Archive for January, 2023



The prompt word for January 23rd is “paintbrush.” Thanks go to Paula for the colourful prompt! Please be sure to check out Paula’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/23/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-23rd-2023/ It’s fun!

The flowers of Indian paintbrush are edible, and were consumed in moderation by various Native American tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens. These plants have a tendency to absorb and concentrate selenium in their tissues from the soils in which they grow, and can be potentially very toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed. Highly alkaline soils increase the selenium levels in the plants. Indian paintbrush has similar health benefits to consuming garlic, though only if the flowers are eaten in small amounts and in moderation.[10]  Found on Google. I think Wikipedia

When I saw the prompt, the first thing that came to mind were camping trips.

Every year my parents to us kids on a three week vacation. Usually camping. It was what they could afford. And for me they were great memories.

Some of the sites we went to had campfire chats or day hikes where they taught us flora and fauna of the area.

I remembered them talking about this plant. Somehow the part I remember was that it was also called Indian laxative. Looking at what I shared from Wikipedia, it might not be the plant that did the job. Maybe they were introduce at the same take and it all mixed in my head. But you can imagine what went through my head as I recalled the plant pictured above.😂

I think that the plant I’m actually thinking about has a shiny, waxy leaf. Well, don’t rely on me to help forage 60 years later.


The prompt word for January 22nd is “seasonal.” Thanks go to Kaye for the wonderful prompt!

Please be sure to check out Kaye’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/22/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-22nd-2023/ It’s fun!

Linda spoke of how her writing was seasonal. NaNoWriMo, CampNaNo and Just Jot It January becomes her writing time. Me, too. It seems those programs help motivate me properly. I haven’t won every time. And sometimes, like last month as I tried another goal, I made no progress at all. But often I make the 50k. Even on the camps. That would probably not surprise my teachers. Most of my report cards had comments like, ‘Darlene talks too much in class.’

This year I’ve over-goaled my life with all the gifts I’m trying to make and so writing has fallen by the wayside.

And I still have to podcast and start reading aloud my books, starting with my memoirs. The area in my house I planned on using, suddenly has Diamond Paintings.

My recorder playing, piano and voice practice have fallen off.

There are only 24 hours in a day. Still!!! I stay up reading until 3 or 4. With my old dog waking me often, sleep also seems seasonal. Heat and smoke and bugs of summer, icy cold and snow of winter affects everything in our house. Where we hang out, how we sleep, either covered up over my head with warmth or sheet to keep bugs off. And all this affects energy and pain levels, ya know?

Maybe I need to organize my day better and my week to include everything I want to do.

Thank goodness for the treadmill. It still gets used most days of the week.

How does anyone get anything done with a job? I did do NaNo. But the rest of this, writing, knitting, especially learning new stitches, artwork, music, etc. Little got done. Too tired. Housework. Phew!

Seasons of our lives are as influential as the weather. Whew!


Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 21st and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “count on it.” Use the phrase “count on it” somewhere in your post. Enjoy!

Just kidding 😂

I hate to be a Debbie Downer but it seems that every time I start to understand what I’m doing with these Toe-up Two At A Time Socks 🧦, I lose my place and have to tink back to the mistake. Or frog the whole thing. I can count on it! But the other thing I’m learning is that I can count on getting better with this project.

Today I was knitting along, watching Warehouse 13 on FreeVee. Suddenly, I realize that I’m using the wrong working yarn, the strand for the other sock. Ugh! What a mess trying to get out of that one. Lesson learned? Watch which yarn strand I’m working with. That can save time retracing my knitting steps.


Your prompt for JusJoJan January 20th 2023, is “phantom.” Use the word “phantom” any way you’d like. Have fun!

By the way, the prompt is brought to us by Tuba. Thank you, Tuba! Please be sure to visit Tuba’s blog to read her posts and say hello

Since starting the Jotting for January a few of my own regular features seem to have become phantoms. I can feel them calling me like a phantom limb. Besides a couple reviews behind, I feel I need to catch us up on things I’m working on. Yes, I said ‘us.’ That is how I keep myself aware of what I’ve been up to lately. It helps me realize I’m not sitting and navel gazing. Things are getting done!

I’ve shared my two pairs of circular needle socks. But there are other projects getting attention. Just not as much.

A child’s hat, ChiaoGoo red-lace circulars.

These are nearly finished. CinDWood sock looms. The part I like least, ribbed cuff
A pair of child’s socks heel started on left sock. Cuff complete on the right. These are using HiyaHiya Fliers and short small ChiaoGoo Circular Needles to help out.
Nearly finished on Flexee fine-gauge loom. Again, cuff ribbing is my least favorite part.

I shared my method of keeping the cable uncurled with friends today. And I can share the progress since my full frog of yesterday.

With the help of my toes, the toes of the socks are finished. These are Knitters’Pride Royale Circular Needles. Good thing I can still sit half lotus while knitting.

Lastly, Diamond Painting continues. Nearly finished with the dragon.

I love him! So all-knowing, don’t you think?

I’ll try to get my reviews done sometime this weekend.

Just Jot It January, Complaint


Your prompt for JusJoJan January 19th 2023, is “complaint.” Use the word “complaint” any way you’d like. Have fun!

The prompt is brought to us by John. Thank you, John! Please be sure to visit John’s blog .

I have a few complaints. I’m still working on Christmas gifts. There has been so many mistakes, tinking back or like today, total frogging due to the learning curve. I’m trying to learn to knit Toe-up, Two At A Time socks on long cable needles. Here’s what I had finished up to before the frog. Nearly to the heel.

But the increase stitches went too far making the socks too large across.

Hey boyfriend’s socks

On their fourth attempt, are looking comfy. No complaints here, except it feels it is taking forever.

Valentine’s day may be the new Christmas. By the way, I have 4 other pairs of socks in progress. Maybe I’ll share them tomorrow.

One-Liner Wednesday


Omg! I can’t remember why I went to the kitchen but I woke singing a song I haven’t heard for 68 years! Every single word!!!

This #1LinerWed and #JusJoJan prompted by Linda G. Hill.

EmbassytownEmbassytown by China Miéville
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My friend recommended this book. Thanks, Kay!

Libby had this book in the Kindle version, so I picked it up. And though it was text-to-speech enabled, there are many reasons the Audible version is so much better. Susan Duerden (Narrator), for one. Her voice and acting skills made the story come to life. I went ahead and picked up the Audible to Whispersynch. I finally gave up on the Kindle version, as the Audible was all I needed. Still, it was interesting to see how the author stacked the words visually as well as auditorily.

This story is about how language being taught to alien beings could help them and the Terrans to live. But first, the Terrans had to understand the alien language., which seemed non-existent. And when it is to be heard, it is in layers. TTS can’t do that. Somehow the narration system can do it. Fantastic!

If you are a language nut like I am, you will love the vocabulary of this book. I felt my heart race faster as words that weren’t junior high level popped up. So in a sense, I became the alien who loved words.

If you are a sci-fi fan, this book should do the trick!

View all my reviews

Just Jot It January, Optimism


This post is brought to you by Just Jot it January and June! Please be sure to check out June’s blog here! Her prompt is ‘optimism.’

Not seen in the picture? The ant.
Unseen, the person lost in the darkness who sees the tiny light.

And yet I have optimism. Hope.

And though things look bad, and as a realist I can see it might not all work out, to live at that lowered end of the see-saw means you miss the sensation of flying.


Just Jot it January 2023, and it’s brought to you by Carol Anne. Thank you, Carol Anne! Please be sure to visit Carol Anne’s blog to read her post and say hello. And follow her while you’re there, if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 15th 2023, is “gratitude.” Use the word “gratitude” any way you’d like. Have fun!

Gratitude grows with age. At least it has for me. From the days of birthing babies until they grew into wonderful adults that feeling of lucky and blessed has grown with them.

Now having just turned 73, I find so much in every hour to be grateful for. I think I’m most thankful that I am still learning every day. But health seems to be growing and my life is full of love. What more could one want?

For all of you!

Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 14th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “once upon a time.” Start your post with “Once upon a time,” then write whatever comes to you, whether it be fact or fiction. Have fun!

So, here we go…

Once upon a time, when people were kind, there was a bully. But kindness and blah, blah, blah.

What my stream is taking me to my knitting. I didn’t get to do my Finishing Friday. And my knitting is calling loudly, almost like a bully.

So

No, this is not a bra. Unless, as my hubby called it, a foot bra. Right. Toes for a pair of socks. Frogged a few times. I will probably need to frog again as the ChiaoGoo red-lace circulars are too short. So I bought a longer cable but there were no ChiaoGoos. If I can figure out how to load the project on my new Knitters’ Pride Royale Circular Needles. Size 8 like what the toes are on. But the new cable is 45″.
These toe-bras were made on size 1 40″ ChiaoGoo Circular Needles. Too small for the worsted weight Caron Jumbo. It was killing my hands to work this tight. So frogged, again. Learning to make Toe-up, 2 At a Time socks is complicated. Finding a proper pattern amid all the YouTube tutorials is tough. So I’m learning as I go with many frogs.

My newest try (just frogged again within the hour). These on my second set of Knitters’ Pride Royale Circular Needles, size 8, 45″ cord. I found my cast-on too long at 20. So I’ll start the next pair with Judy’s Magic Cast-on. Let’s try 16. Then the toe won’t look so boxy.

Just a quick review of the Knitters’Pride cords. They are so tightly coiled they are hard to work with. After research, I learned to steam or heat the cords. That helped the coiling, but they are not nearly as flexible as the ChiaoGoo red-lace circulars. But maybe with a little practice I’ll get used to them.

Other knitting and loom knitting projects are coming along. They just aren’t the extreme challenge as the Tu2AAT socks.

And the dragon is coming along.

I’m loving him!

Okay, back to the tiny bras!

And they lived happily ever after.
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