Leisure Interrupted

 Yesterday after cooking and bed making and laundry  I finally sat down to do nothing much.

But first I made a huge six meal Thelastofthe quiche. This involved the last of the dandelion greens, chard, mushrooms and onions from the freezer, with the usual eggs and a lot of cheese.

Dandelion greens are peppery and a great addition, and this worked out well.

Then I got on with the latest braiding and I improved my sliding knot ability for the fastener.

Here it is in blurry action.

Then I found myself considering a PBS Passport in support of WHYY public broadcasting. Why not, access at least for now, to good drama and documentaries, while sending a modest amount to a good fairly local -- Philly -- cause.  So I did, and eventually got it to work, thinking my evening entertainment for the foreseeable future is set up. 

So I thought I'd start with a couple of episodes of the newer All Creatures Great and Small. I'm so glad I found it. 

Such an improvement in the casting over the earlier one. The Scot Herriot portrayed as a Scot, the farmer Helen as a lovely Yorkshire woman, not an escapee from a finishing school. Anyway I'm very happy with it. And Diana Rigg as Mrs Pumphrey, perfect. 

However, here's what happened in the middle of watching. A bang at the door, Gary suddenly in my midst ready to, are you sitting down, collect the splitleaf. He was in a mood, I think severe back pain though he doesn't mention it.

And after the most commotion possible, here's the uninvited guest, the plant, that is,  leaving. 

Gary may come back for the tall palm today and I hope I can shove off, I mean return, the pony palm, too. It's like having noisy people finally go home, in the way, no matter where they are. I was happy to take care of them and now they need to leave.

It took a while for me to recover from the sudden drama, I'm out of the habit.

Then today the mail brought a great tiny thing.

A while back I think I made a comment on the Modern Daily Knitting site about watercolor painting and the minis I made in July. I think that's what triggered this lovely gift. 

Anyway they got in touch for a street address and here we are. Hannah is a terrific artist, as you see, and an MDK star. Nice people, with a great website and newsletter.

I also created a couple of cards, using the protective card stock Hannah had used to mail her art, waste nothing, to attach to the back of two goldwork pieces I gave to a friend recently. She had noted they were unsigned and asked for an identifier for the back of the frame. 

So here we are 

So that's us Chez Boud! I made a little video while I was out walking early, before the heat got going, now my daily YouTube upload.

But, back to still pictures, here's the local fungi getting underway. 

Just the start. After all our rain, it should be a good fungus year.

Happy day everyone, make art if you want, or delegate it, it's all good.

Flowers and down time

Another hot and humid day, so I'm surrendering. Just reading and knotting and picking flowers. No plans. 

What you get when you plant wildflower seeds. Tiny individual sparks of color, a cornflower, a coreopsis, some baby's breath 

The zinnias are under way, tiny lovely flowers, with the daisies 

And I'm glad I left the sweet William alone, because they're having a second act 

Wandering dude is booming, to become a houseplant later

After the hibiscus finish flowering, there's more to see

 

Today's flowers, mainly daisies 

The wild thistle has been knocked around in the wind and rain, but it's blossoming all over, so I hope the goldfinches and butterflies find it 

Since I spend time in the kitchen why not have a few flowers there.

The new knotting is coming along, very pleased with my new skill. Working area on the left, the right is the leading threads, to be braided later. I'll learn a five thread braid to do that.

The wobbly part at the top, where I was getting the hang of it, can be unknotted later. Meanwhile isn't this cool?

Happy day everyone, off to change the bed, then make a veggie quiche, then start doing nothing. What luxury.

August 8, tricky day

Today's Handsome Son's birthday, yay him. It's also Handsome Partner's anniversary. Our son was with him at his last moments.

This makes it a complicated day, though we decided quickly to celebrate each person on their birthday, to lift the weight off the day a bit.

So I baked a chocolate cake for Handsome Son

sent him a card, and a greeting text at the hour he was born, and he'll be over next week for a little celebration. 

Meanwhile I went out early to pick these, they're doing well this year 

and to provide mosquitoes with a nice breakfast.

I did find a suitable aquarium for SG, Mitch 

98lbs empty. A gallon weighs about 8lbs. Times 75, plus 98. It adds up.

And I'm wondering what to make next that's portable and I think I'll try this 

Happy day everyone, some days are harder to navigate than others, but we've done it before, we can do it again.

Sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony and Ursula 

Cleaning day,but too hot to leave

Today the cleaners had to work with me here, not as easy for them, but they understood it was the heat dictating my staying home.

The temp has gone up considerably since this morning. The good news is the air quality is good, and the other news is that the humidity is not so good.

Meanwhile early this morning, the Freecycled chair went off to a happy recipient who is always organized and reliable, easy to work with. 

I messaged her a thanks for that and heard back

This is a star Freecycler. She'd be surprised to hear some of the shenanigans other get up to.

Meanwhile, I'm reading 

Easy appealing reading, heatwave book.  It's an odd sort of road trip quest story impelled by tragedy, with older people, teenagers and a powerful red cat. And a borrowed Volvo.

And since I'm not making anything at the moment other than a fuss, here's a guided tour of a piece I made years ago, thanks for the nudge Suzanne, when an embroidery guild member showed her work.

You could work on this with kids, I think, big yarn and tapestry needle, plastic canvas seven stitches to the inch. It's sturdy enough to withstand learners and keeps its shape so you can create boxes or other 3D shapes or a purse,  notebook cover, quite a few ideas. Cheap too.

You're welcome to copy the stitches if you're interested.

In other creative news, I've signed a Stand up for Science petition to Congress to rescind the shameful move against Dr Fauci of the DOJ working for their audience of one. The hope is to make an embarrassing enough noise that it doesn't happen quietly, if at all.

Otherwise happy day everyone, if we don't stand for something, we'll fall for anything.

Spring plans and Misfits

 This is today 

So it's a good day to stay indoors and plan fall planting for next spring 

Since we've had so many massive downpours and flooding issues, I've decided to abandon the idea of a paved patio out front. The less paving the better at this point.

So I'm going to plant. I can transplant some daisies from the back deck area, my neighbor plans to give me some of her echinacea in fall, because she has too many, and I've ordered some of these for right near the front step 

Jessie's Star flowers. Small and flowering after daffodils and before daylilies.

Yesterday after the downpour I went and weeded again out front, and notice the pachysandra is moving in quite well. So I think this will work.

And I'm Freecycling this handy folding chair I haven't used in years, excellent condition. Gary used to borrow it occasionally, but I've rarely taken it out of the bag 

Complete with drink holder!  I got a taker, a reliable lady I've dealt with before, in minutes.

I'm so sorry for the Misfits driver in this weather

Did I mention I got all carried away and replaced my ancient doormat?

A non pink truck just doesn't seem as exciting, but  Handsome Driver Rameer is as cute as ever.

MIA are my strawberries, so no excuse for jam this week. The potatoes are beautiful, like golden fruit. They'll be roasted with the fake beef from last week, now  frozen into patties mixed with egg and Cajun seasoning, how did I manage before CS.

Eggs for carrot, spinach quiche from last week, carrots now steamed. Nonfat yogurt because I couldn't get full fat but I'll live. Bananas for smoothies, and maybe banana bread. Chocolate melt things for Handsome Son's upcoming birthday cake, he already requested chocolate. Choc almonds, nutritious, that's my story.

Honey wheat bread, nearest I can get to the seedy bread I like. Canned food to share with the food pantry. Tuna for tuna melts. Plenty of cheese in the house already for these and quiches. Also plenty of green veg in the freezer.

That's chez Boud for now. Now to parboil the potatoes and steam the spinach. Advance prep definitely keeps me cooking good food, less work at the point of hunger.  

Happy day everyone, happy birthday to every August person, including e, who blogs as Life in Progress, go there and leave wishes, and Handsome Son.