Cold, so indoor things happened

this is why I didn't go out. I did listen to podcasts, while I made peanut butter granola bars 

I make them a bit differently each time. This time the syrup ingredient was honey and a bit of molasses,. I added in cacao nibs, a dash of ground flaxseed, and pumpkin spice. 

Breakfast bars, so much easier than toast..

And I read more of the Yorkshire mystery with Inspector Blades agonizing his way through another murder.

Knitting happened and I'm beginning to think there's enough yarn for a small cowl, but I have a Plan B, anyway.

Then I suddenly fancied doing a bit of spinning, very inexpertly, with a bandaid on my sore thumb, and lack of practice.

Various bits of unlabeled roving, some easier to manage than others. It's not all about the spinner -- some roving is friendlier than others. Also some is better suited to needlefelting than to spinning.  

Disclaimers aside, I'm not a very good spinner, hands too cool and slippery to handle roving well. It slips through my hand.  But I like doing it, so there's that.

These activities are good for anxiety. When you feel tuned into history, spinning as women have for centuries,  you feel less distraught about now. My theory anyway. 

Happy day everyone, what's your equivalent to fiberarts for self care?

A new bouquet, a survey and Misfits

 New pickings today for a bouquet 

With an ink drawing suggested by it

The patio at this season is different every day 

Wednesday brought the last online survey from my hip surgeon.  It paid attention to pain and activity, where my answers ranged from none, pain, that is, to everything I want, activity, that is. 

I expect he'll be happy with my recovery. It's three months now, then my final follow up visit is in a couple of weeks. At this point I'm used to being unaware of any need for special care. Happy days.

Thursday was Misfits delivery day,  and they tell me they can't supply the peaches I ordered, but oh well. Everything else  arrived. 

Apples because they're the daily snack, strawberries and blueberries for desserts, cherries for afternoon snacks, tofu for crisp tofu katsu, yogurt, vital, bread because it's too hot to bake, shrimp for salad maybe, feta crumbles, two healthy sparkling drinks.

Easy food prep is on the menu in the heat and humidity.

Lovely colors of summer.

Thursday afternoon was about staying in the cool, reading 

New to me but starting out very promising 

Then I needed to set up an audiobook to spin by. 

I'd found a fine roving in my collection, with a bit of sparkle, which I used to spin some laceweight yarn. My hands needed a change from other fiber arts, different movements. This is a good regency,  full of comic scenes.

Happy day everyone, let's hope for some cool.  I did get a good walk early before it got too hot.

Late breaking: the insurer called, have approved the claim for the house repair, and will inform the contractor, so we can get on with scheduling the work. It feels like several years since this started. So this is good.

Still hot at 10pm

Of chimneys and cosmos

Today I will have the sweep in, required inspection, chimney and dryer vents. I'm sorry for people who have to be out and about working in this heat, and wondered if they'd postpone, but I guess business has to happen.

Florida voters, I was at an online Town Hall with your Democratic hopeful for your senator, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. 

She's a powerhouse, first Latina from Florida in Congress, now hoping to replace Scott as senator. She's second generation, from Ecuador, has worked all her life and loves her State. I'd vote for her if I could. 

Florida has Democratic candidates fielded in every contest this year, no more uncontested GOP walkovers. Florida is in play!

Meanwhile, the daily stuff of life ticks over.

Shrimp salad with pancakes, apricots and almond chocolates 

The first of this year's flowers, Russian sage, lavender, black eyed Susans, daisies, from the front yard 

And here's the first flower from the backyard 

I thought you might like to see the pinloom vest with the pressed linen tunic, as you see, mid thigh. I like the short over long look.

I also hope the heat abates so I can get out and wear it. The vest is soft and lacy, really pleasing.

And since I'm anxious and tense, heat does that to me, also the ongoing house needs, last evening I did a bit of spindle spinning.

Roving, left to right, is sari waste, silk mixture and wool. The spindle is my favorite, a 3D printed one. Ancient meets modern. Oddly, twisting roving into yarn untwists my tension. 

All the Freecycle items went in a matter of hours, frames and drawings claimed by one keen person. I'm very happy about the drawings particularly, now in a good home.

Happy day everyone,  don't be fooled by the Russian deza about prominent Dems wanting Biden replaced. 

The Washington Post has already been forced to retract their lie about MOC Ted Lieu. Don't believe the first thing you read from anonymous sources, or rumors. 

I mean serious political figures, not the washed up actors and writers seizing on a way to get attention in their waning years! 

Meanwhile 

At least it wasn't snow and other adventures

 Here's the rainfall yesterday

The middle line is my little town. We were spared the high winds, and power stayed in, local roads flooding in turn as the water moved downstream, continually changing police  advisories.

And I did a bit of spinning. I'm a bit out of shape -- arms got tired! This wool is one lot, and I did some lovely silk mix , too.

Sags are continuing to sign in, and here's a big one

A true home for Sags!

Yesterday I also had a blood pressure scare, sky high readings and my doctor had me add a bit to one of my meds, rest, come in next week to see what's up. So that's what I'm doing. 

I don't have any scary symptoms, other than  anxiety after seeing the readings -- two different cuffs, after resting  intervals, all the precautions -- so today I'm resting. Reading, avoiding the news, maybe a bit of knitting. This is starting to sound like a usual day. Hm.  Meditation this morning. Catch up on the poem a day.

Happy day, everyone, let us return to our sheep! And spin their fleece.

Photo AC

Misfits, spinning and a puzzle

 Misfits arrived promptly yesterday, with all kinds of welcome food, because the larder was pretty bare.

I included sugar this week, and added it into the container, where I toss empty vanilla essence bottles, to make vanilla sugar. Since it works for every use I have for sugar, it's an easy way to do it, and smells wonderful.

Breakfast this morning is a toasted walnut cranberry muffin and strawberries. 

Handsome Son and I did some great decision making on his recent visit, including moving some responsibilities for the condo where he lives as my tenant,  over to him that I've been doing. 

This is a great relief to me, because these are new experiences to him, which he's taking on and will get used to. He'll own the property when I die, so there won't be a mad scramble to get the various payment obligations switched to avoid late fees, at a time when it will be much harder to do. And as long as the bills are paid, I doubt if the authorities care whose account is paying them. We're adjusting his rent so he won't be out of pocket. It took a bit of time and online searching.

I was glad we checked into the HOA account, which is one of my direct debits. Turns out the management, without mentioning it, had changed banks, changed passwords and website, and we had to go all round the houses to get in. HS took care of switching that, so all's well. But that would have been a big deal if he tried to accomplish it after my death, everything financial shutting down then, and death certificates etc, needed to get access.  

I think we did well, and we're both a bit wiped out from the emotional work. After next week's cremation appointment, I plan to live a life of total frivolity!

Knitting group today, and I'll cast on a new knit as soon as I decide what.  Meanwhile I did a bit of spinning.

This is my 3D printed spindle, really well balanced, and it's become my favorite.

And here's a poll you won't see around the media very much, just sayin.  Not paid for by T###p, like the Wall Street Journal, nor weighted in favor of Republican opinions, like the New York Times. Just a straightforward bit of polling.

Then, since it's Friday, and we haven't had a puzzle for ages, too busy with solemn stuff, here we go.

Happy day, everyone, enjoy your day, especially blogistas invaded by new tiny kittens!

Between the publishing mixup yesterday and things on my mind, I'm late to wish  happy Hanukkah to observers, but I do wish you light and life

Everything everywhere all at once, wheee!

Yesterday was a perfect sitting outside and reading day. Warm enough, but no mosquitoes yet. 

I was reading Lucy Worsley's Agatha Christie bio, and noting changes of the dove guard, and sleeping until the sound of happy kids climbing trees woke me.

I'd made a gallon of lemon scented laundry detergent earlier

The original recipe was for five gallons, so one gallon was very cheap to make. I'll report back on how effective it is.

And knitting, spinning and weaving are plunging on

And, in case you think I've forgotten how to sew, here I am this morning, feeling good and rockin' my handsewn jacket I made from fabric woven by Joanne. 

Outside, the potatoes are coming through, white and red, and I forget which is which.

And Mrs Dove is still at work. 

If my math is right, we should see hatching by later this week. 

Meanwhile, do you fancy a Haggard Hawks puzzle?

Happy day everyone I'm making All The Things, so you don't have to.