More Baby Steps

 Today I started with 3 pound weights.  I did a number of upper body exercises plus some stretching. We walked again after dinner. We went a little further without stopping. This is what progress looks like after months of being a couch potato.  

A little bit of knitting happened.  I have to say that after the little bit of exercises that I did, resulted in long naps.  

This seems to be a recurring pattern these last 4 years.  Get in shape and my body makes a bad decision.  Then rest followed by trying to get back in shape.  The good news is that I never stop trying to slowly get back in shape.  

First Day Back

 Today was my very first day back at exercise since I got sick in mid February.  I did my elliptical for 20 minutes.  I did the elliptical until I got tired.  That took all of 20 minutes.  Then I took a 2 hour nap.  It’s a start.  

Over Achieving

 I know that I have been over doing it when I reach my weekly exercise goal by Tuesday by 3:30 pm.  My goal is 30 minutes of exercise a day over 7 days.  That is quite reasonable. 155 minutes in 2 1/2 days not so much. I did 95 of those minutes today, so far. I still have 2 rooms to put back together.  No wonder I am exhausted.  Off to mop another floor.  Ok, I gave up and left the steam mopping to John. I think I will rest for a bit and then put things back together again.  I am glad that all of my fiber storage drawers are on wheels.  Rolling, rolling, keep those drawers rolling.  

After a brief rest I put 2 rooms back together.  We only need to add a table and chair to make a temporary office space.  The space will have the pantry so course that means it has its own MK Snack area, minus the drinks.  I landed  up with a total of 138 minutes of cleaning time, for the day. Ok, it’s 2 hours and 18 minutes.  Is it any wonder that I was too tired to do much knitting tonight?  

I have also crossed out a few of tomorrow’s chores, because being the over achiever that I am today the work is done.  I really think it would be wonderful if my body let me sleep tonight.  Wish me luck. 

The Shawl That Grew in the Closet

 It may not seem like it at times that I am making progress.  In 2009 I started making changes to my diet and lifestyle.  I cut out aspartame and all artificial sweeteners. As time went on I made more changes like cutting back on sugar and carbs.  Recently I cut out red meat and most fats. I also started moving more.  The more I move, the more I lost and the more I moved.  It’s a very slow cycle.  I was trying to to do anything to make my arthritis better. I did a lot of reading.  I was not even trying to lose any weight.  At about the same time I knit this shawl in the largest size.  It barely fit. I used a small knot to hold it in place.  I was a size 4X at the time.  

Fast forward to September 2021, I am no longer a 4X.  Depending on the designer I wear any size from medium to XL. I am on a lot less medication and don’t have to take aspirin all the time. This was my main goal.  Everything else was just a bonus.  The shawl that just fit, well just look at the way the shawl fits today. It’s down at my hips.   I know that my face is a bit square today, that’s what my Sjogren’s  looks like during a flare up. So no smiles today.  

Unintended Cleaning

 I was so tired that all I wanted to do was take a nap.  Instead I organized my tea cups and tea.  I wonder if I could really justify a couple of me Pawley tea cup in the 30 ounce size? This is just a thought.  I gave the plants some of the expired tea. Plants that are not native to the Sonoran Desert need a boost of caffeine a couple times a year,  I am sure that there are other things that they like in the tea too.  By the way coffee works just as well if you don’t drink tea.  I was left with 2 bags of recycling, 2 bags of trash, 1 1/2 shelfs of newly freed space, no tea cups on the counter, tins for an art project and a lot of happy plants. 

On the me side I got 3,000 steps while cleaning. If I thought I was tired before I started, we’ll after I finished I was just to tired to move.  I still feel it hours later.  I hope tomorrow is a good body day, I could really use one about now.  

Everything

I did it all today. Knitting was 336 purl stitches and 4 knitting stitches which equals another row of lace work.. Only 6 more rows of lace and 3 of the boarder before I cast this project off.  Spinning was 3 ounces of merino wool, before my hand gave up. Weaving was 8 inches on a 6 foot table runner. Walking was a little over 10,000 steps which is just over 4 miles. As usual most of the walking was done by doing laps in the house.

John had Eric today.

Trying to Keep Up

I think that I might be wearing ruts in the tile. I am keeping up with my walking at least 11,000 steps a day this week. Today will top 13,000 or just over 5 miles, and the farthest I got from the house was the mail box. The walking keeps me from craving junk food.

Eric's recovery is going slower than we would like, but he is still making progress. I am starting to get into a rhythm with Eric at home. I still did not finish my to do list today, but I got more finished.

Today I started playing around with a quiche recipe made with duck eggs and goat cheese. When I get the recipe perfect, I will post it on the blog. All I can say now is that the taste was perfect, but the texture needs a little work.

I am going to see if I have any energy to knit now.

More Derp Cleaning

Today I spent an hour doing some deep cleaning. I found fluff that I did not know that I had. This should probably read I stashed it for later and forgot about it. I now have my spinning projects lined up for the next few months, with just the fluff I found today. I think my problem might be that I used too many project bags to store things. I can't see through them and they are easy to pile into a corner.

I even threw away some wrapping threadthathad an awful smell. Now I just have to figure out where I am putting all my weaving supplies. Well that is a problem for another day.

I seem to be on on a roll today. I walked over 10,000 steps and 4.25 miles for the second day in a row. If I can keep eric healthy maybe I can stretch that into a little longer stretch.

Stepping It Up

I have upped my exercise since the first of the year.  Over the last 9 days, I have tried to to keep my step count over 10,000 steps a day. This is a 40% increase in excercise for me. It has left me a little on the tired side.  I don't have much energy to knit or blog at night. John assures me that this is just temporary.  I hope he is right. 

Me I just want the energy that my teenage me had.  Maybe if I give up on the mundane things in my life like laundry, carpooling and cleaning that would help.  I am just not sure if Eric is up to the task of doing his own laundry or cleaning. I am also pretty sure that he does not want to give up his chauffeured ride to and from his day program.  I am also still waiting for the self cleaning house that G.E. promised us in the 1960's at Disneylands Tomorrow Land. I would also settle for Rosie from the Jettisons cartoon.  I think that Google is the only one that comes close to the future dreams of the past with its self driving car. Now if they would make it wheelchair ready with automatic tie downs that would be great.  I would also like to just push a button and have it deliver Eric where he needs to go.  

Well if I want to go to the quilt show tomorrow, I should call it a night. 

The Next Blanket

The first baby blanket was delivered by Eric today.  So I started the the next baby blanket tonight. I have completed 11 inches so far. Today was also a good excersize day with over 13,000 steps, which is over 5 miles.  A lot of cleaning also got done. So over all a very good day. 

Eric also had a very good week. 

Next Up Sit-ups

I have been working on getting back into shape. For me it has been a very slow process.  It goes in a cycle something like this. I get into an exercise routine with walking and deep cleaning the house. Deep cleaning is basically tearing everything down and deciding what to keep and toss. It involves a lot of physically moving things. Usually one armful at a time. Then finding a home for everything. A lot of bending and twisting, which my body does not always love.

The next step in the cycle is Eric getting sick. If we are very lucky it is a very short cold. This still takes a toll on my body because of the long hours and stress. This is followed by a flare up for me. The sicker Eric gets the longer the flare up lasts.

This sometimes leaves me 2 steps backward. Unable to do the 8 to 10 thousands steps a day plus as many stairs as I can find, that I usually strive for. Sometimes it is back to square one struggling to get 3 to 4 thousand steps a day. Followed by the struggle to get back to my previous fitness level.

About 6 months ago I started adding push-ups to my routine. At first I started doing them against the wall. Then I gradually worked up the the high bathroom counter and this week I graduated to the lower bathroom counter, albeit with 2/3 less push-ups because of the lower height. The lower height equals more work.

Tonight I decided to go for broke. I have not done sit-ups at all for years. Tonight I managed to do 30. I don't know how long that I will be able to keep this up, because Eric does have a very bad cold right now. The hours have been long. I am still holding out hope that I can at least do a few sit-ups tomorrow.

For me exercise is not an all or nothing thing. It is to be done in harmony with my body and life at the moment. So some days I do a lot and other days not so much. I am on the very slow road to getting back in shape. Maybe someday I will pose in my skirt that was much too tight then and now will not even come close to fitting now.

Changing Directions

I think it is time for me to change directions. After what seems like years of knitting in the range of 100 to 200 items a year for charity, I need to knit some things for me. I have at least 3 sweaters that I need to finish or start. I have shawls, mittens and accessories that I would like to have. I have the yarn and the patterns lined up. I am thinking some where in the 50 project range. I have a blanket for Teri that is 2/3's done that I started in her first year of law school. I want to make John a new quilt. I have fluff that I want to spin. I want to work on weaving. I want to design more patterns. I need to exercise more.

Eric's life has become more unpredictable. He is requiring more care on our part. I feel stressed out that he is not up to going on many outings. That use to be a big part of our lives.  He just does not have the energy.  I feel that I am spending my life in catch up mode. I need to take time for me. It is time for a change.

As Eric's life becomes more unpredictable I am having a harder time being as artistic as I would like. I can't do as many have suggested just to block off regular time each day to create. I never know when I am going to be up until all hours with Eric. I never know how many days it will take Eric or I to recoup, or how many days he will be at his day program. I always wonder if  I can recoup my energy before Eric gets the next cold. Yes, we always know it is just a matter of time before the next cold hits.

This does not mean that I will stop working on charity projects. This just means that it will no longer be my main focus. I want to spend more time creating. So a few times a week I hope just to post pictures of my latest projects. I am hoping that by taking some of the pressure off myself to make the world a better place at all cost, I will instead try to make my little corner of the world a better place.

So the new journey begins.....

A very Busy Day

Don't tell Eric but I am caught up on laundry. Yes, I know that I will have at least 2 loads to do tomorrow. I have also found the perfect time to get my house work done. Yes, there is a great time of day to do house work. It has only taken me 9 months to figure this out. Right after the guys leave in the morning. I still have energy, plus I can get a lot of things done in that hour or so before John gets back from his work out. I know that I am not going to the gym but house work is a better overall exercise plan for me right now and has the advantage of a cleaner house.

I am also ready to to ply my second spin on the Ashford spinning wheel. With a little help from some of the spinners at Grandma's Spinning Wheel here in Tucson I have a better relationship with the wheel. I managed to get 3 ounces of fiber on both bobbins before plying. I will post pictures after it is plied. This should be one of the thinnest yarns that I have ever spun on a spinning wheel. Usually to get the yarn this thin I have to use a drop spindle.

I think it is time to call it a day so that I don't wake up with the headache from he double toothpicks again.

A New to Me Finish

Today was a very good day. It got off to a very slow start, but got better as the day went on. I managed to do more knitting and spinning than yesterday, yes I stopped when it hurt. I had a nice 2 mile walk after lunch today. I did also manage to get some cleaning and filing done. Now to straighten out the file before I hand it over. That I will start on tomorrow.

At Guild I learned a new edging called the Latvian Braid. Please forgive me if you know about it, but it was so easy and fun that I just had to share it with you.

Latvian Braid

1. Round 1:     *K1 with color A, K 1 with color C repeat from*
2. Round 2:     Round 2: *P1 with color A, P1 with color C, Always bringing the new yarn over the one just used; repeat from*
3. Round 3:     *P1 with color A, P1 with color C, always bringing the new yarn under the one just used; repeat from*
4. Bind off with a regular knitting bind off.

From what I can tell this would make an excellent finishing for a pair of slippers, bottom of a sweater, or any place a decorative stitch would be nice.

Now I need to go off and ponder the bigger question of the day. I have a birthday cake to make for Saturday and I need to figure out who will be my extra set of hands for baking it and making the frosting. Also if I do not knit or spin will I be able to use my left hand to do the decorating of the cake? I also have to remember to go buy the cake board and box.

As you can see my life has no possibility of getting boring anytime in the near future

Eric's Vacation Day 1

Today was Eric's first day off for fall break. So we went to the grand opening of the New Nordstroms Rack in town. It was too crowded to do any real shopping. In my humble opinion Disneyland is less crowded during winter break then the store was. I literally had people falling over the wheelchair so we cut our visit short and I will go back another day. We then went to Jacobs Park to play on the fantastic wheelchair accessible play structure. I was pushing 90 pounds of boy and 100 pounds of wheelchair up and down the ramps of the play structure. I gave out after 20 minutes.

We had a brief break and got to watch some Dinosaur Train, Barney and Sesame Street. When the aide came Eric decided to that mommy needed more exercise so off to the mall we went for a 2 mile walk. Eric is taking a break now so I am catching up on chores before spinning.

More vacation adventures to follow tomorrow.

Doing Better

I am doing better today. I went to my Tuesday morning class and a lot of things got clarified for me. Then it was off to lunch at 5th Street Deli and as usual the food was good and service fast. A trip to Bookman's on the east side of town was good for zenning the house and John and Teri have $15 more to spend next time they go. A quick walk to Beyond Bread for an epi for dinner and then it was time to go home. Not bad for 3 hours of time.

When I got home I decided to go clean the sewing room. I started off by cleaning out 1 cabinet, don't worry it only had 2 shelves so I was not taxing my self too much. The end result was an overflowing Bookmans' bag and a place to put all my stitch marker supplies. So with that part of the room cleaned I went on to organize bib supplies. I did not realize that I had so many supplies. I had piled them all in one corner in little and not so little bags so it was hard to see just how much or what there was. I have a whole basket of bibs cut, prepped and ready to go. I also have another basket filled with a half and half combo of towels and bandanna's.  I have pulled 4 hand towels out that I just could not match the color of so don't tell anyone but I am sending them to Teri.  I have enough supplies to start a small business. By the way if you need adult size bibs let me know, they are custom made and go for $30.00 add another $10.00 if you want them monogrammed. There might be a little more to this being organized thing than I realized.

I then went through some more magazines and books and more went into the already flowing Bookmans bag. I guess it is going to be another trip to Bookman's tomorrow and maybe the consignment shop for some jewelry that I don't wear anymore. I am hoping that less stuff in the house will mean less clutter and a more organized house.

I wonder if 3 hours of cleaning would count towards any exercise time? Tell me what you think, please.

A big bonus is I have reclaimed the treadmill so I guess it is time to say goodnight and hit the treadmill. Enjoy your families.

Exercise

OK it's just me thinking out loud and looking for answers. This is all about exercise. I get a good routine going and start to feel really good, but when I put in more than one 20 hour day in a week my exercise routines just go by the way side.

I know long work days are just part of being a part of Eric's life. I guess I just need ideas on how to balance long days which lead to exhaustion and no exercise. So dear readers please throw any suggestions into the hat. I am sure we could all use some more wisdom in our lives.

Well my help leaves in 10 minutes so it is time to start another long day. Chores don't go away when Eric gets sick they just seem to multiply so its time to go off to work. Have a great day and enjoy your families.