Solar deferred and punching bees

Thank you all for the responses to yesterday's post, both the helpful words, which I've spotlighted, and the kind restraint you showed if the subject isn't your life. 

I'm encouraged to continue as before, feeling as if the people with the right to decide have authorized it. That feels better. 

I got in a walk early this morning before the rain came on, and noticed this 

There's a bee that punches holes in leaves and carries the disks back to line their nest. I wonder if this is the work of one of them. I also have perfectly punched out holes in my hibiscus, same question.

And finally the thistle is budding 

Today's Handsome Partner's birthday, and he'd have been 94, if I'm counting right. I ate strawberries, his favorite, in his honor this week. It was easy to decide on his birthday cake each year -- strawberry shortcake never missed.

Today's activism was to write to my State reps, at the urging of NJACLU,  to get their vote for the New Jersey John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act, to safeguard our elections regardless of the shenanigans elsewhere. 

In the US, States run their own elections at every level and counties administer them.  Ignore the bloviating feller in the White House, he doesn't have the authority.

We're going to have a couple of feels-like-115°f days coming up, so I think I'll roast chicken thighs with Cajun seasoning, ready for sandwiches. Be prepared.  

Sandra, that Cajun seasoning is definitely one of the best things that's come along lately, since I finished up my Old Bay.

This week's potatoes are as good as I've ever had, meltingly soft inside, crisp outside, to go with plant based very hot burger type pat

ties. Bit of malt vinegar, salt, perfect.

After several years and donations to the food pantry, I'm finally seeing the end of millions of little packets of malt vinegar. I hit the wrong button when I ordered.

I still have a more than lifetime supply of vital wheat gluten, same fat finger issue.

I treated myself to a solar lantern like the one AC  received for Father's Day, because I've been wanting a solar light for the patio ever since my last one gave up.  I really liked the one AC showed us, great idea 

It arrived today in pouring rain, so the unboxing is deferred for a day or two. I hope it will cheer me up when I'm looking out on the upcoming hot evenings. 

Ed note: I set it among the plants near the window to remind me to take it outside when the rain stops and to my surprise, when I closed the curtains tonight there it was, shining away and casting lovely bird shadows on the dresser. They don't show on a picture, I tried.

Happy day everyone, the Boleyn Traitor continues to do bad things, now directed by Cromwell. Everything new happened before.

Every day please 

Garibaldis and scraps

Today I made the promised Garibaldis. It's pretty simple, a fairly short pastry folded over raisins. Because Gs are rectangular, there are edge bits left after you trim the pastry. I didn't bother reshaping them, just rolled out, pricked with a fork,  brushed with egg white and sprinkled sugar as with the Garibaldis and they're sort of crunchy plain cookies. 

Left, the proper raisin-filled things, right, the scraps. They're all pretty good, crunchy and fruity. I used whole-wheat flour rather than the ap of the recipe. 

I think any sweet pastry brushed with egg white and sprinkled with sugar would be fine even if there weren't any raisins. I expect plenty of people do this. Is there a name for them? The scraps not the people.

Thinking about Ash and what they reminded me of, including whatever you do for or with or in defense of any population, she reminded me to please check with the person in front of you if that's okay by them. They're in charge of that decision.

I did check at the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on Twitter to find whether daily shoutouts in this blog were welcome or appropriate and every Ukrainian who replied said do it, so we know we're not forgotten as time goes on. So I have, as you may have noticed.

Now here's my question to my gay, lesbian, trans, readers, if you would be so kind as to educate me on this point. 

Am I being helpful in my daily shoutouts about equality, or is it a bit performative? This might be something for email, in which case, please let me know that way. Ell ex ex adams at yahoo dot com.

On this specific issue I am not asking for opinions from cis people, so bear with me on this. I'd like it to be a case of "nothing about us without us", and I may have overstepped.  And there may be a range of opinions, too, so I'll study them and see what's next. Thank you.

Happy day everyone. There was a massive crowd of crows all over the roof today, why, why? Is it a portent?

I've found the best sleep aid ever. I usually run an audiobook quietly while I drop off, and I recently stumbled on revenge fiction, ai and terrible stilted voices, pointless plots. 

I'm off within minutes. I think my brain shuts down in protest and revs up the dream machine instead. I'm dreaming weaving lately, very peaceful.

Last rose, berries and first dolls

Today, sunny and cool, I got a walk in, not very far, hip tiring quickly and I forgot to bring Carol Cane, but it was lovely anyway, interesting local sights. The colors are still beautiful, berries and some leaves still on the trees.

Then home to make a quick pasta with red sauce, dessert of chocolate cherries.

And a whole lot of work on the dolls. Here's where baffled people see how these dolls are constructed.

Stitch the body like a tube, seam at the back, stuff with batting, run a thread round the neck, draw up to form the head, do likewise to draw closed the feet.

Then stitch right through the body to form arms and legs -- I like how they seem to have their hands in their pockets.  It's a kind of simple soft sculpture. Then stitch facial features,  simpler the better. And suddenly -- people!

I have two more to go, then I'll send them off.

It's definitely calming to have this kind of work on hand, and to know it's going into good (little) hands. 

Happy day everyone, find whatever helps you get or stay calm and strong, might be any number of things. If you've found a good idea, would you share it here? Thank you.

The equality flag needs to be seen in here regularly now, in view of the new threats.