Freecycle rules

Early morning on the deck 

And home to check Freecycle. The tray went fast and here's the happy ending

Everybody's happy now.

And the orchid is going on and on

Today's bouquet is humble next to the high end fancy orchid

This morning's early walk was shortened because of stratospheric humidity, but back home I followed it with a free weight video from April and mom Aiko. This one 

Then I found I'd slept when I thought I was reading. Off to shower and the doorbell rang a couple of times. Then I heard Gary calling you okay? Liz? Liz? And when I was dressed, I found neighbors from both sides just checking!

But first, here's how I stop myself from getting into the shower with hearing aids in.

Leave the charger case on the stairs. The aids are imperceptible in use, so I need a reminder. I can't go upstairs without noticing the case, then I remember to put the #$#_$ hearing aids in the little slots.

Turns out we all three neighbors called the auto body shop this week. That guy must be feeling a bit under siege. But we all got the waiting-for-parts answer.

And both neighbors wanted to know about the contractor for the house. Gary wants to be there. The other neighbor is off on Tuesday for a month in India. Never a dull moment. Rapid plans about his plant care are now set up.

I have rides for my final surgeon appointment Monday and knitting group Tuesday. Then contractor comes Wednesday. Misfits Thursday. It's all go. These are the golden years, rocking on the porch?

But I did get a bit of drawing in 

Happy day everyone. Don't just do something, sit there! Never mind self improvement, we're all just fine already sez 

Ted and Big Ursy 

Knitting group, Textiles and Tea, irish linen

Today's knitting group was the biggest ever. Ten people at the largest point. Mostly beginners wanting lessons,  but the prepared librarian had flyers about beginner projects and tools and yarn. 

So a couple of younger people created bookmarks from the instructions, needing little help, and three other friends, with their children, learned a crochet chain from the member who is willing to show them. 

And she also worked on repairing moth damage in a red cape, inventively doing needle felting.

Conversation was largely about the work at hand, but also ranged over wearing capes, European trains, drawn thread work, convent teaching in dress making and the fiber arts, teaching voice, hip replacement, Tai chi camp, knitting needles on planes,  and more.

It was good to be in the group again. My own project is not going well. I may reduce it to balls of yarn and think again. 

Textiles and Tea was about the work of a weaver's weaver, Laura Fry, whose yardage for designers is famous, along with her meticulous finishing techniques and the ergonomics of working at a floor loom. 

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She wrote a classic book about weaving better and has a blog, on Blogger, Weaving a Life, for which I signed up as a follower, where she gives excellent technical advice.

Speaking of fabric, I ordered a length of beautiful Irish linen from Burnley and Trowbridge, enough to make a dress. Or something else nice. I love handling linen.

And this is historically accurate to design. Think Georgette Heyer, Faro's Daughter...

This may be enough fiber for today. But I have good news: next Wednesday the work will start on my kitchen wall.

And, in among all the sad and bad political happenings

Happy day everyone. Protect your peace. Make art

Dieffenbachia and philodendron 

 

Hot day, tai chi, drawing and flowers

Wednesday felt very humid early, so I checked before deciding whether to walk 

This was 5.30 am. I'd got up thinking it was 6.30, no glasses on. In the high 70s but not very breathable.

So I looked around the patio and found 

As you see, blossoms all over. This hibiscus is in her second year. Last year two blooms, this year at least a dozen buds.

The morning glory is starting to flower. Zinnias, too, and while I was there I hauled the lavender plant over to be propped up in the corner. It fell again during the storm, and I don't want it falling on the hibiscus.  The coleus also fell during the storm so now it's sitting on top of a container of lemon balm and they can fight it out.

And while I was there, I noticed how bad the gate looked, covered in algae and looking neglected, which it was. So I thought while I was there why not wash it. This is an index of not having enough to do, when you start washing gates.

So off I went indoors in search of cleaning materials. Then I saw my neighbor coming out of her front door in search of the newspaper and completely forgot what I'd come in for.

I remembered something about water but not what. Retraced my steps, sat on the patio and caught sight of the gate. Ohh. Quickly ran back for cleaning spray etc before I forgot again. It was quite easy to clean, one of those jobs you postpone for months then it takes two minutes once you remember it.

Algaegate, then Cleangate! 

All this early morning hot humid activity definitely suggested a shower, but first, since I wasn't walking this morning, I did some tai chi with Don Fiore, same man I'd done qi gong with earlier.

That calmed down all my joints nicely, and one shower later, I was ready to follow up on the car and house issues.

House contractor, no response to text, but I think the contractor's on vacation this week. Anyway I've registered my need to know. 

Called the body shop, they're waiting for parts, maybe ready end of next week. So that calms the brain that's pushing to know more and not just sit there. I've done what I can. 

Then I was wondering what arty thing was next and I didn't feel like fiber arts today. So I thought maybe I'd draw what was happening on the patio, around the morning glory. Pilot pen fine, black, little drawing, about 7" square,  first in ages.

That was a nice few minutes. The paper is bright white but doesn't register that way.

Wednesday galloped by, mid afternoon before I noticed it. Audiobook, a very nice reading of Georgette Heyer's  The Nonesuch,  tea, and a snooze may have ensued.

Happy day everyone, life's a banquet! And here's a hilarious website, Than Average, in case you want to compare yourself to a lot of strangers.

Lichen and wild daylilies

Cool and windy and grey yesterday with sun now and then, lovely contrast to the day before.

Here's a lichen that suddenly appeared on the fallen tree I've shown you before.

Here's either mating, male and female dragonflies of the same species, or battling for territory between different species. If anyone knows, please say. anyway a lot of circling and darting.

A few yards away, wild daylilies. 

We see them on roadsides, at the edge of woods like here, always a few days earlier than the cultivated daylilies.

I'm still very jangled about the eye situation, not helped by, every time I calm down, yet another text requiring information, most of which I already gave. And the dox being required by the HOA, who I think have assumed I have a new tenant, but I'm too tired to get into it!  Tiredness is my main thing going right now. 

However, art will save us all, so today was about using a calligraphy pen not in the way it's designed.

I love all the shades of color happening in the ink, depending on how it's applied. Even some flying white, that broken cloudy line beloved of  Chinese painters and calligraphers, except they usually do it with a fairly dry brush.

Happy day everyone, stay calmer than I can!