I Like Thursday: Sharing Stuff

June slipped away far faster than I anticipated.  I don't like that.  But there were things I did like.

Doesn't look like much, but it was delicious!

I like that I'm continuing to try new recipes (the only New Year's resolution I've stuck with).  Plus the Game Day crew seem to be happy to taste-test them.  Two new recipes last week.

It has been ages since I've made a Banana Cream Pie.  I've lost my aunt's recipe, but saw this one.  This pie was an adventure.  I used duck eggs, since the local chickens haven't been forthcoming.  They're huge and did not want to separate.  At all.  Then I didn't cook the custard long enough so it didn't set (because of the eggs?  the whole wheat flour?  who knows).  So I was cooking it again at 10pm when I should have been sleeping.  Assembled the pie the next morning with a somewhat-firm custard and lovely whipped cream, then froze it, hoping it would travel to Game Day in one piece.  Well... it almost made it.  An ill-advised sharp turn schlopped the contents to one side of the pie crust.  A little more freezing once I arrived, and it stayed solid enough for everyone to enjoy.  It was quite tasty - several people went for seconds.  I will definitely have to try it again... and cook that custard!

This Is How It's Done

Mabel rarely begs.  She occasionally gets up on the second floor and waves her nose around.  Most often she expects green pepper to be handed to her as she lounges in the hammock.  Like royalty!  And because she's so cute, she often gets away with it.  I've been trying to get her to beg properly on the second level.  The other day Wedgwood decided to show her the art of The Silent Beg:






Okay, Mabel.  Are you watching carefully?  First you chew the bars to get Mama's attention.  Hey, Mama!  She doesn't like bar chewing, so that usually gets her to come right over to tell me to stop.

Who Knew?

Who knew that getting the cage cleaned was such exhausting work?

Mabel and Wedgwood spent the entire time wandering around the living room, exploring every nook and cranny.  Mabel discovered my desk (ooh, paper to nibble) and behind the pig table (maybe there's a stray pellet or two?).  Wedgwood followed her everywhere - loops around the couches, exploring around the edge of the living room.  They ranged far and wide.  Wedgie never went that far on her own.  In fact, she was so distracted she barely noticed the grids blocking the ramp to the cage (which she usually impatiently rattles to return home).

They were fun to watch.  Mabel was so outgoing.  Obviously she's feeling better - the two of them were on the move non-stop for a half hour.

I Like Thursday: Kinda Sparse

Only a few likes this week.  Not sure where the time went.  I know I'll have more fun stuff to share next week.

I like watching Wedgwood and Mabel interacting.  They are so funny!  I need to get more videos of them on the floor.  I am so glad I adopted Mabel.

I very, very much like that I have the Homebase quilt sandwiched!  I am so excited.  Now the darned quilt is telling me it wants to be quilted in straight lines.  I'm brainstorming on what looks good.  I'd really like to get it under the sewing machine this weekend.

I like the Dresden Files.  I just pulled Working for Bigfoot from the library.  Can't wait to read it.  I've been waiting years for his next books to come out.  I've also borrowed In Farleigh Field.  I've been enjoying Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness and Molly mysteries, so this book should be fun, too.

One thing I don't like is the whole Blogger commenting-not-emailing thing.  I've actually started researching moving over to WordPress.  Ugh.  But I'm aggravated at Google's lack of response about fixing the whole thing.  So we'll see!  In the meantime, I like your comments!  Thanks for reading!

ETA:  OMG, it works!  I read Kim's comment.  I had to delete my email from getting emails, then re-enter the email address, but I am now getting emails as comments are posted.  Oh, happy day!  Instructions here.  Thanks, Kim!

That's it.  Short and sweet.  Sharing with Not Afraid of Color's I Like Thursday.

I'm Sandwiching!

I sewed together the Homebase blocks this weekend.  After so many weeks of pieces across my floor, it was wonderfully satisfying as each finished block appeared.  I loved ironing them to see straight lines and sharp points, the splash of color between the grey and white.

Now they're all together.  Really!  I've stitched the backing and have the binding ready to go.  I'm in the process of sandwiching it.  Now, how to quilt it?  Something wavy?  Swirls?  I hope I figure that out faster than the colors!

Sharing with Freemotion by the River's Linky Tuesday.

I Like Thursday: Homebase, Howlite and Pigs

See?  See?  This is progress.  And I like it!  I have the triangles sewn to the first corners.  The Homebase block looks good, so I'm ready to start trimming and sewing the rest.


Oh, this makes me so happy.

Boston Spring Pignic 2018

The Boston Spring Pignic had a lot of firsts.  It was Mabel's first pignic.  It was the first time (that I can remember) that both of my girls went in (and stayed in) the common sow's pen.  Eventually Wedgwood had enough, but she played nicely for quite a while.  Lastly, an interesting first - it's the first time we've had more boars than sows.  It was close:  20 boars, 17 sows.  A lot of those males came in pairs, which is so cool.  Word has gotten out over the 15 years we've been holding pigics that boars can be kept together.  Years ago most boars came in as singletons and were so excited to meet other guinea pigs!

Some Quiet Time

There's lots of whining, some rumblestrutting and the occasional snapping.  But beyond that there are long periods of quiet.

Wedgwood does not share well.  But she's not aggressive as Pinniped had been to Willow:  there's no hostile guarding and herding; she's not eating everything in sight so Mabel has nothing.  If anything, Wedg appears to be afraid Mabel will make off with the silverware when she's not looking.  It's kind of funny, since Mabel is so unassertive.

This photo is a perfect example.  I found Wedg sleeping half on the pile of hay with her butt blocking the cozy opening.  Like that was really going to stop Mabel.  I think the idea was Wedg would wake up if Mabel started eating the hay or moved elsewhere.  Not that Wedg would stop her - she just needs to know.  Because you can't trust little old ladies like Mabel.

It Has Started to Speak!

I purchased three more fat quarters on Sunday and finally, finally! the quilt is starting to speak to me.  This was the initial haphazard throw down I did last night.  I was looking simply for color combination and basic placement.  It's talking, and I like what it's saying.

I Like Thursday: Orange and Green

I'm not on stride this week - I'll blame that on a long weekend at Kripalu (a yoga and retreat center).  I went hiking nearly every day.  So much to see and do (and not do).

I liked this little critter we found right in the middle of the path.  We thought he was plastic at first, he was so bright.  He was so small my camera didn't want to focus on him.  Neat!


I like the sunlight on the leaves in the trees.  So much of where we hiked was heavily shaded.  Then we suddenly came across this opening in the canopy and the leaves just glowed!  Beautiful.

Chick Yoga Weekend XVI

Ah!  A weekend at Kripalu.  I look forward to this every year and this year did not disappoint.  The weather started out hot and humid, but it was sunny most of the time.  I hiked with my sister on multiple days, including a trail I've been meaning to try for years.  Pretty views, lots of greens and blues; some surprising oranges (the little newt? salamander? was so tiny my camera refused to focus on it). 

I have been remiss with my yoga in the last year, but did pretty well in classes.  I must be in shape because I wasn't stiff and sore each morning (although a couple of dips in the whirlpool may have helped).

I spent as much time as I could outdoors, reading or writing.  Some swinging chairs have been added to the grounds in the last year or so.  Love them!  I sat in one spot for nearly an hour and didn't see another soul.  The tranquility and solitude were wonderful.

Cardboard Barriers

I've gotten such a kick watching and hearing Wedgwood run full tilt under the couch.  However, Mabel and Wedgwood were spending too much time under there during floor time.  As I was thinking about how best to solve this, I saw these wonderful long boxes at the library.  Ooh - they looked perfect for what I wanted.  The librarians were curious why I wanted their discarded cardboard.  Guinea pig barriers!  I was pleased the long box just fit into the car, from dashboard all the way to the hatchback.