Field and Fen

Friday's knitting group was great, with a real-time success, C, brand new crocheter managed an even piece of work, having mastered the very last stitch on the row consistently for the first time 

This is where a supportive group works. She's an accomplished stitcher but crochet is a new venture.

And here's a sweater in progress by S, great knitter 

Here's her color chart, can you tell she's a reference librarian by day?

And here's what I've borrowed 

Lovely afternoon, chat ranging from Harris to Swift to friendship bracelets, hummingbirds, mosquitoes, frogs, hearing aids, doctors, subtitles, bonsai, Tunisian crochet, hawks, expertise in the arts, and cochlear implants.  More, too.

While I was there, I visited the ficus tree in her new home, looking so much smaller than when she towered over my living room 

And the snake plant, both looking happy in their new homes.

So happy they're in good hands, and being appreciated.

 Yesterday I decided it was time for Tattie Liftin'. Meaning harvesting my container of potatoes. It's more an annual ritual than a meal, tiny new yellow potatoes.

Since I'd found some peppermint, I was able to make a mint sauce. People who eat lamb like it together. I don't eat lamb, but it's great with newly collected baby potatoes. Pat of butter and your world is complete. And the rest of the potatoes will be roasted in the toaster oven today. 

Mint sauce is just peppermint chopped fine, pinch of sugar, malt vinegar, no other vinegar need apply. 

I planted eyes from a couple of sprouting potatoes in the kitchen 

Watch this space.

Later in the evening Gary came over to get some help with houseplants and while we were at it, I gave him a snake plant leaf and we planted the sections in two small pots. He's been wanting to do this for ages. It's a plant that connects our families.

I took care of the original parent plant for his daughter's mother, one summer on my patio, years back, when I had enough shade to put out houseplants. 

I kept one leaf -- rent!-- from which grew the big snake plant now in the library. From that I'd grown another. And from that third generation came the current leaf, which will go into his little granddaughter's room. So she'll have a plant from her grandmother, via a winding path.

And here's my plan for the day, read

And

Happy day, everyone. Just be.

Early morning was about fasting bloodwork, and I woke way too early, so the fasting was a thing. Plain hot tea instead of food. The technician noted my pink linen jacket and put a pink tape on the injection site, saying matchy, matchy!

Home again to very late breakfast, then chair yoga and sorting a snake plant to donate to the library collection.

Here's the remaining one, the daughter of the donated one which is twice as big 

I propagated this from a leaf of its parent, which I had also propagated from a visiting plant which spent the summer on my patio.

The donated one just made it on the floor of the car, brushing the roof, and we got safely to the library, where it was received with enthusiasm. It's certainly big enough to be seen across an open space. And I'll be able to see it when I visit.

Today's knitting group, coming right before the holiday weekend, Memorial Day in the US, the traditional start of summer, consisted of two people, not surprising. I wanted to do the donation so I was there partly for that.

I made a discovery -- despite whipping out squares easily on my beloved vintage pinloom on my own or while taking part in online pods, I can't do it without a mess when I'm chatting in person. 

I had to undo one I was working on today, and the other day the same, at the other group. It's such a simple process, yet I find a weird little shape happening at a corner instead of the expected one.  Fixing it is an issue, especially when this springy yarn jumps off the pins so you're two steps back at each attempt.

At home this evening I made three squares. Easy! I feel better.

Holiday weekend is pretty much like any other.

 I plan to cook tomorrow and plant flower seeds finally. There's going to be rain on Monday to settle them in 

Happy day everyone, enjoy whatever weekend you have planned.

Yesterday was about not getting. I went off to the farm for Roma plum tomatoes to make tomato lemon Amish jam. Amazingly, they were out of Romas. Usually a prime crop, and advertised in their current newsletter. 

I was there early, maybe they were still picking. I can try again but will probably buy for the freezer for winter spaghetti sauce.

But I still had in mind jars sterilizing in boiling water and some interesting fruit stuff boiling away in the other pot.

So peaches, not up to eating fresh, pinch of sumac, bit of cane sugar, dash of vanilla, cooked down and blended,  became some sort of butter or sauce or something.

And, one recipe of  pancake batter later, a nice supper, and planned Sunday morning breakfast.

Then later I went walking in the lovely, not too hot sunshine, in search of early possible fallen oak galls for ink. There's a spot close to home where acorns fall in masses.

But the whole woodland edge had evidently been cut back and cleared, as if vacuumed up.  Clean as a whistle. Even the brambles I was hoping to pick were cleared out. Just too tidy. This cleanup must have happened while I was busy last week. Well, I still hope for oak galls as the season goes on.

Back home I noticed the snake plant had a large broken leaf. So instead of tossing it, I thought I could see if it would make good cord.

So I split it and it's drying now. This is one to be a bit careful with, since the sap can irritate mucous membranes if it gets near your mouth or eyes. I washed my hands after this.  This is an interesting plant to propagate. This one I grew from a plant I took care of one summer for a neighbor. It went to camp on my porch, and I took one leaf as a fee.

You can propagate by cutting sections of the leaf and just sticking them in earth. Every part of this current plant grew from that method. 

But here's the cool part -- the plant knows up from down, and you have to plant each leaf section the same way up as it grew, or it won't root. So even plants have a better sense of direction than I have. Sad for me, really.

And last noontime, while my salmon and roast fries were cooking, aka fish 'n chips, here with capers and fresh picked thyme 

I set up a new accordion book display of a series of botanicals, very seasonal.

Right after lunch, Gary came dashing in, he was about to grill, could he make me a hamburger?  On realizing I was clearing up after lunch,  he said oh man, timing's out!

I did a bit of Sally Pointer study later,  reminded of her by the oak gall search and because I'd tried something like this as a kid, always fancied handmaking my own shoes.

Hers are pretty authentic though, style dating back 5,000 years.

I was pretty young when I made mine, no pattern or leather tools, just an urge.

Somewhere I got a scrap of pink soft leather I was able to cut with scissors and stitch with a darner, and made a pair of sandals with a strap. I cut soles, then stitched the upper on, added a Mary Jane type strap to keep them on. 

I remember they were very thin underfoot, not real suited to the sidewalks, no fields at that point in my life. These soft shoes do better on grass and earth. But I was so pleased about trying anyway, despite side-looks from older sibs, now what does she think she's doing.

I fact I wonder now if I can get a soft leather or suede bag or jacket from the thriftie to try for fall house slippers. I'm putting that on the list. I don't have a leather punch but I have a big nail I use for punching book pages, and a hammer. I'm ready.

I also ordered a fleece remnant in charcoal grey from Firecracker Fabrics,  to make  pants for cold weather, thinking ahead here.

And because what is life if you can't be amused by silly stuff , here's the Dance of the Dish Brushes

One day I really must think about growing up. No rush though.

Happy day everyone! Laugh at silly stuff, it's good for you.