Birds at Dusk

Freezing

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

Current Sewing

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

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

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

Fuel

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

Red. Thanks M. Thanks thrifty store. - Polly

Green

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

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

Christmas into winter

Christmas was busy here! Much of it went by in a blur of activity,

but we enjoyed it. Now, on to the still of winter. -Polly

Keeping Busy

I am still here. We have been awfully busy with Holiday preparations. Too much of it has involved big box stores and overly late night baking. Much of it has been sweet and pleasant though. If the big snow comes, we will be forced to stay home and enjoy the nicer parts of the season. Come on snow! -Polly

Scarves in Progress

80 Scarves in a pile. 80 Scarves to iron. -Polly

Parade

Yesterday, the boys and I went out to see our city's Christmas parade. It was not as heartwarming as the hometown parade that we attend in the summer, but our gritty city did a nice job. Seeing the high school football team maneuver the balloons under the telephone wires was worth standing in the rain for. Just look at big bird's expression here. Fun. - Polly

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