 10 suggested garment) seemed like a non-starter. And while adding another camisole into my tinyfolks wardrobes didn't really appeal, it occurred to me that I could make Opal a "camisole-slip". That could be the start of the vintage clothing set I've been meaning to make for her. I really want to make a middy blouse and skirt, and have been doing a bit of online research, but waiting until this wardrobe challenge is finished before starting another TRD project.

• The Middy - A Photo Essay
• 1920s Middy and Skirt in Lavender
• Fashion Moments - Middy Blouse

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~ otterz!! ~

After today the weather will be ramping up to hot and sunny again, so I took a chunk of the afternoon to ride out the the Free Little Art Galleries to see what was there, and leave a few of my drawings. Eeee!! There was a painting of otters and fish!

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August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	2 pillowcases	nut chopper handle	yard waste bin
2	yak print	elderberry harvest	big plum tree
3	tiny bell-bottoms	refurbish Felco	driveway moss
4	tiny camisole	worm bin	recycle bin
5	small pressing tools	plinth wheels	yard waste bin
6	tiny playset	corduroy pinafore	yard waste bin
7	denim hat	pruning fruit trees	x
8	lots of dolly clothes	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
1. otters artwork in the Free Little Art Gallery
2. nice cool cloudy weather is perfect for bike riding
3. tetra fish are ready to have paint layer added

Time of Isolation - Day 1506

What next?

in which our plucky heroine is approaching the end of a rabbit hole...

I've recently been slightly obsessed with making dolly clothing for my tinyfolk, inspired by the 13 week wardrobe challenge, and while it isn't over until September, my tin of tinyfolk is getting full. I will certainly continue through all the weeks, as I have yet to make more clothing for the denizens of Kestrel's dollhouse, but there are only a few more wardrobe components my crew needs.

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~ wardrobe progress report ~

Opal started out with only the Viking Age garments she was wearing in the "A Grave Affair" grave goods diorama, so she was basically starting from scratch, and I have rather gone overboard with adding in extras. Some, such as the aprons, the tie-dye jersey, and the blue linen dress, were from earlier sewing sprees. I am really happy with the state of her current wardrobe, which only lacks perhaps a few accessories to be complete for most all occasions!

Nandina gave up a few of her former garments to Opal, so she could use a skirt, and maybe another shirt or two...

Almandine is the most challenging of my tinyfolk to dress, so her wardrobe is not quite completed. She has wider shoulders due to her spun cotton head, and she has a fox tail. I managed her trousers by sewing them from wool felt, and adding a gap for her tail. She could use one more woven top or shirt, and I am currently working on a brown chambray pinafore for her, based on the Quimper Hitty "pleated pinafore" pattern...

Kenya is pretty much set as far as her wardrobe goes. She inspired me to dip back into dyeing wool with food coloring, since a mostly purple poncho was something she dearly wished for! I need to see if I can figure out where the miniskirt that went with her dashiki went, or if I can't find it, would be easy enough to replace. (and maybe some love beads, or a peace sign pendant, when I get around to making some tinyfolk accessories)

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It has been rather a while since I read the Wildwood Chronicles, and I'm going to put the hardcopies on hold at the library. I want to reread the books before the Laika stop motion film is due to come out next year. Here is a link to the smallest tiny teaser of animation

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~ a taste of what hope feels like ~

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July SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 tiny knit vests	cleaned keyboard	recycle bin
2	tiny cargo pants	pruned grapevine	yard waste bin
3	very smol Birks	horses blouse	recycle bin
4	silkworm print	some more pruning	yard waste bin
5	4 reversible skirts	even more pruning	-
6	Peach tinyprint	x	x
7	8 tiny tops	x	x
8	2 tiny cardigans	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. back in the 80's (before suitcases had wheels) I was living with Mark in Seattle, and one year he gave me a clever folding luggage cart. I used it often on trips, and just took it from the utility closet to use it to move the big planter pot with the tomato from the porch into the side yard near the clothesline. There is no easy way I could have carried the planter, and wheels and leverage make everything easier. Grateful for a gift of a Useful Tool that's still working well almost 40 years later!
2. The tomato plant appears to be surviving the move to the side yard.
3. Just saw some pictures on Instagram of another Free Little Art Gallery in St Johns, that I will have to track down where it is! More inspiration to build my own!! Apparently it isn't just a PDX thing, as I found a site with links all over the world...

Time of Isolation - Day 1478