allstrungtogether

Instead of the Storm

2011-09-27T22:21:00.000-04:00

The storm was thankfully a dud. So where have we been? Instead of wind and rain knocking out our power and communications, it was the plaster, painting, and tiling operation.

They are mysterious, the magical wires that lie hidden in the walls and bring the wider world to us. Sometimes when construction is happening, the magic mysteriously goes out of the wires and cannot be made to come back easily. This is one of those times.

Perhaps in time, perhaps soon, the wires will again bring us the magic of internet.
Until then, Take Care and Carry On. -Polly

The Late August Garden Before The Storm

2011-08-26T23:33:00.000-04:00

As we wait for Irene, I'm trying to decide what to pick and what to leave. Irene may not turn out to be much of an adventure, but the not knowing makes me glad that I am growing these things as a hobby, and not as a livelihood or main source of food. Our local grocery store was running out of bottled water today, but I trust that it will be stocked up again before long. Really it was not that long ago that there was no weather radio to give folks a chance to decide what to pick and what to leave. I am a little anxious about this eggplant, and I do have the grocery as a back up. -Polly

And...Another Little Trip

2011-08-18T15:32:00.000-04:00

As the summer is winding down, we are trying to get to a few more of the activities and adventures on our summer list. Now, the visit to the zoo is complete. Also the horse back riding experiment. Both went well. -Polly

Another Little Trip

2011-08-13T09:20:00.000-04:00

Today we visited Coggeshall farm with two good friends.

These two turkeys seemed to be inseparable friends, probably siblings. They moved, turned and walked together like a dancing couple, but they reminded me even more of the way a street sweeper moves. -Polly

Where We Went

2011-07-17T23:08:00.000-04:00

We have been again to Maine. It has been two full years since the boys and I have visited. Considering that last trip, this one was much better. There was a lot of driving and then a lot of sun and green. We saw racoons up close, found porcupine quills, heard owls, and I found more rusty treasure in an old cellar hole. Some blue socks were finished, then there was some more driving. The actual driving was done by the Mister. I sat under the dog and handed out snacks. -Polly

And Now, Summer

2011-06-21T08:08:00.000-04:00

The last day of school is finished. Now my helpers will be around all of the time. Lately they have been helping by chasing small rabbits about. Can you spot the bun in the picture above? The picture gets much bigger if you click on it twice. -Polly

Father's Day

2011-06-20T08:34:00.000-04:00

Around these parts, Father's Day means rhubarb pie. -Polly

Wedding Season

2011-06-10T13:27:00.001-04:00

June is also good for weddings. -Polly

The June Garden

2011-06-05T15:40:00.000-04:00

Green and blue and white with a little bit of red.

Lily beetles of course.

Strawberries now, grapes later. -Polly

Finally the Sun Appeared

2011-05-22T08:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday after days and days of rain, the sun did briefly shine. It was quite rapturous really. -Polly

A Tiny Egg

2011-04-21T14:32:00.000-04:00

And today, a quail egg. One year ago this egg's mother was in our incubator staying warm and waiting to hatch. One year ago? -Polly

Old Friends

2011-04-20T16:04:00.000-04:00

Today I put an old lens on my new camera. I have not used it in many years, and I don't think it has improved with age and storage, but it still feels like an old friend. And finally finally, the garden is starting to wake up, and old friends are turning up there also. -Polly

New Nikon

2011-04-15T10:40:00.005-04:00

I am ever so excited to have a new camera. All of the pictures on this blog up until this point were taken with one of two beloved point and shoot Nikons. My new one should allow me to experiment more. And you know what that means. More gratuitous pet pictures! -Polly

Miles

2011-03-29T20:12:00.000-04:00

I am still here! Spring has been cold and busy so far. Not interesting busy, just busy. I have been trying to run more to offset the stress of busy. There is a new little list started down on the right hand side of the blog to keep track of my miles. More later! - Polly

Winter Aconite as Acony Bell

2011-03-15T11:46:00.000-04:00

The fairest bloom the mountain know

Is not an iris or a wild rose

But the little flower of which i'll tell

Known as the brave acony bell

Just a simple flower so small and plain

With a pearly hue and a little known name

But the yellow birds sing when they see it bloom

For they know that spring is coming soon

Well it makes its home mid the rocks and the rills

Where the snow lies deep on the windy hills

And it tells the world "why should i wait

This ice and snow is gonna melt away"

And so i'll sing that yellow bird's song

For the troubled times will soon be gone

-David Rawlings, Gillian Welch

This is the wrong flower for this song, but the two are conjoined in my mind. My winter aconite seems to perform the same job in New England that Acony Bell does in Appalachia. -Polly

February Vacation.

2011-02-21T14:30:00.000-05:00

One day into February vacation. So far so good. -Polly

Low Tech Day Improvement.

2011-02-13T12:02:00.000-05:00

Going without music in the kitchen just has not been working. This old friend does not look like much, but it seems to make a big difference between a good and a not so good day. -Polly

Meteor

2011-02-02T15:38:00.000-05:00

I thought I saw a meteor on Saturday night.

I did see a meteor!

There is a photo of the one I saw at this site. -Polly

Visiting Plants III

2011-01-24T23:03:00.000-05:00

I spent part of today visiting and watering plants. As in the past, I enjoyed the green and the sun. In one particular place, a prism sends a rainbow floating around the room. If you stand still a moment, the rainbow can fill your eye. This is quite amazing, though I imagine it is not the best thing for the eye. -Polly

Stormy Gray

2011-01-08T14:44:00.000-05:00

Mossy Green

2011-01-08T14:33:00.000-05:00

Mostly it is white and gray outdoors, but we took a walk into the woods and brought home a little green to replenish the terrariums. Now there is a little more green inside. -Polly

More Pictorial Review of 2010

2011-01-01T08:57:00.000-05:00

2010 in Brief Review

2011-01-01T02:15:00.000-05:00

Over the River and Through the Snow

2010-12-27T13:42:00.000-05:00

Two days and two drives to visit two houses full of Grandparents and Family. There was some snow, there was some cake. All was good and Merry. -Polly

2010-12-23T09:56:00.000-05:00

Christmas Here, Christmas Now.

2010-12-16T08:52:00.001-05:00

2010-12-15T21:05:00.003-05:00

I made a big impression on these birds yesterday. It was short lived however. Within two minutes they were back on the ground, having come to some unanimous decision about me. Perhaps they figured that I meant them no harm. More likely, they determined that I was too slow and earthbound to cause alarm.
Both are true really, but sometimes it is good to cause a stir. -Polly

Studio Work

2010-12-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

My new cosy little studio seems to be everyone's favorite place to be lately. -Polly

November Weekend

2010-11-20T11:29:00.003-05:00

The RISD Alumni Art Sale is Coming

2010-11-18T07:19:00.001-05:00

Two weeks and two days until this sale in Providence.

Two weeks and two days to finish getting ready.- Polly

2010-11-16T12:09:00.000-05:00

"I have my two hands, which are older than I am. And I have that quiet frisson. An undine's hissing near my ear, part threat, part invitation, it penetrates me with some unclassifiable hunger. A thistle fallen back somewhere in my mind, gently, urgently rasping, it keeps me curious, keeps me new. These are the things I count on. These are my comforts. My charms." - Marlena De Blasi

2010-11-13T12:08:00.001-05:00

Look who this is! Can you tell? The gentleman you see standing next to me is my Dali Lama / Obama / Frank Sinatra. That is, someone I admire greatly and would very much like to meet. Did we have a long chat? No, but I did get to stand next to him for a moment, and you can see by my expression that I rather enjoyed it. Check out the links below to see him in action. -Polly

Vincent
Cooksferry Queen

Persuasion

Wall of Death

One Door Opens

And Now, Fall

2010-11-12T19:19:00.000-05:00

2010-11-06T20:31:00.000-04:00

There are some things you learn best in calm,

and some in storm. - Willa Cather

2010-10-29T16:04:00.001-04:00

Queen of fakes and Imitators Times The Revelator. - Gillian Welch

And Now The Good News

2010-10-27T07:48:00.000-04:00

Two excellent developments here. First is the official arrival of pie season. The second is the imminent completion of my new studio. It is going to have electric lights! -Polly

2010-10-26T10:02:00.000-04:00

What is the more defining attribute of the human heart? Is it our soaring desire and imagination, or is it our ability to fold our wings and resist such flight? -Polly

2010-10-22T11:46:00.000-04:00

How does it feel to be nothing?

How does it feel to be small?

Pull hard on that wine,

It's the end of the line,

Oh the world is a wonderful place

-Richard Thompson

Fall

2010-10-09T20:48:00.000-04:00

A fall stroll, and a frog discovered in a spring. -Polly

Me and Mina, with painted chimney.

2010-09-30T07:18:00.000-04:00

The Fretting Garden

2010-09-25T20:49:00.005-04:00

The fretting garden is doing well this year.

This is where the quail most enjoy taking their dust baths. Can you see two in this picture?

We try to keep several quail in the pen so that they will call the others home at the end of

the day. The ones that do remain in the pen often feel quite anxious about the separation,

so they attempt to call their brothers and sisters home day long. -Polly

Week In Brief Review

2010-09-24T19:48:00.003-04:00

This past week saw the finish of one project,

The beginning of another project,

and, much attention to our ongoing project. -Polly

Weekend

2010-09-14T11:59:00.007-04:00

A day late, but here is what our weekend looked like. A lot of this.

And a little of this. -Polly

Boston Sunday Herald 1917

2010-09-08T08:31:00.000-04:00

This is the newspaper that came out of our wall. April Fools Day 1917. My Grandfather would have been six years old. Five Days before the United States entered World War One. And the dresses! Oh my! -Polly

Into Every Kitchen Some Rain Must Fall

2010-09-07T08:43:00.001-04:00

Our burned roof came off last week! A good deal of rain came in before the new roof was in place, but everything is dried out again now.

On the right hand side of this picture you may be able to see the edge of a newspaper that was uncovered under the plaster. More pictures soon. -Polly

Our Mina

2010-09-05T20:48:00.013-04:00

Much has happened since my last post here. While our roof was being removed, the cable that brings telephone and internet to us was also removed. Now it has been repaired and I can again report what has been going on. One thing that occurred was the one year anniversary of our dog Mina coming to live with us. We adopted her through the German Shorthaired Pointer rescue in our area. She was sweet and lively right from the start. She had no interest in listening to us at all. Our understanding is that she came from a home where she was loved, but not given much direction. When her elderly owner moved, Mina stayed with relatives that could not let her run. GSP dogs are meant to run. For the first two weeks that she lived with us, all that Mina did was run. We were happy enough to let her use up her anxious energy, but we had no way to call her back in when we needed to go out, or night had fallen. Mina really knew no commands at all. She has come so far since then. Our lawn has suffered for it, but she is doing ever so well. The strange sound in the video is Mr Moss's whistle. It does sound more like a whistle in real

life. -Polly

And in Fire News

2010-08-17T14:11:00.008-04:00

There has not been much to report on the fire repair front, but now some work is starting! Yesterday a big trench was created to house a new conduit. These bottles turned up in the ground. Old bottles are a personal favorite of mine, but old bottles that I can be fairly certain were used by my great grandparents are extra special. Worth the mess even. - Polly

Tomato Season

2010-08-16T08:02:00.000-04:00

We like other home gardeners around us are finding that this is a good tomato year. Better than last year. Different also this year is that we now have a wonderful tomato machine. It came to us from the friends that moved away. We thought of them as we processed tomatoes and ate the resulting soup. A silver lining. - Polly

Friends

2010-08-15T12:07:00.012-04:00

This week some of our good friends moved away. Far away. The boys and I have spent a lot of time talking about what that means, and how we will try to stay friends.

As a going away present, we made writing folders with some blank postcards to color and some with our address already inscribed. I looked at this tutorial on Soulemama, and made something similar. I started with quilted thrift store place mats, so my measurements and edges are different.

I hope our friends write, and I hope they have a wonderful adventure.

Travel safely folks. -Polly

A Painting Challenge

2010-08-09T22:52:00.002-04:00

This is my rendition of a dahlia from the rookiepainter site. Don't be fooled by the name, there are some lovely non beginner paintings included. I am not thrilled with my finished painting, but it was good practice, and it is fascinating to me to see how other painters approached the same image. Art school was so much about fine art, and developing content, that I don't recall ever being asked to work from the same image as the other students. This was interesting. -Polly

Summer Rolling On

2010-08-03T20:15:00.001-04:00

Photo Inspiration

2010-07-24T22:01:00.001-04:00

This week I've been playing at setting up still life arrangements to photograph and paint from. I came across Paul Cary Goldberg's photos here and here. Very inspiring. Partly of course I am inspired to just give up camera use in general, but in a good way. -Polly

2010-07-22T08:05:00.001-04:00

Its summertime, and the living is a little messy. There are toys and muddy footprints where I don't want them. Sand and food remnants where they do not belong. Having two (three counting the tall one) boys here to create these cleaning projects is wonderful though, and so sometimes are the little things I find left behind at the end of a busy messy day. -Polly

The Web

2010-07-20T10:30:00.000-04:00

July Fully Underway

2010-07-19T23:45:00.002-04:00

The Zoo

2010-07-04T12:26:00.010-04:00

We enjoyed a basic visit to the zoo. Mostly it made us smile. -Polly

Summer So Far

2010-07-04T12:19:00.003-04:00

Mostly this is what we have been doing. Being outside, trying to find shade, two boys always one or two steps ahead of me. Good so far. -Polly

Summer Here, Summer Now

2010-06-24T21:35:00.005-04:00

-Polly

Gull Mural

2010-06-21T12:08:00.005-04:00

On Friday I made a sea gull mural for the very nice mother of a very good friend. My camera finds red to be challenging, so these pictures are not very accurate, but the finished room looks great. While painting and visiting, I was able to meet a smart and protective new lady dog. When I arrived, the dog wanted to meet me and bite me, but I was shown how to endear myself to her. First I tossed some dog cookies into the crate where she was secured. Secondly, I hid while a game of fetch was started in the yard. I was then substituted into the game as the ball thrower. After the game, we got along nicely. We did find that the unexpected sound of me moving a stepladder would bring her running and barking, but she would see it was me and chose to let me paint without a bite. Also I had some tea. All on the last half day of the school year. -Polly

Three Sides To Every Story

2010-06-17T18:43:00.005-04:00

Three angles anyway. -Polly

A Suprise

2010-06-10T09:15:00.004-04:00

I think we must have a secret admirer. Someone special left a big pile of warm asphalt in our yard! Pretty! - Polly

Nearly Summer

2010-06-08T09:16:00.006-04:00

It feels like summer. It looks like summer. In just a few days summer vacation will be here with little boys available to pick flowers and peas. Then summer will really be here. -Polly

Still Here

2010-06-04T09:09:00.014-04:00

Hello Folks. Just a quick update here. June is here, and all is well. Two quick messages also.

To the handful of readers who regularly check in here:

Thank you for visiting! I appreciate your loyal interest, and I apologize for not updating more regularly recently.

To the individual who stole our credit card numbers:

We do not appreciate your interest in us. I hope that at some point you find your heart filled with shame and regret. When you recover, I hope that you make an attempt to spend some of your time on this earth as a useful person. I wish you the best in this endeavour. As of now, your score card as a decent and useful person is not looking so good.

And in fire news, not much news. The big blue tarp remains. The big blue dumpster remains. Hopefully work will begin soon, and many exciting updates will follow. -Polly

Birthday Boy

2010-05-16T19:21:00.013-04:00

Our little guy turned six this week. Our house is still in no condition for a festive celebration, so we planned an outing. The birthday boy chose where we would spend the day. He might have chosen Chuck E Cheese, or a movie, but just look at what we did today. Good call kid. Happy Birthday to. -Polly

Fire

2010-05-09T11:43:00.006-04:00

So here is the thing. We did have a fire. The consensus seems to be that a squirrel chewed wire made a spark that started a fire between our roof and ceiling. We are back home now after a half week stay over visit with my Mom and Dad. We will now be able to enjoy a camping at home situation.

This really was not a big fire, and we are lucky to all be safe and sound. It is taking me a while to get my mind around it though. I think a pie or two is in order for our local fire department. And really, thank goodness for our Moms. Happy Mother's Day Mom! - Polly

Fire Recap

2010-05-07T11:21:00.007-04:00

Well, it was not planned or enjoyed, but I have another event to recap. More later, -Polly

RISD Sale Recap

2010-05-02T18:30:00.000-04:00

Another sale day complete. Lots of scarves went home with new owners. I met some wonderful new customers, and enjoyed seeing some familiar faces. Many interesting dogs were sighted. The sun shone down hotly all day. In fact, it addled my brain enough that I forgot to take pictures of my display. I have these few shots to show the street scene from my behind the table vantage point. -Polly

Bags and Bags

2010-04-28T20:32:00.004-04:00

The weaving is done. The silk scarves are dyed. I just hope to make one more bag before Saturday. Maybe one more after that. Perhaps one more after that.- Polly

Vacation Recap

2010-04-27T08:53:00.002-04:00

April vacation involved so many nice little moments. A visit to Grammy's

that's 26 magnolia leaves collected if you were wondering.

I spent some time on creative pursuits.

The boys spent time on creative pursuits.

Lovely start to finish. Now, the final stretch until the real deal of Summer Vacation. -Polly

weekend recap

2010-04-19T08:40:00.006-04:00

some of this some of this

and some of this.

A mostly quiet, and mostly perfect weekend. -Polly

Art Sale! Art Sale!

2010-04-10T09:22:00.001-04:00

Three weeks until the RISD sale!

Easter

2010-04-07T17:04:00.005-04:00

Easter has come and gone, but the eggs remain. So does the fierce gentleman bunny.-Polly

Rain

2010-03-30T20:09:00.001-04:00

Labels

2010-03-26T10:07:00.008-04:00

I need to have some labels. I need to order them soon, but I cannot decide if I like any of these well enough. The longer it takes me to decide or rework, the longer it will be before I have labels ready. I am hoping to put these on bags, and maybe sewn scarves. I don't think they will be soft enough to go on woven scarves. Any suggestions? -Polly

Spring Walking

2010-03-26T07:21:00.001-04:00

Trees

2010-03-23T11:35:00.008-04:00

Though I can not wait for leaves this spring, I have been lately inspired by the bare trees around me. -Polly

Signs of Spring

2010-03-17T20:36:00.002-04:00

Me and my Singer.

2010-03-11T12:55:00.001-05:00

I am infatuated with my new old Singer. I am sure no cross words will ever come between us.

We made a bag together.

And another.

And another. I do believe (singing) we were meant to be together. -Polly

Singer 301

2010-03-08T10:20:00.007-05:00

I have a new sewing machine! It is not brand new, but it is new to me, and I am finding that I just love it. Here are two tidbits from the instruction manual. -Polly

"This smooth running machine-of-tomorrow will

amaze and thrill you with its versatility and ease of operation."

"Most materials require only guiding for best sewing results.

However, the miracle fabrics such as nylons, dacrons, orlons,

blends with various rayons..., also require support in the form of

holding the material taut at the back and front of the needle..."

And... More Progress on the Preschool Tree Mural

2010-03-05T15:28:00.007-05:00

When I first started painting this mural, the preschool students seemed a little disturbed to find me camped out near their backpacks. By now they are accustomed to having me in their hallway, and it has been very fun to have them checking on the progress of the animals.

This fox looks an awful lot like the reference picture that I used, and that is good, but now I think he looks much too fierce. The eyes may need some further attention. Yikes. -Polly

A Little More Mural Progress

2010-03-03T16:18:00.003-05:00

A few more birds are in place in the apple trees.

By the time I finished today, oak trees marched all the way up the stairs. -Polly

Spring Beach

2010-02-28T15:04:00.004-05:00

Today was a perfect beach day. No snow, no sunscreen. Several parking places available! -Polly

More Progress on the Preschool Tree Mural

2010-02-24T15:39:00.008-05:00

These two animals are now painted into the first section of the mural.

The little papers taped to the wall are my reference pictures. The shelf holds my

handy plastic paint cup and my lunch. - Polly

Roller Babies

2010-02-22T17:41:00.002-05:00

And Now for Something Completely Different. It is likely that you have seen this commercial, but just in case, here is a link to watch it now. During our boy's school vacation, we did some ice skating. This caused some interest in roller skating, which the boys have never done. While trying to learn more about roller skates, we came across this video. We have not had a TV for years, so we missed this when it was new, but it is really very fun. -Polly

Scarf Tying

2010-02-22T09:01:00.000-05:00

I am trying to make a scarf tying guide. Customers often ask me how to wear the scarves that I am selling. I have been told that folks also ask this in the shops where my scarves are on display. I would like to provide a printed guide that can be included with the scarves that go home to new wearers. However, early research (husband review) has shown that my guide does not provide enough information. Written instructions are probably needed along with the before and after pictures. -Polly

My Little Etsy Shop

2010-02-15T11:21:00.000-05:00

My little Etsy Shop is alive again. Hooray! -Polly

Unravelled Sweater

2010-02-10T14:58:00.000-05:00

One cashmere sweater, plus one pair of scissors, plus one snow day equals two

new balls of string. -Polly

Another Blog?

2010-02-10T01:09:00.000-05:00

I did a crazy thing. I have made another blog. Go and see it if you are so inclined. -Polly

Winter Walking

2010-02-07T17:20:00.000-05:00

We drove again today to one of our favorite places to walk. It is a wildlife management area that we particularly like to visit on Sundays. I get to knit on the way. Unfortunately we discovered that all of the brush, and tall grasses have been mowed down since our last visit. The rose hips that I photographed in the fall are gone. It will all grow back of course, but we were disturbed to find our place so altered.

Still, it was beautiful out in the cold. -Polly

Preschool Tree Mural in Progress

2010-02-04T16:59:00.001-05:00

Here is the hallway before.

This is the hallway now after one day of painting. -Polly

Me Updated

2010-02-03T09:38:00.000-05:00

I feel that I ought to change my blog profile picture, because the current one is not very recent. However, I seem to be photographed only when I am holding a photogenic small child. As my attractive children have grown older and heavier to hold, these photo opportunities now happen infrequently. Here now are two photos that I am considering. I think that they are both representative. Please notice that the top picture has a fortunate flash of light that helps to reduce the visibility of my nose. -Polly

Birds at Dusk

2010-01-31T18:37:00.000-05:00

Freezing

2010-01-30T16:40:00.000-05:00

Our passionflower is wintering indoors. Thankfully so am I. -Polly

Current Sewing

2010-01-27T20:24:00.002-05:00

Some practical sewing has been taking place here.

Also some painting is underway, the results of which I will show you another time. -Polly

Visiting Plants II

2010-01-23T13:31:00.000-05:00

I have performed another plant home visit. This is really one of the loveliest of chores. Along with checking in on the plants, I was able to visit with a fish tapestry that I wove many years ago. There are many nice reasons to give your artwork to people that you know and like. As time has gone by, I realize how much I enjoy having some of my older work around where I can see it again. - Polly

Cold

2010-01-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

I am still here. Trying to get a lot done. Getting a little done. Still cold. More Later, Polly

Fuel

2010-01-13T14:08:00.001-05:00

We have been thinking a lot about fuel lately. It has been so cold that our stove needs a great deal of attention. That has us thinking about the quality of the wood that we are using. Every time that we reach into the woodpile, we try to choose a good piece of wood that will burn well and heat us up nicely. This careful choosing of fuel makes it easier for our 5 year old to understand the concept of good food fuel for people. It makes it easier for me to understand as well. -Polly

Red

2010-01-07T23:00:00.000-05:00

Red. Thanks M. Thanks thrifty store. - Polly

Green

2010-01-02T12:26:00.000-05:00

Born with the moon in Cancer

Choose her a name she will answer to

Call her green and the winters cannot fade her

Call her green for the children who've made her

Little green, be a gypsy dancer - Joni Mitchell

First Day

2010-01-01T17:39:00.001-05:00

We started out the new year realizing that we did not have quite enough sterile gauze and bandages on hand. The day improved however with some quiet weaving, hot chocolate, a little knitting, and a wintry hike that introduced us to a new friend that formed on the bottom of a snow shoe. Oddly pleasing. Happy New Year. -Polly