Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine does small tasks...

The kitchen is a little bit cleaner, some more things have been put away, or discarded (including some science experiments from the back of the wee fridge). The vegetable steamer now has three solidly attached new legs made of hardware bits. I found the former Italian painted steel breadbox  and am considering turning it into a (temporary?) studio apartment for one or more of the tinyfolk, providing I can find a spot to set it up. 

※※※

~ rabbit rabbit rabbit ~

welcome to December! With luck my month of awful annoying admin tasks will also include abundant small delights. At least I know that each day will begin with opening a tiny "Advent Of A Better Year in 2026" treat. This first morning, there was a ¾" maneki neko bell in drawer #1...

※※※

~ ninja cat of double protection ~

>The internets suggest that right paw up attracts good fortune, left paw up attracts customers, and both paws raised is for luck, household protection, and prosperity, as does the black coat color (instead of the usual tri-color coat) May we all share our good luck throughout the coming year...

※※※

Did two of the most pressing admin phone calls today, will do more of them tomorrow. The person I spoke with about the insurance denial was very reassuring, and gave me some additional numbers to call; apparently the denial is only of one "line item", not the entire ER visit. She couldn't figure out what was denied, hence there will be more phone calls.

※※※

Ursel came by after work to pick up her Advent swap box, and we had a bit of a porch visit even though it was after dark. Then I had another idea for more tiny trinkets for next year - "No Face" ornaments from Spirited Away. I saw a Halloween garland online made from polymer clay and an old tee shirt, but cutting more egg carton ovals and painting them, and using some thin black silk or rayon should work well. Time to experiment!

※※※

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 -
- TIL that Thai fish sauce does not need to be refrigerated, which saves space in my always crowded tiny fridge.
- the hardware store had the right stainless steel bits to continue fixing the vegetable steamer, available singly from the drawers, so could buy just exactly the number of parts needed for the repair
- being able to send a PDF to the local library, then ride over and have them print it out. Knitting the shrew will be eversomuch easier from hardcopy!
- my wonderful shadowbox Advent calendar...

Time of Isolation - Day 1983

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine has a tiny glimmer of creativity ...

※※※

~ pebble kittens ~

Sometimes I bring home the small flat pebbles found while out and about on my walks. With the addition of a little bit of acrylic paint and  protected with matte Mod Podge, now there are a half dozen kittens no bigger than my thumbnail, to add to my collection of things for the "Advent of a Better Year" swap that I'm coordinating for the third time later this year. Hope that some folks will want to join in for the first time or return again for the fun. Contributions due in October, swap mailing in November, open a gift a day all December!

※※※

managed to successfully deal with Mt Dishmore and with Mt Washmore today. The counters have no more dirty dishes, and the piled high dishrack will be emptied and everything put away tomorrow morning. It remains a neverending source of amazement that two days of cookery means that it is necessary to bring out the folding table to be an accommodating scullery spot. And the only gift of hot sunny weather is that laundry on the line dries really quickly; would that folding and putting away was as effortless!

※※※
  

July SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Raven scroll	6 prs Beth pants	recycle bin
2	black floral scarf	prune² Wanda plum	greenwaste bin
3	4 jars strawberry- rhubarb preserves	mulch peartrees	greenwaste bin
4	sunblock mitts	Eames top	greenwaste bin
5	catch tarp for porch	filter box legs	recycle bin
6	mini 3D plant stand	new house roof	greenwaste bin
7	7 pebble kittens	defrost chest freezer	recycle bin
8	x	repair garden hose	persimmon prunings
9	x	right eyeglass temple	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- seeing a total eclipse seven years ago
- seeing the northern lights several times
- a house full of art supplies

Time of Isolation - Day 1835

weekend whatevers

in which our plucky heroine wakes up early...

... since apparently the fence near the bedroom window is now a favored spot for a hungry young crow alarm clock.  There were other birds to be seen in the yard as well, once I was dressed and out and about: a pair of hummingbirds darted away from the hardy fuschia when I opened the front door, and the drumming high on the electric pole was probably a downy woodpecker (identification assist by pal Karen, as well as time spent looking up bird sites online - downy woodpeckers are more common in neighborhoods, hairy woodpeckers more common in woodlands)

※※※

~ rainbow snake bench ~

For the most part, Tri-Met has removed much of the former seating and shelter infrastructure from bus stops over the last howevermany years. I was delighted to find this privately created bench at one of the local stops. Neatly placed in a sometimes shady niche between two shrubs, and with enough visiblity to be able to see the bus coming, it brightened my day.

※※※

The new roof was completed in one long day on Thursday, and the project manager came by on Friday to do a final walk through and collect the balance due on the job. He brought a hardcopy folder with all the relevant paperwork, and a folder with the various colors of shingles, as I had asked for an actual sample to help when choosing future paint colors (I'll put the chosen "Silverwood" sample in the housey files, but not save all the rest) I had him check in the attic as well, to make sure that there was no damage to the heat pump ducts, and that the solar vent fan was working. Indeed, apparently the attic temperature was noticeably lower than the previous week, so the new fan and vents are working as intended!

※※※

Ann Wood, of  the"Tiny Rag Doll" pattern, and "Miss Thistle Society" has shared a charming new tutorial for a miniature wheelbarrow! I think my tinyfolk and their Mud Bay pals may both need this addition to their abode and environs. (Now to find a local source for ditalini pasta...)

※※※

Yesterday was dedicated to an attempted adventure, which saw our plucky heroine visiting not one but two libraries. First was a trip to Midland, near the late lamented Fabric Depot. The surrounding area seems to be further deteriorated than when I was last there years ago, but Midland Library has been impressively and pleasingly remodeled. More artwork inside and out, a much more welcoming entrance with book display space being what you see first, the information kiosk off to one side rather that seeming like a barrier... I was there to meet up with local SCA scribal folks who were having a paint charters activity all day in one of the newly remodeled meeting rooms.
 
I was already rather hungry (having forgotten to eat breakfast) so I picked up a few charters to take home with me and headed out towards my next destination. Unfortunately, the Burgerville formerly across the street from the bus stop was gone. Two more legs of the transit journey and I was only a few blocks from the Albina Library, which was having a weekend long reopening celebration. Fortunately, there was a Vietnamese cafe on the corner, and a bahn mi sandwich made for an excellent brunch option. 

The newly remodeled library was quite crowded with folks and families, and there were all sorts of activities in the various meeting rooms, the central open air courtyard, and even a photo opportunity in the central hallway. It was rather a bit much for my reclusive self, but I did want to attend the program on 3D printing in one of the meeting rooms, so I did my best to endure. The space itself is full of light and art, and would surely be a treat to explore if when not quite as crowded. 

I was most impressed by how the designers integrated the gender-neutral barrier-free bathroom zone. A hallway open on each end with one side of the hallway having  individual room cubicles with solid floor to ceiling doors, the accessible one with the same kind of pushbutton opening as outside doors have. The hand washing station was on the opposite wall with one long sink with three sets of soap, water, and air dry automatic spigots. Maybe a funny thing to have noticed, but careful universal access is rare.

※※※

Defrosting the chest freezer is a time consuming though not difficult job, ideally done once a year. That doesn't always happen. But, since my good neighbors lent me their large cooler to keep drinks cold for the roofing crew and said I could borrow it all weekend, it seems a propitious time to tackle the task. It took over an hour to transfer the contents into temporary storage, both of my (smaller) coolers,the larger borrowed one, and two styrofoam boxes. A fan running facing into the disconnected chest freezer will help loosen the ice layer around the upper half; it forms from the moisture that enters when the lid is lifted, the lower half of the freezer box remains clear. This is also the ideal time to pull the entire thing away from the wall, vacuum and mop the floor behind and around where it usually is located.

※※※

July SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Raven scroll	6 prs Beth pants	recycle bin
2	black floral scarf	prune² Wanda plum	greenwaste bin
3	4 jars strawberry- rhubarb preserves	mulch peartrees	greenwaste bin
4	sunblock mitts	Eames top	greenwaste bin
5	catch tarp for porch	filter box legs	recycle bin
6	x	new house roof	x
7	x	defrost chest freezer	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- library taxes making a difference
- large cooler borrowed from neighbors
- a pleasantly grey day
- rereading SuperSupportive is being just as good as the first time

Time of Isolation - Day 1826

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine does many small chores...

Including another day with laundry outside drying. While it wasn't one of the sunny cold winter days, there was so little precipitation by afternoon that it seemed worth doing the next load of laundry and hanging it outside in the dampish wind. Tomorrow should be a bit sunnier, and I figure that taking advantage of Useful Weather is all to the good, and any remaining garment dampness can come indoors and live on the drying racks overnight. This never would have worked ten or twenty years ago, but as overall the climate shifts weirdly, this less rainy winter is allowing me to forgo a tumble dryer, for now at least...

※※※

That was handy! On Saturday, the utility bill I had left hanging from the mailbox here to be picked up by the postie blew out from under the lid and into a puddle. Which I found on the front walkway not too long afterwards. Too soggy to put out to be mailed, I brought it indoors to dry it out and try and flatten it, and by today, it was in good enough shape to attempt to mail it again. This time I decided to hand carry it to the post office. But while I was walking in that direction, I saw a different postie making his deliveries, so when our paths intersected, I asked if I could simply hand the stamped bill to him instead! Much easier. And he turned out to be our former postie, who remembered me, and also told me the location of two other functional drop boxes closer to home than the post office!

※※※

Yesterday, a Talenti tub of rhubarb and one of strawberries came out of the freezer and into a pot on the stove to thaw. Added a cup and a half of sugar, the zest of two blood oranges, and a good sprinkle of Ceylon cinnamon. By the morning, the sugar had drawn out a lot of juice from the now thawed fruit, and it was time to simmer it for a while. After breakfast, the prepared sauce had the juice of one lemon added, and was funneled into a widemouth pint jar and processed for ten minutes (there was a bit extra, which is now in the fridge for spooning over some Greek yogurt tomorrow)

※※※

~ baby pear tree ~
.

Urban Forestry sent me a query about the replacement tree, planted as a requirement of the removal permit. Photos of the new tree were sent in, and I hope my effort is acceptable.

※※※

My desktop receipt caddy, that sits on the shelf next to the laptop had gotten terribly muddled, probably due to my less than useful tendency to just shove the paper strips in any old which way... so today they all came out and were put back into neat categories as they ought be, and I made small labels for each of the compartments. (that brown packaging paper from my Lee Valley order is handy for all sorts of things)

※※※

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	recycle bin
3	heartfelt ornament	turtleneck collar	-
4	dragon garland	laptop drivers	-
5	strawberry rhubarb sauce	rainbow fibulae	-
6	x	bucket handle	-
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. blood oranges, both as an ingredient and as a tasty snack
2. a helpful postie
3. really good chicken soup with rice, all made from leftovers in the fridge: the broth from leg bones from former meals, a bit of rice from what I cooked for spinach rice bake, bok choi from yesterday, and the last of the chicken leg meat.

Time of Isolation - Day 1684

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine does chores...

With one eye on the various weather websites, it seemed an ideal day to do laundry, being (comparatively) mild, sunny, and even a bit breezy. When I put the clothing and kitchen towels out on the line in the backyard, I could actually see the moisture evaporating! Later in the evening, the thinner kitchen tea towels were even dry, and most all else will likely be dry by morning, even the heavy flannel shirts and pinafores.

※※※

~ world keeps turning ~

not sure if all three of the narcissus bulbs are going to flower, but this one is, adding a heady scent to a corner of the kitchen.

※※※

the "Small Art Exchange - Spring 2025" idea I shared seems to have touched the right spot, as there are already fifteen folks that probably want to play along. This will be such fun!

※※※

Today was so sunny and mild that I took a walk to Walgreens to attempt a better passport photo than what I got from FedEx, which was just dreadful... well, the new one is somewhat less scary anyway. Eyebrows helped, a little. Not much I can do about not being particularly photogenic, but normally my personal style is such that the overall look is pleasing, remove all that and the result is more "mug shot" than "urban hobbit". Still, the task is accomplished now...

※※※

There were still some turkey thighs at the store,  so I got two, one to freeze and one to bone and brine to cook later in the week. AND they had some 18/egg cartons for under $6!! I got a carton to try freezing eggs in the silicone cupcake liners, since my silicone cubes are as much a failure to unmold as the ice cube tray was.

Also, adding salt to the stirred eggs is problematic, even the little bit added made them noticeably salty, which is not a treat. Eleanor de Bolton says that just stirring the yolk and white together is enough, so I will try that. Maybe do science and try some plain, some with sugar, and some with salt? It occurs to me that the salt would be less obvious in a recipe with other constituents, such as a quiche or casserole, as opposed to scrambled eggs, which I normally do not salt before eating.

※※※

January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blood orange marmalade	bike headlamp	yard waste bin
2	-	passport photo	recycle bin
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. sun and wind at just the right time
2. Small Art Exchange is something folks want to do
3. Ursel may come by tomorrow for a porch visit.
4. the store had turkey thighs, and 18/egg cartons under $6!!

Time of Isolation - Day 1635

wishful Wednesday

in which our plucky heroine is mightily weary from all the assorted things going sideways...

Though compared to most of the world, life here at Acorn Cottage is still pretty functional. So rather than just live a whingeful life, I do my best to remember to pay attention to what is good.

And it was lovely this morning to see sunlight shining through Karla's blue glass bottle borders, setting her front garden all aglow. That makes two days now where the first things were a pleasure, irregardless of all the rest.

※※※

~ day 18 ~

Today's tiny gift is a stone heart of several colors, mostly grey, with a few spots of darker blue-grey and white, not sure if it is granite or sodalite, but it makes me think there must be a tale attached to it...

※※※

Somehow, either through an update or through accidentally touching the phone in a wrong way or wrong spot, all the bookmarks on my Firefox are now scrambled. It appears to have nabbed some from the past that I had discarded, and my former folders are interleaved with those, and upside down in order, with their internal contents also upside down in order. Bah. I suppose I could take the time to rebuild my bookmark files, in some of that "copious free time" I have heard tell of.

※※※

Part of today was sunny, and when I woke and saw sunshine through the bedroom curtains, I leapt up and put the laundry up to wash. A bit later in the day, I tried out my (new) cross the backyard drying lines, first setting up the tall multiple shepherds hook plant hanger to support the center of the two longest lines.

It worked wonderfully, as hanging the wash in the sunshine as well as the outside air does make a difference. I also used the metal clothespins that Acantha gave me, and they are great!

By the time it started to drizzle a bit in the afternoon, the laundry was more than halfway dry, so I brought it indoors to hang up in various spots around the house. The tea towels and small bits go on the big drying rack above the laundry zone, the long janes hang on extensible rods inside the bath, and socks hang on the octopus rack inside the furnace closet. Everything will be dry by tomorrow and can be put away...

※※※

In the last five years, at least four bicycle repair shops in North Portland have shut their doors. I am not sure that there are any more at all on this side of the peninsula. Why is this relevant? Because today while I was out riding, I noticed something "not right" with my trusty bike, and intermittent repeating "drag" on the rear wheel. I suspect it is out of true at the very least, but I don't really know. And I now need to find someplace I can access, to take it to get a diagnosis and repair.

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	rainbow cowl tassels	more clothesline	recycle bin
2	85 origami squares	cardboard down	random book parts
3	heraldic potholders	set up paperwhites	recycle bin
4	-	grey linen pinafore	yard waste bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. metal clothespins from Acantha work really well, as do my new drying lines, and using plant hooks to support the lines.
2. blue glass garden borders are beautiful in the morning sun.
3. almost finished with making a rolled hem on my water conservation district bandanna... once completed, I can overdye the caution yellow with blue, to create teal, which will be much nicer to wear and coordinate with my clothing.

Time of Isolation - Day 1617

crashings and bashings

in which our plucky heroine uses her little sledgehammer...

While most of today was fairly productive, part of today was rather destructive! I have not been sure what to do with the remainders of the former ceiling light fixture from the kitchen. There was a metal strip, and a large textured plastic piece, both too long to fit in the wheelie bin. Then I thought to copy how M had bent the largest metal piece in half with a hammer. It was easy to dent the metal strip enough to bend it in half, making it a legal size to dispose of. Next, by laying the plastic diffuser atop the burden cloth, then covering it with some scrap denim so no sharp bits went flying, I was able to fairly quickly bash it enough that it was reduced to bin size shards. Now there is a bit less garbage in my side yard.

※※※

~ mutual aid ~

Yesterday Gersvinda stopped by here on her way down to Corvallis to pick up a small packet of gifties I had been saving up to send to Acantha, who had messaged me earlier to ask if I could use any of the excess garden bounty from points south. I said yes to some winter squash and onions, maybe a small cabbage, and a definite yes to orchard apples... All of which are visible in the photo. Unsprayed orchard apples can be buggy, but with the funky parts cut away, there will be some good applesauce made from that 5 gallon bucket full to put into storage.

There are also a few unseen medlars, which I mistook for small onions until I pulled them out of the bottom of the box. Dealing with them will be an interesting experiment. The bright blue things are silicone fermentation airlocks, and there are also some of the good heavy glass weights to go along with. I had been wanting to try again at making fermented condiment(s), and now I have some spiffy tools to use! Very grateful for the generosity of my friends!!

※※※

Being tired of wrestling with the lid to the 5 gallon sugar bucket, the search was on for a Gamma lid (those clever constructions that snap onto the bucket rim and have an airtight inner lid that screws on and off). After much searching online (no, I don't want the cheaper off brand version with the bad reviews), finally found them at TAP Plastic, and took some time off this afternoon to go pick one up. It was a beautiful autumnal afternoon to be out and about running errands, and I managed to time it to avoid the "schools out" transit rush...

※※※

While it was still light after dinner, I spent some time with the string trimmer tidying up the parking strip and along the front sidewalk. Then did as much cleanup of the dead stalks of walking onion as I could bear to do, until my knees and back were screaming too much for me to continue. (almost done with that task). After sweeping up the grass remnants and gathering the stalks, all that went into the greenwaste bin. As a change of position, I did a bit of pruning away of the vertical growth on the persimmon tree. The green wheelie bin was full and my back was done!  at least for today... Still, it was a very productive few hours. If it isn't raining tomorrow, I will dig out the second extension cord and try to do some string trimming on the south side of the house.

※※※

October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	ScribeTober 1	removed frost	yard waste bin
2	blue wolf enamel	prune persimmon	old light crap
3	shibori scarf	tidy walking onions	recycle bin
4	robin and holly acorn cap ornaments	string trim parking strip	yard waste bin
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. amazing generous mutual aid produce delivery, from Acantha via Gersvinda, showed up on my porch this morning! (also included fermentation airlocks and glass weights!!)
2. I managed to get some yard work done today
3. by the afternoon, it had turned into a sunny day, which meant the laundry on the line was able to dry...

Time of Isolation - Day 1550

antici-pation

in which our plucky heroine does a fair amount of what has been being put off...

Most effortfully, but still in plenty of time, I cleared away all the detritus that has been collecting on the futon and the tables in my lonely guest room, that mostly functions these days as the spare room holding my textile supplies, the shelves of fabrics, the boxes of yarn, and the assorted containers of notions. Later tonight my friends Elanor and Elisabeth will arrive, and need a place to lay their weary heads to sleep, in a bed that doesn't contain pieces of cardboard, bundles of fabric scraps, or a pair of burned out fluorescent tubes. Sorting and culling the textiles is a different task for a different day, but there is a cleared futon, cleared floor space for stacking their bags, and nightstand space on either side of the bed, with extension cords for charging devices.

※※※

~ better this time ~

"Scone for one", made for brunch today. This turned out much improved from the only previous time I tried the recipe, probably since I now have a somewhat less venerable tin of baking powder! I'd already started eating, then thought to take a photo before the rest of the scone disappeared entirely. The last of the soaked-in-port dried persimmon bits (sitting in a jar in the back of the fridge, leftover from holiday baking), used instead of sultanas or currants to enrich it, worked a treat.

※※※

A week ago I ordered a skein of black Lettelopi to finish the borders on the stripey sleeve cardigan, and it was waiting in the mailbox this morning. I guess I know what my handwork project will be this weekend, while attending online meetings.

※※※

Almost done with the sashiko embroidery of the fish and the water... while I was tidying the guest space, I also gathered a few pieces of fabric into a pile that may end up being suitable for the indigo cardigan jacket. And I didn't let myself get distracted into searching out the box(es) of other more special indigo fabrics. That will come later. For some reason I seem to have a modicum of executive function today... unlike usual....

※※※

February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Jedi tabard	wall storage bathroom	recycle bin
2	5 jars marmalade	wall storage utility	recycle bin
3	tiny camel print	dark of night neckline	recycle bin
4	superb owl traybox	3 separating zippers	drywall mud
5	grey acorn brooch	bathroom access hatch	recycle bin
6	pinch pouch	wool pinafore	x
7	wooly bear brooch	Goran Laurel	x
8	teal acorn brooch	plunger hook	x
9	dark Pelican enamel	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. TIL that it is much easier to put eyedrops in while lying down. Why have I never thought of this, in all my years of standing with my head awkwardly tilted backwards attempting to align my eye with the dropper? Last night I remembered to put the ampule on the nightstand, thinking that way I could apply it when I first awoke. Not only did that make my first moments in the morning less painful, but the process was so much less fraught with user error. The drops went in my eyes, and my neck remained reasonable aligned with my body...
2. My friends "the aunties" are going to visit here for almost 24 hours (before heading onwards to the SCA event this weekend). They are on their way here right now!
3. The scone was so good, and so easy!!

Time of Isolation - Day 1336

restored to wholeness

in which our plucky heroine has been running errands, doing chores, and getting some backlog work done...

two loads of laundry washed, dried, and put away, ordered and picked up prescription refills, called gas company re their compulsory meter upgrade timing (which will entail removing both rainwater barrels, sigh and alas), a trip to medical land, and suchlike, as well as time spent in the workroom enameling

※※※

~ "all better" ~

Back in 2014 I made this SCA Laurel medallion for a dear friend, and last year the regalia (though thankfully not my friend) had an unfortunate accident and was cracked on some concrete. Enamel, being glass fused to metal, can last for centuries, but like any glass, can be damaged by impact. While I learned long ago to not attempt to repair other people's enamel work, every part of this pendant was the work of my own hands, so I knew well all the materials and techniques used, and could safely do all that was needed to make it whole again.

When I removed the cloisonne enamel cabochon from the setting, even more of the red background cracked and fell away. This often happens after stress fractures in the glass. Fortunately I still have some of the same red enamel originally used, and a day in front of the kiln and at my workbench saw the piece restored to wholeness once again.

※※※

I was really happy with how the "what to do with the leftover salmon" option I came up with... adding some mashed potato and long cooked onion leftovers turned the salmon into something that was easy to make into patties... one on a plate with Dubliner melted over the top was Just Right, and the other went into the freezer to become future meals.

The frozen meatloaf patties I made earlier work just as I had hoped to become an easy dinner on nights I am working. Cooked slowly over the simmer burner on the stove, it gradually browned on the outside as the interior thawed and cooked. Some zucchini chunks were also cooking in the little convection oven, and so all I needed to do way to take a break from my workbench every 15 minutes or so, stir the veg, and turn the meat, and dinner was done with minimal effort on my part.

※※※

The cardigan project is, at this point, about halfway done... Earlier this week I ordered a skein of black Lettlopi for the cardigan trim bands, which will be the last remaining part of the body before I start in on the striped sleeves. That skein of yarn will be the only one purchased specifically for this project, as all the rest are from my box of assorted Icelandic wool, much of which is leftover from previous knitting. I'd hoped to use the "black sheep heather" color wool for those edge bands, but there just wasn't enough contrast with the chocolate wool of the body. I keep looking at the original inspiration bolero photo that inspired my project for ideas, though my own cardigan has strayed substantially from that spark...

Once that yarn arrives, I will refer again to two different YouTube tutorials on applied I-cord: This one is a little clearer on where to pick up the stitches and how to turn corners, and this one is a little clearer about how to pick up more than one stitch at a time, and a particularly good way to do the decrease portion of the I-cord.

Before I knit the stripey sleeves, I'll use the suggestion of my pal Leslie, and test stripe color patterns by winding various yarns onto a piece of cardboard, taking a snapshot, and then simply unwinding it and trying several different assorted options. Much less troublesome than actually knitting samples.

※※※

February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Jedi tabard	wall storage bathroom	recycle bin
2	5 jars marmalade	wall storage utility	recycle bin
3	tiny camel print	dark of night neckline	recycle bin
4	superb owl traybox	3 separating zippers	-
5	grey acorn brooch	bathroom access hatch	-
6	pinch pouch	wool pinafore	x
7	wooly bear brooch	Goran Laurel	x
8	teal acorn brooch	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. more partially prepped meals in the freezer: salmon patties, and meatloaf patties have made cooking dinner this week much easier. I need to do more of this kind of preparation.
2. I am not dead, mostly due to my own quick reflexes and decent situational awareness... While on my way to the bus stop after my medical appointment, I was walking across the street in a crosswalk, with the correct light and all the other drivers stopped when a delivery driver came careening through the intersection without stopping. I jumped backwards and screamed. The truck came close enough to me that I felt the wind of their passage; had I been one of those folks who look at their phones instead of their surroundings, I would have died. The adrenaline was such that I totally neglected to get their license plate number...
3. There was enough bead cable to restring the necklace that goes with the repaired Laurel regalia...

Time of Isolation - Day 1332

a sigh of relief...

in which our plucky heroine catches her breath...

Today was a better day as far as getting information about mom... I am now on the list of folks that get text messages from her hospice nurse, so there was a message today of how the vital signs are all within her normal range, as well as a very cheering photo of Mom smiling. Plus today Sister Gigi and I were able to have the delayed video chat with her, and she (Mom) was more interactive than she had been for a while. There was even one or two actual sentences of more than one word.

Such are the tiny victories we grasp and cherish. Perhaps since she is now on thickened liquids (difficulty swallowing is a sign of physical ongoing decline) the increased hydration will help her overall well being. It does my heart good to see her though, needs must on video, and today's "visit" showed me a flash of Mom still there, somewhere inside her tangled neurons

※※※

It was so cold and blustery today that I was thinking a cozy dinner of meatloaf, mashed potato, and cooked greens would be just the thing. I found this one person meatloaf recipe and it turned out wonderfully; the only modification I made was to add about a little less than a half teaspoon of gelatin along with the other dry seasonings, and to use my own homemade awesome sauce for the glaze. It made enough for two meals...

※※※

I cleaned the louvered doors of the utility closet, both the fronts and the back sides. (the backs of the louvers never show, when the doors open they are folded to the inside) Those inner sides were quite extremely thick with dust, as they had been untouched since I moved here (clears throat... nineteen years ago); in places the dust was too solidified to be vacuumed away, so application of cleaning spray bottle and dustcloth, and in some corner spots q-tips did the trick. To my defense I point out that unless one purposefully detaches the doors from their guide track, there is no access to their inner sides...

※※※

~ something new ~

Somehow when the weather turns wintery, I am once again filled with the desire to knit.... This project has been an on again off again change it up and start over again one for a long time. When I realised I had again miscalculated the dimensions and the gauge, I could only toss it back into the box of yarn for a while.

But then I took out my copy of Twisted Stitch Sourcebook with the thought that adding some panels to the body and neck edges would be a great way to salvage all the knitting. The body, knit crossways, already had several vertical panels of double moss stitch aka box stitch along with the garter stitch, so some additional varied texture would seem intentional.

I had never actually tried the twisted stitch technique before, but it turned out simpler to do than I imagined. It helped that I chose a four stitch eight row motif, but I am well on the way to making single and doubled panels to either stitch in place, or in the case of the center back, steek and then stitch in place. At this rate, I will be able to start on the stripey sleeves before too long - once I design the multicolor stripe patterning. It will be a joy play with colored pencils, and turn some of the skeins of Lettlopi into a good wardrobe component.

※※※

I've an idea to turn the shrunken wool pinafore into a long wintertime vest. It was accidentally run through the laundry quite a few years ago, and at knee length is too short to serve as a pinafore. If, however, it were split down the center front and the raw edges bound, and some kind of buttons or toggles were used to fasten the front... that would be a rather quick and easy way to add yet more useful warmth to my everyday life. I might even be tempted to add some embroidery. 

※※※

February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Jedi tabard	wall storage bathroom	recycle bin
2	5 jars marmalade	wall storage utility	recycle bin
3	tiny camel print	dark of night neckline	-
4	superb owl traybox	3 separating zippers	-
5	grey acorn hat trim	bathroom access hatch	-
6	pinch pouch	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. a warm dinner on a cold day: homemade meatloaf glazed with Awesome Sauce, cooked greens, and homemade mashed Yukon Gold potato.
2. I did manage to get outside for a while just to take a walk. And while it wasn't the most pleasant day out, I didn't get wet, and there are a few yards where unknown trees are starting to flower, and here and there some parking strips have bright crocuses flowering. Get some crocus bulbs for next year??
3. Leslie very sweetly shared a number of pages on the Discord about how to take care of rhubarb. Apparently from what I read, I have been doing it all wrong all along! It wants lots of sunshine, and lots of rich well drained soil... I may try transplanting the poor thing yet again, this time into a big planter pot in the sunshine, with lots of compost and worm manure mixed in...

Time of Isolation - Day 1324

tinyprint Tuesday and a great big ouch

in which our plucky heroine planned a bizzy day...

Since the forecast is well above my comfort zone, I chose to do the outdoor chores as early as I had a chunk of time for, and intended to do the indoor tasks from after lunch into the too warm evening...

But instead, my goldarned SI joint has decided to once again secede from my body, now causing me rather a lot of pain. I don't know if it was Too Much time using the string trimmer, or just sitting or standing wrong, or coming indoors after almost an hour of working vigorously outside as it got hotter and hotter, and not being able to continue movement after that, or what... most of the time I never know, (though it has been over a year since my body did this thing, which was at that time caused by the dreadful airplane seats).  I hate how pain makes the world get really small. I may need to visit the acupuncturist, if this does not abate, in the hope of getting some modicum of relief. I miss having the closed down city pool available. I will always miss that.

※※※

~ 100 days of printmaking - day 37 ...~

Tinyprint Tuesday - Today I began on the wee little book "F is for fun" which will have five very small prints: fan, feather ,fire, fox, and fungus. This fox print is just a bit larger than ¾" square. In carving this one I learned that I really do not prefer the soft grey carving media, at least not for such small pieces, the hard grey lino is much better suited. I do have a few other types of the soft media leftover from other projects, and it will be useful to do a trial to see if there are others that work better. Since the purpose of the 100 day printmaking project is to learn...

※※※

Yesterday I dropped one of the pyrex custard cups into the full pan of dishwashing, which broke a large chip off the rim of one of my favorite  handmade breakfast bowls. I am hoping to use epoxy to repair it, which has worked and held up well in the past on other special ceramics. =Depending on where the broken part is, and in this case the break is right on the outside of the outer edge of the rim, the bowl can be supported in a larger bowl full of rice, and the chip ends up being held in place by gravity while the epoxy cures. Wish me luck...

※※※

Yay for me. I just spent over three quarters of an hour doing yardwork. Did about a quarter of the needed string trimming down the "hayfield" that is the backyard currently. And cut back a fair amount of the overgrown feral roses and Feral Grapevine. Anyone who knows me at all well knows that I truly LOATHE doing yardwork, hence the yay...

I was shamed into actually going outside in the sunshine to do this because nice neighbor boy, who I paid last year to do the string trimming, sent me a text asking if I needed help... which isn't the best of motivators, but since I want to spend those funds on the visit my mom instead of on the yard grass, I girded loins, covered up from top to toe, masked, and started doing the thing. Best estimate it will take me another week to get the rest of the front and back yard dealt with.

※※※

June SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	some quilt squares	tea rose temperature	rose and grapevines
2	-	partial backyard mown	some grass
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Most of the time, I can move without pain. Just not today.
2. I managed to find the ceramic chip in the sink, so I can attempt repairing the cereal bowl
3. It feels like I am making progress on the care tasks and on my work tasks

a bird list for Kestrel: House Finch, Scrub Jay, Crow, Dark Eyed Junco, Starlings, Peacocks.

Time of Isolation - Day 1081

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine sneezes a lot...

This afternoon I managed to gird my loins and go string trim the front yard, which was dreadfully shaggy. Unfortunately I forgot to wear my mask, which in addition to protection from other humans, is very good at protecting me from botanical irritants and allergens. Including fresh cut grass and assorted detritus, which was the bane of my youth and remains so to this day. But, at least I no longer have the yard of shame, I have exchanged it for the extremely shaky hands and arms in aftermath...

※※※

~ 100 days of printmaking ~

Day 1 - This seemed like an easy start to my new 100 day challenge... picked back up a project long on hold and partially completed... These are 2" square lino blocks, mostly motifs based on concrete block, that are intended for an overall textile pattern. I spent my 15 minutes finishing up the carving on the block with all the small circles.

I originally saw the appealing surface design on some OOP quilting cotton several years ago, and since I couldn't purchase the fabric, decided I would carve some blocks instead. I plan on using them to print a summery headscarf, once I finish carving the final block.

※※※

I've been trying to track down the kinds of wonderful small nylon gizmos notions that were so easy to acquire at the late lamented Rose City Textiles. In part since I now have a backup pair of shoes, which need backup elastic laces with cord locks and tabs, and in part since Maeva asked if I could make her a hat like the nifty one they found for Kestrel, which has all sorts of clever hardware.

※※※

Fruit tree flowers in my yard:  quince and plum and apple, oh my!...
. .

※※※

Today I learned how to make this nifty twist top folding box... the first step towards one of my goals, which is learning how to make a Chinese Thread Box aka Zhen Xian Bao

※※※

May SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	-	front yard mowed	-
2	-	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. New extension cord works well for front yard weed whacking
2. The University of YouTube let me learn new papercraft
3. There was just enough of the grey canvas leftover from my chore coat to cut out the pieces to make a new grey hat!

Time of Isolation - Day 1048

you snooze you lose

in which our plucky heroine realises that she should have called earlier...

My stalwart bicycle needs a tune-up, and a number of parts replaced (new brake pads, a new rear tire, and a new chain), and my trusted local-ish bike shop is no longer in business. There is another good shop further away, so I called this morning to find out how far in advance I need to make a work appointment. Turns out that at least two weeks ahead or more (probably due to the sudden heat and sunshine wave we have had; today will be close to 90 F). I should have phoned in last week, when I first figured out that the strange sound I was hearing when I stopped was caused by my rear brake pads being completely worn down! Now I will have to wait until next week to find a way to get it over there to be looked at during their "intake hours".

※※※

~ 100 day stitch book project - day 99 ~

Day 99/100 (page 20) - Decided that simple outline embroidery for the fox would work, as long as I chose a less busy background, so I picked out a scrap of very pale blue tinted linen. This allowed the additional benefit of simply holding it and my sketch up to the window as an informal light box, in order to pencil in the outline of the motif. I'll be finishing up the embroidery, cutting out the tall archway shape and stitching it to the page on day 100, and then it is on to actually assembling the book!

※※※

Mt Dishmore has been undergoing geological uplift, and I need to spend a fair amount of time on excavation of the kitchen countertop... this being a direct result of my actually cooking meals...

※※※

"Sunday Night With The Scribes", which I occasionally visit, had a Zoom workshop on "Diapering, The Prayerbook of Besozzo" last week. I was so very charmed by the source material, which has floral diaper patterns unlike any I have seen, that I tracked it down on Alibris, where I found a very inexpensive used copy. Said copy just arrived today, and truly, I cannot find whatever flaws caused the seller to mark it as only "Good". It is a small hardback book, not quite a facsimile as at 5 x 7 it is slightly larger than the original, with a velvety green cover embossed with golden floral motifs. I think it will be a good resource for scribal projects, scrolls, or perhaps even for charter designs; I am eager to dive into it.

※※※

The weather today is more like, say, July, than is appropriate for April. I am hiding indoors from the unrelenting sunshine, and the temperature on my porch this early afternoon is over 80F. If I am good, perhaps we can return to seasonal moderation and a bit of kindly overcast, at least for a while. There is drizzle and high 60's in the forecast for late next week, and if I hustle, I just might have a raincoat by then...

※※※

April SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	page 15	taxes done	jars to Mud Bay
2	custom Tullia daypack	shoes painted blue	recycle bin
3	page 16 and 17	shoe elastics transferred	extra plant pots
4	page 18	roses on shoe toeses	yard waste bin
5	page 19	light fixture replaced	grapes to compost
6	x	ferns pruned	yard waste bin
7	x	hardy fuschia pruned	recycle bin
8	x	apple partly pruned	x
9	x	x	x
10	x	x	x
11	x	x	x
12	x	x	x
13	x	x	x
14	x	x	x
15	x	x	x

today's gratitudes - 
1. the hot weather is good for drying clothing on the clothesline
2. book ordered from Alibris arrived safely today
3. there are flowers opening on the Quinceling!

Time of Isolation - Day 1045