Indoors and out, and a fiber extravaganza

 Today I gardened. Here's the morning glory soaking until I plant tomorrow 

And outside I assembled pots, soil, tools and energy to plant seeds.  But first, there's always a but first, since I was putting plants all over right out here I had to  first seize the day and riddle out the condensation pipe for the AC.

For reasons best known to Saint Brickitup patron saint of builders, this vital pipe which carries out and disposes of the gallons of condensation generated in a hot humid summer, was installed below grade. 

Right where leaves and other debris are driven in by winter weather and rain, blocking it up unless I dig down each year, find it, riddle it out and redo my Rube Goldberg  fix, also dig under it to allow gravity to work on the condensation.

This is not an easy area, being jammed among important immovable stuff as you see, and is one of the most tiring tasks of the year.

The clay tile deflects rain from the pipe opening, hidden under a rock, which I've covered with mesh to repel debris.  And it has to be jammed together so that squirrels and weather don't shift it.

Then I was able to do the easy job of raking the area smoother,  hauling planters and bags of soil, like a son of toil under a ton of soil, distribute seeds, water them in and squirrel proof the containers.

Qtips soaked in peppermint essential oil, stuck into the pots. 

But before this I had to make lunch, which turned out to be onions and garlic, in baharat and salt, fried gently down to not caramelized but halfway there, with the last of those mushroom walnut  not-burger things cooked on top, and steamed broccoli.

 The reveal, croquettes aux champignons et noix, avec les oignons et l'ail! And this was pretty good in any language. Dessert was yogurt, maroo raisins and raw sugar.

But first, before that, I had to finish threading the heddle for the next skirt panel, And found that though the measuring was fine, the warp thread counting had left something to be desired. 

I had to figure out, and add, a dozen more warp threads, and now it's ready for tomorrow's attaching to the belt and the weaver.

But before that, I'd caught a marvelous ancient fiber find, on Twitter, then I followed it to YouTube. 

A complete ancient Norse tunic, woven with a diamond pattern, found where the Norwegian ice has melted. It looked like a bunch of scrap fabric, until the researchers unfolded and cleaned it and were stunned.

Valuable in its time, a masterpiece of spinning and weaving over many working hours, it's now hugely significant in terms of fiber and cultural history.

That's the breed of sheep whose fleece it was woven from 

Take a look, it's very precious knowledge.

But first, before that, I was reading blogs early, as you do, and found that our friend Angela, currently on the trip of a lifetime from Australia to London, had posted these and more finds from the British museum 

See the ancient Greek lady spindle spinning

And these wonderful ancient fragments. 

Make sure you catch all of what she says

https://theaussieemptynestervic.blogspot.com

You might have to scroll just a bit for this entry. Also I don't have the link functions that you laptop folk have,  on this phone, so you may have to cut and paste.

In fact sign up and follow her for her interesting life and times.

Happy day everyone! I think I'm up to now, and a cup of tea.

But first,  before I forget, I did ask Sandy about the sweater pattern Tigger's F needed to know. It's on Ravelry, pattern name Wool and Honey. 

Okay now I'm up to now. I did other stuff, now too tired to write about it, also enough's probably enough!