This morning I am working on another dictated entry. I hope the program I am using will learn my speech patterns as well as I am learning its idiosyncrasies. I’m unaccustomed to speaking so quickly but I will get used to it.
Another sunny day has dawned. When I looked out the window this morning the thermometer read 10°C. The temperature in the house dropped 1°C over the course of the night. We are cozy here, and will be even cozier when we get energy-efficient windows and doors. Those projects are off in the future, as this is not the year that we are spending a lot of money on infrastructure at Mist Cottage.
I’m really enjoying Attila’s present work schedule. Morning is my favourite time of day. Attila and I arise early each morning, and Attila leaves for work early in the morning. My mornings are long and they fly by. I barely have time to notice that Attila is not here, before he is coming in the door with a happy greeting. Of course, I would prefer that Attila were here all the day long, and that is what he would prefer as well. Perhaps a time will come when we are both here at the same time, each and every day.
Most days I manage to work out on my elliptical walking machine. I do like it, as long as I do not overdo it. Although I know that it is recommended that I spend much more time on it than I do, common sense and the limits of pain tell me that what I am doing is perfect for me. The work out usually consists of 20 minutes of walking, while watching a video on either Netflix or YouTube.
Yesterday I purchased another ball of yarn from Walmart, the only retail outlet with quality yarn within easy driving distance. It is another cotton yarn, Bernat Handicrafter, that I will use to make a kitchen towel for Grace the Trailer. I like to have a simple project on the go, that I can take with me to the camp, or on car trip. In reality while at the camp I seldom take up my crochet project, because I am very busy working on projects in the great outdoors.
The weather report says it will be a beautiful weekend. The weather will be nice enough for me to wear the beautiful clothes my Mom sent me.
Worldly Distractions
Weather
18°C
Date: 11:00 AM EDT Friday 9 June 2017
Condition: Mostly Cloudy
Pressure: 100.7 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 18.2°C
Dew point: 14.2°C
Humidity: 77%
Wind: SSW 14 km/h
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.”
Aldous Huxley
1894 – 1963
Not being able to participate in music, silence has been my refuge.
Speaking of music and silence, I am sitting here making a rug, and going to put on our local classical FM radio station for some light classical tunes. Now if only I can find that remote!
I got some new yarn by post yesterday, it’s called Lion Brand Yarns, “Wool-East Thick & Quick” 82% acrylic, 10% wool and 8% rayon. The color is “oatmeal” and here’s what I’ve landed on doing with it in the last hour or so:
https://flic.kr/p/VCBgdv
It’s super thick and lovely. With bits of black colored thingies all throughout it.
https://flic.kr/p/Vz4qoN
I first tried knitting a sample of a ripple blanket swatch but the hook is so large and the yarn is so thick, my hands were aching, so then I put it on 2 #13 knitting needles and knit a row of 50 stitches using the K2 P2 method… but I knew it would never work – it was so thick, then I remember what I’d had in mind when I ordered this luscious yarn… an area rug, made as a plain circle… and that’s what it will be. It’s so soft on the feet too!
Our nightly temp was about the same. It had been a warm day yesterday and the interior temp rose to 76F with the windows open. Quite comfortable and not enough to kick on the air conditioning, which is set to turn on if the temp during the day goes over 78.
Last week we paid off the $8,000 we owed on our new windows from last year. We paid it off before the year was up so we never accrued any interest, just held off the debt for a year. With the window sills and even a few support boards rotting in this 40 year old house, it had become necessary to have the work done. Through the winter and now going into summer we are noticing lower power bills, even though the rates have gone up a little.
I was just at the point of considering asking you how things were going with your elliptical trainer. Is the pain you’re feeling in your knees?
Now with the better weather, I’m walking the dogs with DH when he gets home in the evening. I’m finding after more than a year that my gait has adjusted some so I don’t step forward as far and I’m much less likely to have problems with my knee while walking, though I do sometimes hurt the knee while turning from a stopping point. That can even happen standing in my kitchen and is much less likely to happen while walking.
There are so many pretty yarns out there now. Between you and Bex you’ve almost convinced me to attempt crocheting again but I fear I’m a stash hoarder and I’d be buying all the gorgeous color sets like Manadala and, I think it is, Cupcake. But I really don’t think I’d be good about using items I’ve made, so I just sit and look at all the pretty colors I’ll never buy. 😉
Hopefully we can have a few pics of you in those new, pretty clothes? 🙂
Bex, your rug looks luxurious, soft and cozy. I like the yarn, perfect for a rug. I am sticking with cotton for the next few months, as my hands perspire terribly and the cotton soaks up the moisture and allows me to keep going. I am looking forward to the fall and even the winter (a first!) now so that it will be cool enough to work with warmer yarns, acrylic, wool, etc. I am thinking though that I might want to make the crocheted water balloons, but the pattern calls for a 9 hook, which I don’t have, and i would need to buy colourful super chunky yarn, and there were no colours I liked locally. This would be a project for ordering materials online! I am not quite ready for that yet, but soon!
Congratulations on getting your windows paid off Teri! That is an accomplishment. We aren’t ready to bite the bullet on them yet, but eventually we need to get to it, our windows are single pane glass, with terribly inadequate storm windows installed over them. The bugs get in between and fly around but can’t get out, we call our windows “terrariums”.
The pain is in my knees, but also my shoulder and my back, if I go too long on the machine. My 20 minute work outs are fine, I am suffering no pain when I limit myself to 20 minutes. I might eventually sneak it up to 25 and see how I do, but now right now, because I have too much work at the Rideau Camp that I want to do, and I don’t want pain slowing me down.
I am only making items I am going to use, or give as gifts to those who would appreciate them. So far fingerless gloves, beanies, a seat cushion, face cloths, and kitchen towels. If you look at beginner patterns you might find something that interests you!
I would worry about a crocheted wool rug in this house. First I would worry about it slipping. Then I would worry about it getting caught in dog claws, as we already have problems with snags in our very short loop pile rugs. Otherwise, it would be wonderful to crochet your own rugs.
Keep up the good work on your elliptical, Maggie. It’s so important to exercise every day. I have given up going to the gym this summer, opting to have a short, quick walk and do floor work as a follow up. I’m still using 10 pound weights, but am slowly improving, so I’ll be able to attempt 12 pound weights soon. The weather has been a puzzle this year here as well. Hope you get some real summer weather soon!
Teri, Bex recently crocheted a throw rug, and she said she ordered a non slip piece to go under it. I hope to find out from her how effective that was. The snagging is a problem though, we found the same thing with Mist on our upholstery.
You are so right Diane, it is very important to remain active. Your routine sounds ideal, we do know what our bodies need, and you have figured it out for yourself.
It think as we age the saying “use it or lose it” becomes more and more apt. I don’t do weights, tried it but it causes so much pain in my crooked arm that I didn’t think it wise to continue; pain should go away as exercise progresses, but the pain in my crooked arm just gets worse until I have to take medication to control it, not the same process as the rest of my body muscles, they adjust to use.
Oh this weather! Finally we have a hot day, too hot to be out working, at least for me, although it is just right for drying the freshly laundered winter bedding!