Lessons Learned

I began the last color on the friendship afghan project, and got to about 7 inches before I noticed a problem when I tried to advance the warp.  Yes, that would be lack of warp, enough to finish the last two rectangles.  I only warped 9 1/2 yards, because that's all my warping board will hold.  I simply hoped for the best, and since I didn't have any errors that would have used more warp, I figured I would be fine.  Now I must tie on another yard of warp, and honestly, I just don't feel like it today!  I wanted to have this color done by tomorrow morning, before heading up to the center, but I can see now that I won't.  I must buy a larger warping board!  And stop hoping for the best.
  Because, I'm sad to report, the blouse I made from the bottom of the dress my mother had cut out shrank to the size of Barbie's younger cousin, Skipper.  The blouse was beautiful, a dusty peach color, and I put some of my favorite buttons on it.  I washed and dried it this morning, and found out that the fabric hadn't been washed before.  The good news in the sewing room is that I've washed all the fabric Mom gave me, and it's all pressed and ready to be made into many beautiful garments.  But two blouses from the same fabric, all that effort, will be going to Goodwill tomorrow.
  I'll leave you with photos of the cardoons that are growing outside my kitchen at work.  I've never eaten a cardoon, and don't know when these will be ready to cook, but I've been keeping my eye on them.  They're a relative of the artichoke and are popular in Italy, but used rarely in American kitchens.  They look like thistles on steroids.  If I get them before the chefs do, I'll cook them and let you know how they come out.