Done!
May. 26th, 2026 05:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
koshka_the_catI checked out of work!
I'm not excited about my schedule next year, but whatever. It's break!
I'm not excited about my schedule next year, but whatever. It's break!
koshka_the_catTomorrow
May. 25th, 2026 06:37 pmkoshka_the_catIt feels weird that I have to go to work tomorrow. At least since I took the day off I can go in whenever I want. I'm just trying to figure out timing with my doctor's appointment. Who knows how long it will take to do the checkout stuff. I'm still annoyed that we weren't able to do any of it on Friday.
Busy day!
May. 24th, 2026 05:13 pmkoshka_the_catAfter a lazy yesterday, today I made the first draft of a pattern and finally sorted my stash into under the bed boxes that I bought today. I started it on winter break, then covid. I have a lot of things I've been putting off, so hopefully I'll get some done!
Reading...
May. 23rd, 2026 07:14 pmkoshka_the_catI spent all day reading on my Kindle without reading glasses, and it was comfortable. This is a very good thing!
A week or two ago I adjusted the font a little--I set it to the lowest bold option, but I still have it on the smallest font size.
I finished eye drops a few days ago, so I'm getting farther in the healing process. It's been a little over sux weeks for the first eye and four weeks for the second eye.
A week or two ago I adjusted the font a little--I set it to the lowest bold option, but I still have it on the smallest font size.
I finished eye drops a few days ago, so I'm getting farther in the healing process. It's been a little over sux weeks for the first eye and four weeks for the second eye.
Done!
May. 22nd, 2026 06:11 pmkoshka_the_catThe kids are done!
Just checkout left. Some on Tuesday, some on Wednesday, probably. I took Tuesday off for a doctor's appointment, but we weren't allowed to turn anything in or get signatures to check out today, so I'll have to go in Tuesday. I had planned on going in for a few minutes for the final checkout, but I probably can't because the district is being strict this year and only allowing the final checkout in the afternoon, so I'll probably have to do that Wednesday. I have to go Tuesday because I'm don't know who'll be there to turn things into on Wednesday. I don't know. It's confusing. But summer break!
Just checkout left. Some on Tuesday, some on Wednesday, probably. I took Tuesday off for a doctor's appointment, but we weren't allowed to turn anything in or get signatures to check out today, so I'll have to go in Tuesday. I had planned on going in for a few minutes for the final checkout, but I probably can't because the district is being strict this year and only allowing the final checkout in the afternoon, so I'll probably have to do that Wednesday. I have to go Tuesday because I'm don't know who'll be there to turn things into on Wednesday. I don't know. It's confusing. But summer break!
Flight to Ireland
May. 20th, 2026 10:15 pmkareinaWe set our alarm for 03:30, as Google told Keldor yesterday that airport security at Skellefteå Airport opens two hours before the flight. However, the sign on the side of the road outside the airport, by the closed gate, says one can't drive onto airport land till one hour before the flight. We could have had another half hour of sleep before travel...
But all went smoothly with check-in after it was possible to come into the building. The checked bags weigh 22.4 and 22.5 kg, which since the limit is 23 kg, is good.
Our flight to Arlanda landed 25 minutes early, so we had oodles of time, which I should have spent sewing, but wound up scrolling for much of it. Oops. Eventually, we realised that while we were sitting by the gate, it never opened, so we checked, and they had switched gates.
So we went to the new gate, boatded, and around 2 hours later landed in Dublin a few minutes early.
Tania and Mike picked us up at the Dublin Airport and we drove the couple of hours out to their delightful stone cottage at Inistoige, where, after a very fast tour to introduce the place to Keldor, and show me the many improvements that have happened since I last visited, in 2010, we took a nap.
I woke after a half an hour, then enjoyed a snack and pleasant conversation with Tania and Mike.
Their stone cottage is really a collection of stone farm buildings around a courtyard which had sat vacant for around 30 years before they bought the place, and the bits that had been sheds and barns were in the worst shape when they got it, missing roofs and some walls.
The main house was in good enough shape that they replaced the roof itself, but retained the original roof support beams.
We are staying in the nearly complete guest cottage, which has just this week gotten done enough to be usable. The last time I was here it had no roof, and no wall on one end (and walls that had crumbled some at the other three sides).
With the help of their friend Billy, who is tallented at stone work, the cottage now has four walls, one of them with fun decorative features, windows and even a door.
The door frame will be added soon. The guest bed has a glorious headboard that they have nearly finished restoring, but Mike's emergency dental surgery a couple of days ago, followed by plumbing issues in the main house prevented the headboard being ready to attach before we arrived.
Given that we had gotten up at 03:30 to start our journey here, and had driven all day (and most of the night) the before, we tryly didn't care about the headboard, but went happily abd directly to sleep.
After eating Tania took me out to see the orchard, which has five surriving big apple trees of the nine that were here when they bought the place 30 years before.
Much of the orchard wall between the farm courtyard and the orchard still exists, but the bits surrounding the other three sides have nearly crumbled away.
Tania tells me that the biggest tree, which long ago fell, took new root, and started over, makes big glorious tart baking apples.
The one to the left grows smaller, yummy sweet eating apples that have a narrow window between ripe and gone. Someday she would like to try making cider from them.
Of course most years their touring cycle has them heading back to their home in Saquamish, Washington in the autumn, so usually it is the neighbours who come pick their apples after they are gone.
Keldor woke an hour or so after I did, an after repeating a quick version of the orchard tour we went in to the Green Spice Indian restaurant in Thomastown for dinner, arriving soon after their 5pm opening.
The food, as promised, was excellent, and the company, of course, better.
After dinner we walked over to the river to look at the town's castle ruins and the stone bridge, which is still in use.
Then we returned to the house abd chatted for a bit before heading upstairs to practice a bit for their next consert.
While there she showed me the Seattle version of the Norrbotten polja tune *[[Babba Lisas hyfs'n]]* which they call "missing link" due to the pause that they so in the music, which she believes is not present in the original.
I tried playing her dulcimer a bit, but found it difficult without the colour coding I have painted on my bridges. Just as Tania found playing on mine challenging as it is harder to see the white and black bridges (that most dulcimer players uses for orientation points) with my colour coding.
However, I am feeling inspired to play dulcimer again, and even did a quick video of her playing, in hopes that it will help me learn it.
(Note, there are photos, but I can't put them on Dreamwidth until they exist on line, and that won't hsppen till I am home, so I may not bother cross posting again till I am home and can push the blog till github)
Travel prep
May. 19th, 2026 08:49 amkareina We started the day with breakfast with Martin & Molly and then went to go look at the house they bought, which is a nice one. I hope they get renters soon.
After which Keldor drove to town to do errands for his dad, and pick up our cat sitter from the airport on the way home. My goal for the day is to pack our bags for flying to Ireland way too early tomorrow morning.
This goal was accomplished, but not without stress due to how many things that I needed, and used often at Double Wars, I had to leave at home due to baggage restrictions when one flys.
I even accomplished washing lots of loads of laundry, and re-washing a frying pan and a roasting pan that the cat sitter for Double Wars had put into the cupboard in a state that I found too icky to be there.
In between we got the cat sitter, Aliçia, who is visiting from France, aquainted with where to find things in the house. I managed to do my at 22:30, and then the "last things" tasks were wrapped up so I could go to bed before midnight. Keldor was already fast asleep by then.
...and much of May, including Double Wars too
May. 18th, 2026 10:46 pmkareinaHere is the list of posts written in Obsidian, and pushed theough GitHub to my blog during the short time I was home between Double Wars and Strawberry Raid, if anyone wants to hear about my adventures and miss adventures for most of May.
- 2026-05-01 May day holiday at home
- 2026-05-02 Double Wars prep at home
- 2026-05-03 double wars prep at the workshop
- 2026-05-04 it may not be a problem at this time
- 2026-05-05 Rörmokaren kommer tillbaka!
- 2026-05-05 Rörmokaren kommer tillbaka!
- 2026-05-06 stuff to the trailer
- 2026-05-07 första del av resan till Dubblekriget
- 2026-05-08 day two of the journey to Double Wars
- 2026-05-09 the camp is up
- 2026-05-10 Caspians AoA
- 2026-05-11 a rainy day
- 2026-05-12 bardic!
- 2026-05-13 LSPD
- 2026-05-13 Wednesday
- 2026-05-14 market day-wild pig roasting-great court
- 2026-05-15 Nordmarks furstinna fyller år
- 2026-05-16 on battery alone
- 2026-05-17 new day, new car
- 2026-05-18 and home again
The rest of April
Apr. 30th, 2026 11:12 pmkareina Life before Diuble Wars was much too busy, and while I continued to record (some of) what I was up to in Obsidian, I didn't manage to often push it to GitHub to my blog, and really didn't manage to cross-post it here, though sometimes I managed to find time to read what you all were up to.
Today I finally feel like I have time to do a simple list of links cross post, for any of you who might like to be filled in.
Today I finally feel like I have time to do a simple list of links cross post, for any of you who might like to be filled in.
(This would be easier with a computer, where copying the index from my blog would paste this list as clickable links for each entry, but as I have only my phone avaiable here, I prestent instead is the summary list of what you will get as links (that haven't already been cross-posted here) if you click through to April''s index:
- 2026-04-09 a visit from my apprentice
- 2026-04-10 resan till Kronturneringen
- 2026-04-11 Crown Tournament
- 2026-04-12 Hamburg and Copenhagen airports
- 2026-04-13 continuing the slow journey homewards
- 2026-04-14 Ary arrives
- 2026-04-15 inspirational lecture
- 2026-04-16 Ary departs
- 2026-04-17 such a relief
- 2026-04-18 games night
- 2026-04-19 better, much worse, and then better again
- 2026-04-20 new gym
- 2026-04-21 garnet beads for the win
- 2026-04-22 my champion
- 2026-04-23 blå på skåpet
- 2026-04-24 antlers done
- 2026-04-25 project day at home
- 2026-04-26 hantverksträff
- 2026-04-27 naps don't mean less work done
- 2026-04-28 home alone
- 2026-04-29 went in just for fika
- 2026-04-30 Valborg
Almost...
May. 21st, 2026 06:45 pmkoshka_the_catHalf day with the kids tomorrow, and then it's basically summer!
Tuesday is checkout day. I put in for a day off for my thyroid follow up appointment, but I might have to stop by to get next year's schedule and turn in my keys. I'd rather do it as soon as possible if I can't fully check out tomorrow.
Tuesday is checkout day. I put in for a day off for my thyroid follow up appointment, but I might have to stop by to get next year's schedule and turn in my keys. I'd rather do it as soon as possible if I can't fully check out tomorrow.
snackies
May. 21st, 2026 10:14 amberadanGood morning and welcome to the library where, since tomorrow is my birthday, I have brought in four dozen homemade cupcakes. Another successful King Arthur Baking recipe!
And yes, I have leftover frosting.
And yes, I have leftover frosting.
Update!
May. 20th, 2026 06:59 pmkoshka_the_catI just heard from my neighbor. They think it was the mailman who threw the ballots away and they're going to prosecute him. I'm so glad she has a thing about unevenly filled dumpsters!
Yikes!
May. 19th, 2026 04:00 pmkoshka_the_catMy neighbor found 75 mail in ballots for the primary election that's happening in a few weeks, along with other mail, in our dumpster! She called the secretary of state, our county commissioner, and the post office. The post office sent out special agents.
I have my ballot, but was already planning on voting in person.
I have my ballot, but was already planning on voting in person.
One week
May. 17th, 2026 06:29 pmkoshka_the_catOne week left of work. The end of the school year always seems so surreal. I'm looking forward to time off and getting things done.
But water...
May. 16th, 2026 05:38 pmkoshka_the_cat
Here's the 1927 fire dress I'm basing my water dress on. Today I bought silver mesh and silver, dark blue and light blue lamé. I think I'm committed to it!
Something weird
May. 15th, 2026 09:12 pmkoshka_the_catI still think I have to take my contacts out. I stopped wearing them regularly over a decade ago? But I sort of do have internal contacts now.
Good news!
May. 14th, 2026 06:16 pmkoshka_the_catI didn't mention that I had a thyroid nodule of intermediate suspicion. I got the biopsy last Thursday, and the results yesterday. Benign!
I have to go back in 6 months for another ultrasound to check on a few other nodules, but that's just regular maintenance. Regular maintenance is good. It should catch things early.
Now to start thinking about what regular maintenance I want to schedule next. I've decided to do one at a time..
And not good, this morning I woke up because of a bug bite on the side of my foot. It goes well with the three new ones on my thigh and one on my ankle. So itchy. Cheap hand sanitizer helps (it's the only thing I've tried that helps), but ugh.
I have to go back in 6 months for another ultrasound to check on a few other nodules, but that's just regular maintenance. Regular maintenance is good. It should catch things early.
Now to start thinking about what regular maintenance I want to schedule next. I've decided to do one at a time..
And not good, this morning I woke up because of a bug bite on the side of my foot. It goes well with the three new ones on my thigh and one on my ankle. So itchy. Cheap hand sanitizer helps (it's the only thing I've tried that helps), but ugh.
Bugs!!!
May. 13th, 2026 07:06 pmkoshka_the_catLittle midge gnat noseeum things are everywhere and I just got three new bites on my left leg. Uggghhhhhh
They're somewhat better than the bite I had on my thumb that woke me up and made it so I could barely bend it.
They're somewhat better than the bite I had on my thumb that woke me up and made it so I could barely bend it.