Saturday morning started lovely

 Saturday morning before things went a bit wrong, was wonderful. My secret stretch goal, hiking at the Preserve, local small wilderness area, I achieved. 

I thought it would never happen, so long since I could do it. And I did, including tricky outdoor surfaces.

Beginning kayakers learning 

Knot tying to learn and try. Vivid girl guide (scout) memories rushing back here.

Back at the center, seeing the lake again 

And here on the patio, further back.

After this lovely morning I got home and right outside my house, as I was parking, was distracted by kids fooling around me on bikes, hit the wrong pedal, jumped the kerb and hit the wall of my kitchen.  

Result was damage to wall and car and I'm deep in arrangements with contractors, HOA, insurance, neighbors being helpful. But I'm too distraught to answer any questions in here.  Just filling you in.

That's it for now. 

Back when I can.

Bottom line I'm fine

Not up to blogging right now. I'm fine. My car isn't. And my house where my car hit it, isn't either. Neighbors and son have been rallying round a lot.

Back when I can.  I have support and help, and nobody's injured.

Friday, HP, gardens and plans

June 27 is Handsome partner's birthday.  He died in 2011 on Handsome Son's birthday, so we decided to celebrate HP on his own birthday and reserve Handsome Son's own birthday for him. 

I had strawberries and graham crackers for breakfast, the strawberries in HPs honor, his favorite fruit, always at its best around his birthday. I used to feature strawberries in his birthday cake.

Friday I took sugar to the food pantry and found that the person who runs it has to do everything. So when I send my quarterly donation check, she has to go do the shopping. It adds to her workload. So I decided I'll spend the equivalent on useful nonperishables from Misfits and take that over instead.

Summer is a hungry time, with school out, and no lunch programs. She showed me her empty shelves. In our small town there are fifty families, all working people,  but unable to meet their expenses and needing the food pantry. 

I encourage everyone who wants to help to check locally what's needed, then provide what we can. Now more than ever it's a good thing to do. With bigger food banks, more employees and food contacts, money is more useful, but it pays to check their preference.

Today the daylilies are bursting out, and the patio looks so summery. Also cool enough to be out there. 

See all the buds on the hibiscus. Last year was its first, with two blooms. This year will be a bit more showy.

And I'm making more cordage, to continue the basket. I love doing this and my hands are limited in how long they can do the movements without locking up. So I seize the day, so as to have a supply ready.

Below is an experiment with fine rushes. They wouldn't twist, so I braided them into a decorative shape to attach to the finished basket 

This is how you use a clipboard for braiding. It's also good for  small weaving, especially paper strips.
 

And I baked the carrot cake. 

I included dried cranberries, but omitted the walnuts I had thought about including, because the boy next door is seriously allergic to nuts, and I wanted to share.

It's nice but so labor intensive no wonder it's special. All that grating of carrots. It's quite rich so I may not bother with a fancy frosting.  

Meanwhile my neighbors are happy with their share, showed me the kitchen they're renovating (I know, I've been hearing it happening nights and weekends for ages), and their daughter recruited me to help with her girl scout Gold Award. She's doing a project to help seniors avoid financial online scams.  

I'll be happy to help. I've worked with girl scout Gold Award projects before.  

Gary will also have his share of cake. 

Late addition: the cake got excellent reviews!

I have the fourth season of Foyle for my weekend viewing. The only little drawback to watching a series is the signature tune earworm.. currently it's Pie in the Sky, soon to be replaced by Foyle.

Friday evening I'm online with friends, so I have to remember to get supper in time.

Happy day everyone, please feed people if you can, sez 

Ted and Big Ursy 

Backed up by Food Warrior Fluffy.

Freecycle and Misfits, it's all go

Thursday morning I found a Freecycle offer I had to try for. First I checked that the heatwave had moved on

This required a walk, and I made it easily to the pond, stamina returning, and you see the drakes aren't panicking now when I show up. 

All the circles in the water are frogs landing. They drifted about, eyes above the water, checking.

This tree is about halfway home, in early morning sun.

I found branches down from the trees, after the recent storms, including this lovely beech twig, playing the part of the daily bouquet.

Below are the Dollivers.

Then I checked the Freecycle offer, sugar, probably somebody trying to eliminate it, having stockpiled. I use sugar in moderation, so, fine for me. And it turned out to be only five minutes away.

Here it is in the freezer now, white, dark brown and confectioner's, a lifetime supply.

 I'll probably also share it around. I expect the Food Pantry can use some. I'll check first, to make sure.

Going to collect was like old times, quite a while since I was up to Freecycling, other than leaving items for pickup.

Then, it's all go, there was Quinn bringing Misfits.

Here after washing 

Wonderful peak season produce, the carrots sweet as sugar, berries at prime, peppers large and lovely, Envy apples available again, yellow potatoes for roasting.

Graham crackers for faux key lime pie, yogurt same, strawberries, there might be jam or sauce, apricots same, sardines for fast sandwiches with capers and olives, summer food reigns.

There may be carrot cake with yogurt frosting. Stay tuned.

I did another workout last night with April and her mom, a walking workout,the equivalent of a mile, indoors with a lot of varied additional moves. This was all cardio, since the previous day was weights. It definitely showed up in the ease of walking this morning.  It's paying off. 

I've used up most of my cordage for the little basket, so I'll have to make more. I'm off to damp down some of my dried daylilies, so I can work the fibers without breaking them. I'm very glad I remembered this project, just fits right now, as Jeannie would agree.

Happy day everyone, all the art and food that fits!

Show and tell. Sumer is icumen in

Summer is officially here, solstice, heatwave, all that. So sumer clouts are out and about.

Here's the robe I hand-stitched last year from a  Freecycled sheet. I really like it. 

I gave it the features I like, such as inside ties, a hanging loop, deep patch pockets, cuffs, the right length not to trip me on the stairs. 

Then skirts are just the thing right now.

Unpressed pleats, this cotton blend skirt, made from another Freecycled sheet,  has a side opening, stay tuned for the reason 

A Lucy Locket pocket.  It's a teardrop shape with a slit opening. You tie it around the waist under your skirt, so it's hidden. 

It doesn't pull on the skirt because it's separate from it. And you design the slit and depth to suit your own hand.  I used some unbleached muslin and friend-donated bias binding.

You can stuff a lot of things in  safely, and they won't fall out, because the top is closed, and you access it via the side skirt opening.

This is a centuries' old idea, and is the kind of pocket Lucy Locket lost, in case you ever wondered how in the name of historybounding a person could possibly lose a pocket.

These pockets took the place of tote bags. You could stow away a dozen eggs in a big one, or even transport a live chicken to market, easier than carrying it.  Nowadays it works for your phone, Kindle, wallet, banana sandwich, knitting,  your choice of size and purpose. 

This is more fun than shopping. You make what you want, in your own size, not something a garment designer thought someone like you should have. 

To be fair, they're trying to fit a huge range of body sizes and tastes, so they have to pretty much make an average, and most sizes probably fit nobody.  By the time you've altered a garment you buy, you might as well have made it how you want it. 

Hand sewing puts you in touch with history as very few other tasks do. Spinning, too.  

Happy day everyone. What simple processes do you enjoy?  Can be anything, mowing with a non motorized push mower, washing dishes by hand, knitting and crocheting yarn you spun, saving and planting seeds. It's all good.

 

And it's not DEI. it's DEIA. A for accessibility.