I love cable ties. In my book they rank with duct tape and WD-40 in the “it needs to work now” tool box. Yes, they are great for taming and organizing cables, but they also make good chicken leg tags (my hens are color coded). Putting signage up on a wire fence is an easy task with a hole punch and some cable ties. When the rotating wall mount for the webcam no longer holds, cable ties can be used to prop up the weakened part.
Cable ties used to prop up a webcam on the coop
The webcam is still hit or miss on connectivity. Sometimes I am able to connect, sometimes I’m not. Very frustrating. I keep tinkering with it, though.
Sometimes I can streamline processes and ease my path. Sometimes I make things harder than they need to be. My youngest loves getting her Raddish Kids crate each month, and each month it comes with a really nice patch for her apron. I started sewing these on (my youngest did try, but the sewing was hard to see), then life happened and we had a pile built up, waiting to be attached. It was then that I noticed the nice thick plastic back on the patches. Nice thick plastic that felt remarkably like meltable glue. Cue forehead slap. Yes, they are iron-on patches. It took about ten minutes to iron all the queued up patches on her apron. They don’t lay as flat as the patches that are sewn on, but at least they are now on the apron and not in a drawer.
So I feel the “boot”, which is placed on humans to help healing for foot issues, is akin to the Elizabethan collar or “cone of shame” for dogs. Something done for our own good, but which is dreadfully embarrassing to wear. Yes, I have to wear a boot. I injured my Achilles tendon, but continued to walk on it for two months, so really it is just desserts. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. And there are things that still must be done. Like going out to tend chickens. For that, I wrapped the boot in a garbage bag to avoid getting muck on it. The hens were not impressed and are quite wary of my giant black limb.
Boot wrapped in a garbage bag, hens keeping clear
I also just started back into lathe work. A boot full of wood shavings is a terrible thing; the flakes stick to the neoprene fabric like Velcro and once inside are terribly itchy. So I sewed a large fabric bag out of an old drop cloth and added a pull string closure. Before making saw dust, I pull this over my boot to protect it. Running the sewing machine with my left foot was an interesting experience, by the way (I do take the boot off to drive, doc said it was OK, so that is something).
Newly sewn drop cloth boot cover
The worst bit is no walks. Which means I can’t spin yarn and walk. For a month. <twitch> Doc says I can bicycle or use an elliptical machine. OK. Now to figure out how to spin and do that. Hm.
My youngest wants to be Zelda from Breath of the Wild for Halloween, so we ordered her a costume. Well, while the dress is well made (especially for a mass-produced costume), it is a sleeveless dress. It did come with tiny clear straps that frankly don’t do much.
Costume base dress as shipped
So I ordered some gold chiffon and hand-sewed on straps/shoulder coverings not only to help the dress stay on, but to meet dress code requirements, should she decide to attend a school event. As long as I was at it, I also hemmed up the skirts since the dress was apparently made for someone 5’9”, which is unusual for a Hylian.
Dress with chiffon added at the shoulders and displayed with accessories
Should you have need of a tea tray, and also have a nice thick wooden frame laying about, a couple drawer pulls, and some fancy paper, you can make your own.
Picture frame with drawer pulls mounted on the sides
I removed the glass, and used Modge Podge to apply the beautiful paper to the back of the frame insert. I drilled holes for the handles slightly larger than the screws for the drawer pulls. (Remember to measure twice, drill once.) I did need to purchase longer screws to get through the frame because my frame is thicker than a drawer front. When picking screws, use the thread checker at the hardware store to make certain you buy the right thread size. I picked up two lengths, but if you measure the width of the frame side before you go, you can save yourself the extra purchase. (Or dig around in your random screw and nut bin.)
Tea tray made from a picture frame
I put an additional coat of Modge Podge on the top of the paper and let it dry overnight before putting it back in the frame. This is a light duty tray and does fine for a little breakfast. I originally made it as a prop for a play, but it functions well and it pretty to boot.
Critters and Craft 