Embracing the autocorrect

I had a post on social media recently and didn’t catch the autocorrect until after I posted. I usually reread what I write at least three times (yup, it takes me forever to text), but I just missed this one. When my sister pointed it out, I decided I rather liked it. “Well, carp!” is now in my phrase box. And it needed a visual, so I did up a small pencil drawing. Maybe when I have time in the future I will polish it up in Illustrator. Along with the other pencil sketches filling a folder…

Pencil drawing of carp in a well

Frogs

We had a tiny sprinkling of rain and the frogs and toads came out again. It doesn’t seem as if we have as many as last year, even with our wet spring.

Gray Tree Frog on my wrist
Tiny toad on my finger tips

Assembly Line

One of my readers requested a video of how I make my masks assembly line style. I have tried hard to capture the process. I also decided to use the opportunity to learn new video making software, so it was particularly painful, but I learned so many new things. I used Adobe Premier Pro; I have a long way to go, but for a first project I hope it came out useful. I have added captions and voice over. Although I must disclose that trying to do clean voice over when there are others in the house is not possible. My dear family tried very hard to be quiet for the ten minutes or so that I needed to record, then my dog came and had a good solid scratch and shake behind me. Sigh. The original pattern is not mine, but is from Cook Children’s website and is available here. It is my go-to mask pattern for making many masks. The video on my mask assembly line is available here. The fabric is called “Sunshine Garden” design number #17191 by Darlene Zimmerman for robertkaufman.com. I found it in the 1920s reproductions section of my local quilting store.

Spiral layout of finished cotton masks with ear loops

Kayaking

I like to take the kids kayaking at one of the small local lakes. This last trip we saw all sorts of different wildlife! Great Egrets, great blue herons, lesser blue herons, diamond back water snakes sunning themselves on logs, and a leech. Attached to the bottom of the boat. Very interesting trip. We have started taking our dog Griffin too. He sits in my eldest’s kayak and falls out once per trip, then lays quietly the rest of the trip. The handles on his life vest make it much easier to get him back in the kayak! Still, he seems to enjoy the outing.

Griffin our dog in his life vest standing in the kayak (pre fall)
Diamondback water snake (non venomous)
Diamondback water snake (non venomous) photo credit to my eldest
Leech in motion