Poor but happy, future art exploits, and other news

 I notified my knitting group leader that if the weather, raining, lashing, sloshing, gurgling down all day, eased up, I'd come to the group. If not I'd do my taxes.

It didn't, so I did my taxes and found, as suspected, that my income from all sources, is below the filing threshold. But I had to go through all the numbers to establish that and to complete the Freeze forms for the real estate tax refund. 

To be honest, if I had more money, I'd probably give it away anyway. I live so happily on what I have.   Income continues to exceed outgo overall. 

Result, as Mr Micawber would say, happiness. He had found out the hard way, by being slung into debtor's prison, so he should know.

And I set up future art adventures, using scrap cardboard and papers a la lovely Darrell Wakelam. I ordered his book Art Shaped from an indie bookseller who includes shipping to the US, yay. I've shown you some of his ideas using paper plates, and I think some grandchildren might have been introduced to his designs.  

Consider the decks officially, not cleared, but pre-cluttered 

Darrell's happy. He agrees with me though he teaches children, that it's not the number of years in the child, but the amount of child in the years. 

Meanwhile look at this. New photographic approaches are allowing researchers handling ancient manuscripts and other items to detect for the first time, images and messages added to them by pressing into the surface without marking. 

They're now finding them on medieval manuscripts. And here's another application of the technology, a copper plate, one side used, but look what's on the other side

Waste not want not. Copper's expensive.

I needed something for lunch and I remembered years ago having a wonderful mac and cheese, at the convent where I send the gloves and socks, to be exact. I asked about it at the time, and found the sister cooking that week added a couple of cheeses, not just cheddar.

So I did

I was short of penne, nearest I had to macaroni, so I added in broken #8 spaghetti. And no green vegetables, so it was carrots.

Good for several meals. It needs a touch more salt, so I'll add as I go.

And, smug at having disposed of federal and state tax requirements all at once, I had a celebratory afternoon cup of chocolate with a slice of cinnamon toast. 

Perfect for a cold wet grey February afternoon.

When in doubt, a slice of cinnamon toast will do it.

Happy evening everyone! May all your toast land butter side up.

Soup, bread, knitting, life's essentials

This morning was about making soup and bread rolls to go with it.

Leek and potato, with leftover spinach/ cheese mix from the lasagna added in. Made six meals.

And I tried out a recipe for bread rolls involving yogurt, and was happy with how it came out. Batch of eight.

So that was lunch accounted for. There's a bread roll on the side.

Then the knitting group met, and here are just a few of the projects. D. modeling a recently finished jacket 

This is the start of a vest in progress, also by D, along the lines of the many colored one I spun and knitted and wove. 

I feel like such a pioneer! She's very keen to have her own version of my vest and I'm so flattered. It's looking very good so far.

And S. is knitting, in mosaic stitch, a cowl lovely color range. She's really good on color choice,  and mixing by holding two yarns together. As you see. I want to try mosaic stitch now.

The chickens, knitted by L,  will probably be framed individually and hung in different rooms as a little running gag.  

I'm still on the socks you saw before, well into sock two now.

The chat was as varied as ever, ranging from a grandchild due any time now, craft and art exhibits, books, cars which look alike causing some of us to try to break into other people's cars, knitting techniques, pom-pom making and Thanksgiving. 

And here's a great link for art for kids from cardboard and tape by Darrell Wakelam

And a montage of Islamic art just to enjoy without needing to do anything about it.

Happy day everyone! May only your good chickens come home to roost!

Spring equinox, peace dove

Brief visit today, to note the spring equinox, when most of the planet, except the  neighborhood around the equator,  has equal day and night before lurching  on to summer or winter depending. And with that fully explanatory and scientific analysis, here's a picture to rest your brain

And if you have paper plates and fancy a simple bit of appropriate art making, here's a dove of peace for Ukraine

I'm thinking of making one to install in the rear window of my car. 

It's always this way. Brutal men killing while peaceful people make doves and peace cranes after Hiroshima, and wrap the Pentagon in a giant hand made ribbon during the Vietnam war.  I'm a little discouraged today.

But I have my Sock knitting Ministry to attend to, so there's that I guess.

Happy Sunday, best we can do today.

Great new art discovery and a flower head will ride again

A flower head from the bouquet got bent in transit, so I'm pressing it. 

Waste nothing,  it's beautiful. I borrowed the smaller one which was looking thirsty.

And here is the pressing set-up, whatever was to hand at the time. See the paper towel sandwich under the Pressing Tower?  I think the full weight of Jerusalem should definitely  do it.

And I hugely recommend this artist, who freelances in UK schools working with even very young children, making excellent art from simple materials. 

This becomes one of these

Currently he's into paper plates and cardboard and using every scrap. His website has videos showing exactly how. 

Kindergarteners! Working with cardboard. 

I think these are by fourth graders.

You don't actually need children around to do this, but they love it and are a great excuse. Solo adults are making Christmas trees and rocking reindeer from paper plates. Or so I hear.

So try it.

But first,my beloved family of cleaners were here this morning, leaving the house lovely for the holidays. 

And a poinsettia for my Christmas decor.