The Knitting Goes On...

So the "secret project" is coming along nicely. I'm over 50% done, which is a good thing. No picture yet; perhaps when it's done? Definitely when it's been given to the recipient. 

And I (or Hubby, actually) went into The Box of Sox...and pulled this out. It's Baby Regia, which is technically sock yarn. BUT... I'm wondering if I should instead make a shawl out of it from the Ukranian patterns? I'm thinking the Water Glare (pattern here). It would be pretty. I don't have a shawl with that much blue. Well, technically, I do, the Sally Melville "Wings" in the alpaca laceweight, but this colorway might be a good addition. "Wings" is a very pale blue, sort of like that sky with the ivory clouds in a bit of a haze. I love it because it's just enough to wrap around my neck and tie it. 

I just think that if the yarn says "for babies" and "socks," they're not thinking someone like me should walk around in them. I'm hard on my socks. And, I have lots of yarn left in The Box of Sox. 

As I'm knitting this Secret Project, I'm altering the design as I go. Maybe that's the reason I should have done a test run, but this is going to be a one-off and done. The nice thing is, even though Hubby doesn't knit, I can ask questions, and he's got a good enough idea of garment structure, etc., that he can give good suggestions. 

I know that I probably shouldn't have had him pull the yarn. I've got 3 singletons that I know of off the top of my head that really need mates. And I have some yarn sitting right here next to me that I frogged and re-started for another pair of socks. And I have a shrug/sweater thing from Expression Fibre Arts that I really need to get going on. And the linen t-shirt I had started. Long Sands, (pattern here) that's working up in a beautiful pewter linen yarn. That can be a 3-season thing, because I'd wear a t-shirt under it; it's a loose enough knit that it's more of an over-the-top kind of item to wear. And I do have long-sleeved t-shirts that I wear in the fall. 

It's a Stretch...

So yesterday, I did something rather out of my comfort zone: I took a workshop on integrating Qigong into yoga sequences. Qigong, as you may know, is similar to Tai Chi, except that Qigong can be an isolated movement or movements to affect a certain part of the body, such as "gathering the sun" or "combing the body." Tai Chi would be a whole sequence, like yoga but...not. 

Anyway, I'm intrigued and I want to learn more. And somehow, something happened to my hip. It's crazy, because we did a 20 minute flow of moves, and none of them were extraordinary. We stood in one place. OK, we did bounce a bit, and I could've landed wrong. But I don't think I did. 

And that evening? I was walking with a cane; my hip felt like it was going to collapse out from under me, which for me is extremely odd. 

What I found interesting about it was the intersection of some Yin principles with Qigong, in terms of energy meridians and how they affect the body. 

And something definitely affected my leg...I ended up using the cane in the house, which didn't thrill Raisa at all: she looked at it as if it was going to bite her. And Quinn? She just walked around me! 

Luckily, I'm heading to the doctor on Monday to see if I qualify for an experimental treatment. Of course, it's not covered by insurance, but it should prevent an eventual hip replacement. I cancelled my regular Yin class tonight; I wanted to do a whole "Spring Yin" thing, but not if I can't get up and down off the floor. 

Last night I used my far-infrared pad to "cook" the area. Today I used ice. I'm not using the cane today, but stepping out laterally is still a bit tricky. We shall see how Monday plays out. 

Orchids in Bloom...

Well, the 8th orchid has bloomed. We have only one which is just shooting up a flower stalk. It'll be a month or so till that one does anything. 

We've never had eight of them in bloom. Heck, we've never had eight of them SURVIVE... Hubby's got a dab hand at growing them. 

He said today, "No more!" (Which is like me and yarn...if there's a unique enough orchid he finds, it'll probably make its way home!) Our shelf is a bit crowded. Two of them need re-potting and one needs splitting, so I may have to find the split part a new home. 

The whole table is just beautiful and one of the pink ones has a scent. I can't smell it unless I'm on top of it, but it's just a nice thing to look at when I'm "cooking" my hip. 

The Reading...

So far, I'm taking a trip down Memory Lane with my reading: Elizabeth George's "Inspector Lynley" mysteries. And the description in the book is about 180 degrees from the guy who stars in the series. I think the guy in the series fits the character better. And Havers is different, too, in the series, at least physically. I'm also still working every day with the book of meditations on grief, which I referenced a few entries ago: "Healing After Loss," by Martha W. Hickman. 

The Lynley books are typical English mysteries, and I really like how they're written. I've seen most of the series, and I've enjoyed it. Picturing it in my head while reading the books is maybe a bit of a cheat, but that's ok. They're fun to wind down with at bedtime. 

The Garden...

Well, we still haven't planned much in the garden. Hubby took the top layer of dead leaves off today; which I think is a bit early, but I'm only reading it in the garden section of the paper...

We've still got the native plants in the front gardens; I do want to add some sunflowers along the south side of the house. The dirt there needs augmentation, though, and I'd love to put a border or something like that along that side of the house. I have to get to the local museum because they have seeds for local plants. I think I might have room for a few more plants; you never know!

Random Picture...

When I was out with my friend J the other day, I picked up some beads. I've dabbled, I confess. But she's an expert and does some beautiful work. So I got these, and made two bracelets. My original thought was one blue, one yellow, but I alternated the beads. 

Yeah, it does jack diddly for Ukraine, but it's a measure of solidarity in a very minor way. 

We're planning a day where she can help me fix some bracelets that, over the years, have broken. It's something to do over a cup of tea, so why not use it as a way to get together and spend some time? She doesn't knit or do yoga, and I don't arrange flowers or make jewelry -- so it's something we can do together till I can walk well enough to get back to taking strolls around the neighborhood. 

Need a tax deduction? How about the Elizabeth A. Morman Memorial Scholarship? It's in honor of my sister, for non-traditional women who are coming back to Joliet Junior College to study nursing. Non-traditional students are those who are older, often coming back while working or in other situations. We're giving one scholarship ($1,000) per year to a student who meets specific criteria which is on the website. 

Looking for yoga? We're open! Masks are optional. Check our schedule here at Just Breathe Yoga Studio for drop-in classes, series classes, workshops and more. 

Zoom classes are available if you're not quite ready to come into the studio. Private sessions aer available, as are small group classes. Many classes are available both on Zoom and in-studio. Call or text at (815) 546-2770 for more info, or email at info@just-breatheyoga.com if you have questions about whether a class is appropriate for you.