A day of many parts

Yesterday was the first day of great weather for walking in the evening, light enough, warm enough and insect free enough. A stroll to the pond happened.

There's  a scruffy old squirrel's nest up there.  The nest, I don't know if the squirrel is scruffy.

Today started before dawn, when I woke ready to start the day. I was out watering plants outside because the forecast was for this 

and it's been dry for days. Then I watered all the indoor plants, same reason, the house will be warm and they'll appreciate the help.

And a session with April and Aiko, for lower back issues. My sciatic ouch has diminished significantly since I got back into these particular exercises. Also since the cold finally went away, taking the jaw pain and leg pain with it. I suppose a virus attacks the weakest links. 

Then for some plain repairs, starting with Gary's hoodie, which is not a good design. 

A nice screen printed image on woven gauze, bonded onto a knitted hoodie. Recipe for failure, and it happened. He put it on, the hoodie stretched, the screen print tore away. I put in a few stitches, allowing for stretch and we'll see.

Then there are my favorite jeans which either have stretched or I've shrunk. So I did my favorite simple alteration.

Inserted elastic inside the back of the waistband to draw it in a bit. That should save endless hitching up.

At noon there was an AARP online Tai chi session with a very good instructor.

After half an hour of moves, Tai chi not my strength, I get my arms mixed up, he had us sit to do more, this being designed for older people. 

So I took his picture at that point and next thing I knew after breathing and relaxing, I was waking up to his thanks for a lovely session.

This was a nice afternoon for sitting in the shade listening to birds and dozing and generally enjoying the day.  There was the last of the daffodils, the distant trees starting to leaf out, the spicebush at peak and the honesty getting into bloom.

Braiding is continuing with the shoelaces moving along. I have ideas for aglets in fact I dreamed of one idea

The notebook I made the other day has been received happily by a knitting friend, and there will be a couple more 

This is another couple of images from the same art catalog.

Happy day everyone, online this evening with friends. Such a rich day.

Monday early walk, Freecycle

Monday early I walked to the pond via streets, to avoid mud, and alarmed a lot of frogs. You'll see eyes above the water here and there. I missed the drake taking off. What a racket ducks make when they get into takeoff.

On the way home I saw ripening fruit. Birds and squirrels will get whatever the groundhogs don't.

This morning humidity was high, dewpoint 75. Translation: really uncomfortable. I was glad to shower once I got home. 

In fact I was so eager I jumped in with hearing aids in. I think I escaped again. I found out quickly and dried them. They're water resistant, not waterproof. I'm absentmindedly testing the limits, with being distracted.

Mid afternoon 

Home again and here's this morning's Freecycle items. There's another scheduled for this afternoon. 

Gary wanted me to keep the walker until I reminded him I have two more. 

The Crate Expectations saga continues. The receiver picked up the books, left the crate. The walker-wanter was interested in the crate, too, but ended up with neither, having decided the walker wasn't for her and the books had not yet been picked up. Missed connections. Then later she saw my message and came dashing back for the crate. It's finally gone 

I texted the man who originally gave me the walker because he does it a lot, and we'll see if he wants it. And a crate..but he didn't, they're overstocked-- it's the Elks -- but he did congratulate me on graduating from the walker. 

Back to homeowner issues, handsome Son made a call about the AC unit at the condo and, as I'd expected, they're busy and will schedule a visit when they can. He'll stay on it.  They're trying to fix a time when they can both be there.

It's always something. No news on the car yet, but Gary ran off to get his phone fixed, so for all I know, there's a call on there. He took over the car issue from me. 

Since I wrote, we called the auto insurer on my phone, insisted on a return call, which they did and it went to voicemail, no ring (!?)

And it's now moving to the next stage, adjusting online, then, if approved, paying the body shop direct to get on with the repair.

In other news I've signed off on the agreement with the house contractor, who confirms he arranges the work including subcontracting with regular people. So far so good. The estimate is not yet approved so we'll see. I'm in a brisk exchange of texts with Contractor Steve. He expects full approval. So I know more now than I did.

I also discovered Amazon has been charging me for a prime membership I hadn't signed up for. It's cancelled now, anyway. The stuff you need to be alert about. I just looked over my credit card charges then went back and, well wouldya look at that, sneaky petes.

Happy day everyone, bit by bit.

Because it's my flag, too. 

Whatever bread, pond scenes

Here's the source and recipe for the banana (or otherwise) bread I made. UK blogistas might need to do some translation of amounts and temperature.

As you see, this book has seen some use.

This is a kind of little black dress of recipes. You can sub and add whatever you like, or, more likely, have. 

The trick is to note that you need one cup, 8 oz, of banana pulp. So you can choose to sub some other pulp, same amount. I've used zucchini, pumpkin, squash, grated apple, and here honeynut squash. Honeynut is a little squash with a nice texture and flavor. Sometimes I've even used bananas.

Then you fling in whatever bits you like, about a handful. Chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dates, walnuts, here I used dried cranberries.  

It's pretty fail proof but it's good to remember to get the melted butter out of the microwave, if you can, and add it. Easy to forget it in the heat of the moment and find it next day.

Today is around 70°f, windy and bright and I had a great walk, dodging the landscapers roaring around collecting leaves. I made it to the pond, first time in a few days, and you see how it's changed now that the leaves are mostly down. And how low the water is. 

My house, on my way out.

I'm happy to say that the tipping I reported has been almost totally cleaned up. It looks so much better now it's lost the favela touch.

Carol and I are getting on much better now, and I expect we'll soon learn how to navigate doors, too, then I can test for my Cane Proficiency Certificate, Level One. 

Happy day everyone, bake or get your friends to bake and share with you. Why should you have to do everything, you're supposed to be resting.

Postcards, walking and other events

The postcards are ready to mail early next week 

And Saturday, beautiful October day, almost hot in the afternoon, I walked to the pond and admired foliage and reflections.

And the random oak leaf tangled in other leaves

On the patio yet more flowers

And yet another bowl o' blooms.

Gary was doing everything everywhere all at once, wanting input on planting a tree and putting pavers around. Then a while later input on color choice for walls, to work with wallpaper and floor already in place. 

It's all a bit somber for my taste, but he loves dark shades.

Then I got to my stitching and finished the mottled leaf 

Mottled leaf sounds like a nightclub Bertie Wooster might go to.

Then, officially reading Tey's The Singing Sands, but in fact sleeping and even dreaming,  I woke to make a nice supper of steamed broccoli with an omelette on top. 

What a life of luxury, to be able to rest when I'm tired, take a walk without extensive planning and preparation, stitch without checking the clock. 

None of these was possible during the nine years of caregiving for dear Handsome Partner. I did it gladly, and now I'm glad of my freedom.

Happy day everyone, check what we take for granted, sometimes we're on velvet and don't realize it. 

Saturday, beautiful October day for a walk to the pond

The fall color, muted here, because our trees are largely oak, beech, walnut, sycamore, ash. Just the first touches are starting after the first few cool nights.

Not a lot of fungi, no lichen at all yet,  but downed leaves showing color.

And insects, this little bee? wasp?  may be too small to see here. Insects including butterflies, are still busy. Mosquitoes are getting their last bites in while the biting's good.

Happy day, everyone! I'm thinking of learning Bayeux stitch. It's a form of embroidery I've never done. The entire Bayeux tapestry was executed in it, hence, I suppose, the name. 

It's not a tapestry, since it's surface embroidery on a ground fabric, but I expect at that time it was named however they thought right. 

It may relate to tapis, word for carpet, because carpets and rugs were often hung or spread on tables as coverings. I'll check on this, because there may be one other person in the world who cares. 

Anyway I'm thinking of it for the next page in my fabric book which has been looking at me for a while waiting its turn. 

It got under the fusion quilt project, poor thing. The Bayeux stitch consists of long threads covering an area and couched down by a second threaded. Not difficult, I've just never done it.

But first, lunch 

Roasted slices of chicken breast with capers, mixed green salad with mayo. Just fine.

Happy day everyone,  encouraging thoughts to people who struggled through Helene and are facing another storm.

One of my friends told me her sister left Florida just ahead of Helene, and went to -- North Carolina. Who knew. She was then stranded but okay, cursing her luck, now I think back in Florida.