Bit and Pieces: October 2026

I did a Bits and Pieces post last month, but since I'm not sure what to write about today, it's time for another one. 

Fall may be finally here to stay. We had some thunderstorms on Friday, temperatures dropped 25 degrees, and we had our first frost. John is all ready to turn on the heat, but since I just filled our oil tank at the slightly exorbitant cost of $5.86/gallon, I'm going to be wearing sweaters, putting flannel sheets on the bed, and delaying turning on the heat for as long as possible. Can we make it to Thanksgiving? We'll see!

 

John has finally listened to my nagging recommendation that he sell the old Jeep he had been trying to restore for the past four years. I don't begrudge him a project, but this vehicle was some sort of Frankenstein cobbled together from parts of various model years. As a consequence, nothing fit. The drive shaft for four wheel drive never got installed but had a permanent place in the back seat. A very pleasant man bought it two weekends ago, and the good news is that this frees up a garage for my car when it snows. Last weekend John sold the top he bought for the Jeep (that didn't fit) and a leaf blower that he restored. He said he's glad that he's cleaning out the barn. Since I'm a supportive wife, I didn't burst his bubble by pointing out that there are probably 30+ other things in there for him to sell. At least he's started!

 

 

I got a letter from the president telling me about how hard he has been working for better, more affordable healthcare for people and how he believed in returning money directly into the hands of the American people. I call BS, and I'm also lucky enough that I don't need the $90 and wish he hadn't decided to do this. It hasn't actually shown up yet, but it's possible that it will be there with my Social Security direct deposit next week. But when and if it does show up in my bank account, I'm donating it (plus a bit extra) to someone who needs it more than I do. I haven't decided yet, but I'm considering the library, our local food bank, or possibly Planned Parenthood. Maybe all of them because that might help with my simmering rage. 

After chatting with our County Clerk, I decided that voting in-person might possibly be safer than voting by mail. She said she could guarantee that ballots would be sent out but couldn't guarantee that the USPS would deliver them. Voting by mail used to be so nice and easy, but I'll be trying to figure out how to work a voting machine this year. Early voting starts here in NJ on October 24th, but I'll be busy that day.

 

Next Saturday, October 24th, Justin and Jess will be getting married. It's at a venue in northern PA, Tall Timbers Barn. Justin had very few opinions concerning the wedding but didn't want to get married at a fancy hotel or country club. Weather permitting, the service will be outside, so half of our family has been calling to ask whether they'll be warm enough. I don't know; dress appropriately! I honestly haven't had to do too much for the wedding, but as it gets closer, I'm surprised at the amount of manufactured drama. Weddings seem to bring out the the worst in people (and sometimes the best, too), but I've decided that I'm just going to smile, pay attention, and enjoy myself. I wouldn't mind if you sent good thoughts for a good time and good weather. (Maybe then the family members that want to wear sleeveless dresses won't freeze!)

Bits and Pieces: September 2026

 

Hello! I had originally planned to be away last week, visiting John's oldest sister and her husband in northern PA, but then we unfortunately had two deaths in the family, so the travel plans got cancelled. I was busy so I took a little blog break, but I'm back now. A Bits and Pieces post seems like a good way to get back to blogging. 

• The photos in this post don't have anything to do with the written bits. They are just pictures from a file I keep called "Errant Photos". Some of them are from mistakes I've made while trying to take pictures, but I have no idea what the others are. I do think they're too interesting to delete, so I'm glad to have a chance to use them. 

• John and I have friends that we meet for dinner once every month or so. The wife of the couple (let's call her Jean since that's her name) has recently started knitting with her church group. They give bibs and a baby blanket to every child that gets baptized and Jean says they are running pretty far behind. She recently got promoted from bibs to knitting blankets and was pleased with that, but she said she had made a mistake and could I please, please, please see if I could fix it? I took a look and she had just slipped two stitches instead of knitting them. It was about a 30 second fix to tink back and knit the stitches so she could get back to knitting, but Jean was absolutely thrilled. I told her to call me any time, she thanked me profusely, gave me a jar of her homemade salsa, and has continued to text her thanks. I tried to show her what I did so she could maybe do it in the future but she's not quite ready for that. I felt a bit like a superstar even though I know I didn't do anything, but I am glad Jean was so happy and could get back to her knitting. 

• I'm officially looking for a new-to-me car. I'm currently driving a 2012 Subaru Forester with a minimum of bells and whistles, which is what I prefer. It even has a real key instead of a push button to start it, and it works well for the minimal driving I do (which is basically to the grocery store, and Ryan's and Justin's houses). But we've needed to invest $2900 in it in the last two weeks to repair a power steering line leak and the lower control arms. (I don't really know what they are or what they do, but I'd hate to be out of control.) I've looked around a bit online and my in-person visit to the local Subaru dealer was enough to make me want to keep my car. A used Subaru that is a couple of years old with reasonable mileage seems really expensive, especially when I can get a new one for just slightly more. I'm going to shop around (which means that I'll probably ignore it until something else breaks on my car.)

• Justin's and Jess' wedding is getting closer. Justin finally picked out what he and the groomsmen will be wearing and he arranged everything through Friar Tux. (I do love that name!) Once he created "The Look", all he and the groomsmen had to do was input their measurements and Friar Tux will send them their outfits. He used it for a couple of weddings that he was in and it was so much easier than going to a tux rental place. 

• They got a "self-uniting" marriage license. They are getting married at a venue in the woods in Canadensis, PA. They've asked John's older sister, Phyllis, to perform the ceremony. She got "ordained" on the internet; I don't remember what organization it's with, but she's married several couples and I know she'll say some lovely things this time. PA doesn't recognize her internet church, but they do offer something called a "self-uniting" marriage license. That means that the couple themselves solemnize the marriage, and all they need to do is have two adult witnesses sign the license and return the paperwork for it to be official and legal. It was originally meant for Quakers, although you don't have to be Quaker to go this route. I think it's kind of cool; I just need to stop calling it self-sealing.

• I'm still plugging away on dish towels but I'll be back Wednesday to show you some progress. I hope you are having an enjoyable Labor Day if you're in the US, or a lovely Monday if you're elsewhere! 

 

 

Bits and Pieces: May 2026

I've got a few things that I could post about but none of them are really enough for a whole post of their own. It's clearly time for a Bits and Pieces post. 

• I was driving by the river and saw this wonderful sight. I had to find a place to pull over and see if I could take a picture. Thankfully, I was successful. They're merganser ducks and I thought the 10 ducklings were adorable. I wonder how the one hitching a ride on mom's back got their position, but I bet all of the siblings will all be jockeying for that coveted place in future duckling parades. 

• I’m seriously considering this dress for Justin’s wedding in October. I’ve looked at what feels like hundreds of dresses everywhere from bridal salons to Goodwill and Marshalls, plus endless browsing on wedding-wear websites. I don’t want anything fussy: no ruffles, no bling, just a simple, comfortable, reasonably priced dress. Apparently, that’s a lot to ask for, but this one checks all the boxes. It even has pockets! The only drawback is that it’s made by a seamstress in Lithuania who sells through Etsy. You send her your measurements, and she custom makes the dress for you. She has excellent reviews and is currently running a 25% off sale that ends June 2. Since I haven’t found anything similar any closer than Lithuania, I’m thinking I should probably just take my measurements and place the order.

• Ryan made me a carrot cake for Mother’s Day, and after we all enjoyed some together, he sent me home with the leftovers. It’s been such a treat having a little slice of carrot cake after dinner this week, though sadly I finished the last piece on Thursday. There are no pictures because I was much more focused on eating it than photographing it. It was delicious, and probably tasted even better because Ryan made it for me.

• I've finished knitting the Dream Hitchhiker and it's blocking, but I'd like to get something else on the needles. I've thought about what I could make for Ryan for Christmas and I might knit a hat. I knit him a rainbow scarf by his request last year and I have yarn left over that would make a nice hat. Except ... someone stuffed it into my stash closet willy-nilly, so I'll have to do a somewhat thorough organization of the stash to find it. That might be a weekend project so I can do it right instead of just hunting for the yarn and then throwing everything back in.

 

 

• It’s such a pleasure to drive along the roads around here right now because the wild phlox is in bloom. I love seeing the flowers in their beautiful shades of purple, with a few that are almost white. I’ve cut some in previous years, but once brought indoors, the petals tend to drop quickly. I suppose that’s just nature’s way of reminding me to enjoy them while they’re blooming in their natural habitat.

Feel free to share any interesting things happening in your world, especially if they’re bringing you happiness. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Bits and Pieces: January 2026

I've got a few topics that I could post about but none of them are really enough for a whole post of their own. It's clearly time for a Bits and Pieces post. 

• The photo above shows the Milford Bridge, where I usually cross the Delaware River when traveling to Pennsylvania. There was a light dusting of snow, along with the early stages of ice forming on the river. Around here, people call it “scab ice” (yuck!), though the proper term is anchor ice. Anchor ice typically forms in flowing water when supercooled, loosely packed bits of ice collide and stick together, eventually attaching to the riverbed. Over time, this creates a bottom layer of ice that may later break free and float to the surface. There’s much more to say about how ice forms in rivers, but that's probably quite enough for now.

• I get to go look for wedding dresses tomorrow! I haven't mentioned it here yet, but Jess and Justin got engaged this past fall. Their wedding is scheduled for October 24th and I think much of the planning (for the big stuff, anyway) is done. Justin had one request, that they not get married in a hotel, resort, or "fancy" wedding venue. They've chosen a place in the Poconos that is rustic and everything can be outside if the weather permits. Jess is looking at dresses on Saturday, and I'm kind of excited to go along. Her mother lives in Ohio so she won't be there, but Jess has also invited her maid of honor, one of the vets she works with, and John's youngest sister. I may end up just holding the phone in case Jess facetimes with her mom, but I think it will be a fun experience. The bridal salon website says to plan on two and a half hours and their dresses start at $3500. I chose my dress in 20 minutes after work and paid $200 in 1981, but things have certainly changed since then!  

• Thank goodness John is traveling to Florida later this month. He used to travel quite a bit when he was working and I got used to it. It's been an adjustment since he retired and my alone time is much harder to come by. He has a good friend (David) that lives in Orlando and is quite ill with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and hypertension. David just got a pacemaker and is on the list for a heart transplant, so John thought it would be a good idea to visit him. John does not do very well in cold weather (he tends to nap too much) and when his sister offered to go with him (she has friends there and they will go to Disney World), he agreed. I have four days to myself, no dinners to prepare, and I only have to take John and his sister to Trenton airport. That's much easier than driving to Newark, so I'm really looking forward to my mini-vacation. 

• I've been looking for small things that make me happy, and one of them is feeding the birds. Justin got me a small feeder that I have attached to the kitchen window and I love seeing the finches (and occasionally a cardinal or two) come to the feeder when I'm sitting at the kitchen table. I've started feeding them sunflower kernels which they seem to like best. A five pound bag lasts about five months and that is a small price to pay for multiple daily finch visits that always bring me joy.

• Another thing that has made me happy is spinach dip. I made some as an appetizer for Christmas lunch and we've gotten a bit addicted to it. I've made three batches of it since Christmas, but it may be time to stop. I can rationalize and say there is lots of spinach in it, but it's also got plenty of fat from cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. We ate some of it with French bread or crackers, but this last batch is being enjoyed with carrots and celery sticks. More vegetables!

That's it for my bits and pieces. Feel free to let me know any interesting things going on in your world, especially if they are making you happy and maybe even healthy. I'd love to replace my spinach dip obsession with something that's a bit better for me. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

 

 

Bits and Pieces

I have a few things that aren't really enough for a post on their own, so it must be time for a Bits and Pieces post. 

Making - Venison stew, split pea soup, homemade dinner rolls, and zucchini bread. Now is the time to start using all of the things we froze over the summer. 

Finding Some Happiness and Hope - In all of the positive election results. I don't think I've felt this happy after reading the news in a long, long time. From our governor-elect Mikie Sherrill in NJ to the VA governor to all three Supreme Court judges in PA being retained, and a new Sheriff in Bucks County PA that will not be cooperating with ICE’s 287(g) program, it was a day of good news. Not just in the results, but there also seemed to be a much bigger voter turnout. Voter engagement is always a good thing!

House Price Gone Wild? -  The Zillow post above caused a bit of a stir on our street. The price was actually $460,000 but someone went a little crazy with zeros. I would sell our house if we could get anywhere near that, but alas, it was an error and has been corrected. 

Watching - The final of Great British Bake Off. I think I know who is going to win (Jasmine) as the other two contestants in the final have had some big baking mishaps. We'll see ...

Also Watching - The Daily Show where Jon Stewart talks to Joe Manchin. I used to think he was a bit of a "troublemaker" when he was in the Senate, but after listening to him, I see that I didn't really know much about him at all. It's a shame that he's no longer in politics and I don't think there are any centrists like him left.

 

The Coolest Thing - Showed up at our house with the tree guys. We were having two big oaks pruned and the tree guys brought The Spider. It's a really cool piece of equipment that they brought on a trailer and then drove it across the yard to the trees by radio control. It was so interesting that I had to go out and talk to the guy about it. He said there was a steep learning curve but it was part of why he had fun at work. 

 

 

Thinking About - maybe knitting a Hitchhiker. I have plenty in my knitting queue (Justin's socks and a pair of slippers for him, maybe some socks for John, a hat for Justin and one for me) but I think there are several skeins in my stash that would work. I miss the meditative quality of Hitchhiker knitting and I think I might need that; good election news can only go so far. 

 

 

Potholders -  I was looking through my files of potholder patterns and remembered that this was one I always meant to make. As soon as Justin's socks are done (which isn't going to happen if I keep dreaming of future projects) I think I'll get my loops out and give this one a try. 

 

We're supposed to have a warm Saturday followed by a rainy Sunday. That sounds perfect for reading a good book (The Heart-Shaped Tin for me). I hope you've got something good planned for this weekend!

 

Bits and Pieces

As we approach the end of September, I think it's time for a few bits and pieces. 

Making - Grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. John has been in Montana for the past couple of weeks, and that means I haven't had to cook dinner. It's been a lovely vacation from meal preparation. I can eat what I want, when I want, and that's often a grilled cheese sandwich at 8:00 pm. 

Not Looking Forward To - Picking John and Justin up at the airport tomorrow. I'll be glad to see them but their flight is scheduled to arrive at 11:14 pm. That's way past my bed time, and the last time I picked them up from a late flight it arrived more than an hour late. Wish me luck!

Hoping - That the cooler temperatures that are predicted for later this week actually materialize. It's been oddly hot and humid for late September and that makes me unhappy. 

Also Hoping - That my dear deer friends, a doe and her two fawns, don't get hit on the road. They visit my yard almost every afternoon and evening to eat the acorns from our oak trees but they are getting dangerously close to our busy street. 

Watching - The Morning Show and Ted Lasso. I know I'm very late to the party but I decided to subscribe to Apple TV through Amazon and see what I've been missing. The first seasons of both shows were watchable but later seasons weren't quite as good. That's okay; they were acceptable to knit to.

Also Watching - Ratatouille! I bought a Blu-Ray copy and once I got three different remotes figured out, it was a charming and entertaining movie. I started the third skein of rainbow yarn but didn't get a lot of knitting done while I was watching. The movie was good enough that it deserved most of my attention.

Ready For - Ragweed pollen season to be over. I'm not sure when that might happen, but it has really bothered me this year.

Grateful For - Sudafed, ibuprofen, and antihistamine eyedrops. 

Also Grateful - That I was able to get my covid and flu shots a couple of weeks ago. I got both of them at the same time and slept for most of the next day, but I feel much better knowing that my immune system is ready for fall and winter.

Avoiding - Housework, as usual. I have cleaned the bathrooms, but vacuuming and dusting have still not happened. 

Best new word I've learned - Backpfeifengesicht. It's one of those great German compound words and means "a face in need of a slap" or "a face badly in need of a fist". I fear I may need to use this in the days ahead. There's even a song about it. The lyrics are a bit rude but it is a catchy tune. 

How I've felt for much of 2025: 

But I hope your week is off to a good start!
 

Bits and Pieces Right Now

The beginning of May seems like a good time for a Bits and Pieces post, so here's what's going on for me right. I've used both Bits and Pieces and Right Now as labels, but since I couldn't choose, I'm calling this one Bits and Pieces Right Now. 

Making -  Lasagna, bread, and brownies. We've got some friends that are caring for their 98-year-old mother who has dementia, at home. They have a visiting nurse that comes three times/week, but that's really just to check vitals. Some stories about their mother are funny, like the one where she swears she sees monkeys and otters in the back yard, and how she has forgotten that she has eaten so she often asks for six meals a day. She can't be left alone and needs assistance almost hourly throughout the night, so caring for her is exhausting. I'm not sure how I can best help, so I made ziti, garlic knots, and brownies before and decided that another meal was in order. This lasagna is really not my best effort, but next time I'll make sure to use a deeper disposable pan.

Looking Forward To - My turn in the library queue for some of my holds, like Broken Country, The First Gentleman, The Names, and Turning to Birds.

Also Looking Forward To - Seeing what happens in the NJ Gubernatorial Race. I knew we would be voting for a new Governor in 2026, so I was quite surprised when a ballot showed up in my mail last week. I had completely forgotten about Primaries, and it seems as if everybody and their brother might be running. All I knew about some of the names on the ballot was who had posted the most signs in the neighborhood, and there were quite a few I hadn't heard about at all. Luckily for me, they all had websites saying they were the best and their opponents were the worst, but I did finally decide on one after seeing what he has accomplished as Mayor of Jersey City. The actual Primary election isn't until June 10th, but after that the field of 15 candidates will be narrowed down.

Hoping - That John plants something in the garden that I actually want. I use a lot of cherry tomatoes, chives, and shallots, but he doesn't know if there will be room for them. I have started chive seeds in a pot that I can use here, and I also have tomato seedlings, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see what gets planted in the garden.

Drinking - Peppermint tea, raspberry lemonade, and Yuengling. I hardly ever drink alcohol any more, but I really felt like having a beer. After a quick trip to the liquor store, now I have six five of them.

Watching - Jon Stewart's Weekly Show podcast on youtube. Jon Stewart has in-depth conversations with a wide-range of guests, like Bernie Sanders, Chris Christie, Michael Lewis, Rory Stewart, and Pete Buttigieg. I like the fact that both Jon and the guests are respectful of each other, actually listen and don't talk over each other, and I learn things and viewpoints that I didn't know and hadn't considered.

Wondering - If we are going to be experiencing another toilet paper shortage. Jon Stewart made an offhand comment about it in one of the episodes I watched yesterday, and I wondered what the reasoning might be. After reading about how tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber might affect the availability of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK), a material derived from wood chips that is used to make toilet paper and paper towels, I understood. NBSK makes up about 30% of standard US bathroom tissue and 50% of paper towels. I can live without paper towels quite easily, but not toilet paper. Yes, I realize that by buying extra toilet paper now I'm contributing to shortages and possibly even creating one artificially. But aside from not seeing loved ones and the constant worry, the pandemic was awful because of shortages and I'm not looking forward to going through that again. 

Knitting - Socks again. I love bright blue and green together, so I've wound this sock yarn and will cast on soon for a pair of short summer socks.

Ready For - High pollen season to be over. My car is yellow, my eyes are red and itchy, and I wake up feeling congested and headachey. 

Grateful For - Sudafed, Motrin, and antihistamine eye drops. 

Avoiding - Housework. I really should dust, vacuum, and mop the kitchen floor, but every day I say, "Fiddle-dee-dee!" like I'm Scarlett O'Hara and sit down to read or knit. 

Strangest email I received this week - From a neighbor asking if I had lost my peacock (or if I knew who he belonged to). He's not mine, but I wouldn't mind it if he wandered into my yard so I could get a closer look.

 What's going on in your world right now?   

Bits & Pieces

I've reached a place where I just don't know what to write about. Unraveled Wednesdays are always a high point, but after that I've only got some small bits and pieces. So that's what today's post consists of. 

 

• Do you have a favorite mug? My favorite has a picture of my kids on it and I use it almost every day. Sometimes it needs to be washed or I'm in a mood, so then I use my second favorite one. My mother might be appalled as I was raised to not use language like that; even telling my sister to shut up was considered "bad". But I'm the boss of what I say now, and at 67, there are definitely times when I'm thinking what my mug says. I haven't said it to anyone yet, but I know that day may be coming.
  

• Kat had recommended the 5 calls app if you want to easily make calls to your representatives. I was all set to download it, but it's only for iphone and ipad. If you have an android like I do, the 5 calls people also have a web site that works the same way. I've used it twice this week; all I had to do was input my zip code, choose what issue(s) is/are important to me, and then appropriate phone numbers and scripts are provided. You could spend all day making phone calls, but since I'm retired and have the time at least I feel like I'm taking some action by making a few calls. It may all be for naught but it also makes me feel a tiny bit better. 

• I have been considering deleting facebook and instagram, but just can't seem to bring myself to do it. I never post anything on either site, but I still have a fear of missing out on something that might bring me a little joy, like beautiful yarn. I certainly don't need any more yarn and haven't bought any in quite a while, so maybe someday I'll just do it. Edited to add: I just did it. So long, Mark Zuckerberg.
  

• Speaking of yarn, someone has really messed up the closet in the back bedroom where my stash lives. I have two large bins and a small one for yarn but somehow that has expanded to a plastic chest with drawers and a trash bag. My needles and patterns used to be organized in a small bin and a notebook, but someone has been putting things back willy-nilly, to the point that I have to quickly shut the closet door so it doesn't all come spilling out. I'm envisioning this as at least a day-long project to take everything out, cull the stash, needles, and patterns, and organize it all when I put things back. I'll be ashamed to post before photos of this mess, but if I can get things under control, the after will hopefully be a big improvement. Since I've written it here, I'll need to actually do this (sometime, no promises when it will happen).
  

• There is power in clothing. I've never paid much attention to clothes fashion, but I wear what is comfortable and practical. In the winter, this is almost always some Duluth Trading overalls, a waffle weave shirt or turtleneck, and a Hitchhiker. I was looking through my Hitchhikers and came upon two alpaca cardigans that Ryan had given me for Christmas many years ago. I have been wearing one of them most days for the past week, and in addition to keeping me warm, they somehow make me feel more powerful; maybe grounded is a better word. I noticed this when I was making my phone calls. I don't think I will ever be featured in Vogue, but if it's good enough for Michelle Obama, Taylor Swift, and Audrey Hepburn, then a cardigan is good for me, too.  

• My BiL, Bill, is home after his cardiac adventures at Cleveland Clinic, seeing his doctors at home, starting cardiac rehab., and beginning the long process of recovering and regaining his strength. Thank you all for all of your good wishes and healing thoughts. They do seem to have made a difference and I appreciate all of them. Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” This whole process feels like a miracle to me.

I hope you all have as delightful a weekend as possible. Being happy in spite of the news is a form of resistance and one that I think we have to try hard to preserve.  Please feel free to share any bits and pieces and happiness that is going on in your life!

Bits & Pieces

It's time for me to re-enter the world, or at least reconnect with this lovely safe community. I've been feeling sad, disbelieving, knitting, baking, napping, and trying to read. These things have restored my center enough that it's time to write a post and I've got a few bits & pieces to share with you today.

• I have issues with Jeff Bezos and his decisions for The Washington Post, but the Post still has some terrific writers and columnists. Eugene Robinson writes about politics for the paper, and I thought this article was wonderful. 

• I felt the need to do something and donated to the ACLU. Here are other worthwhile places you can donate if you feel so inclined: Human Rights Campaign, Transgender Law Center, The Trevor Project, and I'm sure there are many others. Let me know in the comments. 

• Today is Veteran's Day, a day to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. It's still a federal holiday and in NJ also, but we no longer have a parade or laying of wreaths at the cemetery. My father was in the Army during the Korean War, but he was stationed in Alaska and shot a polar bear. Be sure to express your gratitude to a veteran today. 

• When things get tough, I tend to bake. I made these rolls to go with the venison stew we had for dinner, and they were just what I wanted. No whole grains, just soft and fluffy dinner rolls. They're also pretty good spread liberally with jam for breakfast or a snack. I've been thinking about a chocolate coconut donut that I used to get when I was a teenager, so when I get some coconut cream at the grocery store, I will be baking this cake. I'll let you know if it lives up to my memories. 

• Ryan's next door neighbor died about a month ago. Ben was a lovely man and fine neighbor, always ready with a smile and a friendly wave. He had a heart attack a year ago and his health had been going slowly downhill since then. His daughter is here from Salt Lake City to clean out the house and get it ready to sell. They have hired a service to clean things out, and this seems to mean getting rid of much of it in a dumpster. They've filled four dumpsters already and there may be more. We were up last week so John could pick the last of his second crop of snow peas. He was outside when they were cleaning out Ben's shed. They encouraged John to take anything that he could use, so he brought home a lawn spreader, sets of sawhorses, and a jug of antifreeze. John hates to see "good stuff" thrown away, so he was in the right place at the right time. He came inside and said he had a weird question for Ryan, "Did he want a harpoon?" I have to explain a bit and say that if you know Ryan at all, you would know that he has a taste for the strange and esoteric. So, yes, a harpoon would be right up his alley. He had just finished telling me about the new D&D character that he was building, Tom, an old mariner. I thought all D&D characters were young and magical, but Ryan said that he wanted to see if an older character could use his wits to survive in a magical setting. Tom would just have the usual weapons available to a mariner, like a harpoon. When John came in to ask if he wanted a harpoon, we were dumbfounded. So thanks to Ben, Ryan is now the proud owner of his own harpoon. I'd love to know the backstory about why Ben had a harpoon in his shed, but Ryan and I both thought it was far better than a lawn spreader or antifreeze. 

My hope is that for you, these next few days and weeks may offer you a bit of whatever it is you happen to need right now, whether it's cake, a harpoon, or something else. 

Bits and Pieces for the New Year

After knitting a bit on a Hitchhiker that I started five years ago, partaking in a festive afternoon of toilet fixing at Ryan's house (we replaced the wax seal successfully with no leaks!), going to bed at 10:30 on New Year's eve, and taking down some Christmas decorations, I've got some bits and pieces for the New Year.

I really dislike going to the grocery store, so occasionally I reward myself with some sort of treat if I see something. While I was in the grocery store a couple of days before Christmas (along with everyone else) I saw this instant espresso. I haven't had brewed espresso so I can't really compare the taste, but this makes a nice afternoon pick-me-up, especially if I use one of my espresso cups and demitasse spoon to make it more special.

Look what else I saw at the grocery store on December 23rd - Valentine candy! It's just a little bit too early for me. I would probably eat it all well before February.

I was looking through some of the pictures on my laptop and found these - our last big outing before covid. That's John and his younger sister at the Plumsteadville Pub for her birthday. We went on February 22, 2020, and haven't been back since. 

Seven of our family members got together that evening, and I would have had an extra beer or two if I had known. I wonder if we'll feel safe going this year? 

We've had a gray and rainy week, but at least it wasn't snow. I was able to get out in the woods with Justin. He's been hunting a new way, with a saddle and platform instead of a tree stand. I'll spare you the details, but that dark silhouette you see standing 25 feet up in the tree is Justin. 

Here he is demonstrating how he hangs in the tree, but this is just a few feet above the ground, not the usual 25-30 feet up. I tried not to say "Be careful" too many times. 

The sun did come out for a few hours and it was at the perfect time to hit the prism I've got hanging in my kitchen window. It was lovely to see (especially if you ignore my dirty windows). 

I am anxiously awaiting the hat pattern that Hunter Hammersen has been teasing us with for a while now. She is collaborating with Gauge Dyeworks who is dyeing three different colorways to use for this hat. You can use that link to be notified when the yarn is available. I've been calling it "the feather hat", but I'm sure she'll have a much better name. Hunter has said that the pattern will be available early in the new year, have several different variations, and also info on how to use other yarn. I am completely entranced and can not wait!

What are you anxiously awaiting in 2022? 

Bits & Pieces

Once again I've got a collection of single photos in my Miscellaneous file, along with an update. It's time to share these bits and pieces. 

Packing up the MD house has begun. I took a load of stuff to Goodwill before, and packed these boxes with things from the kitchen that I don't think I'll need between now and February. I brought them home to NJ and promptly unpacked them. There has also been a trip to Goodwill with things from the NJ house. We've spoken to the real estate agent and will probably list the house in early to mid-January. It will be interesting to see how this turns out, and there will LOTS more packing. At least I can reuse the boxes from Ryan's move.

I made a pheasant pie over the weekend. I was looking through a game cookbook, saw a recipe for pheasant pie, and mentioned that I had never tasted pheasant. Jess (Justin's girlfriend) said that she had pheasants in the freezer and I was welcome to them as long as I prepared them when she was here for dinner. My thoughts: it's a lot of work for something that tastes a lot like turkey. You have to boil the pheasants, pick all the meat off while you check for shot and bones, then prepare the filling, and put the pie together. It was a labor-intensive dinner. I didn't have any pheasant cutters, just turkeys, but I don't think that's why it tasted like turkey.

I don't know what these clouds are called, but they were interesting enough for me to take a picture. There is a book called A Cloud a Day that I told John would make a fine Christmas present for me. I don't know that he has ever listened to suggestions even when he has asked me what I want, but I think I might get this book for myself if someone else doesn't get it for me. 

Ryan and I had a celebratory lunch last weekend at Braveheart Highland Pub. As you might guess from the name, much of the menu is Scottish. For several reasons, it's taken him a couple of months to get his car registered in PA, but he was finally able to get it done. This seemed like a reason for a celebration, so we did. You can see the one remaining piece of the corned beef and cabbage spring roll appetizer (it was very good) and Ryan's bridies. Bridies are flaky pastries filled with minced steak and sometimes onions. We could think of a couple of improvements, so I've looked up some recipes and will be trying them at home in the next couple of weeks. 

In an update to the Tasmanian Devil light-up Christmas decoration I shared on Monday, guess how much they are? I had never seen one before, so I looked on eBay to see what I could find and was a little surprised completely astounded by the price. Apparently, they are rare, desirable, and expensive. 

There is even a guy selling replacement antlers in case yours might be missing or broken. I had no idea!

What kind of bits and pieces do you have going on in your life?