Makings, all kinds

Warm today and here's the first wild violet I've seen this year, before I came across beds of them underfoot 

On the way home I saw Gary in search of me and found he was out pruning, and soliciting my opinion on where to cut. 

I suggested he start with the ivy that was growing tightly around the butterfly bush. And to give me the prunings. Granddaughter K was over, playing with Billy the Pup, so I explained about making soap..

And here it is, using a dedicated dyeing and fiber-boiling pot

It's cooled down now and showing signs of frothing up when beaten, so later I'll strain and jar the liquid,  for laundry.

Today's winnowing is proxy for Gary,  a doll setup, and he has to find a third section before I Freecycle it. 

K helped put the parts together, assured me she was fine with letting it go. I think she's probably outgrown this now.

Lent is now over, with the arrival of the Triduum, the three days of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

So my Lenten winnowing practice is done, too. It seems appropriate to be doing the final one for  friends.

And here's the fabulous art I just found. Yes, before you ask, I have in the past used my knitting and crochet also old doilies, to ink up and print from, as an experiment.  But this artist takes it to a different order of magnitude!

 Check her out, she's lovely.

And of course food happened, fast food, shrimp tossed in Old Bay, and jasmine rice.

Note the high proportion of shrimp to rice. I like my shrimp.

Then in the mail this afternoon, wheeee

The heddle maker is in St Paul, the warping post maker in Ohio.

What with the terrific election this week in Wisconsin, turning the State Supreme Court liberal, ready to address the abortion ban and the gerrymandered voting maps, and the arrival of my weaving tools for a new adventure, I think the Midwest is on a roll!  

Yes, I know they're not exactly comparable in significance, but where you stand depends on where you sit.

Happy day everyone, Misfits hasn't shown up yet, so your produce unboxing pleasure is postponed till tomorrow.

To think this morning there was nothing on my calendar..you simply never know.

Freecycle for Dollivers

This is part of a freecycle haul, and it looks like one of those pictures of a family's entire possessions strewn in front of their home. Remember those?

Except that in this case it's handmade furniture and accessories headed chez Dolliver, and doesn't include their extensive wardrobes nor their dogs.

All the bedlinens and everything fabric is now in the laundry, the furniture damp dusted, and an old bookcase pressed into service as a habitat.

Quite a few tiny dolls and their stuff came too, but they're going to be part of the Christmas decor.

So here's the Dollivers, relaxing in the roof garden

While Canadian Doll,on her custom embroidered pillow is trying out the beds there. Angel Bear is guarding the new baby,  Little button and bobbin doll from Minnesota is galloping her new rocking horse.

Not much happening below in the dining room, not surprising since there's a total lack of interest in cooking as you see from the deserted kitchen.

Everyone's busy loafing in her own way.

Except boud who got no thanks for this labor, but loud requests for some more attention to the decor. Also Fall outfits.

To which I explained this is moving day , you can't expect Better Homes and Gardens the first day. Everyone got a seat, what do you want of my life?