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)

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~ 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.

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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!

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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...)

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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.

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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.

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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

thumpings and bumpings

in which our plucky heroine is not howling like a dog...

...but boy howdy if I was one, I would be! Today is roofing day, and it sounds much like I imagine storming the manor house would, starting at about 8 in the morning. My friend Meagn, having gone through the process a while ago, said: "it's like having Visigoths, only you have to pay them!!" (one of my smoke alarms fell of the ceiling! and some of the unanchored trinkets on the hallway shelves fell as well from the shaking)

Yesterday (Wednesday night) despite it still being well over 90, I managed to rig up the catch tarp over the roof gap. Only needed to drill two holes for additional screw hooks. (edited Thursday afternoon) It isn't pretty, but it will hopefully do only did some of what I wanted it to do, larger debris was caught, but most of the porch is now quite thoroughly sprinkled with grit and grime and bits. Moved the plants that are usually on that part of the porch to safer locations to make room for a table of cold drinks and snacks, and to allow workers access to the solar vent fan sitting on a folding table.

Thursday afternoon: the workers had a lunch break, eating in the shade of the ornamental plum tree in the front yard, and then thumping and crashing noises resumed once they returned to the roof, punctuated with percussive rhythmic sounds of nailing. Bits of debris (wood, plastic, and old shingles, as well as dust and grit surround the house, nothing huge, but for now, ubiquitous. (edited: it is almost 5pm, and several of the workers are going around the house gathering up all the sizeable bits and discarding them)  Apparently the roof replacement is finished today?! It will all be worth it for the final result, a solid roof and a dry house...

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~ at the start of the day ~

All the old shingles and tarpaper needed torn off, a very noisy and messy process!

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A few days ago, it occurred to me that the unused spray bottle could be a helpful way to keep the worm bin a happier place for my invertebrate pals. This time of year, even though the house is cooler than in years past, their bedding dries out really quickly. Now, every time I add some food scraps, it is easy to adjust the moisture level if needed.

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I was polycraftual before I encountered the SCA, but it has only become more entrenched over the decades...

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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	-
5	catch tarp for porch	filter box legs	-
6	x	new house roof	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- one of the folks in the sewing nomads group managed to find a link so those of us not in the UK could watch the first week of the Great British Sewing Bee 2025. So fun!
- extra spray bottle to keep my worm bin critters happy
-  rereading Super Supportive
- the re-roofing job is completely finished in just one long day (Acorn Cottage is actually a very small, though not "tiny" house)

Time of Isolation - Day 1823

Trapezoidal tiger

in which our plucky heroine prepares...

Tomorrow is the start of the roof replacement. Today an assortment of roof things were delivered to the side of the driveway, and a porta-potty on a tiny trailer is now in residence next to the driveway ramp. I still need to rearrange the front porch, so as to have suitable space for cold drinks and salty snacks. After chatting with Mikki this afternoon, I decided that adding some homemade cookies into the offerings would be a good idea, so am making quince crisp bars, being right out of any other suitable frozen fruit.

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~ just a sketch ~

My indigo tiger popover dress is too short. There are several possible fabric options for adding a bit of length. The turquoise rayon that could work is really too bright, compared to the printed fabric. In the end, it will probably be the black silk noil skirt taken from the lace top dress; cut into many trapezoids in an attempt to fill in the hemline. Inspired by some gift wrap I saw, and by the dress fabric motifs, this recent sketch will be transfered to either lino or soft-cut rubber, carved, then block printed in teal on the black, to best echo the smaller more varied indigo tigers on the dress...

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"The River Has Roots" by Amal El-Mohtar... not sure where the recommendation came from, but the story evokes a classic ballad while remaining original, and the writing is beautifully complimented by truly lovely illustrations. It was a pleasant surprise that the audiobook also goes beyond the ordinary, with sound effects and singing interspersed with the reading in a way that feels right rather than excessive. I enjoyed them both.

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So tired right now, even though it is only a bit after 6pm, and much too hot  try and re-energise with a walk or a bike ride. Had a very hard time falling asleep last night, and then woke a bit before sunrise. The good part of such early rising was getting the fans going, and being able to do a small amount of yard chores before it was time to hop on my bike to the medical center for my annual physical. Dr E suggested a bone density baseline test, given my age. I was appalled to find out that I was shorter than I had been last year, which is common, but distressing. Still, older is better than the alternative, at least for now!

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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	-
5	catch tarp for porch	filter box legs	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- it is 77°F in the living room, it is 100°F on the porch outside
- the audiobook of The River Has Roots has some delightful audio embellishment, sound effects and songs, in addition to the reading   
- I found the other folding table, hidden in plain sight in the workroom, the one that is about 2 ft by 4 ft. This will be very helpful tomorrow.

Time of Isolation - Day 1822

Tuesday tidbits

in which our plucky heroine does a little bit of this and a little bit of that...

Zoomtime with friends - Leslie in the morning, and Karen in the afternoon was probably the best part of my day. Also picking almost 4 ounces more blueberries early in the day after making sure all the young trees were watered, so they can go into the dreadful high heat tomorrow well hydrated.

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~ silverwood ~

The (20+years at least old) roof here at Acorn Cottage is being replaced this week. The lightest color of shingles available from my roofing contractors. Given that shingles are made from asphalt, they can't be solid white. Given my budget (and my own expected life span) this was the best option...

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Other garden news, the peas are basically done. Next year I will try and plant them earlier than I did this time. On the other hand, the tomatoes are getting really close, the two largest ones were a pinky orangey color, and fell off the vine into my hand. They will continue to ripen on the counter.

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Minor repairs to the air cleaner, which had two of its four little conical rubbery legs fall off. Carefully removed all the not very good sticky adhesive from the legs and the case, and reattached them with some RTV silicone. One of the buckwheat hull pillows made a flexible adjustable cushion to accomodate the handle on the top; balanced bottom side up and level meant the legs stayed put until the RTV cured.

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The other rather kludgy project of the day was transforming a plastic tarp into a narrower version of itself by folding into thirds and sewing around the edge on the machine. The walking foot was helpful. It isn't pretty, but doing it this way meant I didn't need to set rivets into the corners to attach it. Why is this needed? There is a gap between the porch roof and the house roof. It would be less than ideal if debris from the roof tear off fell down onto the front walkway, particularly since that is where I intend to have the cooler(s) and ice for the workers on Thursday. One of tomorrow's tasks is  attaching each end of the thicker narrower tarp as high up as possible. Will need to add at least one more heavy hooks into one of the porch rafters near the house, the other three corners have something already in place to tie off to. Wish I had thought of this earlier, before the heat rolled in... 

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Further adjustments of the sunblock mitts today, they were slashed more than halfway up the forearm end, and the edges overlapped an inch on each side, tapering away to nothing near the wrist. Much better fit was obtained, and the pattern will be adjusted appropriately. It didn't take more than an hour or two to redo the hand stitching on the edge bands, and double stitch the new additional seam.

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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	-
5	catch tarp for porch	filter box legs	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- managed to get to the store first thing in the morning and last thing at night, when the outdoor temperature was less than surface of the sun, to acquire two bags of small ice for cooler use on Thursday; if I need more, can acquire Thursday evening
- Good Neighbors are lending me an extra cooler for Thursday
- All the dishes are finally washed

Time of Isolation - Day 1821

try-it-out Tuesday

in which our plucky heroine gets experimental...

There are a whole bunch of modest projects at various stages of their process, but nothing is completed today. And there are also some new ideas germinating...

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~ day 18 ~

two jars of jam: fig, and plum. Both ones that could have been made from the fruit that grows here at Acorn Cottage, which makes them extra appropriate!

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Remind me to not order a 2# package of (a dozen) nectarines online again... They were unripe, of course, so I put them in a paper sack (with an apple for the ethylene), and after about a week they were ripe enough to eat. A day after "about a week" some of them began to get moldy. They never keep well, being luscious but fragile, and when I buy them in shops, I only ever get one or at most two at a time.

What to do? When in doubt, get jammin'! Seemed the best option was to turn the fruit into preserves posthaste. I cut up the remaining nectarines and stirred them into a small amount of sugar, then put them in the fridge to macerate overnight. Today, I will add some lemon juice, and cook them down a bit, then put up in small jars for later on.

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~ oaken backplate~

I've been wanting a wall hook right next to the shower, so as to maximise comfort and ease. Hooks need anchored, and this one has the screw holes so close together as to preclude using wall anchors. Wall anchors are a necessity in the parts of the wallboard not directly backed with wall studs. So, as I have done in many other places and times, I thought: wood backing plate.

Then it occurred to me to make the backing plate decorative as well as functional, and I decided to cut the scrap of oak into a sort of escutcheon shape.

I've always wanted to try "ebonising" oak - turning it black using a stain created by soaking steel wool in vinegar, which can react with the tannins in the wood to change the color. It won't be done today, since it takes some time for the vinegar/steel wool preparation to be ready to use, but I am eager to see what happens! Stay tuned...

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well dang, the Heather Ross print fabric I bought online is not quite identical to the fabric of my horses blouse. The pattern motifs are the same, but the substrate is more like quilting cotton while the original fabric is more like cotton lawn. And the background color is, of course, a different "dye lot" so the blue is not a pale blue but more of a light blue. Now I'm not really sure how best to incorporate it to lengthen the sleeves... On the advice of my pal Leslie, it is going to be sent to Coventry; I've folded it up and hung it on the crossbar of the hanger with the blouse, while I wait for inspiration...

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June SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	musk ox print	horses blouse edge	yard waste bin
2	green linen Jedi tunic	kitchen light fixture	recycle bin
3	Nandina floral dress	Luxo plug	dead box fan
4	2 tiny knit skirts	plaid flannel slip	-
5	tiny knit cardigan	-	-
6	Salish wooly dog print	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes-
1. I remembered reading somewhere about soaking rice noodles in boiling water to soften them, so I gave it a try. While they were a bit more al dente than my preference, it really helped, and was more economical than cooking them all the way on the stovetop.
2. another beautiful day today, perfect for bike riding and taking walks, and fortunately I have the ability to intersperse my day with some physical activity...
3. getting closer to the whole set of Textile Livestock prints. This week the creature is "sheep" (a classic).

Time of Isolation - Day 1440

patching things up

in which our plucky heroine takes it slow and steady...

Did I mention the nifty hack K told me about, for filling the holes in the ceiling where the screw anchors were located. Basically you roll up a narrow strip of heavy paper until it is just able to be jammed pressure fit into the hole, which lets you spackle over it. I'm going to add just a bit of white glue to the equation. If I make progress every day on the kitchen ceiling project, it will be completed without too much stress. I hope.

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~ true words ~

blue ox feet, with signs of the times...  

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Sent out the various business emails that were on my list, rode over to the post office to mail the finished OGGS medallion, packed up and mailed the three boxes for the Summer Solstice Advent Swap, and refilled my transit pass card with more dosh. Playing catch up with Mt Dishmore and Mt Washmore. I am doing what I can to keep up with the business of life.

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Tuesday called two (of the six) tree services recommended. One made an appointment for a free estimate today at around 2 -3 pm; $800 to remove the one cracked plum tree in front yard + $400 to remove two arborvitae from the back yard . (The other place I called charges $100 just for the estimate visit, so they were crossed off my list) Phoned three more to try and set up more appointments. Bleah... Have another appointment for Sunday afternoon. (Another one I phoned charges $175! for the estimation visit, also crossed off list) Three more phone calls tomorrow and hopefully some more appointments to have the yard trees looked at. I really don't like this process, but it must needs be done and timely done.

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May SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 tiny books	half front yard mowed	yard waste bin
2	10 tiny books	more front yard mowed	recycle bin
3	tiny footstools	replace cloudlight bulb	dead rosemary
4	acorn bowls	clean large paper lantern	yard waste bin
5	angora goat lino	pocket brown pinafore	yard waste bin
6	mini cushions	reframed raindrop print	recycle bin
7	copycat sunhat	partial backyard mowed	wonky kitchen light
8	OGGS setting	front yard mowed	x
9	sunscreen mitts	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. I managed to get through one meeting with a tree dude, and have another meeting set up for Sunday afternoon. I will set up at least one or two more meetings. I may loathe phone calls, but I can make myself do them.
2. in the last two days I have had three zoom visits with friends, and two phone calls. Am feeling rather well connected
3. I am going to be kiddo pen pals with Young Kestrel. Starting by mailing something to her once a month. And if she writes back, I will write back the next day - it will give her a chance to practice writing, when she gets to that point. She had been telling Jen that she wished she got more mail...

Time of Isolation - Day 1422

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine is feeling a bit swamped...

Tomorrow will be busy, I have six different tree services to phone and get risk assessment consults/estimates; asking friends to recommend helpful options was in fact quite useful. Turns out that there is also information on the city website about tree service providers, as well as information about possible replacement trees...  

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~ Order of the Grey Goose Shaft ~

This medallion, started a while back, is completed and ready to be shipped to the recipient. It feels good to be back at the workbench again...

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It occurred to me that the toile of the fingerless bike gloves could be useable, if I stitch down the serged seams to be neat and flat. The double layer improved version is better, but the toile is not that far off from the final pattern, and an extra set is always useful. A few hours of hand stitching would be a peaceful evening project

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Sewing tasks for me in progress: gores for plaid flannel slip.
Sewing tasks for client upcoming: alterations on green wool cosplay Star Wars tunic, then altering pattern and making a green linen one for summer wear.

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May SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	4 tiny books	half front yard mowed	yard waste bin
2	10 tiny books	more front yard mowed	recycle bin
3	tiny footstools	replace cloudlight bulb	dead rosemary
4	acorn bowls	clean large paper lantern	yard waste bin
5	angora goat lino	pocket brown pinafore	yard waste bin
6	mini cushions	reframed raindrop print	recycle bin
7	copycat sunhat	partial backyard mowed	wonky kitchen light
8	OGGS setting	front yard mowed	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
1. Chopped up cucumber mixed with yogurt and seasoned with Justice is really tasty, I like it better than tzatziki. My jar is almost empty, so I will need to order some more from Penzeys. I wish they still had their shop downtown near Powell's Books...
2. I started marking the kitchen ceiling in a four foot circle centered on the electric box. I think that the simplest option will be to use paint for improving the appearance. Maybe with some sponge texture...
3. I might be dog sitting later this summer, it will be fun to have Wellington as a guest again.

Time of Isolation - Day 1420

who would have thunk it...

in which our plucky heroine has a problem solved...

Just before lunchtime, Jason the HVAC technician showed up today. That high-pitched whining sound coming from the new heat pump air fan turned out to have a simple cause, and a straightforward fix. The outer vanes on the newly installed auxiliary air return vent were vibrating. Bending them further outward "tightened" them just enough to quiet the troublesome sound. It's a good day when I learn something new!

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~ Advent Swap Day 6~

a beautiful ceramic button, in some of my favorite colors...

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My grey linen pinafore, which I made in 2020, is worn to a raveling... The sides of the bodice need either patched or reinforced somehow, as on one side, my thumb went through the fabric when I was doing laundry. I suspect I will have to salvage fabric from the inside of the pocketing, and use it, and then patch the inner pocket with different fabric. So, lifespan of pinafore worn often (made of 4C22 heavyweight linen from fabricsstore.com) is about three years. Good to know, and my next pinafores will have fabric scraps set aside for repairs.

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I've started patching the holes in the wall from the former thermostat. The spackle doesn't fill ⅝" large holes, so I cut a scrap of cheesecloth, and have used PVA to glue it to the wall to provide support. Hoping that will do the trick.

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As part of my preparation for the new heat system here, I needed to replace the ceiling vent register in the bedroom, which was no longer adjustable. After calling multiple local hardware stores to find one that was the right size, with no luck at all, I ended up at the big box website, which not only had one in stock, but offered free next day shipping. So today, after it arrived on my doorstep, I installed it in the bedroom ceiling. I have decided that I need to get a taller ladder, my wonderful step stool only gets me 22"

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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	-	bedroom register	-
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. removing the whine from the new system turned out to just require getting a little bent. That is, shifting the angle of the vent vanes quieted the whole thing down! Whew!
2. new bedroom ceiling vent register
3. everyday life is trending to improve

Time of Isolation - Day 1252

tumultuous Tuesday

in which our plucky heroine is experiencing discomfort in several ways...

...in order to replace the defunct furnace with a more efficient heat pump system, the house had up to five people in and out of it this today. There are thumpings and bangings, all necessary, but disturbing nonetheless.  The doings remain mysterious, and I feel unable to do any of my own projects. I've had to ask several to wear masks, but they do cooperate willingly, if forgetfully. I also ran both air filters all day long. It was a whole day of massive disruption, as the old furnace was taken to bits and removed, and the new machinery installed. Finally after about 9 hours, it was all mostly done. 

I have one primary concern which is that when the "air handler" unit comes on, it creates a high pitched whine sound that is really obtrusive and unpleasant. Since one of the selling points of the heat pump system is supposedly "very quiet operation" inside the house, I'm concerned that something isn't right. The company will be sending out a technician tomorrow. Also, the workers set the thermostat to 70!?! which is much warmer than I prefer, and I can't figure out how to change the setting, which makes me feel right stupid. Hopefully the technician can do better at explaining the basics of how to operate the thermostat, as the manual is entirely impenetrable.

I don't know what is wrong with me... would not normal folks be happy at this point to have a shiny new system that will keep the temperature moderate and comfortable. I hope that once my internal equilbrium returns to centered, I will feel good, maybe even as good as I did in early November. But right now I still feel very anxious, and shaky, though warm...

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~ Advent Swap Day 5 ~

Today's tiny gift here at Acorn Cottage was a little wreath/ring of shiny green beads. Given that it was attached to a nice little split ring, it will join my knitting stitch markers, since the house here is way too small to have a holiday tree

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Since I was too frazzled to get any work done today, not to mention there were people all over the house, all I managed to do was some kitchen efforts. I turned the baked eggplant from yesterday into a casserole, something between lasagna and eggplant parmesan. I also refilled the food dehydrator (with persimmons this time), and then peeled the grapefruit and began turning it into candied peel. There will be fruitcake this year.

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The bad news is that there is not just water leakage in the workroom ceiling, but apparently also in the part of the roof adjacent to where the furnace vent was located, in the main part of the house roof. They showed me photos.  Just one damnthing after another. I am now filled with anxiety, instead of feeling calmer and pleased about having heat.

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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	-	-	-
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. After I accidentally dropped my beloved "The Shortest Day" picture book behind the (eight foot long, four foot tall) hallway bookcase, I was dreading needing to remove all the books so it could be moved enough to retrieve it. Amazingly, it was caught by the cord of the power strip, and I was able to carefully pull it upwards until I could just reach it. And fortunately as well, it was undamaged by the sojourn.
2. It isn't cold in the house any more.
3. I cleverly asked that the new thermostat could be placed a little closer to the hallway, so it would be easier to see, and (eventually) easier to adjust as needed.
4. a whole big Fido jar full of dried pears. If I can get some more pears, I will make more...

Time of Isolation - Day 1251

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!!

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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.

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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.

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~ 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)

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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

signed, sealed, and (not) delivered....

in which our plucky heroine makes incremental progress...

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~ 100 day stitch book project - day 43 ~

Day 43/100 (page 9): big ovals, small ovals, fuzzy corduroy ovals, smooth silk ovals - and I still have no clear vision for where this one is going! I have decided, though, that the base rectangle would be a lot easier to deal with if it is something less drapey, less tightly woven, and a bit more robust than this silk remnant. Since there are 11 more pages in the 100 day stitchbook challenge, I may remove some of the rectangles I have already cut out from the pile and pick out some different fabrics.

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Yesterday I found out a bit of news that made my artists heart sad and sore. Back in August of 2020, during one of the early Scribal Backlog Challenges... I made a backlog scroll for my friend Elisabeth de Rossignol. And, as is normal, sent it off to have the seal and signatures applied. From there, it was posted to her, but it never arrived. When she saw the images from the current Challenge, she reached out to me to share that she had never actually received the scroll I made and could I try and track down if it had ever been sent to her.

Fortunately I do have photos of the steps along the way, of the finished scroll, and of details of the illuminations. Later on this year, when I have completed the current group of backlog scrolls in my queue, I will set about rep-creating her Court Baroness scroll. I am still pleased with how many details I was able to include that reference her various avocations...

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After 18 years of never using the bedroom ceiling fans (installed by Former Owners, who did so many extraspecial bits of remuddling - the fans are not correctly anchored and wobble back and forth when turned on), I've decided to begin the process of removing the Dreaded Dustcatchers and replacing them with more pleasant overhead lighting. With that in mind, as I seek out light fixtures that do not suck meet with my aesthetic approval, I have begun the process by removing and discarding the fan blades, which will make removing the rest of the fan assembly much easier when the time comes.

Betwixtmas

in which our plucky heroine hopes that we all receivce more than a modicum of hope and joy in the year to come...

because goodness knows we could use some! I saw someone use the term "Betwixtmas" to describe the liminal season between Xmas and New Years, and decided to adopt it for the season between Solstice and 12th Night, similarly but not the same as how my friend Mari created the holiday of Ursus. When I started looking over my year long SMART goals list for 2022, I realised that the focus of my creative efforts this year have mostly been centered in the tinyworld. I made a LOT of miniature things in 2022, likely in response to the larger world being filled with difficulty and unwelcome change.

I am glad for my recording all year the projects I complete. Otherwise I'd forget that I did in fact do some metalwork and enameling, though nowhere near as much as in the Before Times. I made a few pieces of commissioned regalia, and also created the wedding rings for some dear friends. Hopefully I can spend more time in the studio in 2023, and will make that a specific focus, even if paying work is thin on the ground. After all, if no one sees what I can do, they will forget I can do it.

Certainly, my best accomplishment of 2022 was surviving the year. It was really fraught, with my Aged Father unexpectedly suddenly dying, which led inevitably to my Aged Mother being placed in a care home. Dementia has taken her away almost as completely as my father, and I still grieve for them both, and sorely miss the frequent phone calls that kept us connected, and helped ameliorate my isolation.

There were other notable projects completed. Probably the most challenging house project was my reconfiguring the supports on my bed, adding slats and rails in order to correctly install the excellent mattress that was sitting in a roll in the bedroom for several years. As far as my wardrobe, creating the canvas chore jacket was a real highlight;  it is a garment I have wanted for many years, and one that has proven to be ideal for everyday wear in all but the coldest weather. My new hats make me happy every time I wear them, they fit better than any hats I have made in the past, and they look darn near exactly as I had hoped.

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~ out and about ~

I never get tired of mossworlds, however big or small. This time of year, they are the most lively green things to see. I managed to get out for both a walk and a bike ride earlier today, between the showers. The weather has shifted from unseasonably cold a few weeks ago, to practically balmy... It won't last of course, and the forecast is for highs in the 40's, but I am doing my best to add movement to my days whenever I can.

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December SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	skull collar #2	over sink light	recycle bin
2	2 baprons for Liam	crock pot lid	recycle bin
3	8 jars strawberry rhubarb	replace furnace filter	recycle bin
4	quince paste	alter colorful huipil	recycle bin
5	8 jars persimmon ketchup	vertical loom	recycle bin
6	4 more Liam baprons	mend grey dress	x
7	calendar masters	insulate AC	x
8	6 jars quincemeat	storage for wash bags	x
9	4 lg jars strawberry rhubarb	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. almost three years into the pandammit and I have avoided catching the virus
2. Past Me cleverly acquired the Taunton Press book "Easy Guide to Sewing Linings", which I have begun reading. It includes information about how to create lining patterns for garments which are unlined. This is going to be very helpful with the raincoat project.
3. feeling a tiny bit positive about project planning for 2023, and about figuring out how to get more balance for how I spend my time... adding in the things I want to focus on (print making, scribal arts, metal/enamel/jewelry) means I can't be as obsessive in the tinyworld as I was this year. I may experiment with choosing different projects for different days. One of the artists I really admire does that and is amazingly productive while making great art.

Time of Isolation - Day 1030

my lips are (not) sealed...

in which our plucky heroine almost makes a silly error...

note to self, do not leave glue stick sitting on computer desk next to keyboard alongside the hand lotion... the lip balm was in my cardigan pocket, and I almost glued my lips! Fortunately I have a good sense of smell, and the missing delightful vanilla-rose scent was a clue that the contents of that tube was not a good match for the use I was contemplating...

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time in the tinyworld:

Have a bit of crafty relief from total despair: the planet turns around the sun and spring is sure to arrive before too long... crocus is ¾" tall including "peat pot", tulips are 1¾" tall including "terra cotta pot", all are made from a combination of dried botanicals, paper, paint, wire and glue, pots made from egg carton cardboard.

Egg carton cardboard pots get filled 1/2 full with tiny gravel, then a thick layer of tacky glue, then dried tea crumbles. The plant stems are pushed through the layers to be securely anchored, and the tiny gravel gives the pots some weight to be bottom heavy and hence more stable.

I got the idea for the crocus because a tiny sprig of heather I'd picked weeks ago had dried out with the oval-shaped flowers still very bright... The crocus leaves are a strip of dark green painted paper, cut in a sharp zigzag with an exacto knife, and with a thin white stripe down the middle of each with an opaque white sakura marker. I curled the paper leaves and rolled them around a toothpick and glued them in that cylindrical form. A dab of tacky glue in the center was enough to hold the dried blossoms in place.

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the only thing I use paper grocery sacks for is to cut up into discs to line the countertop compost container. Every four or five months I need to open up a brown paper sack and cut many many little discs. Very boring task  , but lining the container means that the detritus collected comes neatly out, the container is easy to wash and not nasty/gooey, and the now soggy brown paper can be either composted outside or eaten by the worms that live in their box in my kitchen. It is all good.

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Started adding a self-closure weight to the screen door to the back yard, which will make life easier. And OMG does that door really need weatehrstripping, what is there is some very old brittle cracked foam gasket stuff. Home requires constant maintenance, this would have been helpful to notice at the beginning of the winter...

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March SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	tiny tulips	more compost liners	-
2	tiny crocus	-	-
3	-	-	-
4	-	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	-	-
7	x	x	-
8	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 gratitude - I may not be a professional, but I have a modicum of fixit skills and a few tools, and am not afraid to use them.

Time of Isolation - Day 720

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine gets a better nights sleep...

Well that was interesting. I've been increasingly unhappy with my Old Mattress, and how lumpy/saggy it has become; it seems to affect my back being painful both at night and when I wake up. (I actually have a New and Different Mattress, but need to reconfigure my bed frame in order to use it) Last night I decided to sleep in the guest/sewing room instead, on the futon. Which I know is flat. I dragged the memory foam topper onto the futon, for a bit of extra comfort since I am not twenty years old any more.

Result, while it was harder for me to get to sleep (different room, different orientation, different bed feel) I woke up without a painful back. I intend to continue this experiment, and also to do what I can to move forward on altering my bed frame to suit my new mattress which is still in the box it arrived in back in 2019?

Hmmm... waking up in the sewing room made me think it might be a good idea to do another round of decluttering in there, and also to rearrange where the things are stored. Prime access spots ought to be for things I use often. "Backstock" supplies that are rarely used, should be less accessible. Sewing patterns, I am looking at you, you could be in a storage box, and not taking up half a shelf front and center.

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beauty in the time of isolation:

I don't know for certain what these mushrooms are, other than colorful... I suspect that they are "turkey tail" mushrooms, and will examine them a bit more carefully the next time I walk in that direction in hope of gathering more data.

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Finished the Pelican enamel last night, so this afternoon will be devoted to creating the setting for it, so it can be mailed out tomorrow morning.

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~ creativity challenge  - jewelry, from afar ~

A bit of catching up, since I spent most all of yesterday in the workroom, enameling, when I wasn't on a zoom call. Sunday's prompt was "jewelry" so Almandine decided to explore some of my beads and baubles... She is hoping that I can figure out how to create a bead necklace for her! And today's prompt was "from afar". Almandine and Sequoia are having a playdate with the Japanese Akita guardian dogs that watch the front door of Acorn Cottage

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I was getting ready for an online SCA panel discussion Sunday afternoon (so had changed from my modern clothing into my SCA garb) when the doorbell rang! I looked out the front window, and saw my friend Emily at the end of the walkway; she had just dropped off a little bag of treats for me and my tiny friends, but looked a little puzzled at my attire. I was amused at her comment that she was wondering if I had a special way of celebrating Sundays?! and I then explained the reason for my unusual clothing and headgear...

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January SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	blue Almandine trousers	pruned feral roses	yard waste bin
2	tiny dominoes	mended turtleneck	recycle bin
3	tiny domino box	cleared dining table	-
4	Almandine ragg pullover	third jacket toile.	-
5	leather thimble	ironing board cover	-
6	Almandine underdress	x	x
7	Pelican enamel	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 gratitude - I have a spare room, which serves multiple functions ie guest/sewing room.

snafu-d stove

in which our plucky heroine is feeling rather grouchy...

Woke up today all full of hope and excitement. I'd spent a good chunk of yesterday moving things around in the kitchen, to make it easier for the delivery people to remove old POS stove and install excellent new stove.

the old stove, missing the exploded oven door, with the adjacent space usually taken up by the bakers rack all empty

the other side of the kitchen, with some of the bakers rack contents piled in various spots. This is actually going to be a great opportunity for me to do some sorting out of what is kept on hand where in the kitchen, before simply putting it all back the way it was! I suspect that a fair amount of what was being stored in this prime kitchen real estate is best either stored elsewhere, or given away. The tools and supplies right to hand ought be those in daily use...

the initial arrival of the stove was great, smack dab in the center of the time allotment, and with a 20 minute phone warning of arrival.

At that point things began to go south. While the nice delivery people were entirely willing to hook up the stove, the "universal" gas line flex tube is not all that "universal" and what appear to be adapters, aren't. This was the additional part that Lowes customer service insisted was necessary and the only one that they sell. A steel flex line is definitely necessary, but them telling me it adapts to different sizes of line valves was false.

Next, the power cord on the stove turned out to not be 6ft long as I'd been told by Frigidaire customer service, but only 4ft long. Considering how much time I've spent online trying to get that information prior to purchasing the stove, I was not happy at all. A six foot cord would easily reach the outlet. A four foot cord, not at all. I spent another several hours trying to access a human person at Frigidaire customer service to find out whether it was possible, say, to buy a longer cord. (and why pray tell I had been given incorrect information earlier?!?) Apparently not, and no one could tell me anything at all.

(I understand that customer service is an awful job, that pays badly, and that the people I am talking to are working from home, and know nothing at all about the products that people are calling them about. Still, that is most frustrating as a customer with legitimate questions not answerable by just looking at the website!)

Lovely stove, still not hooked up.

Five burners: 17,000 BTU (power burner), 5000 BTU (simmer burner), 2@ 9500 BTU (medium burner), 14,000 BTU (high burner)

While waiting on hold, I began reading the installation manual, where there was an entire section of one page about hooking up the electrical cord (Ummm it is a grounded plug, how hard is it to just make sure to plug it into a grounded outlet?) that talked about using an extension cord. So apparently people try and do that, which hadn't occurred to me. It should have, since I ran both my fridge and my chest freezer on extension cords for a number of years when I first moved here.

The best safe way is to make sure that the extension cord is both grounded and suitably rated for the necessary power draw. I was able to get a heavy duty 3 ft extension cord at the local hardware store so at least that problem is solved. The long bike ride to and from the hardware store did help my mental health somewhat, and fortunately I have a fair amount of pre-made meals in the freezer that only need thawed and microwaved (homemade soup, stuffed cabbage, teriyaki chicken) and between the micro and convection oven I will manage. But I am still annoyed at being lied to by both Lowes customer services and Frigidaire customer services.

Fingers crossed that my friend Chance will be able to do the installation. Waiting to hear back from him

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Tomorrow I go to the hospital diagnostics for an ultrasound of my middle, to try and discover what is causing the bulge in my navel.. So, early dinner and no breakfast tomorrow. Best likely option is an umbilical hernia, which will mean surgery. I am purposefully not thinking about various worse possible options.

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October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	tie-dye top	sample leaf and stem	yard waste bin
2	-	pruned Japanese maple	recycle bin
3	-	assemble OMAR	recycle bin
4	-	repaired door closer	-
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 gratitude - my new stove is in the building, long awaited and courtesy of the kindness of friends.