Habitats and cavatappi

This morning, since rain was forecast for the afternoon, I got in a walk while the going was good. The boots are coming through fine, perfectly dry feet after sloshing through melting snow on cold ground to see what's up with the downed tree.

Nothing much changed. Maybe the landscapers had to make a plan of action, there not being much elbow room around the tree.

I saw that it had taken down a couple of wild cherries on its way down, so I proceeded with caution under another one which was leaning over perilously.

There was a great display of lichen which had been about 25 feet up, out of sight. And daffodils don't care -- completely unworried about being crashed on they're getting ready to bloom as planned.

And I found someone's front door, hidden by the undergrowth before. I'm guessing, from its size and the location, it's a groundhog home. 

On the way home there were great pale gold beech leaves, not affected by the snow and wind lately. They look delicate and are as tough as old boots.

Home to wonder what to have for lunch, ending in cavatappi with a tomato basil sauce with cheddar cheese, then fresh grated Parmesan on top. Enough left for lunch tomorrow, too.

Handsome Son may get here late, because amazingly his car is ready a week and a half before schedule. So that's his first errand.

Then there will be tea and two kinds of cake. I'd forgotten about the banana bread in the freezer, when I baked chocolate cake. So he gets the benefit.

Happy day everyone, everyone's on edge here right now, particularly since the Texas Democratic primary result, so please consider your words when you comment. Sometimes a passing observation can come out more upsetting than the writer intended. Just a word to the wise. 

Another thrill packed Tuesday

It really helps keep fretting at bay when you get your daily activism done then hang out with your friends at a knitting group.

Today we had a new member, a young man who learned to crochet a chain, plus our regular recidivists, with new and completed projects.

This shawl is off to her sister soon.

Toad's bathing suit on its last leg

 New top down color work sweater in progress 

 

Baby blanket under way for a family member 

Demo of how to hold your yarns on two fingers, when you're weaving in floats as you go. At first she hadn't, as you see,  then she decided to take the extra step and it's making a much better fabric. 

Here's our new participant with his first crocheted chain, really good work for a first try.

Familiar stuff here:

Showing where the spiral pattern ends and the stocking stitch toe begins 

And the completed sock 

Taken in different lights and different colored backgrounds, but it's the same sock.

Convo ranged over stick weaving, age, cataract surgery, antiques, music, Joanne's fabrics, knitted rabbits, Maryland Sheep and Wool, cats,winnowing, Freecycle, languages and more.

Then home through pouring rain to make a pot of tea, get a piece of chocolate walnut cake and take part in Textiles and Tea with Judi Jetson. 

She's a fiber activist with WARP (Weave a Real Peace), multi talented herself, and committed to supporting social fairness, handmade textiles as employment, sheep farmers and the appreciation of the handmade in a techie world. 

She's a weaver, knitter (including yarn bombing), batik artist, dyer, spinner and more. 

This coat comes from a difficult period of her life when she was felled for a long time by Guillain-Barre syndrome, paralyzed and needing long-term rehab to recover to normal health. 

Many get-well cards came in during her illness, and, once well again, she collaborated with a stitcher to image transfer some of the cards onto fabric, to stitch together on a backing. She lined the coat with silk she custom dyed.  And here's the triumphant result.

Happy day everyone, fun with fibers. Or  cake. Why not both?

Hard at work cleaning her up

Spring is under way, walking a bit hindered

So here's what I saw this morning on the patio 

Plural snowdrops! Last year I think one came up. But here, wow, maybe four, a banner year.

And daffodils are just starting to show. They were evidently starting up under the snow.

It's the first time for a few days I've been out on the deck, but now the snow has receded and I thought I'd finally take a walk to the pond, booted and hatted and long coated, it feels like the 20s f., a bit cold. 

Then the plan hit a snag, almost at the pond. Namely a big old downed  tree blocking an entire section. It was old and probably rotted, so the weight of the snow with wind seems to have broken it off at the base.

I need to get through there to access the pond. I could have found a way round by a couple of streets but it occurred to me that it would be wise not to go where there may be other trees waiting to fall on unwary walkers.

So I took pictures to send to management in case they don't know yet, and came home. Late edit: they didn't know. Landscapers on their way now.

I'm now planning on a cup of tea and a slice of the chocolate walnut cake I made yesterday in case of a visit this week from Handsome Son. I have to test to make sure it's okay. 

But first I learned to use Resistbot and sent emails via it to all my reps demanding they get us out of Iran, no bombs to hide the Epstein files.

Happy day, good to get out and find signs of spring, unless you're looking for signs of fall where you are. Or look for signs of chocolate cake, it's all good.

Treeful of robins eating berries, men at work

 White rabbits!

I needn't have worried about the robins. Here's a tree full of berries. And robins.

 

Another tree evidently had storm damage, and it's being felled and chipped 

Here's the latest Knitting Ministry sock to date, the spiral showing nicely now.

Last night after a day of anxiety and displacement activity, knitting, walking -- almost normal distance now -- exercise at home, cooking, bit of cleaning -- bottom oven drawer, took it out, cleaned, swept under, put it back-- I decided I needed a frozen dessert. 

So I mashed two bananas, half cup of peach chunks in their syrup, vanilla, whole milk, I mixed but didn't blend because I wanted the peach chunks chunky , then froze in a glass dish. Very good too. Urgent self care.

There was a very nice spot in the SJB newsletter -- the place I send the knitted gloves and socks to

Happy day,  everyone, if you can manage it. Stressful times. Sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony