Field and Fen

 Here's where blogista Anne will be next weekend, taking part in a singing rally

This morning I saw a Carolina wren again, definitely looking for a new nest location, and I hope she chooses my patio. And suddenly a crowd of robins, running around and pecking and being very welcome, singing in the trees.

We have year-round robins (!) then in spring as suddenly as if a commuter train arrived, they're everywhere. 

Daffodils are starting 

And snowdrops.

Yesterday I had a full house. Handsome Son was here, making short work of a pot of tea and sugar cookies, when Gary and another old friend showed up. 

She was delivering my birthday and Christmas presents, a little late but who's counting. Especially when it's hand dipped nuts, cookies and pretzels 

Wonderful afternoon of chat -- I was friends with both of her now-deceased sisters -- and Handsome Son met her for the first time.  

They're pretty much his friends now, by inheritance. This is all good for his future after I've gone, though they don't like me to talk that way.  The chocolate treats will be shared around. Handsome Son accepted some to take home.

Misfits box stages

Last week's insulated bag and ice block, ready for  pick up when the Misfits driver brings this week's groceries.

While waiting for delivery, I finished the current socks 

I'm doing gloves next.

And here's Jeff, bang on time, arriving, taking the pickup and delivering the box, then on to his next customer.

I now have a lifetime supply of flour, what with absent-mindedly forgetting I'd stocked up on whole-wheat, which I'd put in the big freezer, and that I'd already ordered ap recently. So here's to many loaves to come.

And the Tony's treat was on its way before I knew chocolate treats would arrive yesterday. Not a big complaint though. 

Walnuts for scones and other purposes, cannellini beans for both the beans and the aqua faba. I used to drain it off, not liking the texture till I found out how valuable it is. No more draining.

Berries with yogurt, apples for midmorning snack. Done. Week all set up. I'll also shop in the freezer for mushrooms and green veggies.

The box is now broken down for the recycle.

But happy day everyone, we're not broken down, far from it. 

Today's cute winter boots: the Heritage Foundation, that sinkhole of fake stories harassing good people, have issued a questionnaire about the effectiveness of DOGGY. 

I really enjoyed filling it out with answers (multiple choice) they won't like. Then they end with a fundraiser! 

And here's a positive side to add to tomorrow's Blackout 

It's the giving economy, as described in Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, in action.

The day warmed up quite a bit, the sun came out and I walked. I love this time of year, trees just starting to leaf out, dogwood under way, the last of the daffodils, birds busy singing and making nests.

Home again I set to work playing with wire and weaving. I'd put away the wire, and not seeing it around let my mind create new ideas. 

I realized I can incorporate all my weaving into one little panoramic arrangement. So I threaded wire again and had a lot of fun turning and twisting the woven squares into new shapes. As you see. A couple of pieces, many iterations 

Then I finally did one of those jobs you think about for weeks, then do in about ten minutes.

This time it was oiling the thirsty furniture. Only a few pieces need this treatment, after being vigorously damp dusted by my cleaning family. But the improvement is terrific.

Here's my teak mid century modern table feeling much better after oiling. 

I rubbed in safflower oil, with the grain, then across the grain, then with a terry cloth, and it looks so much better. Then the butcher block island, the oak coffee table, both lovely dumpster finds, and the top of the bedroom chest of drawers. 

About ten minutes every few months, doesn't seem like much to ask, and I usually wonder why it's so hard to get around to.

I might even get around to sharpening my knives at this rate. On the other hand, let's not get carried away here 

And I turned to another annoying thing, this downstairs drawer, where stitching stuff gets dumped, I mean put, or ends up, separated from its upstairs brethren.

 I emptied it out 

Here's finished things, miniature books with woven covers, stump work butterflies, sashiko book covers, bit of gold work, hardanger, woven spun paper.

Very few bits went into garbage. Mainly reels of thread and pins and needles and sewing tools were reunited, some of them upstairs with their friends.

So it wasn't exactly winnowing as much as reorganizing so things are findable.

It occurs to me to wonder if any blogistas would like an artist book, or a stump work butterfly or two, a little present? Cost of postage forces me to limit it to US blogistas. 

If you would like a little something, let me know and email me your address unless you know I already have it, and a little something will be in the mail to you soon.

The other books, not the miniatures from the drawer, are like this 

A couple of them are actually little portfolios with tiny paintings and drawings in them. 

I'd be happy to know they're in good hands. 

Happy day, everyone, share the wealth!

Happy St Patrick's Day, from this granddaughter of an Irishwoman.

Saturday morning was beautiful, no biting insects yet, bright sun, no jacket.

I noticed the pair of mallards I've seen on the pond were absent, and if you study those blobs out of reach there, on the opposite bank, basking,  you'll see why.

A squadron of snapping turtles, dangerous to ducks. Not a worry to the pair of Canada geese who eyed me suspiciously. They're probably nesting here, favorite place. 

And a pair of red tail hawks overhead, making large lazy circles in a dance. They're known for staying around and this is their territory, good hunting for small mammals and occasionally birds, but that's usually when they're hungry in winter and mammals are harder to find.

Then there's the pair of mourning doves meeting on the fence. And other signs of spring.

Back home I made a start on what is probably going to be a potholder. My stash is limited, but I have some good options.

I tried a trapunto-style idea first, stitches enclosing pattern motifs, but didn't like it and started over with a grid.

It already feels quiltish, so that's nice, not being a quilter. I started with this idea, two solid pieces, no fancy piecing, to get the hang of it. 

I'm working in hand since my hoops don't cope with this thickness, the screws not long enough to work. But it's all good.

Happy day, everyone, and here's a cool Chaucerian bit