More good advice, how I followed it, and Carol Cane Capers

Yesterday Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, firebrand young leftist Democrat, known as AOC, did a great video about coping in our new world. She talked about how our best defense is our community and, to my surprise, included knitting groups! 

I agree, we need to establish who are our allies, and take care of them. I've been contacted by more than one past friend to reestablish contact and it reminds me of the pandemic where people did that.

So, despite feeling a bit glum, nothing new for me, always sad in the early mornings, I did get going, tended to my sheep, went to the knitting group.  It was a great session, fun, good friends, thank you, AOC, for honoring it.

D's first sweater following a pattern, usually a freeform knitter 

K showing her Tunisian crochet learning sampler stitches.

Talk ranged over craft ambitions, that Irish craft involving roving and canvas, learning to use a cane, international fisheries, pollution, fish migration, Tunisian crochet and why, furniture arrangements for book groups, Ireland, the socio-economic causes of food choices, stitch definition, tree-climbing goats, goat milk, meat and cashmere, and more. Our fearless leader has already booked the room January to June, looking ahead.

The weather is cooling now, down to 30°s f. overnight, so the heating is coming on at night and it's time to change the front door curtain from the summer green striped canvas to the winter red felt. 

Usually this is a two person job, unhooking the rod off the hooks, sliding the other curtain onto the rod and rehanging. And a bit of climbing is involved. Last night, no-one available to assist, I thought this might be a cane related task, the  cane having a cushioned non slip handle.

So, without climbing or the aid of a net, I unhooked the canvas, pushing the rod up by the handle,  let it drop,  slid the rod out,  threaded the felt curtain and used the cane to rehook it, reversing the first stage.  No climbing, no assistant, I'm bloated with pride.  Both curtains have permanent clip on rings, to save changing them.  Canvas now folded and away till spring. Winterizing complete.

So here's the substance of my upcoming book What Carol Cane Taught Me: useful to prop your device screen up, potential lethal weapon in disputes, portable art form waiting to be painted, curtain hanger, and more to come. Aside from its prescribed use, that is. You might call these off label applications.

Another form of community I plan to continue is sharing baked goods with neighbors. During the hot weather, I didn't bake, but now I'm getting into it more regularly. So today I'm going to bake honeynut squash bread with dried cranberries, just to share around the neighborhood. 

I'll omit walnuts because of one child with a nut allergy, and freeze a couple of slices for Handsome Son, whenever I next see him, probably Thanksgiving or thereabouts. Maybe I'll freeze a slice for Gary who's away, but shouldn't miss out.

That and finishing  the second glove are on the agenda, with boring old  laundry and sheet changing. And watching

I'm still in the middle of Cranford on my Kindle, so this is video to knit by.

The thanksgiving cactus is busy budding up

Happy day, everyone. Day by day, and, as Ellen says, let's make the most of the next couple of months. Patrick O'Donnell and his Mutts say

Return of Sandi Toksvig, Friday Knitting Group

 I've been following some great podcasts lately, including this one, podcast and YouTube channel, featuring the great Sandi Toksvig, now promoting a book while running a new play, various broadcast programs, her ongoing activism and more! 

She's brilliant, and funny, a good writer, and a kind person, great combo. She's the one on the right, in case there's anyone who doesn't know her by sight.

Go here and see if you like her too. She now has a Tiktok presence, TikTokTok or something!

I also found this, which involves food cooked on the set and served to the guest, their choice of menu 

I received my new winter coat today, which will replace the one I've had for many years, a gift then. The old one's a DKNY ski jacket, very warm but only hip length, because you don't ski in long coats. But I need more coverage in cold windy weather.

So in with the new

And to Freecycle with the old. I don't need both.

The Friday knitting group was fun, full of news from Rhinebeck -- biggest crowds evah, a bit much  even for the seasoned Rhinebecker in the group. She did manage to shop though

And news from our youngest member, now a Philadelphia homeowner who has been painting, sanding, and doing great exploits in the TWO WEEKS since he closed! The energy of youth. 

Other chat ranged over fuel, furnaces, traffic circles, GPS, wine, yarn, thrift stores, renting equipment,  parking, recycling and more. 

What I love about Ruth and Laura is that now I can separate out and follow the chat when there's more than one stream going. No more blur of sound, with my trusty helpers in place.  Restored to life, as Dickens said, but not about hearing. No more being lost in the chat.

And here's a NJ squirrel staring me down on my own patio and wanting me to go away 

It was a draw, neither conceding a win to the other. 

Happy day everyone, online meeting with friends and cronies Friday night, watching Kamala's Houston rally. It's all go!

Presents and knitting marvels

This morning Gary showed me he and the daisy owning neighbor lady had planted transplants along the outside of my fence. It's east-facing, just what these daisies like, so I'm hoping for a great show next year. Nothing to see yet.

He also showed me his snake plant starts, all but one of which had rooted, yay, and we discussed his elephant ear wintering over.

And, best of all, he asked me to take care of his pot of succulents! 

He thinks he's overwatering them, leaves dropping.

I'm thrilled about this chance, because I was thinking about starting again with succulent propagation. I was successful a couple of years ago, then when I moved the babies outside for the summer, squirrels trashed them. Literally shreds, nothing left to plant. I was discouraged but now I'm ready to try again over the winter. 

Then the Friday knitting group brought marvelous things 

S, with her Halloween sweater and lovely ocean colored sock

I., wearing one sweater she made while knitting another 

New crocheter K's two Halloween critters, the right one, both are wips, was her very first foray. 

I. again with a pillow for her daughter, front knitted butterflies, back running cross-stitch om burlap.

One other knitter is continuing with a project you've seen, but she's not a one project knitter by a long chalk. Just no picture today.  And your humble blog writer was still with Ministry sock. 

Talk ranged over plans for the yarn for a first sweater, to be bought this weekend at Rhinebeck, voting, knitting patterns, Tunisian crochet, the weather, local politics, book groups, challenging racism, emails, German Shepherd sense of humor and more.

Happy day everyone, I hope your day is  good. Mine was. Friday night online meeting with friends. Because of these great fun meetings, I moved my daily evening dishwashing to the next day. I do it while I cook lunch.

Speaking of which, here's a baked white sweet potato, mashed, salt, pepper and bits of butter, nothing fancier needed, along with part two of last night's supper. 

You see the tan skin and creamy colored flesh, really delicate flavor.

With it was a baked tomato, mozzarella and egg dish. Break the egg over, bake 400°f, when the egg suits you, the dish is done. Good on toast, too.

Friday Knitting Group

 Friday again and amazingly no house nor car issues, so I made it to the group.

 The Friday knitting group was a full house, with knitting, finishing, crocheting amigurumi, and other projects. 

One knitter, with her upcoming trip to Rhinebeck in mind was finishing the ends of a Shetland wool hat, another two creating toys, one working a vest from yarn, and Boud on her everlasting sock for the Knitting Ministry.

Talk ranged over height, counter size, mismatched couples, cars, Rhinebeck, mutual acquaintances, sweater design, alpaca yarn, local thrift stores and how to donate, kneading bread, cold weather, brain function, counting sheep, childbirth at an advanced age, baby care, the Northern lights and who missed them, that would be D and I, and more.

Earlier Friday I'd done some stitching, starting a mottled leaf.  This is an interesting project,  deciding what stitches I'm in the mood for. It's slow and deliberative. 

I also started looking for a taker for my bass recorder, too difficult for my hands now, with a note to a friend in the recorder society. I'm hoping for a good home for it.

Happy day everyone, online chat with friends coming up  Friday evening, also chicken soup and chocolate cherries in the plan.

Friday, knitting and thinking

 Busy day, no pictures to show for it, online meetings this morning and evening, well they're political, also fun, why not. We tend to veer  from ground game political reports to skin care and hair styling. The people heavily into the latter are -- men! That's part of the fun for this old lady who cuts her own hair and considers a shower and nail trim perfectly adequate beauty routines.

The knitting group, nothing new to show you, lively like-minded political discussion,  also immigrants, the law, Children of the American Revolution, men at work, genealogy, Postcards to Voters, Indian aunties, and more.

One thing that came up at a recent meeting was a friend asking if I'd voted for Kim for Senate, knowing he's dead to me since his treachery to Biden. Then I had to explain it's a secret ballot, and that was a question I don't answer. Ever. 

There are good reasons why it's secret. I may choose to say who I voted for but that's not a question to ask.  Good thing no-one ever caught me with one of those exit polls. They'd have had a sharp, bullet-pointed lecture on why you don't ask!   It's a matter of civic safety from pressure, and if you know your history you know better. 

I think I'll never lose my fire for civic justice. It's the fruit of being a working class lady from a trades union background, from a beleaguered part of the world. 

One of the best, also fastest meetings I ever had was back in public broadcasting days, when I was in a three way negotiation, national education chief of a large trade union, a university wanting to create a tv course needing union buy in and funding, and me, the broadcaster.  Two hours booked. We met in Philly.

The higher ed people were very nervous about meeting with the union guy, and as soon as he and I met, we knew we could work. It was like dealing with my dad and his union friends. 

We were done, basic agreement set, handshakes,  in 20 minutes,  now let's get some lunch. The higher ed people were swiveling like spectators at a tennis match,  but happy to find it was done, minimum speech making! All very cordial, too.  Business as done by busy people on the clock.  This is not the norm in my experience of the world of academia, different rhythm.

Happy day, everyone!  Tend to your knitting, or not. Did you ever do chicken scratch? 

And, speaking of future planning

Accidental art, Friday knitting group

 As I was changing the bed, I tossed the quilt over the chair in the corner, and it took on an interesting shape. You can read it various ways.

Also yesterday, given that Misfits prep, changing bed, large laundry load, attendance at a couple of online meetings weren't enough, I had an idea.

About eleven pm, thinking about going to bed, I suddenly thought why don't I dump that unsightly task light with the dodgy stand and the expensive bulb, now flickering ominously?

To think is to do. I pulled out the furniture to reach the outlet, unplugged the ancient lamp and hauled it to the front hall.

Then I moved more furniture to get behind a bookshelf and unplug its lamp to take the place of the done-for task light.

Then I put all the furniture back and here's a better looking living room.

The farther away lamp is the newly-moved one, with the shade I decorated with an abstract landscape made from scraps of leftover handmade paper. 

Then I went to bed, grumbling about my hip.

The ancient hinky task light is, as of this morning, out at the dumpster.  This is why I make nutritious meals. A person needs her strength.

At the Friday knitting group, we had a full house, some great projects 

With sustenance from a selection of cake from a member's recent gathering 

This is a mystery project, depending on how the knitter feels. Maybe a placemat? TBA.

Chat ranged over sheep and wool festivals, house buying, living alone, age discrimination in housing, HOAs, fall planting, chimneys, baking, trees falling, several streams of chat at once much of the time. Like being in a big family again.

Happy day everyone, speak up, your opinion is as good as anyone's.

Friday knitting group, plants in new home, beanz

Friday's knitting group was great, with a real-time success, C, brand new crocheter managed an even piece of work, having mastered the very last stitch on the row consistently for the first time 

This is where a supportive group works. She's an accomplished stitcher but crochet is a new venture.

And here's a sweater in progress by S, great knitter 

And M's Rowan tweed felted yarn temperature blanket, with maximum and minimum temps worked in each day 

Black squares are divisions between months, black outlines are family birthdays, and that double black line is the youngest grandson's day of birth.

Here's her color chart, can you tell she's a reference librarian by day?

And here's what I've borrowed 

Lovely afternoon, chat ranging from Harris to Swift to friendship bracelets, hummingbirds, mosquitoes, frogs, hearing aids, doctors, subtitles, bonsai, Tunisian crochet, hawks, expertise in the arts, and cochlear implants.  More, too.

While I was there, I visited the ficus tree in her new home, looking so much smaller than when she towered over my living room 

And the snake plant, both looking happy in their new homes.

So happy they're in good hands, and being appreciated.

Happy day everyone, this is what I came home to on the doormat 

Gary's crop of beanz.