Well, I didn't mean to disappear....

My final went fine and it seems like ages ago.  My final percentage in the class was 100.24%.  There was a little extra credit but not a huge amount. Just enough to make me feel good about my grade.  I would consider taking another class in the series but I just don't have the energy to do it right now.

I had visitors just before my final.  They were a little unexpected but also rather cute.


I stepped into my retinue role as soon as I finished my final.  It's been interesting and challenging in ways I didn't anticipate.  I have a great appreciation for the generousity and talent of our populace but I really prefer the more period pieces and we get far more slightly less period materials.  For example: Waxed linen is a fantasic idea but I have waxed cotton calico.  It still works but I'd love to see linen used instead. We have awesome artisans that are making period needles, pins, and veil pins as well as hair sticks.  Great for people who like sewing and who have long hair or wear veils, but not so much for others.  I have some lovely beads but not enough that I feel like I can give them as freely as I'd like. I'm not very good at asking for things either so, I'm going to have to work on that.  TP showed me this great kids packet made out of a piece of felt with chanels sewn in it to hold a complete set of Crayons and some 4x6 cards with printed images.  I'd like to see more of those but I haven't had time to make them. I have determined that smelly items are not ideal.  I appreciate what we have is appropriately period but the odors are such that those with sensitivities can't come near them. I'm hunting for ideas for people who like things other than sewing and fiber arts.  I don't want to come off as unappreciative because I greatly value what has been given.

As a birthday present to myself, I bought a fish tank and filled it with fish.  It was unexpectedly more expensive than I had planned and more challenging to execute that I remember from the last time I had a tank.  It finally settled while I was at war.  The ammonia levels were driving me crazy but the bacterial culture finally took hold while I was gone and the tank has both no ammonia and a good pH.  At first the cats were intrigued but now they mostly ignore it.  I've put 6 Neon Tetras, 6 cardinal tetras, 5 glofish tetras, 2 albino cherry barbs, 2 speckled platys, a gourimi, and a clown pleco in the tank.  It may be a little overloaded but it seems to be doing ok right now.  It's lots of fun to watch the fish. (this picture was taken before all the fish were added)


My BFF from high school came up the weekend before my birthday.  I haven't seen her in 20ish years and we didn't talk for a majority of that time due to other circumstances.  We arranged to go to the coast on Monday and the zoo on Tuesday.  I was a little nervous about how it would go, since we hadn't seen each other in so long but the years just fell away and it didn't matter.  We enjoyed each other's company and the time we spent together. There aren't really any pictures though, except of the zoo but we were both behind the cameras and not in front of them.

The following weekend was Blacksheep gathering and I enjoyed wandering around touching yarn and even putting a bit on my credit card (did I mention it was a REALLY expensive month?).  I got some money for my birthday specifically for this event and it definitely got spent. There is some really lovely stuff there though, alpaca, Camel/silk, mink, cashmere, and tencel. I have projects lined out already for some of it.


I went to AnTir/West War and it had it's ups and downs.  War is usually difficult because I don't have the things to do that I might normally at a local event but it's long enough that I actually want to set up camp.  It was the first event for me where I packed my own food since I had to go (bovine) dairy free and it worked quite well.  I made meat pie, taco salad, and pasta salad, and brought fruit, sheep's cheese, lunch meat, and other munchables as well as buckeye brownies.  Everything was meant to be eaten cold so I didn't have to bring a stove and full kitchen set up.  I was pleased with the results and didn't feel deprived at any time. I spent the entire event barefoot since I was having trouble walking on the uneven ground in shoes without turning an ankle.  I found that I didn't have much back pain, in spite of having a deflated air mattress on a rather rigid cot. Physically, I felt really well.  Emotionally, I felt a little alone but I went and took a tablet weaving class and wandered around merchant's row.  I wished I'd brought a book but most of my books are on the kindle now and there is no service at that site to download them or a good way to keep the battery charged.  I did spend some time knitting which I haven't had much time to do lately.

I was able to finish up one project just after I returned home so now I can go on to something else- maybe more enjoyable. However, I'm 12 weeks behind on the crochet along I started with my BFF from high school and, after taking the tablet weaving class, I may have purchased some books and shuttles to give it a try.  I also got a couple more coloring books and have enjoyed taking some time to color on them.


I had intended to do some sewing last weekend but Mom and Dad brought the utility trailer and we spend the day doing yard work.  I got up early and cleaned out the flower beds and took out the small dead tree in the front (the tree wasn't too challenging, I leaned on it and it broke off at ground level). We removed the yard debris that had been accumulating for a year, trimmed the trees, pulled the tall and flowering weeds out of the gravel lot, and cleaned the sidewalks. We had a full cubic yard of waste when we finished, which was delivered to Lane forest products to be composted.  There is still a dump run necessary but we ran out of time to make the trip on Saturday.  it looks much better and I'm pleased to have it done.  I am rather sore, however, because of it.

Last night Marian initiated a little more recycling.  We made soap with the rendered lamb fat from Midwinters.  It set really quickly and we were able to unmold it before we headed home.  I'm curious to see how it works.  We added rather more cinammon oil than we planned so this may be hand soap only.  I'm hoping it will disburse a bit as it ages. The color when it was hot was a very dark red, like ketchup, but it mellowed to more of a red clay color as it cooled.



We made a second batch with Raven's old salve (base of bee's wax and olive oil).  It also set up quicker than expected but wasn't quite ready to be unmolded when we left.  We added a little jasmine fragrance to the fragrance of the salve and it has a light pleasant odor.  The color while still warm resembles nothing more than split pea soup, unfortunately. It's fun to be a little productive again.  We've all been so busy that our time together has been more about necessities and rest than creating things.