Sunday, March 22, 2020

Day 7 of 15 days...

At the end of this past week I was feeling discouraged about how unproductive the last week and a half has been.  I'm finding my days just getting away from me.  Hubs' and my sleep patterns are way off, and even though I'm not doing anything strenuous, I find that on most days I'm just tired.  And unmotivated.   Watching podcasts has become the default activity between things I have to do - like cooking and laundry.  And the only thing I've wanted to do when I sit down to watch a podcasts is knit dishcloths.  Just wait until you see the pile!!! 

Not that knitting dishcloths is bad, but I'm realizing I need a plan to get my rear in gear.  More on that later.  I did decide, though, on the crafty front that starting a new project Friday might just get me out of my dishcloth inertia.  I looked through patterns for inspiration and I decided to make something I've done before and that I know provides enough interest to keep me at it.  


I pulled out these two colors of Shawl in a Ball yarn from my stash:


And started making my second Cakes Two to Tango shawl.   My link goes to the first one I made, but here's a peek at my current one:


The idea behind this is you start your cakes (or skeins) of yarn from opposite ends, and changing colors every two rows gets the colors to mingle in interesting ways, fairly effortlessly.  It's fun.  And it's a nice departure from knitted dishcloths.  😄


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I'm also giving thought to what my days need to look like.  I admire those who create schedules, but except for work or outside activities, I'm just not a schedule-follower at this point in life.   As I was thinking of how to be motivated to be productive during the remaining 9 days of social distancing (and beyond), I considered what kinds of things tend to motivate me.  

Last November I completed a 30-Day Minimalism challenge.  It was really successful and cleared out a bunch of stuff.  Then in January, I was motivated to go through my house with a different purpose - to find things to donate to a fund-raiser rummage sale.  Again, highly successful.  I have found reading books, and watching some videos to be motivating in the sense that they are perspective-changing, but I needed something to, again - break through the inertia that has set in.


And suddenly, it hit me!   I think I was in my bedroom at the time and a question occurred to me...  "If I were quarantined in here for 14 days what would I grow sick of seeing?"  


Wow!  Suddenly I saw things with fresh eyes.  Things I've been thinking I'm not really ready to get rid of, I could suddenly see myself bagging up and carting to Goodwill - and saying a hearty "good riddance!" to.


So...  While I've yet to do this seriously today, I did spend a few minutes going through a small storage space where I had stuffed some old, yellowed, worn-out embroidered pillowcases, and decided it was time to do something about them.  The pillowcases aren't worth saving at this point, so I cut off the hand-crocheted lace to save for some future craft purpose.  And decided to take a picture for posterity:




Now, I know someone is going to question throwing these away.  But questioning that myself for years now is precisely the kind of thing that has stymied me from moving on with decluttering.  These look really sweet in the picture.  And in a sense, they are.  But some of the embroidery is seriously worn, and the cases are so badly yellowed and thin there's no way I'm going to use them again.  My husband's grandmother made these and the His and Hers cases were put on our pillows for when we returned from our honeymoon.  That memory is very sweet, but the pillowcases no longer are, so I've decided to record them here for their memory to be preserved in some way.  And then out they will go.


While I may work on the bedroom later today, my goal will be for each remaining day of  this "15-days to slow the spread", I'll pick a room and ask myself some form of the question, "If I were quarantined in this room for 14 days what would I truly grow sick of seeing?"  And then (hopefully) get rid of those things.  I'll try to take some daily photos of my progress.  


I don't know how successful I'll be every day, but I need to start somewhere.  Even if it's just a motivator to clean and organize stuff, I will count it a success.



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Now!  Even though I'm a few minutes late, I'm going to go play the piano for a little while - along with Liz at Field and Fen who's going to be playing her recorders.  If you miss the invitation in time to join in at 3:00 pm, EDT, you can make music at any point, any day.  It's a lovely idea, and I'm hoping it also serves as a push to use this time to get back to piano playing somewhat regularly.






Back with an addition:  I told hubs I needed to play the piano and that other bloggers were being invited to join in making music at this time.   He came into the living room about mid-playing and looked around. I asked him, "what are you looking for?"   He said, " I was looking or the camera to see how you were recording this."   I asked him, "Why do you think I'd feel the need to record myself?"  To which he replied, "How will you prove you've done it?"  To which I then replied, "I don't have to prove I've done it - it's just a nice invitation to do something nice - for oneself - maybe for the universe.  

But since he planted the idea in my head, I went and got the camera, got it focused and asked him take a picture.  Of just my hands.  Goodness knows, I didn't need a picture of the whole of me!

So here's the proof.  Just for fun.



My playlist included:

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Lift Him Up
Bring All Your Needs to the Altar
Leave a Well in The Valley

Then finished off with some rusty renditions of:

Blue Moon
and
Do Not Forsake  Me (theme from High Noon)
  when I finished, hubs called out from the other room, "Gary Cooper!  High Noon!"  



Yes, that's a glimpse into my home on this (another rainy) Sunday afternoon.

20 comments:

  1. The yarn for the shawl is so pretty. Ypu are right, dishcloths are great to make but after a while it gets a bit if over kill.

    I have a horrible feeling this 15 day physical distancing is going to last longer than the original 2 weeks. Will you continue to isolate if asked?

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    1. Honestly, I think at the end of 15 days we're likely to be still be growing in infection cases (if we haven't peaked by then). It makes no sense to me that the current recommended social distancing will be lessened at that time. I expect this 15 days to turn to 30 days, at a minimum. I won't be at all surprised if it turns into 2 month (or more, honestly).

      Regardless of when government suggestions/regulations lift, I expect hubs and I will still do a fair amount of social distancing. It might not be quite so isolated, but I think it could be a long time yet before we gather even in small groups without asking people how much social distancing others are doing... Even if the virus is diminishing in numbers, it doesn't change the impact the virus can have on those who are compromised in some way. This virus isn't going to just go away completely. I don't know how or when we'll truly get back to normal without taking some cares that we just didn't before - even when the larger society starts getting back to normal.

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  2. I'm so happy you joined in the music challenge!! That really excited me to see. I'm going to report on my own performance in Field and Fen in a while.

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    1. I was hoping you'd pop in. It was such a good idea, Liz! I'm going to keep my piano bench cleared off for doing this more regularly. Thank you for the invitation/challenge to so this.

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  3. Initially they were telling us to stay home for 14 days and now they've extended that to quite possibly (probably) months. Refusing to dwell on that possibility and taking it a day at a time. Changing our entire way of doing things requires some thought and planning. Resident Chef and I decided that we would avoid our communal laundry room at all costs (after seeing the dismal cleaning the so-called 'professional' service is currently doing) and will be hand washing everything we can. We're not going anywhere so there's no reason we can't wear the same clothes for several days (we draw the line at underwear though!) and I think he will agree to cut my hair with his beard trimmer. After doing a final grocery store run during the 'senior window' yesterday I won't be going again. From now on we will do our order online and then either pick it up outside the store or they will deliver. Right now the snowbirds are all returning from Florida and, despite being told that they MUST stay home and self-isolate for a miniumum of 14 days, they think they have the right to hare off to the grocery store to stock up, refusing to believe that they can quite possibly be carriers up to ten days prior to showing any symptoms. Stores have had to post guards and those that don't comply face arrest and big fines....all because they think they're invincible. I like your newest decluttering challenge idea - gives a whole new mindset to the enterprise. If I get tired of my next project I think I'll try it.
    Take care - be well, be safe.

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    1. Oh wow. I didn't even think of all the snowbirds migrating north. Germs aside, they ARE going to want to do their own stocking up once they arrive. Ugh. And just when I was thinking stores here might get on top of their inventory...

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  4. I would love to hear you play and LOL on the conversation you had with your husband.

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    1. Ah thanks, Stef. You wouldn't be impressed with my playing, let me assure you. I rarely play the piano anymore, but every once in a while I open it up and bang on the keys - telling myself I'd probably really improve if I played more. And then I close it up and seem to forget I told myself that.

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  5. Oh yes, I will play the piano too. It sits there ignored to often. I have been reading more, and raking the yard for just 5 minutes a few times a day so my arm and hip can handle it. I love your idea for looking at a room with fresh eyes. I have been cleaning out cupboards - the tupperware - I found allllll the matching lids! Baby steps.

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    1. I think part of the problem is it's been so rainy and cold. This next week is supposed to be in the 50's and 60's (even though rain is scheduled for a couple of days), and while the ground's too wet to do any yard work, it will at least be warm enough a few days to take a pleasant walk. Yes, I know I could walk when it's cold - just wear a winter coat. But I don't. That's all there is to that.

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  6. Loved that you played the piano. I would think that would be good to do each day. Playing hymns can be worship as well.
    You have thought of a good decluttering idea. Might need to look through that lens myself.

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    1. Yes, I felt like playing some hymns was a good way to worship especially seeing as we're not able to attend a corporate worship.

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  7. Your shawl looks beautiful and I am imagining the sound of your piano playing through the house!

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  8. That is going to me one pretty shawl. What a clever idea of alternating the rows. I would never have thought to do that and now it is on my to do list...

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    1. This shawl is made up crochete linen stitch. By alternating skeins every two rows, it allows you to carry the yarn up one side. And then myh plan is to cover up the edges with a pretty picot. It's a terrific solution to what could amount to lots of ends!

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  9. Hi Becki :)) I love that you play piano. I used to many many years ago but one of these days I want to get back to it. I have to find somewhere to put a piano...and of course a piano itself!

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    1. My husband asked me a few years ago if we could sell the piano. I think he thought it would an easy yes on my part. I think I stunned him with my horrified response. NO! Why would anyone sell a piano?!? Of course there are reasons to sell a piano, but I wasn't/am not inclined to consider them yet.

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  10. I love those yarns! Which colors are they? I am not starting one now but in the future. I am writing projects down with patterns and yarns etc., like Marsha mentioned in her post, for when I am ready. Yours is gorgeous as usual. You have such great ideas for getting motivated. My problem is my bedroom and I would like to paint or wallpaper but this is gardening and mowing season so I have no time now.
    I always wanted to learn piano and I took it for 2 semesters in college but never got very far. I even bought an old piano that sits in my garage. So much for my bucket list! :) What a beautiful way to end your post. I just wish I could have heard it. Stay well!

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    1. The yarn is Shawl in a Ball in the colorway, Community Coral. I had four skeins and it looks like I'm going to use most of that. Thanks, as always, Sam for your kind words.

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