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.

Later in May Day

After the storms moved away yesterday, I got out to pick violets and yellow sorrel for my first day of the month flowers.

And on the way, saw a bee sleeping in the honesty plant. Still there when I came back.

Spring!

Just walking

I've moved my daily walk to late morning, and find I do,  after all, have  the energy then. I've always walked in the afternoon when I'd gathered my strength. Never had much morning getupngo before.

And today was beautiful, birds shouting all over, violets and shepherd's purse underfoot

trees greening up

The air's cleaner, little air traffic, no noisy late afternoon helicopters carrying mail from corporate offices to New York, faster than the post office or FedEx.

Wildlife are bolder than usual, because few people about, little traffic. I wonder if we'll see any young black bears soon.

It's getting near the time the young males go in search of their own territory. They don't look like babies, even though they are. Hulking fellers. And the absence of people and cars might encourage them nearer houses.

 Every year at least one or two manage to cross the heavy traffic of six-lane Route One, following the old Assunpink creek water course which runs under the road, though most people are unaware of it until it floods. So with much reduced traffic, more bears might make it.

Nowadays people know to just stay clear, don't panic, don't eat lunch outdoors!  The bear won't want you, he'll want your sandwich.