Walking, weaving and new discoveries

Sunday was much warmer so the wind was easier to manage, and I walked. When I can't get a walk, it shows up right away, stiff, and this that and the other thing hurts.  But a walk unkinks everything. 

I've been taking the same route for months now, thinking maybe I should go to the Preserve for a chance. But the change is happening here anyway. It's coming to me, so I don't need to go to it. 

I had a naturalist friend who encouraged repeated walks on the same route, to learn more about it with familiarity, observe the small changes that add up.

Much to see, blossoms 

A bee demonstrating why we need to leave dandelions the heck alone 

And miniature worlds underfoot right there for the finding 

And that carpet of wildflowers is back again.

Back home I weave squares while I'm thinking of other things to do, or listening to books 

I don't have any particular product in mind, though eventually it will be something. Right now its just the pleasure of developing the skill.

And I have a great YouTube find for you, Marion, from County Durham, near where I grew up, with that lovely northeastern accent and a great teacher. 

Her philosophy of just go for it, in stitching, sewing, textile arts and skills is so right. It was like home to me, and I instantly wanted to share with you. The top picture includes a skirt I've been wanting to make for ages, and will as soon as I find fabric. It's an eighteenth century design, still works. From there I went to her stitching practice.

Even if you're not a textile sort of person, just listen to her a bit and see if she isn't a calming, lovely, anything is possible kind of person. ASMR. 

Happy day, everyone and of course you got the puzzle

MOONLIGHT

and that's my last word on the eclipse!

Enjoy whatever your stitching is.

Don't hold your breath, but word is that Speaker J may bring the Ukraine $$ to a floor vote this week.

April showers

 I expect the daffodils are liking this. The people not so much.

A couple of people have been wondering recently about online places for or by older women, where the news is not always front and center.

I like YouTube channels Sixty and Me, The Last Homely House, and Silver and Solo. They're calm, interesting and happy women, all very different, one in Switzerland, one in northern England, one in BC.

I do like media literacy, also funny younger women, so for that  there's Meredith Constant on YouTube and Tiktok, and I follow podcasts, such as Rachel Maddow, The Daily Fail, also hilarious self help, not the news, in How to be Fine.

There's also a lovely new YouTube channel by craftsman Anthony White, Ants Country Life, so peaceful watching a woodworker and craftsman rebuilding dry stone walls, and things like building sheds in his country location in Northumberland, UK. 

He also works on Kate's place, building a cabin in Last Homely Garden, another lovely channel, offshoot of the Last Homely House. There she works on all kinds of fiber crafts and quiet domestic occupations.

And there's always Atomic Shrimp, endlessly enterprising, making, gardening, experimenting, foraging, beach walking, cooking.

So there's some nice alternatives to gloom and doom and fear mongering. You're welcome!