More Photos First Half of May

Part 2 Scenes from First Part of May

Life is Such a Strange Adventure and Pictures from First Part of May

I put shorts on today for the first time this Spring.  One day I'm scrounging to find thick, heavy sweatpants, the next I'm flinging those aside in 80+ temps for thin lounge pants...and this afternoon, for a pair of shorts.

The lake has come up, my dock ramp was a good distance out in the water.  Fished it out but the wheel is coming off of the ramp again, so I had to call my neighbor to ask for help.  He's such a good friend, he came right away and fixed it.  As long as the wheels are on it I can move it by myself...otherwise, no.

Saw my first little hummingbird today, a little female.  They just make me smile, it eases my heart to hear their distinctive buzz that alerts you to them being nearby.  My Peonies are in full bloom and are lush this year.  "First they sleep, then they creep, then they leap".  Everything here--trees, shrubs, flowering plants--I planted as bare root balls or twigs.  They take my breath away with how big and strong so many of them have grown over the last 18 years.  And, yes, so have the multitude of weeds and tangle, but I just see the beauty in the midst of the jungle.  :)

There is so much that needs to be done here, both inside and out.  So many things left to fall into disrepair over the years that R was sick.  Had a contractor come out last week to see about fixing the windows in the west end of the house, and my roof is leaking with a sizeable leak into my bedroom ceiling.  He indicated he could fix them, but I haven't heard back from him as to when.  They are calling for rain again tomorrow, and I'm tired of worrying about those damn windows and the leaking roof.  I need them fixed sooner rather than later.

The weather the last few days has been gorgeous---80 deg. and sunny.  I just heard on the weather that we are in for a hot, climate-change Summer.  Going from heavy sweatpants to thinnest of thin lounge pants and shorts.

The Birds during Stay At Home

The birds come in pairs these days---the Bluebirds, the Blue Jays, the Cardinals.  The Tufted Titmouse, the Carolina Wren. the red-bellied Woodpecker, the Downys, the Finches---they all come to light up my day on this cold, drizzly more-like-February day then end of April.  They delight my heart as they flit from limb to branch to suet to feeder, then start the flight paths all over again.

Happy Easter

Hoping the Easter Bunny hopped down the trail to your house today.

First Homemade Face Mask

I used Dee Mallon's tutorial deemallon.com to make my first fabric fabric face.  She did an excellent tutorial, very easy to follow.  I'm really pleased with it.  Now I need to make a couple for my sister and brother-in-law (by request :) ).  I found the no-sew t-shirt face mask tutorial after I made this one.  So I will give that a try to.  It looks like it would be really comfortable.  (Tutorial for t-shirt mask in previous post, by permission)

Easy and Fast No-Sew Mask by Linda McDermott

Easy and Fast No-Sew Face Mask

T-Shirt material is one of the recommended materials for making homemade face masks. To save money, clean old t-shirts work just as well as new ones. Making your own face masks will free up supplies for the medical community.

Start your mask with a piece of paper that measures 9” x 6 1/2” (or 9 1/2”x7” for extra large)

Fold the t-shirt and place the 9” side on fold.

After cutting through both sides of the t-shirt you will end up with two pieces. When you UNFOLD them they will each measure 9”x13”, see next photo, to make two masks. Washing the mask after wearing is recommended, or putting it aside for a few days, so having 2 or more masks on hand helps to have a clean mask available.

An unfolded piece that measures 9”x13”.

Refold the rectangle piece so each 9” end falls in the middle and overlaps about 1/4”-1/2”. This will be the inside of the mask.

Pinch and snip a small slit close to the edge like this. Make 6 small slits or holes on each side about 1/4”-1/2” from each edge.

Snip with tips of scissors.

Notice the little slits on both sides.

Cut out two narrow strips 11” long for ear straps.

Place the mask right side up and run the strips through the slits like this.

Gather the mask edges like this and tie a knot on each end of the ear straps.

And you’re done!

If you want to add a filter for extra protection, there is an opening on the back to slide in a piece of coffee filter or paper towel.

Cut filter like this.

This is for demonstration only. Make it as snug as you feel comfortable.

If you want to use the graphics on your t-shirt, cut it like …

Place the 9”x 6 1/2” pattern next to the collar and fold t-shirt.

Or cut out a full 9”x13” rectangle and proceed like the other mask.
You can also use this size paper to make the masks instead of the 9” x 6 1/2”.

When you fold and overlap the two 9” edges, like the other mask, the edges will be higher up so most of the graphic will show in front.

Done!
Remember to wash your hands before removing your mask or touching your face. Wash hands.
And don’t touch your face.
Good luck and be safe.

Updated 4/1/20 with correct size on first photo and other clarifications. Also, this is a standard size I thought would work for most. Make any size adjustments to best fit you. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.

"The Time To Be Slow" John O'Donohue

I'm trying to do some slow stitching every day.  Even if only for a few minutes, a few stitches.  I have pieced backgrounds for two small quilts, but that's as far as I've gotten with sewing fabric together.   My mind is like a butterfly flitting from one flower (thought) to another.  I have no idea what day I'm on most of the time, or what day it should be.  Took me quite a while this morning to realize it is Sunday. The unreality, the dislocation, the inability to focus... I'm sure I'm not the only one in this time of 'stay home' Covid-19 days that's dealing with this.  

Woke to Marlee trying to burrow under me because we were having thunderstorms.  Now the winds are really wreaking havoc, ahead of a cold front.  We've had a couple of days with temperatures in the upper 70s and 80s, it brings to mind the recurring thought that this is shaping up to be a really strange Summer.  Even those temperatures are strange for this time of year here.  We have some more daytime temps of 50s and 60s coming up after today, with upper 30s for a few nighttime temps.  Seesawing, just like my thoughts.  

This is the time to be slow, 
Lie low to the wall 
Until the bitter weather passes. 

Try, as best you can, not to let 
The wire brush of doubt 
Scrape from your heart 
All sense of yourself 
And your hesitant light. 

If you remain generous, 
Time will come good; 
And you will find your feet 
Again on fresh pastures of promise, 
Where the air will be kind 
And blushed with beginning.

John O'Donohue (From Benedictus)

First Day of Spring

I really didn't think life could get any stranger than this last year (2019) was for me. I was wrong. These days are really, REALLY strange---and scary. Marlee and I are knee deep in fabric and 'social distancing', 'staying at home' for my protection and every one else out there. I try to be fully present to all that each of these days hold, no matter how desperate and dire the news is with each new day.

“Oh my God, what if you wake up some day, and you’re 65, or 75, and you never got your memoir or novel written; or you didn’t go swimming in warm pools and oceans all those years because your thighs were jiggly and you had a nice big comfortable tummy; or you were just so strung out on perfectionism and people-pleasing that you forgot to have a big juicy creative life, of imagination and radical silliness and staring off into space like when you were a kid? It’s going to break your heart. Don’t let this happen. Repent just means to change direction — and NOT to be said by someone who is waggling their forefinger at you. Repentance is a blessing. Pick a new direction, one you wouldn’t mind ending up at, and aim for that. Shoot the moon.”

- Anne Lamott

It's Been A Year Since

Randy died.  What a strange year, full of extreme changes in my life, it has been.  I'm still quite numb, and still slowly finding my way in a new landscape.  I am beyond grateful for all of the loving support I've received over this year, debts that can never be repaid. 

Marlee and I are well.  Needless to say, I don't know how I would have made it without my Marlee.  She has been, and is, my main anchor.  She keeps me from drifting totally away on these seas of uncertainty.  What does one do without a little four-legged to keep one on some sort of daily routine?  She is definitely a creature of habit. 

I still have my love of fabric, but I haven't been able to focus long enough to really do anything with it.  I still pick up pieces, and lay them down again.  I hope to be able to gradually find my way back to playing in the fabric.

It's unbelievable to me that we are heading into Spring 2020.  We are having 60s temperatures all of this week, and the Daffodils and Forsythia are in bloom.  I'm focused on embracing each day as it comes, one day at a time...