Time to Work from the Hoarde

 I started keeping a notebook a short time ago in an effort to keep track of available potential knitting projects.   It's not fancy,  nor horribly well organized.  What it does do is help remind me what yarn was bought for what project as well as the wide selection already at hand.

There are 17 pages like the ones below.  This incomplete catalog has 144 different potential projects.

In fact, I recently did some (exceptionally) rough math to figure out how long it would take me to get through the project kits (that I put together myself) currently residing in the craft room.   Averaging fifteen completed projects a year (typically my average is about 20), not counting multiples I may make of a single pattern, there is a solid ten years of knitting.  Ten years y'all!  Not including most sock stuff or random fiber goodness just hanging out waiting to be useful, ( most from early knitting endeavors that didn't quite work.)  I used to make jokes that I was stashing yarn for a "retirement fund".   I think I'm good for a fair bit.

The knitting pattern library is even more extensive as it includes every tiny toy, freebie, book and magazine pattern compilation I have collected over the last almost twenty years.  Honestly, most aren't that great, frequently painfully dated or something I had plans to modify heavily until something closer to what I wanted came along.  Will I knit all of them?  Goodness no!  I have spent years curating, collecting, and buying yarn for the pieces that appeal to my personal aesthetic (i.e. member of the Addams family who has run off to live in the forest).  Are they all timeless, classic pieces?  Decidedly not.  Where would be the fun in that?  Are there more plant, raven and Halloween themed motifs than a fairly conventional closet?  Well, of course!

The best clothing is the stuff that makes you happy when you wear it.

Things that take the edge off...sort of...at least temporarily

 Unsurprisingly, I knit another sweater.  Another Felix pullover, it's my third.  This one in some Lion Brand Fishermen's wool I had in the Yarn Hoarde.

I started another Chuck sweater, this one for Daughter's birthday.  Also in yarn from the Hoarde; Northampton in the nebula colorway, edged in black Deerfield.  I realized yesterday as I was casting on that it's magpie colors.  When I mentioned that to Daughter, she squealed and grinned from ear to ear; Magpie is one of her Critters.

I've been drinking even more tea than usual, non-caffeinated by 5pm.  Usually a combination of Tension Tamer and Rose mint; by the quart.  Alcohol consumption has pretty much stopped.  Husband and I would split a bottle of wine or have a beer once, maybe twice a week (if it was a feeling fancy week).  Honestly, I drink mostly in social situations because it's an excuse for me being odd or weird...and people tend to stress me out.  It's not a great solution, but it is a socially acceptable one.  Knitting works almost the same way, though then a lot of people get the impression I am not paying attention. *sighs*  I'm not being rude, I am just not poisoning myself on your behalf and managing to make a sock at the same time while holding a conversation.  

The other thing, that has worked as long as I can remember, is reading.  Burying my nose in a novel grants (decidedly) temporary reprieve from my clenched stomach and agitated state.  I started the Magical Midlife series by K.F. Breene a couple of days ago.  Is it great literature?  No.  Is it nice to read about someone who is not in the same age range as my kids have exciting paranormal adventures and a magical house?  Yes!  (The main character is a 40 year old woman from California, who also happens to be an Aries with hazel eyes, making her much more relatable for me personally).  Sadly, there are only two books out and I am 65% through the second one already, in three days.  I did stop to read a Halloween novella in between them, just to try and stretch things out.  The third won't be out till November. *sighs*  Do I have more books to read?  Of course!  I just dislike waiting.

I'm tryin' y'all

 

My stress levels are through the roof the last few days.  Today, for some reason unbeknownst to me, is exceptionally bad.

Spent the morning shaking like a cold, agitated Chihuahua without a sweater.  Stomach clenched for three days straight.

My house is getting highly ordered and clean.  And my Halloween wine holder arrived today!

The Cassandra thing is loud and unnerving right now, shouting that the week won't end well, worse than previous ones apparently.  Other people are involved though, so it could just be me being ridiculous and a little too highly strung.  Here's hoping!  Take care of yourselves everyone!

It started innocently enough...

 I found a pattern that I thought was amusing.  Showed pattern to Husband, he thought it amusing as well, while making mention his Mom totally needed one.  Saying I am fond of my mother in law is an understatement, so I bought the crochet pattern.  ( I may have used it as an excuse to purchase Deerly Departed and Mr. Wednesday as well).

While perusing yarn for said crochet project (as well as a couple of others, a friend is apparently desperately in need of hats), we came to the realization that many people would likely appreciate said fiber endeavor.  Guess what all y'all are getting for the holidays? (In case you were wondering why I may not have linked the pattern.)  Hopefully it remains a good choice as the yarn has already been ordered.

I finished my Salal, complete with buttons!  It does need a final blocking after I picked up the button and neck band.

It makes me look like a very fancy She-Hulk.  This pleases me greatly.

I picked my lone pumpkin.  It looked done, as I did plant the small or pie sized variety, it wasn't supposed to get very big.  And as I have decided it is Halloween already, it is a lovely addition to the decor, until we get around to roasting it.

When I realized that our kitchen was in need of new spatulas, I may have perused the holiday section at JoAnn's, they may have been having a sale....and I may have gone a wee bit overboard.  It truly is Halloween everyday in this house.

It should be evident; I am well and truly done with the first half of this year.  It's not that I think the second half will be better (quite the opposite really), but at least it will be partially done in the comforting colors of fall and all the trappings that go with the season.

Which is why I got mini cookie cutters too.

On a Friday in Late August

 California is on fire, again.  Lightning storms started the fires this time.  I sit and worry as I read about friends losing their homes, fretting over their safety.  Quietly mourning my beloved redwoods, so many of them now just kindling and ash.

Even here, there is a smoke haze in the air that burns eyes and makes the light glaring, harsh.  Late in the day the sun is blood orange.  It gets dark earlier than it should.

My hair is green again.  Emerald at the roots, changing to something closer to moss or seaweed at the ends.  Despite the dramatic color shift, it is as comfortable as my usual copper shade, though even more conspicuous when we venture out, which continues to be almost not at all.

Mostly, I do housework and tend the garden.  I've also started collecting seeds from a few of the plants.  And I continue to knit.  Of course.

Scents and Another Felix

 Most of my make up has been untouched these last few months, didn't even put on mascara the last time we did the grocery shopping. Occasionally, I'll swipe on a bit of lipstick if the mood strikes.  I haven't hennaed my hair since...late March?  Early April?  The green dye I used on my roots has mostly washed out, leaving a rather pale, almost mossy tint to the grown out hair.  It looks, oddly suitable.

The one collection that has expanded, (aside from the Yarn Hoarde) is the fragrance collection.  Most of what I own is amber and/or rose scented.  They are my go to favorites.  But...wearing the same smell everyday is boring.  Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab to the rescue!  BPAL has been a consistent favorite of mine over the years, (I recently had to replace my Mme. Moriarty as I actually ran out).  While not the cheapest, a bottle lasts a good long while, the smells are unique, and it's a company I enjoy supporting when I can.

These are my personal favorites:

The other smell I have been wearing a lot was bought on a whim while putting in an Ulta order.

It's described as "driving through the mountains with the windows down."  I have to say, well done Pacifica! 

Having decided that I apparently need to smell like "outside" or "foresty", I snagged a bar of Shiso from Harry's soaps (Son is quite fond of the Redwood scent).

It is a nice soap that smells, well, like green herbs, doesn't make me itchy nor does it compete with my perfumes.  Definitely a win.

I continue to knit on my Sarah Connor hat.  Admittedly, I was a bit worried about doing dropped stitches, but it looks to be turning out well.

I cast on another Felix pullover out of some fisherman's wool I had in the Hoarde.

Not overly exciting or fancy, but I wear my other one almost constantly when it gets cold, as well as the cardigan version that I have also knit.

A pair of socks for Husband were also pulled out to be worked on.  The yarn is a discontinued Opal colorway.  The pattern is Time Traveler Socks.

He wears a US size 13 shoe and likes a tall leg so they fit in his boots.  They are not a quick to complete project, especially when you set them aside for two or three years.  Ooops.

Not too long ago I plunked an avocado pit into a small pot of dirt to see if I could get it to grow.  It was taking a good while, so I plopped in a few seeds from a store bought lemon into the pot figuring one of them might sprout eventually.

And now I have tiny lemon and avocado trees in my yarn room.

Neutral Headspace and a Pumpkin

 First, my backyard has hit threat level pumpkin, (a bit earlier than it should have, oddly appropriate, but I planted super early.  I'm hoping more blooms will set fruit now the worst of the heat seems to have passed.)

I've never grown pumpkins before.  Definitely a novel experience.

There are also lovely sweet peppers, (that likely won't be sweet as the plants got mixed in with hot peppers. Yay for cross-pollination.)

And it was actually hot enough, long enough for my Hatch chiles to set fruit!

One of the things I've started doing this season is seed collection.  Coriander off the cilantro plants that bolted.  Nasturtium, snapdragon and dianthus flower seeds.  Beans, peas, lettuce, chard, tomatoes and cucumbers.  Carefully dried and tucked away with the rest of the Seed Hoard, which is almost exclusively heirloom varieties.  I have proper Kitchen Garden goals.

As for maintaining a neutral headspace, which is all one can really hope for at this current point in time, the plants help.  They require pretty much daily tending.  Seed collection is time consuming and fussy.  I can, so I do not waste the opportunity to do so.  I am hoping it will enable me to spread more of the plant love later.

No, I am not optimistic that the current administration of uncompassionate, self-serving politicians will pull their heads out of their collective backside to maybe manage a functional bandage slapped on ever growing problems in the next month or less.

But that offers the opportunity for dramatic change for the better for the majority of the actual populace. 

Current practices (and whatever weirdness they potentially escalate into) are not sustainable.  That is what gives me hope.  Things have to change.  Things must change to improve things, for everyone.

Happy August?

Tonight there is cassoulet  ( I used chicken instead of duck, easier to come by around here and left in the slow cooker all day) for dinner.  Exceptionally yummy!  There is Irish Soda Bread to go with it, also quite tasty.

While the bread was baking, I went out and picked tomatoes.  They were absolutely delicious!

I finished my first Trescao sweater, four more to go.  Made out of Berocco Remix, they are simple, comfy tee shirt type items.

I also finished my OmgWtf2020 hat.

Next on the needles is my Sarah Connor hat:

The hats are decidedly thematic and have been quite enjoyable to make so far.

Knitting away, waiting to see what August will bring us, really hoping for more tomatoes.  Most likely steadily adding to the camping gear as we are able and continuing to avoid most humans.  

Just Add Dirt

We bought a melon from the store.  As I was scooping out the seeds, I found myself wondering, "Would these grow?"  So I saved a small handful, rinsed them, dried them and put 'em in a small jar.  But three of them...those three I walked straight out onto the back patio and stuck in a pot of dirt (where other seeds had refused to sprout) then finished putting together dinner.  Now, now I have two seedlings from those three seeds.  Not a bad germination rate

That rather large and lush green thing obscuring one of my the melon seedlings?  That's a potato.  It was at the bottom of the bag, going green and starting to sprout, so I plunked it in the dirt.  It's now a solid foot tall, getting larger daily.

We were preparing some sweet potatoes for dinner one night.  Daughter trimmed off ends (I'm not allowed near sweet potatoes with sharp implements anymore) that were just starting to show sprouts (the sweet potatoes were still fine for dinner).  So....I took the sprouting bits, grabbed a grow bag I had bought last winter, filled it with dirt and chucked in those sprouting ends.

Now, I am apparently growing sweet potatoes too.   Yes, I know they are too close together.  I hadn't really properly planned to grow any potatoes at all this season.

My cream of the crop squash (that I wasn't sure survived the squirrels) has at least one squash:

And one of the pumpkins survived the squirrel invasion as well!

Ummm, y'all?  I am running out of patio space.

Embracing my (not so inner) Ivy

It's been a few months since I last hennaed my hair. ( I have more, just haven't bothered) The ashy, and quite blonde still, colored roots a discordant contrast against my usual warm, bright, copper of choice.  Darling Daughter had been looking at some Manic Panic.  Her plan was just to dye the ends of her hair, just for something different.

I realized that for as long as I have been dyeing my hair (more than two decades), I had never done it anything except an expected shade.

So now my roots are bright green.

(Not a great shot, but people are still setting off random, large fireworks about 1am around here, nor do I enjoy the taking of the selfie.)  I did the underside too, so my braids are varigated and all those little hairs glow bright green in the sunlight.

I rather like it!

Finally, it is Summer!

Watering the garden before the heat of the day.  Listening to the hum of bees as they go from flower to flower.  The smell of the tomato vines in the air.

Less than a month ago, I was having to turn my heat back on, the temperatures had dropped so far.  I worried my poor plants would never bear fruit.  Now, I have had to prop up beans, peas, cucumbers, and tomatoes with 5-6 foot wood dowels and garden twine.

Only one actual cucumber has been produced.

It has since been used as a side for dinner one evening.  The consensus was that it was delicious.

I let a random onion go to flower.  It is the pompom I didn't realize my garden needed.

The bees adore it!

One of my salad pots may have accidentally started producing an Audrey 2:

It's not started singing, so I think we are safe...for now.

I haven't finished any sort of craft project in ages.  I did cast on a new one though.

An emPower People bandana in Malabrigo silky merino in Purple Mystery.  Wear some purple y'all.