About Those Videos ...

If anybody is wanting to watch, here are some of the videos I've done recently. Just today, I took us on a little tour of my yarn stash, plus a look at the rigid heddle of my loom and a talk about what yarns work well with it. (Perhaps I should take a vow of no-more-yarn-purchases for the rest of the year? I probably have enough for the rest of my life.)

Before that, I videotaped (why do we still say that, if there's no tape involved?) myself weaving a bluish scarf. I wasn't planning to be in the video, but it ended up that way.

Before that, I showed the yarns I was choosing for that weave, plus some other items in my studio, including lemon balm and mint, hanging to dry for tea.

I don't want to bore anyone to tears with my videos and chatting, but if you enjoy them, I'm glad. I find some Youtube folks to be quite calming and nice to listen to, while I'm doing other crafty things. It's almost like having another crafty/yarny person there with you, instead of knitting alone :)

Oh -- and if you enjoy it, please click "subscribe." I think you will get an email when I post a new video. But only if you want to. I think I enjoy making these videos because I used to be a teacher and I'm used to hearing myself jabber on to a captive audience!

The drying herbs have come down off their string. The tea tree soap has been labeled and boxed for market. Recently I also took a twin bed sheet (from the thrift store, $2), and cut it down and re-stitched it to make a new tablecloth for my market table. The sheet had elastic all the way around, so *hopefully* it will not blow up or blow off on windy days.

And last night I repaired a big L-shaped rip in our bottom bed sheet. I am thankful I know how to sew. 

We continue with soggy, cold weather. It does not feel like spring. Adam works outside when it's not raining, but he ends up achy and needing a hot bath. My plant starts in the greenhouse are fine. No carrots up yet. He planted a Rose of Sharon bush on the farm, that a friend gave to us.

And look what came in the mail! My daughter is having a bridal shower. I'll be driving there (a long trip, for me) and meeting everyone, later this month. That's the next big to-do!

Lured Away By Videos ....

Sorry, everybody. I admit ... I was lured away from my blog writing by making youtube videos, which are fun. (By the way, here's a link to my channel. Please subscribe, if you take a fancy.)
I promise: I'll blog again :)

I've also been lured away by watching Grantchester on Amazon Prime Video. They have three seasons! It's a British murder mystery show set in 1953 in Cambridge with a vicar as the crime-solver. 

So, what's been going on here at the farm? Let's see --

 The chickens are still their crusty ol' selves.
The puppies are still playful and silly.

 Adam's been working so hard, clearing out the side of our property, which was thick with horrible vines, and very deep in years of fallen pine straw. That forsythia in the middle is free at last!

 In the garden, our bed of greens is truly gorgeous. We hope this year the bugs won't devour them all.

 This kale is luscious, although the spinach is the best.

Adam made a big salad for us with our greens and herbs, plus our hens' eggs.

The asparagus are coming up beautifully.

 We must plant strawberries soon.
And my seedlings in the greenhouse are much happier: basil and dill on the left, and cherry tomatoes on the right:

 Adam also moved the water barrels to the garden for easier watering. He'll drive the metal barrel full of water out there, and fill the blue barrels from it. 

A lot of work, but easier than carrying 5-gallon buckets by hand every day all summer.

 These lovely trees are at the Methodist church in Oriental.

I've been painting a little. This is the page in "The Thanksgiving Mice" where the farmwife's disastrous kitchen is shown.

I finished a scarf this evening. 

 

This is my new favorite way to wear a scarf - especially the bulky ones. I fold it in half and stick the tassel ends through the loop. Cozy around the neck in this awful winter weather we seem to keep having.

Adam's tagged along to the market a few weekends. Here he is at Oriental last Saturday with the puppies. He forgot his chair. I don't think we'll be there this morning -- it's supposed to rain. It's been raining about every 3 days lately. Good for spring crops, I must say.

Cheerio, folks!!

The Apple Blossom

Here are the various iterations of the apple blossom.
The original photo -- the artwork of God.

A filtered version of the photo for my blog banner:

My first watercolor, on bad paper:

My second watercolor attempt, this time on watercolor paper, without colored pencil outlining:

This soft look is much more what I had in mind, although I do miss some of the white veining I accomplished in the first painting attempt. Here are the two together, for comparison:

It's a little hard to push myself to paint something again that I've already painted once -- it's a new step in painting, re-engaging myself in a thing of exquisite beauty (God's flower, not mine). Part of the challenge is admitting that the first attempt was bad enough to warrant a second go. The watercolor paper is a challenge, but it's certainly fun.

Nurturing Peace

I spent much time today in my studio, enjoying the quiet.

 

This fine fellow appeared at my bird feeder in early evening. I have several pairs of cardinals who frequent our back yard. 

I shared this apple blossom before. God's handiwork is perfect.

I didn't intend to duplicate His art, but to involve myself in its beauty -- to paint it is to participate in it, to study its beauty more closely than just to observe it.
I left the flower white and began with the background.

I liked it at this stage, but like most of my watercoloring, it seemed pale an insipid.

So I outlined it using colored pencils. I think I did not improve it at all, rather the reverse.

Our church is having a Seder Supper this week (Thursday, 6:00, all are invited), and today Adam made the matzos -- the unleavened bread served with this special meal. I did a video of the cooking.

I had a couple of them with my dinner of pasta and red sauce -- made from my canned tomatoes from last summer, and with herbs snipped from the garden this evening.

When I returned from a friend's house, Trixie was so excited to see me that she gave me a little scratch. It reddened and swelled up. Scratches from pets' claws often itch and feel irritated.

Immediately I applied some of my Healing Herb Ointment. I like to experiment on myself, haha :) 

the scratch at 4:15,
immediately after scratched

the scratch at 5:15, an hour later

Below, the scratch at 7:00. The swelling is gone, and the redness nearly gone. 

I'm very pleased with it. I gave a tub of it to an elderly friend with a bad skin rash that the doctors have been unable to treat. He enthusiastically told me that it has relieved the itch and improved his skin. That makes me happy too. I'm betting by tomorrow morning my scratch will have disappeared.
(Update, the next morning:

I also made a Youtube video today while I combed and dizzed some alpaca fiber, just combing and chatting. I'm not sure if these videos are appealing or not, but if they're only good so that Adam can listen to my voice after I'm dead and gone, it's okay. I enjoy listening to a lady Youtuber who combs fleece, so maybe others will enjoy this video too: "Combing Fleece, Talking Peace"

I stay in my studio some days because it's peaceful. Peace of the body, peace of the mind, peace of the spirit -- I think they are intertwined in complex ways. Combing fleece doesn't give a peaceful spirit, but it's a little step. It gives me time --  to think, to pray, to consider others and their needs, to consider God and His plans, to remember my own life, my choices, the successes and mistakes. When I'm busy with activities that stress and deplete me, the thinking doesn't happen and the peace doesn't come.

Peace to you, dear friends.

Mother-of-the-Bride Dress, or Being the World's Worst Shopper

I went shopping alone for a dress for Anna's wedding in June. I'm a terrible shopper, friends. I suffer with chronic indecision. (Choosing a dish at a restaurant is also a nightmare.) Adam declined to go to town with me when he discovered that I was intending ... to shop for a dress.
I went to the same shop where I found dresses for Philip's and Peter's weddings, a lovely consignment shop in New Bern, Twice As Nice. Two cheerful, helpful girls patiently aided me:

 Yes, I asked to take their picture and told them they would be on a blog post. They were sweet.

Now, the dresses in the order in which I tried them on. I am about a size 16. I have a large bust, plus a good bit of hip and tummy. My poor leg veins look like a NYC road map, so shorter skirts are out. Certain necklines are also ill-advised. 

too frilly,
looks like pajamas

too snug,
must not accentuate bust!

too big,
terrible shape

not too bad,
I dislike geometric patterns.

quite frumpy,
too large

best thus far,
the cut of the bust is wrong

the dress of a 3-part outfit,
not very fancy

same dress with its jacket,
looking rather drab

now it's the skirt and jacket
(as a blouse). better neckline

Everyone prefers this one.
Nice fit. Good fabric

 At this point I reclothed, posted some photos on facebook, and asked for friends' opinions. Most preferred the last one -- the blue/black geometric pattern with the short black jacket. I confess: it makes me look my best. But I dislike geometric patterns, and I don't like skirts that fall just below my knee. So all my inability to decide kicked in! Naturally, I thought I'd try on more dresses ...

The salesgirl found this dress.

We added a little jacket.
Still dislike geometry.

I returned to the 3 piece outfit.
The girls found a white shell.

Inexplicably, I return to the drab dress.
I now notice my hip bulges.

A salesgirl found a lovely, lacy shawl to lighten the look.

This last outfit looks better in person. The dress falls just above the ankle. I bought this one. In addition, I'll have the skirt and blouse if I want them. I'll find some comfy white sandals and a dangley silver necklace.
Before handing over my credit card, I texted Adam and asked his opinion. He knows me. He knows I won't like the geometric patterns or the shorter skirt. He knows I opt for hippie farm-wife clothing whenever possible, and little black jackets are just not me, no matter how much better they suit my body type. He recommended the long dress and the white lacy drape.
Then one of the salesgirls asked me two crucial questions:
"Which one of the dresses makes you feel pretty?"
and,
"Which one of the dresses makes you feel comfortable?"
I can't tell you why, but I won't ever feel pretty with geometric patterns across my tummy. And I'll never feel comfortable in a skirt that shows all my lower legs. I would have to wear pantyhose, probably support hose. In June. I hate all pantyhose passionately. With the long dress, I can get by with no pantyhose whatsoever, and no one will ever know!

Why do we choose to wear things that we know aren't the most attractive option? At some point in my life did I define myself in such a way that I'm now compelled to buy dresses that are less than flattering? There's nothing wrong with the longer dress. I just have ... preferences. And they affect my clothes shopping. But it takes me two hours, two salesgirls, a host of facebook friends, and a few texts with my husband, to figure it all out.

Tra la la!! One more item on the wedding check-list is ticked off! :)