Meeting Tim and Tammy

 Today, I interviewed Tim and Tammy Martin who recently completed hiking the Appalachian Trail for the second time. Actually, I had met them long ago, but never really knew them very well. We spent 2.5 hours talking because it was more than an interview. We swaped hiking stories, and talked gear, and methods, and all that kind of stuff. It was a great time.

I'll be writing articles about their adventures.

After that, I went back to the School Forest with the goal of walking two miles. Guess what! I walked two and a half!

Best find was a poodle wearing a scarf.

And all this did not exhuast me. I came home and have done computer work alternately with reading.

Now, if I could just figure out how so many stink bugs are getting in the house!

See Building Stamina

Colorful Quilts Puzzle

 I finished a puzzle that I started before I got sick. For most of that time I couldn't bear to look at it. It's called "Colorful Quilts."

I actually bought this puzzle because I thought it looked colorful and fun. It was not fun. It has the same problems as this puzzle that I did in 2021.



They both look colorful when completed, but when you are looking at the individual pieces the effect is muddy. The puppy puzzle was totally awful to complete.

This puzzle wasn't quite that bad, but I had to do the last 100 or so pieces totally by shape. And the pieces were too similar so that sometimes you thought a piece was correct and then later found out it wasn't. If the pieces had been bigger, it would probably have been OK.

And... this was a brand new puzzle in a sealed box, and in a plastic bag inside that, and it has 3 pieces missing.

The brand is Ceaco. You might want to avoid it, which is too bad becase it's made in the USA.

Today wasn't bad, but I was tired again. I was going to walk before bell practice, but it is very cold outside, and I was tired, so I'll walk tomorrow. I have to go to town again anyway. I'm going to bed early.

See Alternate-ing Universe

Building Stamina

 The other thing I did yesterday was remarkable, not for where I did it, but what I accomplished. I decided to try to walk at least 1 1/2 miles on natural surface.

After church was over, I changed and went across the road into the School Forest where I often hike because of its close proximity to the church. I was mildly surprised to see that they groom these trails. Actually, I thought only the fat-tire bike trails (which wind through the woods off the footpaths) were groomed. But you can see the shadow of the trail edge in this picture

Maybe next time I'll get a picture of the tool they use to do this. It's just sort of a scoop shovel, but I don't know what they pull it with.

The School Forest is a fantastic resource for people who live in town to be able to walk in a natural area. I both love it and find it boring. But it was pretty in the falling snow yesterday. You can see a trail junction post near the middle.

Anyway, I walked 1.7 miles, and that's after being at the church, practicing and playing bells, and needing to be mentally alert for a total of 3.5 hours. I was tired when I got home, but not enough to lie down.

And, I've only taken 4 ibuprofen for the past two days, so perhaps I've successfully made that transition.

Today, it's really cold outside and I didn't have to go anywhere, so I didn't. I worked at editing and some things of my own I need to do. It's all good!

See Mile and a Half

Handbell Sunday

 Today was possibly a little intense for my stamina level, but it's all OK.

Handbell choir this morning. The prelude was "Amazing Grace." (Sorry, you can't see the pianist off to the left.)



And the anthem was "You Raise Me Up."



I'll tell you what else I did tomorrow.

See Silent Night

Mid-Winter Garden Report

 You may remember that I brought two plants inside for the winter. Actually it's three. I'll explain.

This is Sedum linare 'Sea Urchin.' It turns very white/pink when outside in the summer and fills spaces very nicely. It's doing OK. I don't think it's a problem that that taller stalks have died back. The new growth looks healthy enough. And I'll be able to put it in three places this year.

The other one I brought in is Sedum mexicanum 'Lemon Coral.' From the sad little puddle I bought for $2 last spring I have 3 nice pots. It's gotten pretty leggy, but I'll give it a haircut when I put it out come spring.

I guess I've never showed you this plant. Probably because it didn't do what I wanted. It's not hardy, but I knew that when I bought it. I thought I'd put in out in a pot each year for interest, because it is a very interesting plant. It's Fishbone Cactus, Cryptocereus anthonyanus.

However, It really doesn't handle any kind of weather very well, and it's mostly just scarred and unhappy. And it gets sort of hidden by the other plants. I'm not sure if I'll put it outside this year.

This is what it should look like. This picture was taken of one at the Flower Show a few years ago.



And now, for the news on my Aloe squarossa. It broke off at the root. Not sure why. Here's what it looked like when it was healthy.



But I planted a bunch of the stalks today, so it should come back just fine.

Anyone who would like to have a couple of stalks, let me know. You can have them now and sprout your own, or I can plant some in cups for you to get later.

I worked on stuff all day long. Nothing heavy, but I did 3 hours of screen time, some other things, and I didn't have to take any naps.

Five ibuprofen a day- can't seem to cut down to four, and I'm still sleeping with an ice pack on my face, but the bones in my face aren't nearly as sore.

See October Rock Garden 2024