tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219005442024-03-07T15:52:33.696-08:00How's Robb?Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.comBlogger1946125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-2114448628895428782022-07-20T10:21:00.005-07:002022-07-20T11:05:26.045-07:00Shenanigans<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjBL6mCNnnbhLLYQgp1k8Fg4tWDQAGN5To6ehOm0OBCJorDUm2SoEDQPKIWpsXMMtCSfJf_C6fwdyPNzBqk6JD0P5_7RNltOY0TpiBus7vehR_QTZwFENguCb6yv0uXL461wLaBbiMPhjnaH6W7Cad5_Us_LWDDNhEbBAmBZCaQBuGa13lg/s758/rax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="758" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbjBL6mCNnnbhLLYQgp1k8Fg4tWDQAGN5To6ehOm0OBCJorDUm2SoEDQPKIWpsXMMtCSfJf_C6fwdyPNzBqk6JD0P5_7RNltOY0TpiBus7vehR_QTZwFENguCb6yv0uXL461wLaBbiMPhjnaH6W7Cad5_Us_LWDDNhEbBAmBZCaQBuGa13lg/s320/rax.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='386' height='321' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmksci7ja2LViCrqqYTZSliXYZs-_u099UM9i1hBuHx6HjHAjfChqKjvARMP5BhA1x3eJiBzJ2klM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-81838196161084139452022-07-11T06:00:00.021-07:002022-07-11T14:24:30.267-07:00Garden Goings-On<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTbyssAJz0K2BfLK_SCuoLmNdwniFeEO7KE4SnYtp1ytL4Pfu-g1uwzs-zjUGrkAH-qwGXqEzTzlW57tJvweJk_dx1xqpFxlBqgMd0icAu4hoPogb59GyLMKaQWT-T34GVJy2Z8GtKXSKt9ECgFZ0xDX_gNYZGPMBeBE9rfMmJYnxCU2q4Q/s3024/38C5B863-A00E-4402-9448-DEC067859385.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKTbyssAJz0K2BfLK_SCuoLmNdwniFeEO7KE4SnYtp1ytL4Pfu-g1uwzs-zjUGrkAH-qwGXqEzTzlW57tJvweJk_dx1xqpFxlBqgMd0icAu4hoPogb59GyLMKaQWT-T34GVJy2Z8GtKXSKt9ECgFZ0xDX_gNYZGPMBeBE9rfMmJYnxCU2q4Q/w640-h640/38C5B863-A00E-4402-9448-DEC067859385.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>It has been another lovely week in the garden. The beans are starting to ripen. </p><p>It’s nice to pick enough for the two of us each day. This was what I picked on Saturday. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkQ7RyARz61aZaM1DbgZiWcVhxEdubalL0qR2tYRX_D5Ks2jsXCtA4zWwUQiCmKFCayIgSUjn0ULKvolNNpOz1lS-A2EzTZ8q73YpQiUADP1zzg5o_2G2o8bY0RgjLQo7JKcXI1xzgwjwqvpwgu5mg0Lb4v7BghqVKpF5pnS2PaWDwphNsQ/s2478/645FA3B9-1AC3-4E18-A591-6400DCE668E4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="2478" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkQ7RyARz61aZaM1DbgZiWcVhxEdubalL0qR2tYRX_D5Ks2jsXCtA4zWwUQiCmKFCayIgSUjn0ULKvolNNpOz1lS-A2EzTZ8q73YpQiUADP1zzg5o_2G2o8bY0RgjLQo7JKcXI1xzgwjwqvpwgu5mg0Lb4v7BghqVKpF5pnS2PaWDwphNsQ/w640-h640/645FA3B9-1AC3-4E18-A591-6400DCE668E4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And this is what I picked on Sunday. The dragon tongue beans continue to be my absolutely favorite bean. Beautiful, easy to spot when harvesting, and unfailingly tender when I let them get a bit overgrown. </p><p>The red swan beans are nice, but I think I might try a different purple variety next year. If anyone has any suggestions for purple beans that do well in the Bay Area, I’d love to hear your thoughts. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv4QmCFnjv-B4zWNYvmjJDI_TKhS9w4GGChunY8QU_kykkh--lP2GWep8og59J-wm_gPHPWHd8Oxql5BOVjL4qCUpet7YzSg0QEByGJCHZdDHKDC42kO9Wqi1r1I_pdx0KMVPqvv_9_RXSPl7SEovLe4-3Md9V5XBYD-TFubowHzmyUqKGQ/s2533/56CAD143-B89F-4EF0-9349-37048A53F1C7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="2533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZv4QmCFnjv-B4zWNYvmjJDI_TKhS9w4GGChunY8QU_kykkh--lP2GWep8og59J-wm_gPHPWHd8Oxql5BOVjL4qCUpet7YzSg0QEByGJCHZdDHKDC42kO9Wqi1r1I_pdx0KMVPqvv_9_RXSPl7SEovLe4-3Md9V5XBYD-TFubowHzmyUqKGQ/w640-h640/56CAD143-B89F-4EF0-9349-37048A53F1C7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>This was the first year I managed to grow breadseed poppies. I’ve tried these in the past, and could not get them to germinate. I absolutely love the colors and the architectural quality of the seed pods. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb2vtFhblXuDrtmMh2sdL_83WG0LyqkKdVYFajK0pkN72qorRbeGW8Y4PRZqtBnjFrJD8KEeoiUEyaxgnYQzQVIZKxSY15Rc1QnYBEj8-yPVnjDDhGjmLRHzQA-YFgO-TIwKfgyMyS0-F98-aZ_w1awi4VbFiDSDQemrTW5YxvEQpfTyl1g/s3024/445495B4-D4E5-4A5E-B808-B548FC84D1B2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOb2vtFhblXuDrtmMh2sdL_83WG0LyqkKdVYFajK0pkN72qorRbeGW8Y4PRZqtBnjFrJD8KEeoiUEyaxgnYQzQVIZKxSY15Rc1QnYBEj8-yPVnjDDhGjmLRHzQA-YFgO-TIwKfgyMyS0-F98-aZ_w1awi4VbFiDSDQemrTW5YxvEQpfTyl1g/w640-h640/445495B4-D4E5-4A5E-B808-B548FC84D1B2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Another first this year was a respectable crop of figs from the tree I got from my neighbors. They had it in a pot, and it was really struggling. They’d ironically named it Jésus (with Spanish pronunciation), because the poor tree looked like a crucifixion. </p><p>In the past, I’d feel lucky if I got three figs off this tree so this is a huge improvement. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexBHfvureBAv1a9JZbflqCGgzxlBl0JNuXzsg8D94da8QAQdffWAF0UGNsPcxxMXL2eb1VZswKDG3SzEvJP3KoMNsHkxoi_Z-r95zbzAD12JuUK-A3FTqrJsh_dpXK40vxFTPzKeZmTY71kDIH6uKw02Fc8sl5nnsOVXcpSTLPZVCzzWGDQ/s3024/AB8B82C2-3A68-4903-83C1-609BBB1417C7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexBHfvureBAv1a9JZbflqCGgzxlBl0JNuXzsg8D94da8QAQdffWAF0UGNsPcxxMXL2eb1VZswKDG3SzEvJP3KoMNsHkxoi_Z-r95zbzAD12JuUK-A3FTqrJsh_dpXK40vxFTPzKeZmTY71kDIH6uKw02Fc8sl5nnsOVXcpSTLPZVCzzWGDQ/w640-h640/AB8B82C2-3A68-4903-83C1-609BBB1417C7.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The other varieties are doing quite nicely as well. </p><p>I do really have to give these trees a massive haircut. They’ve gotten ridiculously leggy, and I need to get them under control. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUnNrTKISF2NHR9zuYJEgTNLtWSwxij4vdlCZgFCGgr2FzIsFIOfJJILgyfSpBUUF0-Ly7MO01kspNGeQP06zNeJsduLOHoJV2Y08y6pgWc3AFCEaZkr_coHJKmNtm5HTXJLAw32laVXvCPC8YDP9Zmg5i2JVkwElDGnDOvSFex-AZsJhZw/s4032/BA3A577D-02DA-46A1-81F8-2E6B69395858.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUnNrTKISF2NHR9zuYJEgTNLtWSwxij4vdlCZgFCGgr2FzIsFIOfJJILgyfSpBUUF0-Ly7MO01kspNGeQP06zNeJsduLOHoJV2Y08y6pgWc3AFCEaZkr_coHJKmNtm5HTXJLAw32laVXvCPC8YDP9Zmg5i2JVkwElDGnDOvSFex-AZsJhZw/w640-h480/BA3A577D-02DA-46A1-81F8-2E6B69395858.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>And speaking of getting fruit trees under control, I took the radical step of spreading out my apple tree. This tree started out as an experiment when my friend Gaby found a sprouted seed in an apple she was eating. She planted the seed and kept it as a houseplant until she moved across the country to attend graduate school. </p><p>I adopted her little apple plant, and with her blessing used it as rootstock for some grafting experiments. </p><p>I’ll readily admit that I had no idea what I was doing when I started. The fact that any of the grafts succeeded seemed utterly miraculous. </p><p>The fact that the branches immediately grew into a messy tangle was less of a joy. </p><p>After a few years of ignoring the problem, I stumbled across a video from the University of California Santa Cruz that — among other things — demonstrated a method of spreading out the branches on compacted apple trees. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0mfVfzSyD120hD0qDzLDxl3hihXa_DyUPChjbAG63vgQr9kEj7l0PbYqyTwAiNWjGc9jlLDzYTB6sFMLLZVIn4sG1B2nxnnhmpGGP1sxSy-zlFYtq3oRfvONIUlStf5ycSC8CvWaG4kNkNPxOyAMg1eiY0NBW8vR_Ud-foTKTB4-6hyFuQ/s2871/D8283C54-B6E7-4C22-9A83-E13168B1E7E1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2871" data-original-width="2871" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0mfVfzSyD120hD0qDzLDxl3hihXa_DyUPChjbAG63vgQr9kEj7l0PbYqyTwAiNWjGc9jlLDzYTB6sFMLLZVIn4sG1B2nxnnhmpGGP1sxSy-zlFYtq3oRfvONIUlStf5ycSC8CvWaG4kNkNPxOyAMg1eiY0NBW8vR_Ud-foTKTB4-6hyFuQ/w640-h640/D8283C54-B6E7-4C22-9A83-E13168B1E7E1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I figured that I had nothing to lose. I asked Robb to make me some spreading sticks, and set to work straightening out my badly intertwined tree. The poor thing was practically braided </p><p>The tree was reasonably pliable, and I’m both strong and stubborn. I think I vastly improved the future health of my apple tree. It’s nice to straighten out a bad situation before it gets any worse </p><p>Don’t get any ideas about me having things under control. </p><p>And don’t think my life is adorable and charming </p><p>I mean, sure, I’ve got a flock of hens named after minor characters in Jane Austen novels. Lydia, Charlotte Lucas, Harriet, Miss Sophia Grey, Biddy Henshaw.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYzWRNvbE4xHUDN1GZIynXkt_ul5o9rWCNZtjLT44IL8rl5Dnk5C762HmrN6kHhTJlJK2YRc_MnQ_0aVONkbBb1U0ikZfJ7WOo6kLIVNP-1tDnX3Gi2itkMf2kRq4fZsoDKcHkrriGI1GkzgI3waVd-YkqAD19UcRJnHewq89BELwA2wcng/s4032/C0A74CD0-3E99-44AC-BAB5-7BD1AB113DF8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYzWRNvbE4xHUDN1GZIynXkt_ul5o9rWCNZtjLT44IL8rl5Dnk5C762HmrN6kHhTJlJK2YRc_MnQ_0aVONkbBb1U0ikZfJ7WOo6kLIVNP-1tDnX3Gi2itkMf2kRq4fZsoDKcHkrriGI1GkzgI3waVd-YkqAD19UcRJnHewq89BELwA2wcng/w480-h640/C0A74CD0-3E99-44AC-BAB5-7BD1AB113DF8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>And Adventure Chicken.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ-YxTF_1wOcQcAlTsa4uXZim8ySR6XihBOLzyjo4nVycaKDnZe6rKGo1QTC0GcxXy3Q75U84Rn-2oC8189ZnpLoepcgg5UcdZHao4ecbXKgjoUaGZOA0N67oIfSoICuIaSFxSdwNX-uMILaLcBecmB87tIxmL9K8knZwUo-bTwqmlnD-kw/s4032/8DE7E6E9-BA55-4DA7-8C35-27C737AFC466.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQ-YxTF_1wOcQcAlTsa4uXZim8ySR6XihBOLzyjo4nVycaKDnZe6rKGo1QTC0GcxXy3Q75U84Rn-2oC8189ZnpLoepcgg5UcdZHao4ecbXKgjoUaGZOA0N67oIfSoICuIaSFxSdwNX-uMILaLcBecmB87tIxmL9K8knZwUo-bTwqmlnD-kw/w480-h640/8DE7E6E9-BA55-4DA7-8C35-27C737AFC466.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Adventure Chicken has decided that none of the SIX nest boxes in the henhouse are suitable places in which to lay her eggs. </p><p>In fact, there are no acceptable nest-laying locations in the back yard. </p><p>So every day, she figures a way of escaping from the Miserable Chicken Prison that is our back garden and lays her egg in the unfettered freedom of the front yard. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIrAiig0GMIVoN2m1PCdvIqJ75bN9BCa71gjAvJus_Bk3iEX3v_8McptU-ljcQx9AeKl5ugUGIx-DbFNmouDr7P1iRl6elTmXFj3aU-XNfIKkWdEB1TBl3UVzmrGKBYRiOeBdEQ2XNAx6REg8uqu6YLnwCFTdrYfYSjO186qHIfSexefyrA/s1728/408DBF3C-CF26-4485-94DD-BF552938D945.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="1125" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIrAiig0GMIVoN2m1PCdvIqJ75bN9BCa71gjAvJus_Bk3iEX3v_8McptU-ljcQx9AeKl5ugUGIx-DbFNmouDr7P1iRl6elTmXFj3aU-XNfIKkWdEB1TBl3UVzmrGKBYRiOeBdEQ2XNAx6REg8uqu6YLnwCFTdrYfYSjO186qHIfSexefyrA/w416-h640/408DBF3C-CF26-4485-94DD-BF552938D945.jpeg" width="416" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>For a while, she was slipping out and laying eggs under the brugmansia, but now she’s decided that her favorite spot is behind the gas meter. </p><p>We’ve tried every kind of hen-barrier imaginable, and she’s outsmarted everything we could devise. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wbpNrtQKhoAowaRY8zE8ZdFK5gCE0dOGm6vKKMEIGqKB1No5qmDAIdRfHLg0ZPOyPFTVc7ZdlArZpwxd7VM4xbK8_sYIgkw4vwZptbHM0IgKsGVkmT_cCHKE_PyKQXyJ6dL1A8ZfvKP_hJ0d6ioJ0OvGE3Hb9C3lJja6lYRbvhTFrOGQYw/s4032/D7F7F92F-7670-41D9-9EFF-2DEE683D97AE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wbpNrtQKhoAowaRY8zE8ZdFK5gCE0dOGm6vKKMEIGqKB1No5qmDAIdRfHLg0ZPOyPFTVc7ZdlArZpwxd7VM4xbK8_sYIgkw4vwZptbHM0IgKsGVkmT_cCHKE_PyKQXyJ6dL1A8ZfvKP_hJ0d6ioJ0OvGE3Hb9C3lJja6lYRbvhTFrOGQYw/w480-h640/D7F7F92F-7670-41D9-9EFF-2DEE683D97AE.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>So, no. We do not lead orderly or well-regulated lives. It’s all hilarity and chaos around here </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-23805119513471976722022-07-10T18:29:00.007-07:002022-07-10T19:55:23.264-07:00Tidying up the Beehive<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOl9q298F5pxEk-QPqoTvWxaiRkHzaPoh8gNIKr9o6UwsTwfCW_49pmVLNnlXACGcnk5rNnmZgKs2NsB6JtaU5ZYMCd-Cl_4IZVc1IebdKiu6jth5YIpi5nMLWgqS9fHMOt2JW0JYBZ7WXtpQLYKT-qx9GoK2tY1ezkZwCsKxa5mNkprc6WQ/s2826/41BD5DF8-DDDC-4EAC-9934-118B5F2E1B4F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2826" data-original-width="2826" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOl9q298F5pxEk-QPqoTvWxaiRkHzaPoh8gNIKr9o6UwsTwfCW_49pmVLNnlXACGcnk5rNnmZgKs2NsB6JtaU5ZYMCd-Cl_4IZVc1IebdKiu6jth5YIpi5nMLWgqS9fHMOt2JW0JYBZ7WXtpQLYKT-qx9GoK2tY1ezkZwCsKxa5mNkprc6WQ/s320/41BD5DF8-DDDC-4EAC-9934-118B5F2E1B4F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Last weekend I did a long-overdue inspection of my Emperor Norton hive. The colony, which previously had been so vigorous, seemed to be struggling. </p><p>As soon as I lifted the lid off the hive I could see the problem. The hive had been infiltrated by wax moths and their destructive larvae. </p><p>I don’t have any photos because my camera was misbehaving. And honestly, a wax moth infestation is both difficult to photograph and disgusting in person. I wasn’t interested in struggling with my camera in order to photograph that mess. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuAgJ-_Xa0nSho3FjzieLmmM1TmOuO2inzfhEwxcOcv47vnPl-L08PhTjUpm7QxLPCBGG69-TaAPuy5xodfYZtP4t8GtXY6mcw-SuIvqtVIFg9COFgEM9fHXIVtyA6tX-0JLReRkiv8TyyRgLhTe1MzGuygF6oqB1hZgVS7Gu69RYUSbwGQ/s3024/8C11139F-053A-4BEB-8FA2-CB018CD9B5BC.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuAgJ-_Xa0nSho3FjzieLmmM1TmOuO2inzfhEwxcOcv47vnPl-L08PhTjUpm7QxLPCBGG69-TaAPuy5xodfYZtP4t8GtXY6mcw-SuIvqtVIFg9COFgEM9fHXIVtyA6tX-0JLReRkiv8TyyRgLhTe1MzGuygF6oqB1hZgVS7Gu69RYUSbwGQ/s320/8C11139F-053A-4BEB-8FA2-CB018CD9B5BC.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>There was also a thriving community of spiders in the hive box. The less said about that, the better. </p><p>I removed all of the larvae-riddled honeycomb because the bees were avoiding it. This left the bees with a snug home and significantly fewer uninvited guests </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuQ2-ARPJhJzDhZe8UYl5ZTvXacIyA2S2j3u5_vaoGI55ddA3r_1qJ9dADwMK7AC9yljQU8ohEMgpe4Pra1-hA6h5iZm8xzTlO0yeq4UiznJc5aT_Gj68yDfEkPDX2fsRzYuFCP1MwInZ1CEEepGVE5r1_fI8G-Pw2XS1E3-AlVR5h0-BqA/s3932/0F81A98C-8A7A-416C-ADD2-7EA3B89BA4B2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2949" data-original-width="3932" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuQ2-ARPJhJzDhZe8UYl5ZTvXacIyA2S2j3u5_vaoGI55ddA3r_1qJ9dADwMK7AC9yljQU8ohEMgpe4Pra1-hA6h5iZm8xzTlO0yeq4UiznJc5aT_Gj68yDfEkPDX2fsRzYuFCP1MwInZ1CEEepGVE5r1_fI8G-Pw2XS1E3-AlVR5h0-BqA/s320/0F81A98C-8A7A-416C-ADD2-7EA3B89BA4B2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the course of the past week, Robb had cleaned the nastiest comb out of the frames I had removed from the hive. We saved what we could, which wasn’t much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Saturday, I added a box of clean frames to the hive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I’m hoping that the colony will rebound, now that it’s not overwhelmed with destructive larvae and predatory spiders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I always prefer to let my bees build honeycomb without using plastic templates. I find that the bees don’t favor the impenetrable walls of plastic, and would much rather make eccentric comb filled with little bee-sized doorways. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That comb on the left? It’s not riddled with wax moth tunnels. It’s exactly how the bees constructed it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem with letting the bees build honeycomb without any guidance happens when the bees build their wax structures in a way that spans across several frames. When I move the frames inside the hive, the wax comb gets torn apart, which inevitably results in harm to developing brood or the bees themselves. It’s upsetting and unnecessary. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To avoid this, I’ll insert strips of embossed wax “foundation” in some of the frames that make up the interior walls of the beehive. This helps the bees get started building comb, and offers much more flexibility than a solid wall of plastic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYwzEtNHmi18XA8lviYl01pInYzO4NylwmZzF3036_L_w3SQk_U8eQPXtY0SxM2FhK-C7rX7a7tFnbdOf0fmlMZL2fEqMfpbnig6MJXW2UONGIgIGhYoPyErysZFcTNdGqwiZK3G6zq5Kqigkccn97R3Sqmu4xwjPyVbh_xU7owXIRrOEjA/s3741/044E5181-83B4-41F1-BA66-C1CDAEB25FE4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3741" data-original-width="2806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYwzEtNHmi18XA8lviYl01pInYzO4NylwmZzF3036_L_w3SQk_U8eQPXtY0SxM2FhK-C7rX7a7tFnbdOf0fmlMZL2fEqMfpbnig6MJXW2UONGIgIGhYoPyErysZFcTNdGqwiZK3G6zq5Kqigkccn97R3Sqmu4xwjPyVbh_xU7owXIRrOEjA/s320/044E5181-83B4-41F1-BA66-C1CDAEB25FE4.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To make up for resources lost to wax moths, I let the bees scavenge honey from the other hive that had not survived the winter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This photo clearly shows the yellow plastic foundation that neither the bees nor I particularly like. The bees have hardly built any wax structure on this sheet of plastic. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi5yxPZtwPGC-bLUNfXP_zOq-nmuRV4FH8WGA91_doD9OdirDe-a8ixgfiKU1jsI9o3AWt-n-kOMtD4677m-RCLIX4CB_v1bOBYYVBz7FiRGYs-iN-Ewcz6RRjU-OOvjzVp509upJmsoNF6sBHJ7H6_EcghhYXhxhX8XDrJqBGCP4YU36SA/s3725/48EEC622-BC33-413A-B2C8-E13DA07D722B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3725" data-original-width="2794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWi5yxPZtwPGC-bLUNfXP_zOq-nmuRV4FH8WGA91_doD9OdirDe-a8ixgfiKU1jsI9o3AWt-n-kOMtD4677m-RCLIX4CB_v1bOBYYVBz7FiRGYs-iN-Ewcz6RRjU-OOvjzVp509upJmsoNF6sBHJ7H6_EcghhYXhxhX8XDrJqBGCP4YU36SA/s320/48EEC622-BC33-413A-B2C8-E13DA07D722B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In contrast, here’s some of the honeycomb my bees built without plastic foundation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>The next step for me is to reclaim wax from old comb. I use a ridiculously simple method. </div><div><br /></div><div>I clip multiple layers of finely woven cheesecloth into a metal pitcher which is partially filled with water. The cheesecloth is suspended above the water, and then the whole thing goes into a barely-warm oven. As the wax melts, any impurities are captured by the cheesecloth which acts as a filter. The molten wax floats on top of the water and as it melts I add more dirty wax comb. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-w8m1XheXBH4gb6msOoYz_jb8CrITJA1VWa6se1Idj1BRRTg5u5FNlAUCgArE2F1FKkovM-6T_MyHPLX96fDXh-F9SC2hIkt7XV2zG5TCy0HavwrxLf-OQM4pp93_EPhFydXYKHf0T6yeEE_OY8dyGNUyurZOWcT9XIJmHuSsYis7T_P2A/s2757/0D198C91-A6AA-412C-8AB8-48540D77E07D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2757" data-original-width="2757" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-w8m1XheXBH4gb6msOoYz_jb8CrITJA1VWa6se1Idj1BRRTg5u5FNlAUCgArE2F1FKkovM-6T_MyHPLX96fDXh-F9SC2hIkt7XV2zG5TCy0HavwrxLf-OQM4pp93_EPhFydXYKHf0T6yeEE_OY8dyGNUyurZOWcT9XIJmHuSsYis7T_P2A/s320/0D198C91-A6AA-412C-8AB8-48540D77E07D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here’s the pitcher at the end of an afternoon of rendering wax. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37FezxHJ8wQNe4hPejZ2MFAui-3oS4o4PWiYVBdNJ4APOIYk6_E9iODBAFn7ZUdPis37n7I8_-h4-0aZp5nhs3Ha41jKgsv_qYY6yujNPmGscq3qO1oYgBbt3g3VBtF8md9iBlMkNFqL6Zi7WbtS6W4Zuiw1xYFSA8emT43tsOsNLCWHF0A/s3024/8FAB980A-31AB-49DC-B4FA-A10ED1E230C2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37FezxHJ8wQNe4hPejZ2MFAui-3oS4o4PWiYVBdNJ4APOIYk6_E9iODBAFn7ZUdPis37n7I8_-h4-0aZp5nhs3Ha41jKgsv_qYY6yujNPmGscq3qO1oYgBbt3g3VBtF8md9iBlMkNFqL6Zi7WbtS6W4Zuiw1xYFSA8emT43tsOsNLCWHF0A/s320/8FAB980A-31AB-49DC-B4FA-A10ED1E230C2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here’s all the gunk that was left behind in the cheesecloth filter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The filtered wax floats on the water in the pitcher. When the wax cools down, it shrinks just enough that it can be popped out when I upend the pitcher</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLxxRLdsiAkx-lmtayK03kS3YJ1hhVW6EyPhYOZDDOlSBrBHGAL6_r3R_NrEcguRJDyDTC7ij2XxK3aZhsSXYJNfzy7krCEJyPi_DzL-Tce5UOipVIjFOeFzFnOwk87FiktuGztu7Rx8gapK5g6pPj0jpOq_mNgU8T9TthwZCnk46i86_hQ/s3024/98D3C0A4-8D5A-4E84-B55F-8455343B6F60.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLxxRLdsiAkx-lmtayK03kS3YJ1hhVW6EyPhYOZDDOlSBrBHGAL6_r3R_NrEcguRJDyDTC7ij2XxK3aZhsSXYJNfzy7krCEJyPi_DzL-Tce5UOipVIjFOeFzFnOwk87FiktuGztu7Rx8gapK5g6pPj0jpOq_mNgU8T9TthwZCnk46i86_hQ/s320/98D3C0A4-8D5A-4E84-B55F-8455343B6F60.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>And here’s the final product. A half pound/240 grams of beautiful beeswax. It feels like satin, and smells absolutely heavenly. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is much better than grub-infested, cobweb-covered honeycomb that even the bees wouldn’t go near. </div><div><br /></div><div>It’s downright alchemical, turning something disgusting into gold. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-53113586065103105992022-07-04T22:23:00.007-07:002022-07-04T23:26:04.210-07:00What’s Growing?<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0N59zJsjM1QJAoGbh4oh47NEfAeMJKz-xUvPtbDmFpUpYA-L1OwEZNgwN0YpKszg9NEf2gvyowtuBU-2IoG22yroT_1RazmHALGzdkZL-8TTnZpqmo7dKipSo2QwGhz0dJtsh89Nb32ciexsGlsulPpQvS9zsk7U6DgRQJ0ppTYR2zRTQA/s1773/46C0D60F-9FBF-410E-A073-942A3CDAE50F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="1773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0N59zJsjM1QJAoGbh4oh47NEfAeMJKz-xUvPtbDmFpUpYA-L1OwEZNgwN0YpKszg9NEf2gvyowtuBU-2IoG22yroT_1RazmHALGzdkZL-8TTnZpqmo7dKipSo2QwGhz0dJtsh89Nb32ciexsGlsulPpQvS9zsk7U6DgRQJ0ppTYR2zRTQA/s320/46C0D60F-9FBF-410E-A073-942A3CDAE50F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>My life has been incredibly hectic since theaters were allowed to re-open, so things like blogging have completely languished. To be honest, things were so unsettled during the time theaters were closed that I just didn’t know what to say.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtq48fuw1DLGlvGEuUAnF_LcatAIUP9nwr4yMxzvYPIqEBvDJuUG2Oa-gXdVe0KWK_-IOuZaq2YlxrPX01TT9VGxd72wnM8Vgl9tZcU0IYQcIHH37hwXt6clgTgqN1NhnFEdd4dJLGOdpeUUIq-XRmW9zTGlBYNYEn4VzEJmLOgnE4MRaZvw/s2961/3D726C25-FFF8-4DB1-93A6-8056C73D8A2F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2961" data-original-width="2961" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtq48fuw1DLGlvGEuUAnF_LcatAIUP9nwr4yMxzvYPIqEBvDJuUG2Oa-gXdVe0KWK_-IOuZaq2YlxrPX01TT9VGxd72wnM8Vgl9tZcU0IYQcIHH37hwXt6clgTgqN1NhnFEdd4dJLGOdpeUUIq-XRmW9zTGlBYNYEn4VzEJmLOgnE4MRaZvw/s320/3D726C25-FFF8-4DB1-93A6-8056C73D8A2F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>During this entire time my garden was a great source of comfort. No matter what else was going on, I knew that things were growing in my tiny urban garden. Bees would be foraging, and the scrub jays would be seeking out mischief.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtIYb0pjhFfH6q7MGIm5TUbWQt5cfmAnaXIluHrIVZOKkFHP0btneelp8YAiJ-sNdc6k_8eSGB0PlojqJPwBlJrn5A2slyWSjHKi8_3NE6-SaokcIqSSoKgBbfeJ7p-wxyfE5ItfMXy51-w-XP3VKynhr8Swm_OJYmMc0KAE8tOEvbrto0Q/s1773/126D2F50-7C72-422B-90F3-E35644FB88CF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="1773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtIYb0pjhFfH6q7MGIm5TUbWQt5cfmAnaXIluHrIVZOKkFHP0btneelp8YAiJ-sNdc6k_8eSGB0PlojqJPwBlJrn5A2slyWSjHKi8_3NE6-SaokcIqSSoKgBbfeJ7p-wxyfE5ItfMXy51-w-XP3VKynhr8Swm_OJYmMc0KAE8tOEvbrto0Q/s320/126D2F50-7C72-422B-90F3-E35644FB88CF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Because of the 4th of July falling on a Monday, I actually had a long weekend, and I spent every bit of it in my garden. I had recently rearranged some of our vintage lawn furniture, which has been a great success with cats and humans alike. The chickens circle like sharks when Robb and I eat outside, but we selfishly do not share our meals with them.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISE8RGXp4vjgEKjKXG3vYxFI0MSLLo1iEXQwIGMUzS2hG8C-Ws7wiEjw0yMMIMgMJOn-nVur3TD6lyuTYZN2kO0sn5-ICeE1yckGnb7JXNaYng9o-8ydlRqoSSoPuk5D_8tPNXIkeL4lL_1dqnPCgy_rogV81kMMv-2DFySbBJI9N9n5uPw/s1773/0EDA8AED-4541-45A2-82DB-FA5450A965BB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="1773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISE8RGXp4vjgEKjKXG3vYxFI0MSLLo1iEXQwIGMUzS2hG8C-Ws7wiEjw0yMMIMgMJOn-nVur3TD6lyuTYZN2kO0sn5-ICeE1yckGnb7JXNaYng9o-8ydlRqoSSoPuk5D_8tPNXIkeL4lL_1dqnPCgy_rogV81kMMv-2DFySbBJI9N9n5uPw/s320/0EDA8AED-4541-45A2-82DB-FA5450A965BB.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We’re currently in a glorious time of year for backyard fruit. The red currants are just finishing up, and the pluots are ripening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8q24oCqr1Ev6Aox7lGE8glIRpgmKmp2KvHAvD70_qO87L5REL2iW3o9qRDg0b5Qb9gaZImspJtcHtb3ltbFG0UvHX0Rmx-_4QbL4UELbIsJYvXFWBUDPADrs6aBuBT6UpPfZD5m8vxxJF6L5dfXELASlLtJ0s1mH7V8A6aRvVD0cItIDFg/s2201/39A70E22-96C0-4997-82C1-1E6150E78477.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="2201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8q24oCqr1Ev6Aox7lGE8glIRpgmKmp2KvHAvD70_qO87L5REL2iW3o9qRDg0b5Qb9gaZImspJtcHtb3ltbFG0UvHX0Rmx-_4QbL4UELbIsJYvXFWBUDPADrs6aBuBT6UpPfZD5m8vxxJF6L5dfXELASlLtJ0s1mH7V8A6aRvVD0cItIDFg/s320/39A70E22-96C0-4997-82C1-1E6150E78477.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I’ve already made jam with the green pluots when I thinned the fruit in the tree. I tried this as an experiment last summer and resolved to make it every year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6qSj74krV6eUNppad8xsApNpjvbNNba02jVMAvg6npZi1xWwv1ami_70rbX7FNuvhtNUF8e0fyfRnWGMGoG0XkoLK2wpVUF0SqhL0FxcYlrsnk50q2lzdMq3vYKpMQbE0dnmglp1OxEyTUcyUdZCvykqFUdwYlyy_KKL9zxUphjjReukgg/s2804/96D65429-2CEB-472F-A187-A369476C1B28.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2804" data-original-width="2804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6qSj74krV6eUNppad8xsApNpjvbNNba02jVMAvg6npZi1xWwv1ami_70rbX7FNuvhtNUF8e0fyfRnWGMGoG0XkoLK2wpVUF0SqhL0FxcYlrsnk50q2lzdMq3vYKpMQbE0dnmglp1OxEyTUcyUdZCvykqFUdwYlyy_KKL9zxUphjjReukgg/s320/96D65429-2CEB-472F-A187-A369476C1B28.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The squirrels obviously enjoy the fruit as much as we do. However, I wish they’d eat fewer of the unripe figs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwAsrHCR7jJ4FkIuWxolTe-WUj26bxrsZvu-gbETSLK2gyBX6Bnv-EWjXZG3c0PTMqiC61aD4pkcX1savDwnnEtP7rGBVPtBwP__19pGnKR45U_oYuVk6HoXCb8SxTCop3b8gCytdk_80PRWA47UOy1qUy2b7PNX_RQANO5GcIe4stXu8gw/s2885/1399BBD1-AA96-409C-B637-46A730B6E8A3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2885" data-original-width="2885" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwAsrHCR7jJ4FkIuWxolTe-WUj26bxrsZvu-gbETSLK2gyBX6Bnv-EWjXZG3c0PTMqiC61aD4pkcX1savDwnnEtP7rGBVPtBwP__19pGnKR45U_oYuVk6HoXCb8SxTCop3b8gCytdk_80PRWA47UOy1qUy2b7PNX_RQANO5GcIe4stXu8gw/s320/1399BBD1-AA96-409C-B637-46A730B6E8A3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This has been our best year for figs and I hope yields continue to increase as the trees mature. It’s still astonishing to me that we’re eating fruit off of trees I planted as twigs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAA_KorhGn3EQr_n3Q-f1l9PYE6lgLR59ClSJYml9NAg7FwIWiZyYo-BFhv_K5_4yQTUZ0yGAW4xA1a-oHjlEYhEqsy55zKcqeasUrol4Kdw1T6Np39MxwUvhrba36WOZhtoY3LDNJB3kq4FFYgtXoepEcCcYDkghPkC3snzO4BrxLobY-Q/s2977/08AE8A7B-F4B1-4AA9-96DA-50D0FD1F2440.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2977" data-original-width="2977" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAA_KorhGn3EQr_n3Q-f1l9PYE6lgLR59ClSJYml9NAg7FwIWiZyYo-BFhv_K5_4yQTUZ0yGAW4xA1a-oHjlEYhEqsy55zKcqeasUrol4Kdw1T6Np39MxwUvhrba36WOZhtoY3LDNJB3kq4FFYgtXoepEcCcYDkghPkC3snzO4BrxLobY-Q/s320/08AE8A7B-F4B1-4AA9-96DA-50D0FD1F2440.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The cherry tree, in the other hand, continues to disappoint. Only three fruits ripened this year. Robb mixed two of them into muffins without telling me. I was irrationally annoyed by this. If we’re only going to get three cherries, I believe we should savor them rather then losing them among the other fruits in the muffin dough. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I may have been a bit of a jerk about this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzsVBgPiqxHWXlduKe7RS_CleABltZ9nB0MV1GgPXbZweAo47TV5B4sJ9VqMIOhLi8fxq18joxLVKVPjqNsXOi9xp_p-4mDz26ayCGRm1sVQQN2g-iD5S0li8puhvON3TJ0LFGCxAZzv7g_WPi66a8HtTVRSGeaHpJ1hAjzn2I2mC4sfr3g/s3024/2CBB9F4F-9386-4BD7-9844-809985991B7E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzsVBgPiqxHWXlduKe7RS_CleABltZ9nB0MV1GgPXbZweAo47TV5B4sJ9VqMIOhLi8fxq18joxLVKVPjqNsXOi9xp_p-4mDz26ayCGRm1sVQQN2g-iD5S0li8puhvON3TJ0LFGCxAZzv7g_WPi66a8HtTVRSGeaHpJ1hAjzn2I2mC4sfr3g/s320/2CBB9F4F-9386-4BD7-9844-809985991B7E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Likewise, I may have been a bit grumpy because Robb has cooked all the beans I’ve harvested before I got a photo. The beans we grow are extremely colorful, but turn green once they’re cooked. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really need to let this go. There will be plenty more beans to photograph this summer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And really, complaining about home cooked meals is the definition of churlish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was today’s lunch. Robb baked the bread. The pesto was made with garden kale, beans were grown from seed, the figs came from our tree. The stuffed grape leaves were canned. I haven’t contrived a way of fitting a grape arbor into our tiny space. Yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzYEQaeMEMoeW1nSiDliZ87ICZ6irHLL_6he1F2gTXqSErGeQ3yPfbZeRqh3hvd3RH9zyOzwcNaqqh180Q-GhbaUsBqeDiHKtaqyMKQm5cYJ7KPcJrFPVIcDaSWRGSTLAvc8KZg4kFiaqBYmGuQ22RQuMRV7Ar0pzUOyTznHOq-d6BKI5Bg/s4032/FC077B70-D5C0-4E34-946D-D5CA57FB312D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzYEQaeMEMoeW1nSiDliZ87ICZ6irHLL_6he1F2gTXqSErGeQ3yPfbZeRqh3hvd3RH9zyOzwcNaqqh180Q-GhbaUsBqeDiHKtaqyMKQm5cYJ7KPcJrFPVIcDaSWRGSTLAvc8KZg4kFiaqBYmGuQ22RQuMRV7Ar0pzUOyTznHOq-d6BKI5Bg/s320/FC077B70-D5C0-4E34-946D-D5CA57FB312D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally completed the massive project of tidying my cymbidium orchids. I repotted most of them, and moved them into a shadier location for the summer. They appreciate winter sun, but do much better in the shade in summer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5M8l3ojC-r6fiUElG7ql4waYLoGKjgI7YEOwiT54tOHbKE8vXiLlW7MfBjrBuUq8SYY1qyavlxONgeQhzi2L_yT29RcCP-4o5u7jNJMYmdjQz0q7l8fv31FG8iJAB6Zshq6eGCdV93py-1bTnZYzXoKDQQNhOWg89fXQ_wfi6SmXmwM48g/s3024/6CDEA714-6E0E-497A-8117-2E6AE813ECAE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5M8l3ojC-r6fiUElG7ql4waYLoGKjgI7YEOwiT54tOHbKE8vXiLlW7MfBjrBuUq8SYY1qyavlxONgeQhzi2L_yT29RcCP-4o5u7jNJMYmdjQz0q7l8fv31FG8iJAB6Zshq6eGCdV93py-1bTnZYzXoKDQQNhOWg89fXQ_wfi6SmXmwM48g/s320/6CDEA714-6E0E-497A-8117-2E6AE813ECAE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another long-overdue task that I tackled this weekend was an inspection of the beehive. This colony was not doing as well as I would have liked. And once I opened the hive up, I saw why. The bees were battling wax moths. Thankfully, the infestation was not as bad as it could have been. I removed all the affected frames of wax, and let the chickens feast on wax moth larvae. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was not proud of myself for not discovering this problem earlier. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8q9ttQTUHK42_reJfdrprhi2W5-coJcDpt45HwlEknNLtgTyT0U6_URiRpICTDrxQo2mydRXM40GqhJZUPGj3MlXUacM2aFZY9mNfT9IdEx4VdnYeva3eVoeZpXYeCtX1UYgTYA8nB8MnZkN4i8LJWrLASopRy2Hkl0PlRp-9STluGo754A/s3024/0514D1E0-D9F8-4084-B479-95B2B02813AF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8q9ttQTUHK42_reJfdrprhi2W5-coJcDpt45HwlEknNLtgTyT0U6_URiRpICTDrxQo2mydRXM40GqhJZUPGj3MlXUacM2aFZY9mNfT9IdEx4VdnYeva3eVoeZpXYeCtX1UYgTYA8nB8MnZkN4i8LJWrLASopRy2Hkl0PlRp-9STluGo754A/s320/0514D1E0-D9F8-4084-B479-95B2B02813AF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the other hand, I am very happy that my vegetable garden is turning out how I’d always imagined. It really is a beautiful mixture of edible plants, dye plants and flowers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In a yard as small as mine, I think it makes sense to intermingle everything I grow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPzv9oOE0WdIl3MaGgQABQn6bDFTQ-SZ1DLrSP-MxdnUaqOcF5EoB8aBb6HfWAM8DYdZlxQTn1YWJx912YQCb-r3tIA8CTELitzfJsZaWUe2NKT2Mc3tlTfO2gX0260E10cL1l2ZO3nfHlA7uc8DqZlXGDATnu1huyKrIxJjuEJbJ0CD9cw/s2915/78FB31E1-AB44-4B3E-B39B-483CE306EA67.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2915" data-original-width="2915" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPzv9oOE0WdIl3MaGgQABQn6bDFTQ-SZ1DLrSP-MxdnUaqOcF5EoB8aBb6HfWAM8DYdZlxQTn1YWJx912YQCb-r3tIA8CTELitzfJsZaWUe2NKT2Mc3tlTfO2gX0260E10cL1l2ZO3nfHlA7uc8DqZlXGDATnu1huyKrIxJjuEJbJ0CD9cw/s320/78FB31E1-AB44-4B3E-B39B-483CE306EA67.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Garden in the foreground, henhouse in the back. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJqPN5sAgvybOkV_ujnwcaEXknLpFBqALR25svz3Rj44dgEjp6bJIBMK53RoU-vi-1rwAfxLSKenaef-MEvL-6_heVRFN7Nd4hbfdCpuc7swQzE5JKwTrp_CfcsPOOVPCHlpGed1d6q0choCamiEdAdb2QUKBbB5LTyjTxaaT1wn4-nPlCQ/s3024/30E6D354-1BBE-49DE-A0EB-F4179E57EC09.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJqPN5sAgvybOkV_ujnwcaEXknLpFBqALR25svz3Rj44dgEjp6bJIBMK53RoU-vi-1rwAfxLSKenaef-MEvL-6_heVRFN7Nd4hbfdCpuc7swQzE5JKwTrp_CfcsPOOVPCHlpGed1d6q0choCamiEdAdb2QUKBbB5LTyjTxaaT1wn4-nPlCQ/s320/30E6D354-1BBE-49DE-A0EB-F4179E57EC09.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year, I added a second fenced area of official garden. Between our no-rain-in-summer climate and the marauding hens, there’s no point in trying to maintain a summer lawn. So I might as well expand the area devoted to food and flowers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Isn’t the sky wild? I didn’t edit this photo in any way. That’s really how it looked. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Calm before the storm, really. I’m writing this as the all-night cacophony of illegal fireworks rages on. Robb and I stood in the middle of our street and watched a 360 degree display of professional grade fireworks until it got too cold to enjoy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I’ve got to be at work stupidly early tomorrow, and even with high quality earplugs, I’m anticipating a sleepless night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5Ju7LFDE6oBhWOCOjpkf32RvEy1A5QmhrBMdqNOc3NCFXRNupRniB6aU3GJaIdjeEyYxTHafDi5fQpwjq6uTwda8H-bq8SKh3revgHsV70ML2fMr85UZyobHk9cXBr4KzjFdSjrRrpobyFOkcBtZVYcZB3veb4yd_4mIz_p33h9VHTyDvw/s3024/F3DBBC6C-70AE-4900-8F04-8F3F430743D8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5Ju7LFDE6oBhWOCOjpkf32RvEy1A5QmhrBMdqNOc3NCFXRNupRniB6aU3GJaIdjeEyYxTHafDi5fQpwjq6uTwda8H-bq8SKh3revgHsV70ML2fMr85UZyobHk9cXBr4KzjFdSjrRrpobyFOkcBtZVYcZB3veb4yd_4mIz_p33h9VHTyDvw/s320/F3DBBC6C-70AE-4900-8F04-8F3F430743D8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At least there’s home baked pie on the counter if I need comforting at 3am. We did not grow the strawberries, but the other fillings — rhubarb, figs and pluots — are all from our garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I said, I really can’t complain. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">****************</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my first contribution to Harvest Mondays in years. I can’t wait to read what the <a href="https://happyacres.blog/2022/07/04/harvest-monday-july-4-2022/" target="_blank">other participants</a> have been growing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><p></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-32910064840287842672021-09-25T13:05:00.008-07:002021-09-25T13:19:42.925-07:00Chick Pics!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O1p_O2hsKDm-t1Wf4UOscGUyfOEcXy-g16Mn-sEdNOPBCZAOkbNwYJftLk1HInztywlqfHoS6d2kdN-pyJtBiiBQC6SqWmw3cpaKvu42XC8hgi_EiIh6hwjGqSo1_z9L0M3L/s1691/IMG_3658.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1691" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9O1p_O2hsKDm-t1Wf4UOscGUyfOEcXy-g16Mn-sEdNOPBCZAOkbNwYJftLk1HInztywlqfHoS6d2kdN-pyJtBiiBQC6SqWmw3cpaKvu42XC8hgi_EiIh6hwjGqSo1_z9L0M3L/w640-h480/IMG_3658.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Oh hello blog! I've neglected you terribly. But there's nothing like a fresh start. In fact, the only thing better than a fresh start is a fresh start with fluffy baby chicks.<div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY38OSyMrS2bBZi0bZynDZs4FxBjW6qPK0Gzj83_jAPcdLa2M4fq7oJ2iFKLiI_EKG46DxuB2i1gBhPF4X3n9LAShKF3zrAeZzq80ln4h1M9p6ObBaYErMshDmyF4U5Xj21Xb1/s2048/IMG_3659.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY38OSyMrS2bBZi0bZynDZs4FxBjW6qPK0Gzj83_jAPcdLa2M4fq7oJ2iFKLiI_EKG46DxuB2i1gBhPF4X3n9LAShKF3zrAeZzq80ln4h1M9p6ObBaYErMshDmyF4U5Xj21Xb1/w640-h480/IMG_3659.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On Friday, I picked up the two baby chicks that Robb had ordered from <a href="https://biofueloasis.com/products/baby-chicks/" target="_blank">BioFuel Oasis</a> in Berkeley. They were hatched at <a href="https://www.belthatchery.com/gsl.htm" target="_blank">Belt Hatchery</a> in Fresno on Wednesday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is anything cuter than three-day-old chicks? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Robb and I ordered <a href="https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/chickens-101/understanding-sex-link-hybrid-chickens/" target="_blank">sex linked</a> chicks, which are a hybrid two differently colored breeds of chickens. Because roosters carry two genes for coloration, while hens only carry one, this crossing produces chicks who have markedly different colors depending on their gender. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully, this will mean that we didn't bring home any accidental roosters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DIgrFCNMdTcMAqd8IV6Bq09c6XaS84Vi10itrHc9rYdMCiHkOYecTPXcf6rXjn7DHh7qt0GHQ-TE3CHTR0DVuZKzvZOYeVXLCOBokUHfI0lodvZPQKbexpk9TyqEC00Y7H8Q/s2048/IMG_3671.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DIgrFCNMdTcMAqd8IV6Bq09c6XaS84Vi10itrHc9rYdMCiHkOYecTPXcf6rXjn7DHh7qt0GHQ-TE3CHTR0DVuZKzvZOYeVXLCOBokUHfI0lodvZPQKbexpk9TyqEC00Y7H8Q/w640-h480/IMG_3671.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I picked the sassiest pair of chicks in the store, because I hoped that they'd be the healthiest and smartest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chickens are not known for their intelligence, but we've got one particularly dim-witted hen in our adult flock. Our most foolish hen (Lydia) is also the most picked on, the most neurotic, and a remarkably incompetent eater. I think her lack of brain has made her life harder than it could have been. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These two chicks have two speeds at the moment: Zoom and Crash. The transition between these two states is instantaneous, which is pretty amusing. One minute, they're chatting away, exploring their new home, and within seconds, they're completely asleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxK6KxS6r8uqFgztD6U4-tm26Mreebzi05pnzSLXaQhOehgMVWL6xJictSUih3cYITVt8Wv5pn165SfUm9YUmJQNMd4w9X4dFhGyqSRcukzJfZBwUngfmN6E7Fz8klTn2o87S/s2048/IMG_3680.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxK6KxS6r8uqFgztD6U4-tm26Mreebzi05pnzSLXaQhOehgMVWL6xJictSUih3cYITVt8Wv5pn165SfUm9YUmJQNMd4w9X4dFhGyqSRcukzJfZBwUngfmN6E7Fz8klTn2o87S/w640-h480/IMG_3680.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Robb made this brooder box out of a large plastic tub. He cut a hole in its lid, and covered that opening with hardware cloth. He used some of my <a href="http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2020/01/clothes-i-made-in-2019.html" target="_blank">stash of ostrich feathers</a> to make a <a href="http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2008/01/we-cant-save-them-all-but-we-have-to.html" target="_blank">fake mother hen</a>. We learned this trick when we were <a href="http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/search/label/animal%20rehab" target="_blank">volunteering</a> at a <a href="https://www.birdrescue.org" target="_blank">wild bird rehab center</a>. Baby birds seem to do better if they have a feather duster to nestle under.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3HQzF7bLTTEVUByZWVZc_3OW0zIBt0g16_xC1XyNdAQ7WDpn1AxFUXVh5ZUUftGaINwnX4UuM1Yy5HU3c1wmmBn3zjj6XlsvUX9RbgjVVTBnFhl0TGReFKOuKxLQWDr7Yoab/s2048/IMG_3685.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3HQzF7bLTTEVUByZWVZc_3OW0zIBt0g16_xC1XyNdAQ7WDpn1AxFUXVh5ZUUftGaINwnX4UuM1Yy5HU3c1wmmBn3zjj6XlsvUX9RbgjVVTBnFhl0TGReFKOuKxLQWDr7Yoab/w640-h640/IMG_3685.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>This little girl is now four days old. Let's all take a moment to marvel at chicken eyelashes. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-q51uYfYaph-7XgH6vKz-TcOfFuWsHte8taAvVXqaKYJgreFmoVcY8zGjhVCpS_XEhNziLwqTPvmFSzxQ0OfFJKrW9vzHVXhyYrlhJX8SGZWC2qM3kwyp9cFCzdA0e2AnJog/s1863/IMG_3694.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="1863" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji-q51uYfYaph-7XgH6vKz-TcOfFuWsHte8taAvVXqaKYJgreFmoVcY8zGjhVCpS_XEhNziLwqTPvmFSzxQ0OfFJKrW9vzHVXhyYrlhJX8SGZWC2qM3kwyp9cFCzdA0e2AnJog/w640-h640/IMG_3694.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's quite remarkable how relaxed these girls are. They're not afraid of us at all. (We'll see how long this lasts...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-n3giXdteQsp8vgAbtzocyHhJr8hZRD4uU9rve1YsAjRfiOM72tWGizgEb9KE_hoTgWNiSyHZsUmDRicmAu7keUyhqxqajeRSNx_LngjixBqrb0JoV8lkIVR8ltqPDPviTvv/s2048/IMG_3709.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga-n3giXdteQsp8vgAbtzocyHhJr8hZRD4uU9rve1YsAjRfiOM72tWGizgEb9KE_hoTgWNiSyHZsUmDRicmAu7keUyhqxqajeRSNx_LngjixBqrb0JoV8lkIVR8ltqPDPviTvv/w640-h640/IMG_3709.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chicks grow at an astonishing rate. These two already have some adult wing feathers growing in. The adorable fluffy-butt phase of their lives doesn't last long. They turn into gawky adolescents in the blink of an eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG86aJkgQjwNsX5PoiS1aamJuZFA53ucI35-yIM9IsvEazxANwXBSbUWHCBwVrmjDMUqDN9wGD5CKrAeF0B8biu-PhM8jwxz7ba2_kJKFXjXBE1m16LqVFZazGtbyXgEABJf1U/s2048/IMG_3719.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2047" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG86aJkgQjwNsX5PoiS1aamJuZFA53ucI35-yIM9IsvEazxANwXBSbUWHCBwVrmjDMUqDN9wGD5CKrAeF0B8biu-PhM8jwxz7ba2_kJKFXjXBE1m16LqVFZazGtbyXgEABJf1U/w640-h640/IMG_3719.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In case you're wondering why we decided to get new babies right now, it's because our older hens have all hit henopause, and aren't laying eggs anymore. Considering that we got the first batch in 2012, and then added two more in 2014, that's not really surprising. Hens lay fewer and fewer eggs every year, and in chicken terms, our flock is a bunch of old ladies. </div><div><br /></div><div>We opted to get the new birds relatively late in the season so that they'd be mature enough to start laying eggs in the spring.</div><div><br /></div><div>Chicks have long been used as a metaphor for rebirth and renewal, and I think we could all use a bit of that energy right now.<br /><p><br /></p></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-58408967449060651372021-01-30T12:03:00.010-08:002021-01-30T16:26:44.732-08:00Tennis, Anyone?<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMe3yxbDWRUiAdgljyk2b90h474FjJK9u9UInguLF1jonagT1ipe9lPDeCoEqtgxxOBqFDl1wGXLKf0pL3dQaRErBTK86T7-af97Nx7_O4LwKuwuOVDcOm4yBPL5avDQiY7Ct/s1000/IMG_1882.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1000" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMe3yxbDWRUiAdgljyk2b90h474FjJK9u9UInguLF1jonagT1ipe9lPDeCoEqtgxxOBqFDl1wGXLKf0pL3dQaRErBTK86T7-af97Nx7_O4LwKuwuOVDcOm4yBPL5avDQiY7Ct/w640-h492/IMG_1882.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you ever thought about the expression "sportswear?" These days, it's a kind of stuffy-sounding department-store-sounding word, used to describe "normal" clothes. It refers to the kinds of clothes that people wear on a daily basis, when they're not at the office or at a formal event. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But why SPORTS wear? Today, sportswear is different than activewear, which is kind of weird when you actually think about it. (To say nothing of <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/bicycle-bloomers-yoga-pants-how-sports-shaped-modern-fashion/574081/" target="_blank">athleisure</a> clothing.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1fsHUD3AxFhIOtjd6Kw2Gaf-XW410ne8KfC2wa_bGtVV_Ufjh8pF9TpSVi3Qs2WQGXj-2A_ldvDnIxrddjK8LiqV4Uuokn4k2Is3JFK5KEDribdD-LevbefqtAWDsJ4DrSSN/s768/IMG_1884.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="768" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1fsHUD3AxFhIOtjd6Kw2Gaf-XW410ne8KfC2wa_bGtVV_Ufjh8pF9TpSVi3Qs2WQGXj-2A_ldvDnIxrddjK8LiqV4Uuokn4k2Is3JFK5KEDribdD-LevbefqtAWDsJ4DrSSN/w640-h498/IMG_1884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The history of sportswear is (to nerds like me) utterly fascinating. There were so many factors that came together in the late 19th century and very early 20th century to create garments we still wear today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 1839, a process was discovered to create a <a href="https://connecticuthistory.org/charles-goodyear-and-the-vulcanization-of-rubber/" target="_blank">durable rubber product</a> that could be used for everything from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-William-Thomson" target="_blank">tires</a> to the soles of shoes. This lead to the explosion in popularity of the bicycle, which necessitated changes in women's clothing. Bicycles gave women <a href="https://lithub.com/a-brief-feminist-history-of-bike-riding/" target="_blank">more freedom</a> of <a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/the-feminist-history-of-bicycles-57455" target="_blank">movement</a> than they'd ever had, both in terms of moving their legs, and in terms of <a href="https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/pedaling-path-freedom" target="_blank">moving unchaperoned around their worlds</a>. (But that's a conversation for another time.) Likewise, the new <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/05/14/the-history-of-the-sneaker/aa2096d1-a7e2-4427-a324-cb603512722d/" target="_blank">rubber-soled shoes</a> launched a craze for the sport of tennis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 1913, the first <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intramural_sports" target="_blank">intramural sports departments</a> were founded on American college campuses. College students adopted the less restrictive clothing worn on the playing field, and never looked back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The photo above is likely from the late 'teens or early 'twenties, when women still wore long skirts and sleeves on the court, and men had apparently forsaken ties, but were still wearing button-down woven shirts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second image is from the mid 1920s, after tennis superstar <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/07/suzanne-leglen-wimbledon-fashion-scandal-tennis/593443/" target="_blank">Suzane Lenglen</a> (named The Goddess or la Divine by the French press) introduced the game-changing sleeveless dress, hemmed above the calf. Male tennis players at this time would have been wearing the newest fashions as well -- a knit jersey shirt with short sleeves and just a few buttons at the neck. This <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-story-behind-the-lacoste-crocodile-shirt-91276898/" target="_blank">shirt</a> was adapted from the polo fields, and popularized by tennis champion <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/René_Lacoste" target="_blank">Rene Lacoste </a>(known as the Crocodile). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A hundred years later, we're still wearing these very garments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhizur4j2tKrvklwWe2r2EgLaMhpQZ43WhrYdskV51GZtFPjp65VyvS_jv_0swZGwLfwimXMFh1C5XGzfwaCI6mX51rcr6hgPuvXDBLGKJYB4qhD_RQ5rR-5YZatHV8bfxAEcV/s2048/IMG_0055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhizur4j2tKrvklwWe2r2EgLaMhpQZ43WhrYdskV51GZtFPjp65VyvS_jv_0swZGwLfwimXMFh1C5XGzfwaCI6mX51rcr6hgPuvXDBLGKJYB4qhD_RQ5rR-5YZatHV8bfxAEcV/w640-h640/IMG_0055.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before the pandemic, a group of my friends had come up with a plan to wear 1920s and 1930s tennis outfits to the 2020 <a href="http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-lake-tahoe-gatsby-festival.html" target="_blank">Tahoe Gatsby Festival</a>. Obviously, this didn't happen. But we didn't let go of the idea. It sort of floated in our dreams, as something we'd do when we could all get together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the middle of the summer, a team of <a href="https://www.vintage4me2.com" target="_blank">vintage pattern sellers</a> I know came into an amazing trove of patterns. They found themselves in possession of every pattern released by the Ladies Home Journal in 1923. They put the word out to the vintage sewing community, and told us that they'd look for any items we were specifically seeking. This was an unprecedented opportunity. Messages flew back and fort. I sent photos of vintage tennis players, and they found me some utterly perfect patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp7rM3nS0A_71L4deoxymG84FTbYgVV7Asa7IY6uHjNdjjJefmZELB2vOJuquB6ZldYMgZaQ760wmJjRCAq8zztL3IlKQqJESKm3N2_Se4QGi7flKB4UlwFEDncMLHnw6nP9-/s2048/IMG_1366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1376" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp7rM3nS0A_71L4deoxymG84FTbYgVV7Asa7IY6uHjNdjjJefmZELB2vOJuquB6ZldYMgZaQ760wmJjRCAq8zztL3IlKQqJESKm3N2_Se4QGi7flKB4UlwFEDncMLHnw6nP9-/w430-h640/IMG_1366.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was exactly what I had envisioned, when I planned my 1920s tennis ensemble. I had wanted something that fell right at the cusp of the change in clothing when hemlines were rising and sleeves were getting shorter. Also, I'm a sucker for a little sailor-style collar in early 20th century women's blouses. The adoption of the "masculine" style of collar happened right at the beginning of modern feminism, so it's very dear to my history-nerd's heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMPOZg8GmHinc5JRTKUD23yI0U2Z4wRCldj8Kn8Ee-Au5EPwrufvbk2fEew-2mfPRH027jczHZCVBm1kQhs6QLb3NGTw4KAfNLpB0ylYLIlMxFuPsFLy88EZuf5w-r_eA8lW5/s2048/IMG_0046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMPOZg8GmHinc5JRTKUD23yI0U2Z4wRCldj8Kn8Ee-Au5EPwrufvbk2fEew-2mfPRH027jczHZCVBm1kQhs6QLb3NGTw4KAfNLpB0ylYLIlMxFuPsFLy88EZuf5w-r_eA8lW5/w640-h480/IMG_0046.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These fragile tissue patterns had literally never been used. I was in awe of my good fortune.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdo-SYIRJWFdMmq7-5wyfwA47DRr_CAD-tbYQGMJlzxzUtm6zmm3uMsPgNhmN3bUNdsLMIVxeQVCwSBF_kqGdUqCn6Y6wprblzoCmsrurDi0b5FpWZVK5P31aOUYLelELc5KP/s2048/IMG_0050.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="2048" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdo-SYIRJWFdMmq7-5wyfwA47DRr_CAD-tbYQGMJlzxzUtm6zmm3uMsPgNhmN3bUNdsLMIVxeQVCwSBF_kqGdUqCn6Y6wprblzoCmsrurDi0b5FpWZVK5P31aOUYLelELc5KP/w640-h388/IMG_0050.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of the pattern companies of this era did not print any instructions on their tissue pieces. Instead they relied on a series of perforations. The size and shape of these holes were <a href="https://www.vintagestitching.com/pages/tips-for-working-with-unprinted-patterns" target="_blank">a brilliant code</a>, telling the dressmaker how to layout and assemble the fabric that would become the finished garment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(<a href="https://wearinghistoryblog.com/2013/12/de-coding-vintage-patterns-part-1-mccall-patterns-the-advent-of-the-printed-pattern/" target="_blank">McCall's</a> held the patent on printed pattern pieces and apparently sued anyone who used their idea. I sewed a 1920s McCalls dress back in 2019, and wrote about it <a href="http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2019/08/making-my-own-vintage-clothes.html?m=0" target="_blank">here</a>.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGqy-mDQv2wh27CREIoSkzkW5T8RcmPsIbyJGNQaFqeyTPAa1tEky1tM1qHqkgx0ra73HdC78ipK7OZUD9sgCqhJE7RAE9MiEIPM7Tb7oml2e4xc1hJbgjSa7ThnYuyv08G90/s2048/IMG_0053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGqy-mDQv2wh27CREIoSkzkW5T8RcmPsIbyJGNQaFqeyTPAa1tEky1tM1qHqkgx0ra73HdC78ipK7OZUD9sgCqhJE7RAE9MiEIPM7Tb7oml2e4xc1hJbgjSa7ThnYuyv08G90/s320/IMG_0053.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are the pattern pieces for the front and back of my blouse. The back is the longer piece. The long shirt-tail was apparently another innovation of 1920s tennis stars. It kept their shirts from coming un-tucked while they were playing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHxjEkLIsCEV0gNJAi5K8XJKg7G38M8Q66SAICieSMNknoal0yoengoLjyeanCb2DlJutYvMM55lCGINS5bxtw8O8de6loB9glgt3hPloZWiHiheMjYe7d9ZahP3tFOFIfzug/s2048/IMG_0148.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHxjEkLIsCEV0gNJAi5K8XJKg7G38M8Q66SAICieSMNknoal0yoengoLjyeanCb2DlJutYvMM55lCGINS5bxtw8O8de6loB9glgt3hPloZWiHiheMjYe7d9ZahP3tFOFIfzug/s320/IMG_0148.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't make any adjustments to the pattern and remarkably it fit as I'd envisioned. I can see in it, the last remnants of the Edwardian silhouette, with the blousing in the front, and the sash waistband. (That sash ties into an enormous bow in the back, which strikes me as another Edwardian hold-over.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdFNQTr8ZJRejhKYdFHF57kfFAy6NxFcN8qNu7AO_VK1ODb2_C8aiKi0CSHZ7uKo07mJBhDkbPFaBvaCB5qY7lAcdZSOg_X9xM9QfFWnfoqBbJAUP3Rb8InJ942WfVDFPbP6s/s2048/IMG_1784.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdFNQTr8ZJRejhKYdFHF57kfFAy6NxFcN8qNu7AO_VK1ODb2_C8aiKi0CSHZ7uKo07mJBhDkbPFaBvaCB5qY7lAcdZSOg_X9xM9QfFWnfoqBbJAUP3Rb8InJ942WfVDFPbP6s/w640-h640/IMG_1784.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The blouse has purely decorative buttons at the neck. I used vintage buttons from my collection. I did the same on the shirt's cuffs and on the skirt. Weird how all these buttons weren't actually functional. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfkXLEDvD9wr_jEELhG_rs-VzFmeKdIYlhWUwX0_9ePf6TBwQ4xPlJH4wSKI-SsuoSD1fj-2MA0BktBjGFOECRUn2Qd3bwBlz6UoVwAIbE8WGds8K8GvYW-HDQfgJy-yQKuds/s2048/IMG_0297.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfkXLEDvD9wr_jEELhG_rs-VzFmeKdIYlhWUwX0_9ePf6TBwQ4xPlJH4wSKI-SsuoSD1fj-2MA0BktBjGFOECRUn2Qd3bwBlz6UoVwAIbE8WGds8K8GvYW-HDQfgJy-yQKuds/w480-h640/IMG_0297.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The skirt was also from the transition from Edwardian sportswear to the more modern garments of the later 1920s. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwC9zRtXZsWjAMvwBCdYxBBInoBoXt7OjVDsAKGO7QCeCxiwsClTM2PbNH5BMYVYPjH-mlIG6wXmRt1b628U86_4EXVW6I8RDgHhvq7l_Y-RVhgFMNbYQ6i7OTCuzsXH8eefO/s2048/IMG_0298.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwC9zRtXZsWjAMvwBCdYxBBInoBoXt7OjVDsAKGO7QCeCxiwsClTM2PbNH5BMYVYPjH-mlIG6wXmRt1b628U86_4EXVW6I8RDgHhvq7l_Y-RVhgFMNbYQ6i7OTCuzsXH8eefO/w640-h480/IMG_0298.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a remarkably simple garment, for the most part. And that's a good thing, because the instructions were maddeningly sparse. Vintage patterns assume a level of dressmaking mastery that I can't begin to aspire to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fYz4hqrKE-iQk0MDaL4bSkpDguiUQZSb44MYzXPyOo678rfXp-SV6C3Z1KQ20KVVUwaaLiV9YD50v6jC95ebhP8VZkwfD3DtTQN-COr2AaGdUFyNjbhlFb0r8y9q4lY_LW0w/s2048/IMG_1785.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fYz4hqrKE-iQk0MDaL4bSkpDguiUQZSb44MYzXPyOo678rfXp-SV6C3Z1KQ20KVVUwaaLiV9YD50v6jC95ebhP8VZkwfD3DtTQN-COr2AaGdUFyNjbhlFb0r8y9q4lY_LW0w/w480-h640/IMG_1785.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Take, for instance, the front of the waistband. This structure, which echoes the fall-front trousers that became popular in <a href="https://www.jpryan.com/details/breeches.html" target="_blank">menswear in the mid 18th century</a>. This kind of closure pre-dates the invention of the zipper, and can still be seen in traditional sailor's trousers. Again, there's <a href="https://witness2fashion.wordpress.com/tag/sailor-trousers-fall-front-button-fly/" target="_blank">an intersection between sailor's fashion and early women's sportswear</a>. (I should look into this further sometime.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The odd thing about this skirt is that this structure is entirely vestigial. It serves no purpose at all. The buttons don't unbutton, and the waistband is sewn closed at the front. The skirt actually opens in the back. Strange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were absolutely no instruction on how to assemble this part of the skirt, other than a baffling line drawing. I had several of my professional costume-building friends opining on this construction on a spirited text conversation. It's quite challenging to get this sort of advice in a time of mandatory social distancing. I miss my friends so much, and text messages are a poor substitute for time spent together. Still, I'm grateful for the technology that keeps us connected.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgon6uaPCvIRnARA40EAh3u8kUfSDJN9Gt8XEzzO3noFB5kzxAveYhirCoLEdwdAts5oLs-VdYGBy3TakHZO5CVxZaL2-VdRfSU2RzvDRcP8gxvNSU_Je_2C0sBeT2McFPzF_EG/s2048/IMG_0039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgon6uaPCvIRnARA40EAh3u8kUfSDJN9Gt8XEzzO3noFB5kzxAveYhirCoLEdwdAts5oLs-VdYGBy3TakHZO5CVxZaL2-VdRfSU2RzvDRcP8gxvNSU_Je_2C0sBeT2McFPzF_EG/w640-h640/IMG_0039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, so what does one do with a replica of a 1920s tennis ensemble, particularly when one does not play tennis? Well, there's always badminton.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I remember clearly the day that Robb and I found this vintage container of shuttlecocks at an estate sale. We just about laughed ourselves silly, imagining playing badminton indoors. I realize that these were probably made for the aforementioned intramural sports, but we both envisioned irresponsibly playing badminton inside our tiny home, which is filled with fragile antique knickknackery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEVp3KhNxe89pwqLCebifymOy5_KdAv2VLLYrwW4BY5wCUSOWATFlL-KmdYB5uN1HbeOL3FgmmInRNKYEVm0u4z4_DqeUfzV4dTaxbPs0i4hCXXO8w-qarUrJpKJevHx42vZk/s2048/IMG_1670.jp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxEVp3KhNxe89pwqLCebifymOy5_KdAv2VLLYrwW4BY5wCUSOWATFlL-KmdYB5uN1HbeOL3FgmmInRNKYEVm0u4z4_DqeUfzV4dTaxbPs0i4hCXXO8w-qarUrJpKJevHx42vZk/w640-h480/IMG_1670.jp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Really, what could possibly go wrong?</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e8-1gJ6RbH5JapVz1xI9AUE2sevkB9BjYTu769IBRwFAROXaS-4nueTAFp-2UUgqMyK5fpfhp8-3qsmp8It0KPrE42ThRslhdRCcDzP-tyyrKYXq-QYP2pCHeABy6wdfoxEL/s2048/IMG_1621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4e8-1gJ6RbH5JapVz1xI9AUE2sevkB9BjYTu769IBRwFAROXaS-4nueTAFp-2UUgqMyK5fpfhp8-3qsmp8It0KPrE42ThRslhdRCcDzP-tyyrKYXq-QYP2pCHeABy6wdfoxEL/w640-h480/IMG_1621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Robb and I had planned to wear our tennis outfits to the virtual <a href="https://www.gatsbysummerafternoon.com" target="_blank">Gatsby Summer Afternoon</a>, which was the re-envisioning of the <a href="https://artdecosociety.squarespace.com" target="_blank">Art Deco Society of California</a>'s annual <a href="http://howsrobb.blogspot.com/2019/09/weve-got-all-sort-of-baggage.html" target="_blank">lawn party</a>. Unfortunately, the weekend that folks were supposed to get together all over the Bay Area for <a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10164324742375722&id=216057060721" target="_blank">socially distanced mini-picnics</a>, the air was filled with smoke from raging wildfires, and it simply wasn't safe to go outside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not safe, you say? You know what else isn't safe? INDOOR BADMINTON. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I set up my phone with a camera timer, moved most of the furniture out of the dining room, and Robb and I played a hilarious and chaotic game of indoor badminton. Nothing was broken, and the resulting photos were far too unflattering ever to share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZqfUkhw_9tmHLBVxEaGJ3ipYQkD3rUXqW4OKWhIMNgycehZl1fs-KDUaxki2frrD_fhl6_B3q08cTvxrp4hbkmcDQBkhH7nmnrUdPyfjng9SBVUlkNd4U0wVg4oy75LVtjy7/s2048/IMG_1524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZqfUkhw_9tmHLBVxEaGJ3ipYQkD3rUXqW4OKWhIMNgycehZl1fs-KDUaxki2frrD_fhl6_B3q08cTvxrp4hbkmcDQBkhH7nmnrUdPyfjng9SBVUlkNd4U0wVg4oy75LVtjy7/w640-h480/IMG_1524.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've got our dignity to maintain, after all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7bAMndwv9um8WlZupeI6YUWU4yEEYOcDnPY8so13WhmYWUYrgKX7S9TZfE9NgmizYhq13r73WAvxzcPgDdv0oQWOMoDQf3hEntp-9x7hfjfJjquya2YmTdVchuhpO7G8ZXzJ/s2048/IMG_1807.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7bAMndwv9um8WlZupeI6YUWU4yEEYOcDnPY8so13WhmYWUYrgKX7S9TZfE9NgmizYhq13r73WAvxzcPgDdv0oQWOMoDQf3hEntp-9x7hfjfJjquya2YmTdVchuhpO7G8ZXzJ/w480-h640/IMG_1807.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the air cleared, Robb and I spent a lovely afternoon with friends. We set up our picnics in a local park, and kept what we hoped was a safe distance apart. In so many ways, it exemplified this year. It wasn't what we expected, but we made the best of bad circumstances with creativity and good humor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, in summing up the theme of sportswear, you might even say that we were good sports about the whole situation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycnruzvM61GHma2n72FQeSjYfIyrwe15fWCfYpGS5c-E_r8ySQhyphenhyphentrBgWThn4YSCTBbTuLllIRsnnj-kQ05-KYL7_gPv2ensNiRV380Mr-F-g9KrpcTx-hsuImlZKjWu-Gib2/s1047/IMG_1881.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1047" data-original-width="731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycnruzvM61GHma2n72FQeSjYfIyrwe15fWCfYpGS5c-E_r8ySQhyphenhyphentrBgWThn4YSCTBbTuLllIRsnnj-kQ05-KYL7_gPv2ensNiRV380Mr-F-g9KrpcTx-hsuImlZKjWu-Gib2/w446-h640/IMG_1881.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Most astonishingly of all, I won a prize for this absurd little ensemble. I was so shocked and overwhelmed that I couldn't write about it until now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-76695459687459407452020-12-30T08:56:00.004-08:002020-12-30T09:13:22.854-08:00Knitting New Vintage Garments<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M1wkiPqS0qH-PCgqGg86hm1-IPoYNa_2VW-l2wMsSTlL9cXzAI5OOFtiYZ0Xmq4MHKP00QiQ6ffTzYEUy_DRdxD1cmIDyzG0JYemxpiMBHpAPpxpTRTCQV9hm_3-I8qIYML5/s2048/5B0FB75E-4CA3-4341-9FA5-3BFFDD6A3791_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6M1wkiPqS0qH-PCgqGg86hm1-IPoYNa_2VW-l2wMsSTlL9cXzAI5OOFtiYZ0Xmq4MHKP00QiQ6ffTzYEUy_DRdxD1cmIDyzG0JYemxpiMBHpAPpxpTRTCQV9hm_3-I8qIYML5/w640-h640/5B0FB75E-4CA3-4341-9FA5-3BFFDD6A3791_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I haven't written anything on my poor blog for months and months, I've got a bit of a backlog. So prepare yourself for a long essay on the process of knitting a cardigan using vintage yarn and a vintage pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PsHjvFBPVg5YcTCB23Pw3IXLilJkrQIm50__3r99WrfLcrxRypnsfvPl0HMYl3JPg_5x3Zbvj611_ntfE6pQf83Xzc2sme1vYKod0PcRlfsPh4AeIljiUffWWU8De-_Tp5zs/s2048/DA2A0CDC-FF57-4A28-876E-33DE914DC334_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PsHjvFBPVg5YcTCB23Pw3IXLilJkrQIm50__3r99WrfLcrxRypnsfvPl0HMYl3JPg_5x3Zbvj611_ntfE6pQf83Xzc2sme1vYKod0PcRlfsPh4AeIljiUffWWU8De-_Tp5zs/w640-h640/DA2A0CDC-FF57-4A28-876E-33DE914DC334_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some time back, I bought a number of skeins of this beautiful vintage wool. There were two shades of pale blue, and a lovely buttery yellow. I had no idea what I was going to make with this yarn. I just knew that it spoke to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEX-5z9hIUGhy7Ze0T3hyphenhyphenRDD1zdP0DPCniCl2KyJPJaTCP62O8I1e412F-aAWrJ4REj_IkAXFiVhX_tYk-lCsaUgLeRFhL_EcSxhKe8nMhBrQIvNKwb2nqCGdDcmeR0jFlQ63/s2048/94605FA3-2667-47E1-B481-22C041A4DA64.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1510" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEX-5z9hIUGhy7Ze0T3hyphenhyphenRDD1zdP0DPCniCl2KyJPJaTCP62O8I1e412F-aAWrJ4REj_IkAXFiVhX_tYk-lCsaUgLeRFhL_EcSxhKe8nMhBrQIvNKwb2nqCGdDcmeR0jFlQ63/w472-h640/94605FA3-2667-47E1-B481-22C041A4DA64.jpeg" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thankfully, there are many wonderful people who have cataloged vintage patterns online, to share with weirdos like me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went hunting for a garment that would suit my aesthetic, would be appropriate for the style of yarn I had, and most importantly would not require more yarn than I had purchased. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found this adorable pattern from the February 1947 issue of Stitchcraft magazine. It's described as "Rainbow Stripes -- for a charming evening jumper." The gauge of yarn seemed perfect, and I knew that stripes were a great way of stretching out limited amounts of precious yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The stripes appealed to me as did the tiny little nubbins. The garment seemed pretty straightforward. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Robb even figured out what magazine the model in the photo was reading. Apparently, it's the August 1946 edition of Vanity Fair.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZA1c359aynxIE49-5tPhcRUw64rLj_w3EdPNRFl6D4LWSn2dYqm4qFTwUrC8wyxZvfBFOGtG0RtXfY_ODAS69378rH9gzR_z3vFkmhVFPx6NAftSPG2Qn5C_71IFupYIT77y/s2048/946441D8-A93F-478F-81EC-5DA30894934F_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZA1c359aynxIE49-5tPhcRUw64rLj_w3EdPNRFl6D4LWSn2dYqm4qFTwUrC8wyxZvfBFOGtG0RtXfY_ODAS69378rH9gzR_z3vFkmhVFPx6NAftSPG2Qn5C_71IFupYIT77y/w640-h640/946441D8-A93F-478F-81EC-5DA30894934F_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's also worth mentioning that vintage patterns are significantly less thorough than what modern knitters are used to nowadays. While modern knitting patterns come in a wonderfully wide range of sizes, vintage patterns are what I call "one-size-fits-SOMEONE." Vintage patterns rarely offer schematic drawings or even any measurements. At the same time, these older patterns tend to be incredibly text heavy -- line after line of numbers, which can be incredibly daunting. And while modern patterns generally provide a lot of supporting technical instructions, vintage patterns will just give terse instructions along the lines of "finish neckline with crochet." Robb and I joke about vintage cookbooks that say something like "prepare grouse in the usual manner." You wonder why anyone found this sort of thing helpful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I relish a challenge. So I set to work knitting sample swatches, to make certain that the gauge in the pattern (the number of stitches per inch) was in line with my own knitting. Usually, this is a process of figuring out which size needle produces the correct knitted fabric.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I knit my swatches, it became immediately apparent that something was wrong with the original pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The garment that the model was wearing was a smooth stockinette stitch punctuated with little decorative nubbins. For those not familiar with knitting terminology, stockinette is the typical smooth knitting stitch that make up most knitted garments. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My test fabric wasn't smooth, and it didn't have nubbins. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqskdpoWLbQ_o0xZZ5ncoDbY95b_ukpZdsUMuy3t1MOQnIdwFZSBduE9AxuMZQjeo7oSfXIDO_hG9Sgbdw7AjKVqi4bgZJsUZBde3bPwzLnOIzk9VQFydVZ8whDM9nS2tqj3c/s2048/C3F8F1F0-873E-4524-92D9-75F39546CFFD_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqskdpoWLbQ_o0xZZ5ncoDbY95b_ukpZdsUMuy3t1MOQnIdwFZSBduE9AxuMZQjeo7oSfXIDO_hG9Sgbdw7AjKVqi4bgZJsUZBde3bPwzLnOIzk9VQFydVZ8whDM9nS2tqj3c/w640-h640/C3F8F1F0-873E-4524-92D9-75F39546CFFD_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I adjusted my knitting to eliminate the ridges in my fabric, figuring that this might also rectify the nubbin situation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nope. My knitting needed nicer nubbins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfOVV2MbRxMhESruRnWk9GSdTLExPMfL5jdsQ6GCPOOihsALgv6JfHE9Jr-fUe7djOFFx3QeNAy9r2-BZXjY7zGYqaqzrL62iONbW8U1O40Ye0gTf0nojIW1PszUH3GE5qyRW/s2048/9B74D695-CC33-4C35-BBE6-5136253FE073_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfOVV2MbRxMhESruRnWk9GSdTLExPMfL5jdsQ6GCPOOihsALgv6JfHE9Jr-fUe7djOFFx3QeNAy9r2-BZXjY7zGYqaqzrL62iONbW8U1O40Ye0gTf0nojIW1PszUH3GE5qyRW/w480-h640/9B74D695-CC33-4C35-BBE6-5136253FE073_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Given this, I did what any modern knitter would do, and asked the vintage knitting community for insight. Together, we knit an impressive array of samples. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And none of them looked anything like the original garment. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXsUI6CaLBcZXBuin1ShwLK03fGZv3nbI7pdiJcxX8LbrSE06IcCW1fkQfQqv9KEDMzoe-WvbfNiOspsEYFBrSycXfaV99CdW6F2c-yGo07M1LUd_OfC3TgtErwPaIqre-b1j/s2048/IMG_4171.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXsUI6CaLBcZXBuin1ShwLK03fGZv3nbI7pdiJcxX8LbrSE06IcCW1fkQfQqv9KEDMzoe-WvbfNiOspsEYFBrSycXfaV99CdW6F2c-yGo07M1LUd_OfC3TgtErwPaIqre-b1j/w640-h480/IMG_4171.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Eventually, I turned to my favorite knitting stitch dictionaries, the Barbara Walker Treasuries, and tried out the various instructions for knobby bits. <div><br /></div><div>I tried bobbles and nupps and popcorn. And for those who were wondering, I decided that bobbles used too much of my limited supply of vintage yarn, nupps were hateful to knit, and that popcorn stitch was exactly what I was looking for.<div><br /></div><div>Barbara Walker's instructions (pictured above) are for popcorn stitch on a purl background. I knit mine on a stockinette background. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C0M6zwTALXBeuhGbLdB7lC_C5qppK-urPePz5M4yRcvX8C_kXrS0wWEki4GnZHzJoanCFfSn_uyXCvnEkD_DBq37HMLkwXBxLKv-2pQiTfnRiP56167JE51xW4pqOiwb4F-r/s2048/DECD3D88-3F46-4A27-9095-3E83C6CF988A_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5C0M6zwTALXBeuhGbLdB7lC_C5qppK-urPePz5M4yRcvX8C_kXrS0wWEki4GnZHzJoanCFfSn_uyXCvnEkD_DBq37HMLkwXBxLKv-2pQiTfnRiP56167JE51xW4pqOiwb4F-r/w640-h640/DECD3D88-3F46-4A27-9095-3E83C6CF988A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I carried my knitting everywhere.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBIOKu0pa4QBbyRs1AaXVQoUSQ6AYq-idq6M4Hrzshd_s4CHx1-ksT6PnYvGbSvdt3OeVBJai9qrp-oRRUFzYeBLrLkFHEzscpGW8cHX0pwq3p2LVIe8D67k5-dDfeEhK80Ut/s2048/270D137E-0E93-4E1B-835A-6DF74692BB04.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBIOKu0pa4QBbyRs1AaXVQoUSQ6AYq-idq6M4Hrzshd_s4CHx1-ksT6PnYvGbSvdt3OeVBJai9qrp-oRRUFzYeBLrLkFHEzscpGW8cHX0pwq3p2LVIe8D67k5-dDfeEhK80Ut/w480-h640/270D137E-0E93-4E1B-835A-6DF74692BB04.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cats were very helpful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJh8YjyzrGTUzW-zsWB622GiWDk9BpEL-OACiT5v4JxFZQnQgoAr4WvQhjdgBcovegTeNwUuRBMlzceUXy0eXH6SG35Lb2q9uUsjtlODeFTePzJ6kO-VUcw1HAVRnSCyFIo93/s2048/BB680F6B-93DD-4351-AAA4-A4C0DDF356B6_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJh8YjyzrGTUzW-zsWB622GiWDk9BpEL-OACiT5v4JxFZQnQgoAr4WvQhjdgBcovegTeNwUuRBMlzceUXy0eXH6SG35Lb2q9uUsjtlODeFTePzJ6kO-VUcw1HAVRnSCyFIo93/w640-h640/BB680F6B-93DD-4351-AAA4-A4C0DDF356B6_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since the pattern offered no insights into the ultimate dimensions, I used a favorite t-shirt as a template. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNB9GL-pbF3vptjt_raqXmAhNWGd9-1tG6AyDxoAKOQxd4pJRb6oJnH0VtpOcunvCVKyFGK1G3vhjHfH6X_3Exaf3IhAkrrpMga0qCwSNv1XHBBXq4Ob1LsTQD6zS4KwcmvcJ/s1978/7CE5C6C9-10E4-4138-89E2-D6CBD8DA0EE1_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="1978" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNB9GL-pbF3vptjt_raqXmAhNWGd9-1tG6AyDxoAKOQxd4pJRb6oJnH0VtpOcunvCVKyFGK1G3vhjHfH6X_3Exaf3IhAkrrpMga0qCwSNv1XHBBXq4Ob1LsTQD6zS4KwcmvcJ/w640-h640/7CE5C6C9-10E4-4138-89E2-D6CBD8DA0EE1_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I checked my fit throughout the entire knitting process. </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6VllZ6D4pnjWxcv4ZKQj-V9v1UjuvTAidNOSICD7gJzRLA1UP5MyWBPTMVA7tNB7PRFaG75x7DKpX6B8ts9K07-HT-WnElk4xfFandkDEoQ7MJPs-dy8YNRIIRUvvKB1Uey8/s2048/E391C0CD-DCA3-4462-8BD8-BADDE1252F5A_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6VllZ6D4pnjWxcv4ZKQj-V9v1UjuvTAidNOSICD7gJzRLA1UP5MyWBPTMVA7tNB7PRFaG75x7DKpX6B8ts9K07-HT-WnElk4xfFandkDEoQ7MJPs-dy8YNRIIRUvvKB1Uey8/w640-h426/E391C0CD-DCA3-4462-8BD8-BADDE1252F5A_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I was very happy with the fit of this garment, I was less than pleased with the way the bottom hem curled up on itself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9La7XdgqEDdH35LYRLMAlWYuq_LjLtc5-ubH5Xa8tAFK2vlxt8JoaVA0Ayy3JtQAU2W541PLqcyG7a2sPMTfEsn8aVvSGNSLYBoHRR7H4HK5X4dRk_nHdu7aPzTFHwacGRChn/s2048/8403C03B-3873-4A1B-882B-DBEC7446E538_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9La7XdgqEDdH35LYRLMAlWYuq_LjLtc5-ubH5Xa8tAFK2vlxt8JoaVA0Ayy3JtQAU2W541PLqcyG7a2sPMTfEsn8aVvSGNSLYBoHRR7H4HK5X4dRk_nHdu7aPzTFHwacGRChn/w640-h640/8403C03B-3873-4A1B-882B-DBEC7446E538_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This tendency to curl up is a characteristic of stockinette stitch. This is why knitted garments are typically finished off with a ribbed hem and ribbed cuffs. The ribbed stitch counteracts the curling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wDe1x-_eO2MtYJRCuCZhuTYN3dNmPQRSFVde0GsjPDpDDLNDWVTV0m8w_H1lgcW9tOvOsVqv8JM1t_j_UzOF0Sp3-9lsQapZMo3ZGYkNvIJYzAMoKQXRPIG03nyy6YbOr1Zj/s2048/2F1860CB-561A-41D5-AF5B-F1A9F24BB719_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wDe1x-_eO2MtYJRCuCZhuTYN3dNmPQRSFVde0GsjPDpDDLNDWVTV0m8w_H1lgcW9tOvOsVqv8JM1t_j_UzOF0Sp3-9lsQapZMo3ZGYkNvIJYzAMoKQXRPIG03nyy6YbOr1Zj/w480-h640/2F1860CB-561A-41D5-AF5B-F1A9F24BB719_1_201_a.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The original pattern did not have any ribbing on the hem of on the sleeve's cuffs. I found this incredibly odd. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zIbbvTOUxDAu5PPxENBNQFMmOf3b6zO7pC4lQRzw7Jlsd3eBP1-Zjc4aKKg9tEMmllVJ2tml-EHE2SIhHgJIRs9k205W8Kci3ZuPHGl4TY1GRspG9s6FaTn6ZPFRwnzO7Z0b/s2048/D882735F-C8A0-41F1-9E6C-14A4D875D6F7_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0zIbbvTOUxDAu5PPxENBNQFMmOf3b6zO7pC4lQRzw7Jlsd3eBP1-Zjc4aKKg9tEMmllVJ2tml-EHE2SIhHgJIRs9k205W8Kci3ZuPHGl4TY1GRspG9s6FaTn6ZPFRwnzO7Z0b/w640-h640/D882735F-C8A0-41F1-9E6C-14A4D875D6F7_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />To counteract the inevitable curling, I knitting interior facings. These would exert an opposite curling force, and theoretically produce a nice straight edge. They would also offer a bit more structure along the edges of my garment.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this photo, you can see the hem of my garment on the left and the button band on the right. (This is a picture of the inside of my little cardigan.) What you'll notice is that the hem has been stitched down and is behaving exactly as I had hope it would. The button band has not been secured, and is still curling up on itself.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCBqDjPJBUwSqkRAg2qt2p5pICKWuVh0pz3T2-e71TLe26sjrEfW8W3tVMlg5U4c1GNmZX7PVc000Zl8jLhwrFUz3uW-Z5XCFkufOcr8lscdcY7UGvRj1CiPCxMUGPrsmcWbm/s2048/IMG_6192.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCBqDjPJBUwSqkRAg2qt2p5pICKWuVh0pz3T2-e71TLe26sjrEfW8W3tVMlg5U4c1GNmZX7PVc000Zl8jLhwrFUz3uW-Z5XCFkufOcr8lscdcY7UGvRj1CiPCxMUGPrsmcWbm/w640-h640/IMG_6192.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In this photo, the button band is on the right, and the hem facing is on the left. I find this lovely smooth finish deeply satisfying. I really try to make the insides of my garments look as nice as the outsides.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmIWrHo9WtgFPc6xSlvFYmLlJpKiez6SuBHFeAlkrt713-wSgDVTIkIVBjpWG6_3q1ONaaZNZdEhqDX6oxQnfQfgqD3CQeoYOf09mwMIVV6flxFy5yj5mRuCcHuO4M8s0JvvH/s2048/IMG_6915.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmIWrHo9WtgFPc6xSlvFYmLlJpKiez6SuBHFeAlkrt713-wSgDVTIkIVBjpWG6_3q1ONaaZNZdEhqDX6oxQnfQfgqD3CQeoYOf09mwMIVV6flxFy5yj5mRuCcHuO4M8s0JvvH/w640-h640/IMG_6915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did the same thing with the sleeves. I knit a little facing, and then secured it to the body of the sleeve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCCmJI8cN8lXvYdrYKJDjJI060QBhb1895Ko1sBKhsEsEgtMzd1fVyM92jxxyaadkEgCG0jT9uNLirC8ms9bBqfaHXLLpvnKYDAzfGy60noa9bmJhiVcVpEYFnGS1BB7ogitJ/s2048/783444E9-7371-4AB9-8FD1-438E00D0B563_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCCmJI8cN8lXvYdrYKJDjJI060QBhb1895Ko1sBKhsEsEgtMzd1fVyM92jxxyaadkEgCG0jT9uNLirC8ms9bBqfaHXLLpvnKYDAzfGy60noa9bmJhiVcVpEYFnGS1BB7ogitJ/w640-h640/783444E9-7371-4AB9-8FD1-438E00D0B563_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pattern produced sleeves that are not shaped like modern sleeves. The 1940s silhouette has a very distinctive shape. I hoped this was correct. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnHHSmpx9yeNvoZV_CpfAuR-rngx3vdGLwilo-c82tDn62ykmMfAQ1_32bvP-Eztjk-OypU54my3o3hUW9sIlaczJ2JlICKaQrN4sFCeuAKFDJ1NM1P1v0QgtPqBBXoSO9G0S/s2048/IMG_4172.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnHHSmpx9yeNvoZV_CpfAuR-rngx3vdGLwilo-c82tDn62ykmMfAQ1_32bvP-Eztjk-OypU54my3o3hUW9sIlaczJ2JlICKaQrN4sFCeuAKFDJ1NM1P1v0QgtPqBBXoSO9G0S/w640-h640/IMG_4172.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another significant challenge was getting the stripes on the sleeves to line up with the body of the garment. My sequence of stripes was not the same as that of the original pattern. So I mapped out my own sequence, with pencil and paper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MGitbGdBF4Fv5CJRNWuFhEh7cGm-4zNwSk2dhuWiRcWhY8nkZ9w3UafvCWQA_hjnXZgVxfZmBAQzwCtKiNvWk_gDeTF6h5_mFreu3PmSOO37EaxvjsjoHFATzUhyphenhyphenw3BlSZYK/s2048/IMG_4169.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MGitbGdBF4Fv5CJRNWuFhEh7cGm-4zNwSk2dhuWiRcWhY8nkZ9w3UafvCWQA_hjnXZgVxfZmBAQzwCtKiNvWk_gDeTF6h5_mFreu3PmSOO37EaxvjsjoHFATzUhyphenhyphenw3BlSZYK/w640-h640/IMG_4169.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since my button bands were double thickness, I had to build button holes into both the body of the garment and the button bands. I have no idea if this is a normal knitting technique. It made sense to me, but I've never seen it on any garments or in any knitting instructions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I sewed in grosgrain ribbon to provide a bit more support for the buttons, and to help maintain a firmer edge. I wish I'd done a neater job of sewing on my buttons. I'm not sure why my stitching is so erratic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-JBguVlwcD-7gZgHFV4-Fe-oWzVFltaejmdkEM6GV5HDpav0HqjZIJj1mhy5JC0wTFkbwlVTAYn9XPfw3Oa47wqUrpwB6KNwtDLbRQLGPk7v4Cpiy_6pYDP9OtU9z0B40DHz/s2048/IMG_4170.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-JBguVlwcD-7gZgHFV4-Fe-oWzVFltaejmdkEM6GV5HDpav0HqjZIJj1mhy5JC0wTFkbwlVTAYn9XPfw3Oa47wqUrpwB6KNwtDLbRQLGPk7v4Cpiy_6pYDP9OtU9z0B40DHz/w640-h640/IMG_4170.heic" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I actually owned the perfect button for this project. This never happens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ6wz9SQfWD8sPmsX-XeGx-yIct9TqlqSvNMgTtbsmvKPLWA3yVthLhUscIM7tZNuZtxyIltDMxmepNbHf0hgWfYrCLz0p8JFxz555Bcc1LkDwj1LDFzA4zPHAFvC1_hsxqA4/s2048/IMG_4138.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ6wz9SQfWD8sPmsX-XeGx-yIct9TqlqSvNMgTtbsmvKPLWA3yVthLhUscIM7tZNuZtxyIltDMxmepNbHf0hgWfYrCLz0p8JFxz555Bcc1LkDwj1LDFzA4zPHAFvC1_hsxqA4/w480-h640/IMG_4138.heic" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the finished garment. (I see that I still have to weave in a few loose ends at the back of the neck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm incredibly proud of my work. I think the fit is lovely. The stripes align perfectly. It looks just as I'd envisioned. And I didn't run short on irreplaceable vintage yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfKqgwNPt14m9WQ-ugGwyhWjJAs5bbFPf4FkpQqwUvaEff9F15qoHQmgdcETDbWC90A_59Irqz34kvC1Grc4P3pVJNjJZejSlWo6PTseXrZB4Uotre3YNEU9vBwBGYTaGwv3G/s2048/IMG_4120.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1538" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfKqgwNPt14m9WQ-ugGwyhWjJAs5bbFPf4FkpQqwUvaEff9F15qoHQmgdcETDbWC90A_59Irqz34kvC1Grc4P3pVJNjJZejSlWo6PTseXrZB4Uotre3YNEU9vBwBGYTaGwv3G/w480-h640/IMG_4120.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm a happy knitter.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-6011826431926605252020-07-27T11:36:00.005-07:002020-07-27T11:47:31.342-07:00Completing a 1950s Patio Dress<font color="#ffffff">...</font><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtx8iVja0w9enrwvQafIjD8OFvBdxoy1iMQpPMFjbYeQSwafbxo2Q4MIdOeSZI_sHcT6Ti7ogoKepsSXHCxvqlVY_Na-XU1A1-8G_wHkY9le8Wl21FQNfEHf53Js3VLgWMQwP/s1280/F55AA257-3C4D-4A4F-A6CF-4EA17A02256A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtx8iVja0w9enrwvQafIjD8OFvBdxoy1iMQpPMFjbYeQSwafbxo2Q4MIdOeSZI_sHcT6Ti7ogoKepsSXHCxvqlVY_Na-XU1A1-8G_wHkY9le8Wl21FQNfEHf53Js3VLgWMQwP/w480-h640/F55AA257-3C4D-4A4F-A6CF-4EA17A02256A.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have had a long love affair with a particular vintage outfit, known variously as a patio, fiesta, or squaw dress (or set). This distinctive outfit dates to the late 1940s and early 1950s, when southwestern styles were popular in American fashion. They were typically made in small workshops in Tucson, Arizona, and were worn by a wide cross-section of society.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "lucida bright", "liberation serif", lucida, "nimbus roman no9 l regular", utopia, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 14.5px;">The dress draws influences from a combination of three similar types, all with a big tiered skirt: a slightly gathered skirt based on Navajo dress, a "broomstick" or pleated skirt based on Navajo and Mexican attire, and a fully gathered, three-tiered skirt based on contemporary Western Apache camp dresses or Navajo attire, according to an article by Parezo and Angelina R. Jones, "</span><a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/270642#fig02" style="background-position: 0px 0px; border: 0px; color: #435170; font-family: "lucida bright", "liberation serif", lucida, "nimbus roman no9 l regular", utopia, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 14.5px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">What's in a Name? The 1940s-1950's Squaw Dress</a><span style="caret-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "lucida bright", "liberation serif", lucida, "nimbus roman no9 l regular", utopia, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 14.5px;">."</span></span></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>These dresses are comprised of two pieces, a heavily embellished skirt and a matching blouse. Rickrack and metallic trim are typical trimmings for these garments.</div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjBQ-2nBbFNs4JiT4w91adb1ydF1K0y5GkU-fehrn8IDfcHO_2mvC4Qp_bUHRVazFDKIK_QzpCHrkO4p_kIFp0MPlM6Ukvt6Gx5-fpUKBMxBsy0aTgmbZ6CQuc2FmvM5DgPzk/s2048/A4BB3200-A653-4F3C-A003-D35F06D8A2EB_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjBQ-2nBbFNs4JiT4w91adb1ydF1K0y5GkU-fehrn8IDfcHO_2mvC4Qp_bUHRVazFDKIK_QzpCHrkO4p_kIFp0MPlM6Ukvt6Gx5-fpUKBMxBsy0aTgmbZ6CQuc2FmvM5DgPzk/w640-h480/A4BB3200-A653-4F3C-A003-D35F06D8A2EB_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A while back, I bought a lovely vintage patio skirt. It was clearly a home-made garment, with some idiosyncratic construction methods. I loved it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But it needed a matching blouse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKtMVnzzCq0z9YBsSXIbjkMbtrF0WtT2WN7hxAN-KcyNKGSbOBVooU0Xf0MYEG-XQGbQeV70q73tq0A8sueJ-TGmzPYc-fwpMbAa2orEb9XV5jO0xP_QGi1m1Vibf9Dak8U6A/s2048/C0DA295B-DCBD-4110-8ED1-8F2C11FA22EF_1_201_a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKtMVnzzCq0z9YBsSXIbjkMbtrF0WtT2WN7hxAN-KcyNKGSbOBVooU0Xf0MYEG-XQGbQeV70q73tq0A8sueJ-TGmzPYc-fwpMbAa2orEb9XV5jO0xP_QGi1m1Vibf9Dak8U6A/w640-h640/C0DA295B-DCBD-4110-8ED1-8F2C11FA22EF_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found an appropriate vintage pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIp8SsT_OPZ8-aUag1eqWzgMPnSfIeK4hUKEWFoIfPMksPS-iULNmmZnPoDN94KEACvDipoMZWradD8WBUxmcuxl9e746DbAVMb2arn0LKpLzzhUa5JdK49HknXgul9yVBPaN/s2048/IMG_0501.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIp8SsT_OPZ8-aUag1eqWzgMPnSfIeK4hUKEWFoIfPMksPS-iULNmmZnPoDN94KEACvDipoMZWradD8WBUxmcuxl9e746DbAVMb2arn0LKpLzzhUa5JdK49HknXgul9yVBPaN/w640-h640/IMG_0501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also located fabric and trim that coordinated nicely. The fabric was from <a href="https://stonemountainfabric.com" target="_blank">Stonemountain and Daughter </a>(purchased prior to the pandemic lockdown) and the trim was from <a href="https://www.lacis.com/retail.html" target="_blank">Lacis</a> (purchased via sidewalk service). I am so unbelievably lucky to have such great sewing resources in my community.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VGOecVqDmcn6g0c7XiNYNwlO3z6fVKh_lZKn1B0fDRqoiQkscYAZpCwwVF_5HCRhGsM0ivVedVXYDZCZkt-UxodOtX_R2o_Wr2SAa95BhRn2GEY7ufutWBI72ec4Af_AvMgh/s2048/IMG_0503.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VGOecVqDmcn6g0c7XiNYNwlO3z6fVKh_lZKn1B0fDRqoiQkscYAZpCwwVF_5HCRhGsM0ivVedVXYDZCZkt-UxodOtX_R2o_Wr2SAa95BhRn2GEY7ufutWBI72ec4Af_AvMgh/w640-h480/IMG_0503.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because I had reservations about my ability to pin my trim to the fabric neatly, I basted guidelines onto the blouse. (At some point, I'm going to need to have my sewing machine serviced, because the way the thread feeds from the bobbin has been unreliable.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I started at the center back, and ran the trim inside of the sewn lines. If I were to do this again, I'd open up the center back seam and bury the ends of the trim inside the seam. This will solve the problem of what to do with the unattractive ends of rickrack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would also sew the neck facing on before all the trim, despite what the pattern instructions say. Sewing the facing on after all the trim was a huge pain in the neck.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgu_uOuafmuyH_bIuTpJQ7XcbWOIpfM_S9FLY5YnhvZ2Uy5Q-Ckb7kaaxRFAGER6gVn5RdLlI7t3vNBaYfzt3vGeh9SSsmacbLef8V7-Q8CKQ4x70Nz3ziVc01a4pTG3FLxTB/s1280/04F20516-246F-43B7-9BA3-2E4D18660235.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgu_uOuafmuyH_bIuTpJQ7XcbWOIpfM_S9FLY5YnhvZ2Uy5Q-Ckb7kaaxRFAGER6gVn5RdLlI7t3vNBaYfzt3vGeh9SSsmacbLef8V7-Q8CKQ4x70Nz3ziVc01a4pTG3FLxTB/w480-h640/04F20516-246F-43B7-9BA3-2E4D18660235.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I practiced sewing my trim on a coordinating mask before I embarked on the blouse. I'm really pleased with how the entire project turned out. And I suspect this won't be the last patio set I make.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you're interested in learning more about these outfits, I recommend <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw_dress" target="_blank">this article</a>, and <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16626885/arizona-daily-star/" target="_blank">this one</a>, and <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16626059/arizona-daily-star/" target="_blank">this one</a>, and <a href="http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/042116_dresses/the-squaw-dress-patch-tucsons-fashion-history/" target="_blank">this one</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-69461904934095816332020-07-14T07:35:00.000-07:002020-07-14T09:00:00.226-07:00Jamboree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-2qAVmWJt4XFY5_cRvXcD8qA9jDxxaeYFTms75BC9OPHikNRVTf8R_EE-qBtHi8BNaLRBqLDvMvlLhoar4mqUbBufcVeydhP2OthhDiAzZokq09ZXa-ryrAo8Ya6iPgMBAfi/s1600/40003A3E-7915-42A9-8442-CFE697D1F8F5_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-2qAVmWJt4XFY5_cRvXcD8qA9jDxxaeYFTms75BC9OPHikNRVTf8R_EE-qBtHi8BNaLRBqLDvMvlLhoar4mqUbBufcVeydhP2OthhDiAzZokq09ZXa-ryrAo8Ya6iPgMBAfi/s640/40003A3E-7915-42A9-8442-CFE697D1F8F5_1_201_a.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We've reached the time in the year when our pluot tree is at its peak, and when I'm making loads of jam. I thought I'd write down all the improvements I've made to my recipe, so that I won't have to rely on memory this time next year.</div>
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The basic recipe is five pounds of fruit (with the pits removed), four pounds (eight cups) of sugar, and five or six lemons. This produces between between ten and twelve half-pint jars of jam.</div>
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Every morning, I collect the windfall pluots. I wash them and cut off any bruised or damaged sections. Then I cut out the pit and put them in a sealed bag in the freezer. A gallon bag holds about five pounds of fruit, which works out perfectly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHRStMysvEwdot6iquo3RHq2IBt5q6auhaCh5zcFNHoUgxbiToKAeNQW2vIw-MJpE6eeefkKB5C82bMRp1PBTcecRBf1sPV6iETYoNI1PI7pBuKX4IDAGh2-vD567b8REnshw/s1600/B0697B04-720E-4BB2-AC7C-CCF741C12327.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHRStMysvEwdot6iquo3RHq2IBt5q6auhaCh5zcFNHoUgxbiToKAeNQW2vIw-MJpE6eeefkKB5C82bMRp1PBTcecRBf1sPV6iETYoNI1PI7pBuKX4IDAGh2-vD567b8REnshw/s640/B0697B04-720E-4BB2-AC7C-CCF741C12327.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't add any liquid, although I might add a few un-frozen pluots, just to get the juices flowing in the pan. It's a bit shocking to see how much sugar goes into making jam.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVOYSltGfzZc793fZBo8rogLxs8gaYAId8iqidz_27HZG_scUEQSZ_qSOl1UGujXvXo_qoOh3Xy6sYPNlBShncQ5E4OOLa9oHcKap-TgKUB0W_57Mns6rA7LlaOApjS-FcsLz/s1600/F11BBFDD-C45E-4AC8-AFE1-374F8C0C821E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVOYSltGfzZc793fZBo8rogLxs8gaYAId8iqidz_27HZG_scUEQSZ_qSOl1UGujXvXo_qoOh3Xy6sYPNlBShncQ5E4OOLa9oHcKap-TgKUB0W_57Mns6rA7LlaOApjS-FcsLz/s640/F11BBFDD-C45E-4AC8-AFE1-374F8C0C821E.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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While the fruit is cooking down, I wash the jars and put the jars and lids in a boiling water bath. I sterilize the lids in a smaller saucepan, for easier handling. I prepare my work surfaces, placing serving plates next to where I'm cooking my jam. My goal is to minimize the mess that I have to clean up at the end of the process. It's much easier to wash a couple of plates than a jam-encrusted stove.</div>
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I have been removing some of the liquids produced by the cooking. My thinking is that by taking out some of the excess liquid, I'll be able to cook the jam for a shorter period of time, and thus keep a fresher texture and flavor. We've been experimenting with making sorbet and syrups with this liquid. Typically, I've been removing about two cups of liquid, early in the cooking.<br />
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After this, it's just a matter of watching the jam, to make sure that it doesn't scorch on the bottom of the pot, or boil all over the stove. When the jam reaches 219 degrees Fahrenheit, the ratio of sugars to water should be ideal for gelling.</div>
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At this point, I juice (and then strain) five lemons, and add their liquid to the jam. This drops the temperature. While the jam is heating back up to 219, I drain the jars and lids, and set up my jar filling station. Just before filling the jars, I skim off any foam that has formed on top of the jam. This foam is actually delicious, but should't be included in jars of jam.</div>
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The sealed jars go back in the boil water bath for twenty minutes, and then are set on a cooling rack on the counter. I get a delightful thrill when I hear the jars make the sound that indicates they're properly sealed.<br />
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I had intended to write this post for the Monday Harvest blog round-up, but work far from home, and the weekly zoom party that I host meant that I'm posting this a bit late.<br />
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If you're interested in reading what other gardeners are doing with their harvests, check out the links, <a href="https://happyacres.blog/2020/07/13/harvest-monday-july-13-2020/" target="_blank">here</a>.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-52124695990880130572020-07-06T07:11:00.003-07:002020-07-06T07:11:54.186-07:00Harvest Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the great pleasures of my life is having a small garden, in which to grow special treats. This week, we picked a truly beautiful harvest.</div>
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Mt friend Yolanda gave me the zucchini and tomato plants, which were grown by UC master gardeners. It's great to have well-connected friends! Oddly, I'd never grown zucchini before, because I always assumed they'd take over the entire garden plot. I guess plant developers have reined in that tendency since I was a kid, and my parents' zucchini plants ran wild. My plants maintain a reasonable size, and I'm definitely going to grow them again.</div>
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I'm horribly allergic to tomatoes, but I know Robb misses them. I planted the tomatoes in a place where I wouldn't be brushing against the plants. The first year we had this house, I planted an ambitious vegetable garden, and spent the summer covered in hives. Apparently even touching tomato plants is more than my body can take. It's such a pity. I adore tomatoes. Oh well. I enjoyed them while I could.</div>
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Our plum tree is just finishing up, and the pluot is at its peak. We've been inviting friends over to pick fruit. Everyone wears a mask, and we keep apart from one another. It's all very strange.</div>
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I processed ten pounds of fruit this weekend, which is always really gratifying. Throughout this time of year, I collect the windfall fruit every day, cut out the pits and any bruised sections, and stash them in the freezer until I'm ready to make jam.</div>
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Nothing is more satisfying than the sound of jar lids popping as the jam cools on the counter.</div>
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I picked a few of our currants. Harvesting currants is always a bit of a race with the birds. I want to let them stay on the plant as long as possible. The birds have other ideas.</div>
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Robb has told all the neighbor-kids that they're allowed to pick the blackberries in our front year. We love sharing. City kids should be able to experience the pleasure of foraging.</div>
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It sort of boggles my mind that we'd never made lemon curd. We have chickens. We have a lemon tree. But, for whatever reason, we were intimidated by making this recipe. Turns out, it's absurdly easy, and that recipe writers tend to needlessly over-complicate things.</div>
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All this came together in tartlets that we enjoyed on the Fourth of July. </div>
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The entire nation has been blowing off steam this summer by shooting off massive amounts of illegal professions-grade fireworks. East Oakland has always been a blow-shit-up neighborhood, and the summer has been brutal. The fireworks go on every night until 3am. I've actually been working (more on that, anon) and I'm just not getting enough sleep.</div>
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Pastries are the cure to sleep deprivation. This is known.</div>
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I also picked the season's first figs. I grew all our fig trees from tiny twigs. I feel unreasonably proud of this fact.</div>
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Robb made a delicious rustic tart, which did not photograph particularly well.</div>
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If you're still curious to read what other folks are growing, there's a weekly garden harvest jamboree at the <a href="https://happyacres.blog/2020/07/06/harvest-monday-july-6-2020/" target="_blank">Happy Acres Blog</a>. It's really fun to check out.</div>
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And if you want to come over to pick pluots, please let me know. I have enough to share.</div>
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-70686939306634995822020-07-05T17:16:00.000-07:002020-07-05T17:25:48.694-07:00Of Staghorns and Stinkhorns<span style="color: white;">...</span><br />
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The other day, my beautiful staghorn fern threw itself to the ground. It had been mounted to our garage wall, and for whatever reason, it came crashing down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfdtg_ex8WM3I60HLLhanzwQuE3ukIyquWvFyx8A-9dHI8lhJzOKSbPmAN5560CnrvJJ38l5IPOgXfLoKs9_BP1gEzGEPaBrcTppJFEbbPBss6mvEAXSQ-GcgZisnkvF2p-u7/s1600/IMG_9795.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfdtg_ex8WM3I60HLLhanzwQuE3ukIyquWvFyx8A-9dHI8lhJzOKSbPmAN5560CnrvJJ38l5IPOgXfLoKs9_BP1gEzGEPaBrcTppJFEbbPBss6mvEAXSQ-GcgZisnkvF2p-u7/s640/IMG_9795.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This plant was a gift from friends, and it had become an absolute beast. I figured I might as well take this opportunity to divide and re-mount it.</div>
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After getting some advice from another friend who has the most glorious collection of staghorn ferns, I ruthlessly chopped the plants apart with a pruning saw. </div>
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This was pretty daunting. There was so much old growth to cut through.</div>
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I coaxed the plants into wire baskets and tried to avoid mauling the plants too badly. I filled the backs of the baskets with sphagnum moss. Who knew that it was possible to buy massive cubes of moss?</div>
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The stag horns do look a bit like hunting trophies, don't they?</div>
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And what do the stinkhorns look like? Perhaps the less said about that, the better....</div>
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-69902178527931275182020-07-05T16:47:00.001-07:002020-07-06T06:37:21.827-07:00A Backyard Fruit Story, In Three Chapters<span style="color: white;">...</span><br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-27872297952949164982020-05-25T07:13:00.001-07:002020-05-25T07:13:07.226-07:00Beehive Inspections<div style="text-align: center;">
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This weekend, I opened up my three hives, to see how the bees were doing. Overall, things looked good.<br />
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The Empress Norton hive was building beautiful new honeycomb. I prefer to let my bees build the structures that suit their needs. Typically, I'll inter-leaf older wax comb with empty frames. The bees will build their own structures, within the confines of the existing honeycomb. This keeps the comb relatively parallel, which means there's less damage when I remove a unit of honeycomb from the hive. There's nothing worse than dragging honeycomb against itself, ripping open the comb, and drowning the bees in their own honey. By alternating straight comb with empty frames I'm encouraging the bees to build in a relative orderly manner.<br />
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The bees are building beautiful structures from the wax their bodies produce, and behind them my pomegranate and cherry trees are blooming. <br />
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I believe I managed to spot the young queen in the colony that I split off from the Empress Norton Hive. My photo leaves a lot to be desired, but you should be able to find the bee I think is the queen. She's just to the right of center, with a bit of space all around her. She's little longer than the other bees, and she's facing up and to the right.<br />
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The new queen doesn't seem to be laying eggs yet, but the rest of the colony is hard at work. They've filled all this comb with honey, and capped the honey storage cells. <br />
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Notice how the bees leave corridors between the frames of comb.<br />
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The Elpseth hive that I got from my friend Lori is small but mighty. The queen in this colony is laying eggs. The capped cells in this photo contain developing bees, which is very encouraging. Notice the difference between the color the new wax on the left, and the older wax on the right. <br />
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With one exception, I was delighted by what I found when I inspected the hives. The bees looked healthy and industrious.<br />
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I did notice a single small hive beetle, which is an invasive African pest that can do massive damage to a beehive. I am going to have to take action to discourage these creatures from overwhelming my hives. Because American beekeepers transport their hives all across the country for agricultural pollination, pests and diseases spread like wildfire. For a while, it seemed like this pest was only found in the southeastern states, but now they're established in California, and we need to figure out how to keep them under control.<br />
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I did not harvest any honey this week, only because I'm temporarily out of storage jars. There's a bit of urgency to get honey our of the hive, if I'm dealing with small hive beetles. The beetles can burrow through the wax comb and contaminate the honey. They can also destroy the developing bees, which is distressing. <br />
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I spent the last few weeks putting honey into jars and melting down beeswax. I've got to order more jars and put more honey into safe storage.<br />
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If you're interested in reading what other gardeners are up to this week, check in with the Harvest Monday jamboree at the <a href="https://happyacres.blog/" target="_blank">Happy Acres blog</a>. <br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-85874739329927798512020-05-18T09:25:00.003-07:002020-05-18T09:31:34.652-07:00So Stinkin' Cute (with an emphasis on the stinking'...)<span style="color: white;">....</span><br />
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For the first time since we've lived in our house, skunks are regularly visiting our yard. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHFfxRvwQuDr22tW9LUU0IfboCm2oagd5G3vOy8g4XLJYY1zjHgNlFwxSZt_2KJ6VHcHZJbOexred0HoJbbg98njYvruC1jDros3L_5GsphRzFjxjcc8JthsgLZrkmzpLzOae/s1600/IMG_9023.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHFfxRvwQuDr22tW9LUU0IfboCm2oagd5G3vOy8g4XLJYY1zjHgNlFwxSZt_2KJ6VHcHZJbOexred0HoJbbg98njYvruC1jDros3L_5GsphRzFjxjcc8JthsgLZrkmzpLzOae/s640/IMG_9023.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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They typically show up around 4pm. Sometimes there's one, sometimes two. They're juveniles, but are clearly able to fend for themselves. They're quite tiny, more tail than body. Their fur is glossy and lush.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSME3cKBFRTn08khg0rAe-ZdFPRqcuTPSQ71DV5BrHm3pIQI622AFs_DDxIkAM2S0FL0MRuZQMPlWvEFTCw_dpFIr74VzanC-Qc49sXsBHsAvLtoB2wDiDSSnu1P5jdm1c4W4/s1600/IMG_9389.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimSME3cKBFRTn08khg0rAe-ZdFPRqcuTPSQ71DV5BrHm3pIQI622AFs_DDxIkAM2S0FL0MRuZQMPlWvEFTCw_dpFIr74VzanC-Qc49sXsBHsAvLtoB2wDiDSSnu1P5jdm1c4W4/s640/IMG_9389.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Skunks have notoriously poor eyesight, and are incredibly shy and gentle. I've been spending my twilight hours out in the garden, watching quietly. I'm enchanted by these sweet creatures. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx8G9M4BwixfroDq38eoOjayt2JtL9XVJwJ75Wo0PTmAz1w1rj6qqvA6zSGrYTVX7T6QaNlmQqHaqBnWV_IM9SgDF41akup7wxONObOoxf225uqVtaNF-Q1x8vHZ_-wGWjqam/s1600/IMG_9037.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx8G9M4BwixfroDq38eoOjayt2JtL9XVJwJ75Wo0PTmAz1w1rj6qqvA6zSGrYTVX7T6QaNlmQqHaqBnWV_IM9SgDF41akup7wxONObOoxf225uqVtaNF-Q1x8vHZ_-wGWjqam/s400/IMG_9037.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
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Robb may have his own opinions on our crepuscular visitors, but he's too polite to share them with me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoUb3j8FkKhHHtfDhLRaYErGJTD3-IZmnzwlA3rkm2ndOyFwPu0LnSHqQPA5hnZOlS76riuEBcHRz8q85_l84p3Yk7RXi0M1jnlRGO39YbgFrqWr0TSl6TbZnbGrpPFGb2JyA/s1600/IMG_9567.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoUb3j8FkKhHHtfDhLRaYErGJTD3-IZmnzwlA3rkm2ndOyFwPu0LnSHqQPA5hnZOlS76riuEBcHRz8q85_l84p3Yk7RXi0M1jnlRGO39YbgFrqWr0TSl6TbZnbGrpPFGb2JyA/s640/IMG_9567.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The skunks seem to be foraging for worms and insects. They industriously snuffle around in the grass, and will dig in the first inch of our soil. I suspect they're eating any bees they find crawling on the ground. They tend to hug the perimeter of our yard, and stay under cover as much as possible. <br />
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The chickens and cats and I give the skunks a wide berth. The western scrub jays, on the other hand, give them the stink-eye. I imagine they resent the fact that someone else is eating bees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-Q7i1XUJiVuVRwHdqWByL9jqlKNuyz4ETrCmpu7dEZ1PYZDHtssTWzF9JX8OgOaD8ObsQN-2N40Lxjmo1k3AeUQ3Jt0BDSGcmM9YeUmlHyy9wXvVSoIlISAn-ZgmCyCFe0Ar/s1600/IMG_9536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-Q7i1XUJiVuVRwHdqWByL9jqlKNuyz4ETrCmpu7dEZ1PYZDHtssTWzF9JX8OgOaD8ObsQN-2N40Lxjmo1k3AeUQ3Jt0BDSGcmM9YeUmlHyy9wXvVSoIlISAn-ZgmCyCFe0Ar/s640/IMG_9536.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, my neighbors' little chihuahua had a run-in with one of the skunks this weekend. <br />
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Tomato sauce did nothing to alleviate the smell, and in fact Dobby was keen on eating the skunk-scented bath-sauce. <br />
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My poor neighbors.</div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-1724959610099474482020-05-11T17:02:00.001-07:002020-05-11T17:10:23.335-07:00More Bees!<span style="color: white;">...</span><br />
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As few weeks back, a former boss of mine contacted me because I'd asked folks to keep an eye out for honeybee swarms I could collect. It turns out his neighbor was moving out of state, and could not take their beehive with them. I was looking for more bees, and these bees needed a home.</div>
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Robb and I went over to reconnoiter, and to devise a plan for moving these bees. I'm quite experienced in moving swarms, but transporting entire beehives is something I haven't done many times. In truth, the few times I've moved entire hives have not been particularly pleasant experiences, either for me or for the bees. </div>
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I wanted to make this a perfectly planned and executed campaign so that nobody got hurt, and no bees got left behind.</div>
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Robb built a number of cardboard lids for the hive boxes. We drove over to the house with a car filled with beekeeping tools, cardboard lids, and empty hive boxes. We did all this just before dusk, when the bees would be getting ready for bed.</div>
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I placed an empty hive box inside a cardboard holder, and then transfer the frames of honeycomb (and bees) into the box. Then I'd cap this box, wrap it in an old bedsheet, and carry it up the hill to my car. The beehive was located on a beautiful property in the Oakland hills. While spending time at this house was lovely, carrying a box of irate honeybees up the steep hill in the dwindling twilight was quite an endeavor. </div>
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It actually took us a couple of nights to complete the move, because we kept running out of daylight. I wouldn't recommend this generally, but as I'm currently furloughed from work, and we're under pandemic lockdown, we really didn't have anything else to do. (Beekeeping is the ultimate hobby for social distancing. Nobody really wants to get to close to an open beehive.)</div>
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I had initially intended to use the hive boxes that the bees came in, but as I was transporting them I noticed something that made me change my mind.</div>
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In among the bees was a diminutive scarab-like beetle with distinctive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deely_bobber" target="_blank">deely-bopper-like antennae</a>. It was a hive pest I'd long read about, but had never seen in the flesh: a <a href="https://bee-health.extension.org/managing-small-hive-beetles/" target="_blank">small hive beetle</a>. Since these beetles tend to live in the crevices of beehives, I thought it might be wise to not bring a hive with beetles into my yard. I figured I'd store the hive equipment -- which really is nice -- until I could figure out how to be certain it didn't contain these invasive beetles. (The hive is parked at the end of our driveway for the moment.)</div>
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For the most part, this hive was compatible with my gear. The only difference is that the original owners used two sizes of boxes -- smaller ones for honey storage and one large one for brood. </div>
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I prefer to only use one size box for everything. If all my gear is the same proportions, then it's all interchangeable. Also, shorter boxes, because they contain less volume, are significantly less heavy than taller boxes. Honey is shockingly heavy. I don't want to struggle when I work with thousands of stinging insects. I'm always looking for ways to make my work run smoothly.</div>
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To accommodate the larger frames, Robb built a temporary box, by screwing two of our boxes together. We ordered a "queen excluder" to keep the queen out of the larger box. My plan was to have the worker bees finish raising the brood in this box, and not let the queen lay more eggs there. </div>
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For those wondering how this works, the queen is larger than her sisters and can't fit through the interstices in the excluder. The worker bees can come and go, but the queen is prevented from entering the box. </div>
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This colony settled into their new life in our tiny back yard very happily. They are a huge, vigorous colony. Every day in the late afternoon, I'd find myself watching the massive amount of bees flying in and out of the hive and say to Robb, "It's a good thing I'm not afraid of bees."</div>
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The hive was crammed with bees. Maybe too many of them.</div>
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I gave them a couple of weeks to recover from the disruption of their move, and then did a hive inspection. I saw several of these peanut-like structures. These are the specialized cells that the bees create to house developing queens. The larvae develop in these cells until they are ready to undergo their final transformation from grub to honeybee. At that time, the worker bees close up the cell, and the metamorphosis occurs.</div>
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Several closed structures? That means there were about to be several new queens. Which probably meant that these bees were going to swarm. Which would probably not endear me to my neighbors.</div>
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Clearly, it was time to intervene, and split the hive into two colonies.</div>
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I set up a second beehive, and divided the colonies between the two hives. Each colony got an even distribution of frames. Each colony got a couple of capped queen cells. Each got a whole lot of bees. And each got a large number of empty frames, to fill as they pleased.</div>
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Hopefully this would keep the bees occupied and dissuade them from swarming out of the hives.</div>
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These bees are already hard at work. </div>
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I let them build whatever structures they wish, and in a few short weeks, they've built this astonishing wax comb, and filled it with honey. </div>
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I could not be more delighted with these wonderful new bees.</div>
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After a long absence, I'm re-joining the Harvest Monday blogging party. It will be nice to be part of the community of online gardeners again. If anyone wishes to read other garden blogs, they can find links at the <a href="https://happyacres.blog/2020/05/11/harvest-monday-may-11-2020/" target="_blank">Happy Acres blog</a>.</div>
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-46812624646490807012020-05-09T09:20:00.003-07:002020-05-09T09:25:38.427-07:00Mending<span style="color: white;">....</span><br />
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During this period of pandemic lockdown, I'm finding a lot of comfort in mending. Usually, the things that need repair languish on the Pile of Denial. It's nice to be mending when so many things in our world seem deeply broken.<br />
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Robb had done a bit of darning to a particularly threadbare section of our linen sheets, but his repairs did not hold up to laundering.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8KXnA1aURzEYJep6FjGVYVR89yRKkdpd4zzOviz2AYkoAXprtKcnoUoYK2qSt2d0MgpqObMTUACwgYAVBQdWqCE08bJPJSprYOQUpBGk32WGYjghEwgOgvJ1YzMVZ0xnZRCI/s1600/IMG_8963.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8KXnA1aURzEYJep6FjGVYVR89yRKkdpd4zzOviz2AYkoAXprtKcnoUoYK2qSt2d0MgpqObMTUACwgYAVBQdWqCE08bJPJSprYOQUpBGk32WGYjghEwgOgvJ1YzMVZ0xnZRCI/s640/IMG_8963.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I found a remarkably well-matched piece of linen in my fabric stash, and created a neatly hemmed patch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigVX31X1G1rwBn05Wg-NiaUFjRG8KC4ze23Ap4Hpv4o4Bjt5l1QrkuRQyZJmtRhAI-ujL9f2_oqNwZ2fQNuX5-UXLMo1EZDhAYdZtXRpnPRAJZBjpw6Ts6vTdUrlKiMWjg1e2/s1600/IMG_8965.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigVX31X1G1rwBn05Wg-NiaUFjRG8KC4ze23Ap4Hpv4o4Bjt5l1QrkuRQyZJmtRhAI-ujL9f2_oqNwZ2fQNuX5-UXLMo1EZDhAYdZtXRpnPRAJZBjpw6Ts6vTdUrlKiMWjg1e2/s640/IMG_8965.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I cut away the weakest fabric. There seemed no point in trying to salvage fabric that was shredding when I touched it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ4Debz59qZMU5n2Irqh7TrLAOX2R5ZYyMf6PwzaIU8u6AZL3Gu32nKCFTuHZYOMSdL7VLo9rYvFqfvTRof0Xkxiu6sagfCPuQf8KS59vIN3dzByXJK0DIpGlepHS5g6bXMDT/s1600/IMG_8974.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ4Debz59qZMU5n2Irqh7TrLAOX2R5ZYyMf6PwzaIU8u6AZL3Gu32nKCFTuHZYOMSdL7VLo9rYvFqfvTRof0Xkxiu6sagfCPuQf8KS59vIN3dzByXJK0DIpGlepHS5g6bXMDT/s640/IMG_8974.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I lightly stretched the fabric in my quilting hoop, and carefully hemmed the raw edges. (I sort of love how this looks.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajuG3gU-5z-0mJprz0Ff8wpFdsSpVbjajQ606yqeh5YBxuwbS4IIGqupPQktJvhEblAyxXPz8_zuZfvtu63YIrdmJuBRbofmLtoUZUjeHPCXSuDJZtxnuuMCEHcz9nYpWtFlu/s1600/IMG_8975.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajuG3gU-5z-0mJprz0Ff8wpFdsSpVbjajQ606yqeh5YBxuwbS4IIGqupPQktJvhEblAyxXPz8_zuZfvtu63YIrdmJuBRbofmLtoUZUjeHPCXSuDJZtxnuuMCEHcz9nYpWtFlu/s640/IMG_8975.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I pinned the patch into place, trying to avoid distorting the weave of the underlying fabric. This made a sort of fabric sandwich, in which the hemmed sides were on the inside of the stack.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4XgwU50Dgwl7jG2uefJ8mKh98kV5yFil-oiakwrVRtE9aoui-HmF5qJX0LPWGmkusNTlF5aLi00pArBd1rSeheiBudjid1NVIUNUXqI3f4Qc1J-5bjcG5xin3rRPmzaIKEbu/s1600/IMG_8978.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4XgwU50Dgwl7jG2uefJ8mKh98kV5yFil-oiakwrVRtE9aoui-HmF5qJX0LPWGmkusNTlF5aLi00pArBd1rSeheiBudjid1NVIUNUXqI3f4Qc1J-5bjcG5xin3rRPmzaIKEbu/s640/IMG_8978.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Not perfect, but so much better. We'll see if this withstands the rigors of the next trip through the washing machine. <br />
<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-42150613795659852422020-05-04T12:23:00.002-07:002020-05-04T12:25:27.461-07:00In Which Your Heroine Does a Poor Imitation of a Vintage Seamstress<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWGoxbp-c0vFmZ_PHwkTvsGFyHsz4t8rjNzyPb2WQFavlQlAfPXb1C4cpTQD-MlqB-1Hv9DuhyphenhyphenmUN_koq2yhXuJcE3CGBgicuFww6e9lksdqFr1ICWlAu2w0bJ0s_4gkvVDSt/s1600/IMG_8351.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWGoxbp-c0vFmZ_PHwkTvsGFyHsz4t8rjNzyPb2WQFavlQlAfPXb1C4cpTQD-MlqB-1Hv9DuhyphenhyphenmUN_koq2yhXuJcE3CGBgicuFww6e9lksdqFr1ICWlAu2w0bJ0s_4gkvVDSt/s640/IMG_8351.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Some time ago, I spotted this delightfully bonkers sewing pattern online, and realized that my life was entirely lacking in a dress of this sort. (To be truthful, I suspect most people on the planet are lacking a garment like this, but never mind.). I did not hesitate, but bought it right away from <a href="https://backroomfinds.com/" target="_blank">Stephanie at Backroom Finds</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4Ew8ms-QSgCC9un7Iz6w4e1f-V3eI_C5dMVnttxdrTbvj00FP6MDMcLTM4O4ChkE67GRCdCO_84rsaT0UIgxxDxrufH11ZLPe5dBNGar7zYUAtoi9A8TwwUlBTqa0j5qvjdw/s1600/IMG_8352.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4Ew8ms-QSgCC9un7Iz6w4e1f-V3eI_C5dMVnttxdrTbvj00FP6MDMcLTM4O4ChkE67GRCdCO_84rsaT0UIgxxDxrufH11ZLPe5dBNGar7zYUAtoi9A8TwwUlBTqa0j5qvjdw/s640/IMG_8352.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I love the crazy structure of this skirt. It has alternating tiers of loops and buttons, so that the entire garment can be shortened for sporty activities.</div>
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I also really love the economy of the pattern itself. The cover is relief printed, and a careful viewer will notice the embossing on the yellow stripes on the skirt. The tissue pattern pieces have no printed marking, instead all information is transmitted by a series of perforated holes. (Butterrick held the patent on printed sewing patterns and defended it ruthlessly for decades.) The instructions are terse, and assume a level of sewing expertise that I do not possess. But hey! I'm always up for a challenge.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFseH4CiJNgw75vuGGeI_nt-vTe7rlgB1rdFy0T8FIsDRsgDW5oqQ0RcyHgswFA85GTetN_GUVR609LVJYrt0k8lAaFLuZTvSDYIRUB6u7H7c7m9LKnqHu8o2V6Y4RwUyl8tee/s1600/IMG_8400.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFseH4CiJNgw75vuGGeI_nt-vTe7rlgB1rdFy0T8FIsDRsgDW5oqQ0RcyHgswFA85GTetN_GUVR609LVJYrt0k8lAaFLuZTvSDYIRUB6u7H7c7m9LKnqHu8o2V6Y4RwUyl8tee/s640/IMG_8400.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I set about making a mock-up this weekend, using some particularly vile fabric that I got free somewhere.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7APEuKQYstyMNDKaB2puQHyoIS6X7zEW_ukQ2eYKUHrPjWn2SfWiNhDPm0ZsT56Id8yl1epeIObRXNCuS1AcivFxvuNX5HFEg6tT7QeQ6t5P0kOwBo62QNc8hBC4BeQWR_xox/s1600/IMG_8421.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7APEuKQYstyMNDKaB2puQHyoIS6X7zEW_ukQ2eYKUHrPjWn2SfWiNhDPm0ZsT56Id8yl1epeIObRXNCuS1AcivFxvuNX5HFEg6tT7QeQ6t5P0kOwBo62QNc8hBC4BeQWR_xox/s640/IMG_8421.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The pattern also includes shorts. I have to say, I love the cut of 1940s shorts. </div>
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I this photo, I'd pinned the shorts to the bodice, just to see how the bodice would fit with some weight on it. In reality, the shorts are meant to be worn separately. I think they're included for modesty, in case that goofy short skirt turns out to be a little too short.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv83cQYmne5HB-8H0QMtlk2PMjm6SOLTP7OcFwzcPEl31HUh20UDfLNqjnOW6h5pXNoMDPuKMfWqY_Qu9wIqIZcnm9Ms3RYEHk9nXfrVQ5ZczCioO7vu1aRZs_V5MPWv3fLGb0/s1600/IMG_8579.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv83cQYmne5HB-8H0QMtlk2PMjm6SOLTP7OcFwzcPEl31HUh20UDfLNqjnOW6h5pXNoMDPuKMfWqY_Qu9wIqIZcnm9Ms3RYEHk9nXfrVQ5ZczCioO7vu1aRZs_V5MPWv3fLGb0/s640/IMG_8579.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This morning I attached the mockup of the skirt. And here's where I run out of expertise. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySgq7NsxqBCtIbFH5f8llIrJriCdKgohuHdnACfigelkJlVawnZYUqShHMu0DxkNopDuhd_Qrp7xxpoGK3zsBWZKSXZ9xHmiXwvAV8Z2dCv7ch1qV7kkYFLd34GQ5kx-41Qvt/s1600/IMG_8602.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiySgq7NsxqBCtIbFH5f8llIrJriCdKgohuHdnACfigelkJlVawnZYUqShHMu0DxkNopDuhd_Qrp7xxpoGK3zsBWZKSXZ9xHmiXwvAV8Z2dCv7ch1qV7kkYFLd34GQ5kx-41Qvt/s640/IMG_8602.jpeg" width="408" /></a></div>
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It's clear that the shoulders are way too wide. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vtmQn2CWDng4WBuNtSg7zjwZIMfESeasYzeicSoeBALFGdnyMiE5GUHw3dfWh1x-EUJ1JmA8METuEYBuOSRP4BGUUVWz2B6nq11ry2sx4PEBFC6YultQl2JpHlcqLRSCZddL/s1600/IMG_8597.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vtmQn2CWDng4WBuNtSg7zjwZIMfESeasYzeicSoeBALFGdnyMiE5GUHw3dfWh1x-EUJ1JmA8METuEYBuOSRP4BGUUVWz2B6nq11ry2sx4PEBFC6YultQl2JpHlcqLRSCZddL/s640/IMG_8597.jpeg" width="454" /></a></div>
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Also, the bodice is generally too big. I think the circumference of the waist is okay, but the upper bust is way, way too large for me.<br />
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This is where I wish we weren't all locked up in our own homes. I could really use a friend's critical eye, and some help pinning this to fit better. I really don't know enough about sewing to know how to do these adjustments. My friend Jennifer is offering <a href="http://www.thesewingroomalameda.com/virtual-schedule" target="_blank">virtual sewing classes from her studio</a>, and I may sign up for a session.<br />
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If anyone has any advice, I'd love to hear from you.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-78905708810659597702020-04-30T09:48:00.000-07:002020-04-30T09:48:12.912-07:00Mask Making<span style="color: white;">...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjhOzP46A3a9zJzPhVI69TdVf0ZFYUctbpy3QemwlyQ1fPUIaSNXHxDYhjohSOp4nPCyuAj3Q8F-XfavdQ5Gg0Vw_-q3ZwTd72W59xT387BmrSdmfc9Dmj3iFOPRocnTy5lel/s1600/IMG_8283.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjhOzP46A3a9zJzPhVI69TdVf0ZFYUctbpy3QemwlyQ1fPUIaSNXHxDYhjohSOp4nPCyuAj3Q8F-XfavdQ5Gg0Vw_-q3ZwTd72W59xT387BmrSdmfc9Dmj3iFOPRocnTy5lel/s640/IMG_8283.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Like so many people, I've been making masks to wear when I leave the house. California is now requiring them, which seems like a prudent decision.<br />
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I often have to wear different kinds of protective masks at work, so I have strong opinions on how a mask fits my face. I wanted a mask that had both nose and chin shaping, and that had straps that did not go all the way around the back of the head. (I have a lot of hair, which doesn't work well with this style of strap.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6dftYtTSprzTB0FkcDJopHDpzq0RRg9cfDPjcBSCEzJ43oWiqXIe89lT_3SfklK4gHFGfPWVQPVDdW_SXkHMogkiRhzAV0UYRdVEodCK7LdTsldQl50YRj_HcabB6gDhu5js/s1600/IMG_8288.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6dftYtTSprzTB0FkcDJopHDpzq0RRg9cfDPjcBSCEzJ43oWiqXIe89lT_3SfklK4gHFGfPWVQPVDdW_SXkHMogkiRhzAV0UYRdVEodCK7LdTsldQl50YRj_HcabB6gDhu5js/s640/IMG_8288.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the style I settled on. It has a dart for the nose, and two darts under the chin. I think it's both face-shaped and not overly bulky. It also uses a minimal amount of fabric, which lets me use of the scraps that I've been incapable of throwing out over the years. It's nice to finally make something out of this material.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GuLkukT0JAs" width="560"></iframe>
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This is the pattern I used. The video is Thai, but it's very easy to follow, as all the dimensions are notated in Arabic numbers. There had been a google document in the comments that provided a printable template, but the link seems to have gone bad.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QZrh0O2j30w" width="560"></iframe>
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I found that the pattern fit me perfectly, without any alterations. Likewise, the men's pattern was a great fit for Robb.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXG9ZzmmnmKKsJ-3t3u8cH14x04hkBhBUcP0urwtAPPTldXNmS-QPMoUeonr2gjDvFNlwzcfdo6aD3bBiefIExS7YtXREyYSQ0BWuVJq-C7aLcJejgy9IFbm_Gh6sZKbcW15Z/s1600/IMG_8294.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXG9ZzmmnmKKsJ-3t3u8cH14x04hkBhBUcP0urwtAPPTldXNmS-QPMoUeonr2gjDvFNlwzcfdo6aD3bBiefIExS7YtXREyYSQ0BWuVJq-C7aLcJejgy9IFbm_Gh6sZKbcW15Z/s640/IMG_8294.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are two layers of fashion fabric, and an inner layer which I imagine can function as a sort of pocket, in case the wearer wishes to insert a filter. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSnrgZctXstrwfMOiq11nS-qnCyT0vNI8TOJ2M4vzC98jq3mmcxjLgjNCzBcIIIfq_q5JTrV5NvTSb-EgulYdf_zeOCQiJ7tlRlFaoQfqG-oYhOAL1VTNF-pV0JdU3h8qfIA9/s1600/IMG_8284.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSnrgZctXstrwfMOiq11nS-qnCyT0vNI8TOJ2M4vzC98jq3mmcxjLgjNCzBcIIIfq_q5JTrV5NvTSb-EgulYdf_zeOCQiJ7tlRlFaoQfqG-oYhOAL1VTNF-pV0JdU3h8qfIA9/s640/IMG_8284.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the inside view. I can't help thinking that it looks a bit like underwear.</div>
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The one innovation I made to this design was some nose-wire. I think it helps to have a closer fit around the sides of the nose. I believe it keeps air from escaping. I think this is particularly important for folks who wear glasses.</div>
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I used the plastic-encased wire that is commonly seen closing coffee and cookie bags. This is technically known as <a href="https://www.bedford.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Doublewire-TinTie_ENG.pdf" target="_blank">double-wire tin-tie</a>. </div>
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On the first mask I made, I sandwiched the tin-tie between the lining fabric and the fashion fabric. I think this is a poor choice, and am now placing the tin-tie between the two layers of fashion fabric.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxmtQQswtGAPiqds_MOkLJVQZE6AnvvZQnApYptdsUHg6zIWya9cbpIBTL-VqAnUzjFk7vd024bVy_BdWnoAVdQfJqL5EV9YVtXAU-GIW6O9UJhUvKG8ztfCAsntOTuToBboe/s1600/IMG_8297.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxmtQQswtGAPiqds_MOkLJVQZE6AnvvZQnApYptdsUHg6zIWya9cbpIBTL-VqAnUzjFk7vd024bVy_BdWnoAVdQfJqL5EV9YVtXAU-GIW6O9UJhUvKG8ztfCAsntOTuToBboe/s640/IMG_8297.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It helps to make a tiny cut in the bottom edge of the tin-tie. This helps the strip form more closely to the nose. In this case, I cut too deeply into the strip, destroying the structural integrity of the material.</div>
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I have a lot of feelings about how our medical system, which is the most expensive in the world, did not have nearly enough protective equipment for their workers, and how it fell on an army of volunteer home-sewers to produce basic safety equipment. I have a lot of feelings about how badly the White House handled this entire pandemic response. I have a lot of feelings about how the conservative movement in America has devalued expertise, particularly among the scientific community. I have a lot of feelings about the hundreds of thousands of people who have died from COVID-19.</div>
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But my feelings really aren't helpful. They upset me, and keep me from doing anything productive. So I'm going to sew masks and try to be useful in whatever small way I can.</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-10535285040116527122020-04-10T09:43:00.001-07:002020-04-10T09:43:51.643-07:00Easter Eggs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every spring, for years and years, I've hosted an egg decorating party. I hosted this party in Baltimore, in Hartford, and the Bay Area. I've taught friends the traditional craft of wax-resist, which is typical of Easter eggs decorated in Eastern Europe. When the party grew too large (and messy) to host at my home, I moved it to the studio where I work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtM7fz208NJoyVg4c_wJ7ufAP3mHGheSHFxmOrYF3PzU0h-roR1P2S3QUNvZGMlGNO8OigMOlazHYQ1KUmn8EO89Z4NPcM-h2CWOq098tv4QwVcWJSZUCtjy-doWhlRD4xDk9/s1600/IMG_9590.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 238); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtM7fz208NJoyVg4c_wJ7ufAP3mHGheSHFxmOrYF3PzU0h-roR1P2S3QUNvZGMlGNO8OigMOlazHYQ1KUmn8EO89Z4NPcM-h2CWOq098tv4QwVcWJSZUCtjy-doWhlRD4xDk9/s640/IMG_9590.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br />
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It has always been a joy to teach this craft to my friends. Even people who are convinced they're not creative end up making wonderful miniature artworks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVX2-2pWJ0NwaAqfT8aN1rdEVc-88-ESDLPnOgbqBUfW0uFRHnFZGnWU2rG1s6JRKe_F3wFbm3wvIUJIUAdD-2OiOQD6OCmPZJgfNWIPR_taLB7N10Qeeo0Flq1-oOpzBVBZxX/s1600/IMG_7784.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVX2-2pWJ0NwaAqfT8aN1rdEVc-88-ESDLPnOgbqBUfW0uFRHnFZGnWU2rG1s6JRKe_F3wFbm3wvIUJIUAdD-2OiOQD6OCmPZJgfNWIPR_taLB7N10Qeeo0Flq1-oOpzBVBZxX/s640/IMG_7784.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some folks follow traditional forms, while others invent their own forms. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnQPaKIBwQlub0dGaaBvmdbaSSUSbycK8tWpT0cQzsCB9TX85Xx3tf43YVijs-uCzQH_m3xzVM7uPG8_l9W2tnN9y7RIaYbdF-kEhyphenhyphenGcDtuYTIJ3iDSnJBPdszCqsQbczRjGb/s1600/IMG_7787.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnQPaKIBwQlub0dGaaBvmdbaSSUSbycK8tWpT0cQzsCB9TX85Xx3tf43YVijs-uCzQH_m3xzVM7uPG8_l9W2tnN9y7RIaYbdF-kEhyphenhyphenGcDtuYTIJ3iDSnJBPdszCqsQbczRjGb/s640/IMG_7787.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">It's lovely to see everyone socializing and making things.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r0MpWUOjRO-aJlSHHr3203sx4AhqXwvfSTFIUmSyYtNI70GFtXrswfVQppjkDIx1HzwLzoiOqWYjcI47hIrdKFm9vViPP2Q21EQD9erYvPBFn-C0CPwAVrRmQ-SQb0Y6iFtb/s1600/IMG_7829.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6r0MpWUOjRO-aJlSHHr3203sx4AhqXwvfSTFIUmSyYtNI70GFtXrswfVQppjkDIx1HzwLzoiOqWYjcI47hIrdKFm9vViPP2Q21EQD9erYvPBFn-C0CPwAVrRmQ-SQb0Y6iFtb/s640/IMG_7829.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I 'm always impressed by the variety of designs that everyone creates. Each these eggs were decorated with an entirely different approach, and each is delightful. There really is no right or wrong way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaHTcpnax3VxVRjnCS8JsSOO6HJdZ_5Px4Cg1kTZH-vKDAXOW4iHNCmUif4uKgR5_DYENunuJAn5gbfoY4ZFXX4hHVWH8HM2fnSvpw_ycJnVspeOI_yNuhb-ftVfER0vUmalx/s1600/IMG_9557.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaHTcpnax3VxVRjnCS8JsSOO6HJdZ_5Px4Cg1kTZH-vKDAXOW4iHNCmUif4uKgR5_DYENunuJAn5gbfoY4ZFXX4hHVWH8HM2fnSvpw_ycJnVspeOI_yNuhb-ftVfER0vUmalx/s640/IMG_9557.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I particularly enjoy photographing the eggs, using whatever my friends bring along to the party.</div>
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These two eggs were photographed on top of one of the many books I have on this subject.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXW9_rh8qREsPkVRa-z11675WeT5ehR9pxEEFsUlwI6XpRS6M9IMZvuPuN2qmVCWzVmXZrRqQtxXZSARyst1yCE4RWXif9tCe6fNurvKdzmCjZxfYpX1g1nx0vBWudKWOf4fV/s1600/IMG_3373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXW9_rh8qREsPkVRa-z11675WeT5ehR9pxEEFsUlwI6XpRS6M9IMZvuPuN2qmVCWzVmXZrRqQtxXZSARyst1yCE4RWXif9tCe6fNurvKdzmCjZxfYpX1g1nx0vBWudKWOf4fV/s640/IMG_3373.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Isn't this collection splendid? None of these eggs are what you'd call traditional designs, but they're all wonderfully dynamic.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjsLATa58ypel5ObN2axiU_h_2VpWWO6kKEkdjUMXTgyJrjAumO23N-JSNSxWeQOpgUq1MOD0_cgOv879wDY_gfcHje1FV819VAfZk5oHOLSxw_CF_GIk4kIvBck8GJto_3d1/s1600/IMG_9604.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjsLATa58ypel5ObN2axiU_h_2VpWWO6kKEkdjUMXTgyJrjAumO23N-JSNSxWeQOpgUq1MOD0_cgOv879wDY_gfcHje1FV819VAfZk5oHOLSxw_CF_GIk4kIvBck8GJto_3d1/s640/IMG_9604.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's also fun to see the difference in size between the eggs my own hens lay (on the left) and those produced by commercial farms.</div>
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I always buy flowers for this party, and they make a nice photo background as well.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzPQMwHEdCMg2mUSBhTd_JMCSSSnG7zS5l46WrYqTKJSPaiZdBfmuggYMPz8dmDGISpdUiMKP2jkT0O5AIAXrih831VK-AA9wBhldFal6noDDZSpuVWVRFiqqOux5I3cXLSU1/s1600/IMG_9607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxzPQMwHEdCMg2mUSBhTd_JMCSSSnG7zS5l46WrYqTKJSPaiZdBfmuggYMPz8dmDGISpdUiMKP2jkT0O5AIAXrih831VK-AA9wBhldFal6noDDZSpuVWVRFiqqOux5I3cXLSU1/s640/IMG_9607.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/07/828839205/the-easter-bunny-is-an-essential-worker-new-zealands-ardern-says" target="_blank">The Prime Minister of New Zealand has assured her citizens that both the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are considered essential workers. However, she's reminded everyone that they have extra obligations with their own families and may not be able to get to every home.</a></div>
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This year, sadly, I will not be hosting my annual egg party. Even if I wanted to decorate eggs at home, I can't. My tools are at work, and the store that sells the dye we use is closed. I look forward to the time when we can meet and make art together again.</div>
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-76159409152946972302020-04-08T19:54:00.001-07:002020-04-08T20:19:45.120-07:00Buzz Off! Beekeeping in the time of Corona<span style="color: white;">...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6OXVAPavEhOh7t8LJirMHYv1WIahyphenhyphendnbu8l_JZycnMwbkXhJBaDGtvF7jlk0jkzGbYejh4jvqG946nKEQWD11fWitHSA8_3LZsFQeEyzXXLxR43F4FX6m0ww-bIGOuWs7ZZh/s1600/IMG_7770.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6OXVAPavEhOh7t8LJirMHYv1WIahyphenhyphendnbu8l_JZycnMwbkXhJBaDGtvF7jlk0jkzGbYejh4jvqG946nKEQWD11fWitHSA8_3LZsFQeEyzXXLxR43F4FX6m0ww-bIGOuWs7ZZh/s640/IMG_7770.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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During this time of <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/03/19/newsom-orders-all-40m-californians-to-stay-home-in-nations-strictest-state-lockdown-1268248" target="_blank">pandemic lockdown</a>, when we humans are all hunkered down in our homes, nature continues to go about its business. <br />
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When we venture out into the world, we are obliged to stay far apart from one another, but the same rules do not apply to bees. Swarms of bees that are protecting their precious queen are going to stick close together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGTZCQpgLFQxU9r-YvRr6OUUXP_IrwhG_cFWKsxjS803M3wDh2QWxdxcUEar76XihpugvNQE3p8KY_Y2uCvJy15qMO7OSW0fh8L7cQc8DS78SEcSZVm9t7K3PKP7fiOdOqRKe/s1600/IMG_7773.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGTZCQpgLFQxU9r-YvRr6OUUXP_IrwhG_cFWKsxjS803M3wDh2QWxdxcUEar76XihpugvNQE3p8KY_Y2uCvJy15qMO7OSW0fh8L7cQc8DS78SEcSZVm9t7K3PKP7fiOdOqRKe/s640/IMG_7773.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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My friend Lori contacted me yesterday to let me know that one of her colonies of bees had "thrown off" a swarm, and to ask if I wanted it to replace the colony I'd lost.<br />
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We talked through the logistics of maintaining appropriate distance between us, in preparation for collecting the swarm that had landed in her neighbors' apricot tree. Greg and Lori live on one side of this hedge, and the bees had flown over to the neighbors' yard. <br />
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Bay Area residents are now <a href="https://patch.com/california/newark/face-coverings-recommended-alameda-county-coronavirus" target="_blank">required to wear face masks</a> when we go out in public, and Lori and I wore our masks under our beekeeping hoods. It was all very weird.<br />
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Lori scooped the bees into the my <a href="https://beebuilt.com/products/cardboard-nucleus-box" target="_blank">fancy bee-transporting box</a>. And after I left, she had to do it again because the bees had flown back up into the tree.<br />
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When the sun went down, and the bees had all settled in for the night, Greg and Lori delivered the box to my house. Honestly, I have the best friends imaginable.<br />
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Shortly after dawn, I unblocked the entrance to the cardboard box so the the bees could get some fresh air and stretch their legs. When I was more awake and the sun was up, I moved the bees into the awaiting beehive.<br />
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This was a remarkably straightforward operation. Beehives are a lot like file cabinets, with hanging file folders. They contain wooden frames, which house the wax honeycomb built by the bees. <br />
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I lifted the frames, one by one, out of the cardboard box, and placed them in the beehive.<br />
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The few bees left clinging to the walls of the box got gently brushed into the hive with a <a href="https://www.ebth.com/items/7986820-vintage-horsehair-drafting-brushes" target="_blank">vintage drafting brush</a>. The soft bristles of this style of brush are perfect for moving bees without injuring them.<br />
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When the bees were in the hive, there then ensued the inevitable miniature chaos of several thousand bees investigating a new hive. <br />
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Hopefully, the bees will want to stay in their home, and not buzz off.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-81559377980040684412020-04-06T15:04:00.001-07:002020-04-10T09:44:08.352-07:00On Metamorphosis, Dormancy and Emergence<div>
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Every year, I grow fennel in my tiny backyard garden. Fennel is a host plant for anise swallowtail butteries, which means that the female butterflies lay their eggs on these particular plants.<br />
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Because I'm a bit of a lunatic, I keep a very close eye on my fennel plants, and if I find any butterfly eggs or caterpillars, I move them into a protective tank, to allow them to grow unmolested by predators. The caterpillars grow, and change form dramatically several times, before eventually enclosing themselves in chrysalises.</div>
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Typically, it takes a couple of weeks for butterflies to emerge from their chrysalises. When they do, their wings are crumpled and feeble, completely incapable of flight. It's easy to think that something has gone terribly wrong, and that the butterfly will never survive. </div>
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Patience is required at this point. The butterfly has to summon its strength and use its own innate ability to inflate its own wings. This can take hours, and at this stage, the butterfly is particularly vulnerable.</div>
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I never know when butterflies are going to emerge.</div>
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Remarkably, the butterflies I raise have a habit of hatching on the days when I'm most in need of magic and joy. Robb has learned to send me photos of newly emerged butterflies when I'm at work, because they tend to hatch on particularly challenging days.</div>
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It's almost as if the universe is sending me a reminder that even the most fragile things can be strong and tenacious, and can emerge -- with beauty and joy -- into the world.<br />
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While most butterflies emerge in a few weeks, some stay enclosed in their protective chrysalises through the winter. </div>
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I'll admit to learning this quite by accident. I had a batch of chrysalises that I thought had died one year that I couldn't bear to throw out. I stuck them in a vase in the back yard, and kind of forgot about them. They languished in the garden all winter, and into the spring, and then in the course of one week, ten butterflies hatched. </div>
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Seeing them fly after I had thought they were dead was like a miracle.</div>
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Today I was on a video call with my coworkers at Berkeley Rep. It was a really hard conversation about when the theater might be able to reopen. Given the uncertainties of the progression of the coronavirus, it could be a very long time before we are able to produce shows. Much of the staff, myself included, would be laid off. The theaters would be dark, audiences would not gather.</div>
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And of course, we'd still have bills to pay.</div>
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The theater is keeping a small number of staff employed at reduced wages. Those of us who have been furloughed will have our medical coverage paid for, even as we're not working. Berkeley Rep has mortgages to pay on our various buildings. We were in the early stages of construction on a whole new building, and have a massive loan out for work that has come to a standstill.</div>
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I got off the call feeling very dispirited.</div>
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And then Robb called be to the back porch. One of our over-wintered chrysalises had just hatched. A new butterfly had entered the world.</div>
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This was exactly what I needed to re-set my bleak mood on this particularly gloomy day. </div>
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Somehow, with patience and care, we'd change and adapt. And when the time is right, we'll emerge and do what we're meant to do. </div>
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I know that this is a very difficult time for everyone, but if you can possibly help Berkeley Rep out with a small donation, it would mean a huge amount to both the artists I work with and to our audiences. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. </div>
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Thank you.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/OVATION/team/Scenic" target="_blank">Here's the link to make a gift.</a></span></b></div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-67713736312860915172020-04-04T17:37:00.001-07:002020-04-10T09:44:36.247-07:00On The Mend<div>
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At this time of pandemic lockdown, I'm finding it incredibly difficult to focus on new projects. I'm sure I'm not the only one.<br />
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Instead of beating myself up because I'm not being wildly productive, I'm finding solace in repairing damaged things. I realize that this is an almost laughable metaphor, and I'm okay with that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxJb2xykBkkseX8zSyEq-_31qZmHT8YM_quoFa925fB1fLPDMobCsFwrqgyEoBxBXTtL70TugqRr0glvy9xf_V1GvB5b7JIkkCpiX8-KOPLpkbI7Q8_-awYejVzBKSxyKhHpG/s1600/IMG_7219.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxJb2xykBkkseX8zSyEq-_31qZmHT8YM_quoFa925fB1fLPDMobCsFwrqgyEoBxBXTtL70TugqRr0glvy9xf_V1GvB5b7JIkkCpiX8-KOPLpkbI7Q8_-awYejVzBKSxyKhHpG/s640/IMG_7219.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today's project was a wool skirt that I'd bought at a <a href="https://www.gbacg.org/" target="_blank">Great Bay Area Costume Guild</a> sale. The skirt was beautifully made, but had a bad tear, right on the front. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2B39geEvDwqoR_fDXyD6P2JgBI4d2UKXcONTFgU6O6NoVwzsUmrCe4HdKlOJUF9tDTnCYGzQHhVtaSNoPK-otNSEeUKH-69J4SOGSJ9bXOnknTIwhKM0su57d7Y9eyTW51zt/s1600/IMG_7217.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2B39geEvDwqoR_fDXyD6P2JgBI4d2UKXcONTFgU6O6NoVwzsUmrCe4HdKlOJUF9tDTnCYGzQHhVtaSNoPK-otNSEeUKH-69J4SOGSJ9bXOnknTIwhKM0su57d7Y9eyTW51zt/s640/IMG_7217.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The previous owner had attempted to repair the damage with an iron-on patch, but for whatever reason, the torn part did not adhere to the reinforcement. When I bought the skirt, I planned to darn the hole. But instead, I stuck the skirt on my Pile of Denial, where it sat for longer than I'd care to admit.<br />
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Initially, I thought I'd harvest some threads from the skirt, and use those threads to re-weave the rip. This turned out to be impractical, because the panels of the skirt were cut with one side on the woven selvage, and the other side on the bias. This meant that I wasn't going to be able to remove threads from the skirt that would be long enough to work with. (Believe me. I tried.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHffOCVs0-0I97R-gVENvkZ8vYrujXBzxsLLylwJdOK6kQR-TgtX3pFOrS4L3M5zDbbO2OmmwrSW3bg6RjONaR0n0VlClZgXSMi18f8yE6Xnz_IqsOVXNmqFCJ8pRm5IpBpN/s1600/IMG_7220.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgHffOCVs0-0I97R-gVENvkZ8vYrujXBzxsLLylwJdOK6kQR-TgtX3pFOrS4L3M5zDbbO2OmmwrSW3bg6RjONaR0n0VlClZgXSMi18f8yE6Xnz_IqsOVXNmqFCJ8pRm5IpBpN/s640/IMG_7220.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I dug around in my yarn stash, and found some wool that was about the right value (neither too light, more too dark) and was a reasonably good color match. I untwisted the plies of the yarn, so that I had a strand that was about the same width as the threads that made up the weave of the skirt. My yarn is a bit shinier and a bit more purple than the skirt, but it was pretty darn close. <br />
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(Darn close! Darn. I crack myself up.)<br />
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I wove my yarn in and out, mimicking the weave of the fabric. It wasn't very easy to see the weave structure, because the fabric was dark and hairy. <br />
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As I often say at work, it was a material that would hide a lot of sins.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BJUNxohK2kYeEMUWZAK3gZvfs0x4E4YtTM-O8TSGiDu5wAHtYN056pedJSxzQXQ1OSgSvSPqJxwyU-CzyGpkzSrowj3BGyCUGqrGDdUFbBvDSv0gxff1LmDIcIzRTzetDl_f/s1600/IMG_7301.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BJUNxohK2kYeEMUWZAK3gZvfs0x4E4YtTM-O8TSGiDu5wAHtYN056pedJSxzQXQ1OSgSvSPqJxwyU-CzyGpkzSrowj3BGyCUGqrGDdUFbBvDSv0gxff1LmDIcIzRTzetDl_f/s640/IMG_7301.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's not perfect, but it's pretty good. And right now, pretty good is the best we can hope for. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrTM2P4nOKY8PDHalU36HPcjprslXiGk9fuBnZVzy7633bO0n7pcJZ15-TuJPWYHBsrI9tZqs32VmZroq1c9RCYSsBGrf_hmj3WjKCIGlMMk5KtvKzO2sBcvScRjx-yF30PzX/s1600/IMG_7347.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrTM2P4nOKY8PDHalU36HPcjprslXiGk9fuBnZVzy7633bO0n7pcJZ15-TuJPWYHBsrI9tZqs32VmZroq1c9RCYSsBGrf_hmj3WjKCIGlMMk5KtvKzO2sBcvScRjx-yF30PzX/s640/IMG_7347.jpeg" width="414" /></a></div>
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I took in a significant amount of fabric in the back of the skirt. This required removing part of the waistband and adding a few more pleats to the ones already there. <br />
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I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I think it looks lovely with this nineteen-teens blouse I bought earlier this year. I have one tiny snap to sew back on the blouse and it too will be good as new.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSCueqfMyzV9uPuKY4Ogdtvl_PWNR3ncKHBizNbZAMFG9YZYuYqa48ZDsxIlcTXscUkg-ZOly-yBOiMfoZFjfvKj7GsS9N1fL-cWAF3joYhRmSvArE35E8ifXQ22BADxBjQ7o/s1600/IMG_7363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSCueqfMyzV9uPuKY4Ogdtvl_PWNR3ncKHBizNbZAMFG9YZYuYqa48ZDsxIlcTXscUkg-ZOly-yBOiMfoZFjfvKj7GsS9N1fL-cWAF3joYhRmSvArE35E8ifXQ22BADxBjQ7o/s1600/IMG_7363.JPG" /></a></div>
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If you're wondering how I arrived at the date for this blouse, I'll point to an image I found in the <a href="https://witness2fashion.wordpress.com/2017/12/31/beautiful-blouses-circa-1917/" target="_blank">Witness2Fashion blog</a>. It's an advertisement from the <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=ApVJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PP66&lpg=PP66&dq=the+delineator+january+1917&source=bl&ots=wJrkQhu3gM&sig=ACfU3U0jN2nKFxY-K39eoj8Ri_lfQQeZEw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiylYrYjNDoAhVUj54KHTfyBNEQ6AEwEXoECAwQKQ#v=onepage&q=fetching&f=false" target="_blank">Delineator magazine from 1917</a>. It's a bit hard to see in my photo, but my blouse has almost the same structure. Same collar. Same decorative <a href="https://weallsew.com/the-beauty-of-hemstitching-history-and-techniques/" target="_blank">hem-stitching</a>. Same silhouette.<br />
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It's almost a little too on-the-nose to be repairing clothing that date to the time of the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html" target="_blank">Spanish Flu Pandemic</a>, now that I come to think of it. Rather than freak myself out about the parallels, I'm going to focus on the fact that I'm bringing damaged things back to life. <br />
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Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-77897708415707409152020-04-02T12:26:00.002-07:002020-04-10T09:44:25.401-07:00Art, Interupted<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As folks may know, I have an amazing job where I run the scenic painting studio for the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California. We build massive, ambitions stage sets for the shows we present. My team is in charge of all the surface treatments of the scenery we put on stage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHqfWK28Z2Nu4N1Su-rcDc4QZ4eqm3YuUm9oegLI2vApxeSu19lrL9dg5PgVtgzaTxpPb_TX376XHb5aPMqUVXgiI1WX9PGTYP_ZfR_KiwHUWLFTDX-_J6CxVcrMPQ43MThyphenhyphenl/s1600/IMG_5890.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHqfWK28Z2Nu4N1Su-rcDc4QZ4eqm3YuUm9oegLI2vApxeSu19lrL9dg5PgVtgzaTxpPb_TX376XHb5aPMqUVXgiI1WX9PGTYP_ZfR_KiwHUWLFTDX-_J6CxVcrMPQ43MThyphenhyphenl/s640/IMG_5890.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This includes so much more than just painting. We might find ourselves helping to build trees, by coming up with techniques for attaching foliage to custom-built structures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegZ8aDkfgE91e6botiWc3HCghoIGhmj1vHEzMhO4Qz_WtHlNkA6GwRpi7ZblxlNV0fh-rDMLxu8Quv5yIcSYZ3RhR6sows5-09bNwIOy-pVYQ-Z21P6gv_jJsVsegjrEYqTwb/s1600/IMG_5976.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegZ8aDkfgE91e6botiWc3HCghoIGhmj1vHEzMhO4Qz_WtHlNkA6GwRpi7ZblxlNV0fh-rDMLxu8Quv5yIcSYZ3RhR6sows5-09bNwIOy-pVYQ-Z21P6gv_jJsVsegjrEYqTwb/s640/IMG_5976.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Or we might be tasked with making brand-new beautifully built steel grates look old and crusty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjk31dYHZxpabXAJs8X4b0t_ZjGiRVtYfp1zjR7qcdA64KMNveOTzlfU6MckBN-r64u7hrpFHc2lRMCrqeLd8loBiFQwpRzvqKALzhNqGo5kwboGVzXOduRTRrTZCiQa2XTvI/s1600/IMG_5981.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjk31dYHZxpabXAJs8X4b0t_ZjGiRVtYfp1zjR7qcdA64KMNveOTzlfU6MckBN-r64u7hrpFHc2lRMCrqeLd8loBiFQwpRzvqKALzhNqGo5kwboGVzXOduRTRrTZCiQa2XTvI/s640/IMG_5981.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is just the first layer in this process. We applied a primer to the steel our co-workers had welded into gates, then applied lots of gloppy texture, and then painted on multiple layers of paint. The goal was to make something newly-constructed look like it had existed for decades.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsVWCrDa7YUdSwhaj1spPyPAtk1aH1vOZMIxmVEGG48gYIMm8ecTqAos_WsN6tYn3I9DtSFRI1Je_He8TjWN3AqMBhiyS7QCQrLAX3k9SmBYnnYa5EH2DL30983Q1tvm9yYgN/s1600/IMG_6006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsVWCrDa7YUdSwhaj1spPyPAtk1aH1vOZMIxmVEGG48gYIMm8ecTqAos_WsN6tYn3I9DtSFRI1Je_He8TjWN3AqMBhiyS7QCQrLAX3k9SmBYnnYa5EH2DL30983Q1tvm9yYgN/s640/IMG_6006.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We often find ourselves with the fun task of replicating a very heavy material out of something more suitable for use onstage. In this case, we were making cinderblock/breezeblock out of wood. We sprayed a heavy texture onto dozens and dozens of sheets of quarter-inch thick plywood and painted to to look like painted cement.</div>
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Our goals was to pre-paint all of this material before it was cut apart and assembled, so that we wouldn't have to jam our hands and paintbrushes inside of hundreds of cramped boxes.</div>
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This project, the scenery for our production of <i>School Girls, or the African Mean Girls Play</i> (designed by Jason Ardizzone-West, directed by Awoye Timpo) was a massive project. I had a large team working on the scenery, and we were scrambling to get everything finished in time. I'm proud to say that my team more than rose to the occasion. They textured and painted acres of scenery in record time. They did beautiful work, and were absolute darlings to work with.</div>
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We installed the truly gigantic scenery for this show, and commenced onstage rehearsals. </div>
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And then the thing we'd all been dreading happened.</div>
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The mayors and civic leaders of six Bay Area counties put us under mandatory lock-down to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. It was the right thing to do, but it was devastating for everyone who'd worked on this project. We did one run-through on Monday afternoon, and then we all walked away from the theater and each other. We took refuge in our homes, and tried not to fret about what the future might hold.</div>
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All around the country, performing arts venues and other arts organization closed to protect the public health. Gathering in large numbers was unsafe. We needed to slow the spread of this disease. </div>
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Artists suddenly found themselves unable to work. Nobody had any idea when or if things will return to normal. It was and remains such an unsettling time. </div>
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But artists are nothing if not creative and adaptable. We're finding ways to share our work online. We're looking for ways to make up for lost revenue.<br />
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So, if you possibly can afford to, consider making a donation to your favorite arts organization. Berkeley Rep has moved its annual fundraising event online this year. The scenic construction and painting crew is one of the fundraising teams. I know things are terribly uncertain for everyone at the moment, but could you consider making a small donation to supporting the work of artists in the Bay Area? It would mean a lot to everyone on my team. <a href="https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/ovation/team/scenic" target="_blank">(Click here for more information.)</a><br />
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Thank you.<br />
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<br />Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-34764673275975638612020-04-02T10:46:00.002-07:002020-04-10T09:44:57.276-07:00Oh Honey...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADFtbF_xvvfQF3on4GnB0n-WMuPBM6884X3938gV1NQGUJUAJX_8wK2PBHqbp8v4cgIlFMMGzbnv5sLIyL5v2V32q6De76EwHGKTdUKI0lA7LGR4cQ9yK5Wjxh_Rp_SF15Oo5/s1600/IMG_7253.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADFtbF_xvvfQF3on4GnB0n-WMuPBM6884X3938gV1NQGUJUAJX_8wK2PBHqbp8v4cgIlFMMGzbnv5sLIyL5v2V32q6De76EwHGKTdUKI0lA7LGR4cQ9yK5Wjxh_Rp_SF15Oo5/s640/IMG_7253.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As the citizens California enter another week of coronavirus lockdown, and we unexpectedly find ourselves with more time than we're used to, I suspect we're all tackling neglected or time-consuming projects. <br />
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In my case, I'm dealing with some beekeeping tasks.<br />
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Over the winter, my colony of honeybees slowly dwindled to nothing. It was painful, watching the colony falter, but I didn't feel there was much I could do. It's not wise to open up a beehive in cold rainy weather. The disruption and chilling is too damaging.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Over the last week, I've been harvesting the honey and wax that the bees left behind. I want to remove the honey from the hive before the ants discover it. The legs of our hive-stand sit in water-filled cat food cans, as a sort of ant moat. But of course, if even a single blade grass touches the hive, the ants can use it as a highway. California is over-run with <a href="https://cisr.ucr.edu/invasive-species/argentine-ant" target="_blank">Argentine ants</a>, which are an absolute scourge.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgBPcwq1h9BEEOAbZIZ3Sxbu8D1oKEwjI4khCHUnW0vT7cKot9xO81kSWG7YGxJ_4aNV-zO274oX5IwHh9n7_VkWOw7XRtlUuNJmajKq7Q7IRpQh7-U1_HtVKhhPn94OZwuZt/s1600/IMG_7244.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgBPcwq1h9BEEOAbZIZ3Sxbu8D1oKEwjI4khCHUnW0vT7cKot9xO81kSWG7YGxJ_4aNV-zO274oX5IwHh9n7_VkWOw7XRtlUuNJmajKq7Q7IRpQh7-U1_HtVKhhPn94OZwuZt/s640/IMG_7244.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't own a fancy honey extractor, so we practice a decidedly low-tech (and slow) method of honey harvesting, called crush-and-strain. We cut the honeycomb out of the wooden frames, cut open the comb, and let it strain through a double layered sieve. We have a gas oven with a pilot light, so we do this operation in the oven. The mild heat of the pilot light warms the honey just enough to let it flow more freely. Despite this, it's a time-consuming process. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ANO0MgEhnxf5N_StGhHGMhuqMRmxx8gwROZpXmJoy7X-FozsJ9QH3-fAQTkjh2aAr6VvF7x4qrM2235rsjPFEq69Yuzyth1aRKNjwxnS0W3w8f0IWidtHZGrA_MPhyhxHHkP/s1600/IMG_6926.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ANO0MgEhnxf5N_StGhHGMhuqMRmxx8gwROZpXmJoy7X-FozsJ9QH3-fAQTkjh2aAr6VvF7x4qrM2235rsjPFEq69Yuzyth1aRKNjwxnS0W3w8f0IWidtHZGrA_MPhyhxHHkP/s640/IMG_6926.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br />
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But hey, we've got nothing but time at the moment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6TDZ_WQ-SuXC8gWaqiJih8VjM_jncDa03CsYjVzAZQ8XKb_-2HS3veHieZoGjGkOArppo3Dm4ijGq73_F-VzdtNG9JtLEAZlwk-nqsTOtCZqa_lr0whAR1ghDC5UPWOor-If/s1600/IMG_6925.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6TDZ_WQ-SuXC8gWaqiJih8VjM_jncDa03CsYjVzAZQ8XKb_-2HS3veHieZoGjGkOArppo3Dm4ijGq73_F-VzdtNG9JtLEAZlwk-nqsTOtCZqa_lr0whAR1ghDC5UPWOor-If/s640/IMG_6925.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The honey drips into a ceramic bowl, and then we strain it through an even finer sieve. This strainer is made of fine food-grade plastic and I'm not sure it would withstand hours in the oven.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtbKL4ipxCuzd_uhVPSoQHueYbbZUOSyJVZZ7tCPK_2jsL_6bLpgo_6HYO03yEVd4yeL_NOfHOueBw3pF94f7qwI63glSjF4JvTj7Wr9yo4sXNZRTMxblRSXMOmiOp4_afk8B/s1600/IMG_6930.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtbKL4ipxCuzd_uhVPSoQHueYbbZUOSyJVZZ7tCPK_2jsL_6bLpgo_6HYO03yEVd4yeL_NOfHOueBw3pF94f7qwI63glSjF4JvTj7Wr9yo4sXNZRTMxblRSXMOmiOp4_afk8B/s640/IMG_6930.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once the honey has drained out of the wax, we heat and filter the wax. This time, we used layers of medical-grade cheesecloth, suspended over a vessel of water. We put this in the a very cool oven. Beeswax melts at 144 -147<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">°</span>Fahrenheit/62 - 64<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">°</span>Centigrade, which is easy to maintain in our 1940s gas oven.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgha9ttOwdBjqv86kD6kj-tDGoZ4cf_SYJFuKzh5FTKGpNSIxdKnNU6y45tCn52TDnyFLYYIjv_jaCxzZifO_JMXBwAP1VrwuXDLwNwcNgM13Gy355VeLSjv8uhF_QmZh5cis/s1600/IMG_7266+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgha9ttOwdBjqv86kD6kj-tDGoZ4cf_SYJFuKzh5FTKGpNSIxdKnNU6y45tCn52TDnyFLYYIjv_jaCxzZifO_JMXBwAP1VrwuXDLwNwcNgM13Gy355VeLSjv8uhF_QmZh5cis/s640/IMG_7266+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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What we shouldn't have done is used such long cheesecloth. The wax wicked into the fabric and pooled on the plate we'd set under the metal pitcher. I knew the fabric would become saturated (and planned to use it as fuel in our bee-smokers) but a plateful of melted wax was not something I'd anticipated. I poured this molten wax into a bowl of water, which resulted in this fascinating shape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJjK6Xi9S_VDB2fBt0oojKLHlifcCejMuQxSPoqaGWGmXYRED_i95jn2O4ZN_lz2p2-ddKo6QsluC-v6BYqrx6ih5AoSMsPkSp8Rn-6VwemHRo1R8lfsxLY0-MPOIhnyIN7G0/s1600/IMG_6933.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJjK6Xi9S_VDB2fBt0oojKLHlifcCejMuQxSPoqaGWGmXYRED_i95jn2O4ZN_lz2p2-ddKo6QsluC-v6BYqrx6ih5AoSMsPkSp8Rn-6VwemHRo1R8lfsxLY0-MPOIhnyIN7G0/s640/IMG_6933.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The molten wax floats atop the water in the pitcher, and when it cools it forms a lovely cake. I may re-filter this wax, because I see some impurities in the wax.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaLKGRqJ_4AZxucKTHPf7Z8bl3HR2WNmMe0nFwyp0SQzKjMTglP-WPr74sUnn1VexwNra_tRBYCNWmi1yhyphenhyphenDo8GDpTVy4ERY-0ZCxMyjvGAPqwD4NyIwWT76k6ivkqDlrxgV1/s1600/IMG_6936.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaLKGRqJ_4AZxucKTHPf7Z8bl3HR2WNmMe0nFwyp0SQzKjMTglP-WPr74sUnn1VexwNra_tRBYCNWmi1yhyphenhyphenDo8GDpTVy4ERY-0ZCxMyjvGAPqwD4NyIwWT76k6ivkqDlrxgV1/s640/IMG_6936.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Isn't this splendid? This is exactly the sort of endeavor that I often don't make time for. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkEaUodro2w-dMpEV69VwuZN77RVbEw1X0LBzmCW9HJuuduLNXWnVfpYTOGm3uEmSKebL5nurF0Jya1at7ElYSvewmGDXPeKCNFS5Q5c3s3z0usjrGRdQRu_IHQutEtldf7nU/s1600/IMG_7263.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSkEaUodro2w-dMpEV69VwuZN77RVbEw1X0LBzmCW9HJuuduLNXWnVfpYTOGm3uEmSKebL5nurF0Jya1at7ElYSvewmGDXPeKCNFS5Q5c3s3z0usjrGRdQRu_IHQutEtldf7nU/s640/IMG_7263.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Even more splendid is the fact that we now have a supply of fresh (and ultra-local) honey. I gave the next-door neighbors a slab of honey in the comb yesterday. <br />
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And speaking of neighbors, if you live in the East Bay and happen to spot a swarm of bees, could you please let me know? I'm hoping to collect a swarm to replace the bees I lost. Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21900544.post-77762982713826365172020-04-01T20:51:00.001-07:002020-04-10T09:45:13.647-07:00As Cute As A Button<br />
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Now that we're under shelter-in-place lockdown, due to the coronavirus, I have the perfect opportunity to revive my poor neglected blog.<br />
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Things sort of fell apart a few years back when I was completely overtaken by a horrible period of depression. It took quite some time to get back on track, and since then I've been incredibly busy and it has been hard to figure how to deal with the backlog of things I want to write about.<br />
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But hey! There's no time like the present, right?<br />
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So what have we been up to?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aGIN92V8h3L_DPxx9TuN-VTOt-9ubTifYRuo1wEDmthaE_CCHr327-meTWXfXgcJS7efZP5RtVMkmbyyVSx0aD7NCyf1H9uX0cWdR4TYFWHvxIuNdBFQoJEWCHNEhN87sod8/s1600/IMG_4872.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aGIN92V8h3L_DPxx9TuN-VTOt-9ubTifYRuo1wEDmthaE_CCHr327-meTWXfXgcJS7efZP5RtVMkmbyyVSx0aD7NCyf1H9uX0cWdR4TYFWHvxIuNdBFQoJEWCHNEhN87sod8/s640/IMG_4872.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Oh not much, just sewing a patio dress from a couple of vintage patterns. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWTBTCxOgClQ2imT4M0JXNUB25uWk7rTpCCosp-tLRYa1IlbBHbAxeKWOdcjKjJgOecGifIjPvUSfpsOWCqP1vGWF-i_D2YBNABehCTI1V6wc_2nL04bTI2skkfHDBPmeZ4at/s1600/IMG_4870.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWTBTCxOgClQ2imT4M0JXNUB25uWk7rTpCCosp-tLRYa1IlbBHbAxeKWOdcjKjJgOecGifIjPvUSfpsOWCqP1vGWF-i_D2YBNABehCTI1V6wc_2nL04bTI2skkfHDBPmeZ4at/s640/IMG_4870.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The term "patio dress" is actually a bit of a misnomer, since these are actually separates, comprised of a skirt and matching blouse. I used two different vintage patterns, because I wanted a blouse with sleeves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWnvHSTuwlt8dVRgSgtZtz_1hOoKOmJpqBbugxfTJUycHRwm-XpqxroJ95_zSNhYznko_hxivKIVKlXUBBQyczaWqTM-CN2CcoPl0WnukcjgMj_5ycKvXg7lBg2YSymdUQx09/s1600/IMG_4965.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWnvHSTuwlt8dVRgSgtZtz_1hOoKOmJpqBbugxfTJUycHRwm-XpqxroJ95_zSNhYznko_hxivKIVKlXUBBQyczaWqTM-CN2CcoPl0WnukcjgMj_5ycKvXg7lBg2YSymdUQx09/s640/IMG_4965.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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The hem of my skirt has a circumference of eighteen feet. Remember that number.<br />
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Robb and I subscribe to the motto that anything worth doing is worth overdoing, so the dress was just the starting point. We had been invited to join a group of our friends who were making <a href="https://www.pearlies.org.uk/#home" target="_blank">pearly costumes</a> for the <a href="https://www.edwardianball.com/gallery" target="_blank">Edwardian Ball in San Francisco</a>. <br />
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Which meant that we had to embellish our outfits with mother of pearl buttons.<br />
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Robb hand-sewed around twenty six hundred vintage mother-of-pearl buttons on his vintage tuxedo.<br />
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And I reckon we sewed on around around twenty one hundred buttons on my ensemble. Those eighteen feet of hem required an astonishing number of buttons. <br />
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Robb did a a lot of calculations, factoring in the weight of buttons required to decorate a particular length and then determined that my outfit required fifteen gross of buttons. This is what we had left over at the end of the project.<br />
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It seems like a lot of buttons, doesn't it?<br />
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And yet, I was the Plain Jane of my group. I looked downright minimalistic, compared to my compatriots. How do I have such amazing friends? <br />
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The Edwardian Ball is an almost unimaginable costume event, inspired by the artwork of the great <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Gorey" target="_blank">Edward Gorey</a>. So, we weren't merely pearlies, we were Gorey pearlies. </div>
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Chris and Erin were both adorned with <a href="https://boom-books.com/edward-gorey-monarch-butterflies-bats/" target="_blank">Gorey bats</a>.<br />
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While Casey sported a <a href="https://goreyana.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-cat.html" target="_blank">Gorey cat</a>.<br />
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And flowerpot on his trousers, which is a traditional pearly motif.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwgbTekWR7nkZ5_Q3zdgvJrgumanPH-Jg-n0n5uqjCL6LXahzzNsSxZ6Oo0bUkMiT7UwLsrhJJGXAHLthkpCphDxYtrh4Cnx1X_1EPbWdKLWWlMYM5f3P1JrSYM-Vjge-JSx4/s1600/10FCAD8D-1604-443B-BC1C-3C452B551269_1_102_o.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwgbTekWR7nkZ5_Q3zdgvJrgumanPH-Jg-n0n5uqjCL6LXahzzNsSxZ6Oo0bUkMiT7UwLsrhJJGXAHLthkpCphDxYtrh4Cnx1X_1EPbWdKLWWlMYM5f3P1JrSYM-Vjge-JSx4/s640/10FCAD8D-1604-443B-BC1C-3C452B551269_1_102_o.jpeg" width="640" /></a><br />
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What can I say? We take our frivolity very seriously around here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinICMpG8qiPftj_1UXdGHUYNfElcL-JzuaxLDrMuWg6SPKi7JeYRMNyB_YILYs8gOUfyBcTY3M-GBVk_LXZpWuphc0P85Vz3MGk0DEJ4QRm74xDGky2UPXrBztAMt7fiuzQA7E/s1600/BDFFBA35-189E-40C3-BF8C-3077D1446446_1_105_c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinICMpG8qiPftj_1UXdGHUYNfElcL-JzuaxLDrMuWg6SPKi7JeYRMNyB_YILYs8gOUfyBcTY3M-GBVk_LXZpWuphc0P85Vz3MGk0DEJ4QRm74xDGky2UPXrBztAMt7fiuzQA7E/s640/BDFFBA35-189E-40C3-BF8C-3077D1446446_1_105_c.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.com3