Susan Sto-helit. Because in this world, after everyone panics,

I sewed not one, but two jackets. What can I say, I got on a roll and jackets happened. ( Photos )

Back when I did the Eclectic Beaded Crochet online class, I ended up with a 5-wrap bracelet that is about 2" too long. Which also makes it too loose. Because I didn't want to rip one end out and recrochet it, it's just sat in the box with the other crochet jewelry.

But I've been thinking of other ways to shorten it, and I finally came up with a kludge that works. I used a tapestry needle and the same crochet thread to gather a section that was turquoise chips into a berry cluster. Ideally, the beads should be crocheted in without spaces, but it works well enough, and it shortened the bracelet the right amount. So, pictures:

The turquoise chips section before:

And after (I added a bit of ribbon):

And the whole bracelet:

I could totally get behind this.

1/05/24 SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You would use every last one of the 1,440 minutes of this day to make life better for those you love if you could. Give more of those minutes to your own self-care, as those minutes are what make all other service possible.

Here they are, the original one that started with the class in, um, err, 2003, and the two I did this month. They're all wrapped in knotless netting, 2-ply Irish waxed linen threads. ( Photos )

It's an amulet pouch. I didn't have a coherent plan or theme, just things I like and that have meaning and/or feel like protection symbols. ( Photos here )

So I finished another shiny thing. ( All the photos )

It's finally, finally finished. Photos etc ( here )

Apparently I uploaded the photo for Lesson 1 and forgot to post it. To be fair, that was also the day the garage across the back alley burned down. I may have been a wee bit distracted. ( Better late than never )

First, ants in the snacks cupboard. I just got everything put back in time for laundry day today*. Second load hits spin cycle, I hear water gushing. Being a paranoid worrying sort, I go look. The washer drain was backing up. There's even some water coming out from under the washer. I called Roto-Rooter, they got us an appointment for this morning.

I had to run errands, so I left Paul in charge. By the time I got home, the line (sewer, main) had been cleared† and he was talking to another person from R-R who wanted to sell us on a $15K loan to pay for $2500 of water damage mitigation on the other side of the wall from the washer. Which is Paul's workroom, and which is now a bit damp. We took her card and said we'd think about it.

I helped Paul drag several cardboard boxes of wet magazines‡ and a bunch of other not-wet stuff into the patio, and he removed a chunk of damp ratty old carpet. It doesn't look bad, really. However, there's a homeowners' insurance inspector going to drop by sometime in the next week to inspect our exterior, and the patio is now full of random junk. Paul was planning to spend today cleaning up outside, but obviously that didn't happen.

Kitty and I went to Panda Express for takeout for everyone, I eventually finished the laundry, and I cleaned up Dr Emily's room some more. She'll be home tomorrow evening, and I wanted her to at least be able to sleep in her bed and access her dresser.

Oh, yeah, before the floods came, there was Pooka. She's licking a thigh bald this time, so she's back in the Cone of Shame and very needy and clingy about it.

*And reorganized the kitchen table and the cart so the opened bags in their ziplocs can sit there instead. Ziplocs are not as ant-proof as you'd think.

†Roots. It's always roots.

‡Alas for his old Fine Woodworking collection.

Today is the second anniversary of the day Norma Rae and Pooka joined the family! They are the Best Girls, sweet and loving, and we were very lucky to find them.