Labor Day observed

Happy Labor Day, which Handsome Son is observing by working, ironically in his unionized job. I'm observing it by reading in bed with a cup of tea and an Elin Hilderbrand fluff book and blogging.  

The weather is blessedly cooler, in fact I broke out the quilt last night, and slept very well, with benign, if confused, dreams.

Yesterday however did not start auspiciously. The bathroom sink has been draining ever more slowly, despite plunging, which worked temporarily, over the last couple of weeks.

I wondered if I might have to undo and clean out the gooseneck pipe,  under the sink, but one look told me it needs a big wrench which I don't have. And my neighbor is helping his daughter move house, couldn't possibly impose on him.

So I did the baking soda and vinegar application, which foamed up very excitingly, then I added water to wash it diwn. Whereupon it stopped dead. Half a basin of brown water, from the vinegar, no drainage at all. Holiday weekend, this is exactly when this happens.

Sooooo I plunged and plunged and plunged, arms tired, then plunged one finger blocking the outlet in the front of the sink to force the action down to the pipe, not around the underside of the sink. 

Result was a blocked sink now full of nasty gunk. Oh. More plunging. More. Then finally a gluguguging and the sink drained and is now clean and draining like a champion. 

You definitely don't want a before picture, but here's an after picture

Repeat for the people at the back: this picture is after it drained, just to be clear. 

I confused people yesterday by showing the pruned maranta plant, not a before picture of the shaggy looking specimen it was before pruning. And I find people read the pictures more than the words. So when I explain in words what's up, they miss a step.

As a lifelong word person as well as artist, I tend to forget this. But I do treasure the word people. And I'll try to be clearer.

Anyway I was so happy with the sink result, without plumbers or neighbors or wrenches, that I had to run in here and brag.

For me there's not a lot of difference between holiday weekends and others. Just no mail, no library.  No big plans on any of them. Family of two, one of us working.

When I feel deprived, which I do, keenly, hearing friends' accounts of family visits, I try to remember my advantages. Which were illustrated recently in a chat with next door neighbor.

He has a life full of family and connections, high income even in retirement, active, smart, happy guy, seemingly enviable. We were talking about his butterfly bush which is huge and very visible, complete with wildlife, from my vantage point on the sofa.

I commented that I'd had hummingbird sightings, as I looked up from the artwork I'm beading, to rest my eyes. He suddenly got this really poignant longing expression, and said quietly, that must be a perfect life!

I remembered that other people's lives tend to look rosier to the observer. It was a good reminder. I know he longs to make art, and I've encouraged him to try his hand. 

Like a lot of onlookers though, I think he wants to make art like someone who's been doing it for decades. Or playing music like a pro.  Being a beginner and looking a fool, putting in the thousands of hours is a bit less appealing. 

But just the experience of trying is worth it. I think a lot of us are trained to go for product rather than the experience of the making. You can have great satisfaction in making, even if what you make isn't exactly what you hoped for. And you don't have to show anyone. 

Hop down from the soapbox, self, and move on to bread. I finally got around to making a giant loaf, whole wheat, oatmeal and white, yesterday 

The oatmeal makes a lovely crisp not hard crust, and look at that crumb. The white opens it up a bit like that.

And here's the makings of a great supper.

Tomato lemon jam, Irish butter, Vermont sharp white cheddar, bread warm from the oven.

Jam with sharp cheese is a combo made in heaven.

Back to reading fluff now. Happy Labor Day, if you celebrate it, happy Bank Holiday, dear Brits, Happy New Year if you're embarking on Rosh Hashanah. Happy Monday if you are in yet another group!