Hot rainy weather, reminders and badminton

Early morning, after rain overnight I think, the foliage is showing how they handle steaming hot and wet weather.

It's not comfortable for humans, high humidity with heavy rain adding to it, but the plants are in touch with their wild ancestors, and mosses are showing up.

The curry leaf plant at the foot of the Japanese maple is as happy as I've ever seen it. The lavender appears to be calming down having been hit by a car, had its roots torn out of the ground, then been moved several times. It's sitting there in the corner planning on a quiet rest of the summer.

I had a thrilling email from a blogista who tried her hand at cordage and made a very creditable length.  It's so good to know someone tried and liked a new, to her, skill that she'd seen here. My work here is done!

However my reminder work will never be done. I don't use post it notes, because I know I won't notice them. I do visuals. 

If my pill bottle is there, full mug of water, when I wake, it means take early morning pill. Then move mug over, so I remember that means post breakfast pills, then after them, put it empty next to evening pill bottle. After that pill, refill and put next to morning pills to continue the cycle.

Likewise keys, all keys in the little basket near where I put on shoes in the hallway. Even my neighbors know at this point where to find them!

And so on. I put appointments in my phone and mostly remember to check them. The phone is always on me. I literally don't move without it. Either in a deep pocket or a phone purse. An old person living alone owes it to everyone to do her bit for personal safety. 

My wallet is always in my bag hanging in a designated spot, to avoid finding myself out and about without my vital documents.

It's not that my memory's poor so much as I'm always thinking about other people's doings,  or what I'm reading, or what I'm making, or what I'm planning to cook, a lot of things more interesting than where's my stuff. 

Currently after reading an extract from Ed Yong  An Immense World,

I'm totally engrossed in thinking about the senses and how animals and we literally see the world so differently. So it's very likely I'd forget other things that aren't as gripping.

Gary stopped in to visit and talk about his dog and his new GPS tracker for when Billie makes off as she has a couple of times. He knows she makes appearances in this blog sometimes and likes it. I told him about Olga and he sends his condolences. 

He knows about losing a beloved friend. He went a year after his last dog before he was ready for Billie and now she's very important, without replacing her predecessor. She's a different breed, small like Bennie, but different, her own personality. 

And we talked sports, golf is not surprisingly too slow and uneventful for a man who loves basketball and motorcycles. He tells me we've got a pickleball court marked out on the tennis courts but games haven't started yet. No, I don't plan on it.

Sports are nearly as exciting to me as scraping carrots. Except I was a sharp badminton player. The real game, indoor, competitive, with great rackets. 

Handsome Partner introduced me to it, and it rewards strategy and good eye hand coordination. Also small stature and foot speed. Not brute strength and endurance.  Some world class players have been Asian, especially Indonesian. Small, powerful, speedy.

You have to be fit though. You don't let your heels down much, always on the balls of your feet ready for all directions. A good player doesn't get out of breath. Their opponents do though.

Happy day everyone, stay alert, you never know what might be coming at you around here.

Early morning frenzy, and Textiles and Tea, Bonnie Inouye

True to my new early morning pattern, I walked early, very humid today, so, not very far. Then I sat on the patio and noticed a few things that needed doing.

I needed all those plants off the deck, it's bad for the wood, already pests have started underneath. Gary doesn't understand about this so I didn't argue the point when he brought them over.  Now I've just shoved them into the pachysandra where they will be fine, as will the pachysandra, it's indestructible. I think he was reluctant to put them on the pachy but I'm not.

The hanging coleus is getting huge, and I retrieved the second shepherd's hook from the storage area where we'd put it after the car flattened it, and managed to get it into the ground to hold the coleus. This only lasted briefly before it fell over. I rescued the plant and Gary reinstalled the hook better. 

This left the other shepherd's hook available for the morning glories to climb and gave more space to the hibiscus 

And here in context 

All this was pretty strenuous and while I was at it, I picked and arranged today's bouquet

 

Usual philodendron, with black eyed susans, daisies, coreopsis, which is putting up a nice display of flowers on the patio. I like to pick flowers for the house while leaving enough to enjoy while I'm outside.

I need to clean up the butterfly bush and the sage, another day.  Today I feel pretty accomplished. Also hot and dewy!

Tuesday is knitting group and I could probably have found a ride, but I didn't, because 

This is staying home weather, much as I'd like to see my friends. We've emailed. Meanwhile I made more cordage 

and I'm considering the next design idea for the basket, to open up the shape. I'm glad I'm up to considering design and having ideas about it. It means I'm getting past the emotional upset.

Meanwhile ironing needs to happen. 

This is an every few months event, but linen does benefit from the occasional bit of care.

 And it got it

In other news I got an urgent text from the auto insurer saying my bill is past due. Oh. Must have been missed during the surgery recovery and brain fog time.  I ended up paying online with a new password, old one didn't work, and now it's paid. And the new password noted. What do confused older people do? Not well, I'm guessing.

Textiles and Tea featured Bonnie Inouye, a complex weaver using digital as well as traditional floor looms.  She wrote the definitive book on multi shaft weaving and is in favor of trying ideas to see how they work out. Great teaching approach. She was wearing her own work, too.

I asked about this shirt and she obligingly stood up to let us see. The picture and sound at her end wasn't great but you get the gist.

Great episode 

Happy day everyone, just try it!

Sez Ted and co.

Freecycle and Misfits, it's all go

Thursday morning I found a Freecycle offer I had to try for. First I checked that the heatwave had moved on

This required a walk, and I made it easily to the pond, stamina returning, and you see the drakes aren't panicking now when I show up. 

All the circles in the water are frogs landing. They drifted about, eyes above the water, checking.

This tree is about halfway home, in early morning sun.

I found branches down from the trees, after the recent storms, including this lovely beech twig, playing the part of the daily bouquet.

Below are the Dollivers.

Then I checked the Freecycle offer, sugar, probably somebody trying to eliminate it, having stockpiled. I use sugar in moderation, so, fine for me. And it turned out to be only five minutes away.

Here it is in the freezer now, white, dark brown and confectioner's, a lifetime supply.

 I'll probably also share it around. I expect the Food Pantry can use some. I'll check first, to make sure.

Going to collect was like old times, quite a while since I was up to Freecycling, other than leaving items for pickup.

Then, it's all go, there was Quinn bringing Misfits.

Here after washing 

Wonderful peak season produce, the carrots sweet as sugar, berries at prime, peppers large and lovely, Envy apples available again, yellow potatoes for roasting.

Graham crackers for faux key lime pie, yogurt same, strawberries, there might be jam or sauce, apricots same, sardines for fast sandwiches with capers and olives, summer food reigns.

There may be carrot cake with yogurt frosting. Stay tuned.

I did another workout last night with April and her mom, a walking workout,the equivalent of a mile, indoors with a lot of varied additional moves. This was all cardio, since the previous day was weights. It definitely showed up in the ease of walking this morning.  It's paying off. 

I've used up most of my cordage for the little basket, so I'll have to make more. I'm off to damp down some of my dried daylilies, so I can work the fibers without breaking them. I'm very glad I remembered this project, just fits right now, as Jeannie would agree.

Happy day everyone, all the art and food that fits!

String things

After I packed up the gloves, which sister M. is very excited about, having seen a picture, ready to mail out, I needed a change of making.

So I brought out the painted bag of daylily cordage doings, and did a bit on the thing that might become a basket or maybe a table mat, once I decide.

I ran out of string, so I started making more, after damping a handful of dried daylily leaves

As you see, with varying success

Partly I was out of practice, partly the fiber was a bit brittle. So I left a supply wrapped in a wet towel in a plastic bag overnight and today I'll be able to do better, after I get home from the post office.

Once you start cording, you really don't want to stop. I had to, when my hands started complaining. Probably just as well, since I'm not too good at knowing how much is enough. 

My dreams were very confused last night, full of attempts to write words in Arabic and read English backwards. I think my brain is struggling!  

But it's being challenged, which is probably a good thing. I work a bit every day on the Arabic, and have trouble retaining the sounds and shapes with their meaning, but I keep reminding myself I've only been doing it for a week. A bit impatient there. No rush. I tell myself. My brain snarls that's what you think! 

Happy day everyone, try not to get into a brain fever! There's time.