Towards the End Of November

Thankful for so much. - Polly

Real Life

This week I participated in a survey. I am almost always willing to offer my opinion on a survey, but this one made me think more than most. SNAAP The Strategic National Arts Alumni Project studies the lives and careers of folks who have had an arts education. The questions were for me, interesting and depressing. I answered honestly about the actual amount of time that I spend making and experiencing art. Not very much. But of course, some is better than none! - Polly

A little of this

A little of this

Mina's First Bird

Yesterday Mina brought home a pheasant.

Mr. Moss is very pleased with her. We all are. - Polly

Down at the bottom of that dirty ol' river

Down where the reeds and the catfish play

There lies a dream as soft as the water

There lies a bluebird that's flown away

-Townes Van Zandt

RISD Alumni Holiday Art Sale

My Biggest Sale event of the year is one month away. If I can get out from under my housework and Thanksgiving prep I will have many many scarves ready. -Polly

My Review of Weck Canning Jars

As I continue on with my non weaving diversions and obligations, I will now give my official review of Weck Canning Jars. I love these jars. I am not a canning expert, but I have a number of years experience using the American style jars. The jars that I have been using are all made by the same parent company and all have a coating of BPA on the underside of the covers. I wanted to find a new method.

The Weck jars pictured here are the ones that I decided I wanted to try. I was hesitant to order them because they cost much more than the ones I already have in the basement. I acquired these by the right place - right friend method. A good friend is planning to move out of the country, and gifted her jars to me! I would rather she not move away, but these jars are a silver lining I guess.

Anyway, these jars are made in Germany. They have glass covers that seal with natural rubber rings. Metal clips hold the lid in place during processing. Easy. All my jars sealed well, they look wonderful, stack nicely, and are not currently leaching chemicals into the food. The few troubles I encountered are as follows. The lovely shaped jars fit in my canner differently. I was able to fit fewer side by side, but they are squat enough that a second layer worked. My American style jar lifter works on the jars, but not the lids. I miss the little tonk sound that metal lids make as they seal. Also, it was hard to take a picture of these without a reflection of my goofy self appearing. Otherwise, I love and recommend these jars. -Polly

A Welcome Delivery

In our neighborhood, delivery trucks are a very common sight. Almost every week a truck will come by bringing furniture, groceries or other goods to our neighbors. This week the truck was for us! -Polly

Visiting Plants

Today I helped out by visiting someones plants and giving them a drink of water. It was quite a pleasant chore really. -Polly

A Near Find

This morning as I drove the boys to school, I spotted something special in a garbage can. On the way home it was still there. I was very compelled to stop and take a look at it. My overriding sense of embarrassment stopped me. I do not like getting out of my car to check out an item. The act of taking home someones trash does not trouble me. It is the possibility of attracting attention to myself that I want to avoid. Making a minor spectacle of myself while I peruse the trash selection is not what I want. So, I figured that I could drive back home and then walk over to see the item. As I strolled toward the trash can, I would have time to assess the treasure. If I decided that I wanted it, I could then lift it as I passed and walk back home without any fuss. Certainly the added few minutes might cause someone else to acquire my treasure, but I knew that it either was or was not meant to be. As I made my way back around the block on foot, the trash truck rounded the corner. In my haste I tripped on the sidewalk and made a long drawn out windmill action with my arms and lurched down to the ground. Someone called out "Careful!" as the trash truck carried away my treasure. The birdcage like this was not meant to be mine. Ah well. -Polly

More Fall Color

Fall is my favorite season by far. The colors outside are maybe fewer than in the summertime but they are so much richer. -Polly

Another Repeat!

Well, we do some of the same things year after year. Most of the time I take pictures. The boys with wet socks are a little bigger this year. The cranberries as usual are hard to pick but well worth it. -Polly