Walking returns

Sunday morning was cold and windy but very bright, so I got out walking before returning to the sofa to read and weave. 

Before I left, I did a  few minutes' farmer's carry with 5lb weights, wearing my boots, around the living room. It's a gradual process, but Sunday was dry, so I wore Tretorns for walking. They're a bit too big, always something.

Chilly chairs for snowmen 

Look at the pale gold of these beech leaves, hanging in for most of the winter 

Creepy shadows, cue scary music. It's like good tree, bad tree.

Crowds of kids later in this area, kicking balls, throwing spirals more or less, having a great time, girls and boys all playing, reminded me why I like living here rather than in a  quiet,  little retirement development.  

A lot of my friends live in them and like it, I'd hang sooner, but there, you do you, they'll do them. I love the energy of kids fizzing about.

Happy day everyone, fizz away! Sez Ted and Big Ursy 

And here's dear G fizzing away with me on a recent visit. She's one of the few people this 5'2" woman can tower over, I love it.

Up at dark o'clock, and why I won't take people walking. Again.

Now and then I wake up way before dawn, ready to start the day. Today, for instance. Up at five and having coffee, reading, enjoying watching dawn break.

Of course by nine I was sleeping on the sofa. In fact most of the day, with intervals of texting, blogging and spouting. Also making lentil squash soup. Not really a morning person.

The soup was a bit low-key despite umami mixture, garlic, onions, smoked paprika, all that. Then I added cumin and tomatoes and suddenly it cheered up. I blended it then added a drop of coconut milk. Now it's really good. 

It used up some leftover red lentil croquette things in the freezer, and a butternut  squash.  It's a beautiful color, always a good point with food. And the texture works. I can't remember the ingredients of the lentil things, but they're sure to be what my mom used to call "all good ingredients" when something wasn't as good as hoped.

And I had a chat with Gary. The chocolate cake I took over the other day, enough for two, vanished fast, evidently, his guest helping. You can't go far wrong with chocolate cake.

He's at it again to get me to haul our neighbor out walking, and I said firmly fitness is something you have to do for yourself. I suggested they walk together, taking his dog. At which point he said, but I don't do that myself, don't like the cold! I guess he's happy to send his friends out though, too funny. 

And I got a walk a bit more like the usual distance, figuring if Helen doesn't get worse, okay to push a bit.  Then home to a heat pack, well, a heated rice-filled sock. I certainly feel a lot more cheerful and hopeful for doing it. Walking, not heating socks.

I need to get potting soil soon, as the longer days make it feasible to repot a couple of small plants outgrowing and exhausting their pots. One of them is Gary's tiny anthurium, which has put out a new leaf, so I'd like to encourage her.

And, hearing local friends' stories about their retirement communities and politics, reminds me that I'll do whatever it takes to stay here!

Happy day everyone. I guess soup would be a good idea for Florida friends, not just the frozen northern wastes just now. 

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.

Misfits, life change

 The cheerful Imperfect truck arrived bang on time with my box

Complete and in good condition.

And here's what they brought

Including a couple of items for Thanksgiving

Meanwhile I had made soup.

Potato, scallion, celery leaf, with chicken bones simmered in, enough for six helpings. Scatter of probably the last of this year's chives. 

Since several residents of Florida read this blog, I want to make sure you've seen this.

And while we're in thoughtful mode, I found a quotation I like very much. I believe that when major life events happen to us, they actually change who we are as people. Maybe they bring out what was there anyway, or maybe we learn new ways of being, for better or worse.

I know I was totally transformed from the complete non-combatant nice person wanting to be accepted that I was before having a baby with great needs. When I found how hostile the world, including medical personnel, and my own family, was to this little boy doing his best against the odds, I became the ultimate terrifying person.  

People from school principals to doctors to highups in the state education world learned not to go up against me in the search for the right education. Long story, eventual success.

It served Handsome  Partner well, too, when I had to fight to save his life on more than one occasion, even getting apologies from hospital admin and doctors for blunders in the coronary care unit.  Also many calls from patients' families asking how I'd managed to get him the right care, so they could do it.

This is not to say I'm some great brave person, just that things happen and they change you. Many things have come up in my life, which aren't blog material, but here's a good thing to remember.  When people pressure you to smile and say oh, fine now, it was a good thing really, and they will, here's something to consider

This is such a serious post today, good thing it's knitting group this afternoon! Cheerful convo and beautiful projects.

And yesterday Gary dropped in to say the plant pot is still exuding oil, he's giving up on it and when we have a mild day, we'll repot the monstera!  

He's having various neck and back issues, getting pt andand other help, and I talked about how my walking helps with a lot of that, which it does. 

When he heard I walk 20-30 minutes most days, he was amazed, didn't think he could do that! He apparently had thought I went round the block and home! Five minutes on a good day. But I assured him he could do it. I hope he does. I swear by it. I think the effect on your circulation helps everything. Dr Boud's totally unsupported medical advice.

Happy day everyone, bit by bit, stitch by stitch, step by step if that's your thing,  enjoy what's there. 

Israel has held off in Gaza to a small extent and is allowing daily movement of humanitarian relief, finally, credit where due

Bee sleeping, Freecycle and neighbors

 Lovely sunny day, cool, perfect for walking. Around the corner there's a tiny front yard crammed with color, and the pink dahlias are a bee magnet. I watched this friend for several minutes, sleeping, rocking in the breeze, until he finally stretched and took off.

Before that, Gary was out front, in pajamas, checking and adjusting my tire pressures. All low, probably because of the sudden cold nights.  He also mentioned he'd really enjoyed "whatever those things were called". The cranberry muffins in translation.

While he was at it, contractor artist friend from across the street, the one who made the mancala boards, stopped to see if he needed help. I think contractor friend probably thought if he was attending my car in pajamas, it must be urgent! Nah, it's how he rolls. He didn't need help, but this was a snapshot of how my neighborhood works.

Then Gary said he knows now never to throw anything away before checking with me (my work here is done) and wondered about this set of fireplace tools. He's getting his fireplace converted to gas.

I put it up on free cycle, and had a quick response. It will be in a new home, all being well, tomorrow.

And just to keep my upcycling cred going, here's my former pretty kettle now acting as a handy watering can for the upstairs plants. This is the second bedroom, sunny in the afternoon, great for a read with a pot of tea, like this afternoon. That's the bed, aka reading area, in the corner there.

I learned a new exercise related to walking, involving the long-named muscle group on the front of your shins. Apparently one of its jobs is to lift your foot so you don't trip as you walk. 

So I did the exercise yesterday, involving leaning against a wall and raising the toes, ow. Judging by the soreness in the front of my legs, I'd say I need to pay some attention to this area. I do toe lifting, but differently from this, on the stairs. And less demanding, clearly.

Back to less physical work, I'm back to the socks for the Sock 'n Glove Ministry. This is sock one. When the pair's done, I'll send them with the pairs of gloves including the pair and a spare. High time I got something sent off.

Lovely day, neighbors, friends, art, reading a rattling good book, sunshine, sleeping bees, what more could a person ask.