I finished Robin’s blanket Sunday (the letters look black but they are really deep purple and dark blue).
I bought a handful of old chandelier crystals last December for a little project I had in mind and yesterday I started on making little mobiles for hanging in a window or wherever. I’ve finished two, my goal is five but I need more crystals, easily attained at one of the junk/antique shops here. A little craft work instead of painting or sewing.
I saw the first 10 petal anemone on Sunday while I was pruning back the rock rose in the east flower bed.
I finished cutting back the dead rangoon creeper; in my yard I cut back the lantana, fall aster, yellow bells, rock rose, mist flower, and started on the wild mexican petunias and have piles of debris scattered all over the yard for later gathering.
I’ve been very good about my morning tai chi and yoga routines.
I bought the first three tomato plants Monday but I have yet to turn the garden soil and get out the weeds.
Today is grocery day, tomorrow we do Costco, and Friday I get bloodwork done in advance of my PC appointment next week.
We’ve watched a couple of movies; Sinners, a weird little vampire movie in the Jim Crow days of the south during the opening night of a black juke joint and One Battle After Another about an ex-anti-establishment revolutionary pursued 15 years later by a corrupt military officer. It's better than it sounds, is up for an Oscar I think, and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the ex-revolutionary and Sean Penn as the military officer.
Little signs of spring besides the anemone and the warmer days…spring grasses and weeds are exploding, the mock orange/dogwood has a few green leaves sprouting, the maple tree is blooming, the dwarf redbud tree in a pot is putting out a few blooms (dwarf because it’s in a pot), the first azalea.
I’ve gone back and forth about writing about this but here goes. Not to sound like a whiny baby but are people getting my posts? It’s just that lately some of the people who have regularly commented in the past are missing, and of course no one is obligated to comment, but I see that they leave comments on other blogs that we both follow. So I’m just wondering, are my posts not being seen or am I just boring?
Have to laugh at your sense of having been lost in blogland. It keeps happening, because (in my case) the blogs I follow are supposed to come up in my blog list that is a gadget in the right hand column. But I've noticed sometimes they don't get posted, even though these are daily posting folks! So that might be one thing...and the other is how I love to quickly read things, but maybe have to dash without a comment...sorry about that.
ReplyDeleteI used to use that gadget until I had to delete it in order to edit it and now it won't list them in order of most recent post. I don't expect everyone to comment on every post, I don't even do that, but I've noticed several who have stopped altogether.
DeleteI'm seeing them, for what it's worth. I have been a bit sporadic (and late) in my blog reading lately, with work and travel and whatnot, but I do try to catch up eventually!
ReplyDeleteI love your crystal mobiles! What kind of wire do you use? I wouldn't mind trying to make something like that myself, and I have some chandelier crystals I've found here and there.
I loved "One Battle After Another." Paul Thomas Anderson is one of my favorite directors.
Not concerned about you since you do comment regularly, just noticed a few who have stopped altogether.
DeleteI'm using galvanized steel wire 18 gauge for the armature, jump rings and swivels (from fishing gear) to connect the crystals. Some copper wire of thinner various gauges. Weirdly the smaller the gauge number the thicker the wire. Needle nose pliers, wire cutters, and a pair of round needle nose pliers (instead of the usual half round/flat surface) and a pencil to wrap the wire around to get the round shape. Could use a dowel but I had a pencil at hand.
OK, good to know! Maybe you'll inspire me to take on a crystal mobile of my own.
DeleteLike Steve, I would like to know what sort of wire you use.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look at your name blankets, I immediately wonder if I've made one in my sleep and forgotten about it. It delights me that you're making them too.
I always comment on your posts so if I'm not showing up, something's wrong.
I am seeing the first azalea buds on a bush right beside my back porch. It is so cheerful.
I'm using galvanized steel wire 18 gauge for the armature, jump rings and swivels (from fishing gear) to connect the crystals. Some copper wire of thinner various gauges. Weirdly the smaller the gauge number the thicker the wire. Needle nose pliers, wire cutters, and a pair of round needle nose pliers (instead of the usual half round/flat surface) and a pencil to wrap the wire around to get the round shape. Could use a dowel but I had a pencil at hand.
DeleteYou always show up. I don't expect everyone to comment on every post every time, mostly I've just noticed that a few past regular commenters have disappeared. That's fine if they've moved on.
I don’t think I’ve missed any posts. I enjoy them all. Beautiful, hopeful photos today. The baby blanket is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mitchell. Mostly just a few who were regulars who I don't see anymore.
DeleteYou're my first alert system for those ten-petaled anemones, so I'd best get out and start looking for them! They're one of my favorite spring flowers, and it sure enough is getting to be time for them. Obviously, I'm getting your posts. Just as obviously, I don't think you're boring at all. These things ebb and flow. Maybe everyone's watching Olympics! LOL!
ReplyDeleteSaw the first one and now they are blooming everywhere. Yeah, I don't expect everyone to comment eery time, just a few who seem to have disappeared.
DeleteI don't comment on blogs anymore because I don't want to log in with my email and password. Most blogs don't let anonymous comments. So, I gave up. I do read your posts and always appreciate them. Maybe I'll try to get back into the habit of commenting. Thank you for keeping the blog and posting. (NewRobin13)
ReplyDeleteHi Robin! Nice to know you still read.
DeleteI also meant to write how much I LOVE THAT BLANKET! It's beautiful! (NewRobin13)
ReplyDeletethanks.
DeleteCodex: There are some changes on platforms. People don't comment as much or don't comment back so it goes in cycles.
ReplyDeleteBlanket turned out nice and your mobiles are very creative.
What I'm seeing is a few people who used to comment fairly regularly that have disappeared altogether on mine but I see them on others. That's fine if they've moved on.
DeleteI'm having fun with the mobiles. I'll work on them until I get it out of my system and then move on to something else. One of the reasons I never made it big with the top glass collectors. I'd work on one form for awhile them move onto another. The glass artists that are big with collectors do the same thing over and over with minor variations. With few exceptions they've been doing the same thing for 30 years because that's what the collectors want.
Reading when I get a chance, will comment more in April or May.
ReplyDeleteWasn't referring to you, I know you are across the world and very busy. But thanks for taking the time to reassure me.
DeleteGorgeous blanket! Lovely! That second movie sounds like something Mike and I would enjoy. We'll have to keep an eye out for it.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I might make ones for the twins and of course Harrison when he gets older.
DeleteSometimes I have nothing to add so I don't comment. I think I comment more on blogs that reply but I do always read your new posts. I think those crystal mobiles are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI don't expect everyone to comment on every post, I don't even do that, and I do try to answer comments though a post will escape me now and then. Mostly I was just referring to a few that were regular commenters that have not shown up here for some time. If they've moved on, that's fine.
DeleteCodex: Ellen. You're right. A friend has a science site. Posts regularly. For the last few weeks. Nothing. Wondered what happened to him. Went directly to his site. Nothing. Checked and he posted throughout that time. He had comments, but less. Basically wasn't showing up for me but others. Same with a blog. Odd. I'm guessing they have a different feed than I.
ReplyDeleteI did read this but didn't really have anything to add. People read or they don't, comment or they don't, but it's nice to know I'm not just being paranoid.
DeleteCodex: I was trying to say that it's displaying for some but not others which shouldn't happen.
DeleteHi ellen, I’ve been sporadic in blogland, but I think I’m back now. I’ve been distracted for various reasons, personal, medical, political, and was actually wondering whether I might give up blogging altogether, since I have to censor myself so much, given the times. But I’d miss you, and my other friends here. I suspect people are a bit quieter because they’re exhausted by the news, and the minute by minute effort to keep their psychic selves whole. We’re all still here though. We’re a tribe, your tribe. Sending love to you, friend.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand and know your basic frequency...when you aren't swamped with work or that lovely family of yours. Always appreciate when you visit.
DeleteAlso, the name blanket is beautiful and I really loved the symbolism and metaphor of the movie Sinners.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I initially made one for Paisleigh inspired by Mary Moon. Then my daughter said she wanted one (my soon to be 50 years old daughter) and then my granddaughter (25) said she wanted one too.
DeleteSinners started out kind of slow but then there was that point when I sat up, whoa! And it moved after that. I called it weird but only in the sense that I would not expect that setting for a vampire movie and had no idea it was when we started watching it. I love the way it ended.