Poor but happy, future art exploits, and other news

 I notified my knitting group leader that if the weather, raining, lashing, sloshing, gurgling down all day, eased up, I'd come to the group. If not I'd do my taxes.

It didn't, so I did my taxes and found, as suspected, that my income from all sources, is below the filing threshold. But I had to go through all the numbers to establish that and to complete the Freeze forms for the real estate tax refund. 

To be honest, if I had more money, I'd probably give it away anyway. I live so happily on what I have.   Income continues to exceed outgo overall. 

Result, as Mr Micawber would say, happiness. He had found out the hard way, by being slung into debtor's prison, so he should know.

And I set up future art adventures, using scrap cardboard and papers a la lovely Darrell Wakelam. I ordered his book Art Shaped from an indie bookseller who includes shipping to the US, yay. I've shown you some of his ideas using paper plates, and I think some grandchildren might have been introduced to his designs.  

Consider the decks officially, not cleared, but pre-cluttered 

Darrell's happy. He agrees with me though he teaches children, that it's not the number of years in the child, but the amount of child in the years. 

Meanwhile look at this. New photographic approaches are allowing researchers handling ancient manuscripts and other items to detect for the first time, images and messages added to them by pressing into the surface without marking. 

They're now finding them on medieval manuscripts. And here's another application of the technology, a copper plate, one side used, but look what's on the other side

Waste not want not. Copper's expensive.

I needed something for lunch and I remembered years ago having a wonderful mac and cheese, at the convent where I send the gloves and socks, to be exact. I asked about it at the time, and found the sister cooking that week added a couple of cheeses, not just cheddar.

So I did

I was short of penne, nearest I had to macaroni, so I added in broken #8 spaghetti. And no green vegetables, so it was carrots.

Good for several meals. It needs a touch more salt, so I'll add as I go.

And, smug at having disposed of federal and state tax requirements all at once, I had a celebratory afternoon cup of chocolate with a slice of cinnamon toast. 

Perfect for a cold wet grey February afternoon.

When in doubt, a slice of cinnamon toast will do it.

Happy evening everyone! May all your toast land butter side up.