Finishes and finches

Early morning on the deck in June 

This is a good start to the day.

I finished the kimono sash, at least finished weaving it. Now I have to decide on the actual finishing, braiding, knotting, something. It's long enough, so that's good 

And here's why I love clasped weft.

Every pick (row) presents a new decision like a brush stroke. You see this in progress. Where should the blue thread land? 

There's nothing rote about this, and for me that's where the joy is found. It's a conversation with the threads.

This afternoon I was out just sitting, reading a bit, mainly listening to the wind in the trees. When it eventually died down, birds started up. 

I heard a lovely melody and saw small birds whipping past. I thought at first goldfinches because we have a local pair. Then I noticed a pair of house finches, the male doing the singing.

So I opened YouTube to a video of housefinch song 

And we had a duet. I think the real life male may have thought there was a male intruder in his territory, so rather than upset him, I switched off.

I've done this before with recorded sounds and real birds, but only briefly, not wishing to upset their domestic arrangements. 

Please don't come at me with that bird app, I would rather observe and detect. That's the fun of it, not having an app jump in, know-it-all, and spoil the joy. Just sayin. Some people like them, I don't.

Today I baked hobnobs, which seem to be a lot like ANZAC biscuits which I usually make for the Day, in honor of my NZ and Oz blogistas 

I sampled a couple of them on the deck between bird sightings with a pot of tea.

Happy day, eat cookies, watch birds, just generally do nothing, in honor of the Summer Solstice, whenever it comes, I usually miss the solstices by a day.

I swiped this from Barbara's blog. I like how it honors the fields of grain and Ukrainian artwork.