A bee report

Saw this and thought it worth sharing.  Bees and pesticides.  Just a bit of info about the things we are doing to ourselves via our agricultural practices.

Seasons end

   Really - we are ending all sorts of seasons around here!   Yesterday was the last race of my son's Cross Country season - he ran his personal best time.  Only the States are left, but just one guy from his team qualified for that.
   Tonight is the Women's Varsity Swim Team  banquet.  My daughter still has State qualifiers to swim in  - or perhaps it is the All Conference meet - I get confused!
   We have ended autumn rather abruptly.  Two days ago we got a strong dusting of snow, and last night an inch or two.  There are still leaves on the trees, so I am glad we did not get the 8 inches some of my students had said we were in for!
     Lest you think the 52 Project has ended just because I am in tech, fear not.  With the Halloween tomorrow, I have been taking a bus man's holiday each evening and making a peregrine falcon costume for my youngest son.  In doing so I have used up a couple yards of black felt, as well as a big chunk of  a hairy knit fabric, which I had bought because I loved the texture. I had intended to make a sweater-y jacket for myself, but when I got it home I realized I did not really need to wear something that made me look like a mutt from the pound!  Photos when I get batteries for the camera!

My World, and Welcome To It!

   When we are in tech week for shows, all bets are off - laundry gets washed and dried, but piles up in the baskets.  The  dishes get done, but usually not right away.  The rug is not vacuumed.  This is just the way it is when you leave first thing in the morning and don't get home for more than half an hour before you leave again and  return around midnight.  Welcome to life in a double theatre-artist home.
   Do not ask me what our excuse is this week...   Tech does not start for another week and yet the house is a wreck.  We have consumed take out food and pizza this week, and had the great time saving "breakfast for dinner" option. Do not go in the laundry room, you may not come out.  The possibility of a clean clothing avalanche is very real!
    It has been a trickier week as we navigate the kids' schedules with the addition of our daughter's dress rehearsals for the high school play.  Can you say Insanity?  I can.
    Last night, to top things off, my husband opened the refrigerator  to get something and this happened.

It is black cherry yogurt... on the ceiling.  As he opened the door, the container fell and must have hit the floor squarely on the container bottom.  The foil lid burst, and a geyser of pink flew up to decorate the unsullied white above.   He started to curse.  I started to laugh.  After all, when you have pink goo threatening to drip on your husband's head, what else should you do?  Aside from hand him a wet towel, of course.

Fall and 52

   This morning was gorgeous - sunny, breezy, and then this afternoon it all changed.  It is raw and rainy and windy in earnest.  The perfect day for making cookies and sewing.  I finished another pair of pj's for my youngest - he is sorely in need of them after growing several inches over the past year.  These go back to his perennial favorite pattern choice; a jumpsuit style but with no feet, nor any elastics at the ankles or wrists.  And of course, in a dinosaur fabric.

so solemn

Better than a Lacoste alligator in his opinion!

      So I have week 2 of the 52 project taken care of - although I see some fabric donations in the offing soon, as I have the  right fabric for my show sitting in a bin in my  basement.

Week # 1 of The 52 Project

 


   Well, I never said they had to be beautiful... I whipped up a pair of pajama pants for my son tonight. They are flannel and very soft - and extra baggy.  Of course, the rise is cut so he can wear them around his waist, but he only wears pants just above his hips, so the seat bags a bit - but, "Done is Good!"
    The score is now pj drawer: +1, basement bins: - 1 and counting.  I have cut another pair of pajamas - this set is a full sleeper, but with no feet - my son's feet are always hot at night.  He also prefers I not put elastic at the  cuff or ankles so he can push the legs and sleeves up if he gets warm. If I can keep this up, I may actually use fabrics in the season they were intended for!  What a concept!
   Bon nuit, mes amis.

Gorgeous Autumn Day

As we often do on weekends, we went for a ramble this afternoon.  The weather was fine - sunny, and very warm for October. We wandered through the colour changing trees, and investigated the pond. We found several frogs, and at least two gorgeous garter snakes. We climbed the hill and talked to bird watchers, and were gifted with the sight of a golden eagle being chased by a sharp shinned hawk as they circled above our heads.  Truly magnificent against the clear blue sky.  We took some photos and ran the dog, and we all came home happy. 

Trying for a  group photo - we found a place with better lighting later. 

One of the best things about being a six year old boy is searching for frogs.

One of the best things about being a frog is camouflage.

Even Mommy and Daddy get their picture taken, but the perspective makes him look very large and me look very small - neither of which is very true!

The 52 Project

   Recently we were vacuuming up water from our basement (for the umpteenth time since we moved here) and as I shifted the bins full of fabric back and forth to access more of the carpet, I realized, I am a fabric hoarder.  Now for those of you who have helped us move one or more times, this may not be a revelation.  I know some of this fabric has lived in at least two, if not three, houses.  Heck, some is older than my eldest child. I have always known this and in a quiet corner in the back of my mind recognized it - usually as I was hauling a bin in or out of a moving van. However, this is the first time I have admitted it - out loud - to myself.

   All artists have some sort of materials stash: knitters have yarn, spinners and paper artists have fibers,  those who draw and paint - or worse, work in mixed media - have lots of  paints, papers, tidbits, etc.  Mosaic artists have jars, bowls and baggies filled with small sharp glass pieces. Those of us who sew have fabric.  Unfortunately, I have dabbled in everything I just listed, so you can imagine how my house looks.
   In order to alleviate some of the mess, and the stress it is putting on the shelves, attic and closets, I am starting a new project.  What???? ANOTHER PROJECT???  Now wait a second and hear me out.
     I am proposing The 52 Project.  I did not acquire all this fabric and other artistic effluvium overnight, and I know that nothing short of a completely house consuming fire will get rid of it in a day.  So, I am planning on one thing a week.  This may be using one length of fabric to make PJs for the kids (and NOT saving the scraps for quilts I will NEVER make).  It may be  finishing a project already cut out and not sewn.  I will include  finishing a knitting project in this list, or using some of my materials for make a mosaic for a Christmas gift.  using up some of the art papers to re-cover the  lamp shades.  As long as I use up something and do not hoard the remains, it counts.  If, as I suspect may happen, there are weeks when I cannot do this due to time constraints, I am obligated to donate at least one length of fabric to the college costume shop or the Salvation Army.  Every week something must go or be used.  My goal is to empty at least a couple of the storage bins by Spring and keep the trend going.  So piece by piece and bit by bit, i will learn to control this stash  that has practically eaten up a whole room! (Practically?? Who am I kidding? It owns the room!)
   Wish me luck and I will keep you posted.