Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine changes her plans...

Progress is happening on the handstitched cardigan... the basic assembly is done, and I am planning on stitching reinforcement strips along the center front, and body and sleeve hemlines next (I do this to help keep the edges from curling, which jersey knit is prone to doing), binding the neckline edge, and finally sewing on the snaps! In addition, Marya pointed out that the plaid wool in my Fabric Resource Center coordinated perfectly with the cardigan I have been working on!

I might have to will change up my SWAP plans yet again, and make a plaid pinafore instead of a brown one... The real difficulty I am having is finding fabric that works for what I need to add to my wardrobe, and that also works with the SWAP guidelines, but I think that this revised plan pencils out...

Choose two neutral colours: black and indigo, 3 garments from each colorway

1. black randomwale corduroy pinafore
2. black DWR rain poncho
3. black knit top

4. indigo dark denim pinafore (already made, from SWAP 2017)
5. indigo pinstripe top
6. indigo rayon popover top

Choose 1 accent color: brown, 2 prints: a brown/indigo plaid, and a floral print; one garment in each of these -

7. brown knit top (can use RTW Uniqlo turtleneck)
8. brown/indigo plaid pinafore
9. floral print cotton blouse

2 more additional garments in colors already chosen

10. brown/black flannel top
11. Alabama Chanin style cotton jersey cardigan

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adding a "candy" thermometer to the kitchen tools was long on my list. While I am not a confectioner, it will make judging when jam and marmalade are fully cooked a lot easier. I found one at my local New Seasons, instead of having to order from Amazon, and tested it as soon as I got home. Boiling water at sea level is 212 F. I did have to adjust the dial just a few degrees, which was very simple, as the storage case the thermometer fits into has a hexnut wrench built into the case!

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While out running errands today, I saw a flyer that our neighborhood association will be giving away 25 free fruit trees at the beginning of March. Not sure if I will be lucky in the lottery, but I did fill out the form, because who knows? I am asking for a Smyra Quince, out of the list of trees available, in the hope that not that many people will want a quince, whereas one has been on my list for years now, and I have the perfect spot picked out...

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Slavic scroll blank	-	cracked water barrel
2	another A/C sleeve	-	bag to Goodwill
3	grapefruit marmalade	-	-
4	Seville marmalade	-	-
5	x	-	-
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

grateful for: my excellent neighbors to the south

wistful Wednesday and some Thursday thoughts

in which our plucky heroine struggles for dynamic equilibrium...

Springtime seems to come earlier each year, and while I love the new growth, and the sweet scent of daphne from my neighbor Carla's yard, springtime is always a difficult time of year as well. Being alone when all the adverts are about love and connection always feels a bit like salt in a wound, though I remind self that being single is better than being in a bad or abusive relationship, I look around and see so many of my friends with the kind of ongoing kindhearted daily connections that I do not have and at this point will never have. I try my best to focus instead on what is positive, and to find things to be grateful for every day.

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Am finally feeling better after whatever viral beasties attacked last week.  I managed to get over to Marya's house again for some more scribal shenanigans. I've been doing some custom "blanks", decorated original border designs that will be used when something more individual than a charter is needed. Since these have not been handed out yet, I can't show the whole thing, but here are a few tidbits from the Slavic style one I was working on last week

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There were a few organic Seville oranges at New Seasons this week, and as these rarely ever only occasionally show up, and not every year, I made certain to bring home a few pounds to make up a final batch of marmalade for the year. Seville oranges are closer to the ancestral citrus, and are much more bitter and full of seeds than our more common choices, and are used to make the lovely bitter-ish British style marmalade. I now have another eleven little jars for the pantry.

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I'm beginning to stitch together the A/C cardigan, and had better think about the rest of the SWAP pieces. Methinks that what I really need are either tops or dresses, possibly another cardigan or jacket, or another pair of cropped pants for cold weather layering. My closet is pretty abundant in the pinafore category. Time to go poke around in the Fabric Resource center and see what is appealing...

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Along with SWAP garments, we have the option of an additional "accessory". I am torn between my need for a new hat, and the idea of making a focal necklace from large fabric beads... A while back, I made these red beads for a friend, from some vintage Guatemalan ikat, and it occurred to me that something similar made from some of my other precious ikat pieces would be quite fun to wear.

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Slavic scroll blank	-	cracked water barrel
2	another A/C sleeve	-	bag to Goodwill
3	grapefruit marmalade	-	-
4	Seville marmalade	-	-
5	x	-	-
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

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grateful for - the tender relentless approach of spring, which continually shifts the colors that I see every day. Tree buds and snowdrops, garlic sprouting and hellebore blooming...

sick for days

in which our plucky heroine is as hollow as a stalk of bamboo...

I have been quite ill for the last several days, and while I will spare all and sundry the gory details, my first comment says it all. The numbers on my scale have gone down almost ten pounds, but I certainly do not recommend this...

I have been sipping this rehydration solution which tastes peculiar but seems to help. Today, as I have been able to stay upright and awake for slightly longer, and as my fever seems to have abated, I cooked a tiny amount of plain white rice, and plan to add it to some of the "broth in a box" which has been next on my list of inputs. I keep the plain broth on my earthquake shelf, and having it here has been a great help when I am feeling too feeble to leave the house to go shopping. Indeed, it would also have helped to have some of the rice noodles on hand, as they cook a lot faster than even white rice. I will add them to the shelf when I am feeling robust enough to shop again. The resilience of a small shelf of easy to fix and eat supplies is not only useful for natural disasters, but more commonly and frequently for the smaller domestic and personal disasters such as illness.

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When I was on my way over to Marya's house for some scribal fun on the day before I was laid low, there was clear indication that wintertime will soon be gone - the hedge at the far end of her street has started to bloom!

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Sadly, the last few days have consisted of only resting and recovery, though I am quite grateful for being able to stay home, and not share being ill with others, and for having supplies here to take care of myself. (I am not looking forward to my utility bill to come, since I have turned the portable heaters on in both the bedroom and the bathroom for the last few days.) It also has become clear to me that my prior strategy of letting things get into a bit of a mess for a few days, and then cleaning and tidying, is not a good idea... I was just getting ready to do a big push, and deal with Mt Washmore and Mt Dishmore when I fell ill, and having to look at a sink full of dirty dishes, or a pile of unfolded clothing, without having the energy to deal with what is usually a minor effort, has been very discouraging. In fact, it has furthered my recovery in that all I want to do is dive back under the covers and sleep some more! But again, not a recommended strategy. When I am actually feeling better, I will do my best to end each day with a cleaner slate!

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February SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	Slavic scroll blank	-	-
2	x	-	-
3	x	-	-
4	x	-	-
5	x	-	-
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

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