Just Sitting

 

 

January Shipping

Saturday was shipping day for the charity items made by the Straw Bale Knitters.

Two 8 lb boxes were mailed to Leslye Borden of Handmade Especially for You.

 Fifty scarves and six hats donated for January 2025.

 

Just Listen

Last night as I listened to the conclusion of Louise Penny's book, "The Grey Wolf" I was also looking at hat patterns to knit on Ravelry. When I went to bed I felt as though I didn't fully comprehend the book's ending (nor did I find a hat pattern).

First thing this morning I scrolled back to the Chapters I had "missed".

 

 And then, outside - without distractions - just listened.

 

 

Saturday Read

 

Library Audiobook

 

Friday Read

 

Library e-book

 

Thursday Read

 

Library Audiobook

 

Deep Stash

Yesterday, Nancy S. asked me if I could use this mixed bag of white and cream-colored acrylic yarn to turn into Scarf balls. I thanked her and said I could.

 

 

 It appeared to be yarn from someone's deep stash and looking at the price tags it brought back fond memories of our early years in SLO.

Back in the 90's we frequented Law's Hobby Center and got lost in the rows and aisles of Craft and Art supplies. The store closed in 2008 after a long run of 45 years.

 

 

It is nice that their legacy lives on in memories and yarny goodness.

 

Delicious Delicata

I decided to bring Roasted Delicata Squash to our monthly potluck. It's easy to make, delicious, and I had three sitting on the kitchen counter.

First thing this morning - even before coffee - I preheated the oven to 425°. Next I scrubbed the squash with a veggie brush - you know you can eat the skin.

 

 

Here is how I split squash: I bury the knife into the skin as far as I can then pound the squash against the cutting board until the squash cleaves in half. Needless to say The Man was horrified when he saw me hacking away on the kitchen counter. He was afraid I was going to crack the ceramic tile.

Just to be safe I take the cutting board out to the garage and use the work table surface.

 

Once halved the squash is easy to cut into thin half circles. Next I tossed the pieces with olive oil, pepper, and a dash of salt.

 

 

Lots of space allowed between the pieces. You want it to roast not steam.

 

Roast for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Flip the slices over and roast for another 10 minutes. Turn once more and roast for 5-10 minutes more.

Crispy, soft, carmelized yumminess. Easy-peasy.

No Go

The Man had planned to head south to Ventura today to do some work on Nell. He was packed and ready to go. As we ate breakfast he mentioned that there could be a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) but he could still work with a generator.

After a few minutes he said, "Maybe I shouldn't go".

 

 

 

We finished our breakfast and looked at the weather forecast for Ventura County: Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Red Flag Warnings.

 

 

We decided it would be prudent for The Man to stay home for a while longer.

 

Thank You Shoppers

We have been taking advantage of Costco Same Day Delivery for a number of years. It has been great to forgo the monthly shopping trip and we are very appreciative of the Shoppers.

A plastic tote is used for the deliveries, located at the bottom of our driveway. It's hidden from the main road behind a small shed.

Many of the Instacart Shoppers send pics after they have completed delivery.

 

Once in a while clarification is needed:

 

 

(As of today we will be moving the trash cans away from the Shed and delivery tote.)

 

 

(We try to keep the plastic tote clean and spider-free.)

Slow Slow Horses

 I just started listening to Mick Herron's first book in the Slough House series, "Slow Horses". The book came out in 2010 and I guess it has been made into a Series on Apple TV. We don't have Apple TV and even if we did I probably would not watch it because - you know - the books are usually better.

This series already has eight books and several novellas ready for reading. I find that particularly exciting because I enjoy back-to-back ... okay, call it bingeing ... a good audiobook series.

But like I said I'm just an hour into the story. It took several rewinds before I could concentrate and really listen though I did laugh at this sentence every time: "Stopping, he pretended to check his watch; a manoeuvre indistinguishable from actually checking his watch."

It has been helpful to slow the Narrator down.

Next time I will check to see if there is an e-book sample I could read. That would have been helpful too.

Comfort Food

 

 

A Quickie

 Too cold to stand outside we only watched for a few minutes.

 

Squashed

Finally got around to using the Acorn squash that had taken up residence on the kitchen counter. The counter was getting crowded due to the recent addition of two Butternut squash and several Delicata squash. (Thank you weekly produce box.)

So today I proceeded to hack into the Acorn squash and slice it up and - yay- I did not injure myself.

A quick 30-minutes in the oven and lunch was ready. We ate the whole thing.

I forgot to take pics of our meal but Jack enjoyed the roasted skin (with a few popcorn kernels).

 

 

 

Tuesday's Box

 

Monday Read

 

Audible.com

 

Hands and Feet

This past week I used the Lendrum Quill Head Flyer to wind off spindle-spun singles onto storage bobbins.

 

I wound off the first batch of spindles in my usual way: Supported spindles lying horizontally in a basket and suspended spindles dangling vertically.

This method works well until the spindle gets too light and sometimes - often - the spindle flies out of it's supports. I have tried rubber bands and clips but I haven't found a way to keep the spindle in place.

 

 

Today I tried something different. I wound off holding the spindles in my hand.

Since I am treadling the Lendrum with my feet to rotate the Quill (aka bobbin winder) both of my hands are free to control the hand spindle and manipulate the spun singles.

 

 

It worked great. Two thumbs up.

 

 

 

Eye-Popper

Into the Whirled December 2024 Club colorway, "Scintillating", 56's English Wool Top.

Chi Chi Dango

I made Chi Chi Dango (mochi) for Spinners' Group on Tuesday. It was New Year's Eve after all.

It just takes a few ingredients: Mochiko flour, sugar, water and/or fruit juice, as well as potato starch (katakuriko) for dusting. I used Passion Orange juice which gave it a slight orange color and taste.

The Marukai "Mochi Micro-Baker" makes the process easy-peasy. It's microwaveable and the middle insert lifts out leaving behind a round ring of pillowy soft sweet goodness.

 

 

 I made two batches. The Man and I just finished "our" batch tonight and it was yummy.

 

Winter Lay

 Sage, the winter layer. What a good girl.

 

First Day

I love the first day of a New Year.

First pic: A feathery contrail.

 

 

 

A new daily notebook.

Yesterday I wrote on the last page of the Galison (Phat Dog Vintage) Typewriter Notebook ("Treasure every moment.") that has been my daily notebook since May 2022. I have filled seven of these notebooks but can no longer source the discontinued notebooks. 

After reading notebook reviews (yes, it's a thing) I am going to try out a Leuchtturm 1917. It's pricey as heck but if I like it I should be able to find them year after year.

Excellent blurb:

 

Daunted by a blank page and - oh, look - I already put a crease in the page. Sheesh.

 

 I decided to keep the same format I have been using.

 

Cortney's Calendar.

 

Hand-painted envelope

 

Yay, I was fortunate to snag Cortney Spillane's "Scenic Route" Calendar.

 

End of a good day.