finally back...

in which our plucky heroine goes 16 day sans internet ...

It has been a challenging several weeks, with no interaction online other than what I can call up on the mobile phone. Despite my best attempts, "typing" on that tiny screen is not really feasible. So I could check my email, but not really respond, and posting here, which is one of my favorite hobbies, was right out! I did continue with my 100 day drawing project, but with no way until now to access and process images, it will take some time to play catch up taking the photos and sharing my sketches

※※※

~ incremental progress ~

On Monday I desperately needed some dopamine, so finished sanding and drilling the pieces and attached (using wall anchors and long screws) the new clothing storage shelves to the corner of the bedroom wall adjacent to where all my shirts, dresses, and pinafores live. It is a very pleasing addition, highly functional.

※※※

not sure where I read this Useful Hint, but as someone who embroiders on a regular frequent basis, I only just learned that there is a way to pull thread from a skein of DMC floss that removes it smoothly without tangles... The floss skeins have two bands around them with information, one is narrow and one is wide. There is a loose end of the skein at both, but if you pull from long end, you will have a happy experience (if you pull from the other end, you end up with an unholy mess) Given that I have been embroidering for over sixty-five years, living proof that an old dog can learn new tricks!

※※※

We are still planning on sending out postcards of friendship as a non-romantic suedo-valentine activity. I keep thinking of more folks that it will brighten my day to send them a surprise. While some of my bay area pals plan on shipping me some cards and postage, I wanted to make use of the friendship valentine block I carved back in 2020, at the very end of the Before Times...It was fun to swirl and dab watercolors across the "art" side of postcard blanks, and once they were dry, the black ink showed up well and looked festive. I really like the Caligo Safe Wash relief ink. It prints well, doesn't dry out too fast when in use, but took only a few days to cure. All in all a better ink than Speedball IMHO

※※※

After days of wrestling with Century Link's various departments of only rarely sometimes helpful but mostly not support and customer service lines, and spending more of my hours and hours on hold, it began to seem like being caught in sunk cost hell. The result being that the internet here is now being provided not via DSL (the phone line) but via "fiber"...found an option that was only ten dollars more per month, and promises faster data speeds and more reliability. Fingers crossed it isn't just hype, installed on Friday and is working well. Even better, since there was no need to mess with the phone lines, our land line is still functional.

※※※

This morning I decided to head over to Ikea to buy a treat, not remembering that Saturday mornings are a prime shopping time. Fortunately I was there on a specific mission, not for "recreational shopping" , so was in the self checkout line as quickly as possible. Much to my surprise, there was a clerk offering folks free dark chocolate bars (full size large ones, not tiny samples; I guess it was Ikea's way of wishing everybody a sweet Valentines Day!

※※※

February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	plaid flannel shirt	rice bags	greenwaste bin
2	23 postcards	INTERNET!!	recycle bin
3	-	-	greenwaste bin
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	-	x	-
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- finally back online
- free Ikea dark chocolate bar
- learned a way to smoothly remove floss from DMC skeins 

Time of Isolation - Day 2047

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine finishes some things...

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

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

※※※

~ making it easier ~

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

※※※

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

※※※

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

※※※

November SMART goals (x=extra)

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

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

Time of Isolation - Day 1974

Tuesday tidbits

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

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

※※※

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

※※※

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

※※※

~ slightly more subtle ~

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

※※※

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

※※※

November SMART goals (x=extra)

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

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

Time of Isolation - Day 1960

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine has an overall better day...

※※※

~ well begun ~

Given that the size of this block, at 6" x 8", is almost exponentially larger than my miniature book blocks, it is taking longer to carve. Particularly since my wrist is still sore from the weeks of wrangling my bicycle U-lock attempting to get it to unlock. Still, I think that the print will be fun, both to decorate the extended hemline on my indigo tiger popover dress, and it is just the right size to be a "patch" on a future pinafore pocket

※※※

This morning, unlike last week, there was no problem connecting to the Kryptonite customer service, other than an ordinary amount of wait time. Even better, if all goes well they are shipping me a new U-lock! Not sure how long that will take, but it will be wonderful to be able to lock up my bike without worries and without needing to spend the rest of the day rubbing Voltaren anti-inflammation cream on my wrist.

※※※

Am currently listening to the audiobook "The Book of Hope - A Survival Guide for Trying Times" by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams. I very much enjoy hearing books read by their authors, as this one is...Much food for thought, and have only listened to about 20% into the content so far.

※※※

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 -
- knowing that the rainbow snake bench was there made heading out to catch the bus much nicer. Being able to sit down in a shady spot is really nice compared to standing on the concrete sidewalk in the sun.
- being able to nap when tired
- Kryptonite is going to send me a new U-lock
- the 1:12 miniature display shelf (1¼" square) that Sam printed out for me arrived in the mailbox here today. I am eager to find Very Tiny things to decorate it with...

Time of Isolation - Day 1827

triangulation

in which our plucky heroine takes a long journey on transit to a part of the city I've not been to before...

※※※

~ pollinator pals ~

As mentioned on May 1st, the newest addition to the pear posse is the baby Seckel pear from The Portland Fruit Tree Project sale. An early start this morning on the multiple transit transfers to get to outer NE turned out just right, and the bus driver kindly let me off the bus close to the community garden; the bus stops out there are quite far apart. The only person there that early was the church caretaker, who showed me where the garden beds and orchard were, before it was time to actually pick up the tree.

Eventually the folks from the program arrived, and I was able to pick out one of the Seckel pear trees to bring home. It was about the same size as the Baby Shipova from One Green World, so after wrapping the pot in a canvas bag, secured it to the little hand truck which made taking it on and off the bus, and trundling down the sidewalk, much easier than had it needed to be hand carried! A bit more than three hours after leaving Acorn Cottage, it was time to dig a planting hole in the front yard near the other two young trees...

They are each a bit less than two feet away from each other, forming a triangular planting group, that will if all goes well, be pruned to create a cluster of fruiting pear trees in the front yard. Following the instructions in "Grow A Little Fruit Tree, they will be kept short enough to pick from while standing on the ground. Someday, it will be such a treat to be able to pick pears in the front yard, and they will also provide a beautiful transient floral display.

※※※

Long ago, maybe 40 years or so, before luggage had wheels, my then boyfriend Mark gave me a folding luggage hand truck. It is made from steel tubing with handy bungee cords that wrap around bags or bundles to secure them to the frame. Though that relationship didn't last, the trusty wheeled transport has served me well for many years, and is likely to keep trundling on long after I am gone. It safely carried an Ikea flat pack home on transit, though the box was heavy enough that I had to ask the driver to use the lift/ramp. I've taken it camping, and on transcontinental trips, and even to Europe. It is handy for any task where it is easier to let the wheels do the work, and whenever I use it, I never fail to think of Mark and be grateful!

※※※

Not too sweet, not too tart...The kombucha started several weeks ago is just about ready to be strained and bottled up, which means I'll need to make up a new batch of sweetened tea "syrup", and need to wash one of the (currently dusty) Grolsch bottles  so I can store the fermented drink in the fridge. It has been a long time since I last made kombucha, but I look forward to adding a tonic shot glass daily as part of improving my health

※※※

May SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	heraldic fern painted	added pea trellis	greenwaste bin
2	-	planted Seckel pear	recycle bin
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	-	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- my venerable folding luggage hand truck, a gift from Mark something close to forty years ago and still sturdy and functional
- zooming on the phone while walking my bike home.
- after trying three stores, finally found PG Tips at the 4th place I looked.

Time of Isolation - Day 1748

Thursday thoughts, just a little bit

in which our plucky heroine has intentions...

... to generate and maintain forward momentum. "Life is change, how it differs from the rocks"; "little bit further just a little bit more, little bit further than we've gone before...

※※※

~ day 1 ~

Is it ironic to draw colour in pencil? I took my first thought for yesterday's prompt - how "coloured" horses are the ones that have a particular patterning of colour, though by no means the only coat pattern other than solid. In a similar mode to how the 100 day stitch book took form improvisationally, it feels right to go with first thoughts for these drawings. And maybe to go with 100 days of casual drawings would be a good thing for me... today's prompt is "favorite song", and I already know what I want to try and draw.... (Box of Rain)

※※※

I tried going to the art museum. Or rather I managed to go to the art museum, but after maybe ten or fifteen minutes, it was much to much with all the unmasked people. Of course, with there being only 12 free days per month, it will probably be always really crowded, even as it is on a cold soaking wet January day. The "most busy" graph shows that the first hour of the day is the least, so perhaps that would be better to attempt. Would that I could find some appealing and mask-required events or locations here in PDX, sigh...

※※※

Today I stopped at NS on my way home from my attempt to visit PAM. They had regular eggs for $3.99/dozen. I decided to buy an extra dozen and prep them to put in the freezer as a tiny amount of backstock. (It requires mixing in either a little salt or a little sugar to not have the texture of the eggs become difficult to use.) I have yet to try out flaxseed meal instead of eggs for baking, though it is on my list to try this year.

※※※

This is a relief. I've been concerned that for many weeks now, I've had no enthusiasm for reading, or rather, it has been very difficult to find new things to read that draw me in and feel at all worth the time I spend reading. As a lifelong reader for pleasure, this was worrying, particularly since as my mom descended into dementia, she became unable to read. Now, having had to tear myself away from reading all the way through Robin McKinley's "Deerskin" in one galloping gulp of hours, it is apparent to me that the problem is not in my comprehension, but rather in finding books that engage me... Whew!

※※※

Month SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	-	-	yard waste bin
2	-	-	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. I found a new to me book I enjoy reading
2. never get tired of hot running water, I doubt anyone who has lived without it ever would...
3. there were eggs at the store today, at an affordable price. I bought an extra dozen to put in the freezer.

Time of Isolation - Day 1631

cool cats and other artwork

in which our plucky heroine starts a new month...

Today is the first day of "Scribetober", which has a whole month of daily prompts for calligraphy, illuminations, tutorials, and other scribal art fun. I intend to use the month to make at least one 1" square per day of something, to try out different techniques and also incidentally to build up my stock of tiny artworks to share at the various Free Little Art Galleries

Day 1 - a combination of this Zentangle tutorial and "Gem", the tutorial being modified for scale, and with the gemstone being pearls. I decided that the best way to encourage myself to actually do something each day was to start small, so I have cut out 31 pieces that are one inch squares... This one is a combination of .005 Micron pen, gouache paint, and some Finetec "Arabic Gold" metallic color. The metallic paint is really hard to photograph.

※※※

Since Saturday is the free indigo dyeing workshop at Artist and Craftsman Supply, it would be good if I started setting up the piece of linen to do shibori. The last time I tried making anything other than the random rubberband patterns I did last time was probably nine years ago, when making pieces to use for the Japanese kosode for Honor Feast. Time goes by in a flash. I want to make the scarf border using the "horses teeth" pattern, which I think is really pretty. Fortunately I was able to track down the instructions via the Wayback Machine, since many of the links in my older blog posts need that extra help.

※※※

~ cool cats ~

When the new art for this month was posted online, I had to set off immediately for the St Johns Free Little Art Gallery, even though it was almost dusk (I did think to grab my set of bike lights), as last month I waited until the next day and the tiny sculpture I had hoped for was already gone. Of course, I did bring some of my own tiny art bits to trade, and how could I resist this pair of 1" tall portraits? While they are intended as fridge magnets, I will add them as part of the decor for Tansu Terrace, perhaps on either side of the fireplace mantle in the library...

※※※

This morning was a Costco run, with much thanks to a local friend with a car and a membership, which allowed me to replenish my stocks of "loo rolls" and Q-Tips,as well as a few sharp Tillamook bricks, (and a 25# bag of sugar - a year or more supply for making preserves and condiments).  I also picked up a few bags of pecans to store in the freezer for special treats, and impulsively decided to add some vinegar, and a box of shelf stable milk to my haul... I try and get to Costco two or three times a year, for the particular staple items that are worth organising a trip there. The best part is having a chance for a small visit with my friend, which we both enjoy.

※※※

October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Scribtober 1	-	-
2	-	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. a fun drawing tutorial for ScribeTober day one. I have never heard of Zentangle before.
2. getting to have a bit of a visit with Beth when we went to Costco. Plus being able to afford to stock up on various items, and having enough extra dosh to get two unplanned but useful pantry items (milk in a box, and cider vinegar)
3. The Wayback Machine! most of the time I can retrieve images and instructions no longer easy to access. It is a priceless resource!!

Time of Isolation - Day 1541

Wednesday whatnots

in which our plucky heroine navigates the upson downs...

At 4am I ended up posting this online, which in some ways was not the best idea, as reality always looks the most bleak in those wee small hours of o'dark thirty...

"So lonesome waking up in the middle of the night from an adventure dream with friends and allies, in a challenging but not alone dreamland, and now I can't go back to sleep... Sometimes I hate how small my world is now. The metaphorical spaceship voyage of the last four plus years is wearing me down".

It did do my heart good to read the various messages of love and solidarity, when I went back online later in the morning, after finally managing to get back to sleep. I am most certainly not the only one struggling in this new and less delightful world, and together we can find ways to maintain connection and find what is still worthwhile...

※※※

~ ¾" squares ~

Kestrel's three favorite Pokemon characters, drawn small to be stitched on the front of three little tops for her dollhouse folks... Everything is wrapped up and packed and in transit to arrive for the birthday celebration

※※※

September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	origami boxes	recycle bin
4	skirt for Opal	-	yard waste bin
5	cardigan for Opal	-	recycle bin
6	black top for Opal	x	x
7	Pokemon patches	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I cannot find words for how much I am enjoying meeting every Wednesday evening to play Golden Sky Stories with Mischa and Stef...
2. The temperature dropped 30 degrees between yesterday and today. Also, it rained almost all day. I am a much happier camper
3. I managed to get the laundry out on the line yesterday in the awful heat and sun to dry, and I managed to get it inside this morning before the rain started

Time of Isolation - Day 1535

15 pounds of pears

in which our plucky heroine feels grateful to Gersvinda...

Gersvinda returned my fruit picker, along with about half a bucket of tasty pears from the tree at her mother's house. As per the last few years, most of the pears are destined for the dehydrator, to make yummy dried pear slices, though I may have to make a pear tart as well. or something?

※※※

~ plum preparation ~

Today was the first day of plum harvest. I will never not be grateful for the feral plum thicket, and the delicious fruit that recurs without any input from me. Today I realised that the best way to begin picking on a fully laden branch is to start as high up as can be reached, rather than at the bottom, as I had been doing. Since as the fruit is picked, the branch begins to rise as there is less weight, which also makes the lowest plums on the tip easier to reach. D'oh! It will be several days before I have gathered the plums I can access while standing, and then it will be time to deploy the fruit picker for several more feet of reach. Another nice thing about prune plums is how simple they are to process for freezing, all that is needful is to cut in half and pop out the pit; easiest fruit save blueberries...

※※※

The body was no more crankypants than normal at bedtime last night but by the time I returned from my morning bike ride my right leg had become excruciatingly painful. Sort of a combination of SI joint and hip with a tinge of sciatica. I'll rub it with some salve and hope for improvement, since a shower and a nap did no good at all. I hate it feel betrayed am worried when my physiology goes sideways without warning, despite that these sorts of random occurrences have happened to me for years, and despite that this sort of thing is common to most all humans, particularly of a certain age. If it does not improve, it may be acupuncture time. I miss the pool, and being able to do water exercise.

※※※

Despite being rather lame today, the dishes and laundry must needs be dealt with. The kitchen needs the space to prepare fruit, and it makes sense to take advantage of the warm sunny weather for line drying kitchen cloths, and bedsheets, both of which benefit from the ultraviolet sunlight.

※※※

September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	a dozen tetras	porch valance	plum logs
2	tiny doll shorts	mask elastics	oldest pinafore
3	Almandine clothing	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Gersvinda and her truck will help me get to and from the garden center that has trees on sale later this week.
2. catching up on Mt Washmore and Mt Dishmore
3. several pounds of pears!! Huzzah for mutual aid

Time of Isolation - Day 1520

Monday musings -

in which our plucky heroine started the day with a vile infestation of brain weasels, and is in need extra anti-weasel serum. Fortunately the day seemed to provide some, and I also kept determinedly shoving my brain in the opposite direction, doing my best to pay attention to the good in the now, rather than the litany of everything I have done poorly or not at all.

※※※

>

The .5 mm carving gouge that was ordered on the 18th, from a tool supply company in Japan is out for delivery to arrived at Acorn Cottage today! It really is half the size of the smallest gouge I had up until now, and has a lovely wooden handle. This will make adding finer details to my miniature linocut blocks possible. Was this an small extravagence... why yes it was, but it is a tool that will be used often to create artworks

※※※

It may be a simple fix, but I improved the kitchen soap holder* by adding a raised internal grid of ½" galvanised hardware cloth. Bar soap, which tends to slip down into the upper compartment in a most annoying and hard to grasp way, will be both easier to grasp and stay drier, and thereby last longer.  While this fix won't be "permanent", since I have quite a quantity of scrap hardware cloth it will be easy to make a new one when rust takes its eventual toll...

※※※

In order to not waste the last of the blood oranges, I'm turning them into a batch of marmalade. They were disappointingly not very red inside, though they still tasted wonderful. Then my eye fell on the leftover beetroot in the fridge... hmmm...

It was an experiment, to simmer it in the pan for better color. Now I have some deeper orange proto marmalade (and a half beet that is infused with orange, which will be very nice indeed sliced onto a green salad with some goat cheese tomorrow)

※※※

Yay me! I went to GrossOut, because the fridge was out of veggies, and they are the best place to get the big box of mixed baby organic greens, and and instead of also buying a pint of ice cream, I bought a tomato start. (they had organic veggie starts, and to my surprise I saw they had "Juliet", which is one of my very favorites (they are like half size Roma tomatoes)

Now all I need to do is manage to keep it alive and safe from squirrels. I'm glad I didn't put it outside right away. After I came indoors and was putting things away and prepping the greens for cooking, I heard a strange pinging noise... it wasn't a surprise roof leak, but rather it was the sound of hail hitting the lid of my milk delivery box!

※※※

April SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	tiny angora print	computer zone lamp	persimmon prunings
2	5th God bag	blog template	forsythia prunings
3	scroll calligraphy	grey turtleneck collar	yard waste bin
4	Pelican scroll	indigo bunny art	recycle bin
5	grey rose brooch	taxes done	front plum pruning
6	3 pyramid bags	redone bag ties	x
7	x	kitchen soapdish	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. the Beatrix Potter miniature book kit arrived. It is really tiny, does indeed have content on the interior pages, as well as covers, and the instructions for assembly are good. I do wish that the print resolution was a higher DPI, as everything is just a bit more fuzzy than I would prefer, but for the price and given the scale, I will call it good.
2. the world is full of all kinds of colorful things, and I have eyes to see them with. I may be old and creaky, but I can still ride my bicycle safely around the neighborhood and to the grocery store
3. I needed some more Peltex for the brim on the Cathy Hat Project, and instead of needing to take a big chunk out of my day to shop, I was able to just walk a few blocks up to The Sewlarium... Truly I am wealthy in access to resources to have an art store and a little fabric storefront I can walk to!

Time of Isolation - Day 1394

* I think the soap holder is originally intended to hold kitchen sponges, but since I don't use sponges for washing dishes, it has a different calling to hold a bar of hand soap instead

it's melting...

in which our plucky heroine looks forward to better weather...

Rain on and off today, and the temperature is about forty degrees warmer than a week ago. With luck, tomorrow a bike ride will be possible; I bought produce at the store yesterday, but didn't realise there was no cumin seed left in the spice jars, which is a small but necessary ingredient in the kale bulgar feta salad I had planned to make. Other than that my plans for tomorrow and this week involve seeing how much of my actual sewing / metalwork / enameling work I can accomplish.

※※※

~ art every day - week 3 ~

As I had mentioned, the drawing something every morning is en route to a regular habit, and the choices I have made (drawing in pencil, drawing for a whole week to fill one page in the pocket planner so the drawings are really small, and not being overly precious about results) are all kaizen - by making it very easy, it becomes possible. 

※※※

Kestrel asked for tiny books for her tinyfolk... so I am starting to make a few to include with the rest of the Mud Bay care package. Trying to find assorted Very Small images to use for content, which is trickier than one would think... found a series of little photos in a old Milk Street cooking magazine that I think I can turn into a "book" about making focaccia. Old stamps would also make good book contents, I suspect, if I had any.

※※※

My Yaktrax broke, the rubber wore through/snapped at the heel. Given that the first mention of them in my blog was back in 2008, which would make them at least 16 years old, they were a worthwhile purchase. A new pair will be immediately ordered to replace them...

※※※

Sister Gigi, after my comment about two of the books I read in the last three weeks were good enough to keep me up and reading long past bedtime, suggested  I start to keep a log of the books I read this year. I plan to add annotation as well, just didn't have enough time tonight to fill that in.

※※※

January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Jedi obi sash	reinstall octopus	recycle bin
2	Jedi underlayer	hang candle lantern	-
3	2 tiny books	paint tiger frame	-
4	teal knit top	patch closet holes	-
5	3 hats & 3 scarves	teal top mended	-
6	plaid flannel slip	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. after randomly going bonkers sideways this afternoon, my computer just as randomly began to function again and continues to function. I had kind Madrona Tribe folks to hold my hand as I hollered for help on my phone during this incident.
2. Years ago, Beth asked me an important question while I was being an ass. That question was a hinge that changed me, in a way I am still grateful for. Indeed and always, my friends are more important to me than my stuff, but it took her pointing it out for me to internalise that and shift my behavior.
3. My Yaktrax broke yesterday. They were first mentioned on my blog in 2008, which has them at least 16 years old! A new pair will be ordered posthaste.

Time of Isolation - Day 1298

Books of 2024:

1. Mink River
   by Brian Doyle -
2. A Half-Built Garden
   by Ruthanna Emrys -
3. Three Twins at the Crater School
     by Chaz Brenchley -
4. The Inheritance & Other Stories
   by Robin Hobb and Megan Lindholm -
   
   
   

pancakes for supper...

in which our plucky heroine tries to remember the basic truth of wherever you go, there you are... and that where you are is not behind...

I'm making progress on the Star Wars Jedi cosplay garments for SR. The underlayer "dickey" is almost completed, just needs the side ties added. I will be making the obi-style sash next, so as to not need to switch threads on the machine, and then move on to the tunic

Starting on my New Years cooking: the black-eyed peas are soaking. Since I was entirely unable to locate bulgar in either of the local markets! (will need to make a trip next year to the international grocery store over on SE Stark), pivoting to kasha for the kale salad seemed like a possibility. I'll make up some of Sister Gigi's corn pancakes today tomorrow as well, and have decided that baking another fruitcake would be a good way to begin the new year with a note of sweetness. I also tried Smitten Kitchen's recipe for savory winter squash pancakes... which turned out very solid, but not in a bad way, more like in a bread way. There are worse things than starting out the new year with an assortment of pancakes in the freezer!

※※※

~ Advent Swap day 29 and day 30 ~

Some more tiny mushrooms that glow in the dark, and a wee little cat bell...

※※※

~ hat decorations ~

In the past I made several of these felt roses, in various shades of blue, as brooches. All were attached to the now lost denim hat. More will be made... they are fairly fast and easy, and look well, particularly if some green felt leaves are added.

※※※

I soaked dried persimmons in port wine. For the fruitcake, like one does... they of course not only softened but increased in volume, so there was more than I needed for the recipe. It turns out that persimmons soaked overnight in port wine are rather a peculiar cooks-treat, though I can only eat one or two small slices, and somewhat reminiscent of the "baby ears" (dried apricots macerated in booze) I remember Miklos had at 12th Night one year long ago.

※※※

Finally... a replacement DVD arrived in my mailbox today, from the online seller I have dubbed "Mr Incommunicado" for their extremely terse replies to my queries over the last several weeks, (or lack of any reply altogether).  The DVD was unwrapped and was immediately taken to the Viewmaster so I could check that it was playable. Whew! The story "The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse is sweet and the animation is superbly done.

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	7 jars quince	kitchen plumbing	old plumbing
2	dried pears	heat pump installed	old furnace
3	dried persimmons	return vent vanes	high pitched whine
4	linen gauze privacy curtains	bedroom register	yard waste bin
5	tiny peach charm	bike flat tire	recycle bin
6	1-wire Laurel setting	restring necklace	x
7	"merry mathoms" stamp	x	x
8	white Pelican setting	x	x
9	knit acorn oakleaf brooch	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I finally received a playable DVD, over three weeks from my original order. And the short film was really sweet with beautiful animation.
2. lots of lovely compliments as replies to my "what do people love about you most" meme post... things I'd not realised made a difference.
3. tiny rotary cutter (plus extra replacement blades) arrived today. Clover makes the nicest tools.

Time of Isolation - Day 1276

adventures in plumbing...

in which our plucky heroine is pleasantly surprised...

Mr Dawson showed up this morning to help me, as I had asked for his assistance removing the back of the undersink cabinet in the kitchen... instead he stayed here basically all day, and didn't just remove the plywood, but ended up replacing most of the problem plumbing as well!

So now I basically have the two sinks back to being functional, (though there are a few places that still need me to keep a watchful eye on them, like where we replaced the shut off valves.) There is no more funky chrome plated pipe, just nice sturdy PVC. It took trips to two different hardware stores to get what was needed.

I really did not at all expect him to just go ahead and fix the plumbing for me, and he arrived with multiple tool boxes full of tools I had never seen before! Cordless band saw! Cordless multi-tool! Many more wrenches than I own... etc! Plus I got to enjoy the unexpected visit and hours of conversation! Truly I am most fortunate in my kind and helpful friends!!

※※※

The pipe into the primary drain inside the wall was corroded, paper thin, and had multiple tiny holes, like a particularly nasty kind of lacework.

※※※

I've almost filled one large Fido jar with dried persimmons, and there are enough still on the shelf that I could fill up at least two more jars. I sent some dried, and some fresh ones up north to Olympia today, to share the bounty, and will probably send some more to other pals who enjoy them.

※※※

~ Advent Swap Day 2 ~

A mahjong tile (west wind)... with a mysterious label (it looks like it says "face obstacle", which is nothing if not an accurate description of current situation)

※※※

December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	-	kitchen plumbing	old plumbing
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. Bill fixed the plumbing!! I have the most excellent, generous, kind, and knowledgeable friend a person could wish for! (actually I have many friends that fit that description in various ways, so I am truly fortunate)
2. I found my missing flashlight. It was rather grotty from sitting for several years, but still worked, and after a scrubdown with some rubbing alcohol, it is as good as new, and perfect for checking the undersink.
3. My good neighbors to the south are so observant. T told me about the person walking around my house yesterday and this morning, with concern... (I was able to reassure her that it was my friend N, as I'd mixed up the time we were supposed to meet. And that gave me a chance to tell T about the Advent Swap, and maybe she and S will want to participate next year.
4. While I was visiting the Undersink, I took the opportunity to examine around where the sink itself joins the countertop. I have been always very careful to wipe up the water that ends up at the joint on the upper surface of that interface, and was pleased to see that the plywood underneath appears to be in very good condition, with no sign of water damage

Time of Isolation - Day 1248

phenol is not fennel

in which our plucky heroine is not much better...

I went to the doctor Wednesday. Whatever I am currently struggling with, is, according to them, some mystery viral infection that is widespread right now. Could be another week before I start to improve. The sore throat is still like shards of glass. Doctor recommended "magic mouthwash" concocted from liquid Benadryl, Maalox, and viscous Lidocaine, and she wrote me a prescription for the latter. Finding the (other) OTC ingredients is a challenge (see previous post re cherry allergy)

Fortunately, my SIL Barb is an angel, and arranged for a (door dash) throat fairy delivery yesterday afternoon. Waiting (not even in a bag) on the floor of the front porch here at Acorn Cottage about an hour after she and I spoke, were three different types of "extra potent" lemon throat lozenges, and a bottle of old fashioned green Chloraseptic spray. I promptly carved away the plastic safety wrap from the spray and dosed the back of my throat. While it was every bit as nasty as remembered from childhood, it also was just as much a respite from pain as remembered.

One thing about living in the future that I will always appreciate is the ability for someone to push some buttons while sitting in a room thousands of miles away, and cause positive change and help to occur  with little delay in time! How does the saying* go... "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"... and while I would love a magic that healed my throat, I am in fact well content with one that ameliorates the pain for a while, which should allow for more sleeping, which will encourage my body to (hopefully) heal itself

※※※


because science...

※※※

Today I was looking at my face in the mirror (to make getting the eye drops into my eyes easier) and I realised that the wrinkles most obvious are either "surprised forehead" or "smiley eye crinkles" I guess that means I am doing a good job at navigating this tumultuous world. (and I have vast gratitude for the luck and privilege that have been my lot so far)

※※※

Old fashioned green Chloraseptic spray has phenol as an active ingredient, which seems to work fairly well at getting the awful sore throat to quiet down for a bit. Unlike fennel, either the herb or the bulb which has a pleasant licorice-like flavor, phenol has a scent rather like something one would use to wash the floor with, and a taste to match. Most unpleasant, but effective though... 

※※※

August SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	bed socks	-	-
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. friends and family continue to check in on me
2. small moments of respite from throat pain
3. wrinkles of surprise and happiness

Time of Isolation - Day 1143

* I thought it was Heinlein, but it was actually Arthur C Clarke!

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine maintains forward momentum...

My hand is improved enough that I can manage to use it for delicate work, though not yet for anything requiring strength. Some house chores are getting done.

I made a wonderful (if incidentally vegetarian) lasagna a few days ago - used up spinach I had steamed (chopped small) and some rehydrated dried shitaki (also chopped small and then sauteed with onion) as inner layers, along with cheese and my homemade tomato sauce. I usually add some cooked chopped meat or sausage, but all the meat is buried some ways down in the freezer, and I didn't want to try and rummage around with one hand. The mushrooms served the same function albeit with a different flavor profile, and I will definitely remember to try this combination again!

※※※

~ outdoor views ~

This is the underside of a lovage seed head... The plant itself is pretty architectural, the blossom stalks are taller than I am. I planted it for the taste of the leaves, which occasionally are used in soups and stews etc. It is a stronger version of the celery flavor, and since it is perennial, I will probably have it forever, which form of  "celery self sufficiency" was my intention. (While the seeds can be pickled, and were so in Roman times, the one time I tried it I didn't end up using them. Maybe next year I will try again and see if they would work well similar to capers?)

※※※

So very happy that my pal Tamra came over here on Monday in the middle of the day to cut back my shaggy yard. She did yeoman service in making the backyard passable again, which was not an easy task. The yard is not flat, and parts had been neglected since early spring. Now I have access to do needed pruning, and cut back the things that the string trimmer couldn't tackle, and prune back the apple tree, and hack away at the Feral Rosebushes so they don't hack away at me, and suchlike. She also cut the grass in the south side yard, I can now get to the quince and the plum to keep them pruned back as well. I will have to think of something really nice to do for her, since she did such a nice thing for me!

※※※

~ regalia - it is what I make ~

I've been working every day on this current Pelican medallion, which must needs completed before the event this weekend. Grateful that my bruised hand is continuing to recover enough that I can work. Today I am beginning to build the pendant setting for this piece, slowly and carefully. Another few hours and it will be completed, the enamel set, and the whole thing polished and packed for travel...

※※※

Sometimes I feel like my writing here is becoming very boring, but this blog is after all a somewhat attenuated record of my everyday life, which is purposely not terribly exciting. I am continuing to do most of the various things in my life, albeit slowly.

It sort of alarms me when my "things made" column is empty, so completing the current enamel was a bit of a relief. I'm thinking that one of the four other enamels waiting for me to build their settings might be better need to be redone, as the background is looking like it might crack, which would be a disaster were it to happen once it leaves my studio. It would be another two or three days work to redo the enamel, but that time is well worth it compared to harming my good name.

※※※

July SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Pelican enamel	many apples thinned	recycle bin
2	-	grapevines cut back	-
3	-	backyard mowed	-
4	-	side yard mowed	-
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. cool mornings, and waking up early so I can enjoy them
2. My pal Tamra who went way above and beyond to mow my yard
3. pruning the sage plant is a way to enjoy the delightful scent... it isn't finished yet though, because I don't want to remove the parts that are still flowering, because bumblebees!

Time of Isolation - Day 1114

simple pleasures

in which our plucky heroine feels grateful...

Crafternoon today did a thing I often hope for, in that it made a space for deeper discussion and support than just surface social. I wish I hadn't needed to sign off to cook and eat dinner, but after spending most of more than half the day on zoom calls, there was a definite need for some edible replenishment.

※※※

While out and about yesterday afternoon, the quality of the light on this particular tree was just glowing! Soon there will be no leaves on the trees at all, so I am taking my enjoyment while it is possible...

※※※

Preserving continues apace... the double batch of Awesome Sauce yielded nine 4 oz jars and two 8 oz jars now cooling on the counter. The quinces that were becoming post had their browned areas cut away, the good parts spent overnight in the crock pot, and (now a lovely red) are ready to be turned into quince jelly. This small batch will get a bit of rosewater and maybe vanilla, for variety sake...  I'm hoping to get some advice from Marian about pickled quince, as Ursel has fond memories of some mustardy pickled quinces from Tullia's marriage feast back in the day, and it would be fun to make some to add to the quince assortments as I plan on sending out as holiday gifts... which means that getting some more of the 4 oz jars now is probably a good idea. Who knows when the supply chain will go haywire again?

※※※

Sunday has a lot of zoom meetings, and that is good for handwork... I finished stitching the dancing creatures trim to the legs of the almost finished black long janes, which now simply need the waistline elastic added. It has also occurred to me that there are several of my jersey knit tops that are rarely worn, for assorted reasons, and that could be remediated. My lovely tie-dye top has had the addition of a turtleneck collar. Fortunately I had a piece of the same teal jersey I used for the body, so it looks like I meant it that way from the start! (realised that I much prefer my long sleeve knit tops with a turtleneck or other warm collar rather than just a plain jewel neckline - if it is cold enough to want to wear a knit top as my "base layer", I want my neck to be warm too!)

※※※

Food for thought, some of which I am definitely in agreement with... Aside from the content thievery aspect of AI, I am seeing more and more AI generated visuals online, some clearly labeled, and some purposefully wrongly labeled. We talked during Crafternoon a bit about the problems this can cause. Not everyone has enough art history experience to notice when there is something "off" about the image being shared as "historical artifact", and most will take it at face value.

AI-Generated Arts and Human Creative Expression
※※※

November SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	skull brooch	vacuum heat intake	broken porch planter
2	salsa verde	new pinback on flower	recycle bin
3	pale grey long janes	26# quinces picked	recycle bin
4	trim for long janes	black embroidered slip	-
5	large tray quince paste	add turtleneck to tie-dye	-
6	6 jars quince jelly	x	x
7	11 jars Awesome Sauce	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. Enough years of practice that preserving feels straightforward...
2. I am honored with the few beloved friends who continue to come to my online weekly Crafternoon sessions. Without you my everyday life would be much more bleak...
3. I just found out yesterday that young Ivan is doing well enough that he is moving to a different and more intensive rehab, which is close enough that I can get there on transit. And going into a hospital is probably one of the safer spaces I could go, as they still require masks) This means I can add myself to the roster of folks who can visit him. His recovery is slow and miraculous and effortful, and I have been told by Jen that visits and phone calls help alleviate the boredom of his confinement. I will contact Vikki and get more details about how to plan this.

Time of Isolation - Day 991