Firsts, and maybe lasts

 I don't do those "year of memories" type of posts some people enjoy at year's end, but this year has been a period of firsts around here. 

First joint replacement, first car sale, were pretty big, and the reunion with the local art group was significant. Also an expensive year with appliances and plumbing and HVAC and  kitchen wall repairs. And first for many years, Handsome Son is not working Thanksgiving so we will celebrate on the "right" day. 

Then there's the last drive in the car, which I can't remember, probably the food pantry, and a very nice possible last, this sudden blooming of the little chrysanthemum out front 

It just appeared overnight, when I was sure yet again that the season was done.

Shedding a car is pretty significant winnowing, and, the check having cleared overnight, corporate checks get the fast track, I've already directed the funds where they'll work for me.  It's a change to have money coming in instead of rushing out.

Happy day everyone, it feels so free not to be concerned about tonight's cold rain turning to ice on the car. Not my circus, not my monkeys.  Do you have a "not my circus" in your life just now?

Some very interesting textiles are coming my way soon, definitely my circus, thanks to a thoughtful friend, to add to my textile education and experience.  So many good people and so much good stuff.

 

Car nearly done with, and beech twigs

 I picked up the car Wednesday morning and got a  bill for zero dollars and zero cents. And the general checkups put every system in the green column. So all's well. 

I saw the erring clerk and she looked a bit anxious, but I figured ah I'm done here, and said nothing. She was probably glad to see me leave.

Back home Handsome Son and I had some car talk and I found he was, after all, not interested in taking on my car. He's happy with his beater for now.

So I'm up for selling it and already had several offers which I'm looking at. They'll pay for quite a few rides, aside from saving on the expense of running a car.

I'll be so glad not to be responsible for keeping a car going in winter, having to clear it in snow and get it moved to allow the snowplows to clear the whole area. There's no staying in the warm in snow!

So, lovely visit with tea, then HS went off to get his COVID shot -- turns out NJ has authorized it for all ages, without a prescription, regardless of the federal age restrictions.  This is part of the northeastern coalition of states on the issue.

Later I got out for a chilly walk, feeling better than for ages, and found a few downed beech twigs to join the oak twigs 

The shells whatever they're called -- if you know please say -- after the nuts fall out, are beautiful little sculptures. 

I expect squirrels are helping with the nuts -- a lot of half eaten nuts everywhere. Squirrels are like nature's kids, biting one bit, then tossing for other people to clear up. 

Swept the leaves off the deck and into the ground cover to shelter animals and the roots of the trees and shrubs over winter.

This week is looking up. Thursday is Misfits day. Speaking of which, the delivery day will be different when we get to Thanksgiving which is usually my delivery day. 

And Handsome Son tells me he's likely to be free the week after tday to celebrate. He'll be working on the day. 

It's all good! Sell the car and I'll be done with the auto world, wheee! 

That's telling them, sez Billie the Pup 

Step by step, Textiles and Tea

 Bit by bit we're getting there. My car is now in the shop. And I have more information about the wall repair. Evidently another similar situation was remedied by the homeowner without having to go through the HOA, simpler. So I'll pursue the contractor Wednesday.

Meanwhile I've been making cordage till my thumb got tired.

And the library closed early because of yet another incoming storm, so my decision not to try for the knitting group, which meets there, was upheld by mom Nature. Friends in high places. 

By next week the cordage will have dried ready to use, so I can work on that at the group. You create it with damp fibers, which are weaker than when they dry, hence the wait.

Textiles and Tea on Tuesday featured Laicee Blackwell, a cloth and fiber sculptor, print maker and weaver, who uses lesbian memes and references throughout her work -- Birkenstocks with socks!-- and other in references, like carabiners,  which are often opaque to straight people but familiar to lesbian viewers.  High time, is all I can say. 

Large photo weaving

Painted warp image

Working with a Macomber loom fitted with a flying shuttle, and on right  cloth sculpture, with a carabiner.

Modular piece of woven patches and thrifted fabric, which can be rearranged, it has zippers, to fit the gallery. It's huge.

Laicee is very interesting, teaching, jurying and continuing to exhibit. Based in Indiana, in Evansville, if Indiana is near you, look for their August solo show.

Happy day, everyone, there's always some fun to be found even on grim days. Someone tells me she's got a microwave which she wants to try before offering me it, to make sure it works. So there's that.

And my snake plant suddenly put up a flower 

And here's today's bouquet 

Morning diamonds, car doctor at work, doubling down

 Great overnight rain, leaving diamonds everywhere

and a chipmunk scurried out from the cherry tomato patch when I was checking for ripe ones. He may get there before me.

Gary added me to his list yesterday when he heard my tale of car woe, and fixed the pressure on all the tires.

He'd already planned on doing a couple of cars, so put mine first. And reminded me that he would gladly drive me to the dentist if I needed him.  A prince.

And I played with the sock yarn for a while, reading labels and choosing some to make a pair for moi. Found one beautiful blue mix whose label indicated handwash, dry flat.

Clearly not one to donate, the chances of the recipient's being able to do that being pretty much nil. So it's for me.

Not a snag in the hank, wound up flawlessly. No hidden felting.

Turns out it was originally marketed as super wash, for non -knitters that means wool treated to survive machine washing. 

However, it's an alpaca mix and they found it felted and shrank after a few washes, so they relabeled it.  Evidently alpaca, which is very different from sheep's wool, didn't take the super wash processing successfully.

Bottom line: mine! Next issue is whether there's enough for a pair. One skein and one ball. There are various ways of determining how much yarn you have.

You can weigh it if you have a gram scale. I don't. You can unfurl it and measure the length, are you kidding? 

Or you can come up with something I've fancied trying for ages, to make sure you have matching length socks: knit both at once. No, not that ghastly magic thing, endlessly sliding back and forward on circular needles like a human piston rod. 

This is casting on two separate projects, starting toe up. The Boudian Method, pat. pend.

This way you can see how the length is going, and start the cuff in good time. It's better than knitting one lovely sock then running out before the other matches and having to sub. 

Not that the recipient is likely to roar with rage, she's lucky to be getting them, but all the same it would be nice to match. 

And the luxury of knitting a solid color after months of stripes designed to eke out inadequate amounts of beautiful yarn, is not to be sniffed at. It was fun but I fancy a change.

And raise a loud cheer for a historic podium, noted by a historic lady

This is almost certainly a downstream benefit from Title IX, the legislation that gave girls a fair deal in school and college sports, and resulted in a surge of terrific young athletes getting a chance. Largely in the teeth of male spite. 

One of my friends, before Title IX,  in high school a regional girls tennis champion, she and her doubles partner swept the board,  wanted to play on the college team. 

There was no girls team so she applied for the boys team.    The ptb at the college, abolished boys tennis rather than admit her or create a girls team. After Title IX, that would never fly.  

It's not just for the athletes. It's for all girls to see more and more evidence that they're part of society, not just the audience to male activity.

My soapbox is getting worn down. So here's an idea. I ran out of Kleenex, and subbed a toilet roll. It'll work. 

And if it looks a bit funny, what's it to you, feller? Oh sorry, my outrageometer suddenly ignited. It does that. I blame Twitter and Covid.

Yesterday there was a Textiles and Tea with Kathie Roig, double weaving.

Nice shading and color blending, painted warps.

One interesting question came up: if your loom could talk what would it say to you? Joanne already anticipated this with her yarn comment!

Happy day everyone, you're valued whatever you do, however you look, however you feel! 

Cheer on Ukraine, too, ready to strike back in a counteroffensive, yay.