It's about tea and reading

It's the time of year when Christmas, which affects everyone including non celebrants, is over, the calendar New Year isn't here yet, it's cold and dark and raining all over the planet, so here's the plan. The setup

the current (re)reading from the complete Provincial Lady on my Kindle, still as funny as ever, and highly recommended.

Current listening while I knit, the latest Andy Carpenter and dogs mystery

 

Then a movie to be picked up on DVD from the library for viewing pleasure just unserious stuff I'm finally getting around to now that I find Emma Thompson is in it.

 

And upcoming reading

I saw him in an extended interview with Meredith Constant and was impressed by his quiet, intelligent analysis, with aspects of history, here Royal history, I hadn't thought of. 

This is a long serious book about the juncture of the current English establishment, which I think is worth some time, given the current juncture of the Western world.  It's not the gossipy froth the tabloids would like you to think. 

Meanwhile, yesterday was the follow up with my doctor who asked me to bring in my own bp cuff to check its accuracy against hers. Readings on both are high, mine higher, the little overachiever, and after she'd listened to areas all over with a stethoscope, probably in search of some sneaky problem, she concluded that we can just increase one med. She also said don't worry about measuring bp for now. See her in February.

So that's fine for now, and happy birthday, did I have a good time, she's very good on spotting potential loneliness in single seniors.  This senior is doing fine.

Happy day everyone, enjoy your reading and listening and if you have any recommendations, please mention them.

At least it wasn't snow and other adventures

 Here's the rainfall yesterday

The middle line is my little town. We were spared the high winds, and power stayed in, local roads flooding in turn as the water moved downstream, continually changing police  advisories.

And I did a bit of spinning. I'm a bit out of shape -- arms got tired! This wool is one lot, and I did some lovely silk mix , too.

Sags are continuing to sign in, and here's a big one

A true home for Sags!

Yesterday I also had a blood pressure scare, sky high readings and my doctor had me add a bit to one of my meds, rest, come in next week to see what's up. So that's what I'm doing. 

I don't have any scary symptoms, other than  anxiety after seeing the readings -- two different cuffs, after resting  intervals, all the precautions -- so today I'm resting. Reading, avoiding the news, maybe a bit of knitting. This is starting to sound like a usual day. Hm.  Meditation this morning. Catch up on the poem a day.

Happy day, everyone, let us return to our sheep! And spin their fleece.

Photo AC

New adventure soon, winnowing and muffins

 Today I found out that English ivy can be used to make laundry soap. Since it grows next door, I'll see about getting some prunings and trying it.  You boil the leaves, then next day strain them, and the liquid works like soap. It's one of the saponiferous, just means foam-making, plants. There are quite a few but this one's the handiest to me.

I wouldn't mind planting yucca, too, same reason, also you can make sandals from the dried foliage. Indigenous people have done this for centuries in the South West in places where it grows wild. I'll have to check whether the northeastern climate will suit it. 

The  person I learned the laundry soap idea it from is, at my suggestion, going to learn paper making from plants, and string making from foliage, too. Each one teach one.

Aside from that possible new adventure, winnowing continues pretty successfully. Last night I  pulled out my collection of scarves

I hand made most of them, knitted, crocheted, Tunisian crocheted, painted, stitched. A couple were handwoven or knitted for me as gifts. And I remade the acquaintance of a few I'd forgotten about. 

I've made many knitted scarves and slippers as gifts over the years. Many an anxious hospital wait with Handsome Partner eas accompanied by knitting and crocheting. 

I once crocheted a freeform wall hanging as part of a traveling group invitational project, still on tour maybe, who  knows, in various surgical waiting rooms. 

So, back to now,  I winnowed out some nice things I don't need to keep

Put them up on Freecycle and had a door busting response. So they're all bagged up and waiting to leave this afternoon

Not that I'm deprived. Here's the tidied up scarf repository

If anyone wants a more detailed look, with ideas on how to try  for yourself, let me know and I'll post accordingly (Handsome Son's current favorite word).

In other gripping news, since my doctor, as well as advising to watch salt, also wants me occasionally to check bp, Handsome Son is coming over this afternoon to lend me the family bp cuff. 

This involved bustling about to make a batch of blueberry muffins

Because I can't give him a cup of tea without a little something. I might get some over to Gary, to cheer him up, too. 

About cutting back salt, I made yesterday's soup without salt but with extra spices, and it works fine, so now I'll continue. Taste reeducation. And I have to make a new supply of berbere spice mix.

Happy day everyone, may your all your taste  experiments turn out well.