A day of one thing leading to another

Yesterday was about not getting. I went off to the farm for Roma plum tomatoes to make tomato lemon Amish jam. Amazingly, they were out of Romas. Usually a prime crop, and advertised in their current newsletter. 

I was there early, maybe they were still picking. I can try again but will probably buy for the freezer for winter spaghetti sauce.

But I still had in mind jars sterilizing in boiling water and some interesting fruit stuff boiling away in the other pot.

So peaches, not up to eating fresh, pinch of sumac, bit of cane sugar, dash of vanilla, cooked down and blended,  became some sort of butter or sauce or something.

And, one recipe of  pancake batter later, a nice supper, and planned Sunday morning breakfast.

Then later I went walking in the lovely, not too hot sunshine, in search of early possible fallen oak galls for ink. There's a spot close to home where acorns fall in masses.

But the whole woodland edge had evidently been cut back and cleared, as if vacuumed up.  Clean as a whistle. Even the brambles I was hoping to pick were cleared out. Just too tidy. This cleanup must have happened while I was busy last week. Well, I still hope for oak galls as the season goes on.

Back home I noticed the snake plant had a large broken leaf. So instead of tossing it, I thought I could see if it would make good cord.

So I split it and it's drying now. This is one to be a bit careful with, since the sap can irritate mucous membranes if it gets near your mouth or eyes. I washed my hands after this.  This is an interesting plant to propagate. This one I grew from a plant I took care of one summer for a neighbor. It went to camp on my porch, and I took one leaf as a fee.

You can propagate by cutting sections of the leaf and just sticking them in earth. Every part of this current plant grew from that method. 

But here's the cool part -- the plant knows up from down, and you have to plant each leaf section the same way up as it grew, or it won't root. So even plants have a better sense of direction than I have. Sad for me, really.

And last noontime, while my salmon and roast fries were cooking, aka fish 'n chips, here with capers and fresh picked thyme 

I set up a new accordion book display of a series of botanicals, very seasonal.

Right after lunch, Gary came dashing in, he was about to grill, could he make me a hamburger?  On realizing I was clearing up after lunch,  he said oh man, timing's out!

I did a bit of Sally Pointer study later,  reminded of her by the oak gall search and because I'd tried something like this as a kid, always fancied handmaking my own shoes.

Hers are pretty authentic though, style dating back 5,000 years.

She cuts and stitches as shown, then wets them through, eases them on for a good fit, and lets them dry on her feet. Custom fit.

I was pretty young when I made mine, no pattern or leather tools, just an urge.

Somewhere I got a scrap of pink soft leather I was able to cut with scissors and stitch with a darner, and made a pair of sandals with a strap. I cut soles, then stitched the upper on, added a Mary Jane type strap to keep them on. 

I remember they were very thin underfoot, not real suited to the sidewalks, no fields at that point in my life. These soft shoes do better on grass and earth. But I was so pleased about trying anyway, despite side-looks from older sibs, now what does she think she's doing.

I fact I wonder now if I can get a soft leather or suede bag or jacket from the thriftie to try for fall house slippers. I'm putting that on the list. I don't have a leather punch but I have a big nail I use for punching book pages, and a hammer. I'm ready.

I also ordered a fleece remnant in charcoal grey from Firecracker Fabrics,  to make  pants for cold weather, thinking ahead here.

And because what is life if you can't be amused by silly stuff , here's the Dance of the Dish Brushes

One day I really must think about growing up. No rush though.

Happy day everyone! Laugh at silly stuff, it's good for you.

Oh, what a beautiful moooornin '

Lovely start. 

Yesterday despite an email apologizing that there would be a shipping delay, the Misfits box arrived bang on schedule, complete and in good condition

Another pound of some of the best cherries I've ever had, better than local, of which there haven't been any this year anyway. 

And the olive oil came so I can make blueberry muffins with the berries in this order.

Gary gave me tomatoes he'd grown, 

so the newly arrived pita bread became a pair o' pizzas. Onions, spiced up ground turkey, spinach, tomatoes blue cheese, grana padano, pinch of za'atar, some crushed basil. 

Off to the farm today to get plum tomatoes for lemon tom jam, reminded by Mary Anne about this . 

The recipe doesn't specify plum tomatoes but I find they work better, less juice, more texture.

And Boots Bear, the new tenant of the upstairs rocker, had a word.

Boud, not wanting to complain because I like my new digs, so peaceful without the Dollivers always arguing about fashion and grumbling that Boud hasn't made them anything new for ages, oh sorry..

Boots, never mind that, what's up?

Well, that's the trouble. Ursula's not up. She's downstairs and I need her upstairs. She's my boo. Her name means little bear, too. She's even got a constellation or maybe two.

Ah. Lonely for Ursula, still living downstairs. Easily fixed, Boots. Here she comes. 

Complete with tiny pussyhat and custom scarf, small but fierce. Nice if all our troubles could be fixed with an Ursula.

Who's the Ursula in your life? 

Yesterday was cool enough to sit out and read, and watch the sky and a tiny airplane circling around probably just having fun, with turkey vultures sailing far around the sky on great updrafts.

I live in a lovely tree-filled green place.

And this is for the tarot followers among our blogistas

I hope all our revelations and guidance are good. Lovely full moon last night, streets filled with silver light. I had to get up and check.

Happy day everyone, we got the big IRA legislation done, massive move to protect climate, and seniors and Obamacare, and pay for it by finally fairly taxing freeloading corporations. 

This president I had some doubts about at the outset,  is proving to be a star. Some big pieces dropped in the compromise, but we can come back and fight them out.  

What a couple of weeks. Justice on all sides working. 

Ukraine's at another danger spot, send vibes

Yay, new day, I can see!

Yesterday's eye work went a treat. Different anesthesiologist, a woman, listened, noted previous aftereffects, made a plan which she explained. It worked so well. Little to no fentanyl, and anti emetic added in. 

I freely admit to preferring women on my medical team. They face many  more  obstacles in training and hiring so the ones who come through it all are superior.  At this point almost all my practitioners are women and I'm in good hands.

However, credit where due, my male surgeon did a flawless job, and here I am reading, writing, posting on a tiny screen, no glasses. Wheeee! 

I really appreciate the friendship you and other people have shown. I think the real test of friendship is not so much helping when friends are struggling, good as that is, because that puts us into a power position. 

I think a better indicator is when friends are happy when things go gloriously right, even when they wish they'd been as blessed. That's generous 

Yesterday got better and better. Gary stopped over a couple of times to check after Handsome Son left, and we were pottering about outside, got  into the subject of making string. I've shown his grandkids various art forms over the years. The older one is more interested in sports now, but the six year old loves crafts.

So I said fine, next time she's over I'll show her string making, from picking leaves to making her own string supply. Gary loves all the arts and was very happy. I said after she learns, she can show her friends, too. So that will happen. 

While we were in the house rummaging through my string stash, which intrigued him greatly,  I remembered something I've been meaning to do for ages. 

He loves this charcoal drawing, often he wanders around the house enjoying the art and now this one's his, a present. 

He's very excited and is planning a place for it. It's still here for the moment, but I'll deliver it if, and when, as expected, he forgets! 

This one has an origin story. Years ago I noticed the shrubs at a local nursery, burlapped and tied for winter protection, and noticed how human they looked. 

I did a few drawings, in charcoal, of them, on various papers,  some showing the support stakes. When exhibited, people insisted they were people, refugees, look, that lady's pregnant, where did you see them? I pointed out the stakes, but the illusion persisted. People even got a bit annoyed over it because obviously they were people!

This is the best drawing, I think, and I eliminated the stakes! The photo is a bit distorted here, but the framing isn't, in real life.

I just went further into the illusion, guided by my audience.

Here's the original old film photo, now attached to the back as part of the story.

So that was a really vintage day. Everything's so bright now I'm wearing sunglasses in the sunny living room even. Who is that mystery lady in the wraparound dark glasses! Just back from Mar a Lago?? 

Happy day everyone, hope we can all see better through the fog of fascism and fight back. I'm hoping Jared goes down next..

Good eye witness report , Textiles and Tea, fiber plans

All's well with Eye One, now ready for Eye Two tomorrow . Very good reports up to now. And the optho promised a word with the anaesthesiologist to dial down the fentanyl in the mix, to avoid the aftereffects. So  all's good.

Handsome Son and I had a rapid lunch, card presentation and cake, before he had to dash into work, taking half the remaining cake home with him, birthday custom. It went well. It's pretty good, worth the dratted pitting.

Then I fell into a deep sleep, partly the cake, partly the effects of being out in feels like 100+ temps. 

I woke with the alert telling me Textiles and Tea was up.

She's very young but already established, famous textile artists such as Rebecca mezoff messaged in as she talked, to greet her.

She works in tapestry, very small, here about six by nine inches, and overshot, very large, here seen as bedspreads. And she embroiders in cross stitch. Next she fancies willow basket making! Such energy and talent, fun to watch, and so happy in her life.

Later I caught Sally Pointer on YouTube organizing her fibers and seeing that wonderful array of threads it occurred to me that I might mix roving into my natural string.

I remarked recently that cord making us really spinning and plying, and it dawned that I could try drafting roving into the process of cord making, for a mixed wool and plant thread for making the rest of this basket or whatever it is.

Or maybe plying some spun yarn with string, we'll see.

 When my shoulder agrees, that is. Those few inches of cord I made a couple of days ago cost me. 

And socks will always be happening, just not as incessantly as before. Sister M knows the situation and is fine with it.

This morning, less hot today, nice rain for the plants, and the self seeded tomato has taken over, hopeful of a good crop, since we have plenty of growing year left. 

And, in the other corner, the sage has never grown like this, taking over chairs, other plants, all it surveys. 

The little Italian basil I started indoors in water, here meeting its future home

And here, established as a kitchen plant

My neighbor who grew up on a farm, swears by a pot of basil in the kitchen to deter insects. 

Soon the Thai basil will come in, too, to use in cooking. 

And the political scene appears more cheerful than for years, two new NATO members now in solidarity, right wingers in disarray with Scott's phone under scrutiny. 

I really wonder if there's an increase in stress-related medical events in the right wing. They're certainly seeing chickens coming home to roost big-time. I don't wish them ill, just clearer thinking. Which might be the impossible dteam.

Happy day everyone, play on! Enjoy what you can, you're worth it!

Let justice roll down..

 It looks as if Garland was doing his job quietly all along critics notwithstanding.

In fact they were carrying out a search warrant. This means a judge not only agreed that incriminating evidence was there right then, but is likely to result in charges. That's the only way to get this kind of warrant.

And note that it could also spike TFGs plans to run for office. And possibly reveal the goods he has on the senators he's been blackmailing  .Many birds, one stone.

Meanwhile, back at the townhouse, massive rainstorm yesterday briefly cooled us off,  but now we're baking again. Sun breaking through wet glass this morning

Later this morning Handsome Son drives us to my final right eye check and the go ahead for Thursday's left eye work. After this week I'll have a good idea how functional my vision will be before maybe getting reading glasses. 

Then maybe he'll have time for a quick bite including birthday cake before he has to go to work.

So things are, over all, okay at the ranch. 

And here's a celebratory artwork to leave you with

Happy day everyone, keep cool! If that applies.

Birthday , handsome Son! And well done, Dems

I have a card ready and was hoping to deliver it yesterday for him to get when he arrived home from work. But it was too hot to venture out, still in heat wave mode. 

And there's cake

Chocolate with chocolate chips and cherries, chocolate icing, waiting with its tinfoil hat, to celebrate whenever that happens. 

He's very philosophical about his age anyway, but just in case

And, on the subject of a brilliant couple of weeks for Democrats, here's me, putting my own advice into action, after yesterday's brilliant latest legislation on climate and corporate taxes

So  let's do that. Stop to rejoice that,  in the face of the evil which has overcome the other party, we have a president and Congress who can still get good things done.

The best definition of power is the ability to get good things done. And it's important to recognize our own power even when that seems small. Stepping down from political soapbox now, to do a little happy dance.