random Thursday thoughts

REI finally restocked the emergency radio that I ordered. It is delightfully small, and the hand crank seems to work to charge it up a bit for short term intermittent radio listening. The weather band option pulls in one channel, if the radio is turned in a peculiar orientation angle and held there. (I thought it did not work at all, and tried turning it at various angles and orientations till suddenly a faint mechanical voice started talking about the coastal and mountain weather...)

Shall have to see how the solar option works, as the reviews seem to indicate that as a better option. Unfortunately, the "charge your cell phone" option does not seem to work at all. (I had already acquired a suitable USB cord, and tested it by using the port on the computer to charge the phone, which worked perfectly) Running the hand crank creates some very odd sounds from the phone, but not the ones that indicate the battery being charged...

I'm thinking that eventually finding a solar charger for the phone and for AA and AAA rechargable batteries might be a good idea; the reviews on Amazon are rather discouraging, but it sure would be useful to have, for the phone and for flashlights. More research is definitely needed, and this is not a top of the list priority this week. (Next up on the list of emergency backups is to actually order some inexpensive online glasses) If anyone out there has experience with solar chargers for small batteries, chime in...

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oops - in the last few weeks I've been getting some studio work done (yay!), and I forgot about Crafternoon Sunday (boo!) ... I know there are a number of events this month (Fair in the Grove, May Crown, etc) that might preclude such fol-de-rol, so maybe just skip it?? I need to continue with my progress on the extant regailia projects due at the end of May, but if I go for a whole month without any real social time, I might not be a happy human...

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Backyard Bartlett peartree covered in white blossoms, the tiny Akane appletree has clusters of pink buds, and the feral rosebushes, on the other side of the yard, are looking extremely wild. My new idea is to create a hen-run along the south side of the yard, and let the rosebushes sprawl across the top, thereby discouraging overhead predators, not to mention getting the very prickly rose canes away from my tender flesh. First step, screw-eyes in the fence, which can anchor tiebacks to encourage the roses to grow up rather than out and across the yard.

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Has anyone seen my sewing mojo? Might the fact that my fabric stash has reached total randomisation and angle of repose, thereby requiring much effort and imagination to transform it back into the orderly supply depot that actually encourages use, have something to do with the lost mojo?? Not only do I not feel like sewing any new clothing, I am not even interested in checking out any sewing/costuming/design sites or magazines, a sure sign of some internal shift

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So, this weeks tasks, in addition to regularly scheduled work, are to: find/acquire some screw-eyes, measure my current frames and order glasses online, and look for the small angle brackets for my internal window covering project... Dealing with fabric will wait till the regalia projects are finished. Planting the boxes on the back deck will happen this weekend (rain or shine, I've let this go too long)

earth day

I remember Earth Day from when I was in high school, never thought that things would just go along from bad to worse over all these decades, but then it is easy to underestimate the power of inertia. Nonetheless, have always tried in my own life to make choices based on what is now called sustainability.

With that in mind, it seems rather delightful that today is the first day dry enough to hang laundry outside, and there, on the pear tree, amidst the white froth of blossom, is a busy honeybee... Happy pollination day! (Very lucky it is that there are two neighborhood beehives) Perhaps this year the tree will have developed enough roots to sustain a few fruit to maturity. The apple tree, with only three branches, is still very small, but has a few, yet unopened, flower buds. If life and work allow, I hope to get out in the yard and start digging, and setting up henyard fence. Though there is still frost each night, and it is still quite cold, spring is here.

media monday: Faun