It's all go, Tuesday knitting group, Textiles and Tea, new hat, mystery stories

Tuesday was a great Knitting Group meeting, with a new member

This is an alpaca and cotton mix, so light you can hardly feel it, and warm.

Here's a change of pace -- the shirt from a deceased friend, cut up to create a teddy bear for his grandchild.

On the right, the new member who came to revive her long ago crocheting skills, which she did in no time, and we're hoping she'll continue with us 

This sweater will soon be done. It's a free pattern, now shared with another group member,

who's  now onto Toad, having completed Frog for her grandson some time ago.  He loves Frog and is eager to see Toad. 

The conversation ranged over weddings, Diwali, nonbinary relatives, civil rights, European expensive travel, cats, vets, and other things.

I just finished a good collection of mystery short stories by P D James. I didn't know she'd written any, only familiar with her novels 

Every story with a twist, and I recommend this one. It was published after her death, and I wonder if there may be more to come.

And the hat is almost complete. I just have to finish and attach the band and it's done. The international spy returned to model it.

Here's how it looks off. When the band is stitched --  I cut it on the bias to drape well -- and attached, the green binding won't show on top. It does show under the brim, quite nicely.  The construction worked out pretty well. 

While I was recycling I found this very nice airtight canister,  which I cleaned up and briefly thought about keeping 

then had second thoughts, put it up on Freecycle and got an instant request.

Tuesday's Textiles and Tea featured a fiber artist specializing in braided work, but interested in -- shoes! And yard goods from which she creates clothing. She's one of the most inventive guests they've had in a long time.

Even after her discussion, I'm mystified about how her braided sculptures, a few inches each way, are constructed. Her clothing is chef's kiss perfectly made and fitted. She says you can get sneaker kits, which provide the sole, and you go from there. She learned to handmake leather shoes long ago, but  prefers the leather and fiber combo you see here.

I think she's one of those people who can make anything! 

Happy day, everyone. If we can't make everything, we can enjoy seeing other people doing it. All good.

Plainsboro Artists group show

 Here's the 2025 group show, oil, watercolor, drawing, ceramics, mixed media, opening Sunday October 12 2-4.  Can't tell you how odd but exciting it is to be showing again.

You've seen Red Orchid before. It's in a very visible position on the outer wall, pole position!

There's Hibiscus in good company

If you're local, stop in next Sunday and meet the group. And if you far away and want comments to be entered in the visitors book, put them in the comments here and I'll copy them in for you. 

Voting, hats on, tattie scones

I got my mail-in ballot filled in, ready to take to the dropbox Tuesday when I pass by there anyway.

And found a simple recipe for potato scones, aka tattie scones, from the nice Baking on a Budget man on YouTube.

How you melt butter when you don't have a microwave and you're boiling potatoes for mash.

I also ground up some flaxseed to add in to the mash, butter, flour, salt and pepper. You just mix, form a flattened ball, roll it a bit, cut into equal parts, fry in a dry pan.

I added a pat of butter each. With the sharp cheddar and spinach, it worked out well for a lunch when I couldn't think what to have. Yogurt beaten with lime juice, then strawberries added, for dessert.

The scones will work for practically any meal. I'll probably fancy it up a bit with spices next time. Meanwhile I have four more in the fridge.

I notice that for the first time in many years of growing, my Korean spicebush, viburnum carlesii, has put out berries. It's been flowering for years but I don't think it's got all carried away like this before 

And, out walking, another beautiful day, I spotted this holly and those reddish leaves might be poison ivy. If so, here's the holly and the ivy.

The hat is coming along, now bound around the cut edge. 

I used some bias binding I had lying around, and stitched both sides at once, to save stitching twice around. It works pretty well. 

The binding means that when I attach the two parts, crown and brim, I'm stitching fabric to fabric, so there's no fraying of the straw. It's protected in a channel of tape. 

There another option too, next hat I try. That's to just cut and bind a brim and pull it on over a silk headscarf. I might try that look.

About health, I continue walking, as I said above,  exercising to yes2next, and visualizing. 

Visualizing is becoming more and more fluent and full of movement and color, faster and more spontaneous than when I started.  I swim, fly, glide, swoop, like a bird that can swim, great adventures. After about 15 minutes I tire and taper off.  

It's very calming, despite the drama in the narrative, very steady slow pulse when I stop.  I really recommend that anyone who can visualize, not everyone has that brain kink (!), might try it. In these days of panic and fear, it's very useful.

October seems to be the Month of Doctors. This week the cardio, just wanted a follow-up after the hip surgery, next week the dentist checkup,  following week the hand surgeon about my jerky finger, then the month finishes with the dermatologist.  All this for a basically well person. All covered by insurance, too. All within a few minutes drive. The dentist office is a bit beyond my comfort range, and I may get help with a ride. 

Happy day everyone, I hope you have the medical care you need, or can find it.  Everyone should.

Yes, everyone should have everything, sez Ted and Big Ursy