Up early, so I got back into training!

 Up very early this morning and I decided this was a good day, first of no coughing, and with actual breathing, though a bit stiff, to get back to weights. So I joined April and Aiko and worked out for 30 minutes using 5 lb weights. 

That was good. Later I also had a walk, not wanting to miss the lovely weather.  First day I've seen violets.  

And the Korean spicebush is nearly in bloom and ready to release a wonderful scent any day now.

The last chance for daffodils 

I've been hearing a lot of birdsong, and yesterday I noticed the mockingbird is back. That might account for some of the singing, since they have quite a range.

Yesterday was a day of puffy clouds, blossoms and birds. 

Also a mystery moss, I think, an emerald carpet of fine straight fronds. It's in a damp area, moss friendly, so that's why I think moss.

This time of year is precious because it's warm enough to walk and the mosquitoes haven't started up. I notice that despite the spring activities of the birds, the juncoes haven't left yet. Usually they're gone by now to wherever they summer, but they're maybe checking the weather at their destination and deciding to wait.

Cooking today was about that penne with cashew  white sauce, which I'll bake on Monday, since we now know that's when Handsome Son is free to celebrate Easter.

Yesterday I tried another idea, to go with my roast potato dice and a ground turkey croquette. A date, lemon, onion relish. And it definitely worked. 

I think this is worth doing again.

Last evening I treated myself to a new Beka rigid heddle, to continue my bandweaving backstrap style. This one is halfway in size between the tiny one I made and the medium one I wove a scarf on. 

There was also a beautiful small one, lovely wood, good small size. However it's made in Lithuania and the shipping would treble the price, oh. So mine is coming from Minnesota instead.

Happy day everyone, e came through her surgery and is now convalescing at home, great news, and many vibes to her to regain her strength. 

Long gone, and never forgotten, my feline textile assistants, or supervisors. 

Roving going a-roving, Misfits and Mutts

After getting back into a bit of spinning I realized that's what's left of my roving is either better for needlefelting or is in colors I don't like. So I put this up on Freecycle 

and got a taker within about five minutes. 

Ed note: I noticed later it had gone much earlier than arranged and hoped the right person picked it up. 

Then this afternoon my neighbor contractor friend came over with it. He'd found it across the street under his car, probably blown there, a bit too light to stay in the step. He tied it to the outside door for me the contents fine, the bag a bit battered. 

He was going to toss it thinking it was his own garbage until he saw the word Freecycle, assumed that was me, and it's back now. Fortunately the taker hadn't been and gone and wondered about what I was up to. She messaged to say she was on her way. Phew! So that roving definitely went roving.

Since today is much milder, I seized the day to take out garbage and recycle before the expected return of cold and a large snowstorm, and picked up the mail. 

Then I got a short walk, as you see 

Many kids out playing yesterday even in frigid cold.

It feels better even to get out briefly, before we get a return of severe cold and many inches of snow. They say.

It's Misfits day

This is a much better day for delivery man Haleem.

Small order this week, chocolate chips for baking upcoming cake or bread, one bag for the freezer, black beans, free with points, Mary made me do it, Bananaz, so good to have them again, usual daily Gala small apples, multicolored carrots to parsteam ready for roasting or something. I think I made up parsteam. But we say parboil, so there.

 Blueberries and yogurt to go together, beaten with lime juice and cane sugar, like berry lime pie but better, the tiny package at the front is a sample date stuffed with peanut butter, one sixth ounce (!), grape tomatoes, so long since I had fresh tomatoes, this will be good.

Such beauty, like jewels. I'll never get used to it.

Next week I will catch up on extra for the food pantry. I waited to get a bit of advice from my friend who has started volunteering there, any items they just never get and would like. 

One is smaller bags of ground coffee so they can give to more people rather than one huge bag which can go in only one box.  I expect the same principle applies to condiments too.

Thank you for all the responses about self care, that's great, we may get ideas from each other.  My next bit of self care is a helping of yogurt with the fancy berries.

But first I wash the produce, sweep the floor break down the box and invent a new vaccine. After that I'm free.

Happy day everyone, if you've also got this one milder day -- up to the 40s f -- enjoy it. Because winter will be back. The HOA just emailed to say the snow folk are bringing out the big guns, I mean plows,  for the forecast foot of snow, and staging them onsite ready. Oo-er. Cue dramatic music.

The sympathy flags and symbols I put up are getting out of hand. I might open a Flag Blog. Or just list the people he hasn't insulted and harassed, might be fewer.

Chair yoga, tuesday knitting group, Textiles and Tea

Tuesday started with April and Aiko, fifteen minutes of chair yoga great for my stiff neck from sleeping wrong.

Very helpful, too. 

My day starts at the moment by checking in to my online advent calendar, finding the day's elf, arranging flowers on Tuesday, and getting very engrossed in a game about placing gems on a board. I may go into withdrawal when I lose access to this game, just sayin'. 

• Tuesday Knitting Group was large and fun, new members, returning former members. New people included a beginner, and a great knitter, working on yarn she'd spun, with a lot of great projects either worn by participants or in progress or both.

Toad in progress to join frog already finished and played with by a grandchild 

Here are double-knitted mittens in progress and a great cabled sweater in action 

Here's a finished sweater we've seen as it was made, and a better view of the cabled sweater 

Your humble blogger is currently assembling pin woven squares into a shawl, with many helpful suggestions..

New member here knitting alpaca and her handspun, see that ball? She's an accomplished spinner and knitter

Here's a keen beginner on her first project 

And a total beginner getting to grips with crochet 

Here's the start of tacking the woven pieces into a draft shape, ready to attach together 

And here's what I was wearing today, the spun, plied, knitted woven vest you lived with me through several years ago. The picture is me cracking up at my attempt to show you the back. 

I spun and plied the yarn with my trusty Schacht spindle, knitted the sections following Sarah Swett's slanted concept, then wove the yokes using a cardboard loom I cut to size. The reason I wove was to keep the shape of the heavy wool vest, and in fact it has done that, no sagging nor stretching out.

Conversation ranged over many subjects, often several at once, Quebec hotels, Lyft, selling cars, English vs Continental style knitting, wheel vs spindle spinning, our exhibit, art, bequests, cats assisting in fiber arts, and more. 

Speaking of our exhibit at the library, here we are 

Embroidery, Tunisian crochet, knitting, beading, so many great things. We decided we're wonderful.

Home to Textiles and Tea with 

A raku potter and wet felter who combines both forms in her art. These pieces are bigger than you might think at first sight.

She created these hug scarves as gifts,  at a time when people had given her a lot of help.

This is an unusual combination of the potter's art with the felter's art. The flowers are felted and sit like lids on top of the raku pots, and can be lifted off just like lids. She's getting more into acrylic clay in addition to earth clay, to use for fine detail. As you see, she loves color. 

Typically she makes wet felt projects indoors in winter and raku firing outdoors in summer. Well, if you've done raku, with the smoke and burning paper and all, yes it's an outdoor pursuit.

Happy day, everyone, another great Tuesday happened. Just go with it. Or lie down for a few minutes.