This post is about economics. And rationalizing.

I went to order my usual English Breakfast tea, expensive but worth it, especially since they don't charge shipping. It says so, too, on the website shipping free on all orders. 

Then I get to the checkout and suddenly there's a large shipping charge bringing the total beyond what I want to pay for tea.

So I flounced away, emailed them to ask wtf,  only more politely, then ordered a different tea from a different supplier, half the price and no shipping either.

Left to right, tea department: new Ceylon tea, occasional lapsang souchong tea and usual tea now nameless because I'm mad at them.

That's part the first.

Then I checked in on YouTube with Marion's World, where she gave us a virtual tour of this show

Where I saw a terrific idea I'd never heard of, based on ancient stick spinning, the spurtzler, from Natural Born Dyers, a lovely northern firm, very ecologically careful and just nice people.

This will be easier on my hands than a spindle, I think. And they're hand made from wood which has fallen in storms or is otherwise upcycled. I chose ash, which I think is #3 or #4 and, this is where the rationalizing gets into gear. 

What I saved on the tea paid for my spurtzler. The shipping cost from the UK is, whispers, more than the selling price. But I'm worth it.

I didn't realize I'd be shopping along with Marion when I switched on. I paused her video long enough to investigate the new toy, I mean tool, then came back to continue!

I have to plan for the darker winter evenings ahead, after all. I have quite a bit of roving to spin. And other such completely invented reasons. 

Happy day, everyone, do what you want then the reasons will follow.

Frogapalooza, low flying ducks

 Lovely weather for a walk this morning while I decided what to make for lunch. The Sunday duffers were out on the golf course, and I shied a few errant golf balls back in bounds.

The ripples in the pond are the result of about ten large frogs flying from the bank into the water when I approached. 

Each gave a kind of scream as they took off, very different from the bass notes they'd been sounding a few seconds before they spotted me.

The drake you see over there was swimming peacefully until the frogs all leapt in, whereupon he leapt up and flew away. I was an interloper.

While I watched the ripples moving across the water, I listened to a pair of cardinals, nesting nearby, and a redwing blackbird, then some Carolina wren songs.

The scarlet pimpernel are spreading 

And watch this space for orange day lilies which have evidently gone feral long ago, in many ditches and roadsides around here. 

This old tree's roots look like a dinosaur might be related 

And at the other end of the spectrum, a baby rabbit too young to realize that now would be a good time to run.

 A second later he did. 

Lovely day, lunch was a weird assortment of cheddar cheese, mini naan, cooked sweet potato and raw spinach. Dessert was new made yogurt, with strawberries. 

I spent the afternoon in a live stream with Marion the multi-talented stitcher, gardener, knitter, dressmaker, painter, you name it. There seems to be nothing she hasn't tried. She's modest but I think she succeeds at anything she tries, intrepid.

She's recovering from the loss of her longtime husband who was her great partner and encourager, and starting this YouTube channel a year ago is part of the recovery.  

She knew little about it, little about the internet, but her daughter encouraged her to try it, and she's doing very well, but still a North country lady. Sceptical, but enjoying it all.

While I listened and watched, I wove several more squares, and ideas are vaguely starting about them. 

I do want to get on with the fabric book, too, and the idea for the next page,  also ideas for that rescued linen. And for the rescued denim look cotton sofa cover, dress weight. And the Ministry Socks continue. 

Aside from that, Mrs Lincoln..

Happy day, everyone, make something today. Even if it's only a fuss.

Mother's Day, great food, friends and artisans

 Mother's Day was

I like the consoling "rain stopping soon" knowing everyone was a bit tired of it!

After several setup calls, Gary and I were sure our friend was up for a visit and clear about it.  So we walked down and spent a lovely hour, chatting about the orchids her husband gave her, as on every Mother's Day, blue this year, gardening, kids, grands, weather, cars, cancer treatment, dogs, vegetables, especially beets, and various other things.  

She was so happy, because her treatment has been happening daily, no chance to see anyone other than doctors and hospitals, so this was a change.  I'd say this was one of my better Mother's Days. I was doing what my Mom would do. 

Once home I plunged into the long awaited red lentil curry from Yeung Man Cooking's channel. This is a slow meditative process, many ingredients and stages, and the result was bangin'. Just great.

All the scents and colors were just a treat. And there's enough for several meals. He really knows how to teach a recipe. 

I'm taking a bit of time to decide on my next fabric book page, and I want it to be different from the previous ones.  I have a couple of ideas.

Meanwhile there's such a tempting offer on Freecycle of really lovely calico pieces..very local.. someone may save me from myself by getting in first... it's easy to refreecycle, if necessary, busily rationalizing.

I may do a bit of pinloom weaving, as a change of pace.

Speaking of which, I've come to value certain thoughtful YouTube channels, like Marion, the stitcher, painter, dressmaker, gardener, cook, modest, quiet and blessedly without music. It's like being with friends when YouTubers dare to allow quiet. 

Ant, of Ant's Country Life, is another. 

Sunday he uploaded a long video of himself rebuilding a collapsed drystone wall, occasionally turning to explain what he was doing. His skills are marvelous to watch and he's not afraid of silence, just letting us hear ambient sounds, birds, wind, sheep. It's an antidote (!) to the endless racket of the world. 

It doesn't hurt that Marion and Ant are both from my native part of the world, familiar scenery and speech, so restful.

I've been appreciating a lot of things,  quietness, friends, skills, Mother's Day greetings, chair yoga, simple days. 

Happy day everyone, enjoy what you have going, and, as one of my greeting texts said we're here, we're vertical, that's all we need!

Photo AC 

Painting returns, climate concerns, and food ahoy!

 I've been following Marion's World on YouTube, repeatedly being reminded of all kinds of good ideas.

She's a brilliant stitcher, and uses painting when it serves her work. So I've been thinking about this, remembering my box of watercolor crayons, and realized this is the next stage of the page.

Just a chron series of stages I thought you might like to see 

The setup, after I finally located my brushes.

Here I've protected the previous two pages with a plastic bag 

And started to stroke in dashes of color among the stitching. I picked up color directly off the crayon with a wet brush, tested it on the spare bit of matching muslin, then plunged in 

This is close to complete. I probably will set a few stitches in that mountain image top left 

Then, while I had the crayons out, I painted a couple of pieces of fabric for future use, maybe as patches or applique material. At the bottom you see where the brush, nearly dry, creates lovely flying white, a technique from Asian art, and a favorite.

So that was a nice return to paint, but working with my current fabric project instead of a separate item on paper. It's that time of year when I always long to paint.

And I did return to put in a few finishing stitches.

Done. On to page four when I decide what it's about.

Speaking of water, there are new ominous maps of the parts of this state which may shortly vanish into the ocean. I'm about an hour's drive from the shore, but in a flood prone area 

I live in that pale section near Trenton, in the center of the state, and checked our local 

Elevation above current sea level. Hm. Okay. Maybe. 

There's always food. Here's the lastofthefish sandwich, wholegrain bread, with ta da! pickled red onions, a bit early, they need a few days.

And whoa is it good. Crunchy but not bitey sharp, really fine with a sandwich that needed a bit of livening up.

While I had lunch I was reading this 

I've been waiting months but it's here and worth the wait. Just started.

Also I've been thinking about ice cream, as you do, haven't had any for ages, prices just too much, I won't. Then I wondered about creating a blueberry frozen dessert from my yogurt, honey and whole milk powder.

Just a trial size, you see the container, not much yogurt left after I reserved some for the starter of the next batch. Couple of hours in the freezer, stir occasionally, and I must remember this.

This is definitely worth doing early in the day for a frozen dessert later. You could use cream, but I found the whole milk powder just fine.

Happy day everyone. Happy mother's day if it applies and you like it. I'll be visiting a local sick friend,  bringing this card I made for her.

Walking, weaving and new discoveries

Sunday was much warmer so the wind was easier to manage, and I walked. When I can't get a walk, it shows up right away, stiff, and this that and the other thing hurts.  But a walk unkinks everything. 

I've been taking the same route for months now, thinking maybe I should go to the Preserve for a chance. But the change is happening here anyway. It's coming to me, so I don't need to go to it. 

I had a naturalist friend who encouraged repeated walks on the same route, to learn more about it with familiarity, observe the small changes that add up.

Much to see, blossoms 

A bee demonstrating why we need to leave dandelions the heck alone 

And miniature worlds underfoot right there for the finding 

And that carpet of wildflowers is back again.

Back home I weave squares while I'm thinking of other things to do, or listening to books 

I don't have any particular product in mind, though eventually it will be something. Right now its just the pleasure of developing the skill.

And I have a great YouTube find for you, Marion, from County Durham, near where I grew up, with that lovely northeastern accent and a great teacher. 

Her philosophy of just go for it, in stitching, sewing, textile arts and skills is so right. It was like home to me, and I instantly wanted to share with you. The top picture includes a skirt I've been wanting to make for ages, and will as soon as I find fabric. It's an eighteenth century design, still works. From there I went to her stitching practice.

Even if you're not a textile sort of person, just listen to her a bit and see if she isn't a calming, lovely, anything is possible kind of person. ASMR. 

Happy day, everyone and of course you got the puzzle

MOONLIGHT

and that's my last word on the eclipse!

Enjoy whatever your stitching is.

Don't hold your breath, but word is that Speaker J may bring the Ukraine $$ to a floor vote this week.