it's magnetic

in which our plucky heroine slept well...

and this morning there were unfamiliar sounds from a flock of birds in the front yard tree, and I saw quite a few nuthatches clambering around?! Not something I've commonly seen around here. 

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~ kitchen algebra ~

(actual size 1¼" x 2⅛")

This was my laser cutting project today at the library workshop. My intention is to keep the formula readily available by turning it into a kitchen magnet. What I am particularly amused by is how the red acrylic and the cream color paint marker combine to give the artifact a "science lab" sort of appearance. Once I glue a magnet to the back, it will take pride of place as an aide-mémoire in the kitchen...

It remains Very Enjoyable to keep experimenting with the digital maker tools at the library, even though I'm not yet anywhere near being able to actually get more than one or two steps forward before calling for help in the design and setup stage. I spent some time today (after the algebra tag was engraved and cut) designing a very tiny sample as part of my ongoing wish to have more of the 1:12 scale trinket shelves to play with. Looks like barely over 1mm is possible when using 3mm plywood, and will do more design work at my next chance to play with the Glowforge. 

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In further magnetic adventures, I'd noticed after my most recent preserving session that the plastic lid lifter (used to remove lids and rings from the hot water when waterbath canning), washed along with all the rest of the paraphernalia, was missing its functional tip. This small tool is a necessity, so I was pleased to notice today that there was a small round disc under the kick plate between the sink cupboard and the cushion mat. Tiny magnet had fallen out and was hidden from view. Not sure what will be the best glue to reattach it, but very glad to not have to do unnecessary shopping.

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	8 sm jars plum sauce	plums in freezer	greenwaste bin
2	3D print Dala horse	extension cords coiled	recycle bin
3	3D print plant stands	wind chime suspension	recycle bin
4	3 pr dolly boots	more plums frozen	greenwaste bin
5	12+ jars elderberry syrup	new handheld shower	-
6	16 jars Awesome sauce	screen door painted	x
7	kitchen algebra tag	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- successful laser cutting experiments 
- had a good phone chat with Helga
- leek lentil barley soup cubes

Time of Isolation - Day 2258

Monday miscellany

in which our plucky heroine is amused...

Woke up this morning with a jumpscare mistaking the frayed slightly tickle-y bandaid on my forearm for an insect. Then had to laugh at myself, which all in all was not a bad way to start the day...

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~ finally finished ~

The batik dress, subject of many revisions on the way to becoming a pleasing wardrobe additions, is completed, and turned out quite different in various ways from my other, simpler, popover summer dresses. The original fabric is particularly lovely, and each of the changes have only improved the garment. The neckline is just right in width, and the embroidered canal boat roses are a fun decoration. Using many of my rayon scraps for a patchwork stripe down the center front is a thrifty accent.

I'll have to try and get a photo of the dress as worn, since the additional new batik fabric around the hem edge is a subtle focal point. There won't be many more summertime days this year, but popover dresses are also good layering garments. In my continuing effort to try or learn new things, since there wasn't enough extra fabric to edgebind the hem, it was time to try out the "blind hem" stitch on my trusty venerable Bernette. Considering that I bought the machine new back in the 80's, it is surprising that I'd not had reason to use that built-in stitch anytime in the last 40 years! It was, in fact, the perfect choice for the yards and yards of straight hemming...

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This may have been the last of the really warm summer days, not sure, and so it was a good choice to spray paint the front screen door frame. Another "give a mouse a cookie" project, since painting the frame made the surrounding molding and house paint look even more shabby, but I do prefer the screen door frame being dark bronze to scratched up white. Also makes me think that the house trim really needs to be dark almost-black, at least somewhat darker than the screen door. It will be curious to see what it will look like with the inner door painted turquoise, instead of the current dark purple.

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The last of the plums are in the freezer. Guessing at least 30 pounds, which will be part of many many happy breakfast bowls of museli. The next big harvest season project will be applesauce, using most of the Acantha apples, and what remains on my backyard tree. Yum!

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This week I'll get to play with the laser cutter at the library again. Not sure if the PNG file for a criss cross proportional algebra magnet will work, but worth trying. Since last week I realised that magnets can be attached next to the digital dashboard on the stove. If there is some red plexiglass, that would be perfect. Also made a PNG file of a trinket shelf, again not sure it would be too detailed to be cut, given the very small size of the compartments, but I did figure out how to create a crisp black and white geometric image in Photoshop. Use what you have, before diving into an entirely different program.

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	8 sm jars plum sauce	plums in freezer	greenwaste bin
2	3D print Dala horse	extension cords coiled	recycle bin
3	3D print plant stands	wind chime suspension	recycle bin
4	3 pr dolly boots	more plums frozen	greenwaste bin
5	12+ jars elderberry syrup	new handheld shower	-
6	16 jars Awesome sauce	screen door painted	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -
- the hand carved tasting spoons, made by Seb
- enough box fans to push the paint smell back out of the house
- spray paint is fast, but the masking and taping to prep is not easy
- organised categories and channels in my Discord server

Time of Isolation - Day 2257

Saturday snippets

in which our plucky heroine has been keeping busy...

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~ not yet flatpack time ~

The most amusing project of the week so far is part of preparing for the miniature RÅSKOG cart, bit by bit. I've carefully downloaded all the pages of instructions from the Ikea website, then resized them down to scale, and printed them out. While the actual 3D printed parts are waiting on more time at the library, there has been this small zippered bag keychain over on Tansu Terrace... 

I've no memory of it arriving here ages ago, or who may have given it to me; it was much too large for 1:12 scale (almost as big as Nandina herself), but it was excellent raw material: a seam ripper and scissors and some rather awkward time wrestling it under the presser foot of the sewing machine turned it into a tinyworld version of the iconic blue bag. (One more trip to the actual Ikea store will have to happen, so I can photograph the labels on the full size RÅSKOG box, to label a cardboard box to contain the wee flat pack pieces.)

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Turned all the tomatoes in the freezer into a double batch of Awesome Sauce, which came out a bit darker and thinner than last year. In the future will make two single batches instead, as the consistency is better. Still, having 16 jars to put on the shelf feels reassuring. Some for me and some to share...

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It took several attempts over the last few days, but eventually was able to properly seal all the connecting joints in the new handheld shower pieces, and the only place the water exits is through the shower disc as appropriate.  Very spa-like compared to the former unit, and a satisfying DIY job, even if it is also a "give a mouse a cookie" sort of project. There are other tasks in the bathroom that need done, like (nonexistent) decorative molding around the sink. 

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My left foot (outside metatarsal) has been sore on and off for months. No idea why. rather worried. Last night it was really bad.

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Almost finished with the batik popover dress, using the machine hemming stitch to complete the folded hemline (usually I edgebind everything, but not this one). Have had that little Bernette since I was in college, and don't think I've ever used that stitch before. 

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September SMART goals (x=extra)

#	THINGS MADE	THINGS FIXED	THINGS GONE
1	8 sm jars plum sauce	plums in freezer	greenwaste bin
2	3D print Dala horse	extension cords coiled	recycle bin
3	3D print plant stands	wind chime suspension	recycle bin
4	3 pr dolly boots	more plums frozen	greenwaste bin
5	12+ jars elderberry syrup	new handheld shower	-
6	16 jars Awesome sauce	x	x
7	x	x	x
8	x	x	x
9	x	x	x

today's gratitudes -  
- that small sound that jars make when they seal
- new handheld shower
- stove grid overlay, very useful for canning, I can slide full kettles rather than try and lift them.
- the two mid/large cookpots from Acantha this year

Time of Isolation - Day 2255