The bee lecture I mentioned yesterday, was a Zoom presentation from Rutgers (state University), a slide show of bee habitats and needs.
The target audience was home gardeners wanting to provide for bees and recognize their nests or holes so as not to accidentally mistake them for yellow jackets, or the reverse.
It was short and packed with useful information.
I was interested in the bees which have niche food needs, wanting one species of plant only. The hibiscus is one such plant. So maybe I did a good thing when I planted mine.
While I listened, more talking than slideshow, I tried my hand at remembering continental knitting.
I got some cotton yarn, can't handle wool in the allergy season, and decided to knit the sock design that starts with a square patch toe. You then pick up all four sides for the foot, having calculated how many stitches for the patch, your foot requirement divided by four.
This is why I started working with stitches on four needles instead of my usual three, just seemed simpler for the distribution.
This makes a comfortable seamless flexible toe, great for the Sock 'n Glove Ministry clients.
I'll change the stitch distribution to a triangle when I get to the heel, moving one needlesworth onto another one to have the heel ready to go with 26 stitches on one needle, leaving the other two needles with 13 stitches each.
I did get along pretty well with the yarn in my left hand, picking rather than throwing. But I quickly ran into a hitch because of my left ring finger which seizes up. You can see the tendon struggling to cross the knuckle at the base of the finger. It doesn't hurt but it's hard to keep a steady tension when that finger suddenly jams. And the left hand is the working one with this approach.
I think I need to get it attended to. I've had other things to think about up to now, but now knitting is hard because of it. I can do the throwing method because the other hand does the work, but the left hand is still tricky.
Anyway I learned a thing or two more about bees and knitting, not bad. And I hope physical therapy can help the finger. I'm not up for surgery right now.
And lunch was very good. Roasted diced yellow potatoes with breaded hake, handful of cilantro.
There are two more pieces of fish, breaded,ready to go for two more quick meals. And boiled potatoes ready for quick roasting.
The remaining batter and panko are also in their dishes, in the fridge ready for the planned crunchy tofu katsu sticks. So the food will be fast but not leftovers. It practically cooks itself.
And, as a commenter said, it's so nice to cook for yourself. No pressure other than hunger!
Happy day everyone, enjoy your day. This about sums up mine
Love listening to the bees buzzing around in the spring. I try to have something flowering for them all year round.
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me knitting with so many needles.
I get confused enough with just the circular one.
You only work with two needles at any time. It's less confusing than it looks.
DeleteAfter some research into my own jamming finger tendons I have read there is a new treatment available - injections of some drug that 'eats' the nodules formung on the sticky tendons, and leaves good tendon mateial alone. It sounds improvable but possibly worth looking into.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting, thanks. I'll see what I can find out here.
DeleteSorry about your finger. I hope an OT can help. They usually handle hand issues.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for a nonsurgical remedy. Maybe an OT, as you say.
DeleteHadn't come across that method of starting a sock. I must investigate...
ReplyDeleteIt's so simple, I think you'll like adding it to your repertoire.
DeleteI didn’t know much could be done for a arthritic finger. Lunch looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's arthritis. The joints are fine. But the tendon is tight. That's why I'm hoping PT might help.
DeleteThe continental knitting looks way too tricky for me to try. I have arthritis in both thumbs.
ReplyDeleteThat makes any knitting tricky, yes. I don't think my thumbs are involved with either method but maybe that's because mine don't hurt so I don't notice.
DeleteProbably a good idea to have the finger checked out. PT would be an ideal solution! It's never bad to learn more about bees.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to learn about bees! So many kinds of life, all important pollinators.
Delete'I don't have much of an "ALL" to get away from' - that made me laugh, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThat's been my response lately to younger friends delighted when Friday or vacation arrive! I'm happy for them and I'll do a Friday happy dance, but I can do a Monday happy dance, too.
DeleteYou could have a hive on your decking, and I think you might know enough about bees to have it thrive.
ReplyDeleteI know enough about my neighbors to know how they'd panic!
DeleteCooking for yourself is a pleasure. Restaurants just don’t have the same appeal as they did in our working days.
ReplyDeleteI've never liked restaurants much. Mainly I ate out just because partner or friends wanted to, and I didn't want to spoil things for them.
DeleteGlad your hibiscus is doing good in the bee world!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed any insects taking much interest in it but maybe the right species hasn't found it yet.
DeleteI just bought some tofu to try my hand at making crunchy sticks...will have to go find wherever you described the recipe...or just search on line perhaps.
ReplyDeleteGo to YouTube and find yeung man cooking, then tofu katsu. Be sure you have extra firm tofu. Any other kind you'll need some different recipe.
DeleteI never knew until recently that bees and wasps could even have nests in the ground. Learn something new every day it seems. :)
ReplyDeleteKnitting socks is all Greek to me, but it is sure interesting.
I keep in finding out new surprising things about bees. About a lot of things in fact.
DeleteThe Mexican basil I grew last year that had more pollinators mobbing it than I've ever seen in my life isn't blooming as well this year and I'm not seeing the activity around it. Makes me sad. Maybe things will pick up.
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten very good at Continental knitting. Well, honestly, I'm not very good at the other kind either.
I think things do change year to year. Maybe they're somewhere else mobbing plants. Continental is more energy efficient, but I don't much like the picking movement.
DeleteMy knitting skills only cover square washcloths or long scarves! Hope you get some help with that finger soon.
ReplyDeleteI did get out for a walk yesterday and it felt good. I better get going for another walk today before it warms up this afternoon... :)
Walking is so great. It seems simple but it does all sorts of good things. Out of doors is best.
DeleteI think my life reflects Earls. I have no idea what any of the knitting things mean, but I always like the results. You do an excellent job of keeping yourself fed well.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of us live the life of Earl. And I imagine quite a few people slide over the knitting lingo but don't mind the pictures.
DeleteI have such a hard time knitting, I can do plain and purl, and that's about it. I can't really read patterns either, not for anything, drives me crazy. If you show me I will understand but reading written directions doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteI love bees. Most of the bees native to Alberta nest underground, or in my garage sometimes. We coexist peacefully.
If you can do plain and purl, that's the two stitches that make up knitting. And you can make entire garments with just plain! There aren't any other stitches, just different uses. Some people do great with charts, not me. I like words and numbers! And some people love YouTube demos best.
DeleteI'm glad you get along with your local bees!
Bees are endlessly fascinating and so very necessary to our own survival. Glad you enjoyed the lecture.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently knitting with four needles too. I do my socks top down and work with four until I get to the heel where I switch to two and then to three for the foot. I could use three for the top too but I'm generally too lazy to move the stitches.
What kind of heel do you do?
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