The pain

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

I have been carefully writing the words for the songs I’m learning for chorus on index cards punched with a hole so that I can keep them together in my pocket. The writing of the words and rereading the words helps memory and in Barbershop when we perform we don’t use music. I remembered that the cards were in my pocket, but not until after the wash cycle started. Sigh.

Photo description: sodden lump of paper that used to be index cards full of song lyrics

I will get another opportunity to write all the words. Maybe I will write on the top card “Not washable.” Or maybe I’ll laminate them. Or maybe the “Rite in the Rain” brand water resistant index cards are the answer. I’ve ordered a set and will give them a test with pencil, which will erase, but not wash off.

Tunisian crochet: honey comb

On By CarynIn Craft

I’m renewing my acquaintance with Tunisian crochet. Making the 7×9 inch rectangles for Warm Up America is not only a great way to use up scrap yarn, but also to explore new techniques or to polish up old skills. My Tunisian crochet skills were definitely dusty. I ripped out around two rectangles worth remembering where to start and end my rows and on finding a fabric that doesn’t curl. The simple Tunisian stitch curls almost as badly as stockinette knitting, which I don’t want for my rectangles. I rediscovered my favorite (so far) Tunisian stitch, the honeycomb. This is like a moss stitch in knitting, alternating simple and purl Tunisian stitches both across the row and on the next row. It makes a nice flat fabric with a honeycomb-like pattern on one side and a luscious bumpy texture on the back.

Photo description: honeycomb Tunisian crochet rectangle made from scrap acrylic yarn, front side, dilute calico cat stand
Photo description: honeycomb Tunisian crochet rectangle made from scrap acrylic yarn, back side, dilute calico cat stand

I also discovered a new-to-me kind of crochet hook.

Photo description: two different afghan hooks, top one made from wood with screw on cord, bottom one from my Grandmother’s tool stash which is an extra long aluminum hook

I like the balance of the wood crochet hook with cord and how it feels in my hand much better than the long aluminum hook.

Flat

On By CarynIn Bread

I made two loaves of sourdough this past week. The first came out just as it was supposed to, with a good rise and nice texture. The second did not rise. To save the bake I cut it into thin slices and toasted the slices to make a kind of breadstick (which worked great). As I sliced the bread, it made a face at me.

Photo description: slice of flat sourdough with a jack-o-lantern like face made by random air pockets

Hm. I suspect that I didn’t give the sourdough starter enough time to recover from the first bake and subsequent feeding. I should have left it on the counter rather than put it back in the fridge if I was going to bake again so soon. And the outside temperature dropped between the first and second bake, and the second bake obviously needed more rise time, but making a face at me was really uncalled for.

Throwback Thursday: coop

On By CarynIn Coop

At the beginning of January 2019 my husband was building me the Fort Knox of chicken coops in our meadow beside the house.

Photo description: framing for the coop up at the edge of a meadow

From trail cam footage we knew we had raccoons, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, and skunks in the area, as well as roaming neighborhood cats and dogs, so to keep the future chickens protected, he built a large shed, then later framed out the run area and covered it with hardware cloth (metal mesh). All around this future coop we buried more hardware cloth (not poultry wire, that isn’t strong enough), to prevent animals digging into the coop and runs.

January 2019 was also the month I started this blog. Hard to believe that has been over seven years, rapidly heading to eight.

Growing season 2

On By CarynIn Garden

I planted some turnip seeds at the end of summer to see if I can make use of Texas’ second growing season. The seeds have at least sprouted!

Photo description: turnip seedlings

If the seedlings continue to do well I’ll have to thin them, as turnip seeds are very small and I had trouble distributing them evenly. I’m a little worried that I waited too long, but it has been so blazing hot I was afraid seedlings would just cook in the heat.