Plans, and nature laughs

Memorial Day weekend is the start of the summer season, pools open, shore passes re-up, at least that's the idea.

However here there's a three day rainy forecast, pools not yet open, shore not looking like fun. And here was my weekend plan, maybe not yet 

My seeds complete with squirrel deterrent doings.  But the squirrel is still getting his daily apple core

I did get a walk today, to make a pinch of it, and I love all the tree-lined walkways in this development. Like this one

Curved paths are interesting to walk.

I also have indoor plans anyway, here's my thinking about a narrow band pattern based on the sweet William I'm so excited about 

And my new loom is supposed to arrive tomorrow, so my plans there are to weave a cowl or two to send to the knitting ministry. Weaving is currently easier on my hands than knitting.  

This morning a friend came over to collect the cotton plants I started from seed she'd given me. Here's her two, repotted and wilting but they'll recover 

And here are their siblings, soon to go outside when the weather's warmer

She also had a great time studying the art on the walls and took two pieces, one gold work, one with stump work animals and dyed sections and two levels, cutouts showing another work underneath.

I'm happy to see work going into good hands, in this case to an area of her house where she has stitched work including her mother's lovely embroidery. I'll be in good company.  My art giveaway is going well. All the less for Handsome Son to deal with after I'm gone.

Happy day everyone, good things going on. Happy weekend, holiday or otherwise.

Interesting day, high and low tech

I was lugging a couple of bags of potting soil through the house this morning, to fill more pots and decided I'd better take a walk immediately to avoid back issues, and it seems to have worked.  I'm quite ahead of time with the pots ready for seed, as you see

Last night, one thing and another, online meetings interrupted by Gary with plant questions, I went to bed forgetting the patio door was wide open. I found out this morning when I noticed the furnace running..

Anyway my knitting friend who originally gave me the cotton bolls from which I extracted the seeds now wants to reserve one of my seedlings because hers aren't doing well. So that will happen when she says, because she's a master gardener and knows this stuff 😉

I heard the #$#$ in the White House had been manipulating the stock market again, as well as bombing, so I thought I'd check my retirement account such as it is. Hm. 

I decided if I needed anything now's a good time, since my stocks are up. No, I don't sell at the top of the market, but I can afford to use a bit of my divi for fun. Thereby pulling something good out of evil doings.

Sooo I thought instead of mulling about a narrow band loom, why not just get one and make bandweaving more portable than back strap method.

So this is on its way 

They market it as a beginner loom, no idea why since bandweaving isn't exactly beginning weaving, but I think it will work for me.

And I'd been having all kinds of problems with one of my tablets, dropping out of online meetings, showing no Wi-Fi even though connected when the other devices were online, etc, very puzzling despite all workarounds including the nuclear clear everything off the browser and start over. But it still balked, and it's losing battery faster. I think it's just worn out, aren't we all.

So while I was on a shopping roll, I decided on this 

Not expensive, marked down, probably because a newer shinier one is coming in, and in blue. For $20 more you can have it in grey. Make it make sense. 

I found it as "best value" on a couple of consumer report sites, so okay.  I won't agonize over it. It's replacing one that's done fine for several years, and was also low-cost. 

And I'm getting ready to ship out various art works to friends here and there, part of my deaccessioning. Posh art term for winnowing. I had to order package tape, but I can use the cardboard cases the potting soil came in, cut down, as protective stiff inserts for the packages. Waste not etc.

Oh, and the shoelaces are in action, with gold aglets.

Acrylic metallic gold paint. Works a treat.

Happy day everyone, I'm hoping for a quiet evening to read my current mystery. Living in hope. 

Sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony and Ursula 

 

Misfits and dyed cotton

I took the cotton out of the dye bath this morning, figuring 24 hours was going to be as much take up as it would get. 

As you see, pink with some areas whitish, but good enough. Now it's drying and I'll check around for what to use for the basket structure. I have a couple of ideas.

I tried these grasses but decided they were too wild for the cotton, so they've got their own place now 

And I'll continue looking and thinking. 

Misfits is delayed by weather, hence Friday not Thursday. 

But I have food in the house to deal with delays.

And Ronald showed up as scheduled, and seized the opportunity of an open parking slot all shoveled out, to stage his van and make the next few deliveries easier.  Mostly he's stuck out in the street, no open spots. I noticed he was keeping the bananas with him in the cab, not freezing in the loading area, so that's appreciated in this zero f weather.

Missing in action were yogurt and strawberries, which they'd notified me about, and one loaf which they hadn't.  I'll live.

Canned goods for the food pantry, green beans because it's a long time since I had any, broccoli because it's the other green I like, a change from spinach, grated cheese because no block Cheddar available, I don't like the additive that stops it clumping, but once won't hurt. 

Scallions for an interesting thing I plan with the tofu and ginger, diced tomatoes with no salt, shared with the food pantry, blackberries as a change from blueberries, apples for daily mid morning snack. 

Shrimp, it's a long time again, and I may make mayo, long time there, too, to go with shrimp. My best shrimp salad is just shrimp and homemade mayo, with buttered whole wheat. I don't get carried away!

So that's the food today, despite missing items, still a nice selection for the week and more.

About my recent slump. I realize now since I looked at the calendar, that it was the anniversary of my favorite brother's death in combat, age 20. 

I was six, so long ago, but my parents never recovered, and even the return of my other two brothers from combat didn't make a big difference. I think your body remembers trauma, maybe forever. That day past, my energy is better.

Happy day everyone, hoping and working for better days for us all. 

Life is a sacred text and other urgent thoughts

Today's been about snow and cold, still snowing till later tonight.

It's also involved comfort food,

 and afternoon tea 

I've been reading Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg's newsletter and studies for a while. Today she reminded us that Jewish rules take a pause when life is at stake. 

Go to her website LifeIsaSacredText.com for useful tasks we can do. For instance, she has compiled lists by volunteers of hotels and motels housing ICE in the Minneapolis area. I'm including some phone numbers you can call to object.  

These are just a few, off a spreadsheet I can't get onto my little device, as a sample. Samples of hotel names, not matched with numbers, just fyi. Just to show part of the range.

She reminds us, when we call, that the person answering the phone didn't make the decision, so ask for a manager or leave a message for them. If it's a chain, the manager also probably didn't decide either, but they need to get some pressure. The desk clerk isn't paid to be pressured, so apply where appropriate.

There are also maps on her website showing local businesses all over the US profiting from ICE, so it's worth checking. I'm looking at local ones to me,  ready to call or email when they reopen, probably not tomorrow, everything's at a standstill here with the snow. 

Anyone can do this. Pressure adds up. Businesses can't be allowed to fly under the radar while profiting from terror.

Rabbi Danya is a scholar and all-around lovely person, and you can sign up for her newsletter full of wisdom and calm.

Meanwhile on a calmer note, I finished and washed the cowl and will be adding buttons and loops when it's dry.

I finished spinning the cotton, and painted the seed casings gold.  This has been a good adventure in learning.  I'm thinking about how to use the spun cotton, maybe in a whistle lanyard. We'll see. 

See the cotton casings among the citrus peel boxes! Nature provides great materials.

Happy day everyone. Please let's do what we can to overthrow this reign of terror. It's now or never. 

Speaking of trans siblings: did you know the Democrats succeeded in stripping out every single anti-trans clause in the upcoming Budget? You won't hear this on mainstream media. But yay!