to grow into

When Koda Bear and I were adventuring, we stopped in Ashland Oregon.  Part of it was for a bathroom break.  Part of it was for play because I knew of really nice park that I had been to about fifteen years before.  

The Bear loved it!  One of those he did not wish to leave and would go back to in a heart beat.  I liked it because there was kids playing there of all ages.  With parents playing too.  It did not matter how old the kids were.  There was a play structure, a rock climbing feature (not just a wall), a rope climbing structure, and all the trees and creeks you would wish as a kid.

It was just pretty.  There was some sun.  The rain had stopped for a few minutes.

The other thing was I got to go to a yarn store.  A yarn store I wished to go back to since the last time I had been in Ashland.  Koda Bear was very good in the store even though he wanted to still be playing.  And he kept asking where the tent would be setup that night.  We got to my parents that night so no tent.  But yarn was purchased.  Actually most things were purchased were for the Bear!

He tried a hat on while we were in the shop.  He wanted me to make it but I did not think it was soft enough.  He agreed.  And picked out different yarn.  I made him a hat while we were at my parents.  He wanted it to be big enough to grow into.  He wanted ear flaps.  It ties.  It has all the things he asked for.  

Who knows if he will wear it this spring but he might wear it next winter.  I can wear it if he does not.  It may just get snitched!

instant oatmeal

When I am traveling, I eat almost all my own food.  There is a random meal or ice cream cone that is not something I have fixed but otherwise it is mine.  When we are camping and Koda Bear likes oatmeal when it is cold, that can be difficult.  

In comes Carmella Rayone's blog Assortment.  She posted a recipe for making your own instant oatmeal.  Something I hate buying but do for boyos who want a quick bowl of oats.  A bowl of oats that takes as long to make as to brew the tea.  I figured I would give it a try at home.

I roasted 2 cups of rolled oats as a test.  325 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.  I put them in a blender with a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  I upped the salt a bit from the original recipe to make dividing by three easier.  I also add cinnamon because I did not wish to have to carry cinnamon in the camping gear.  Powdered ginger would be good too.

It looked like coarse flour or cornmeal.  I then covered the oats with about twice as much boiling water as oats.  I gave it a good stir and covered the small bowl with a saucer.  Let sit about four minutes

All the oats needed was the additions of brown sugar, butter, and a spoon.  

Koda Bear was very pleased with the oatmeal.  Now, camping we did eat pan toast of the cinnamon swirl bread I had made for most of our travels.  But that has to do more with pan toast and cinnamon swirl bread being favorites.  We also really only had one cold morning.

But now I have a jar of homemade instant oatmeal.  From groceries that are always in my house.  Less trash.  More options of what to put in it except eggs that become dinosaurs or gummy bears  It pleases me.

A grey dress

I have been thinking that I wished a grey dress for awhile.  The question is always shape:  sheath or a-line.  I decided to go a-line and make up the piece of fabric in my stash.  The grey that I had was fairly dark.

The dress turned out well.  There is not much that can go wrong with this pattern for me.  I even made it the correct length.  

There is only one problem with it.  It is not black.  I can laugh at myself.  This grey is so dark.  But it is not black.  I am finding that my favourite clothes are currently black and white.  Black for day time.  White for night time.  But I used what was in my stash which is a good thing.  I know in the future black or white.  It is where my head is.

Maybe grey will grow on me . . .

downsizing

I made this lovely sweater for myself from yarn that I had spun.  It was thick and cuddly and huge on me.  I had to roll the sleeves up three times so that they would not drag in everything.  And the sweater was heavy.  It made my body tired to wear it.  It is one of those things I have noticed with my arthritis, clothes that are too heavy are not my friends.  

I have learned that any pattern that says boyfriend sweater is not for me.  It is too much sweater for my body and life.  No matter if I like it or not!  I still have a few boyfriend sweaters that I would love to make and know better!

I got out my sewing machine and ran some lines of stitches.  I got out my scissors and cut.  I unraveled the collar.  I unraveled every thing I cut off and saved the yarn. 

Then I started finishing all the edges and putting a new collar on it.  I had to redo the button holes and I even found buttons to work this time.  I put them on.

I now have a sweater I can wear.  It is still on the bulky side.  I was wandering around my parents with it on over another sweater when I was so tired my body hurt.  I needed the comfort.  But it is now something I hope to wear more then twice a year.  I might be able too.  I do like it much better now.  I can envision it over my new overalls.  

Earth Day and the March for Science

Today, on Earth Day, I did the March for Science.  

Much of my life is science related or I do things that protect the earth.  Like mending Koda Bears knees in his pants.  It is a definite win because they are his favorite pants, there is now a heart on them so he knows I always loves him, and they did not go into a landfill.  

The March for Science made sense to me.  I studied math and geophysics.  I have worked in the oil industry for many years.  I love to camp and surf.  I love to garden.  What is going on politically does not make much sense to me but I can do what I can to make this world a better place for the next seven generations.

Now, doing the March for Science was not good for me.  Mending is about all I am going to be able to do for the rest of the day.  Or maybe crochet.  Something where I do not have to stand or move because I am barely walking.  There was a 45 minute pause of standing that did me in.  My hips do not take long periods of standing well.  

Tomorrow I will move better.