I don’t talk much about Duolingo and my 10 languages. Maybe you think it’s a bad idea to do all of them. But both of my grandmothers died from Alzheimer’s. I want to learn as much as I can while it all still works. Still, some days I work on every one. Some days I might barely make it through one little lesson. I’ve managed to stay at the Obsidian level. For me, the great take away is I feel more and more confident — until I feel I suck. I would say more positive times than negative. And I love the feeling of growing, getting better. Hearing words on TV or while reading that I understand just thrills me. I must admit Navajo and Hebrew are the hardest of all ten. I keep starting over. I think I need books or tutorials on these.
The other tidbit is the achy muscles from < 5 miles and < 30 minutes on the stationary bike. Before I hop on the bike I do 20 pushups on the door, 10-15 floor/ceiling touches, and side to side bends. That doesn’t make me sore. But my son and I have started our afternoon walks of two miles. The energy is there to do these. But my legs are protesting quietly. Again, I’m amazed at how little things can build to make a body or mind, or habit grow. Why did it take me so long to understand that?
Just when thought I wouldn’t be writing about my latest knitting project, the prompt is ‘Wool‘
Here ‘wool’ comes from sheep or Alpaca or the like. Elsewhere ‘wool’ is the word for yarn. Yarn can be organic or synthetic.
Many people, like me, used to be miserable and itchy when our moms made us wear anything of wool. Some maintain that allergic reaction. My allergies have changed as I aged. Best of all wool, like superwashed wool is so soft and cozy. So I suggest finding some and trying. Wool is strong and stretchy especially when nylon is added. It is wonderful for socks.
My latest examples.
Cotton (wool meaning yarn) soft and not allergenic. But not fun to work for socks. These are one row from off the needles!
These are soft actual wool but the yarn is thin as are the needles so I have to cut my knitting time to save my fingers.
Now without calling too much attention to Finishing Friday or the like. But heck, so as to not pull the wool over your eyes, I’ll check in with the nearly finished Peacock:
Plastic. Not wool. I’m thinking I’ll be done by Wednesday.
Still, I’m streaming on Saturday. Consciousness leads me to mention two shows we’ve streamed today:
The Wizard of Paws on Disney is so heartwarming!
And I think I’m a Swifty!
We watched half today after spending the morning on the wizard. We couldn’t sit still any longer.
These may be finished tomorrow as they will be shorty socks. I’m not excited about the color nor that they are cotton but I think their new feet will like them.
I share my little accomplishments because I have been discouraged in the past feeling less than or that I couldn’t learn or my blurry eyes or hurtie fingers messed with my feelings of success of any kind.
What I’m learning seems insignificant, even to me. But when I look at tiny new things I can do, the little things add up to something huge. I’m so grateful for these lessons and processes.
I can now spend 40 minutes on the stationary bike, 10-20 reps door push-ups, floor/ceiling touches.
My fingers stretch more for the tenor recorder, almost full range now.
I dreamed of playing When the Saints Go Marching In as the chord changes are becoming smoother. And it doesn’t hurt anymore. Can you believe it?
People, including me, believe a person can’t learn and grow in their 70s and older but I’m learning to see it differently. I don’t think I ever had the freedom to learn this way. To play, enjoy all the little things.
So I bit the bullet. I tried the Fishlip Heel. I watched the tutorials over and over. I got this far with the heel.
The blue yarn is my lifeline. I’m about to tink back one last time. I don’t want to wear out this yarn so I’ll create the Fleegle Heel I love so much. If someone can lead me to a tutorial for the Fishlip that makes sense I’ll try again with new yarn rather than fatigue the current yarn. I can’t share the Fishlip tutorials but once again here’s my favorite sock tute.
A part of Linda’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “signa…” Find a word that starts with “signa” and use it in your post. Enjoy!
There, I found my favorite signage.
Sadly, I’m at a standstill on today’s fun. I need to study the YouTube about the Fishlip heel. It isn’t easy to know which tutorial will get the results I need. I’ll share when I know which to choose. The author of the pattern is very restrictive with her pattern. And I totally get it. She worked hard on her baby and deserves credit. Soxtherapy is her tag. My problem is trying to just use her heel part and not the rest of the sock.
Arch is done. Now I’m going to learn the Fishlip heel. I will run a rescue line just in case something goes wrong. At least I won’t have to tear everything out.
I’m almost halfway done.
Yeah. Laundry needs to be folded before I can go to bed.
I’m loving watching this the second time around. So fun, but attacks issues we should think about.
Working on my series: Haven.
Doodler (zendoodle.com)
Music major: voice and piano
Mom of four great adults
Reiki II practitioner
I have been on disability/retired for 10 years now from depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.
Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.
Darswords 
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