Weekly update: hikes, Grassy Creek and pinwheels, and cheese

 The parking lot was nearly full when we arrived at Ryerson Woods Conservation Area on Saturday afternoon.   It was another gorgeous day with abundant sunshine and mild temperatures.  

(Note: one more dandelion!)

Brushwood was the Ryersons' house, built in the aerly 1940's.  It's used for courses and exhibits. There's also a modern welcome center (adjacent to the parking lot). None of the buildings is open now because of Covid.  

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Alford Park is at the far northern edge of Kenosha. We've driven past it many times but until today we'd never stopped.  The lake was placid.   

Photo:  a perfect piece of beach glass, an interesting plant, looking south, and a gingko leaf. 

(I will spare you the photo of the coho salmon washed ashore.  I've rarely seen fish washed up on the Illinois beaches.)

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In the studio:

Grassy Creek, part 1:  X sets of Y HSTs.  (Bonnie Hunter has asked that the dimensions and the quantities not be re-posted.)  I was able to make each set out of a different gray and a different gold.

(They look rather like the gingko leaf on the rocks, don't they?)

This pinwheel variation is featured in a couple of the Civil War Repro books and at least one pattern torn from a magazine. Those are 6" and 4" blocks. I'm choosing to make 8" blocks [finished size]. I have it in mind to make 30.

Confession:  I bought fabric on Saturday!  The LQS had a sale -- and I have a project coming up that requires 1-3/4 to 4-3/4 yards of four fabrics. I can't make it scrappy.   I'll have to keep you in suspense.

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The book report:  American Cheese, by Joe Berkowitz.

Artisanal cheese is a global gustatory subculture.  Berkowitz reports on cheesemakers, cheesemongers, and competitions in the U.S. and Europe.  His approach is adventurous and his account is lively -- but I admit I felt cheese-logged by the end.    I'm going to seek out specialty cheese shops to sample some of the exotic varieties. 

Linking up with Oh Scrap!    Monday Making  Design Wall Monday

P.S.  Full moon and sunset as we returned from Ryerson.