I Saw One

One squirrel showed up in the yard today. It didn't leap up on the suet nuggets or climb into the square green feeder but it was there, prospecting under the nuggets feeder. Right after I took its picture it scampered off toward the west.

 

A knitting friend posted a pattern for a pointy red hat that is a quiet rebellion against the things going on in Minnesota. I found some red yarn but mine is thicker than what the pattern calls for so I found a basic beanie pattern for my yarn and I'll follow the method when I get to the top so it turns out pointy with a cord and tassel like the real one. I cast on this afternoon and got through the ribbing and into the hat body. I just went on Facebook to check something and saw a post by DD that she bought the pattern and is casting on today too.

 

This is the last drawing out of the book Drawing Cute. It's a Hammer. I don't remember why she said she'd put in a hammer but she did and kind of made a big deal of it. I put that book on the shelf and chose another drawing book. I think I've drawn some of the things in the book but I want to draw more of them.

 

I stepped out of my comfort zone this afternoon and entered one of the short story contests online. The one with the February 1 deadline is for new or emerging writers. I don't think I'm either new or emerging so I chose the other one. Before I could think too hard about it I saved the story as a PDF, paid the entry fee, and uploaded it. Now I'm committed. There's no turning back. I have no illusions about winning but the category I entered is for people over 70 so maybe I have a fighting chance.

 

After supper I painted these Cosmos. I'm not thrilled with them but will try again. I have to keep reminding myself that I can practice them over and over until I like what I get. I wish I could see how the author of the book used her brush to paint the petals. She described it but when I tried my petals looked like feet with toes. Not what I was hoping for. Maybe next time.

 

 Hey, it got up to 1 degree today! It's -5 now but the feels like temperature is -5 too so there must be no wind. My back doorknob is still a little frozen but not completely unusable like it was yesterday. Today I could open the door to toss my banana peel in the outside trash.

I wrote a little today--386 words--working through an emotional time with Rose and Iggy. I have a really hard time stretching it out. I keep wanting to solve the problem on the next page and have to resist the temptation.

--Barbara