The New “Busy Day”

 I had a very productive day. I managed to get 3 things off my to do list.  Found out that a restaurant that we have not been to in a score of years had some really good food and lots of options for me.  We will be going back.  

Yes I am still tired.  I took another nap today.  I seem to have lots of energy right afterwards, but it does not last long.  

I would also like to thank Vicky and Michael from Grandma’s Spinning Wheel for being gracious enough to move me to a weaving class in December. I know that I will not be able to do a full day of weaving at this point in time.  Your kindness is very much appreciated by us right now.  I must have made someone’s day who was on the waiting list.  

Changes and Progress

 Today I decided to reorganize the kitchen including but not limited to moving things around on the counters to make room for my birthday present from John.  He got me an air fryer.  I am hoping to make things like taquitos and sweet potato fries.  There are just so many things I miss on a low fat diet.  I also flipped a couple of cabinets around, no not the cabinets themselves, but the contents.  Some things went to the trash. Other things made it to the Goodwill box.  I hope that the countertop will give good visual clues as to where things have moved.  

I also finished up plying the yarn left on 4 bobbins from Tour de Fleece 2021.  The art yarn all looks good.  Tomorrow I will skein it. Wash and thwack the yarn before I leave it in the garage to dry.  

Maybe the above activities will inspire me to get more projects finished.  Speaking of projects, I really need someone to remind me to call Vicky about ordering a new drive band for my Louet Victoria.  Who is going to volunteer.  It is for the large plying band.  I should also order a smaller drive band too. Also none of the above was on my to do list, so that was only half done today.  

See if you can spot one of today’s major kitchen changes.  From left to right our toaster, my beloved Kitchen Aide K-5 bought in 1977 as a present for myself, our tea set up and John’s MK.  The colorful squares on the counter are my hot pads from Trader Joe’s.

Chores

 I had a rare quiet day at home.  So before breakfast I ran the foot and calf massager.  Then over breakfast I made my to do list in hopes that the Tylenol would kick in so I could try and finish my list.  I worked on it till exhaustion caught up with me. I then crashed and took a nap. I don’t care what anyone says, adults need naps.  I got a few more things done after my nap. When John got home I took another break and watched one of my shows.  

I did not make 10,000 steps today but will settle for 6,000. 

Wish List vs To Do List

 I really don’t know why I am still using a to do list. Lately I am half way through and have no more energy to finish my list.  It seems lately that it is wishful thinking that I can get everything done in a timely manner.  I think it is more appropriate to call it my wishful thinking list of things that need to be done.  I know some things need to be done in a timely fashion and other things not so much.  

I know that I am supposed to give it a month or so for my latest life style changes to kick in.  Let’s face it, the last change was 3 days ago snd I should in my humble opinion be up to full speed and then some.  My family would say give it time.  I am just to impatient.  

So I am wondering if I should return to setting priorities and ranking items.  I will have to think about that.   In the meantime I think that I will call it a day.  

A pretty good day.

 I did get a lot of things done today.  I managed to get 1/2 my to do list completed and a few extras too.   I have a busy day planned for tomorrow so I am hoping for a good night’s sleep.  

A Needy House.

 Last year was my year of retooling. This year the house is being super needy. It’s only the middle of February.   We started out in January having the refrigerator dying on us.  That was replaced at the end of January, it took a long time to deliver due to COVID19.  

Then in quick secession the washing machine started leaking in two different areas.  The first repair took care of half of the leaking.  The second leak was from the back hoses, intake and out put.  After the third try the washing machine is finally fixed.  It wash just in time. Because I have been loosing weight and inches I don’t have a lot of outfits. I had just enough clothing to last through today.   So before breakfast the laundry was started.  By tomorrow morning everything will be dry.  

The the ceiling fan lights went out.  Thankfully John was able to fix it the same day.  Later that night the guest bathroom toilet decided to die.  The parts are on order.  Pre COVID19 it would have just been a quick trip to the hardware store, now it’s order the parts and wait.    

Honestly there are other things that need to be done around the house like repairing the chips caused by Eric’s wheelchair. Rooms that have not had a new coat of paint since 1994 and other paint touch ups.  It’s also time to replace the grouting in two bathrooms.  As I am feeling better or after we have our COVID19 vaccines and we can hire someone. It will get done in due time.  

It Had to Happen

It’s been needed for over a month. The dreaded to do list. I think I need a little more structure in my life right now. A lot of structure has been missing since late November 2019.  So tonight I made my first to do list of the year.  Not long, it fits on a Post-it Note.  Don’t get me wrong an awesome amount of cleaning and organizing has been going on around here. Yet I still can not find my second 16 x US size 8 knitting needle for hats. Don’t forget about knitting too.  I have planned my stash to last a long time without yarn shopping.  How many things can I finish?

I am loosely planning dinners around a shopping wish list.  I put down what we need and wish that we get most of it.   One thing that I cannot seem to find is Excedrin Extra Strength for my arthritis.  The plant that makes it, is currently closed. You can’t get it online and they won’t add it to curbside delivery. I know kind of lame.  Because of stress some days I am taking all I am supposed to be taking instead of 2/3 of what I should take. My normal amount. This means that I am using up my precious supply faster.  Tomorrow I will try driving up to the drive through pharmacies in the area to see if I can get some.  If not I hope they restart production before I run out.  It’s the little things in life I like, like not being in pain that I love. Not to mention a good sunset.

Exhaustion

Exhaustion and pain hit hard and fast today.  Thank goodness Eric was in a nap mood today. 2 naps latter and all I can say is my pain level is down. I am not sure why exhaustion and pain seem to go hand in hand for me.  I am hoping for a better day tomorrow.  My semi grand to do list was only half way done. As John says there is always tomorrow. 

Organizing Creativity

This year since I have so many projects that I would like to do and need to do I have decided that it's time to start a list. I started the list 10 minutes ago and I had already up to 19 projects. Most of those project are in progress. I am hoping that this will save me time in the long run. This way I can look at what is on my list and what is practical to do at that particular moment.

I know that this will take the spontaneous out of the planning process. The more I learn about fiber art the more I want to do. I still have the same amount of time to work and create, I just have so many more things that I want to do.  I'm hoping that crafting can be like house work, that things go faster with a check list. By faster I mean more efficiently.I still get pleasure out of the work that I am doing. I still find it quite relaxing and that's the most important thing for me right now. Only time will tell if this theory is right.

Another thing I have started doing this week, is when I drop Eric off at his day program I spend a little time at the gym on the recumbent bike. This gives me time to read the paper on my iPad and get some exercise in at the same time. I am hoping that by exercising an extra 30 minutes three or four times a week it will help me feel better in the long run. I had a fantastic day today with over 6 miles walked in over 14,000 steps taken. I still need to get in better shape because I am exhausted.  I think I'm going to call it an early night.

Monday

Today did not start off great, so I ingnored  my body and went through my to do list.  I think I need to remember  to use the to do list in the future.  All I had to do was 1 item at a time. With this method I got a lot done.  I managed to get through have the list today. I might even try it on good body days. 

On the craft front all I can show you is the spinning that got done today. I just have to spin the white so I can ply the yarn. 

2:30 A.M. Really!!!!!!

Eric was up until 2:30 am this morning. As a result he stayed home today. The combination of things really put a crimp in my day. I only got through a third of my to do list today.  I knew I was to tired to drive today and John was gracious enough to do my post office run.  It was one of those rare days that I was even to tired to do any laundry, which just means I have more to do tomorrow.  

On the bright side today I successfully got through the first of 10 repeats on the lace pattern.  I am so glad that I put the life line in.   Without the life line. I would have been in trouble.  It took me 2 hours to knit 2 rows of the lace pattern. I know it's not much, but here is a picture of the 1st repeat of lace. I know it does not look like lace yet. 

Rocking It Today

Despite have a little arthritis pain in my knee last night and today I rocked my to do list. I did spend a little time in the craft room and a few things got done in there too.  I also got the kitchen floor mopped.  To relax after dinner I finished knitting one more scarf. Frogged a wash cloth re cast on and knit at least 2 inches.  

My plans for Tuesday are a bit more modest. A little knitting, sewing and shopping.  If my knee feels better a little spinning on the Ashford other wise it will be the Louet.   

Just in case you missed my to do list for today here is a picture of it.  John did the a/c filter.  Eric's wheelchair hopefully will be ready Thursday.  

It Was Really Monday

It has been a very busy day around here. A lot of projects are halfway through. The only thing I can really say I finished was the chicken chili stew I made for dinner. I seem to lose focus when I am very busy. I worked on 3 different knitting projects, 1 spinning project, laundry and house cleaning today.

Don't tell anyone but I am saving laundry, paperwork and knitting for tomorrow. I hope to be more focused tomorrow. Wish me luck. Maybe I should make a to do list? I wonder if it will help?

A Short Catch Up

It has been a busy couple of days around here. The days have been long and the results are amazing despite Eric not sleeping well.

Tuesday was a day full of appointments. Followed by an afternoon of making jewelry and packing up for Wednesday.

Yesterday was a big day for Eric's Day program, the Taglit group. The fund raiser was to try to earn enough money to fund the garden and nutrition program. The very good news is that the goal was achieved. There are still a few plants and hand knit cotton soap bags available. So Just drop by the JCC between 8 am and 3 pm. Monday through Friday.  Stop by the front desk and say that you would like to buy a plant or a soap bag to support the Taglit program.  Sixty three items left my stash of handmade items to help the cause. Just think about how much yarn was used from my stash.

This means I have a chance to create more items and will have a lot of room for them. My to do list will  go as follows:

1. Teri's shawl ( a home project ). 1 1/2 skeins to go.
2. Project Gratitude scarfs ( my on the go project )
3. Teri's queen size blanket that I started her 1L year. This project has gone a little slower than I would have liked. Yes Teri has finished 3 years of law school and passed the California Bar. But in my defense I did finish the pair of socks that I started when Teri and I were looking at law schools. Yes a very poor defense. ( a dining room table project ) 2/3 left to knit.
4. Some things for me that I have wanted to knit for me.
5. Adding some more shawls to my inventory. ( knitting with girls friends)
6. Knitting a few different style hats.
7. Make some more pretty jewelry and possibly make some shawl pins.
8. To card some of my own batts.
9. Type up and take photo's of new pattern designs.
10. Finish a few new designs.
11.  Last but not least to find some time to spin.

Since I spent the entire day at the Tucson JCC yesterday house cleaning started at 6 am today. I am so lucky that John did the windows and all of the polishing. This let me do the laundry and other work that I needed to do. I got the last skein of Yarn for Teri's shawl wound, but I was much to tired to knit today. Tomorrow will be full of cooking and cleaning. Since Eric is asleep I think I will end the blog post here tonight.