Tall Tales from Kansas

I love being the boss of my own knitting

Tonight I have a mishmash of things to share, you could also call it "a motley assortment of things". Either of those descriptors would be most accurate.

I finished knitting a sock. It's too big across the top of my foot. I also started the red part that should have been just the toe too soon because I thought I was going to run out of blue and not have enough to even do the top part of the sock. Do you sometimes find that maybe a project is just jinxed from the start and you should abort before you waste anymore time? I had that feeling several times when I was doing this sock but just kept going. I am cutting my losses now though. I love being the boss of my own knitting and just saying "screw it" sometimes. I will put sock #1, the rest of the yarn, and the pattern in a bag and add it to my next good will drop-off. Maybe someone else will want to finish it?

I had this "autumn latte" at a near-by coffee shop recently. So glad we sat outside because it's starting to get cold. Freeze warnings mean I brought in some plants to winter over, AND I covered a few pots on the porch to protect them. The plants told me to do it. They were very talkative today. 

You would do everything you could to protect this pot of flowers too wouldn't you?

Below are the market dahlias for the week. This was on Monday, they have now turned. I still enjoyed every second of them on the table. 

I saw this message on the side of a sign on a walk. I do not think it has anything to do with my decision not to knit a second sock. 

Do you?

No one likes to feel alone in their ridiculousness

The first Zinnia's of the year were cut and arranged with basil and coneflowers - this to celebrate our first post-pandemic dinner party.

It was a low key affair with a simple dinner, and we enjoyed it immensely. Even got out the "good" china. Why not?

The other simple thing I did this week was fix a rip in my favorite set of sheets.

To say they are "threadbare" in a few spots would be an understatement. But I can't see getting rid of them. Not when I have a closet full of fabric scraps laying around. 

I have not decided if it is my practical nature surfacing, my dislike for throwing away something that still has life left in it, or the challenge of trying to mend them. Regardless of the reason, I sewed a big old patch over that rip and we'll see how long it lasts.  There are several other "thin spots" that are likely to rip soon. I reassured Chris that once a sheet requires 3 or 4 patches then it is time for a new one. They should make sheet sets with 2 bottom sheets since the top sheet and the pillow cases are still as good as new. 

 

In complete contradiction to mending the sheet I bought yet another plant at the farmers market last Saturday. I have been wanting a "mother in laws tongue" (Sansevieria trifasciata), and the guy that sells cacti and succulents is really nice, and I knew the pot would go with the colors on the front porch. I didn't buy a bouquet, so a plant was called for.  

This is the mini flower arrangement sitting by my computer tonight. Basil, lavender, and flowering ground covers. That is all the completely worthless things I have to report on at this exact moment so I will say good night. Please do tell me what preposterous things you have been up to lately. No one likes to feel alone in their ridiculousness.

sitting there on my old beat up cutting board

A few things to highlight in the world of ordinary these last weeks, starting with my take on the mini flower arrangement at work, gathered from the dietician's "kitchen garden" at work. No one is there really early in the morning to catch me "poaching". Chives, oregano, parsley, and strawberry plants. It was what was blooming.

There is also this new vintage Santa that has come to live with my Santa's. It's from the collection of Marti Huff and will be absolutely treasured by me for years and years to come. A prize beyond measure. 

Tulips growing in my garden. They remain ever faithful, going on 12 or 15 years now. 

Speaking of tulips, the ones from the market last week deserve one more look.

I copied an idea from Sister and am drying a few of these petals to put in my everyday journal. 

There could be nothing more ordinary than a cut orange for breakfast with a scone, but seriously people, how beautiful is it? Just sitting there on my old beat up cutting board. 

How about a Kansas sky at sunrise? With a loaded lilac bush waiting by my car, perfuming the air as I stretched, at the conclusion of the walk. 

Followed by a honey latte and time spent unleashing a few thoughts into my journal. I think it is likely there are a lot of thoughts going into journals right now. About a lot of things. The pandemic has affected things that I did not foresee. It helps to work things out by writing. 

I just gave the inspiration board a bit of a facelift. Some things stay, some things go. Paintings from artists always appreciated.

my zenith of achievement

Photo from Providence Hill farm Facebook page

Do you suppose it's sheer coincidence that on the same day "heyday" was the word of the day I also received a message that goat yoga classes are being offered at Providence Hill farm - which is right here in Kansas?  Or rather, should I interpret this to mean that I will not have reached my zenith of achievement until I participate in a such a class?