Winter Update

Bees, Chickens, Chicks, Reflections, Sewing, yoga

Now that you know my, um, excuses for not blogging much this year (the dog ate my blog – Blame It on the Dog) let me catch you up on some of the things that I’ve been up to in 2022.

Daily Yoga – The day after Christmas I began doing yoga. I have never done yoga before but have been told about its benefits and encouraged to try it by two of my sisters and one of my daughters. Since I was no longer experiencing as much pain form the pinched nerve, I decided that it was time to start trying to heal this condition. In order to do so I figured some type of exercise is necessary. I decided to start this 30-day yoga journey entitled breath because for the past two years I have been practicing deep breathing and encouraging others to “breathe deep” as well.

https://yogawithadriene.com/breath-a-30-day-yoga-journey/

Now don’t get the wrong idea. I am nowhere near good at this. I am not graceful. I am awkward at best. I am getting better but it’s not pretty. (That is why I only do it when I am home alone.)

I have been feeling and seeing some of the benefits. I can tell that I am getting stronger and increasing my balance. I also feel good physically and I seem to have more focus after doing it. Once I finished the first 30-day program I started over again and I’m about to finish it a second time. I plan on repeating it again in March.

If you’ve ever considered learning yoga I would encourage you to do it. I would also recommend this program as a starting point.

Sewing Projects– I have completed two sewing projects. The first was this sweatshirt dress made with plush fleece. I did adjust the pattern to make it a turtleneck. This top is so comfortable and warm; I wear it quite often.

(I’m no model so this is what I do when my husband tells me to pose. LOL)

The second is this sweater. I’m not sure what the fabric would be called, but it is a soft knit with silvery threads intertwined to give it the shimmery look.

I have a third project started but it’s way different from anything I have done before. I am learning to work with interfacing and make buttonholes, so this is taking a while.

Garden Planning – We are really looking forward to spring. We have ordered and received all of our seeds for this year’s garden. I found it interesting that we did not receive tons of seed catalogues in the mail this year. (I think we received one.) I wonder if we have been removed from the mailing lists because we hadn’t ordered for several years, or are companies no longer using catalogues as a means of marketing? Maybe some of both?

After last year’s gardening disaster (too much rain) we decided we need to do something different this year. We will be adding some raised beds. We are in the planning stage, and I’ll write more about it once we begin working on them.

Bees – We lost both hives again this year and just can’t explain why. There were just a few dead bees in the bottom of both hives. The rest were just gone. This is an unexplained phenomenon referred to as colony collapse disorder. We did harvest about 30 lbs. of honey that was left in the hives so at least it wasn’t a total loss.

We have ordered three bee packages for this year. They are scheduled to arrive on April 15. The bees we are getting this year are a different breed than the ones we have had in the past, so that gives us a little more hope for their survival.

Chicks and Chickens – Sunday as I looked at the weather forecast, I realized that the weather this week would be right for tapping maple trees. With above freezing daytime temps and below freezing nighttime temps that sap should begin to flow. We are not tapping trees this year, but I reminded my husband that in past years it seemed like at the same time we tapped maple trees the chickens began to lay more eggs. Monday my husband collected 6 eggs and Tuesday five. For about the past two months we had been averaging only between two and three eggs a day. An interesting correlation between sap season and egg laying.

We are going to add about 12 chicks to our flock this year. I will share chick pictures when we get them. šŸ™‚

New Chair – Last week we finally went shopping for a new desk chair. this is the one I selected.

While it doesn’t actually have bells and whistles, it does have lumbar support, height adjustment, arm rests that adjust up and down and forward and backward, and the seat back reclines. This makes sitting at my desk much more comfortable. It is called a gaming chair so as I like to say, “game on!”

Thanks for visiting.

Have you ever done yoga?

Will you be planting a garden this year?

Did you receive any seed catalogues in the mail?

28 thoughts on “Winter Update”

  1. “this is what I do when my husband tells me to pose” Made me chuckle. Maybe your husband has some pointers?!

    Yoga has some good elements, but anything advanced is not for me.

    It’s weird that your catalogs stopped coming. No matter what I do, they keep on coming (nothing related to gardening, though). \

    Planting? I hope to plant some goodness in people. Wish me luck.

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    1. Haha! i think I do that because when he says “pose” he also throws his arm in the air or puts his hand on his waist or something.
      I’m sure there are many advanced poses that I will never achieve. I’m ok with that and this particular series does not place unrealistic expectations on anyone. Whatever level you are at, “it’s all good” she will say.
      I don’t mind that we didn’t get a bunch of catalogues this year since it’s all available online and I actually had my orders in before we would have received any. I used to prefer to mail order and pay by check but it seems like at thing of the past.
      Goodness, kindness, hope and love what a beautiful garden you (or any of us) could create. ā¤

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  2. Pingback: *Press This* Winter Update #222 | Its good to be crazy Sometimes

  3. Great post Ruth – inspiring.

    Have you ever done yoga?

    Yes, but l didn’t enjoy it so l stopped. Suze was a very dedicated yogi before the cancer though.

    Will you be planting a garden this year?

    Yes, ornamental only. Will write on it in due course.

    Did you receive any seed catalogues in the mail?

    I am always getting seed catalogues – had three this week alone. I tend to shredd them down if they are non-glossy and add them to the worm’s bedding but if glossy they go to recycling.

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    1. Thanks Rory. Do you think Suze will go back to yoga? Seems like it might be therapeutic.
      I watch for your gardening posts.
      Well at least you can make good use out of some of them. How’s the worm farming going?

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      1. Hey Ruth,

        I don’t know, currently she is in Australia visiting family, she might do when she comes back.

        Worm farming is in early days but going well. The worm farm blog will be live in May.

        New gardening post due later this month.

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  4. This is a great post!! You have kept busy through the winter months and I am super proud of all you have accomplished. Why has is taken us so long to realize that self care is important? Yoga doesn’t have to be pretty as long as it feels good.. Your chair looks wonderful , I’m glad you allowed yourself to be kind to yourself. And all of your gorgeous creations make me want to take the time to sew more pretty things for myself. You are an inspiration whether you realize it or not.

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    1. We’ve spent a lot of time taking care of and doing for others – it’s time to do it for ourselves. (That includes sewing some pretty thigs for you). It’s funny to hear you say that I am an inspiration when you have been my inspiration for so many things. šŸ’ž

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  5. I like your new chair. I’ve tried yoga a few times, five years ago, first in a class (where I was woefully behind everyone else and it was too crowded) and then in a smaller group in someone’s home that I knew from grade school and ran into one day when she mentioned it she did classes. But I was still way behind the group who had been together for years, and it was a lot of chatting and very little yoga. So I decided yoga wasn’t for me, but I’ve bookmarked your link and may give it a try.

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    1. I love doing this yoga on my own because I can go at my own pace and there is no one around to see me look foolish. If she comes to something I can’t do I can pause and watch what she is doing until she comes back to something I can do or I do some other poses until she comes back to something I can do. She does incorporate all levels into the practices, but I don’t get intimidated by the more advanced I just accept where I am and keep working towards being able to do more. Adriene refers to herself as the guide (not instructor) and the practices as a journey (not classes). She always says the hardest part is showing up and I’ve decided she is right. Let me know if try it, Joni. Linda says she is thinking about it too. maybe we can be each other’s cheerleaders.

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  6. After I stepped into snow which was just “air” last year and couldn’t climb out of the snowbank, I wrote about it in a post and a fellow blogger, just a couple of years younger than me (I’m soon to be 66) said she began yoga as she wanted to be able to sit on the floor with her grandchildren while they were playing … she couldn’t get up on her own. Neither can I – that is why I began walking and I am not flexible in the least. So I got the yoga tape (beginners) but have not used it yet. Reading your success re: balance, etc, I would like to try it. I sit at the kitchen table at a kitchen chair – this is not really smart considering I sit here for work, then after work, I’m here for many more hours. Had I known I’d be doing this job from home this long (2011) AND blogging, I would have gotten a better set-up. I think I mentioned to you I got a wireless keyboard for the laptop and elevated the laptop on some wire baskets which are about 6-7 inches tall to keep from straining my neck. You did a great job on the tops. Sorry to hear about the bees. I heard today we will have a warm March, but a cold April – I hope you don’t get all the rain sog up your crops like last year.

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    1. I really think you would benefit from the yoga Linda. I like the 30-day program for many reasons – The guide, Adrienne, is very understanding. She tells us the hardest part is showing up (making the time to do it). She encourages you to do what you can and stick with it because eventually it will come. The practices have a different theme each day and each practice is different – some easier some more challenging. They average about 30 minutes (some just under 20 minutes and some as long as 40). You don’t have to sing up for anything in order to access them – they are totally free. Let me know when you get started. šŸ™‚

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      1. I intended to start over this Winter because I had more time in the morning (I get up early like you) … I knew I wouldn’t be walking every day and the sun wasn’t up until 8:30-8:45, so had plenty of time before needing to go out and run the car or shovel. Then I decided to start riding the exercise bike. I will definitely let you know when I start – balance is so important as we get older. A woman at the Park is close to 70 and she roller skates in the in-line skating rink at the Park. Before COVID, she used to teach chair yoga at the Senior Citizen Center here in the City. But they cancelled all the senior activities since the pandemic began. I will let you know Ruth. I just looked and my DVD is: “Yoga for Seniors with Jane Adams (2nd edition): Improve Balance, Strength & Flexibility with Gentle Senior Yoga, now with 3 complete practices”. Part of the issue is that I don’t have TV – well I have a very old TV but never watch it since cancelling my cable in 2010. So, I guess I have to watch it on the computer. I know that sounds easy, but where to do the exercises. The logistics is something I have to work out – guess I do the exercises in the kitchen or my room (my old computer is there).

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      2. The practices I do are designed for all levels but when she comes to something I can’t do I either pause or do some simpler movements until she comes back to something I can do. I was surprised to find myself in some poses like plank and 3-legged dog and little by little am increasing how long I can hold them. Joni said she might try it, so I told her if she does and you do, we can be each other’s cheer leaders. šŸ™‚

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      3. Interesting idea Ruth. I took a Yoga and Pilates class many years ago at the City’s Rec Center. Same teacher for both – one on a Monday night; the other on a Wednesday night. Bought the mat and first night, everyone in the class had her and took this beginning class just to have the incentive to do the exercises. Everyone was experienced. Teacher was horrible as she chit-chatted with class members since she knew them from prior classes and they KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING. Important – same thing for the other class. I cancelled and got my money back. Bought a Yoga DVD and a small DVD player. My mom said “you’ll never do it – years later I found the DVD still in shrink wrap. The tape this time was for seniors. Less difficult.

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      4. I’m glad you were able to get your money back. My sister gave me a beginners DVD a couple years ago but I was never able to find the right track on the DVD. I kept getting a bunch of ads then an introduction but never the actual lessons. I am not very tech savvy.

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      5. I am not tech savvy and never tried it – just the DVD player in the computer but a while back I had to get a new VCR and got one that was a VCR/DVD combo … I needed an old reliable item to fall back on and still haven’t used it.

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  7. You are such a busy girl and so inspirational. If you are like me you may not be graceful at yoga but be persistent . You will see the benefits and be pleased.
    Maybe not graceful but definitely greatful ā¤ļø

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    1. Thanks Anne. You know the hardest part about the yoga is making myself take the time to do it. There is always something else I think I should be doing but now I’ve made it a priority.

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