HOMEFREE

White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit ...

A lovely elderly lady told me she said "White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit"  first thing when she awakened on the first day of the month.  I didn't ask her why -  I think we got distracted with a discussion about what we were knitting.  But I have been doing it ever since.  The phrase seems to automatically pop to mind, which I find interesting;  I don't think I am trying to remember  to do it. And I am not sure if it 'works' to say it later on in the day.  Tomorrow is December 1.  🐇 🐇 🐇

 

 

A lovely elderly lady told me she said "White rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit"  first thing when she awakened on the first day of the month.  I didn't ask her why -  I think we got distracted with a discussion about what we were knitting.  But I have been doing it ever since.  The phrase seems to automatically pop to mind, which I find interesting;  I don't think I am trying to remember  to do it. And I am not sure if it 'works' to say it later on in the day.  Tomorrow is December 1.  🐇 🐇 🐇

 

 

Tree Bones. A Series. 1 - 12

 

 

HOMEFREE : HOLES IN THE WALLS

This is from one of the first blogs many years ago.  If I can find a photo from that time - ie the "holes in the walls" - I will post it now 

(re-post)

HOMEFREE : OUT OF THE ORDINARY

To do with nature, human and otherwise.
Home. Garden. Out and About.
'Playing' house. Knitting. Creating habitats.
Exploring Victoria BC. Fibre arting. Sharing the journey.

HOMEFREE (what you shout when you've run through the world and have arrived back at your safe, cozy haven)

HOLES IN THE WALLS

There are holes in the walls. The house and I are delighted. In the daytime, light flirts and flows across living room and studio into the centrally-roomed, previously shaded kitchen. In the evening, the amber lights in that kitchen glow through the circles when viewed from the studio and living room and bathroom.
The holes under discussion vary from half-inch to eight inches in diameter. In one section of the wall between studio and kitchen they are vertical in a pattern of a flower on a stem. On another vertical they are stacks of O's to be interpreted as you will. Horizontally, across the wall in a foot or so area below the ceiling, they are random bubbles. Between hall and kitchen they are 'portholes'.
This is how and why they came about: with a thought to lightening the kitchen and curious about what was behind the paneling put up in a 50's renovation in this 1912 house - I removed the panelling. A plaster wall was revealed. I removed it. Messy job. I was treated once more to the experience of gritty dust between teeth; up the nose I can understand but how does it become chewable?!
The look of the lath and plaster and two by four studs forming the backside of the wall in the next room charmed me in my tracks. Here was the inner structure of the house, the skeleton, the unseen muscle holding it all up! It was quite gorgeous. But how to get it past the 'under construction' look? Past most people asking, "Well, what are you going to do with it now?" I needed something to tweak it to the admiration state that I was seeing.
Putting rustic shelves between the vertical 2x4's helped a lot - and provided a viewable space for viewable-worthy kitchen stuff. Removing the oozed plaster and leaving just what was between the lath furthered the eye appeal. Adding function to form seems to foster acceptability.
But it was the drawing of a flower pattern in chalk on the wallpaper in the studio and using a drill to cut appropriate-sized holes that evoked the "eureka!".
The small holes were not hard to make with regular drill bits. The discovery of spade drill bits and then a hole saw attachment for a drill were major cause for a skippy little dance around the kitchen.
It amazes me that so many answers in life require knowing the right questions. Having no idea that such marvels as spade bits and hole saw attachments existed, I send a grateful hug to my brother who, on the phone, once we got past his "You're poking holes in walls on purpose?" query, and my bemoaning the limits of my drill bits, mentioned spade bits. Then hole saws.
I can handle spade bits. Hole saw I cannot. I thought my elbows were going to pop out of their sockets when I tried. And my drill started to smoke which totally unnerved me. But I had managed to make a couple of holes this way and knew I wanted more.
A handyman was called. He'd "never done this before" (I seem to run across this response quite a lot) but was "willing to give it a shot." The lath and plaster were a challenge for his serious drill and his manly muscles (the lath tended to 'bounce') but he persevered and skillfully cut the 'bubbles' across the top and the O's up and down. A medium file was used to even the edges of the holes and the new paint planned for the studio is expected to add the finishing look.
Then he tackled two salad plate-sized holes in the still panelled wall between kitchen and hall. The salad plate got used because he asked, "How big do you want these holes?" and I said, "Oh, about so big - " and made a circle with my hands and his eye lit on a salad plate on the counter which seemed to correspond.........
These were cut with a jig saw and I was fascinated by the technique he used to get the two holes on opposite sides of the wall to line up! (No, I cannot at this moment recall just how. Sigh. Selective memory. Consoling thought is that I could always call him up and ask.)
These holes, being thick, if you know what I mean, are now lined with a simple flashing strip, the amber kind, and this glows goldenly at certain times. The holes also provide light into the otherwise dim hall and give a far-reaching view from the bathroom out over the neighbors' gardens.
Being so very pleased with the result I have taken to strolling thoughtfully through the house and seeing the possibilities of more 'holes'. But that's for another chat. And a very good possibility of having to find another handyman. His drill didn't smoke but he did wear out several blades.

Posted on June 08, 2004 at 11:29 AM | Permalink

HOMEFREE : OUT OF THE ORDINARY

To do with nature, human and otherwise.
Home. Garden. Out and About.
'Playing' house. Knitting. Creating habitats.
Exploring Victoria BC. Fibre arting. Sharing the journey.

HOMEFREE (what you shout when you've run through the world and have arrived back at your safe, cozy haven)

HOLES IN THE WALLS

There are holes in the walls. The house and I are delighted. In the daytime, light flirts and flows across living room and studio into the centrally-roomed, previously shaded kitchen. In the evening, the amber lights in that kitchen glow through the circles when viewed from the studio and living room and bathroom.
The holes under discussion vary from half-inch to eight inches in diameter. In one section of the wall between studio and kitchen they are vertical in a pattern of a flower on a stem. On another vertical they are stacks of O's to be interpreted as you will. Horizontally, across the wall in a foot or so area below the ceiling, they are random bubbles. Between hall and kitchen they are 'portholes'.
This is how and why they came about: with a thought to lightening the kitchen and curious about what was behind the paneling put up in a 50's renovation in this 1912 house - I removed the panelling. A plaster wall was revealed. I removed it. Messy job. I was treated once more to the experience of gritty dust between teeth; up the nose I can understand but how does it become chewable?!
The look of the lath and plaster and two by four studs forming the backside of the wall in the next room charmed me in my tracks. Here was the inner structure of the house, the skeleton, the unseen muscle holding it all up! It was quite gorgeous. But how to get it past the 'under construction' look? Past most people asking, "Well, what are you going to do with it now?" I needed something to tweak it to the admiration state that I was seeing.
Putting rustic shelves between the vertical 2x4's helped a lot - and provided a viewable space for viewable-worthy kitchen stuff. Removing the oozed plaster and leaving just what was between the lath furthered the eye appeal. Adding function to form seems to foster acceptability.
But it was the drawing of a flower pattern in chalk on the wallpaper in the studio and using a drill to cut appropriate-sized holes that evoked the "eureka!".
The small holes were not hard to make with regular drill bits. The discovery of spade drill bits and then a hole saw attachment for a drill were major cause for a skippy little dance around the kitchen.
It amazes me that so many answers in life require knowing the right questions. Having no idea that such marvels as spade bits and hole saw attachments existed, I send a grateful hug to my brother who, on the phone, once we got past his "You're poking holes in walls on purpose?" query, and my bemoaning the limits of my drill bits, mentioned spade bits. Then hole saws.
I can handle spade bits. Hole saw I cannot. I thought my elbows were going to pop out of their sockets when I tried. And my drill started to smoke which totally unnerved me. But I had managed to make a couple of holes this way and knew I wanted more.
A handyman was called. He'd "never done this before" (I seem to run across this response quite a lot) but was "willing to give it a shot." The lath and plaster were a challenge for his serious drill and his manly muscles (the lath tended to 'bounce') but he persevered and skillfully cut the 'bubbles' across the top and the O's up and down. A medium file was used to even the edges of the holes and the new paint planned for the studio is expected to add the finishing look.
Then he tackled two salad plate-sized holes in the still panelled wall between kitchen and hall. The salad plate got used because he asked, "How big do you want these holes?" and I said, "Oh, about so big - " and made a circle with my hands and his eye lit on a salad plate on the counter which seemed to correspond.........
These were cut with a jig saw and I was fascinated by the technique he used to get the two holes on opposite sides of the wall to line up! (No, I cannot at this moment recall just how. Sigh. Selective memory. Consoling thought is that I could always call him up and ask.)
These holes, being thick, if you know what I mean, are now lined with a simple flashing strip, the amber kind, and this glows goldenly at certain times. The holes also provide light into the otherwise dim hall and give a far-reaching view from the bathroom out over the neighbors' gardens.
Being so very pleased with the result I have taken to strolling thoughtfully through the house and seeing the possibilities of more 'holes'. But that's for another chat. And a very good possibility of having to find another handyman. His drill didn't smoke but he did wear out several blades.

Perogies and pasta and galette

(re-post)

A local librarian (thank you, Georgia!)  told me she makes the best perogie dough using only flour and sour cream.

She was right!  I just kept adding a bit of sour cream to some flour until I had a hunk of dough which I kneaded a bit.  It rolled out easily with a bit of elasticity (dough with egg in it snaps back and needs some stern rolling to expand) and then could be cut into rounds which folded nicely around a mixture of mashed potato and cheddar cheese, sealed by moistening with water on the edges and then boiled in water until the perogies rose  to the surface and bounced  around a few times.  You don't have to be Polish or Ukranian to know how many bounces - but it helps.

Here are the perogies which did not get immediately boiled and eaten but put on a cookie sheet in the freezer until frozen and then sealed in a zip lock bag.  They then can be boiled as above or put frozen into a frying pan with some butter.

The richness of the dough got me wondering .....

....  how it would work to make pasta ...  dum de dum de dum ..........

...  de dum  ....  de dum ...

They looked fine.

I think I am being overly optimistic about the flavour -  almost anything tastes good covered by tomatoes and garlic and mushrooms  gently sauted in a zest of olive oil  smattered with some fine cheese-  and  I would have to compare to pasta made with egg which -  in my experience (thank you Cristina!) could almost be eaten raw.

The texture was nice;  I would do the noodles thinner next time no matter what the dough:  that was the first time I used a pasta machine to roll and cut them;  sure beats a rolling pin and a pizza cutter!

Next I tried using the dough for a galette - apple and fig.

Nope.  Maybe if I rolled it much thinner and baked it less but - likely would still have been  - nope.

Definitely yes for perogies, again!

Posted on October 21, 2009 at 01:01 AM

A local librarian (thank you, Georgia!)  told me she makes the best perogie dough using only flour and sour cream.

She was right!  I just kept adding a bit of sour cream to some flour until I had a hunk of dough which I kneaded a bit.  It rolled out easily with a bit of elasticity (dough with egg in it snaps back and needs some stern rolling to expand) and then could be cut into rounds which folded nicely around a mixture of mashed potato and cheddar cheese, sealed by moistening with water on the edges and then boiled in water until the perogies rose  to the surface and bounced  around a few times.  You don't have to be Polish or Ukranian to know how many bounces - but it helps.

Here are the perogies which did not get immediately boiled and eaten but put on a cookie sheet in the freezer until frozen and then sealed in a zip lock bag.  They then can be boiled as above or put frozen into a frying pan with some butter.

The richness of the dough got me wondering .....

....  how it would work to make pasta ...  dum de dum de dum ..........

...  de dum  ....  de dum ...

They looked fine.

I think I am being overly optimistic about the flavour -  almost anything tastes good covered by tomatoes and garlic and mushrooms  gently sauted in a zest of olive oil  smattered with some fine cheese-  and  I would have to compare to pasta made with egg which -  in my experience (thank you Cristina!) could almost be eaten raw.

The texture was nice;  I would do the noodles thinner next time no matter what the dough:  that was the first time I used a pasta machine to roll and cut them;  sure beats a rolling pin and a pizza cutter!

Next I tried using the dough for a galette - apple and fig.

Nope.  Maybe if I rolled it much thinner and baked it less but - likely would still have been  - nope.

Definitely yes for perogies, again!

Teeny tiny tutorial. So long, soggy soap!

This also works with bars of shampoo.  And bottle caps are so diverse:  different places, different drinks,  different brands.......

(re-post)

A magnetic  paper holder (the kind that is meant to go on a fridge),  a bottle cap;   press bottle cap into soap.......

....... clip paper holder onto towel rack  over sink....  introduce bottle cap to magnet ....  dah dah ..... 

Soap drips into sink,  dries between uses.

It can also be clipped to the faucet handle in the tub.

Posted on October 26, 2009 at 01:01 AM | Permalink

A magnetic  paper holder (the kind that is meant to go on a fridge),  a bottle cap;   press bottle cap into soap.......

....... clip paper holder onto towel rack  over sink....  introduce bottle cap to magnet ....  dah dah ..... 

Soap drips into sink,  dries between uses.

It can also be clipped to the faucet handle in the tub.

"...and a Christmas card on a knitted gold - en-n-n-n tree!"

(re-post)

I knew Christmas was coming - it seems to follow Halloween year after year - but it was only when I saw a Christmas card a few days ago in the Polish Deli (a mailed card: some Polish people are extra prompt!) and then read somewhere "Christmas is just over a month away" that I 'paid attention' to the fact. 

What came to mind is this Christmas tree I knit last year and put on Christmas cards.  I thought others  might be interested in doing the same. 

This tree is 3 ½ “ tall by 2 ½ “ wide on a 5” by 7” card front. It looks very pretty mailed in a translucent vellum envelope.

Bowdabra gold bow wire     50 feet makes 2-3 trees

#4 US needles

Cast on 1 st leaving a 12 inch tail
Knit one row
Inc in this st (k into front and then back) (2 sts)
Inc in first st, K1 (3 sts)
Inc in first st, K2 (4 sts)
Continue to increase in this way until 15 stitches
Cast off 6 sts loosely.  Knit across rem. 9 sts 
Cast off 6 sts loosely.  K 3
Knit 3
Knit 3
Inc 1 st in all 3 sts (6 sts)
Cast off loosely  
Stretch tree into shape.  Arrange ‘presents’ (the last increase row) under tree.  Form the 12” (initial tail) into an angel with a loop for head, and a loop for each wing.  Wrap any remaining wire around for body or cut off tucking end behind.  Secure tree to card with glue stick or instead of hiding the two ends behind the tree poke these through card and secure on back. 

The bow wire is flexible, a bit tricky to work with; knit loosely.  To keep it from crimping or tangling I held the loop (as it comes in the package) with a large bulldog clip (a clothespeg also works) and only unwound a foot or so at a time as I knit.  Some kinks occurred and I just knit them into the tree, pretending they were decorations. Larger needles give a more open looking tree.   Have fun!

Here it is shown on the card and that is what the bow wire looks like. (click on photo to enlarge)

This year I am knitting the tree with green plastic coated wire and thinking to make it a bit larger to hang on a tree or in a window.  So far I have found the wire in the suitcase with other wire (sometimes I amaze myself) and found the pattern - but have not yet knit it. 

The golden tree on the card originally appeared in Paulette Lane's  Knitting Pattern-a-Day 2007 calendar.  Yes, it is my design.

Posted on November 12, 2008 at 02:11 AM | Permalink

I knew Christmas was coming - it seems to follow Halloween year after year - but it was only when I saw a Christmas card a few days ago in the Polish Deli (a mailed card: some Polish people are extra prompt!) and then read somewhere "Christmas is just over a month away" that I 'paid attention' to the fact. 

What came to mind is this Christmas tree I knit last year and put on Christmas cards.  I thought others  might be interested in doing the same. 

This tree is 3 ½ “ tall by 2 ½ “ wide on a 5” by 7” card front. It looks very pretty mailed in a translucent vellum envelope.

Bowdabra gold bow wire     50 feet makes 2-3 trees

#4 US needles

Cast on 1 st leaving a 12 inch tail
Knit one row
Inc in this st (k into front and then back) (2 sts)
Inc in first st, K1 (3 sts)
Inc in first st, K2 (4 sts)
Continue to increase in this way until 15 stitches
Cast off 6 sts loosely.  Knit across rem. 9 sts 
Cast off 6 sts loosely.  K 3
Knit 3
Knit 3
Inc 1 st in all 3 sts (6 sts)
Cast off loosely  
Stretch tree into shape.  Arrange ‘presents’ (the last increase row) under tree.  Form the 12” (initial tail) into an angel with a loop for head, and a loop for each wing.  Wrap any remaining wire around for body or cut off tucking end behind.  Secure tree to card with glue stick or instead of hiding the two ends behind the tree poke these through card and secure on back. 

The bow wire is flexible, a bit tricky to work with; knit loosely.  To keep it from crimping or tangling I held the loop (as it comes in the package) with a large bulldog clip (a clothespeg also works) and only unwound a foot or so at a time as I knit.  Some kinks occurred and I just knit them into the tree, pretending they were decorations. Larger needles give a more open looking tree.   Have fun!

Here it is shown on the card and that is what the bow wire looks like. (click on photo to enlarge)

This year I am knitting the tree with green plastic coated wire and thinking to make it a bit larger to hang on a tree or in a window.  So far I have found the wire in the suitcase with other wire (sometimes I amaze myself) and found the pattern - but have not yet knit it. 

The golden tree on the card originally appeared in Paulette Lane's  Knitting Pattern-a-Day 2007 calendar.  Yes, it is my design.

Bowl ; paper and wool made using kitchen materials: blender etc.

(re-post)

Wanting a shallow bowl in which to put my safety pins that I use like straight pins when making garments and which don't work well in a pin cushion, I remembered such a  bowl from the past. 

Yep, I had a cardboard carton of eggs in the frig in the shade of cement.   The remaining eggs are now balanced in the lid.  (Reminder to self: open and close frig door gently.)

 

I tore the egg carton into small pieces and soaked them in hot water for a bit, then put them in the blender with enough water to cover and whirled until it turned into mush.  Proper name for mush when making papery things is slurry.

(It is advised not to use a blender you use for food to do this.  Not sure why but you have been advised.  This blender is actually used only for paper making but has been doing double duty
because the food one is waiting on a part.  I may find out why the advice has been given.)

I added some dried rosemary and scented geranium leaves for fragrance and look to the slurry once it was blended and then poured it (over the sink) into this colander  and then put it into a bowl while pressing the slurry evenly into the colander.  I wanted a rustic edge but this could be cut straight once it is all dried.

Then I took some of my 'cloud' handspun and put bits and pieces on top of the slurry.  What you can't see (I forgot to photograph it) is that I took some lengths of that wool and laid it randomly on the bottom of the colander first.

You can sort of see it here.

The colander then got put on a floor hot air register until it dried but it would have been put outside in the sun and wind if the weather had been sunny and windy.  On top of a counter would do as well.

Once dried it had shrunk a bit so came out of the container quite easily.

This is it.

And here,  holding the pins so they are easily accessible.

All sorts of fibre can be used.  I just had a thought that newspaper colour comics  could be used in the mug-deep tea strainer and which would be a fun container for a certain two-year-old I know.  We've started collecting things on our walks and  such a vessel would be easier on the 'collection' than our pockets. 

Posted on April 07, 2009 at 01:01 AM | Permalink

 

Wanting a shallow bowl in which to put my safety pins that I use like straight pins when making garments and which don't work well in a pin cushion, I remembered such a  bowl from the past. 

Yep, I had a cardboard carton of eggs in the frig in the shade of cement.   The remaining eggs are now balanced in the lid.  (Reminder to self: open and close frig door gently.)

 

I tore the egg carton into small pieces and soaked them in hot water for a bit, then put them in the blender with enough water to cover and whirled until it turned into mush.  Proper name for mush when making papery things is slurry.

(It is advised not to use a blender you use for food to do this.  Not sure why but you have been advised.  This blender is actually used only for paper making but has been doing double duty
because the food one is waiting on a part.  I may find out why the advice has been given.)

I added some dried rosemary and scented geranium leaves for fragrance and look to the slurry once it was blended and then poured it (over the sink) into this colander  and then put it into a bowl while pressing the slurry evenly into the colander.  I wanted a rustic edge but this could be cut straight once it is all dried.

Then I took some of my 'cloud' handspun and put bits and pieces on top of the slurry.  What you can't see (I forgot to photograph it) is that I took some lengths of that wool and laid it randomly on the bottom of the colander first.

You can sort of see it here.

The colander then got put on a floor hot air register until it dried but it would have been put outside in the sun and wind if the weather had been sunny and windy.  On top of a counter would do as well.

Once dried it had shrunk a bit so came out of the container quite easily.

This is it.

And here,  holding the pins so they are easily accessible.

All sorts of fibre can be used.  I just had a thought that newspaper colour comics  could be used in the mug-deep tea strainer and which would be a fun container for a certain two-year-old I know.  We've started collecting things on our walks and  such a vessel would be easier on the 'collection' than our pockets. 

(re-post)

Wanting a shallow bowl in which to put my safety pins that I use like straight pins when making garments and which don't work well in a pin cushion, I remembered such a  bowl from the past. 

Yep, I had a cardboard carton of eggs in the frig in the shade of cement.   The remaining eggs are now balanced in the lid.  (Reminder to self: open and close frig door gently.)

 

I tore the egg carton into small pieces and soaked them in hot water for a bit, then put them in the blender with enough water to cover and whirled until it turned into mush.  Proper name for mush when making papery things is slurry.

(It is advised not to use a blender you use for food to do this.  Not sure why but you have been advised.  This blender is actually used only for paper making but has been doing double duty
because the food one is waiting on a part.  I may find out why the advice has been given.)

I added some dried rosemary and scented geranium leaves for fragrance and look to the slurry once it was blended and then poured it (over the sink) into this colander  and then put it into a bowl while pressing the slurry evenly into the colander.  I wanted a rustic edge but this could be cut straight once it is all dried.

Then I took some of my 'cloud' handspun and put bits and pieces on top of the slurry.  What you can't see (I forgot to photograph it) is that I took some lengths of that wool and laid it randomly on the bottom of the colander first.

You can sort of see it here.

The colander then got put on a floor hot air register until it dried but it would have been put outside in the sun and wind if the weather had been sunny and windy.  On top of a counter would do as well.

Once dried it had shrunk a bit so came out of the container quite easily.

This is it.

And here,  holding the pins so they are easily accessible.

All sorts of fibre can be used.  I just had a thought that newspaper colour comics  could be used in the mug-deep tea strainer and which would be a fun container for a certain two-year-old I know.  We've started collecting things on our walks and  such a vessel would be easier on the 'collection' than our pockets. 

Outdoors .... weather perspective

I posted this on November 21,  ten years ago.   Different part of Victoria, different housing situation - but there are birds and feeders  and their behaviour continues to amaze and amuse me.  

(re-post)

I came home from the daily outing awhile ago and the birds at the peanut and suet feeders and the seeds on the deck scattered.  They flew into the Major tree and I could see some of them; their abundant presence sometimes makes the tree look like it is squirming.

After sweeping the seeds which were spread about the deck by the birds into a neat pile again I put a sheepskin on the deck chair, drew up a stool, got the pillow out of the wood box, tilted the chair back and relaxed.  

Dressed for outdoors I was cosy.  A nearby cedar hedge was being trimmed and the fragrance was splendid.  The sky was cloudy with a line of brightness to the south that said the sun might, just might, likely would, make another appearance, Victoria-style.  A few drops of rain had spotted down when I was sweeping the deck.  Only worth mentioning because I had noticed them on the faded green of the deck chair. The trees in my vision were leaf -free,  haunting in their silhouettes.

When I had remained still in the deck chair for a few minutes the birds began to return to the feeders.

The nuthatches will approach if I am upright and sweeping so they were the first back and gave their small chirp of greeting.

A downy woodpecker came next and when I turned my head a bit to see him better he startled and flew away from his perch on the peanut column.  

Then a couple of juncos landed on the deck railing and I am sure they noted that the seeds were all once again in a tidy pile but decided to wait until I was no longer in attendance to descend to the deck floor.  They seem to only eat on a flat surface but when I have observed them up close they seem to be awkward on their feet and a grip would serve them better.  But I have never seen them on a feeder that needs gripping.

The chickadees came in fast and furious to both the suet and the peanuts and flew so low across me that I could feel the breeze from their wing beats.  Some of them did a sudden stop and somersault backward when they realized I was there. Most of them would have preferred to not have the excitement of a stationary human so near their feeding stations.  It is different if I have a hand out with peanuts on it that do not have to be pecked out of the feeder.  Reclining in stillness I pose a threat that only a few are able to ignore.

The bushtits must have been at some other feeders; they usually arrive en masse around four o'clock.

The phone rang.  I made it indoors in time to pick up the phone and hear the caller hang up.  No message was left.  In a fairytale I would have call ID with video and see a cheeky chickadee calling.

Often, when I am sitting outdoors in the cool months on a restaurant patio or park bench or picnic table or veranda steps, people will say, "Aren't you cold?"

Often this triggers my cranky meter and I am tempted to say,  "Freezing.  An absolute idiot for sitting here enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of nature."

Mostly I smile and reply,  "No, I am warm;  I am dressed for the weather."  And mostly people will smile back and maybe realize I am doing exactly what they do when the weather is warm but, the weather being cool, I am dressing for it.

Sometimes, someone will understand completely, and will join me.

Posted on November 21, 2011 at 03:12 PM | Permalink

I came home from the daily outing awhile ago and the birds at the peanut and suet feeders and the seeds on the deck scattered.  They flew into the Major tree and I could see some of them; their abundant presence sometimes makes the tree look like it is squirming.

After sweeping the seeds which were spread about the deck by the birds into a neat pile again I put a sheepskin on the deck chair, drew up a stool, got the pillow out of the wood box, tilted the chair back and relaxed.  

Dressed for outdoors I was cosy.  A nearby cedar hedge was being trimmed and the fragrance was splendid.  The sky was cloudy with a line of brightness to the south that said the sun might, just might, likely would, make another appearance, Victoria-style.  A few drops of rain had spotted down when I was sweeping the deck.  Only worth mentioning because I had noticed them on the faded green of the deck chair. The trees in my vision were leaf -free,  haunting in their silhouettes.

When I had remained still in the deck chair for a few minutes the birds began to return to the feeders.

The nuthatches will approach if I am upright and sweeping so they were the first back and gave their small chirp of greeting.

A downy woodpecker came next and when I turned my head a bit to see him better he startled and flew away from his perch on the peanut column.  

Then a couple of juncos landed on the deck railing and I am sure they noted that the seeds were all once again in a tidy pile but decided to wait until I was no longer in attendance to descend to the deck floor.  They seem to only eat on a flat surface but when I have observed them up close they seem to be awkward on their feet and a grip would serve them better.  But I have never seen them on a feeder that needs gripping.

The chickadees came in fast and furious to both the suet and the peanuts and flew so low across me that I could feel the breeze from their wing beats.  Some of them did a sudden stop and somersault backward when they realized I was there. Most of them would have preferred to not have the excitement of a stationary human so near their feeding stations.  It is different if I have a hand out with peanuts on it that do not have to be pecked out of the feeder.  Reclining in stillness I pose a threat that only a few are able to ignore.

The bushtits must have been at some other feeders; they usually arrive en masse around four o'clock.

The phone rang.  I made it indoors in time to pick up the phone and hear the caller hang up.  No message was left.  In a fairytale I would have call ID with video and see a cheeky chickadee calling.

Often, when I am sitting outdoors in the cool months on a restaurant patio or park bench or picnic table or veranda steps, people will say, "Aren't you cold?"

Often this triggers my cranky meter and I am tempted to say,  "Freezing.  An absolute idiot for sitting here enjoying the sights and sounds and smells of nature."

Mostly I smile and reply,  "No, I am warm;  I am dressed for the weather."  And mostly people will smile back and maybe realize I am doing exactly what they do when the weather is warm but, the weather being cool, I am dressing for it.

Sometimes, someone will understand completely, and will join me.

Homemade furniture polish

(re-post)

I saw a woman on her verandah cleaning her windows the other day and that made me think of furniture polish.  It wasn't a direct thought - more a meander from spring cleaning to dust bunnies to dry skin to dry wood ....  furniture polish.

What about making my own?  Good ol Google.  Seven million replies in a tenth of a second and most of them mentioned oil and juice.  Olive oil and a lemon were in the kitchen.

 There was some debate online about the proportions of oil to juice and I got a bit distracted with a link to a recipe for cookies and that led to an interesting blog ...... 

When polish popped to mind again I headed for the kitchen and poured out some olive oil and squeezed the lemon into it until it looked polishy.

Put some on a cloth and wiped it on some furniture and left it to dry and forgot about it.

When I came home today I immediately noticed how shiny this bureau looked.  Wow.  It worked.

I cannot say that it had any lemon scent at all which is fine with me;  but now I am wondering what a drop or two of lavender oil would do.  Hmmm.

Posted on January 21, 2011 at 03:53 PM | Permalink

I saw a woman on her verandah cleaning her windows the other day and that made me think of furniture polish.  It wasn't a direct thought - more a meander from spring cleaning to dust bunnies to dry skin to dry wood ....  furniture polish.

What about making my own?  Good ol Google.  Seven million replies in a tenth of a second and most of them mentioned oil and juice.  Olive oil and a lemon were in the kitchen.

 There was some debate online about the proportions of oil to juice and I got a bit distracted with a link to a recipe for cookies and that led to an interesting blog ...... 

When polish popped to mind again I headed for the kitchen and poured out some olive oil and squeezed the lemon into it until it looked polishy.

Put some on a cloth and wiped it on some furniture and left it to dry and forgot about it.

When I came home today I immediately noticed how shiny this bureau looked.  Wow.  It worked.

I cannot say that it had any lemon scent at all which is fine with me;  but now I am wondering what a drop or two of lavender oil would do.  Hmmm.

Furoshiki - it's a wrap!

It's time to try this again!

(re-post) 

I imagine furoshiki have many interesting stories to tell because of the variety of things they have wrapped - books, bottles,  lunches,  groceries,  gifts,  etc.  It is always exciting to come across one at a thrift store or church sale.

This is a recent find. It had been hemmed at top and bottom to hang, I suppose, as a curtain, perhaps in a doorway.  Usually furoshiki are square and this one is not quite square, maybe because it was suspended.   (click on IMG to get it to appear)

It is furoshiki material and wraps beautifully.

Here a large heavy book is being enclosed with the opposite corners of the cloth being simply knotted;  four corners two knots.

Dah dah.

It carries well.

Here the furoshiki is tied around a knitting project and, slipped on the end of a walking stick,  could be held over a shoulder, hobo-style.  Or hooked on the handle of an umbrella.

These are all furoshiki;  the two on both sides more like napkin material,  the lower and upper like scarves.

If you google there are many interesting sites with information and how-to's on this ancient Japanese practice. 

Napkins or blankets or dishcloths or scarves can be used, of course.  It is fun.

Posted on March 19, 2010 at 01:01 AM | Permalink

I imagine furoshiki have many interesting stories to tell because of the variety of things they have wrapped - books, bottles,  lunches,  groceries,  gifts,  etc.  It is always exciting to come across one at a thrift store or church sale.

This is a recent find. It had been hemmed at top and bottom to hang, I suppose, as a curtain, perhaps in a doorway.  Usually furoshiki are square and this one is not quite square, maybe because it was suspended.   (click on IMG to get it to appear)

It is furoshiki material and wraps beautifully.

Here a large heavy book is being enclosed with the opposite corners of the cloth being simply knotted;  four corners two knots.

Dah dah.

It carries well.

Here the furoshiki is tied around a knitting project and, slipped on the end of a walking stick,  could be held over a shoulder, hobo-style.  Or hooked on the handle of an umbrella.

These are all furoshiki;  the two on both sides more like napkin material,  the lower and upper like scarves.

If you google there are many interesting sites with information and how-to's on this ancient Japanese practice. 

Napkins or blankets or dishcloths or scarves can be used, of course.  It is fun.