Working the bottom fourth of my new Sea Turtle Diamond Painting. I’m listening to “Learn Faster, Perform Better” by Molly Gebrian during the painting. It’s very interesting.
Only because I knew I needed to report progress on my Two-At-A-Time socks on Chiaogoo needles, I put a couple rows in on each pair. I finally got new glasses for these up-close WIP. So my only excuse is arthritis and not even that so much as, um, life?
Some of the fun songs I’m learning. Shiloh, loves and comes running when I play or sing that song to her. My son wants me to learn Skyrim. It is cool. And Succession needs to be relearned. Too much time between plays.
My rebinge of Grey’s Anatomy is a part of ‘Life’ made it to S13E12 out of, what? 22? What’s funny is how the guys join up with me. Sometimes all four of us are watching.
I have finished three books and now need to write reviews.
My newest addiction. Another part of ‘life.’
The furry three take up the rest of my time. They keep us on our toes, laughing, caring, cuddling. Nothing gets finished when hugging or walking these balls of fun energy.
Sunset Diamond Painting still needs to be straightened and sealed. I’ll do that tomorrow morning.
I immediately got out this sea turtle. I love sea turtles. Well, anything to do with the ocean.
As you can see I’ve started at the bottom of the picture.
Aren’t Shiloh (the black cat on the left) and Milo (the cute doggie on the right) the cutest, cuddly couple of furry people ever? They groom each other and cuddle and wrestle and play. Poor tiger, Sammie is just trying to get used to them. And the three take all my attention.❤️
Two pairs of Two at a time, toe-up socks. The ones on the left are at the arch ribbing. But under them are the homework I’ve assigned myself. The manuscript on the right is chords and scales needed for the basis of jazz or other improvisation. My goal for this year. Progress seems slow. But I trust the process.
Milo volunteered to be the socks background. I finally knitted to the arch ribbing.
Only managed one row on the watermelon socks. Milo shows off the colors.😉
I have to admit that three furry babies take a lot of time and energy. Even when they are the best audience and supportive friends. I’m surprised at my slow progress on everything.
Nothin’ but blue sky…
Shiloh loves music, especially keyboard and piano. This is her before I started my session.
See what I mean?
Sammie is already asleep under the diamond painting table.
Shiloh finally secumbs
Sammie prodding his bed.
So here is the best of my Warts and All. Please don’t feel obligated to listen. I know it’s still way slow and bumpy. I am enjoying learning bluesy songs. Classical is predictable; key signatures make sense, rhythms aren’t wonky. Sure, I still make mistakes but I understand why. Modern, blues, jazz I understand in theory but my hands don’t get it sometimes. It doesn’t flow. Modes instead of major and minor throw me off. The one and three beats of classical are now the second and fourth as main beats. Sorry. A lot of excuses for why I’m not perfect. My purpose of this blog and YouTube is to veer away from perfection that is in our faces everyday. So here is God Bless The Child.
I’m still slowly coming around. I’m still doing little bits of everything. What I’m learning in my old age is how even little bits get the job done. What am I on some kind of race? Just with myself. I just need to be patient.
There are a couple rows I’ve added to these watermelon socks.
I’ve added several rows on this pair. I don’t know why I favor this pair over the watermelon but I’m nearly to the arch ribbing.
While we’re watching local news I use the stationary bike while working on Duolingo. It’s interesting how the exercise my legs helps my brain.
When I move to my Dabbling Den, Chris hops on the bike. He’s working very hard lately. He went from five minutes to 30 minutes for 5 miles (like I do). We are neck to neck in this gentle race.
I’m averaging about 45 minutes playing and learning improvisation. I try to do my vocal warmups before playing so that when I’m playing something fun I can sing along. These are some of my favs right now.
And Shiloh our black cat wants to make sure I include her song. That white and blue book? The journal I’ve been keeping up for piano and voice.
From around 10:30 Shiloh and Sammie gather in my Den. Shiloh will walk on the piano keys to let me know what I’m supposed to do. I’ve begun to call her ‘Mom’ as she gets insistent about my practice time. Sammie just sleeps in a little bed under my diamond painting table.
As you can see the sunset beach is nearly finished. Just a bit of sky. All the pinks are done. On to the blues.
This made me laugh. Milo is forever jumping and dancing about. He’s always making me laugh. And when he looks at me with his serious brown eyes, I can hear Morgan Freeman’s voice
Sunset beach diamond painting is nearly finished. Just a little piece of sky. (Why did I suddenly hear Yentl in my head?) And I sealed the smiling turtle. As soon as I can I will hang it in my bathroom.
My fingering weight socks are coming along. Not very fast as thin needles and skinny yarn take more caution, time, eye-strain, nimble fingers.Guess who got a new watch? I’m still learning my way around it. I haven’t figured out how to capture my stationary bike time, distance, or levels. But the work should get reflected in other health numbers.
My new air plants found pinecones for homes.
Some things like the bike are hard to show progress. But my feelings about the tasks should be the quantifiable attainment. The gold star sticker is the happy accomplished feeling.
I’ve been working on “Shilo” on the piano in honor of
Shiloh. She and Sammie find their places in Dar’s Dabbling Den at practice time. I like their company as I stumble through 4 or 5 pieces a day. Once I’m bored with a song it goes by the wayside. But sometimes a song challenges me to the point of playing itself in my sleep.
I keep a practice journal and some pieces shine with my own praise of how well it went, others I actually draw faces sticking out the tongue in raspberries. I keep promising another ‘warts and all’ session. Stagefright keeps stopping me. Soon.
Duolingo is still fun for me. I do it while on the bike as the 11AM local news plays. I think movement while learning helps.
Dude! Crush is nearly finished just stray gems to be placed.
Nearly finished with my hubby’s slipper socks. Toes done, ribbed arch next.
Still just in the toes on the purple Knit Picks
About the same for my watermelon shorties.
The poor basket weave hat hasn’t progressed at all so, no pics. When it can show off on its own, it’ll share the limelight.
I want to start walking, but we woke up to this this morning. Still too cold.
Sammie finally discovered his fun-house.
While Sammie is happy, we got a phone call from my son with good news for us. And I hope for Sammie. I’d tell but I don’t want to jinx it
Today I went back to Phantom of the Opera. I used to play and sing these. Thirty years ago. Not for an audience, just for fun. My friends and I gathered at the grand piano on stage after voice class and sang our hearts out with these. I was surprised at how much my fingers remember, though there was a lot of sight reading. I can’t sing at the same time, yet. Soon. I am doing daily vocal warmups now.
Anyone out there go through this? I find a saturation level on pieces and put them aside for other songs. Those seem to draw my passions and energy.
Just the neck and head of the dragon left. I have to work upside down to reach the top without hurting.
Watermelon socks finished! Yay!
He, finally, jumps into my chair seeking pets and love. He tolerates lap time. He’s very food oriented. A little treat gained the pets. Bigger reward, lap time. He’ll roll the ball back to me and gives high fives. (Oh, that book is my character development fav. And yes, my stationary bike is right in the way to force me to hop on and go!
My ‘practice’ journals and hobby journals are helping my progress. I’m finding myself wanting to play longer and more often on my instruments. Even the violin. I’m still trying to figure out tightening and loosening and rosining the bow.
Now NaNoWriMo. I’m three days behind. I hope to catch up but I am enjoying the story.
Finally finished with the heels’ decreases. In about three inches the socks will fly in the mail.
Just a few strays and I’ll be halfway through. I usually take 3-5 pictures. The first pic with back light, circle/magnifying light, piano light, overhead light. Each light gives a different feeling. But it seems my favorite is with just the overhead. It seems to make the ‘diamonds’ sparkle. The only trouble is you can see the glare of the protective cellophane. At my next sitting, I’ll turn it upside down and work up (down?).
Journaling my many hobbies has helped a lot in a lot of ways. But some things are hard to quantify. Or know of ways to talk about. Outside of pictures my yarn crafts just grow or are frogged back. The diamond painting doesn’t reflect well in journals either.
Then there’s the boring things like stationary bike time/distances which doesn’t change much. Duolingo has its own goals and rewards so I don’t journal. Although… Maybe it’s time to take notes and keep track of new vocabulary?
The piano journal is helping a lot! If I read the notes from my last run of a piece I see the problem spots. If it’s a big problem I start there then play the song. I’m beginning to love my piano time. That’s worthy of a FINALLY!
Oh, and my violin journal is freaking out with successes. No, I’m not ready for Carnegy, but full tunes. Not feeling like hiding the instrument in the closet is PROGRESS!
That’s probably enough for now.
Oh, NaNo is started but I need to get another 800 words before bed. I have no title or know where it’s heading. Best get busy!
Reading Dragon Diamond Painting is nearly halfway done. This one the glue and dots aren’t easy to line up properly.
Since taping pieces together it is harder to organize. But no messy page-turning.
I plop the piece I finish playing wherever then hop on the next. I’m starting to enjoy the piano again.
No, I’m not making money at this but I’m finding old ledgers are working for keeping track of what I’m doing.
After I play a piece I write the date, and how often I played the piece or section. I’m honest. Sometimes just reflect my thoughts. I even give myself a grade. I’m the only one in class so I judge with how I used to play it, or most recently played. I include my feelings of joy as much as disappointment. I do not write well with the journal in my lap. I can barely see at that distance.
Here’s for my other instruments.
Here are some of my ukulele workings.
And violin. I’m feeling I need more help with violin. Yes, this was a ledger I used for bills way back in 1999.
The increases for the heel are nearly finished. So I may be nearly finished with this pair.
The base of a small basket. The yarn works or artworks don’t seem to journal well. Any suggestions?
I’ve tried to place journals everywhere I can sit. Just in case I want to keep track of thoughts or life. It’s interesting. I’ve never done this but we’ll see how the experiment works.
Two names have popped up as characters for NaNo. It seems the random guys are not so wholesome. Possibly cagey or shadowy. Not my favorite but when you go random that’s what you get to work with. I plan another couple random picks so I’ll be ready for the night of writing dangerously.
I’m thinking with the losses this year I may spend some reflective time for Dia de los Muertos. Maybe a nearby journal will be the place for those thoughts.
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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