Teddy bear's walkabout, fast food, Shaker stitch, eye capers

 Yesterday we had a visitor in town

Just down the street from me. I didn't see him though. It's the time of year when young black male bears are turfed out to find their own territory to breed in. 

They're usually only a year or two old, and they follow the waterways, some of which now run under large highways. This little guy was a few yards from a heavily traveled six lane highway, but appears to have got safely away.

Last night fast food, swift supper, was

spinach and broccoli pancake, nice way to enjoy vegetables.

And I embarked on the first sock of the next batch, largely to stay calmer. 

Showing both sides. Pretty much identical.

This is Shaker stitch, aka fisherman's rib, to be completed on straight needles, not having found a way of knitting this in the round, to be transferred to dpns when it's time to start the body of the sock.  

This is a stitch pattern which creates rib without purling, and I like the rhythm of it. I once long ago knitted my boyfriend a whole lovely sweater in this stitch. 

Today was taken up by the endless layers of the eyecare office, five to be exact, asking me to repeat yet again the info I'd sent in online and been acknowledged, then asking me to write a stack of pages of the same information, then asking me it all again to enter into their patient database. At that point I got very curt with the technician and pointed out she had all that in front of her on the clipboard, whereupon she glanced down, started copying it for herself.

Then the higher echelons came on, shoving dilation drops in my eyes, bunging me into and, collecting me from, another waiting room, then doing measurements for the lens implant, finally bunging me into yet another exam room to wait for the big chief. 

Who turned out to be very nice, rapid fire but clear and audible, agreed I needed the work, checked the previous tests, looked for himself, said we'd start with the right, worse, non-dominant eye,  bunged me back up front with a clipboard full of info, and told me he would call in eyedrops to start before surgery, and Michelle would call to schedule same at another location. Which is close to home and I've been there before.

Time elapsed three hours, or possibly days. Interestingly, the more senior the tech, the nicer.  

So that's part one done. Breathing heavily after all the stages and command's.

Phew. I can finally see again, dilation having subsided. As well as I can right now, anyway.

Photo AC.  Look at the light, try not to blink, keep looking, now the other eye, oh sorry, got carried away there. 

But do keep your little light shining for peace in Ukraine and justice at home.

And now it's time for Textiles and Tea. I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes.

Just walking

I've moved my daily walk to late morning, and find I do,  after all, have  the energy then. I've always walked in the afternoon when I'd gathered my strength. Never had much morning getupngo before.

And today was beautiful, birds shouting all over, violets and shepherd's purse underfoot

trees greening up

The air's cleaner, little air traffic, no noisy late afternoon helicopters carrying mail from corporate offices to New York, faster than the post office or FedEx.

Wildlife are bolder than usual, because few people about, little traffic. I wonder if we'll see any young black bears soon.

It's getting near the time the young males go in search of their own territory. They don't look like babies, even though they are. Hulking fellers. And the absence of people and cars might encourage them nearer houses.

 Every year at least one or two manage to cross the heavy traffic of six-lane Route One, following the old Assunpink creek water course which runs under the road, though most people are unaware of it until it floods. So with much reduced traffic, more bears might make it.

Nowadays people know to just stay clear, don't panic, don't eat lunch outdoors!  The bear won't want you, he'll want your sandwich.