Purling Oaks

Fuzzle Face

This evening I took my own advice and walked in the woods.  Earlier today we had sun, but the rain clouds were moving in so it was overcast and a little cool but with temperatures in the 50s it was still comfortable.  The trail through the woods is actually mostly a loop that will take the traveler up, along, and then down the ridge that the woods reside on.  It is probably a mile of trail but it is "real" trail with obstacles like rocks, sticks, soft earth from rodents digging, and a fallen tree or two.  I surprised at least one turkey and about six deer.  I'm also discovering the muscles that support my knees.  It was a good walk and I'm going to try to do it *carefully* every day I'm home until the mosquitoes get too thick for sanity.

I was informed that Fuzzle doesn't get much face time on this blog, so here is a paw-washing photo or two from this afternoon.

Fuzzle wondering why I'm not petting her.  (Look at the pretty Fuzzle, not the messy sun porch)

I've done a little change-around here at Purling Oaks to try to lighten things up.  Spring is here, you know.  Really. 

Saturday recap

Saturday was a gorgeous day with the exception of the temperature. I did some cleaning and lopped a few limbs from the Laundry Monster. Don't worry about LM....he hides under a bed and regrows those limbs in a week or less. I even *gasp* exercised with this yoga DVD. I borrowed the DVD from my massage therapist because we were talking about energy levels and intention. This yoga session was good, though different from the more "standard" types of yoga I've practiced before. I'm certainly *feeling* the yoga today. *g*

Before I rolled out my yoga mat, I saw Fuzzle and White Dot observing one of our raiding squirrels. It is funny how they are sharing one seat in the "gallery." The felines are all friendly to each other but they rarely share adjacent space.

Earlier this week, before this ultra-cold weather, the icicles formed on the eaves. They are a pretty display, but I don't want to walk under them anytime!

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I also worked on the Fuschia Felted Bag yesterday and finally attached all the handles in the correct places. Yes, I had to re-position one handle. I inserted the lining and found I'll need to make the lining a bit larger. I think I will just cut the current lining and add a panel or something along that line of thought. My original measurements must have been a bit off. A nice surprise came in the mail at the end of the day. Joan sent a bountiful box of goodies as my prize for being a fortunately selected commenter in a contest she held on her blog. Thank you, Joan, for the t-shirt, yummy lavender-scented bath goodies, gorgeouse sock yarn, and hot cocoa mix. I'm going to have a steaming mug of hot cocoa this afternoon.

Winners and the *e*

Contest results!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the birthday comment contest! This morning the entrants were formally processed and the random selection pool device was prepared. DH, being an impartial being, removed his glasses and made the random selections of two entrants. His hand looks almost too large for the random selection pool device but he pulled two names out of the hat bowl pool device. Congratulations to Kathy W. and to Angie (not me, the *other* Angie.)! I've sent you both emails and if you will respond with a snail mail address, your yarny prize(s) will be on the way to you soonly.

*e*

I had a number of suggestions regarding *e* or how to include daily exercise and motivation for it. I'll share an quick run-though with you since I think it is interesting and it qualifies as blog material. *g* One suggestion regarding motivation really struck a chord--don't expect exercise to be fun or a joyful experience. Exercise because it is good for you and because doing it will result in a long-term improvement in health. This suggestion makes me think of flossing my teeth. No, not going to do it now, but how I used to feel about flossing. I didn't floss regularly in my early twenties (*gasp*). I didn't understand the need for it, so I wasn't doing it properly or often enough. One dental visit though, I had a great dental hygenist be very direct with me and explained why I should and what would (not could) happen if I didn't. She was thorough and I changed my dental habits for the better after that explanation. (There was no electro-shock therapy or other violence involved. Just good mental persuasion.)

Another suggestion was to not engage in a desired activity, like knitting, until I had completed my daily 30 minutes or whatever of exercise. Another commenter said she ran two miles every couple of days. She didn't like it but rewarded herself with craft activities after her run. One commenter said she included exercise in the things she did in the morning like showering and dressing to make sure exercise got included each day. One commenter included exercise in her day through dance since she enjoyed dancing.

One commenter also made a big impression on me for ways to exercise when she suggested Denise Austin or Kathy Smith pilates dvds. She said she got rid of her four-baby tummy in a year and these exercises were of the low-sweat variety. Another comment was to have an exercise buddy, someone that depended on me to exercise with. That way, the guilt of potentially letting someone down would motivate me to continue to exercise. Guilt in that context is good.

These are all great suggestions and I think they will add to my methods and motivation to include *e* more often in my daily routine. Of course, there is no "switch" to flip and presto I'm fit, but I'll try to blog more about my efforts and maybe you all will be my virtual exercise buddies. How about that?

Guild Meeting

Tonight is the November meeting of the Madison Knitters Guild. Amy Detjen is our guest speaker. This time I'll have my "mindless" knitting with me so I can be one of many people knitting during the meeting. That will be a lot of knitting in one location! Perhaps my knitting will improve by osmosis!? *g*