Feeling anxious? Fretful? Try digging up a lawn!

-Polly

Spring Diversions

This turns out to be a very green post today. We are having some typical New England spring weather. There are good edible green things growing from the ground, but the air is cold and damp. I was cutting arugula for dinner when I looked up and saw our woodsmoke rising behind some rosebuds. Take a look at the green leaves below. Can you tell what they are?

These are the most giant rhubarb leaves that have ever grown here. Those are my adult size toes for scale. Having the bun lads residing nearby seems to be a factor.

And now finally a little bit of weaving news. I now have a Mannequin to keep Ruth Ann company. Handsome man scarves are being planned presently. -Polly

Metal Parts

Enough suspense already! Here is my mother's day present. A ring! I found this large metal ring in an old cellar hole. Part of it was buried in the ground, and held down by a tree root that had grown over it. We think it is a barrel stay. The inside is flat, the outside is somewhat rounded, and there are no holes in it. After it was rolled out of the deep woods for me, I set it up in a shady part of my garden. I am so pleased with it.

After the ring followed me home, but before it was installed, I found even more rusty metal parts. These leaf springs were under our garage for some time. Only when my mind was happily musing on the aesthetic qualities of discarded metal did they jump out at me as a perfect addition to a sunnier garden. -Polly

A Long Weekend in the Woods

For mother's day weekend, we went away into the woods. The weather was lovely. The flying insects were plentiful. A porcupine quill was discovered by a foot. I found a few more by looking at the ground under trees that had bare spots in their bark. Our dog discovered something he was excited about.

We did not let him keep his treasure because we knew it would aggravate his food allergy. He was disappointed, but in time, he came to see our point.

This pile of rocks was added to.

We studied this beaver dam for a while, but never saw the builders.

Turkeys were seen leisurely crossing a field. In season, but after noon.

The boys were drawn by the allure of a cold running stream.

We had a wonderful time. I brought home a surprise mother's day gift also! I do not yet have a nice picture to show it off. For now, I can say that it is round, and quite old. Part of it was in the ground for a very long time, and it took my good husband considerable toil to acquire it for me. I will show you later. -Polly

RISD Alumni Spring Art Sale

I spent this past Saturday at the RISD Alumni Spring Art Sale. The weather cooperated for the most part. The crowd under the tent was lively and friendly. It was a great day. .

This was the view from my post behind my table.

I was reminded of how nice a successful art sale can be. I have to try to remember this in the future. Signing up for art or craft sales that include mud pits or tractor pulls has not worked well for me. Sure, I will attend as a spectator. I always enjoy a good tractor pull, but I usually don't plan to buy a fine scarf at the same time. Lesson learned. If you visited me on Saturday, Thanks! I really enjoyed seeing familiar faces again and meeting so many nice folks. - Polly

Little Projects

I have some small projects going that appeal to my thrifty nature. I cannot stand to get rid of even the tiniest bits of interesting cloth. Making these little buttons helps to reduce my scrap pile. I really like the way that the shape of the button crops the fabric into a little image. Because I did not want to buy plastic or peat trays and pots for starting seeds, I tried using the eggshells that I had. I figured that if eggshells are good for compost, maybe they will break down nicely if I plant them right into the garden. I do not know if this is an accepted gardening practice, but it has worked well for me. I crush the eggshells as I plant the seedlings outside.

-Polly

Spring is here, and so are the Lily Beetles

I am discouraged to be finding so many Lily Beetles in my garden this year. These little red friends have been eating my lilies tirelessly for several years. They are not native to my area, but I suspect they are here to stay. One solution that works for us is to feed them to our pet toad. Collect them in a jar or bottle and then hold it up to your ear. The beetles make an unpleasant sound when they are captured.

-Polly

Spring Color

A new batch of dyed silk scarves dried and danced on the line yesterday.A most lovely blue hyacinth enjoyed the sun as well.

-Polly

Spring Vacation

Today is the last day of school before spring vacation. Perhaps I will get some weaving done this week. As you can see, this loom is currently in use.

-Polly

Tomatoes are growing

My tomato pincushion pile is growing. -Polly

Full Pink Moon

Today is the full pink moon. The pink is for pink moss or Phlox subulata. I am not sure where this blooms in April. Another Native American name for the April full moon is the egg moon. Our chickens have certainly noticed that it is time to make more eggs. Either way, Happy Spring!

-Polly

Treasure By the Curbside!

Today being trash day in our neighborhood, I am now the happy owner of a costume trunk.

This questionable new treasure caught my eye this morning as we made our daily drive to school. By the time I had gone around the block to get a closer look, another driver had pulled up beside it. We eyed each other as we both approached the curbside goods. Luck was with me however. Though she had a gentleman with her to help carry the item, he was not impressed with it. It took me several tries to somehow insert it into our car. Now it has been washed, dried in the sun, and painted inside. All the past Halloween costumes fit in it! So there it is, one good side to city living. -Polly

Before and After

I have a unique opportunity to show a before and after here. Almost never do I think to photograph the item of clothing or cloth that a project starts with. This finished scarf may look familiar if you have been reading along here. Now I have finally listed it in my Etsy shop. Happy April! -Polly

I knew it would soon bee spring.

-Polly

Yet another animal post

The bun lads here proving that they can live peacefully together. When they do not think that I am watching, they snuggle together happily. When I approach with their nutritious pelleted meal the fur does fly. The older gentleman.

The sweet old girl. Gone two months now, and very much missed. -Polly

Not For Sale

I have several new scarves to show here, but they are mostly not for sale. This dyed silk one I am donating to an auction for my children's school. This one also will go to the auction. It is the first of the scarves to be sewn entirely on my new old machine. No electricity used!

This blue stripe and purple combination was trouble from the start. The stripe is cut on the bias. The purple layer is a very floaty silk that I dyed. It wanted no part of that shifty stripe. I love the color combination, but the seams are not as flat and consistent as I would like. I think that means I get to keep it.

This purple scarf was much friendlier to deal with. It is for sale in my Etsy shop.

-Polly

Terrarium

Here is what I have been doing instead of sorting through the pile of toys on the floor. It is still there, but I won't make you look at it again. This terrarium is one week old. Inside, it smells like spring. - Polly

Spring...

We are really ready for spring. I can not stop thinking about spring. We have too much little boy energy and boy things spread around to stay inside much longer. You may be able to see my broom in the background here. The top of the handle has fallen off. I think it may have given up. Speaking of inanimate objects with lives of their own, the night before last, my car radio had an adventure. I have one of those radios with a detachable front, so I have the option of putting it in my pocket and taking it for a stroll. I have not done this for a while, and I suppose that my radio is feeling spring fever as well. Late in the night, it wrestled all around inside the car, finally jumped out, ran down the street, and leaped into some shrubbery. I found it smirking there in the afternoon. -Polly

Sewing Machine!

Just look at what followed me home this weekend. I have a new old sewing machine! I believe it is a Singer 66. I have not yet determined it's age. The serial number is only somewhat helpful. The best part is that there is no plug. The treadle works smoothly and quietly. I am ready to step back in time, but first I have several emails to return. As usual, baby steps here. - Polly

Spring

I was right. Spring is coming! Just not today. -Polly

More Scarves Finished, More to Make

I have finished sewing a few more scarves. This one is made from a cotton striped shirt, and a piece of very fine floral silk. This is the last of the red paisley with a striped wool twill. I hope to have both of these listed on ETSY in the next few days.

And, more wrinkled silk was acquired yesterday. Right now though, the weather is too nice for indoor work.

-Polly