The most challenging aspect of the a-z challenge is figuring out how to sign up. Then the next problem is bringing pictures over and finding, say, A. The first one I see is about overall. The next thing I find is the B post for tomorrow.
So once again I guess I’m going rogue. Hey, the alphabet belongs to all. I do want to give the originators of this fun month the credit they deserve. So while all rogue I’ll make sure to link back the best I can.
Since I couldn’t find the A graphic to download
While I wait for the stock picture above to upload, I’ll catch you up on my beach diamond painting. Almost halfway done.
From an airplane it might look like a beach scene.
My little lighthouse that I diamond paint in my recliner is almost halfway through, too.
It is harder to work on. It is small and the drills are inconsistent sizes. It was very inexpensive. I may try to use this for an idea I’m working on. Art. I may paint over or use leftover drills to add dimensions. I don’t know. It’s just popping around in my head. We’ll see how it works out.
And now it’s time for ukulele playtime.
Yes, my hair has grown out and it isn’t always purple.
I start my morning watching shows and knitting. I want to pay attention to the show and knitting is a busy hands pay attention hobby, mostly.
Both pairs of socks seem to have landed at the arch ribbing at the same time. I hate it when that happens. I like when each pair are on separate levels.
Just as I was trying to take pics for today’s blog, Dear Sweet Old Rosey jumped on my lap. One is never finished loving one’s pets.
I’m gonna blow my own horn here. After YEARS of trying to learn Sudoku, I think I’m finally learning. I found this book at Dollar General.
I have managed to get to the Medium level with very few peeks at the answer page and then only to check if I was right. Yay! Me!
This is the book I’m nearly finished with. Okay, I’m not a kid. But I like to work from the very beginning with recognizable songs.
I’ve been working with these two for a while. I’m getting smoother in the cord changes.
This one I don’t have to look at any more. I’m fact, I should erase my cheat G7.
This is what I’m starting next. Learning strum patterns. I never needed such animals in piano.😂
So excited to get to learn Imagine with Bernadette’s strumming instructions.
Look! Lyrics!
And I’m learning to play individual notes. Yay!
Yeah, I’m still learning most of these chords
Another note by note I’m learning.
Speaking of Ukulele… I’m trying to Tunisian Crochet a strap for my uke. The trouble with Tunisian Crochet is how it rolls up.
It stretches out to the length of the uke. I need to double that. This should be interesting.
I’m almost finished with 1/3 of the beach diamond painting.
And as of today… I should be there on the blog but seemed to have published a lot after midnight too often.
I’ve added Chinese to my Duolingo lineup. I highly recommend this show. Not a movie but a series. My husband and I couldn’t stop the binge.
I’m trying to find a way to put my biggest guilt trips here. The end of the month is looming. Two goals haven’t even been touched. I haven’t edited anything. Nor have I worked on my read-alouds or podcast. Finding privacy and time seems the biggest issue. Nor have I touched the real piano. Boo! Next month is Camp NaNo. I have no idea what I’m doing. And so I’m Muddling my mind.
I’m not too impressed so far. But, hey, it’s a beach!
This is how the kit looks. I’ve already started knitting up.
Progress on the socks? Sure.
I’ve started the arch ribbing. These will be a mix of the sneaker no-show socks and the Fleegle Heel. Obviously, Chiaogoo red-laced cable needles, Two-At-A-Time. Because the yarn is thin and the needles are size 1 my hands and eyes can’t work more than a couple rows.
These are easier. I had a lot of the above and this yarn so more socks. These won’t be no shows. Just Fleegle Heel slipper socks. Though cotton and not as easy as wool yarn. But bigger yarn and needles are easier on my eyes and fingers.
My uke is calling and it’s almost midnight! Yikes!
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.
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.
Much looks the same as last time. But you want to know what I’m learning as I go? All attempts get me closer to not. Not a baby beginner. Not a total loser. And if I take a moment and look back I find more proficiency. Faster, not so lost. Progress. And it’s not linear. There are times I pick up the recorder and find that somehow God put holes in my fingers. Air is escaping, somewhere.
Sometimes I get the chord progression of these simple songs. But if I don’t, I only have to remember a month ago. I could tune my uke. Now I can sing little songs and not look as I move from F to G7 to C to C7 and more, and I know without looking at my hand that I did it.
I can remember being 12 and learning to crochet and knit. How I got so frustrated when I had to rip it out.
Now I look forward to trying again. The thing that makes these hobbies frustrating is placing time constraints or perfection goals.
I may not be producing the way society deems worthy, but I’m 74 and enjoying my life. Learning is my fun. Seeing changes in abilities, even as I’m told growth can’t happen anymore, THAT is the fun.
I am keeping my goal on the stationary bike and other exercises. And I see tiny improvements.
My only disappointment in me is trying to find my way to the reading aloud/editing goal. But I’ll figure it out.
Here’s the pics of progress.
I rarely finish a crossword puzzle book but I threw this full one away and am looking for another. The other thing I rarely finish is a bottle of hand lotion. It usually goes bad before I’ve used it all.
These balls are to crochet a strap for my uke. I’m following Bernadette’s YouTube
I’ve only added a couple rows since I posted these. But only 2 inches until the heel. I’m planning to try the Fishlip heel. I bought the pattern. You can Google where to get it. I’ll include it when I find out it works for me.
Only a couple more rows added here, too. I can’t get hyper-focused on the thinner yarns and needles. They can hurt my hands or eyes.
I’m loving this beautiful bird. Can you see how much more color lights up this picture with each section of drills?
Not as happy with this one. It is tiny and the colors are not so vibrant.
I feel good about developing discipline. Why is it only now growing?
Finally Floundering February bids us adieu. And right on the Mark March brings ideas to move forward.
A couple years ago my cousin sent me a tape recorder and asked me to write (record) my memoirs.
I chickened out. Plain and simple. But I did write my memories. So here’s my idea (and I’m already a day late!) I will record, read aloud and edit the memories and edit as I go. I put it in NaNo as this month’s goal. I added my last Nano novel. Both books are 15k each. I plan to read aloud and edit that one, too.
I may have bit off more than I can chew. Maybe I’ll prioritize the memoir. No more Floundering, just get busy!
By the way, for those who tried,thanks for playing 😀
In other news we have winter starting now. Alaska is sending us a cold front.
Just as evening was descending. Cold but blue skies.
Yesterday morning. The sky was not that blue.
Blue than it actually was.
That’s more how I remember it.
Coming down. Cold and gray.
Meanwhile, for Finishing Friday:
This is a fun project. Haven’t touched the lighthouse.
Almost to the heels.
Still proceeding with learning the uke. I actually am needing the next book. I think my fingers are toughening up!
I finished The Mammoth Hunters but haven’t had the chance to write the review. I’m loving reading the series again.
It’s snowing again. It’s so pretty. I’m glad the rodent was wrong!
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.
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