Thursday, November 21, 2019

Rain

The rain comes down today. In spatters, in force, in sprinkles. It can't make up its mind. Many birds circle the lake in front of the building, riding on air currents, saving energy, waiting for the feeders who arrive daily. From all walks of life. To sit on the benches and throw grain and bread and nuts to their favourites. It must be hard to soar when wet, I think. And what do birds do on rainy days when people stay home with their food bags?

There's a chill in the air. That wintrish glaze on everything. Joanna, my cleaning person, is supposed to be here today. I got ready for her. I always have to do a clean up for my cleaners. Left to my own devices I can create a slum out of the tidiest rooms in about 10 minutes flat. Not a skill I am proud of. But I think (she's 80 after all) she must have forgotten. And that's fine with me. At least some cleaning was done. I was going to tell her help herself to my enormous yarn collection which I have to do something about. I am a compulsive collector: movies, books, yarn, silver napkin rings, et al. But between the jigs and the reels I've let everything loose into the universe. Well, almost everything.

Meanwhile I have another editing job in which is a thrill. And I accepted a position on a board which should be interesting.

And I have a talk to give tomorrow night which involves index cards I haven't prepared yet. I like to do them at the last minute so everything is fresh in my mind and I try not to um and ah and remember to breathe and to glance briefly at the cards to make sure I'm on message and sequential. Easier said than done.

Other than that I had a very interesting lunch yesterday with two friends I hadn't seen in a about a year or so as they still live out in the country, hanging in there for another few years - for they are a few years younger than I. At one of our favourite places, a true honest pub with pub grub, including all day breakfast with lashings of home made home fries. The conversation was interesting and satisfying as we hovered around all sorts of topics including this challenge of not being able to walk and chew gum anymore.

I'm still in sock mode. Knitting them that is. And I watched the entire Crown Series 3 in a two night binge. It's like Downton Abbey, lots of froth and frocks. And stellar performances.

And I'm not feeling as if I'm on death's door anymore. I really don't know what that was all about. But it was frightening.

20 comments:

  1. With partial dentures, I can't chew gum any more either and that is one activity that I really miss. I am glad that you have come out of the death door syndrome. Please stay that way.

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    1. Is it a choice my friend? It just creeps up stealthily and every symptom becomes a harbinger of worse to come. I will order myself not to go there anymore then.

      XO
      WWW

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  2. Those yarn colors are divine!
    Take a hammer and some nails and nail deaths door shut!
    ;)

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    1. Ha ha that magical silver hammer and golden nails. I wish we could.

      XO
      WWW

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  3. Feeling at death's door. Yes I too, though substantially younger than you, have felt this way in the last few weeks. Let's close that door and turn our back to it for yet a while. Welcome badk to the land of the living.

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    1. Thank you Uglemor. It seems to be a confluence of many things for us doesn't it. health not great, planet in death throes and politicians only interested in feathering their own nests.

      XO
      WWW

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  4. Now, suppose, someone who knows how to hold the needles, just, yes, five, but has not knit for decades, suppose she wanted to knit those socks. Is that yarn coloured that way, or did you have to pay attention and keep changing colours. And, what is the best easiest heel turn, or your favourite? I think I should take up knitting again. I'm getting pushed to audible books you see so it would be good to have warm socks, eventually, and something to do while listening. In my quite large city, there is only ONE yarn store, outside of those 'craft' places and I don't even know what yarn is what. Can you toss a few bones? EMMA

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  5. Hi Emma, yes 5 needles,
    (1)I use 3.5mm. But 3.75 recommended but I always go down a size as I am a loose knitter.
    (2) The yarn is self-colouring. Sock yarn today will blow your mind.
    (3) I use a very basic pattern for now and have knitted about 5 pairs so far and feeling my old skill coming back. It's all about practise.
    (4)Here's a good basic pattern https://www.yarnspirations.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-master-catalog-spinrite/default/dw2246cc53/PDF/RHK0828-015814M.pdf
    (5)On the heel flap be sure to slip the first stitch on the 3 stitch garter edge for easy pick up.
    (6) I use a 12 row double rib for a nicer finish.
    (7)when casting on put 13 stitches on 1st needle, 12 on the following 3 and then before 1st round (plain) slip the last stitch on the 4th needle on to the 1st and then with the 4th needle knit these 2 together for neat join.
    Good luck!
    Let me know how it works out.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. I've copied this out. Rather daunting. I'll have a go.

      I admire your window. Frame and view inviting long pensive contemplation. Good choices by some architect. Rather rare in seniors buildings where they seem to have no budget or clue that anyone living there has an interest in beauty. EMMA

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    2. Yarn, needles and mailing and we were up to $56 !!!!

      So.

      https://www.amazon.ca/Darn-Tough-Vermont-Womens-Cushion/dp/B00B5F021G/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiNLWp6yB5gIVkx6tBh2khwaSEAAYASAAEgIqD_D_BwE&hvadid=208376711911&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001383&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7394118520206363601&hvtargid=kwd-296482217445&hydadcr=23340_9622020&keywords=smartwool+socks&qid=1574547221&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFCRlJTM0RWQkQ4V1ImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAyMTk1MzYxNjBFTVFUVEVZVlc2JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA0NTAxMjkzT1lXWDNRTVlZRDQyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

      I know you'll congratulate me for my perspicacity.

      I turn back to my crosswords and audio book. Did you know A Passage to India can be got free for joining Audible, and such a wonderful reader?

      I will continue to search Goodwill for just the right yarn and needles. Surely I'll find lots there after Xmas.

      EMMA the Perspicacious

      Sigh. Old spots wot not.

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  6. The standard when people of my age gather are parental health and care issues. I suppose in time it will be our own health problems. I suggest you take some self satisfaction in being able to speak on stage at your age, as many would not be able to. Good luck. You may slay 'em in the aisles.

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    1. Thank you Andrew, I am grateful that whatever miasma of despair and pain hit me has vanished so I am in the day and grateful. Joanna, however is another story, in the pits brought on by the damp weather and arthritis in every joint and limb. Poor pet.

      XO
      WWW

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  7. That latest pair of socks is the most gorgeous yet. I'm slothlike when it comes to tidying too, so the area where I most often sit is a mess all the time, while other areas are just dusty. I used to collect random things too, now all I collect is books and dvds, getting ready for when I can't get out much I suppose, I'll have things to watch and things to read and hopefully someone will come in and feed me. Ha Ha.

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    1. "coming in and feeding you" I had to laugh. Envisioned a messy bib and you nose deep in a book.

      I kept some of my best DVDs while giving away 1000s (seriously). One guy took 100s for his cabin which made me laugh as the great outdoors and huntin and fishin didn't seem to soothe his soul. LOL.

      XO
      WWW

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  8. Glad to see that your life is on an upswing. You are doing many wonderful things these days. Editing and being on a board is great news.

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    1. Thank you Gigi, I am so glad to be on the upswing again.

      XO
      WWW

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  9. We had a cleaner for a while in London when we were both working full-time, and we fell into the same habit of giving the flat a "pre-clean" before the cleaner arrived, in case it was such squalor that she refused to come back again.

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    1. I had one person one time absolutely refuse to do my house. Granted it was large (4 floors) and there were 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 birds, 2 kids and many fish oh and 2 boarders. And it was super messy.

      I sympathized with her. I wouldn't have done me either. :D

      XO
      WWW

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  10. Raining here today too, WWW. Seasonally dismal - those socks of yours are gorgeously bright though.

    Your line about "birds on rainy days" reminded me to ask if you have seen a movie titled "Rare Birds" set in Newfoundland. We saw it a couple of nights ago - I think via Amazon Prime streaming. We enjoyed it. Before I knew it was set in Newfoundland, I guessed it from the style of houses - something I was able to recognise from reading your blog, and seeing your photographs over the years, WWW!

    I'm currently knitting a chair back cover (aka antimacassar, I think). The yarn is "Shoelace" by Berlini and it's a bit peculiar to knit with, just like shoelaces but a bit wider than most - and on fat #15 needles. Anyway it'll be a useful piece - such covers are not easy to find these days, the ones I have are not very practical - they are pretty but slither all over the place.

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  11. Those socks are gorgeous colors. They remind me of rainbow sherbet.

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