Little Monarch, Textiles and Tea, Keila McCracken

Lately this is the mold and pollen count 

This accounts for the endless coughing and streaming and staying indoors despite lovely sunshine.  I have to be careful about allergy remedies because of blood pressure issues, so I try avoidance.

Then yesterday I had bone density and mammo testing. The results show some bone deterioration, not surprising, I suppose after two years, at this age, despite medication. 

And they tell me I need a mammo recheck and ultrasound. Again. I've been there before, and all was well, so I'm hoping that's true again. 

The good news was that I got out so fast from the testing that I got a ride service home, saving a wait for Handsome Son to pick me up after work, and saving him a task.

Not only that, I was in time for a terrific Textiles and Tea with Minnesota based Keila McCracken. She's the only known weaver on the continent using a pedal-driven Hattersley loom.  Invented in my native county, Yorkshire, Keighley to be exact. 

To see it in operation, here's a great doc made some time ago by regional public broadcasting out of Minnesota. This gives you enough information to find it. I just did, and it's enlightening. Common Ground is the series title.

It's about her principles of creating sustainable fabric and concern for the life of textile workers. 

The Hattersley loom fits in with her need for large amounts of yardage for her designs,  produced faster than on a floor loom, but using no power other than human pedalling.

Meanwhile here's more.

I also learned the concept of the fibershed. This means fiber produced, as on the sheep, processed, spun, woven, sewn, sold and worn within a single region.  It's a very environmental concept, minimal footprint, maximal use. 

There are a couple of fibersheds in the US, echoing ancient practices.

Check her out, her personal integrity is a real human model.

Speaking of which, speaking as guinea pig rather than model, I'm booming ahead with my YouTube shorts channel.

 I'm very amused to see how it's going, and what concepts bring in big numbers. I don't know why some shorts boom and some lag, but I can see how content creators are pushed around by the algorithm's rewarding certain videos while starving others. 

I don't plan on being pushed around, since I have my own idea about what I'm doing, and as always, am not interested in an income, nor in being told by a techie how to make my art. 

I've always run my life, as long time blogistas know, so as to provide for my living outside of my art. That keeps your creative impulse up and your joy intact. 

Once you make your art your living, you've created your own treadmill and closed off many options.  This suits people with an artisanal frame of reference rather than someone with a real art life.  Lovely for them, but not my jam, see below.

Anyway I'm amused though not influenced, by seeing that my few seconds of a small plane overhead has brought in, in short order, over 1200 views!

And another short, of a man I videod on a riding mower, started racking up numbers in less than five minutes from uploading. Engines rule?  

But then there's my jam cooking and quiche sizzling, also popular. It's interesting that the videos I like, for getting closest to what I was trying to say, tend to get low acceptance. 

It's not surprising, since most people go for what's familiar, not quite ready to rethink. Good art doesn't confirm your ideas, it offers new ones, unsettling at times. 

That's why it's wonderful when people receive the energy openly even if it doesn't remind them of grandma's mule, or whatever. It's unforced and very happy.

Happy day everyone, it's all good. Fingers crossed for good outcomes from my various doctors' verdicts. Every body part its own practitioner these days!

Sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony and Ursula 

And a gracious rainy drive-by, by our little local monarch, pushed by her faithful retainer. 

You saw them recently out walking, well he was carrying her, only the best service!

Friendships, strength and Magpie Murders

Today the mold and pollen counts are sky high as is the mosquito hunger level, so I decided instead of sneezing and gasping and scratching outside, I'd resume my long neglected indoor exercise.

April and Aiko showing me how. These days balance and fall prevention are big.  I'm fit enough to do the routine without holding onto anything, though I'm close to a chair just in case.

This is also a lift for the spirits, needed about now, too. 

I had a recent neighborly visit from a human bearing banana bread, and this morning one of my local mourning doves showed up to help with the ant problem outside. 

There's usually a pair, maybe the male is out on the nearby golf course this morning.

 

One of the issues weighing me down recently, which I hadn't mentioned, was the planned bathtub conversion 

Like this, a cut out to make it easier to step in. The contractor cuts down an opening in the side of the tub and installs the kit which covers the space between the tub inside and outside. I was very excited when I found they'd started making a kit, after I'd been looking for years for something like this.

So last January I arranged for my contractor friend to do it, and some painting and tiling, as soon as he could get to it. He's been slammed with work, some of which had been on hold and suddenly came through.

As the weeks have gone by and my reminders were met with reassurance but no action, and it's been getting harder to step into the tub to shower, I've been losing heart.

Then I checked again Friday and he tells me I'm in this week's roster, to measure, choose, order, yay. I instantly felt much better. 

Being able to shower solo is one of the markers enabling me to continue living here, like being able to be generally active, carrying and moving and making.  So it's a big deal.

In other exciting news now that I've finished All Creatures, I've embarked on

Lovely Horowitz, a murder mystery within a murder mystery..

I've been catching some discussion online about interspecies friendships and if they were real or ai.

I can vouch for their being real, because I've seen them, in my pet care and at home.

There was the big ginger cat whose friend was a hamster,  who used to run about playing on the cat's back and take a nap between his paws. 

The owner told me she was in a panic the first time her son's hamster took off from his cage, in case the cat hunted him down. He looked like a brown mouse. 

To her amazement, the cat gently touched Hammie, and rolled him softly about and the hamster ran onto his back quite confidently.

The owner was careful for ages before realizing it was safe and they were playing. 

I've known horses who loved having a cat in the stable, to sit on their neck, and got very restless if the cat wasn't around.

Nearer home there was the playtime between my tiny grey rescue cat Boud, hence my screen name in her honor, and my rescued lutino cockatiel Emily.  

No pictures of them but here's an idea, swiped from the Internet.

Emily was free flying all day, just caged at night or when I had visitors for safety.

So she and Boud developed various silly games, like lying side by side on the rug, daring me to step on them. And Emily would nibble gently on Boud's nose while Boud purred loudly. They were a dynamic duo.

Then there was Marigold the dumped Burmese kitten, and KC the dalmatian owned by Handsome Partner.  

HP took Marigold because I couldn't house one more animal, and she, tiny, maybe a pound weight, was completely taken over by KC, a large boned 60+ lb  Dalmatian, real picture of Marigold, swiped internet pic of a Dal.

KC groomed Marigold allll the time, swiping her giant tongue all over her till Marigold was pretty damp! She followed KC like her mom, slept between her paws and generally made a big nuisance of herself yanking on KCs ears and face, till KC like a patient nanny, pushed her gently away.  

We used to think they were the best thing that ever happened to each other. 

And then there are men and women, such  different species but you do see cases where they get along wonderfully...

Happy day everyone, here's today's little bouquet 

Take your time. No, not like that!

Today's little bouquet as a thank you.

I've had so many helpful messages and emails and comments and I thank you all. 

Now I've already started to get anxious follow ups, "just checking"! So I thought I'd better bring you up to date to help with the anxiety. 

It's very funny, take aaaaaalll the time, then after two days, what's up, are you okay, talk to me! But I love it and I get it.

What happened to me was a series of setbacks culminating in Joanne's death. That was the one thing too far.

I'd been dealing with what felt like a great betrayal, different context not discussed in here, followed by realizing I had put a lot of energy into supporting  someone who now was off on a new path.  Not a relative nor neighbor.  I felt like I'd thrown away years of sustained energy where it wasn't wanted. User error. 

Then the goodbye to a significant part of my life, the Knitting Ministry, that was a loss I can hardly describe. It's often kept me mentally on an even keel, having a sock to knit, with a worthwhile destination.

Then I've been dealing with a significant drop in energy, partly the heat and humidity, partly age. After 85, things are different, and I was still acting as if. I need to rest between every little activity, can't walk as far, though I still walk, 

Then Joanne died, and here a note about her. 

She wasn't only a blog friend, she was a fellow fiberartist, with whom I exchanged materials and ideas, and she collaborated on some of my activities.  

There was a bond you don't get outside of the fiberarts world. For her I brought back to mind her mother and grandmother, particularly the latter, a great needlewoman. For me she was a helpful sister sharing expertise generously.

So this has been a cascade of losses, and I've been resetting this week.

I simply don't have the energy to do everything I've been doing, so, aside from sleeping, I've been sorting through my options.  That and doing brief videos for my YouTube channel, the least demanding  part of my online life.

So here's the plan, as of now, just so you know everything is fine, just a bit different.

I think I will not delete, just cut back, on a lot. I won't narrate every Textiles and Tea, nor attend every Tuesday Knitting group, nor every audio pod. And maybe not write a daily blogpost. I've been making a daily post since 2008, with very few missed days, but that doesn't mean I can't change now to suit my new situation.

Today, Misfits day, as a trial run, I omitted all the photo prep today, and now see how much energy went into checking and tracking and timing and photographing and explaining.

I love to do it but I have to live within my new means and do all these capers as and when.

I'm doing very well, in case you're wondering if I'm leading up to a diagnosis, I'm well -- particularly since I'm a lot nearer 90 than 80, though up to now it's been easy to forget that.

So that's where we are.

But I thought you'd like to see what Misfits wrought today anyway 

Happy day everyone, be a butterfly!

Or thistledown 

RIP Joanne

I just heard that Joanne has died. This is hitting hard,and I may need a little break from blogging.

Thank you all for helping with the call to action.

Urgent call to action, please read, and call

 In Friday's Chop Wood, Carry Water, there's an urgent request for readers to call Alabama Senator Katie Britt to intervene on behalf of a seven year old child imprisoned in Dilley. The child has written begging Britt to help her because Britt had said she was very moved by the plight of Liam, the child in the bunny hat, similarly imprisoned.

Here's the thing: Fredimar and her parents were in the process of leaving, to return to Venezuela, when ICE arrested and imprisoned them in Dilley. 

I called with a message asking Britt to intervene. 

Anyone may call. I particularly leaned on US readers. But I hope nobody lets distance and national borders deter them from trying to save this little family. If you call from abroad please identify yourself as such, especially if you're a voter in American elections. That will carry a lot of weight. And if you call and find the voicemails full, yay us.

Early morning and later

As I looked out first thing this morning I saw this Chinese neighbor grandfather bringing the baby out to see birds and rabbits. I could hear him pointing them out as they walked.

I got in a walk myself later, and when I came home I stopped at the gate to make a picture looking left

Then right

That's my entire planting area, mostly rescued -- including the Japanese maple there -- or grown from seed. Heres today's morning glory. 

I'm getting one blossom at a time, no fear it will get out of hand.

The patio's become a miniature nature area, never sprayed, and full of bees,  butterflies and moths. 

Since I've been a member of the Xerces Society, I've been much less concerned about insects eating my plants, in favor of being pleased that the plants are clean enough to interest them. Wild folk tend to be gourmet eaters, taking only the best! 

I'm a bit less enthusiastic about the mosquitoes dining on my arms. 

About the community art I showed you yesterday, MaryAnne was interested in the rest of the story.

The Tin Quilt was exhibited for a month after which I heard the ptb wanted it for the Town Hall, so I checked with them and they said they'd get back to me.

I never heard so I did what I usually do with art that's had its turn, cut it down and used the parts for other artworks which eventually were exhibited and some sold.

About a year later the Town Hall ptb called me to say they were ready to receive the Tin Quilt. I had to break it to them that since I hadn't heard from them, it now had several other lives. 

Whereupon the caller said but, but, we thought you'd keep it forever! Not being familiar with the working artist who's not a conservator. 

As for the Birds Nest, the official running the event, had been obstructive throughout and had been pressured by the phalanx of artists invested in it to let it proceed. 

She agreed to leave it in place for a month, because a number of residents wanted to bring children and friends who hadn't known about it, along to see it.

I went out early the morning after the event, to see all was well, no tools forgotten, and the  Nest had been removed. Not a sign. I checked with the Works Department who said, well, sorry, but she'd instructed them to remove it ASAP. 

So they'd bulldozed it and trucked it to the compost area.  Sic transit gloria! I'm in the good company of artists whose work has so enraged authority that they destroyed it. Not a club a person wants to be in, but oh well. 

It means that it succeeded, because it got a huge reaction, joy from many, rage from others. So I lived to fight another day, and I've no idea what she did.

Happy day everyone! Just keep on, your friends will like it and it will annoy your enemies.

Go to Monday June 7, 2010 blogpost

That's where you'll find a better account, with a terrible picture, of the Great Tin Quilt Caper and the pet care business. I had a laptop back then, so it's much wordier! 

Meanwhile, back to the present, I found a dragonfly wing on the rug, probably carried in with a flower. It's surprisingly tough to handle, and I put it on a daisy in today's little bouquet. 

And Misfits arrived, in the wrong colored truck, driven by Jeff, who looked like a man with a bad back today. 

Picking up and carrying these boxes with heavy ice added in, is no picnic. I did feel for him. He used to hoist the box on his shoulder, but that's not happening now.

The food pantry has finally got up to accepting $ donations online, no more township losing my checks and causing extra work for the already busy pantry crew. 

That kerfuffle was why I started giving food instead of $$, but I think they could make better use of money for known needs instead of donor guesswork based on their website.

So what you see here may include the last of the donations which I'd ordered before I knew about the jump into modern times. They still don't have a regular donation function, oversight, because I'd have used it. 

Anyway I donated $$ and they'll still get vegetable broth and canned beans and tuna.

Envy apples, which I'll cook and maybe add in some of the blueberry jam I just made this morning, 

or the nectarines I froze last week.

The yogurt is new to me, because my usual isn't available, so why not. It turns out, as I  found when I had some with blueberry jam for lunch, to be very good, lovely texture.

Yellow potatoes to parboil and later roast, to go with the chicken, all of which I'll roast at once then use as I go. Scallions to roast with chicken, too.

Olive oil, because I'm completely out, also because they don't have avocado oil at the moment which I like for baking. 

Beautiful eggs, one was cracked, only the second egg casualty in five years, and they refunded me. I honorably pointed out that it's only one egg, but they refunded me for the dozen. I don't think they can subdivide, though I wouldn't mind if they did.

Bananaz for maybe banana bread, or just to eat, what a concept. The sourdough bread is a bit of a venture, they being out of all the other breads I buy. 

I had an allergic reaction to sourdough many years ago, but I'll try it because I've outgrown so many allergies that I thought it's worth a try. If it's not a good idea, I've no doubt Handsome Son will take it off my hands.

So that's us today. Now for the Thursday boiling, slicing, drying, freezing, roasting procedures, followed by a lie down. 

A while back, a friend, mistaking a cheerful attitude for joy, said oh that prep is as good as a party for you, you love it! I just looked at her, where to begin to describe the grudging attitude I have to food prep.. but never mind. 

Happy day everyone, when I don't feel like food prep I remember I'm lucky to have it. There have been times in my life when I'd have given a lot for food like this, plenty, too. 

That was when I lived on one meal a day, what I could afford. And several memorable days when all I had was oatmeal. Bad old days, let's not dwell.

Sez Ted and Big Ursy and Pony and Ursula