Grey and windy but spring anyway

Today, Sunday, is warm,  nearly 70°f and very windy, roaring in the trees. I went for what Handsome Partner used to call a little stumble round the block, stopping for a chat with Billie the Pup, then sat on the patio.

admiring the end of the snowdrops, there at the left of the deck, and the arrival of daffodil buds, squint, you'll see.

 

I thought of bringing out my tea on the deck, then considered whether it was advisable to be out in high winds, however warm, around very large old trees.  Tea and knitting indoors instead.

English breakfast as usual. This is from a different supplier and has a lovely fruity scent while being as snarling strong as I like it.

Minimal exercise today, no activism, just a quiet knitting reading napping stumbling day.  I'm using the hip kit tools, especially the grab thing, gosh, it's easier than hoisting myself about to reach things. I should have got one years ago. I'd have been less of a grouch. 

The completion of the glove is a good sign. I just didn't feel up to it the last few days, couldn't settle. 

I returned the puzzle untouched to the library, couldn't settle to that either. So I think I'm now getting a handle on what's up. It's hard in a time of national chaos, so I have to limit my exposure and response. 

The currently available Andy Carpenter is an audiobook, so that encouraged me to knit while I listen. When this pair is done, I'll send it off with the socks and gloves waiting to be mailed. Then I will take a knitting ministry break, first in five years.

Happy day everyone, pace yourself. That means do as I say, not as I do!  I'm delegating the pacing. Also the St Patrick's Day observance. My long-late Irish grandmother, from Tipperary, will just have to cope. 

Heavy lifting for Friday

 I'm filling in  NJ forms today and came across this interesting direction 

I wonder if there are penalties for failing to do so?

And if this next bit is tldr, scroll on. But for anyone trying to figure out the current drama in Congress, we're in the budget process. 

The GOP has presented a cr, continuing resolution, full of terrible ideas and threats. A cr is a temporary measure to keep the gummint running while the budget is worked out and passed.  

This has passed the House by a squeaker, because GOP majority is only a squeaker. Now it's before the Senate. If it passes, it goes into effect with all sorts of consequences. 

The idea of cloture is for a number of senators to determine to limit debate, go to a vote, and get it done.  That's that bit. It's like the opposite of a filibuster with endless debate.

What's in process now is a bipartisan stopgap cr with better terms, if the current cr fails. I know, it's very convoluted. The idea is that Democrats are trying for backstop position, which will also avoid a government shutdown.

We'll see where it comes out. Meanwhile Friday's activism was a call to Sen Schumer's office, minority leader, to ask him to vote no. He thinks a government shutdown could hand everything over to T***p, but I think is open to a bipartisan stopgap.  It's a terrible position, but I think a shutdown is less terrible than rolling over for this cr. 

Breaker, breaker: the Senate passed the cr to avert a shutdown. I tried.

On to less stressful topics. Right now I'm reading a great Andy Carpenter mystery, full of dogs and bad guys and Marcus, his scary protector, and Andy's sharpshooter wife and all his books are funny and I never guess the perp.

This dog, Hunter the pug, has attached himself to the resident Golden retriever and basset hound, while team Andy attempts to find evidence to exonerate a dog lover in jail on a murder charge.  A while back I was talking to a lady who insisted the term is doggy dog. No idea what that means.

I made a batch of blueberry muffins, possibly influenced by Carpenter finding them in the cafe at his hotel.

They look shaggy and artisanal, and they're crisp outside, tender inside and with little explosions of berries when you bite in. I just finished reading Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe, can you tell?

And for your Friday viewing pleasure, Mutts, mainly Earl the dog and Mooch the cat, and friends, take us down memory lane with a tribute strip. I'm a bit late with this, but it's timeless, so that's okay.

Happy day, everyone, we'll live to fight another day!!

  

Sewing and snoozing

Today was going to be about starting to cut and sew my skirt, then take a local  expedition to the pond, to walk the trail with water on both sides. 

However last night's missing sleep and early hours' blogging changed the plan.

I started the skirt, I love how this rayon challis handles, soft but not too slippery. The pattern is multidirectional so no need to look out for how to cut to get it right way up, and I'm not using a pattern.

Here, left to right, the pieces. 

Left is the main bit, middle is the waistband, right the future pockets. They'll probably be patch, because there's only one seam, so inserting two pockets might be a strain on the fabric on the side where I'd have to cut an opening in the fabric, rather than just leave an opening in a seam, to insert the pocket.

Then the seam will be French, an enclosed type of double seam where you run one line of stitching wrong sides together, 

then turn it inside out, fold down the fabric, rolling it to raise the seam, then stitch another line right sides together, to enclose the first stitching. 

It's a lovely seam, with lightweight fabrics where there's not much strain on the seam. Expensive underwear used to be French seamed. So my exclusive custom designed unique skirt will, too.

The idea I've decided on  is to gather the main piece into the waistband which will be wide enough to navigate my hips, and then run elastic through the band to make it snug. 

That way there's no placket to be fussing with, and it avoids the bulk I'd get by just gathering the waist directly with elastic, and I can still get into it, always a good point.

So far, so really good.

Then, ready to leave for the Pond,  bag, water bottle, hat, keys, I suddenly realized I was tired. So, change of plan. An hour's sleep, then a local walk, no driving.

This year the fall fruits and nuts are spectacular. 

Staggering about on a carpet of acorns, beechnuts, hazel, black walnuts to get these pictures.

What's this?

I'm sure I know it, can't name it. Bits of its fluff flying everywhere.

And a late flowering honeysuckle, among all the berries of its faster friends.

Many insects, too including a large white butt wasp with a black and white striped shirt. I  kept a respectful distance in case it was a hornet, since it was burly as these animals go. Hence no picture.

I might check in on Textiles Tuesday, and if it's interesting I'll get back to you tomorrow.

Meanwhile drinking tea, reading an Andy Carpenter on my Kindle. I got a message from Misfits saying sorry, one item can't be delivered in tomorrow's box. So no broccoli, but I'll live. I'd have been more perturbed if it had been the honey crisp apples for which I have crumble plans.