Stick weaving continued, Misfits and missing checks

The nights are getting cooler,so I'm starting to bring in plants. Here's the curry leaf plant under an arch of orchids 

And you're invited along on the stick weaving experiment.  I found large eyed sewing needles, looped threads through the holes to hold the warp threads. And quickly ran into a number of learning opportunities. I thought the fine cotton thread would make a good warp, and embroidery floss would be a nice weft thread.

I found quickly that the weft threads would not slip over the head of the needles and over the knots to arrive on the warp threads. 

So I replaced the whole shebang with embroidery floss for both warp and weft, no knots.

That worked better, the weft loops sliding onto the warp threads pretty well.  Then the skill level of the weaver was tested, slippery thread, small needles, so many moving parts. 

I did a sample, pretty uneven, the tension being tricky. The loops have to be firm enough to take shape evenly but slack enough to slide over the needle eyes. 

Soooo I slid the first sample down the warp threads, out of the way, and made another run at it.  

Much better this time. This is hopeful. So now this sample is slid down the warp threads to join the first.

The reason to keep them is to see progress and see what I need to do better.  It's a learning tool. If you keep removing your mistakes you're throwing away the bread crumbs marking the path. 

It's the usual story, the simpler the tools the more skill is required of the weaver. 

I like the possibilities here, to make motifs for bigger artworks,  or decorative parts for functional items. After I've practiced quite a bit more. And possibly found needles with a smaller eye, but which can still accept floss.

I may have stumbled on my fall project, adventures in stick weaving with a Rube Goldberg twist.

Then I wanted to do something less demanding so I cooked lunch, an adaptation of a Wil Yeung recipe, spiced roast cauliflower, which I served over brown rice with a sprig of fresh peppermint.

Here's the set-up 

The jar on the left is a condiment that came with the Indian food, thinned with avocado oil, still pretty hot and very good. Then there's cumin, smoked paprika, and a baharat mix, the milder version from the Together cookbook. All tossed with the cauliflower in a bowl, then roasted 45 minutes at 400°f. 

This was a hot mix and I didn't have the makings of Wil's cooling sauce, so I thought I'd better have rice to calm it down a bit.

Which it did, and a sprig of fresh peppermint to chew on worked nicely too. There's more for tomorrow.

Remember my experiments with beating lime juice into yogurt? That's very close to the sauce Wil makes to drizzle over this dish. Definitely noted for future reference.

Finally Misfits arrived later than usual, cheerful Rameer delivering.

These beautiful apples, Cezanne would paint them first then eat them.

This was a very small order, between my forgetting bread and the blueberries not being available. Canned goods for the food pantry. Cheese for all kinds of ideas including a crustless spinach quiche planned, now that I also have enough eggs.

And our inner little kids will love the label on the fish.

My checks still haven't arrived and I'm fielding requests from the contractor to pay them the revised increased sum.  The money's in the bank, I just can't convey it to them. There's a hefty fee if I use a credit card.  They're okay just now, but it's awkward. And I hate to have Contractor Michael waiting after doing beautiful and prompt work for me. He's okay too, but I don't like it.

I want to get this all settled then next week start arranging the new heat pump ($$$) for the condo. Always something! 

Meanwhile back at the fireplace, the last bouquet of the season from the patio.

Happy day everyone, I think I need to breathe.  Join me! And Ted and Big Ursy