crocheting at the library

About three weeks ago I saw a box of yarn in Trisha's office, and realized we had to do something to use it up. She gets many donations of yarn and fabric, and I just got this sudden notion to make something - anything!

She said that a small throw might be nice; it's all in double crochet and I do two rows a day, generally, and am trying to keep it harmonious with the children's department colorway. So far, so good.

improvement in the bathroom closet

Debra got me one of those nice canvas bins, and since it's gray, I thought of the bathroom first.

It's serving as my new ironing basket; I cleaned all manner of unnecessary items from the bottom of the of the previous one, and tossed an old and cracking plastic bin which held rags I never seem to need. Things I needed to do for a long time, and accomplished entirely in the space of about ten minutes, all because of this new, unexpected gift. Wow.

sashiko style mending

I say sashiko style - I am totally unable to make stitches in neat rows.

But I like the idea of covering the whole area with stitching, which really reinforces everything

and the knit fabric I'm using, which seemed maybe a little thick, is being nicely flattened out by all the stitches.

These are my brother's thermals - the seat is worn, but the legs are good. So, I'm patching.

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

God our Creator, 

we give thanks to you,

who alone have the power to impart the breath of life

as you form each of us in our mother's womb;

grant, we pray,

that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,

may remain faithful to this sacred trust

and constant in safeguarding the dignity

of every human life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you in the unity

of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

- from Magnificat, January 2017

Margo's Midwinter Buns again

I made Margo's Midwinter Buns again and brought some to work Friday. I make buns of this sort rarely, but it isn't because they're not wonderful. We just don't want this kind of thing (bready, sweet stuff) around so much.

It was a sudden scheme to make them, and I found I didn't have all the proper ingredients. And I altered things somewhat, too; I used one-third the amount of yeast, and water instead of milk, because I didn't want any dairy. That was a concern because I know milk makes bread nice and soft, but they were fine as far as that goes. I thought I had walnuts, but couldn't find them, so used pecans instead, but not toasted, and not a cup. I also threw in some dried cranberries, left out the sugar (but not the honey!), used a little extra melted butter, pumpkin pie spice in place of cinnamon, and mini chips so I didn't have to chop. A big concern was that I didn't have any orange zest, which would give the whole a nice fruity aura. I puzzled over that one a long time, until I thought to add a splash of red wine!

The filling came out delicious, which is a relief, but I'm not experienced in making these filled rolls, and I think there was too much filling. After rolling it up and cutting into one-inch slices, they were very full and hard to shift over to the baking pan without fruity pieces falling out everywhere. Also, the dough was starting to get too soft, and got to feeling wet, which made me decide to chill it for two or three hours (as the recipe says you can do), until I suddenly realized it might take a long time to unchill because I used so much less yeast than called for. Because of all this fiddling, I didn't finish them till suppertime, but they're awfully nice, and will be a little treat for us till they're gone.

sinus troubles and other things

We had a Christmas snow at Epiphany - at last.

It disappeared when the temperatures got up to sixty on Thursday; I actually brought trash out to the curb, after dark, in my sweater! But it's snowing again, so we'll see how much it brings.

I have a sinus infection which is taking its (slow) course, but had me in no frame of mind or heart to blog for a while. I've done lots of reading. I got one of those Pride and Prejudice spin-offs for Christmas - five hundred pages! - which entertained me when things were at their worst. It was perfect for illness, as I wasn't able to read anything more involved, and it wasn't something I would have gravitated to in healthier times. It wasn't bad, but I do wonder why anyone would want to rewrite a famous story; the author was definitely doing her utmost to avoid all the unpleasantnesses from the original - they are all gone from her book.

crows 

Sometimes you know that you've invited illness to come along. Several people near me have been sick in recent weeks and I didn't catch any of it, but I've been eating too much sugar, and way too much dairy - with my chronic allergies I know I should limit myself - and it finally got me. Well, I am eating clean now. I bought organic fruit and nuts, organic canned soup (haven't felt much like cooking). Larabars. Herb tea - Stash's Christmas in Paris. That is delicious! Minty, with an aroma of cocoa and some vanilla. Also lavender, but I can't detect it, and thankfully it doesn't make me sleepy, as lavender is a sedative. I just happened upon it while on Amazon - it's very smooth and soothing. I am having a Belgian chocolate now and then, but I have no desire for cake, and I haven't had dairy in a week. May it last.

lovely paper plates from Cyndi

The other day Dolly and I listened to a podcast on Teddy Roosevelt. It was from the Circe Institute, which I think is geared toward homeschoolers. Anyway, I was often laughing, not because it was funny, but the man could do so many things that when his abilities are listed, you just have to laugh because it seems so incredible. But they did tell a story. And I have to tell it here.

Apparently, Teddy was expert in ornithology, and when he was President there was a certain bird which could be found in the Adirondacks - this is in New York State - and he wanted to get a photograph of it. He took two Secret Service men with him, and they hiked into the area. I don't know how long this all took them, but they got to a spot where he could see the nest. Unfortunately they were at the edge of a steep cliff. 

He convinced the two to tie a rope around his ankle - yes, that's what I said - and lower him down headfirst - headfirst, yes. He got the photo. Well, they couldn't pull him up. Not all the way. So he decided to cut the rope, which sent him down thirty feet (!), where he bounced off something and landed in a stream. 

They thought they'd killed him. They got down there and found him face down in the water, inert. Then really thought they'd killed him. One tapped him gingerly, whereupon he leaped up and cried, "That was BULLY!" 

Can you imagine such a thing? He reminds me of Winston Churchill in a way, in attitude at least.  

something to meditate on

I put away the Three Kings today. I hope Henry won't miss them too much.

The Holy Family is still there, which should be enough for his meditations.

In between the naps.

Epiphany

My Master was so very poor,

a manger was his cradling place;

so very rich my Master was

kings came from far to gain his grace.

My Master was so very poor, 

and with the poor he broke his bread;

so very rich my Master was

that multitudes by him were fed.

My Master was so very poor,

they nailed him naked to a cross;

so very rich my Master was

he gave his all and knew no loss.

-   from Magnificat, January 2017