(no subject)

Tried doing another N95 style mask from the Made by Barb pattern. Have come to the conclusion that while it is a useful way to force-teach myself how to bind bias tape on curves, I do not like dealing with the sides, where I have to fold things over to form casings for the ear straps. The original design was created using very thick fabric (she cut up a synthetic shammy or something of that nature) and was meant for one layer, with perhaps a lining at most, and did not involve covering the raw ends or tucking them under. The end result when I try to do this as a three layer mask, because I am trying to adhere to the WHO recommendation as best I can without actually having a completely water repellent inner layer available... well, the end result is unpleasant to look at and a pain to compensate for. And the overall cut and design is kind of a pain to work with, at least for me, especially when it comes to installing a nose wire (this was not in the original design except for the possibility of using a strip of aluminum that would be ironed into place using fusible webbing) and horizontal boning. At least using fusible interfacing on the outer layer meant the fabric behaved somewhat more like her results with the shammy, but it didn't make the nasty fraying on the ends any easier.

I have several pieces of outer layer and middle layer still cut. I will not be doing anything with them any time soon. Probably going to do the Jesse Killion mask instead, it's either that or the original Olson design, mostly I'm trying to get the Jesse mask to work because I'd like to cut down on my glasses fogging. I just have to get used to installing the nose wire in the right place. Got to wash my new fabric before I can start using it, but I should be able to do that today.


Worth noting: according to at least one article I read yesterday, optometrists have reported an uptick in people seeking either contact lenses or LASIK from people getting frustrated with the fogging and the mask wearing.

(no subject)

Saw the Cooper's hawk again. Or a Cooper's hawk, anyway. Soaring across the area, not diving this time.

Pretty sure I heard crows earlier in the day, but I can't verify that. I also heard something very briefly make a noise between a croak and a bark, but I couldn't find the source, let alone identify the noisemaker. Might've been up in the trees, might've been down in the undergrowth (the property next door has a patch full of small trees and overgrown bushes towards its rear that hasn't been trimmed or maintained since I've lived here, and I suspect the raccoon I surprised in my trash bin some time back- whom I have named Valerie, because why not- probably lives there most of the time).

Definitely heard a wren earlier in the day, and a nuthatch somewhat later on.

Didn't get down to the water, but I did see at least two throwdown trees while I was out walking. (Skinny little sidewalk trees with enough leaves on them for sparrows to feel comfortable going into full YOU TALKIN' TO ME?!? / Thunderdome mode)

No idea if the house two down from the water still has their chicken. I haven't seen it in a while. Doesn't mean much, they have a sizable garage and periodically string orange temporary fencing up across their driveway without doing construction work; that might just be the sign that the bird is roaming, for all I know. Still mildly peeved that I can't include 'domestic chicken' on my list of bird sightings. Probably wouldn't be able to cite 'peacock' if I visited my parents and drove past that house in the horsey part of the county, either. I shall have to settle for finding an excuse to visit Edgewater whenever I am in New Jersey again and hoping for monk parakeets.

ah well.