Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine may be improving...

Headache does seem to be fading, and while not as much is getting done as desired, there is some slow progress. Today I had the idea to set myself an ongoing challenge "three bags full": to go through the house finding things to declutter, recycle, and rehome. But instead of taking that to heart, I ran away in the middle of the sunshiny day to the post office and the makerspace. Tomorrow will be soon enough for more house tasks, like picking the rest of the quinces, sorting through detritus, and catching up on Mt Washmore. 

Today there were two more additions to this years Advent Swap participants: Donna package of treats arrived in my mailbox, and Helga dropped off her contribution this afternoon while I was out gallivanting running errands and cutting out leaves at PCC.

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~ a small selection ~

Origami paper makes good tiny gift wrappings. These are not for the Advent Swap, but are now on their way to my pal Cricket. I've been gathering an assortment of found and/or made tinyworld treats to send to her for months now, and finally managed to get them all wrapped and posted...

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In natural world news: TIL that fuschia berries are edible. After some online research, I tried eating one. It had a mild slightly sweet flavor. Apparently all parts of the plant are edible! Since this year there are many many berries on my hardy fuschia I am going to pick them for future experiments... (scones? preserves? garnish for museli?)

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This triskele ball is an intriguingly shaped object cleverly made, and could be decorated in various ways. I imagine block printing...

 
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Today I once again went out in the middle of the day to the PCC Makerspace, this time to use their Cricut machine to cut out monstera leaves (for a second plant for Kenya's future room) Cansons colored paper worked really well for that, and the instructional video shows using watercolor paint to add more depth and variation to the leaves.

The tiny spider plant is coming along well. I've been combining advice from assorted video tutorials to find something that works, using what materials are on hand here: paper colored with markers, colored pencils, and white gelli pen. Tape along the bottom edge, then rolled and glued. Unplied a bit of linen? twine then used white glue to smooth and strengthen the single ply to use for stems, and some of the left over snippets of paper and twine will turn into spider plant babies. Wonder if it may need a macrame hanger...

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October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	tiny Wishbone chair	wheels for 2nd RÅSKOG	greenwaste bin
2	laser cut trinket shelves	tidy living room	recycle bin
3	vortex bottles	-	recycle bin
4	2 wee Dala horses	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- My ballot wasn't lost, just a day late... Informed delivery showed it arriving on Saturday, but nope. Thankfully it was in the mailbox today, though I had already tagged it as missing.
- A tiny spider plant made from paper and thread is adorable
- My aching head is gradually becoming less obtrusive (though I still feel less than 100%.) Don't feel poorly enough to need any medical attention, but don't feel quite right. Took a nap for several hours this afternoon, and am glad I have a life where I can rest when needed
- was able to find a sheet of inexpensive block printing paper at the art store to use with the fern cutter, and that will also be useful for the new tiny eraser stamp book I want to make.
- the front porch wind chime never fails to brighten my spirit when at random times a breeze calls up some notes

Time of Isolation - Day 2284

Friday fragments

in which our plucky heroine is delighted!...

Exciting news! The first package of this years advent swap goodies has arrived here at Acorn Cottage today ~ Huzzah for Courtney Jensen !! I was surprised and pleased to find a package waiting in the new "delivery Box Of Holding" on the front porch here

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~ autumnal ~

Sometimes I cannot resist getting myself a treat, rather like the lolly pop after doctor visits as a child. Since there were 2 difficult tasks in the last week, I now have two different botanical punches, a small one that makes a sort of fern, and an even smaller one that makes oak leaves. I've not yet found the right sort of paper for them, but the oak leaf punch works wonderfully on actual autumn leaves...

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I woke up with a headache. I hope I am not sick with the dreaded virus; took my temperature since usually headache means I have a fever, but nope. Just an all day headache. I don't feel sick, but I don't feel my usual self either. Early bedtime tonight and fingers crossed that helps. Several folks I know (though not local to me) got COVID in the last week or so.  

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Yesterday I rode my bike over to PCC and used the laser cutter on some 3mm birch plywood for the miniature MCM rocking chair sides and arm pieces. I've since been smoothing the perpendicular cut edges into a more rounded sculptural shape similar to the original. Really pleased at how much of a difference that makes. Next step will be to rummage in my fabric scraps for some suitable fabric to upholster the seat and back. Since BaharMiniature mentions in their comments that the rocker was based on the (vintage John Lewis) "Hendricks" chair, I was able to locate an image of the original for additional inspiration: 

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October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	tiny Wishbone chair	wheels for 2nd RÅSKOG	greenwaste bin
2	laser cut trinket shelves	tidy living room	recycle bin
3	vortex bottles	-	recycle bin
4	2 wee Dala horses	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- rounding the edges of the 3mm laser cut plywood definitely makes it look more like furniture...
- made good use of the unseasonably hot weather today by washing and line-drying all the pillowcases and the Moody Blues coverlet
- my friend Cricket has completed her cancer treatments

Time of Isolation - Day 2281

mindweek miniatures

in which our plucky heroine appreciates the small things in life...

My current "obsession" with tinyworld creations is in direct contrast to the larger bright world. It harms no one to take some time every day to do creative or whimsical activity, as long as daily care tasks also get done, and effort also towards leaving the world in as good or better shape as before. I do my best to fulfill all those directives.

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~ so very small ~

In the remaining time in the library makerspace workshop yesterday, after printing out the tiny planter design I created in TinkerCAD, I decided to try to extremely shrink a Dala horse design (from the free files) down to a bit less than 1cm. The limiting factor was the size of the extrusion nozzle in the equipment, which is why they appear slightly "grainy". It was a successful experiment none the less, as these little horses, barely bigger than my morning vitamin pills, will make great tinyworld decor for a dollhouse shelf or mantel.

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I an a materialist. my memories of the world are material concepts, not sounds or images, or people. I woke today just before 5 am from a dream of the 70's world. I am in a room with a hifi and I carefully clean the next record with the little brush made of plush and walnut. The sofas are low upholstered wood with integral storage backs for the records, there are hanging plants and low ceilings. It is an analog of the Radlos house in Boxborough. I am brushing my hair, but I am an analog me with thick dark straight hair. We are waiting for more friends to arrive. Then I wake up in my own bed, in this other 21st century dumpsterfire timeline. I wonder, as the sun rises in my east facing bedroom window in the bright world if my being a materialist is related to my aphantasia, and which came first...

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Today was my appointment to see the podiatry doctor about my cranky left foot. He asked a few questions, moved my foot in several directions, and had me push against his hand with my foot also in several directions. The diagnosis is peroneal tendonitis in my left foot. The treatment is to wear a brace to limit the movement in the left ankle for a month in the hope of seeing improvement.

It was quite difficult to handle the layers of lacing and velcro elastic that comprise the brace to my foot, due to the combination of very short dinosaur arms and not being particularly limber. I needed to  catch my breath and sit for a few minutes afterwards to let the pain in my hip and shoulders abate. As well, I was barely able to squeeze my now braced foot into my everyday shoe to go home afterwards. Still, if it helps my foot heal, without causing corollary damage elsewhere, it will be a worthwhile effort.

Once home my very first act was to remove my shoes and put on my felted wool slippers. Much relief. It turns out also possible to wear my plastic Birkenstock garden clogs, but I'm thinking about ordering another pair of wool Glerups clogs, since they now have a version with a rubber sole suitable for outdoor use.   

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Finding online TinkerCAD tutorials is very similar to finding online knitting tutorials - some are more easily understood than others for the same tasks. I've been rebuilding digital files for my very basic decorative MCM planter. Eventually there will be a nice assortment of  "vintage" furniture for Kenya Ogidni's tinyworld space. Also have been looking at tutorials for 1:12 scale house plants, which are very appropriate. While at the grocery store today I remembered seeing a while back that there was local brewery beer can decorated with a Carson Ellis blue on white harbor scene. How could I resist? Even though I loathe beer, it can be cut open to make a 5" wide x 4" tall mural for some tinyworld wall. Maybe a kitchen, or bathing room?

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October SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	tiny Wishbone chair	wheels for 2nd RÅSKOG	greenwaste bin
2	laser cut trinket shelves	tidy living room	recycle bin
3	vortex bottles	-	recycle bin
4	2 wee Dala horses	-	-
5	-	-	-
6	x	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- a very pretty lampwork bead found in the bike lane
- my sad left foot probably has tendonitis, not something worse
- the 3M abrasive discs for my flex shaft, useful for more than metal.

Time of Isolation - Day 2279