The thanksgiving cactus is budding up nicely, just in time.
And I'm up for a quiet day, cannellini and chard soup, roast cheesy potatoes, jigsaw puzzle, all planned.
And reading is appropriate for the day
I'm thankful I'm able to do what I do, and for the generous presence of all you blogistas! If it's just Thursday where you are, happy day anyway. Or if it's Friday, same, same.
Tuesday was a day of getting stuff done. I finished the gang of dolls in the morning while listening to the Meidas Touch podcast
And got them off in the mail, waiting at the PO along with half the town, who probably thought as I did, that there wouldn't be anyone at the Post office today.
Then I got to the Tuesday Knitting Group library, and saw our display in action
And on to the group, with a new member whose project was challenging
While others of us went on with other works in progress
Chat ranged over teaching Latin and voice, following jobs, moving, widowhood, cat names, furniture-eating dogs, Iron Man triathlons, aging parents, Thanksgiving, animal rescue, Dorset buttons and more.
Then home to an early Misfits delivery because of the holiday
Then Textiles and Tea with an artist who founded the Chicago Weaving School and is also a freeform cloth artist.
Seen here in the weaving classroom.
She's a very intuitive worker, who says if you know the answer already, there's no point in making the work. It's about discovery, not about confirmation. I totally subscribe to this vision, so I was glad to see her in the world of weaving, usually such a plan-and-execute world.
See some of her work here
Happy day everyone, full one for me, maybe Wednesday a little less so..
Today, sunny and cool, I got a walk in, not very far, hip tiring quickly and I forgot to bring Carol Cane, but it was lovely anyway, interesting local sights. The colors are still beautiful, berries and some leaves still on the trees.
Then home to make a quick pasta with red sauce, dessert of chocolate cherries.
And a whole lot of work on the dolls. Here's where baffled people see how these dolls are constructed.
Stitch the body like a tube, seam at the back, stuff with batting, run a thread round the neck, draw up to form the head, do likewise to draw closed the feet.
Then stitch right through the body to form arms and legs -- I like how they seem to have their hands in their pockets. It's a kind of simple soft sculpture. Then stitch facial features, simpler the better. And suddenly -- people!
I have two more to go, then I'll send them off.
It's definitely calming to have this kind of work on hand, and to know it's going into good (little) hands.
Happy day everyone, find whatever helps you get or stay calm and strong, might be any number of things. If you've found a good idea, would you share it here? Thank you.
The equality flag needs to be seen in here regularly now, in view of the new threats.
Five doll bodies awaiting stitching and stuffing.
I think Monday is s and s day. You'll understand all about how the process works when I post on Tuesday. Which will also be Misfits day on account of the holiday which falls on my usual delivery day.
Thanksgiving will be declared chez Boud on Saturday. Just a simple nice day, shared cooking. I'll do my cranberry sauce and some corn and peas. Handsome Son will bring garlic potatoes and probably sliced turkey. There will be cheese and crackers to start, ginger ale to accompany and pie to finish. At least that's the plan.
Sunday I gassed the car, which I hate because of the titanic struggle to reach and pull the release for the gas cap, the lever being right where I can't bend far enough to get my hand in it.
I always have to open the door to see what I'm doing, and struggle about while the attendant keeps asking what I want and I can't hear because my head's under the dash.
Good thing I have high mpg and don't drive much. While I was at it, I returned Cranford and Timothy Snyder to the library in the town where the gas station is. No gas station in my town.
So all's well. Happy day everyone, keep your spirits and resistance all gassed up.
I realized I could post the pattern for the Izzy doll, so here goes
If you (can) read the bottom para you'll understand the construction.
You can Google on Izzy doll to see its poignant history. Please note, Izzy's mother made her pattern universally free and available for dolls to give to children in crisis, not just cute toys. And always to be given, not sold nor bartered.
And here's where I am with this group
Aiming for half a dozen to get in the mail next week. The person who will distribute them is eagerly waiting now.
And friend C. is coming through with more small quantities of various colored yarns, just right. Possibly also for stripey socks for the Sock 'n Glove Ministry, we'll see. And for the use of beginners at the two libraries I go to for knitting groups.
Lunch today is a bowl of lentil carrot soup with fresh spinach wilted in, followed by chocolate cherries. All food groups in attendance.
In the course of looking for audio to accompany knitting, I came across an old favorite, QI.
I also found another advantage to hearing aids: I can get all their jokes now, not just some. Highly recommend.
Happy day everyone, my power company tells me I'm one of the most economical customers in my house size and (house) age. Yay me.
