Women's history, trans rights, and lace

Just a word to the well meaning folk who think it's appropriate to acknowledge the entire history of half the human race for four weeks per year. 

Speaking as one who's had a long lifetime up to now.

I finished the  Tunisian crochet lace scarf and instantly put it on. Just right. It will go with a lot of outfits.

So now, ministry gloves going in the background, I'm in that nice place where you look around wondering what needs making next. We have a week on and off of rain, already some roads closing then reopening, so indoor occupations are up.

Back into Henrietta and James for reading, so much more gripping than the Patchett turned out to be. I've heard from a couple of people, one very lyrical, about how they loved it, and they're both from the region, one that exact region, and they listened to it as an audio book. 

They came to it with regional knowledge, which  I didn't, aside from a couple of miserable alienated years in Wisconsin. That may be it. Also some books are wonderful heard, especially with gifted performers, and don't work as well in print.

I used to find Isabel Allende slow, draggy, not very readable in print. Then I heard one of her novels on audio and it was transformed, and I realized she's an aural writer. Some writing is meant to be heard, I think. And maybe Patchett is one of those writers for me. Well, I got halfway before giving it up. That's a fair try.

And here's a battle cry from, and for, our transgender sisters and brothers.

Happy day, everyone, be strong, but find nice silly stuff too. 

As Flanders, he of F and Swann said, "the work of modern art and writing is to strip away the false facade, the pretensions of society". And, Flanders added "our work is to put it all back again!"

Fans, poems, geese and daffodils

Good medical report, for those inquiring: BP is startlingly improved, better than in years, thanks to rx change, so yay! My lovely doctor did a little happy dance! 

Then later yesterday I was more or less ambushed by a neighbor, and find myself free cycling her ceiling fan. Without success so far. If no nibbles, I'll text her to come collect it. 

Then today's poem happened and made much more sense

Since the weather and I were up for it, I took a walk,  late winter scenes

Many Canada geese tearing up the golf course and pooping everywhere, we have huge flocks of these protected avian vandals. At a distance, it doesn't do to get close to these aggressive characters particularly now near mating time.

And the daffodils are pushing through, against storm damaged trees, which will probably be left to lie, feeding future lichen and fungi growth and sheltering small  animals and birds.

Yesterday all the migrating robins suddenly showed up, trees full of them, as if the commuter train had pulled in. We have year round robins, too, and this is a different community of them.

The scarf continues, a bit hard on the fingers, using a large hook with a fine thread, but the results are pleasing.

And Emma Mitchell gives us another bouquet from her garden to soothe and calm the brain

It's that time when suddenly I'm having to find or get various documents for the condo, chimney inspection, get items printed out to fill in and sign, this year water heater replacement due, it's a lot. Handsome Son is doing what he can, but I always dread the process. Also the costs.

The management tells me I'm more in compliance than most owners. I think this is because I'm not combative with them about it, though some requirements are a bit out there. Largely the township's rules, and the insurer, not blaming the HOA this time.

Happy day everyone, I learned some new online platform methods yesterday, always something new and fun to learn.
 

Leon, socks and scarves

Valentine's day cookies delivered yesterday, and I had a catchup chat with A. next door. She was happy to see me, because her husband is in India for most of the month, so she is alone with the kids. She said she does feel safe, though, in this neighborhood, with people close by, so I was glad to hear that. It's a quiet area. 

And finally the socks are done, this pair seemingly a long running feature.

I finished it to this backdrop, reliably good Donna Leon.

And continued with the lacy scarf. I'm getting to know this stitch pattern well enough to know when it gets off track and fix it, always a good sign.

Happy day everyone, misfits box later this morning, so a planned veggie stew will happen.

And I just have to show you this painting which just flooded my mind with meaning and calm

New learning

 Yesterday while the Superb Owl seemed to be taking up all the oxygen, I learned how to make Tunisian crochet lace.

I did keep track of the main events, the arrival of Taylor, who did indeed make it from Tokyo, and the streaker at the Puppy Bowl. He was a Chinese Hairless Crested, and as he ran about nude, no bandana, the cameras pixilated his nude body. 

I think there was also football. But this is what I was watching

I had made a little sampler of stitches earlier just to review

And in other learning, I found that putting the new stain remover pen thing into the same coffee table drawer as the sting relief pen has drawbacks

For one thing they look and feel alike to a person who just took her glasses off, and for another, the sting relief just doesn't work to move a berry stain on your jeans. Just sayin.

The puzzle answer, for those who did or didn't get it was

BAG

BEG

BIG

BOG

BUG

Three letter words in alpha vowel order. And Caro wins the internet for the best clue! All the clues were good, and I held a comment which I thought gave a bit too much away, and I'm posting it today.

Happy day everyone, let's press the KC team to adopt a less racist team name. Atlanta and Washington did it, KC can too.