etienette bluet

WEDNESDAY

Yardwork this afternoon, leveling and sifting an old compost pile thus clearing the area in the back yard where we'll be moving perennials and tulips to as we empty the front flower beds.  As neither of us are doing well at weeding on the level these will be reseeded to grass.  I called Joe Howard and he came over with his son and took those iris he wanted; nearly half of 'em.  We've passed the word in the barony to clear out any iris they want this week.  Only the Thyme and peonies will stay in the front corner.  Daffadils and windflowers will be allowed to naturalize through the grass.

Leofwyna talked with Marty about the apple tree coming out this fall.  He suggests we rent a chipper to chip the branches and he'll take the logs and half the chips for doing the work.  That would give us enough apple wood chips for the front around the yew bushes.  He'll also cut out that last fence post we can't shift.   Sounds like a good idea.

Tonight was the third ocarina A&S night for glazing our instruments.  I chose green with a brown-red belly for mine.  Talked with Gerald about picking up the concrete blocks asap and he thinks he'll be able to get them in the morning.  Afterward Leofwyna and I went with Natalya and Sarafina for supper at Noodles.  I really enjoyed the Mushroom stroganoff noodles with braised beef.  I think Sarafina will be a fine addition to our barony... she's got a young family, two sons, and is interested in cooking.

Naturally I finished off the evening breaking down a few more sample books.  The end is in sight for this process; some time during the next few days.

TUESDAY

Started the day early with phonecalls to Dr, Pat/NET and Armstrong.  Followed up by picking up cotton and silk samples (3 hours) and a tape to transcribe.  We unloaded the samples then Leofwyna wanted to hit a couple Goodwills looking for glass and using my discount.  We found a replacement 65th anniversary Tripoly to replace the plainer one we have; it's a game we sisters enjoy most any time we get together.  We finished the day with supper at Valentino's for pizza and salad buffet. 

We spent the rest of the evening sorting some of the sample books and starting to dismantle them to cut down on the bulk.  We use them for raffle quilts and charitable quilts for Africa missions, fancies for crazy quilts, embroidered linen for coifs, tapestry pieced together for ground cloths while camping, project pouches, sewing kits and book covers for largess, and various other projects as we think of them.  I'm planning special things for 12th Night gifts that I'll keep secret for the time being.

WEDNESDAY

Make a run to the library and requested book transfers for S.M.Stirling novels.  I started reading Island in the Sea of Time yesterday and want to have the sequels lined up when I finish it.  Leofwyna and I both went to Armstrong to gather up more of the sample books (2 hours); it was much nicer to have two of us sorting and loading up the van.

Unloaded the loot, cleaned up, picked up Tamara and headed to A&S [first of three] for Baroness Vasilla to teach us how to make clay ocarinas.  Mine shaped up nicely but didn't achieve the whistle... next time in two weeks.  Other's doing the project were Aibhilin, Chiara, Emelye, Gerald, Isadora, Natalya, TOCD, Viljalhmer, and Sarafina [the new person].  Gyda was there but didn't participate in the project as she already had an ocarina so she worked on her tablet weaving... a lovely belt.

With the new earlier time for our meetings due to the city cutting back on library hours we waited supper for after and went to Tico's then home to sort more samples and catch up with Project Runway... the most annoying people are slowly getting whittled away one by one.