Random Weekly Update

Hello! Another week has gone by already! I probably say that a lot, but I swear it's astonishing every time. In some ways, I always feel like lots of things have happened, and in other ways, I always feel like I didn't really get anything done. I wonder why that is? Well, here's our update for the week...
Jai is off at band practice. Dayliner is beginning to record some of their stuff, so hopefully soon I can actually post something that you guys can hear. They are really coming along, and Jai is really enjoying being part of something musical and collaborative again.

I am listening to my new cd - The Cave Singers. I totally love it, I think it's my new favourite for this week. If you can find it, I recommend it. It's kind of like a punk-bluegrass-Bob Dylan mixture, with a little bit of Nick Cave thrown in. The new Nick Cave cd is last week's favourite. It's so nice to have access to all this amazing music while living in a rural town (hooray for the internet!) We're probably the only household in the whole county to own either of those cds.

Anyway, I got a new marquetry picture finished up this week. All it needs now is a frame, and then I will list it in our Etsy store. Jai said I should take an "in-progress" picture, so I thought I would show you a little bit of the process. It started with the photo of the cedar waxwings in our oak tree several weeks ago (check back several posts.) I traced two of the birds, and drew out where I wanted the different woods to go. There is a lot of planning at this stage, as I need to figure out the right cutting sequence. As you can see from the second picture, I work from the "bottom" of the picture to the "top." Each piece gets carefully selected, shaded and placed.


Then the final result (sans frame.)

I managed to fit that in, in between some larger projects, which I will post later. Oh, and making ten identical boxes for my cousin Emma, who runs Emma Rose Photography (www.emmarosephotography.com) She is using them as cases for wedding photos. This is the first time I have built ten identical things at once. Whew! It's hard not to let that get tedious, so it's nice to have something completely different to think about.

Spring is slowly creeping up on us here. Yesterday was more snow, but today was all sun. Those snowdrops are finally blooming, and our crocuses are peeking out shyly.

I have spent a couple of evenings now perusing all the on-line seed catalogues. I found a couple that specialize in harvest seeds, and have such interesting varieties, that I would never see at the local nursery. Check out www.heritageharvestseed.com from Manitoba, if you're interested. I think I am definitely going to try some of their bean varieties, as well as the Minnesota Midget Melons, Pennsylvania Dutch Butter-Flavoured Popcorn, and Alma Paprika Peppers (the actual kind of peppers they grind up to make paprika spice!) And I'll be expanding the tea garden this year through www. richters.com from Ontario, who carry, among other things, Rose-scented Bergamot, Apple Eucalyptus, and Licorice. I'm also going to try Soapwort, which apparently can be added to the wash (in a muslin bag) in place of laundry detergent.

I also cut some branches from the forsythia and quince bushes, to see if I can get them to bloom inside. Two days ago, when the ground was covered in snow (again) the idea of something blooming held extra-special appeal.

Anyway, I guess that's all our news. More and less than I thought.