For those who were worried about mildew…

Now I understand why.  A very strong argument for upgrading the weatherflaps and mudflaps to wool in future. (This picture is the weatherflap on one of the doors, sewn to the door.) They aren't now because I ran out of the main fabric, and as they needn't match, or be light-colored, I'll find something I like in future based on weight and weave type. The fine print:  After my rain test Friday night,  I let the tent dry all day Saturday.  "Dry" is a relative term in Florida.  I put the fairly dry tent in my car that night, intending … Continue reading For those who were worried about mildew…

Tent progress – Rain test, finally, with pics!

(droplets beading on wool fabric, gray of first light) It figures, after a summer where it rained a lot nearly every day, I'd have to wait a few days for a paltry half inch. (rain gauge and seriously wet fabric at base of tent) But still, a half-inch is a half-inch, and it's created the 'wet sag' that I was looking for… Those stress lines were definitely not there before.  The jute strips are fantastic, they're reducing the sag. Tarp inside was completely dry, and the fabric was not wet to the touch on the inside, on the main.  I'm … Continue reading Tent progress – Rain test, finally, with pics!

Mailbag – About my Dorset loom

(not my pic, but the seller's) My little Dorset loom gets the vast majority of email questions, and I'm going to start answering them here also, in the hopes that the surprising number of loom researchers and hopeful weavers can find what they're looking for more easily. The latest asks particularly (I paraphrase, the reference is to the blog post where I got to try out an Oxaback loom):  Did you ever go to Vavstuga for a weaving workshop? I am getting interested in learning to weave, and still choosing a loom.  Many people want me to get a jack … Continue reading Mailbag – About my Dorset loom

Tent progress – Punch list progresses

(the clamps on the ends are to help keep the tension along the ridge – when the ear ends are sewn shut, they won't be needed)(that's green tarp remnants) It's coming, it's coming…(happy dance) Put tent up in yard, so I can easily fool with details. Check performance against dew. Pin on ties Fix tension/geometry of end panels by trimming bottom of triangles Determine final length of ears Trim tarp Baste on ties Adjust tarp fit – LABEL Measure and cut mudflaps Baste on mudflaps Check performance against rain (rain predicted for Friday) Machine-sew ties and mudflaps Get tarp cover … Continue reading Tent progress – Punch list progresses

Stirring the pot at Panhandle Skirmishes

(Chivalry in Pursuit of Leftovers – we're putting away the chili, and this was the most efficient way, not just the most photogenic.  :D) Had a great day at Panhandle Skirmishes yesterday despite the plunge into cold weather – now I understand why Oldenfeld is called the Land of Big Fun!  I did taste Ceddie’s pepper vodka…WOW.  I’m glad I didn’t meet that unawares! I got to hang out more with various people that I’ve always liked, but hadn’t yet gotten concentrated time with.  This was really good.  I got also to help – Athelina needed a chili stirrer/server for the … Continue reading Stirring the pot at Panhandle Skirmishes

Tent progress – Frame now works!

The tent frame now works.  (Thanks as always for snapping pics, Mike.)  I'd gotten another joint suggestion from GMA fan Carl Smart (thank you!), and we used part of it, to great success. We ended up dropping the height of the ridgepole a total of 7" from where it had been.  I notched the short bits of the uprights to carry the ridge directly, which places the uprights at good section-modulus orientation* when you're pushing the assembled frame up underneath the fabric.  Ridge is now at approximately 8'-9". *This means a rectangular section vertical, rather than horizontal.  Much stronger shape. … Continue reading Tent progress – Frame now works!

Choosing Christmas repetoire of early music

Yup, it's time to think about Christmas…because if one wants to be ready to perform Christmas stuff in December, one has to start practicing way before Halloween. At least it isn't ballet – Nutcracker auditions are in July/August. Oldenfeld Ensemble had the first of a couple of organizational meetings last night, to choose which pieces to work up for the season.  There's a Google doc online with EIGHTY-SEVEN choices.  About half are in English, which is a lot more than usual for this group – most of the stuff we've done this summer has been in Spanish, with a bit … Continue reading Choosing Christmas repetoire of early music

A boring journal post for those who don’t fight…

(this is mostly for me, but because I got so much out of other people making their self-improvement journals public, I am sharing.) Stayed in armor same amount of time (about 1130-2ish).  Fought four intervals, which were all longer. (See, stamina increasing.  Fantastic.  Must keep running, and watching nutrition.)  Lost track of number of bouts (will stop counting hereafter).   Nine fighters, including Ceddie and Genevieve.  I really enjoyed Genevieve's comments, and watching her shapes, because she is not much smaller than I am.  Changing my focus to fight someone my size is Very Different. Notes: Movement – Stuttering.  Expect … Continue reading A boring journal post for those who don’t fight…

Tent progress – I’ve sewn a house!

I spent a lot of time in the past week sewing on my tent. Yes, I do all my sewing currently on a 30" x 48" table squirreled away in here.  No pics of the folding required to lay out pieces in a room smaller than they are. In case I haven't said so already, this fabric is Odd.  It's a wool/Something Plastic blend, as determined by a burn test.  Except that I can't keep it on fire.  I can't help thinking this isn't a bad thing in a tent.  I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a sweatbox…but … Continue reading Tent progress – I’ve sewn a house!

Run + Pell workout

Now that summer is over, temps are low enough for me to handle outdoor workouts. I'm disgusted with how low my stamina is in armor, and this is colluding with an underlying "you really ought to be taking better care of your heart and lungs" worry.  I've figured out what my workouts should be for vanity's sake – I mix P90X with yoga, and am not terribly consistent with either one – but that is not cutting it for the performance I would like to bring to the sparring field. So today I ran about 3K, on a road that … Continue reading Run + Pell workout