Food, books, votes and glue

Today I got a ride to donate a bunch of food to the food pantry, getting all the food to some of the people. Getting rides has aroused interest in my drivers, one of whom is now a donor, and today's was asking what they accept. Now she knows where to take donations, too. This is all good. People are generous once they know how. 

And I picked up two reserved books at the library, which Blogger won't insert in here, keeps putting after the end of the post. 

Anyway, one's Live Lagom by Anna brones which I  think works very well as a regular book, because it's a nice size and shape, with soft illustrations and a good feeling. 

The other's Antonia Fraser's Must you go? an account of her marriage to Harold Pinter, which should be interesting, two big egos.

I remembered to check the status of my primary ballot, our primary is in early June. Ballot tracking was one of the things I helped bring about (played a tiny part).  This is important particularly in view of the USPS today.

There we go. It's been received. So far so good. I had to change my password to get in, no doubt a security feature.

And I Got The Seeds In, complete with squirrel-deterring peppermint oil soaked qtips. I have another packet to plant and I think I'll wait to see if any container doesn't do well, to add in seeds. I put out the cotton plants, too, in great hopes.

The back forty is now ready for the season.

In other news, I will get some gorilla glue today and set about the BrokeLoom.  

I'm also figuring out if I can finish the cowl backstrap style, though I don't have a big enough rigid heddle in the right dent. 

Meaning I have one with the right spacing -- like knitting needle size -- but it's not wide enough for this item, not enough openings. Still considering this.  It will be much harder to maintain good width and selvedges without a heddle. That's the part that keeps the threads evenly spaced.

When something goes wrong like this broken part, it really triggers a lot of possible solutions. It's all good. My inner Rube Goldberg is on it.

Happy day everyone! It's not a problem, it's an AFGO.

Strength, cardio and misfits

Thursday is misfit day, and I did a workout to get my strength up ready for the Big Lift. In fact I bring the food in bit by bit, so the big lift is usually the almost empty box with maybe a few apples in it.

April and Aiko again. I hadn't done resistance, the physical kind, that is, for a few days, just walking and stretches and dancing in the kitchen, so I was pretty feeble. I did get through it, strength, cardio, isometrics, not resorting to sitting.  Strength really melts away if you take too many days off.

Yesterday I donated a bag of food to the food pantry with the help of a ride from Gary, and he carried in the bag. I did have a little agenda here, because he's been talking about donating and hasn't been doing it. 

But once he saw how local the pantry is and how easy it was to donate, no bureaucracy, he was all fired up with ideas about cans he has in the house that he'll donate.  He tends to over buy, so he can do this.   And he has plans to buy for giving in future. That will be good.

On the way home he said his phone, yet again, was out of action. Until he could get it to the shop later that day, he couldn't get on with some urgent calls. 

So while his latest top of the line $$$ iPhone, carrier some big name,  was out of action, I lent him my cheap and cheerful $Motorola, carrier Tracfone, and he got caught up.  I was nice. I didn't gloat.

Today's haul, delivered by Jeff. Pure cane sugar, fair trade, for general use, red onions to dice and freeze because I'm out, yellow onions dittto, I use a lot of onions, ginger and garlic likewise, spinach to go in everything, more or less, canned goods for the food pantry, beautiful brown free range eggs. 

These are real eggs, that need a sharp rap on the counter to crack them, and have a deep yellow stand up yolk. I don't crack eggs on the side of the bowl since Jacques Pepin said it was a way to drive eggshell fragments into the egg. 

Blueberries to go with the yogurt, bread because I'm too bone idle to bake, chocolate almonds because everyone needs a little something now and then. Some to my neighbor across the street whose soup container needs to be returned. Never return a container empty!

Look at these beauties. Too big for the supermarket -- this is two pounds each of the onions. They're now more or less diced and frozen, and the red onion skins are in a jar of water to make a nice pink dye for some future purpose or other. 

Happy day everyone, do all the things, follow the Yorkshire saying: break eggs with a stick. Meaning plunge in, regardless.

Marigold looking down from the blanket in the sky saying look at that, still running about doing stuff, she hasn't learned a thing.

Cleaners, art and complications

Today the cleaners came so I went to the library to see the current art exhibit by Frank Rivera, and approve some other features 

Frank Rivera, who taught at the local college where I got a lot of my art education, is interested in small works influenced by graphics and the small religious paintings seen on Italian altars. 

Some of the pieces date back to the 90s. It's a mini retrospective. The colors are very subtle so a bit hard to see here 

And in the plant exchange, here's the nice form of the tradescantia name

 there are interesting ideas everywhere 

And in the bathroom a new notice saying that for sudden need, period products are available free at various desks, including the children's department. This is a considerate move, as any woman or girl can attest.

This afternoon Gary visited to see what's up and was proud of my successful stand at the dealership, but realized quickly it was costly for me. 

And he might want to buy my car, however I haven't agreed to that, because anything around him tends to develop many complications and hitches and delays! 

Anyway he supports my decision to sell though he had earlier urged me not to be hasty. He was hugely amused when I pointed out that the seller can honestly claim it was driven only locally, by an old lady!

So next week I'll be on it. I can get a refund of most of my insurance payment, which had doubled since the last bill. This is all good.

And good news from the food pantry: people have come through and they're able to fill all the needs this week. They're happy.

Happy day everyone, attend to your local needs,  drive your own bargain! 

Library, food pantry and game hen

Again I was up at five, me and the moon early breakfast,  then a nap. Then I marinated the game hen, about which read on.

Friday was about errands then food, how unusual. I still hate driving and have to force myself out, not getting easier. 

Anyway I went to the library in the next town, haven't been there for so long, but I made it. I needed to go in person to renew my card as an out of town holder. If you live in that town, you can do it online. 

So now once again I have access to that account, and their Hoopla has a different collection, so more choices.

On the way home since I was out anyway, I left my small offerings at the food pantry. While there I met a young woman donating bag after bag of food. I thought she'd done a drive but no, it's all her own effort. Next week is distribution, so this is in good time for their sorting. What a good soul that lady is. I was very impressed.

Then home to roast the game hen. Earlier I'd put coarse seasalt inside and out, olive oil and garlic paste spread on.

I roasted it for about an hour at 400°, turning over at halftime. Served with green beans, garnished with a sprig of fresh peppermint mint and some dried cranberries. Dessert was the last of the pureed pumpkin beaten with honey and whole plain yogurt.

This was a great meal after a fairly difficult morning, with the driving and many detours, roadwork season. But the newly repaired road outside this development is a treat, so easy to drive without multiple potholes. It's been years of pressure to get it done. 

Then at home I was able to borrow a new acquisition, a Margery Sharp collection, on my renewed card, on my Kindle.  I plunged into The Nutmeg Tree this afternoon.

The home library is planning on another exhibit of Tuesday Knitting Group items. Last year I showed knitting and crocheting, so I think this year it's stitching, maybe goldwork. I might even finish the fabric book, too, to show.

All in all, Friday was a day of doing things, some of which I fear, but did anyway.

Happy day everyone, do the thing anyway, you'll be proud. Or don't, your life, your choice.  

Yes, proudly flying my flag. We did it proud this week.

Howard's End is on the landing, Brideshead redux and toys for boys

Monday morning the cleaners came so I got out of their way.  I had dropoffs for the food pantry about which more later, then pickups at the library, so I stayed there.

When I found that the newer Brideshead Revisited had Emma Thompson playing Lady M, much better casting than the earlier miniseries with Claire Bloom, I decided to borrow it. Monday night at the movies.

The other pickup was 

This inspired piece of writing, which I found out about on Sue from Suffolk's blog, thank you.

It's very engaging and I've already borrowed a couple of her book recommendations for my Kindle. She'd disapprove of this, preferring to be surrounded by actual books and handling them, even ones she's had for years and will definitely read one day.

And convent schooled ladies (!) will recognize this way to hold a book. Never press a thumb into the spine, gels!

Whenever I pick up a book I hear Mother Monica's Irish landowner sharp, loud,  voice.. I daren't hold it any other way.

I used to be in a postgraduate course long ago with a Susan Hill and have often wondered if it's the same one. Turns out not, so it's not six degrees after all. 

Outside the library, in the  square where the fountain is located, they've been digging and tearing all summer and we're finally being let in on what they're up to. The fountain will move but will be there.

All kinds of fun big toys, some for picking up paving looking like hippos biting it and slinging it on a growing heap. There are also humble  spades and rakes, I was surprised to see.

My walk today was around the square, dodging traffic because the sidewalks are gone for now.

Back home I realized that the food pantry can also use condiments and I thought I had a lot of turmeric accidentally over-ordered, and many malt vinegar packets, same reason. 

I did indeed have extras and checked the expiration date on the turmeric. Oh. 2022. I was pretty sure it was more recent. I can still use it, it's vacuum sealed and good quality, but I can't donate it. 

The many little packets of malt vinegar, serving sizes, are fine, and confectioner's sugar. So Tuesday, when I'm on the way to my needlers group, I'll drop them off.  Time flies when you order too much by accident. 

I also have vital wheat gluten, kept frozen, but I can't donate it, it's also well past the date.  I may add in whole wheat flour, though, which is definitely good.

Happy day everyone, some of us are a little past our expiration date but who's counting.

Not I, sez Flufferina

Friday, HP, gardens and plans

June 27 is Handsome partner's birthday.  He died in 2011 on Handsome Son's birthday, so we decided to celebrate HP on his own birthday and reserve Handsome Son's own birthday for him. 

I had strawberries and graham crackers for breakfast, the strawberries in HPs honor, his favorite fruit, always at its best around his birthday. I used to feature strawberries in his birthday cake.

Friday I took sugar to the food pantry and found that the person who runs it has to do everything. So when I send my quarterly donation check, she has to go do the shopping. It adds to her workload. So I decided I'll spend the equivalent on useful nonperishables from Misfits and take that over instead.

Summer is a hungry time, with school out, and no lunch programs. She showed me her empty shelves. In our small town there are fifty families, all working people,  but unable to meet their expenses and needing the food pantry. 

I encourage everyone who wants to help to check locally what's needed, then provide what we can. Now more than ever it's a good thing to do. With bigger food banks, more employees and food contacts, money is more useful, but it pays to check their preference.

Today the daylilies are bursting out, and the patio looks so summery. Also cool enough to be out there. 

See all the buds on the hibiscus. Last year was its first, with two blooms. This year will be a bit more showy.

And I'm making more cordage, to continue the basket. I love doing this and my hands are limited in how long they can do the movements without locking up. So I seize the day, so as to have a supply ready.

Below is an experiment with fine rushes. They wouldn't twist, so I braided them into a decorative shape to attach to the finished basket 

This is how you use a clipboard for braiding. It's also good for  small weaving, especially paper strips.
 

And I baked the carrot cake. 

I included dried cranberries, but omitted the walnuts I had thought about including, because the boy next door is seriously allergic to nuts, and I wanted to share.

It's nice but so labor intensive no wonder it's special. All that grating of carrots. It's quite rich so I may not bother with a fancy frosting.  

Meanwhile my neighbors are happy with their share, showed me the kitchen they're renovating (I know, I've been hearing it happening nights and weekends for ages), and their daughter recruited me to help with her girl scout Gold Award. She's doing a project to help seniors avoid financial online scams.  

I'll be happy to help. I've worked with girl scout Gold Award projects before.  

Gary will also have his share of cake. 

Late addition: the cake got excellent reviews!

I have the fourth season of Foyle for my weekend viewing. The only little drawback to watching a series is the signature tune earworm.. currently it's Pie in the Sky, soon to be replaced by Foyle.

Friday evening I'm online with friends, so I have to remember to get supper in time.

Happy day everyone, please feed people if you can, sez 

Ted and Big Ursy 

Backed up by Food Warrior Fluffy.