I thought I'd give something a try this past week. Sort of stream of conscious. Sort of normal update. Enjoy!
Monday
It was publishing day. We put out a special issue for Pope Francis. Weather was really nice. ... It made it a bit hard to stay focused on work when I could see how nice it was outside.
Before work I went out and opened the greenhouse. It feels so nice to say "open the greenhouse." Spring and the growing season is officially here. Nothing that I planted this weekend has sprouted yet. Ha!
In the late evening I decided to break out the fabric I bought earlier this year for a new project bag. I cut the fabric to get it ready for sewing
TuesdayAnother gorgeous day. GORGEOUS. Hit a high in the 80s. I started quilting the new WIP bag before office hours. I spent my lunch hour cleaning my vehicle. I think I got a bit of sun burn on my shoulders.
I knit on my sock a bit in the a.m. and worked on a new cross stitch project by Lindy Stitches
In the hour before bed I started sewing the fabric and zipper together. I could hear the frogs croaking away. That's another sound I've missed.
Wednesday
The first of a few days of cooler weather. We broke down and made a small fire in the evening. It wasn't too exciting of a day. I ran to town and the office to dig in the archives. In the evening I worked on my Lindy Stitches project and my works in progress bag. *sigh* something happened and my bag front was larger than the back. No idea how that happened. So I fussed and adjusted the front around a bit to get it to work. Then I discovered the bottom of the front was crooked. The heck? I was so disappointed and said to myself "This is why I don't make bags to sell. I purchased some poster board to make a template so I don't have weird issues when I make my bags ... I'm wondering how well the poster board is going to hold up. It's cheaper than buying the template plastic so I can always keep remaking the templates and use the poster board for floss drops. Plus, I can't get the template plastic in sizes that I need. I.e. larger than 12 inches.
Thursday
I broke down in the morning and made a fire in the wood stove. Just too chilly otherwise.
I don't remember much else from Thursday. I guess I got distracted, or there just wasn't anything remarkable going on Thursday.
Friday
I decided to take the day off and kind of get ready for the weekend. Ran to town, looking for Jalapeño plants for the garden since next to none of my seeds sprouted. None to be found. Boo! I did start more jalapeño seeds a couple weeks ago and they are just now starting to sprout.
When I was back home I spent some time out in the greenhouse, up potting some Christmas Cacti I had propagated when the mother plant was knocked over back in January (I think). In the square pots are some watermelon seeds. Each year, I swear, I'm always trying to grow watermelons.
It was my first time propagating something like this and I am pleased they "took." And it was so easy.
The weather was supposed to get only as warm as the mid-60s. It must have hit the 80s. It was a really nice day.
In the evening I started my very first biscornu.
I started and completed the smallest size.
Project Name: Love, Hugs and Kisses
Started: May 9
Finished:
Designer/Source: Arlene Cohen of WorksByABC, Just Cross Stitch magazine, February 2023
Fabric: Stash 14 count Aida
Floss in called for colors: DMC 816, garnet
Needle Size: 24
Made For: Myself.
I'm waiting until all three are complete before I attempt the sewing part. Wish me luck on that bit.
Saturday
Saturday was a lovely day. My husband and I went out for the first bike ride and picnic of the season. We rode the e-bikes out to a lake close to us.
As we were coming around the corner.
It's a nice little park next to the lake.
It was so quiet out there at 11 a.m.-ish on a Saturday morning. We saw two boats out fishing.
The picnic area.
Yes, I brought my knitting.
In the evening we went out for our first fishing trip (jaunt?) of the year.
It was lovely out on the lake. Water was still pretty cold, so no fish were biting.
I was feeling so optimistic before I went out. We have been kayak fishing for the last several years. I enjoy it. You can get in to places you can't with a fishing boat.
So, no fish for me. My husband caught a bass, though. He made it for his supper and said it was *SO* good.
The chickens, aka "the ladies" remember fish. It was so funny. As soon as he walked back there and they realized what he was doing, they immediately ran over and hung around, waiting for him to toss them tidbits.
One of the filets.
Sunday
Mother's Day! A nice and a really warm day. Also very windy.
We started the day by making a run to town to get some supplies for a project over by the garden. Then we went for another bike ride down to the Brule river.
A great spot for a picnic, but is was SUPER windy even down there. Did I mention how windy it was?
After eating I meandered down to the river.
Yes, I took my knitting again.
I think I need to start some bright colored socks for moments like this.
I took a photo of the map and am pointing to where we were. Can you see?
After the bike ride I hung out by the garden for a little bit. My husband started the first step of his project. I hauled the tomato plants out of the greenhouse so they had a chance to be battered around by the wind a bit.
Then I pulled out the cross stitch and stitched for about 5 minutes. It was so windy that my magazine pages kept turning.
For Mother's Day my son gave me a really nice birdbath. I immediately grabbed one of my little solar pumps and stuck it in.
I haven't settled on a permanent spot for it. I'm thinking of having it in front of the house, or keeping it over in the garden. Last year I did witness a bird using the bath and it was one of the neatest things to see in the garden. I want the garden area to feel safe for the birds.
I got my steak dinner. It was a porterhouse and SO tasty. At my request it was smoked before it was cooked.
So, yeah, ... that was the week. Let me know what you think of a full week blog post at a time, or if you like my haphazard way better. As you can see, my weekends are my hopping days. The weekdays are more sedate, unless I'm on vacation.
