Smatterings

  • I don’t want to nag….

    Maprubythroatus411

    Maybe this will seem redundant to you, but check out the green dots on the map.  All you folks in New England, get your feeders out and ready.  The Hummers are moving up the coast quickly.  I have noticed that the bugs are out early this year, and the Hummers should follow.  I’m getting mine out today, early, but I want to have them out when my neighbors arrive. 

    If you have forgotten the "juice" mix, here it is:

    • 1 part white sugar  (1/2 c)
    • 4 parts water     (2 c)

    Heat to boil, or if you have a microwave, (do bears sh*t in the woods?) then nuke it in a pyrex measuring cup.  Cool and fill feeders.  Don’t use food coloring.  Save it for the Easter Bunny.  Us live animal folk don’t need that sort of additive in our food, right?  It’s that easy.

    All you Mid Atlantic folks, hope you are feeding already.

    The second sleeve of the Vine Lace is half way finished.  I’m holding on the right front until I have *just* the right buttons.  Not so easy.

    9 responses to “I don’t want to nag….”

    1. Cindy

      I will be getting my feeders out tonight. I looked at the map (up close, I can’t really see that well). There have been sightings east of me and west of me, but not right near me. I’ll be ready for them when they show. I love this map. The little guys will be up there sooner than you know.

    2. Christina

      I got my feeder out early last month, just in case, and the hummers have been back since mid-March. I have Rufous’ here.

    3. Adele

      Thank you very much for posting the hummer map. I’ve been keeping an eye on it, and it looks like they will reach us here on the north shore of Lake Superior in about 3 weeks. If my feeders aren’t out when they come, they fly close to my living room windows and let me know. I can hardly wait. Right now we still have some snow on the north sides of things, and 1 crocus blooming.

    4. cyndy

      Thanks for the heads up! On average, we see them around the end of this month, but looking at the map, seems they may be early this year! I will fill the feeders and set them out tomorrow (way high so as not to attract the bears who are also being sighted!)

    5. Ann

      What kind of feeder should I get…I finally have the kinds of flowers they like and we’ve seen them around, but I’d love to get them all the time. Should it have red on it? What a great kid project.

    6. Norma

      Holy cow! Isn’t this unusually early? I usually see my first one on Mother’s Day, the day before or the day after. It’s amazing. Do you think they’ll be way up nawth here earlier than that? Thank you for educating about NO DYE PLEASE. I get so annoyed at my neighbor for using it.

    7. margene

      They must be heading our way, too! I can’t wait for breakfast at Silver and the little guys buzzing our heads.

    8. Laurie

      Tnx for the update. I saw a mosquito on the windshield over the weekend. Yikes!

    9. Tamara

      Did you get my email a couple weeks ago? The first little scout showed up, and within 4 days we had a veritable flock o’ hummers at our house. They’re so much fun. I was grilling dinner yesterday evening and got buzzed by a couple of them. I have had the feeder up for a month now.

  • shadowy progress

    P1010284_1

    Every now and again, I ask myself (as you may be asking yourself as you check out the photo), why would anyone knit a sweater full of holes out of alpaca?  I just have this *thing* going on in my head.  I think it WILL be warm.  Much as in the same way that mohair is warm.  It won’t be a windy day sweater, that’s for sure. 😉   The back, one sleeve and half of the first front side is done.  I still feel the same way about it. 

    Just a note about public libraries.  I love them.  I guess I always have.  The "CLAN" system, that’s what they call it here… lots of libraries linked together, is fabulous.  This morning I was able to go to the library’s website, plug in the bar code on my library card, and reserve (order up) books from my new reading list.  Carol, I’ll be getting to you for suggestions next.  Meanwhile, I am psyched!

    7 responses to “shadowy progress”

    1. Martha

      I’m a big fan of the online library system, too. On my “To Do” list for today is to put that Dogtown book on hold.

    2. Norma

      I don’t question an alpaca or wool sweater with holes in it. It’s often the perfect amount of warmth without suffocating. Before I knitted, I would actually LOOK for netting-type or lace sweaters for that very reason. We only need the heavy-duty wool sweaters for my house, coz I keep it so cold in the winter! So both types are needed. I just love the vine lace.

    3. Laurie

      I think it makes perfect sense. Those of us who are both warm and cold need a moderating sweater that fits both body temperatures. Lace is a way to make it not too much alpaca.

    4. Carol

      Try the Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
      Was poking in the RISD bookstore and looked at was required reading for some of the english classes…I do go to extremes, anyway this was one of the books. Could not put it down. It is a memoir. Go to Amazon to read the blurb…You know the drill..then to clan to reserve the book. Oh yes, the new spin off, did I recognize my friend?

    5. Shirra

      Not so much a comment as a question. I wanted to order some yarn, but I can’t find the info about how. I have been “window shopping” for a while and finally decided that resistance is futile.

    6. Theresa

      I made an alpaca sweater with big holes (double yos) this winter, and it was suprisingly warm, but is also good for spring. It’s the best of all possible worlds.

    7. Monica

      Yup, I totally get the lace alpaca, it’s perfect for Spring.

  • There’s a NEW button in town

    After another day at the computer, all day.. working on a new ad campaign for "the business" (that would be the one that *pays* the bills), I’m cooked as far as the computer goes.  However, there is just one.little.thing.  There’s a NEW button in town.  Check out the top of my sidebar.  Take it if you want.  You know the rules.  Oh, here it is again, so you don’t have to go looking.

    Smatterings_button_3

    And a BIG thank you to all of you who emailed or commented with book selections.  I am back on track.  BTW, The Last Days of Dogtown is turning out to be a good read.

    2 responses to “There’s a NEW button in town”

    1. Carole

      Great button, I’ll be adding it to my sidebar.

    2. lynne s of oz

      Button! I should do a button for me!! No spam block on my email addy either 🙂

“Our lives are dyed the colors of our imagination.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

copyright 2025 Judith Jacobs – All Rights Reserved