Month: January 2023

Confession

On By CarynIn Uncategorized

Here is my confession: I do not craft everyday all the time. I do go and hide in a video game for extended stretches because sometimes I just need to go into a battle I’m confident of winning. The latest obsession has been Stardew Valley. First off, crafting is a heavy element in the game, so it appeals to my maker’s soul, and then there are the mines where I can cathartically destroy rocks and monsters. Creation and destruction coded into a beautifully addictive game. Oh, and there is fishing. Yay fishing! I have been so absorbed that I have reached end game, 100% perfection, as it is called. Yes, there are a million things to remake and rebuilt and rearrange, but the overarching goals have been met. I even have a golden chicken that lays golden eggs. Hm. Maybe it is time to get back to my real life craft room.

Screen shot of my Stardew Valley Statue of True Perfection

Solved

On By CarynIn chickens

Once the avalanche of grubblies and scratch stopped, the chickens went back to eating from their regular feeder. Phew. And the application of duct tape over the metal plate was not a deterrent. Double phew. I put down the duct tape to take the sting out of stepping on freezing metal.

Video still of chicken using the feeder

Plastic wrap

On By CarynIn Bread

I made two loaves of sourdough and took them in a trip. To protect them from things like dust and dog hair, I wrapped them in plastic wrap. I read that storing in plastic will soften the crust, which is not always desirable on artesian loaves.

Sourdough bread after being wrapped in plastic wrap for three days

I am pleased to report that after three days the bread was still good. Yes, the crust was slightly softer, but it was quite a robust crust to start with. I am happy the sourdough has a longer shelf life before going stale than bread raised on yeast alone.

Different reactions

On By CarynIn dog
Griffin and Missy in bandage wraps

My dogs are not fans the New Year’s fireworks that go off in our neighborhood. I decided to try elastic cloth bandage wraps this year. Griffin, who is my calm one, loved his wrap, came out from under the table and laid in the living room with us. Missy, the high strung one, hated the wrap and tried rubbing and wiggling and scraping the offending cloth until we took it off. She has the same reaction to an actual Thunder Vest type garment. She is easily distracted with a ball, so that worked for her. They both went to their crates for the worst of the big badda booms.

Sponge bracelet

On By CarynIn Craft

For spinning flax, author Stephenie Gaustad recommends wetting the point of contact between the leader and fibers to be drafted with moistened fingers. To facilitate this, I made a sponge bracelet. I cut a rectangle of sponge, sewed on some swim suit material, and slipped it over a metal cuff-style bracelet.

Bracelet mounted sponge

Before I start spinning, I wet the sponge. My favorite spit substitute is alcohol-free lens cleaner. I usually have a spray bottle for cleaning my glasses, so it is readily available for spinning use as well. And yes, I did try actual saliva, but since this is flax roving it has many short fibers that get caught on fingers and tongue. Yuck.

Spinning flax in the car with a drop spindle, distaff, and sponge bracelet