Tracy Justus
@tracyjustus.bsky.social
Seamstress and historical clothier. Knitter, gardener, cook, reader. SCA. Introvert. Widow.
I found this empty bird's nest in one of my blueberry bushes. Bed and breakfast!
June 28, 2025 at 1:13 PM
I found this empty bird's nest in one of my blueberry bushes. Bed and breakfast!
I *hope* this set up will keep out the rabbits, deer, and woodchucks. Electric fence with an inner perimeter of wire mesh. Beehives and fruit trees are in the background. The garden will be slow to produce because of late planting and animal depredations. The raspberries are doing great, though!
June 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I *hope* this set up will keep out the rabbits, deer, and woodchucks. Electric fence with an inner perimeter of wire mesh. Beehives and fruit trees are in the background. The garden will be slow to produce because of late planting and animal depredations. The raspberries are doing great, though!
Luna "helping" me put on fresh sheets.
May 21, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Luna "helping" me put on fresh sheets.
I made a duchesse silk dress for a client with a large bust to underbust difference. How to get a smooth fit in this unforgiving fabric? I remembered Dolly Parton's dressmaker had the same challenge. The answer: a princess seam plus a side dart. Left is Dolly's dress from '69, right is my dress.
May 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I made a duchesse silk dress for a client with a large bust to underbust difference. How to get a smooth fit in this unforgiving fabric? I remembered Dolly Parton's dressmaker had the same challenge. The answer: a princess seam plus a side dart. Left is Dolly's dress from '69, right is my dress.
This morning I allowed Luna onto the back deck for a supervised excursion. Here she is checking out her spiritual sister, a gargoyle.
April 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
This morning I allowed Luna onto the back deck for a supervised excursion. Here she is checking out her spiritual sister, a gargoyle.
The Christmas amaryllis that I put outside is re-blooming. The medievalist in me looked at it and said "Oh! a cross fleury!"
April 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The Christmas amaryllis that I put outside is re-blooming. The medievalist in me looked at it and said "Oh! a cross fleury!"
This is the large swarm filling the super that was used to capture it. The queen is inside so you can see all the workers in front marching into the box. I have all the hives I need so they went to my friend who is a professional beekeeper.
April 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
This is the large swarm filling the super that was used to capture it. The queen is inside so you can see all the workers in front marching into the box. I have all the hives I need so they went to my friend who is a professional beekeeper.
I've had two honeybee swarms in the past 10 days. The one on the left was huge, about 10 lbs. The one on the right was about 3 lbs. The boxes are close to my pear trees which I keep fairly short so both of these swarms were easy to collect.
April 20, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I've had two honeybee swarms in the past 10 days. The one on the left was huge, about 10 lbs. The one on the right was about 3 lbs. The boxes are close to my pear trees which I keep fairly short so both of these swarms were easy to collect.
FAFO. A second after the photo was snapped the shoe bonked her on her head.
April 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
FAFO. A second after the photo was snapped the shoe bonked her on her head.
How on earth can this be comfortable? -But she's purring.
March 27, 2025 at 2:16 AM
How on earth can this be comfortable? -But she's purring.
A queen bee surrounded by workers. Five of the six hives came through the winter. The plum is blooming and the pears will be blooming by next week. Sadly two plums and one peach I planted last year were savaged by deer- if I replace them I will have to build a wire cage around each to protect them.
March 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
A queen bee surrounded by workers. Five of the six hives came through the winter. The plum is blooming and the pears will be blooming by next week. Sadly two plums and one peach I planted last year were savaged by deer- if I replace them I will have to build a wire cage around each to protect them.
Despite the improvised baffle the squirrel found its way to the homemade bird suet. Luna *really* wanted it.
March 5, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Despite the improvised baffle the squirrel found its way to the homemade bird suet. Luna *really* wanted it.
The tokens were a success. People had fun going through them and picking out favorite colors. All 600 were taken. As the maker I took advantage by selecting my own first.
February 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The tokens were a success. People had fun going through them and picking out favorite colors. All 600 were taken. As the maker I took advantage by selecting my own first.
A female cardinal in today's snow. She was startled by Luna jumping up beside me.
February 20, 2025 at 1:00 AM
A female cardinal in today's snow. She was startled by Luna jumping up beside me.
Last week I made 600 tokens for a Viking themed SCA event this weekend. They were inspired by (though not copied after) historical pendants. The hand cast pewter 'coin' is the size of a dime and says YMIR L (L for 50) on one side and has a winged cat on the other. More details in the alt text.
February 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Last week I made 600 tokens for a Viking themed SCA event this weekend. They were inspired by (though not copied after) historical pendants. The hand cast pewter 'coin' is the size of a dime and says YMIR L (L for 50) on one side and has a winged cat on the other. More details in the alt text.
Luna 'helps' me with my latest project, tokens for an SCA event.
February 16, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Luna 'helps' me with my latest project, tokens for an SCA event.
There are stray cats in the area, and Luna has Opinions.
LOUD opinions.
LOUD opinions.
February 8, 2025 at 7:38 PM
There are stray cats in the area, and Luna has Opinions.
LOUD opinions.
LOUD opinions.
I finally finished the socks I've been knitting on for a couple of months. (They were laid aside for some holiday knitting.) I'll have to wait until the weather cools down again to wear them.
January 31, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I finally finished the socks I've been knitting on for a couple of months. (They were laid aside for some holiday knitting.) I'll have to wait until the weather cools down again to wear them.
Luna's favorite toys are inexpensive, thankfully. Paper bags and paper wads. Sadly she's one of those cats who does not react to catnip.
January 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Luna's favorite toys are inexpensive, thankfully. Paper bags and paper wads. Sadly she's one of those cats who does not react to catnip.
Ooooo, Luna got a bag!
January 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Ooooo, Luna got a bag!
Johnny Cash expresses how I feel right now.
January 20, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Johnny Cash expresses how I feel right now.
This is my sister's mini doxie Olive in one of the sweaters I knitted for her. I was thinking about the night sky- the blue band is sparkly, and I embroidered stars on it.
January 20, 2025 at 2:47 AM
This is my sister's mini doxie Olive in one of the sweaters I knitted for her. I was thinking about the night sky- the blue band is sparkly, and I embroidered stars on it.
Luna ascribes to the theory that if she can't see you, then you can't see her. [Alt text: Four photos of a cat hiding where all you can see is her fluffy tail.]
January 14, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Luna ascribes to the theory that if she can't see you, then you can't see her. [Alt text: Four photos of a cat hiding where all you can see is her fluffy tail.]
We got a couple of inches last night, less than predicted. The birds have been hitting the feeders hard. This is a tufted titmouse. Lots of chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, nuthatches, a few woodpeckers and wrens, and the ever present little brown birds.
January 11, 2025 at 3:59 PM
We got a couple of inches last night, less than predicted. The birds have been hitting the feeders hard. This is a tufted titmouse. Lots of chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, nuthatches, a few woodpeckers and wrens, and the ever present little brown birds.