Contractor assessing.

 I can't settle to write a blog post. The insurer's contractor came to measure, assess then submit recommendation and costing.  It now involves flooring, wall, framing, exterior parts, bigger job than I had imagined. And I still don't have responses from the HOA.

Back when I can.

Meanwhile I have the complete Mrs Pargeter on my Kindle to assist my calm. Murders, you know.

Step by step, Textiles and Tea

 Bit by bit we're getting there. My car is now in the shop. And I have more information about the wall repair. Evidently another similar situation was remedied by the homeowner without having to go through the HOA, simpler. So I'll pursue the contractor Wednesday.

Meanwhile I've been making cordage till my thumb got tired.

And the library closed early because of yet another incoming storm, so my decision not to try for the knitting group, which meets there, was upheld by mom Nature. Friends in high places. 

By next week the cordage will have dried ready to use, so I can work on that at the group. You create it with damp fibers, which are weaker than when they dry, hence the wait.

Textiles and Tea on Tuesday featured Laicee Blackwell, a cloth and fiber sculptor, print maker and weaver, who uses lesbian memes and references throughout her work -- Birkenstocks with socks!-- and other in references, like carabiners,  which are often opaque to straight people but familiar to lesbian viewers.  High time, is all I can say. 

Large photo weaving

Painted warp image

Working with a Macomber loom fitted with a flying shuttle, and on right  cloth sculpture, with a carabiner.

Modular piece of woven patches and thrifted fabric, which can be rearranged, it has zippers, to fit the gallery. It's huge.

Laicee is very interesting, teaching, jurying and continuing to exhibit. Based in Indiana, in Evansville, if Indiana is near you, look for their August solo show.

Happy day, everyone, there's always some fun to be found even on grim days. Someone tells me she's got a microwave which she wants to try before offering me it, to make sure it works. So there's that.

And my snake plant suddenly put up a flower 

And here's today's bouquet 

White Rabbits and lemonade

What Handsome Son describes as the last couple of days of turmoil also has some bright spots. I'm clinging to them. Lemons to lemonade.

One is that the NJ budget passed, and includes the senior property tax relief, so mid July I'll be getting some of it. That will help with the insurance costs of the car and house.

Another is that Gary reminded me his container green beans are ready to pick. He loves to grow but not eat vegetables. 

So yesterday I had a salad of steamed green beans and bell peppers with celery bits and scallion I'd grown.  I threw in apricot, I'm definitely getting a taste for fruit in green salads, and added watermelon my other neighbor gave me. And sardines for brain stamina.

I'm continuing with my little basket, for calm, and it's now big enough to hold its own supplies 

I've been reading Decluttering at the speed of Life, interesting approach to winnowing, though the writer is far more challenged than I am.  Thanks to her, though, it occurred to me, since the contents of my kitchen are now all over the hall and living room, it's an opportunity.

I looked around to decided what things are not worth carrying back because I rarely use them, and ended up with several groups of Freecycle items, most of which are claimed and will be picked up. 

The food processor works fine but it requires hand strength to engage the mechanism which I no longer have.

 

The cast iron baking pan is surplus to my requirements. I have three skillets which I can and do bake in. Likewise the other tools, I don't use them.

The violent storms yesterday stopped things but I expect the Freecycle items to be picked up today. I noticed that most of them are things people unloaded on me years ago. Very few were my choice. 

And Gary's being very helpful about the car, which will be in the shop sometime today. I'll probably be without it a couple of weeks, between their getting insurance approval and doing the work. I could get a rental but my driving nerves are not up to a strange car. 

So I may use this period as a test for being without a car, and see how it goes.  I'll learn Uber, with whom I have an account I haven't used yet.  And I'll see how to consolidate local errands. 

I'm grateful to you all for your kind comments and encouragement. This is a trying time, but I have help.

Happy day everyone, let's hope July is good. I don't feel very celebratory about this year's Independence Day, I admit.  But, day by day does it.