I’m scrambling to finish all the projects I started over my sabbatical before I make my triumphant return to wrenching on the 22nd.
Here’s the latest project I’ve crossed off my fun to-do list:
I started on this cross stitch project a week before the Martin Prince embroidery piece. The fact that I was working with 18-count black aida cloth required good lighting.
I thought I was a genius when I figured out how to make a grid overlay for the original image in GIMP so that I had a rough idea of how to transform the image into a cross stitch piece, until Sarah shared this website, which transforms images into a cross stitch (as well as crocheting, quilting, knitting, and diamond painting) pattern.
I was already 1/20ths of the way through the project, so I decided to stay with my original plan. I made the frame as well, using polymer clay and enough Gorilla Glue to make me nauseous for half an hour.
Four days ago, I pulled off my most kudos-worthy run yet: 12.5km at an average pace of 5:07/km. Sadly, that wasn’t the only thing I pulled. As soon as I saved my run and slowed to a walk, I noticed a tightness in the front of my left hip. Earlier in the week, I’d booked a 45-minute session with an RMT, knowing I’d have a tough week ahead of me, what with the last Zwift race with the RIOT Mint squad. It was the massage therapist who taught me the word iliopsoas: the trickiest word I’ve had to learn to spell in a long time.
So, yeah, I hurt my left iliopsoas, and I’m now struggling not to walk like Kramer in skinny jeans. It’s been four days, and since then, I’ve done all my running as Link in Hyrule. Even then, I sometimes ride my newest steed instead:
In an effort to clear out the ongoing lemon party from my fridge’s vegetable crisper, I made my third batch of lemon thumbprint cookies. I discovered the best method for drizzling lemon icing over the cookies: I used a piping bag with a small round tip. I also shaped one cookie into a heart for Valentine’s Day and another into Jason for Friday the 13th.
The heart was grotesque: I ate it before anyone could see my failed attempt at cookie artistry.
Jason, however…
To quote one of the cookie recipients, Alexa:
“I had a bite of Jason and he was lovely!”
She also added,
“Wow, baking is a science and I cannot get into it. I’m grateful for yours and Daniel’s interest!”
She’s inspired me to undertake a science experiment. I made these cookies with grass-fed butter, and I think that made a difference. It’s hard to tell unless one can make the comparison at the same time. In my fridge, there are currently 4 batches of 3-ingredient shortbread cookie dough, each made with a different brand of butter. And I still have lots of lemon.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do with the leftover lemons? They’re getting old.
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