Easy to learn, hard to excel and other thoughts

I've been using the lucet quite a bit, and have restarted several times. At this point I'm getting the hang of it and I'm making shoelaces for my sneakers.

Here's the thing though: the process is simple, just lifting the loop over the working yarn on each prong alternately. You turn the tool after each loop, so you're always looping the left prong.

Simple. But, like playing the recorder, starting isn't hard. Getting good at creating a consistent even braid, like playing beautiful notes, is skilled. 

In both cases, the instrument is basic and the user provides the skill. Like back strap weaving, there are no engineered options, it's all in the skill of the maker.

This makes it interesting and I'm learning how to judge the tension, loose enough to get the loop over the prong, firm enough to make an even braid without loops drawn in tight or sticking out. 

And there's a skill to stopping and starting. You need to get the yarn moving the right way when you pick up again. Hence the rubber band I used to hold the working yarn in the right place so as to continue the right direction. 

Then there's trying to match the tension from last time I worked it. It's like knitting stocking stitch, where you can tell if you're knitting a different tension from last time. 

What I'm finding now is that I braid too tightly when I pick up, and have to loosen my death grip a bit. At each loop you slide the new stitch into the center of the cross threads, and settle its size, and this forms a rhythm you need to get into every time.

I like this new skillset I'm acquiring. It's not too hard on my hands.

Then I need escapist reading, away with the serious considerations of our times, I need a change. I found a new-to-me Bruno book, so that's on today's menu.

Happy day everyone I'm off to roast vegetables for lunch and maybe make blueberry pancakes for dessert.

Find an escape, it's time. Just for a while.

Prequel, US election day, Pink Rabbit demands her due

 To get a good hold on the rise of Nazism and fascism in the US and elsewhere, I hugely recommend

Her research is impeccable, and she narrates with such good humor that this heavy scholarly work is very accessible. It's an important and timely backstory to what's going on.

It also has some surprises to me -- I never knew architect Philip Johnson was a keen fascist. I only knew of his IMHO rather silly, gimmicky buildings. And Huey Long did good works as well as developing the iron grip of a Louisiana dictator.

It's good to be reading this today, election day in the US.

So yesterday, I finished, pretty much, the wall hanging, which I've changed in progress. 

Now it's trimmed around, and, unless I get more ideas, it's done. I have spare applique blocks which still need a home, but no rush.

And I cast on a sock for me.

Because I'm listening to Rachel Maddow, when I'm not listening to 

A rattlin' good story, and a change of pace, to France and cultures and tourism and women's rugby and mysterious death and great regional food.

Pink Rabbit, known to new friends Fred and Ursula as PR, had a word, pointing out that Ursie has a custom hat and Fred's scarf, Fred has boots, and PR has nothing, sigh. 

So she now has a silk scarf which she wears with panache. She can wear it like a hat when she wants a change of pace. 

Happy day, everyone! Let's hope for the best today.

Heat, hibiscus, reading and whistling

Here's where we are today

Out early to water plants and pick flowers, then another day inside, reading, stitching, maybe knitting, whistling. Also prepping Misfits food this afternoon.

I noticed lights and decorations at my neighbors' houses and wondered what Indian festival was up. Turned out to be Lord Krishna's birthday, so I shot off greetings to Indian friends, which tickled them a lot. See the greeting below, like that, which means Happy Lord Krishna's birthday.

And, after some discussion yesterday chez Mary Moon about not being able to think what to cook, I just opened the cabinet door, found tuna and cannellini  beans, thought I wonder if these will make a nice lunch? 

Doused with malt vinegar, big bunch of cilantro leaves mixed in, beans mashed down,  it was really good. Then I looked up the ingredients for nutrition information, I like to know, and found

Turns out I'd "invented" a traditional dish. Like when I "invented" basil, mozzarella and tomato and discovered via Joanne and Mary, that it's a classic dish with a name, Caprese salad. Oh. 

I've done this in art, too, thinking I'd invented a technique only to find it's some classic approach for about a thousand years. My teachers were tactful about this!

I wonder if a lot of ideas like this were accidental, just some little Italian lady trudging about in the kitchen, mamma mia, another meal,  what to feed la familia, ah, let's try this. And a classic is born.

Speaking of ideas from other bloggers, I think Jeanie referred to September Song, one of my favorites, and it occurred to me to add it to my whistling repertoire. I know what I'm whistling, but I think listeners would need captions, to know Linden Lea, another fave, from Dead March in Saul. I bet this is why you get programs at concerts, too.

And here's another little known instrument

Take that, Rolling Stones!

I've found a writer I think I'm going to like, police procedurals set in the French countryside, the police officer main character also a good cook, tennis player, dog owner and lover of early music. Checks a lot of boxes. He gets into the Occitan language,  even, and Catalan  politics.  

I learned Old French as a language at the Uni, and had Chastelaine de Vergi in my old Kindle.  One day I'll get into the langue d'oc  and the langue d'oil (add another dot over the i), and be a great big bore about it. 

Anyway back to  Martin Walker,  he's written quite a few books. Great fall and winter reading to come.

I finished Fresh Water for Flowers, 

and liked it very much. There are many affairs of the heart, entanglements, a central huge sad mystery eventually even more sadly solved. It's long but you need to develop an understanding of the many characters and how they came to be who they are. Set in France, it's very much worth reading. France seems to be getting into my reading these days.

Meanwhile, I found a use for the replacement certificate from Breck for those totally failed snowdrops last year. I noticed how successful the neighbor's red hibiscus is, so I've ordered the bottom left you see here, not red, a lovely white.

Arriving in mid October, and I can't wait.  These get wide but not tall, so it won't get involved with the trees. 

Meanwhile this morning I picked zinnias for your morning bouquet.

Happy day, everyone, and let's hope any of today's accidents will be happy discoveries.