But I find the page and process a bit much this year. So I’ve gone rogue. A renegade of the blogosphere.
But the beauty at the end of the last false spring day brings near tears to my eyes. See those dark clouds on the horizon? That’s the beginning of a few more days of blizzardy, blustery cold. We might even get snow. If so I may try to go out and throw a ball or two. But I’ll be dreaming about scenes like this.
My diamond painted beach helps me feel wet sand between my toes.
Bringing beach images begets being at the beach. Bottom line.
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!
Snow is one of the most captivating weather I love to watch. Last night we had clear skies, star twinkling brightly. I went to bed a little discouraged. But lo and behold this morning the driveway is full of the wonderful white stuff.
If you have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD you recognize captivating behaviors. Either every thing has you flitting from one idea to another, or you are captured, or hyperfocused by something. I love when I am held in that rapture, when I am learning something new.
I hate the flitting between captures. Spinning my wheels. Not getting anything done. But put up Duolingo and I can play for hours.
I used to sit in front of my piano and play and sing for hours. I wish and how I get captured by that again.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 4th, 2024 is “captivating.” Use the word “captivating” any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Thank you, Linda, for the Just Jot It January fun. Click on the JusJoJan above to learn about how it all works.
Thank you, Wendy, for the prompt of the day. Check out her “Wendy’s Waffle” blog by clicking captivating above.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 1st 2024, is “train.” Use it as a noun or a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
Thank you, Linda!
Train
Some people wake up and see their day full of organized plans like this.
It’s peaceful to know where the train is taking you.
On a good day I wake to
Mostly my trains have a spiderweb network of tracks that overwhelms me.
This blog helps me focus. In case you think yarn and weather is all I deal with, just know it’s just about all I concentrate on before life and distractions take me elsewhere.
Oh, speaking of weather
This is how 2024 started in Christmas Valley. Freezing Fog. It looks like snow. But it isn’t. And you can only see just beyond the porch.
Rosey at 20 finally likes me and my lap as much loved as her main human’s, my hubby.
Leg warmers are getting more colorful. Wow, they’ve reached 10 inches of 24. Among other projects.
So, I need to train my brain on the personal possibilities of this new year.
My stationary bike goal has increased from 5 miles in 30 minutes to more miles in less time. Today I reached 5 in 28. So win!
I know last year I planned on podcasting. Stagefright won. So it goes back on the list of things I still feel I want to do.
Besides German, Spanish, Italian, French, Scottish Gaelic, Latin, Esperanto, Japanese, Navajo, Hebrew, I’d like to add a couple more to my Duolingo list so that I am always doing 10 lessons a day. And I want to get more serious about my American Sign Language classes. My brain loves working on languages.
Hello editing. You are cruelest of all. I’ll do what I can and finished products will go see the light of day on the podcast.
I still will continue working on getting healthier.
My diamond paintings are calling so tomorrow I will play.
Why did music find itself this far down the list? With a new ukulele, I’m trying to learn to make my fingers fit the chords needed. But daily practice might get me there, right?
The recorder is calling. No more trying Carols. Now I can enjoy whatever music strikes my fancy.
Okay, piano. I hear you. I will turn around from the diamond painting table and tickle you on occasion.
Singing loud and proud and dancing like no one is watching sneak into this list.
And that’s not including the bins of organizing I’m already doing.
And I want to get over my phone fear and try to enjoy socializing a bit.
There are only so many hours in a day but all these trains want to leave the station and make their way to improvement and new possibilities. There has to be a way. Some things must be daily Duolingo and blogging (no longer on a struggling list but on the ‘it happens’ like eating list).
The list looks like last year. More has been added. Few trains ended their tracks. My brain and strength expand to meet the fun.
Good thing I had to get up at 3:53AM. I peaked through the curtain and the porch was white. We weren’t expecting snow. Just in case it’s gone by morning, here’s proof the sky wanted to give Christmas Valley a beginning-to-look-like nod.
It’s still coming down.
My son and his beautiful lady came to see us yesterday. Today, during the day, they are driving back home. Spare a prayer for them and other travelers for Christmas love.
Meanwhile, for the last two or three days I’ve been learning to make leg warmers. I had up to 2 inches but had to frog it and start over.
I couldn’t find a leg-warmer two at a time pattern. I really need to do it that way as I know my ADD will leave me with only one..
Suddenly I realized, DUH! Just use measurements for the cast on of the leg-warmer patterns I did find. Then follow the tutorials for Two-At-A-Time Top Down socks. Like this one-
Didn’t go half as far today. Even at 11am it was too hot and humid. Tomorrow we need to walk far earlier or evening.
Instead, I thought I’d better capture the greenery while I can. We are green usually only early Spring. But here we are nearly July when yellow and hot dust is the norm for the desert Outback of Oregon.
Looking south. The hay barn has the first cutting of alfalfa.
Looking south-west.
The sagebrush is taller than me! But still green.
I don’t know if this is edible but it looks like wheat. All similar plants are green.
Looking northish. Just enjoying the green scenery.
Looking west towards Table Rock mountain. So green!
Another looking northish. Sky blue with green fields.
The yellow butterflies from the beginning of summer have faded away. Now we’re getting white ones. This one has spots and is showing off!
The science says this proves the high moisture in the air. But I’ll accept love and promise, too. But really, the humidity is part of why we had to cut the walk short.
~~~~
So, I think I know what I want to wear for my daughter and her fiancé’s October costume wedding. Crone witch! I can make my own hat and cape! The crone part is built in!🤪
So at the beginning of the weekend I was working with Scarlett Royal’s loomknit witch’s hat. But I learned there would be a lot of sewing.
I had socks on the Flexes so I transferred by way of a skinny set of ChiaoGoo Red-lace Circular Needles. I had started on the 12 peg loom for the brim and the 36 peg for the hat. That was when I noticed I’d have a lot of sewing ahead.
In the past, I learned I could do a nice decrease using the Flexees. But for this witch hat I needed to get a good point. I didn’t feel I could figure that out. Here’s her YouTube if you want to try.
I have made a couple hats by her including a beret I was quite proud of. And I do love the picture of this hat.
I think this next one by PleasantSeas may do the trick. After tinking and frogging all weekend, I found and started working on it.
I read the pattern featured on the YouTube page. That I can do. I told myself. It starts similar to my Toe-up Two At A Time Socks. So I followed the pattern about 17 rows in. Then I noticed that it seemed the author got the numbering wrong. Once again, my tracking was off. Still I was liking how it was turning out.
Here’s what I should have done:
But here’s what I have at Row 17.
Yeah. I’m stuck with the Knitter’s Pride Royale circular needles. See how the cord coils up? Ugh! But all my other needles are in use.
Anyway, I think I’ll continue as I am going until the “wearable” part of the hat gets close. Then I’ll increase faster as PleasantSeas does. I think I want the point high or curly. We’ll see how that turns out.
Meanwhile, the socks I pulled off the Flexee looms, looks like this:
Two more inches before the Fleegle Heel. These would fit me right now. But these are for someone else.
Sadly, the Flexees are empty. Back to just needle knitting for now.
But now I need to drop the needles and hop on the stationary bike to see if I can make up the mile(s) we missed this morning.
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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