Second week of July

Kind of a slow week.  I got the rest of the supplies together for the blackwork class I'll be teaching at Costume College, just need to divvy them up into bags for each student.  And make copies of the instruction sheet!  I also turned most of the boysenberries into jam:

And I made a rhubarb pie, which turned out kind of mediocre:

Wednesday evening, I went to the West Sound Quilters Guild again and joined as a member.  The speaker was Mr. Domestic, and he had some fascinating techniques, including fabric weaving.

And yesterday, surprising me, Wonderful Husband suggested a trip to the thrift store(s) that carry furniture, so he could get an idea of what they might have.  We didn't get any, but I did net another dozen-plus canning jars and a nice flatware box that I'm going to try and rehab.  And he found a couple techie toys to play with.  All in all, a nice outing and I took the boys to the park afterward.

Week in Review

We didn't "do" the 4th of July.  At this point in my life I'm sufficiently disenchanted by my country and the neo-Nazis running it that I couldn't dig up a shred of patriotic pride if you paid me.  I'm sad, terrified, and enraged by what has happened and what is yet to come.

But since Wonderful Husband had the day off, we went to Ikea since we'll hopefully soon be in our own house again and thus want to have a bit more furniture.  Like a sofa.  And maybe an outdoor dining table and chairs.  And bookcases.  None of which we really decided on or bought, but it was something to do, and the drive ensured Jazzy got a decent nap in.

Though it was quite strange that the food section at the end was out of frozen meatballs.  Is Ikea allowed to be out of meatballs?

Afterward, we went to Carpinito Brothers, since it was quite close, and got some fruit and vegetables.  Including a flat of raspberries!  It's been a good few years since I've gotten to indulge, and, well, last night I ended up reading about how to grow raspberries and whether marauding rabbits are likely to eat the plants.  (Spoiler: they are.)

After a pizza dinner, we took the boys and walked over to the mini-park by our apartment, where I'd noticed there were fireworks set up.  Because despite my feelings about the USA, I was not going to deny my children colorful explosions.  Apparently there was a sort of block party going on for all the apartments and new tract homes in the area.  The fireworks display was really quite impressive and went on for over half an hour before the sprinklers turned on.  Oops!

Friday was Legos at the library, after which Jazzy caused an unfortunate bit of excitement by pulling our apartment building's fire alarm. -_-;;

Yesterday, we went to the Puyallup Farmers Market, which was sufficiently impressive that Wonderful Husband wants us to go back.  We didn't get a whole lot - lunch, some corn, some strawberries, and a half-flat of boysenberries - but a good time was had by all.  And afterward we went to my sister's house for a bit, where I raided her sour cherry tree for everything I could reach.

After washing, culling, destemming, and pitting, there ended up being just over two pounds of cherries, which I used the very last of my sugar to turn into sour cherry jam:

Two jars for us, two for my sister.  Since she's moving soon, and her new house doesn't have a cherry tree (and neither does ours), this may be the one and only time I get to make this jam.

(And while I was making the jam Jazzy opened the spigot on my sun tea jug and emptied almost the entire gallon into the bottom of the fridge.... -_-;;)

Catching Up

No new pics today, I'm afraid.  I have done a bit more sewing; I'm now up to fifteen Hot Cross Buns blocks.  But I'm also out of bits, so time to dig up scraps and cut more!

I did hit up a couple thrift stores yesterday.  The drive up to the two I like in Port Orchard is long enough to knock Jazzy out, so it's strategic for me - I get to treasure hunt, he gets a nap.  And Squiddle is easily bribed to be happy about this with a packet of fruit gummies.

I acquired seventeen 8oz canning jars for about a quarter each (for jams! cherry, blackberry, and blueberry seasons are imminent!), some construction paper for Squiddle, a couple sewing patterns, a plant pot and a hanger I intend to use with it, and another packet of scraps.  Which I intend to cut up for more hot Cross Buns blocks. :)

And afterward, we went to one of the parks that's closer to our house-to-be, where the boys got to play until they pinked.  Yesterday: hot and sunny.  Today: cool and damp.

Today, we went over to the house-to-be and got a demo of the sprinkler system from the current owner, as well as debating whether or not we want to take the pool table that he doesn't really want to have to move.  And I got a question answered - the three fruit trees are two apple and one pear.

And, on a final note, I'm a little sad.  I'm done breast-feeding Jazzy.  He's two years and eight months now, so I've probably let him have nursies longer than most mothers do.  And he's been tapering off on his own the last few weeks.  But we/I set a deadline, since I'll be away from him at Costume College later this month.  Which is actually the same thing we/I did for Squiddle as well, but a year earlier in his case since we were also going to start trying for Jazzy then.  But still, I am a little sad.  I have nursed my last baby....