DEATH VALLEY STAYCATION – DAY 4

If it’s Day 4, this must be Wednesday. Mike messaged this evening to say the day had been long and adventurous, and – it was warm enough to take a swim this evening.

Today’s staycation gift, delivered by the mailman, is a book of doll clothes patterns for 14-inch dolls – Doll Studio Boutique by Erin Hentzel. I have a vintage 14-inch Toni, and I think she can wear these garments.

In addition to this reward, I drove to JoAnn’s today and bought two large storage boxes for my fat quarter collection. Ever since I revived my interest in sewing 15 years ago, I have marveled at the lack of storage systems scaled for the collection of fabric and thread, but these boxes should allow for the categorization I want.

It seems like there’s a dearth of new products right now. Or, maybe I’m just not finding inspiration for whatever reason. I suppose, though, that the pandemic and subsequent distribution difficulties are to blame.

Today, I took out an old project that had become a buffalo – “Jingles the Christmas Elf.” I finished his facial features this afternoon. I was stumped again when I couldn’t find the right size jingle bells needed for his costume, but upon checking again, I found some that will do. KW

 

DEATH VALLEY DAYS STACATION – DAY 3

By the time I took Bess to her kennel last night, I had 10,000 Fitbit steps for the day.

It was fairly warm at bedtime – 55 – and 44 when I arose this morning. A dark, dreary, rainy morning turned into a lovely, windy March afternoon.

I got Bess up at 7:00, and after we greeted each other enthusiastically, she whined. I knew what she wanted. I showed her that Mike was not in the bedroom and assured her that we are having a good time even so. She whined again, but then she finished her breakfast and curled up on her pillow in resignation.

Hallie messaged this morning that she and Nick have been reading to Silas from the cloth nursery rhyme book I stitched up. She wanted to know why I had chosen volume 2, so I explained it was the only panel available at the time. Did they want volumes 1 and 3, I asked, and she responded that Silas likes to turn the pages of the books, but he can’t yet manage the board books. She said it would be nice to have more, but she knows I have lots of projects. And that’s true enough, but nothing is as rewarding as making a gift that someone actually wants, so today I ordered fabric panels for volumes 1 and 3 of Mary Englebreit’s Mother Goose cloth book from an Etsy seller.

Speaking of projects, this afternoon I finished Silas’ Christmas stocking, with the exception of the lining. And now it’s on to the next thing, but that’s a topic for another day.

No staycation gift was delivered today, but I expect one tomorrow.

Another 10,000-step day. KW

DEATH VALLEY DAYS STAYCATION – DAY 2

Yesterday went reasonably well. Bess got over her funk, and I finished the day with 11,000+ Fitbit steps.

I was wide awake at 5:50 this morning, and of course, on standard time, that was 4:50, but I have to quit thinking that way. I arose drowsily and started my day. Mike had built a fire in the little stove, so I lit it. I didn’t get Bess up until 7:00, and she greeted me enthusiastically.

I have been crocheting. This is my third attempt to make a crocheted Christmas stocking for baby grandson Silas, whose middle name is “Fox.” It’s sorta reminiscent of “sly fox,” don’t you think? But when I was there last month, Silas didn’t seem sly at all. His nursery theme is woodland animals, and I naturally think in terms of a fox as I plan projects for him. So, the difficulty with this stocking is that I have an idea in my head to make a “fox” stocking, but it’s difficult since I don’t have a pattern to follow. And I want it to be special, so I’m obsessing over it, but I’m pleased to report that the current effort seems to be coming along.  

I hadn’t expected delivery of a gift today, but the mailman came early and surprised me with a book I had ordered -- Growing Vegetables in Drought, Desert and Dry Times by Maureen Gilmer. I know – it’s not really a personally inspirational gift, but that’s okay. I’m interested to know if I can improve my vegetable-growing efforts in these hot times.

A pleasant and uneventful day. KW

DEATH VALLEY DAYS STAYCATION – DAY 1

If you’re old enough (and you’d probably have to be at least 60), you might remember the old radio and early television series, “Death Valley Days,” sponsored by 20 Mule Team Borax and Boraxo. I remember that my mother had a box of 20 Mule Team Borax under the sink, and my grandfather kept a can of Boraxo, a powdered hand cleaner, on his bathroom sink. Somehow the name, “20 Mule Team Borax,” captured my imagination because I understood neither the mule team nor the product.

Anyway – I digress. Mike and Clint left this morning at 7:00 PDT for Death Valley. They loaded Clint’s utility trailer with two XT250s and lots of other stuff, and whatever happens with them is their story. This is my story – and Bess’s.

Bess knew as soon as she got up that Mike was leaving, and she wanted to go, too. Clearly, she prefers Mike’s company to mine. She followed him out to the pick-up, and he had to bring her back to the house where she promptly curled into a little ball on her pillow and went to sleep. She knows for sure now that she is here with me, and she doesn’t like it. I don’t particularly like it either, though I’m fine with staycating.

“What will you do while I’m gone,” Mike asked, and I declined to say. I know he thought I was being evasive, but I’d rather say what I did than what I’m going to do. Frankly, if I do nothing at all – with the exception of caring for Bess, that is – that’s just fine.

And of course, there will be gifts. Just managing Bess warrants rewards. Two gifts arrived early – my first issue of “Doll Castle News” and a packet of quilting fat quarters in 1930’s reproduction prints. The watering can was delivered today. I plan to keep it near the sink to save cold water

I went shopping this morning – Walmart, JoAnn’s, and Albertson’s. Sticker shock everywhere! 

After shopping and walking Bess three times, I finished the day having met my Fitbit goal of more than 10,000 steps – unusual for me. KW

RECYCLING FABRIC

Our mail wasn’t delivered yesterday. Late in the afternoon, a couple of USPS vehicles traveled through the neighborhood, but they didn’t deliver regular mail. We weren’t expecting anything, so I suppose it doesn’t matter. It’s just unusual – or is it?

We went to Albertsons this morning where I refused to pay the asking price for salad greens. The price disparity between store brands and manufacturers’ brands grows wider. In this troubled world, I’m afraid we’re in for it. I’m well aware that there are other places to shop, and we might do that. As I explained to my brother, it would be a long time before we’d starve, but I’m thinking we should augment our provisions anyway.

So – to return to the sewing room, I prepared Mike’s old shirt for recycling, removing the buttons and then cutting off the plackets, collar, and sleeves. The fabric is well worn around the seams, so I simply used a scissors to cut the shirt apart, leaving the side seams intact. I figure the shirt will provide enough fabric for three garments. The first is a pair of overalls for an 18-inch doll, a pattern I’ve wanted to try for several years.

In the process of cutting out the overalls, my mother’s distaste for used fabric was reinforced. The fabric is warped, which alters the straight. It doesn’t quite lie flat. Some parts are more faded than others. But – that’s why I chose overalls. If they look faded and worn, it’s all to the good. My dolls are active and industrious.

I forgot to take a picture as I worked, but here’s one of Grandson Silas on the puff quilt that I made for him using 1930’s reproduction storybook fabric charm squares. His mom says he likes to look at the prints. KW

NOT MUCH HAPPENING

 We’re doing just fine here, but I have nothing much to report.

The weather is making a slow segue into spring. Mornings are chilly, but the sun (if it appears) will give us a little afternoon warmth. It’s still too soon to work in the garden.

I’m slowly working on sewing projects. I subscribed to a site that promotes the making of doll clothes, and this month’s topic is upcycling a man’s shirt into a doll outfit – or whatever you want. Mike volunteered that I could use one of his shirts. I was surprised because Mike is fond of his collection of shirts. And really, most of his shirts don’t inspire me, but I happened to think of one – a “Bugle Boy” out of the early ‘90s – and found it in his closet. The collar was beyond frayed – totally worn out – and the sleeve was torn, but I felt his reticence when I asked to repurpose it. I held my ground and started whacking away on it before he could change his mind.

We’ll see how this goes. I’ve chosen a project, and I will either make progress, or life will happen and it will be added to my list of unfinished projects.

I like the idea of repurposing textiles. The more we keep out of the landfill, the better. But I also think of my mother, who always said that she much preferred to work with new fabrics. She didn’t alter or re-make much, but she made lots of new clothes. She took pride in her sewing and handwork. 

Well, that was then, and this is now. I wear loose-fitting comfortable clothes these days – and I don’t mind recycling an old shirt into something different. KW

GROWING FOOD

Garden produce, August 2021

Here it is March, and time to think about our farm garden and what we might successfully grow this year. As produce – and groceries in general – become more expensive, Mike wondered aloud if we could grow more of our food. It’s a nice thought, but in recent years, I haven’t grown anything in my garden that relieved us of buying food.

“The spinach on your plate came from our garden,” I might announce, “and by the way, that’s all of it.” Or, perhaps I’ll have enough to put up a box or two that I save to share at a family gathering. I haven’t even grown decent zucchini!

With hot, dry summers, my thumb has turned brown, and while I accept some responsibility for that, regional gardens shriveled away in last summer's heat while gardeners looked on in dismay. It can be too hot for the vegetation, even if you water.

We just can’t give up the effort to grow our food, though. Our world is facing environmental challenges, and hopefully we can overcome somehow.

You may recall that we have three rustic raised beds on the farm, and one contains strawberries. They are all fenced against the marauding deer, and I shade them with dog food sacks pinned to the fencing as summer progresses.

So, we talked about it. What can we do? More raised beds? Tear out the strawberries and plant vegetables? Plow up a section of the yard for a new garden plot? “Really, Mike,” I said, “it’s a lot of work, and it might be for nothing.” Besides digging up the ground, a garden plot would have to be fenced, and that means even more work. Paying the price for produce looks better all the time, provided produce is available.

But – here I go again. I researched heat-loving, drought-tolerant vegetables. Beans, zucchini, all squash, melons, corn, okra, and eggplant were among the listed items. These require space to grow adequately, and absent from the list are the leafy greens that are most important to our diet.  

Another suggestion is to plant earlier so that you harvest before the really hot months. “Early Girl” or Roma tomatoes were on that list. I’ve actually considered planting earlier, but I usually don’t get to it until June, and I admit that’s just too late. This spring, we must make early planting a priority.

And I wonder if we can’t do more to take advantage of the country fruits. We have lots of plums, serviceberries, black hawthorn, and elderberries, and we’ve planted cherry, apple, and pear trees in the yard. It’s too soon to tell what the yield will be. We get what we get, and some years we don’t get any. KW