Stuff in a time of social distance

[pensnest]

Our online chorus get-togethers are odd. Unsatisfactory in terms of making progress with learning the new song (which is not a difficult song, just a few matters of timing that cause problems - everybody should know it by now!), but very pleasing in terms of having the chance to see one another and exchange some conversation. We break, of course, for the 8 o'clock clap: I really don't know how NHS workers feel about it, but I like the spirit of community, of doing something along with everyone else around me even though we can't see one another and don't interact. I hear claps, shouts and the banging of pots and pans, and today, I played my long-silent clarinet. So my lips hurt.

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Beast acquired for me a superior yoga mat, which is positively cushion-like after the hard labour of the first one.

He had also sent for a teeny tiny battery to power the remote for our extractor hood, but it came today and was dated to expire in October 2017. And was corroded on one end. Seriously, Amazon marketplace? Seriously?

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I picked some lilacs from the garden yesterday, and by the evening, the buds were starting to open. The scent is wonderful!

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And dear Kirstie is on telly with a programme about how we can craft during this time of lockdown, with materials that we have in the house. It's rather charming, indeed. She is in her own dining room, with the kids thumping about upstairs, and two cameramen barricaded into corners of the room so that they are all suitably separated. Normally her craft shows include visits from 'experts' (I am a little cynical about some of them), but this one has so far had a brief video call with one guest. And they include a craft from a show several years back, just for variety.

She is, visibly, more stressed than usual, probably because this show has been thrown together with great speed and she is having to do everything herself. Usually, she is the show host, and watches other people, and has a go at what they show her. But she believes (and I think she's right) that using the time to do something creative is good for our collective mental health. Also, there are lots of pics of fabulous creations being shared.

I have no desire to make a four-seasons cushion, a terrarium or a dangly thing involving paper balloons, but I might have a go at making a cardboard loom. And I like Kirstie, even though she says 'cems' when she means centimetres. I can watch her show, and knit.

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Finally, animals social distancing.

And, tartan sheep.

Comments

[frausorge]

Yay for lilacs! And a cardboard loom sounds like a lot of fun.

The battery fail is incredibly disappointing though. I hope you can at least get your money back!

[pensnest]

Beast sent a politer message to the supplier than I would have sent, and has been refunded. It was only a couple of quid - but even so! He has now ordered again from somewhere else. Meanwhile, we cannot get the steam and cooking smells up through the extractor, sigh. Still, the weather is good and at need we can just open a couple of windows.

[turps]

Those tartan sheep are fabulous!

I'm enjoying all the tv shows that are being made in the presenter's own homes, even the fuzzy quality of some of them adds to the charm.

I also liked Jamie Oliver's show for the same reason. Though his store cupboard supplies are way better than mine ever will be.

[pensnest]

And the ads, too, which come across as way more sincere than polished ones do!

I hadn't thought of watching Jamie Oliver, but that might be worth a try.

[watervole]

Try tablet weaving. The simplest form of setup only needs a pack of playing cards, a ruler and some yarn and a strong belt.

[pensnest]

That sounds interesting, too. I keep teetering on the edge of doing weaving of some kind, then reverting to knitting.

[watervole]

I took it up about a decade ago, and it's something I keep coming back to. Partly because I have practical uses for belts, straps, hatbands, etc.

Here's my posts on the subject - https://watervole.dreamwidth.org/tag/tablet+weaving

There's few photos missing here and there, but there's a pretty good guide to how to get going in the earlier posts, right down to how to cut up your pack of playing cards.

[turlough]

Ooh, you have lilacs already, I'm so envious!

Cats are expert at social distancing :-)

The tartan sheeps are awesome!

[pensnest]

There's a lot of lilac around, probably because the weather has been so very summery. I associate lilacs more with May, but, here they are.

I love the idea that the owner has been out painting the sheep, just for the tourists!

[brandywine28]

LILACS. I haven't seen any lilacs yet, not growing in anyone's front yards, not for sale at the market, and I'm getting impatient!

The clarinet! You put the 'multi' in multi-talented! Some over-enthusiastic soul on my block has managed to get his hands on a foghorn. And he honks it. Every night. Seven o'clock, sharp. It freaks me out every time, but what am I gonna do? Complain? It's for the health care workers! (In theory, anyway. It kinda seems like his real passion is for...honking.)