Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Finally, bread, Tuesday knitting group, Textiles and Tea

The endless cold rainy weather finally pushed me to making bread. Yesterday's soup, of tomatoes, chicken and chickpeas, in a broth of chicken and dandelion greens, needed an accompaniment.

So here's whole-wheat, AP and chickpea flour, big loaf to cut into four, three now in the freezer. 



It's got great flavor and you see a nice dense texture. The crust is crisp, not hard. This is so much better than the bread I bought for several weeks till I got my baking mojo back. One slice is as satisfying as a couple of the air filled shop loaves, even though they were wholegrain with seeds and good stuff.

This is helping with my current struggle with being a civilian again, no medical people hovering and advising and encouraging, neighbors off high alert.  There's a lonely re-entry phase and it's not easy. 

The drama's over, things are pretty smooth, and all the people have gone away again. I wonder if old people who often consult doctors are in need of personal attention as much as medical guidance.  Anyway, I knew there would be a letdown and it's here. 

It's made room to be more distraught about the endless bad political news, so I need a new coping strategy. I'll let you know if I find one. 

Activism I always have, and here's where I remember to say thank you to readers, particularly new and helpful commenters. 

You are more important to my mental health than you know. Much more, particularly the good humored people, who, despite their own struggles, are still generous enough to encourage me.

I continue to be a bit accident prone, in the style of the Three Stooges. Today's feat: I managed, while rinsing a cup, to aim about a pint of water up my bathrobe sleeve, then when I looked down at it, it poured back over my feet. So by seven am I'd already changed to a second, dry, robe and socks.  This wasn't the coping strategy I had in mind.

But this sustaining lunch was a good step 

Cod baked with butter, salt and black pepper, with fresh apricots, celery including clippings of foliage from the celery heart growing in the kitchen.

Today's Tuesday knitting group was my reentry! Welcomed back by old friends, and there were three new people all wanting to learn. So, our usual great teacher absent on family business, two of us heroically offered to teach crochet. They were all adept and it was a fun session.  So good to be back.


In the foreground, my crocheting staggers on



Lovely stitch pattern for a headband.

In between learning and showing, talk ranged over antique dolls, garage sales, Indian embroidery, grandchildren, weather, flying with knitting needles, the Dollivers, "Amelie", and more. 

Then home to  Textiles and Tea with Johanna Norry,  who works in collaborative and solo weaving,  with photography, examining personal and social history.  She's a professor of textiles with degrees both in textiles and anthropology.




two collaged family photographs of the same people, different times


A relative whose figure was described more than the crime she was accused of, a social commentary.


This is an indigo painted piece, woven ikat style


here's one of my favorite techniques, clasped weft, dramatic results but simple in execution, a collaborative pair.



This is a cross stitch selfie, 6" x4", with about 100 hours of work in it. She designed it with an app then stitched the result.


here are photographs of her daughter and her, woven together and paired with a collaged weaving

Happy day, everyone. Mine certainly was.





42 comments:

  1. In the small print, note that the woman under arrest is also described as "brilliant". Just not enough to merit bigger print.

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  2. That bread and that dinner dish both look mouth watering. Nice.

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    1. They're pretty good. The fish took no time at all.

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  3. Pouring water into the sleeve of a robe and making a bigger mess sounds more like a Miss Merry move! I bet it felt so good to be back to your crochet group!

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    1. It was a first for me. I didn't have my eyes open yet! It was lovely to see my friends again.

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  4. I can see why you would feel a bit isolated and lonely for awhile. Fortunately, you have your knitting circle, and you have a very keen mind that can take you places. I have thought about your dislike of Morse. I can understand why. I can tell you that by the end of the series, I really grew to like him, and was deeply touched when he passed in the final episode. Just maybe, you would like him after a season or two, once you’ve caught up on other series and are looking for a filler.

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    1. Interesting thought about Morse. We'll see. Meanwhile I have a season of Judge Deed to see.

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  5. I know what you mean by getting your mojo back.
    I’ve not touched my Sewing machine for months and months. And now suddenly
    I’m enjoying it again
    I try to limit my bad news time.
    I do like watching reels of positive news from the trenches so to speak.
    How towns. On mass. Have protested for the release of member of their community. And now, they’re winning and those taken by ICE have been returned
    This keeps me from drowning in that black hole of hopelessness and depression.
    As always your food looks very yummy

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    1. Sometimes it's hard to know why mojo returns, though it's welcome when it does. I can't blame you for selecting good news, if you can find it.

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  6. I know what you mean about the lonely re-entry to normal living after so much medical attention (and friendly caring from others). I worried a bit about it until I was actually cut loose, and I was relieved to find I was happy to soar free from all the oversight. You've done great with your recovery and strength building. And that bread looks amazing.

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    1. In one way, yes, I'm not under observation any more! However, you don't live alone, so I think our situations are different.

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  7. I'm sure everyone was happy to have you back at the Knitting Group!

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    1. Well, I was certainly happy to see them. Just the ticket for today.

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  8. All of the craft things are amazing to me, The crafting gene skipped me altogether, though my oldest daughter and grand daughter both have it.

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    1. It's true that crafty interests skip a generation. I know a few grandmothers working with grandchildren whose parents don't craft. And sometimes are a bit baffled by the passion!

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  9. I'm sorry you're feeling a little bereft. I'm sure you're right about elderly people consulting doctors for human contact as much as any other reason. That's why hospital cafes are always full of people - it's a social outing.

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    1. Bereft is exactly the right word! But I do have good enough health to find what company I might need, so there's that. It's that caring focus that good medical people bring that you miss.

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  10. Your comment about elderly and medical attention brought to mind my Grandmother - clearly lonely after her move from the farm (and her lifelong community) to a city. Suddenly she's old and ill and before long a valium addict. My aunt, a nurse, moved her in and dealt with the valium thing but it has always stuck with me that even a robust, active woman like my grandmother fell prey to over medicalization when she struggled to cope with change. As for the water up (or down) the sleeve - been there done that and wondered how??? Envious of your bread. I am cotemating working out if I can bake bread in an electric fry pan. A real oven seems an awfully long way off and I long for the smell of some baking yeast or sour dough.

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    1. That's such a case in point about your grandmother. I can't imagine a worse hell than living in a city, having done so in the past. Just not for a country or suburban woman.
      I definitely think you can make a yeast flatbread in an electric pan. It's just a tiny oven. Go for it!

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  11. Glad you’re back at knitting group.
    Such a shame she was plump. Proof positive she was a criminal.
    Yes, please, when you find a new coping mechanism, tell me.

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    1. The figure tells all! You don't really need mugshots, just BMI will do it.
      I'll definitely let everyone know, for a small recurring fee, about my upcoming coping mechanism. Meanwhile you can sign up with a small deposit.

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  12. I also am so grateful for this blogging community. I can take it with me wherever I go too (as long as there's wi-fi - which is another big gratitude thing!) Love your textile posts, since I just appreciate the fabric arts these days. Oh my gracious that cross stitch portrait! But maybe my new med will help me have some control of my old fingers again! No pain (or not much) just terrible shakes. Can still type, probably since I do so several times a day!

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    1. Yes, I hear you on the real community you can build online. That hand tremor is a real pest, and I hope your new med relieves it. Your typing is so accurate I'd never have known. I hope other blogistas check out your blog with all kinds of news and art, I love it.

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  13. Living alone for decades blogging and pen pals and a cat have been my social life--lol! Love the look of that bread! Nice to get back with your knitting group, I'm sure. And, as usual, you find the most interesting textile art. Have a wonderful day. :)

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    1. Rita, you're the poster child for living alone with grace and a sense of humor!

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  14. So glad you returned to your knitting group because I'm sure you were missed. As for the discussion over elderly consulting doctors more for the human contact, I suspect that it's true in a lot of cases. I know here if you're trying to get a doctor often one of the first questions is your age and then you are told that they are not taking older patients. You would think that they would be able to bill OHIP for the same office visit whether the patient be old or young. Perhaps it comes down to the loneliness factor and it's difficult to move people along if they want to chat which in turn eats into the available time.

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    1. I wonder if that's the case. It's a bit hard on an old person who actually needs a doctor for medical reasons.

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  15. You've given me a lot to ponder when it comes to becoming socially isolated in our older years. Right now I have plenty of company whenever I want it, mostly through family, but things could change. No one knows. The story that Tigger's Mum told is such a sad one. I feel like if I had to be inside all the time in an urban situation it might kill me. I think you have a very good situation where you live. You can be outside on your terrace or inside if you choose.
    I've been wondering when you'd go back to knitting group. I'm so glad you did.
    And can I point out that the short, plump, brilliant woman had a short, plump husband? No one mentioned that. "Short, plump woman arrested for attempted murder of short, plump husband."

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    1. I've always insisted on a balcony, even when I was obliged to live in an apartment. Also a view of sky.
      It's wise to cultivate your own resources, because, as you say, today there may be a lot of people but who knows? People move, things happen.
      This was the first Tuesday I had free from PT, so I went, and it was great.

      They don't say that he was the victim because he was plump!

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  16. I'm sure "re-entry" will take some adjusting. I'm glad you're healing, and already back at your knitting (and/or crocheting) group!

    The piece about the "short, plump" woman was appalling. And yet I can imagine some "news" outlets (I use the term loosely) being just as dismissive today.

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    1. The way women are routinely described by appearance, even when they're Prime Minister, hasn't gone away, sigh.
      I'm looking on this as a period of decision making -- who do I want to be in touch with, and is it reciprocated, etc.. No rush!

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  17. Making homemade bread is always comforting to me, and that reminds me that it has been awhile since any has been made, so a weekend project. We enjoy fish in all forms and cod and haddock are my husband's favorites, but mine are salmon , shrimp and scallops so guess my tastes can be more costly 😏 I can imagine how wonderful it feels to be back with friends doing what you enjoy.

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    1. When I get around to baking bread I'm always glad I did. I hope you'll blog about it when you do. If you like scallops you're definitely at the high end!

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  18. Great post. That bread looks amazing. We are having cod tonight for dinner.

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    1. I do like cod. The texture, the way you can do a lot with it.

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  19. It's good you went to your knitting group. Joining groups like that sure helps us get out to socialize.

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    1. This one is particularly friendly and kind, the best I've been in.

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  20. Your meals always look so pretty!
    Now Husband has been discharged, pretty much, there is a sense of well, should we check with someone? But there's no need to. it is weird getting back to normal after a time of intensity.

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    1. Yes, you get it. Coming off high alert and reporting symptoms is something to deal with. yours was particularly long and drawn out with many postponements,a lot of hurry up and wait.

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  21. Yay for the Knitting group. Life is returning to pre surgery activities!

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