Social Distancing in Arizona

It’s interesting how much our life has NOT changed since we’ve been self isolating. This is a typical day now:
Up between 6:00 and 7:00, a bit earlier than before for some reason (our minds won’t let us relax as much, I suspect.) We surf the Web, eat breakfast, and relax until 9:00 am. Then Auggie gets walked, showers are taken, we exercise and take a walk, and do little chores until mid day. A fair amount of my time goes into food preparation which is not much of a chore for me. After lunch Bob pulls out his workshop onto the driveway which is covered so he can work despite strong sun or rain. I’ve been sitting on the deck more now that the temperatures are so perfect and set up my loom or marudai to create something pretty. Neighbors walk by and chit chat, staying six feet away. There’s no pressure to finish a task quickly. Sometimes I read or connect with friends and family by phone.

In the evening we eat dinner, maybe watch a little TV (Bob enjoys war movies so he watches those in the bedroom) or I’ll read my book. We’re in bed by 10:00.

I find this to be a pretty productive time. Bob has made me some new tools to play with:

A simplified version of the Better Loom that I’m using for inkle weaving and may use in my weaving classes. I’m using one of my Handywoman Miniature Backstrap Heddles for making my sheds.

A special heddle frame that I’m using for Baltic weaving. I made string heddles for it that have a combination of regular string heddles and pattern slots that are 1 5/8” long. This allows me to easily add any number of border threads and pattern threads. Details are on my Ravelry project page. A real game changer! Now I just have to figure how to make them easily and inexpensively so that my weaving students can use them.

In the meantime, I really like the ribbon I’m weaving using 10/2 cotton and just 5 pattern threads.

I’ve been using my Schacht old style RH loom to make a fluffy blanket.

I braided a cord on my marudai, half is which was a round spiral braid and for the other half I switched patterns to make a square spiral braid. Just because I can! An interesting experiment.

Hoping you are all safe and healthy, dear reader.

A New World

Life has changed so much since I last posted only six days ago. All activities at our park have been cancelled and the pool is closed. Area restaurants, movie theaters, schools, museums, and libraries are closed. Grocery shelves are empty.

Bob and I are fine, though. I had stocked up on dried beans and grains and I’ve been sprouting seeds. The freezer is stocked with frozen veggies. I’m making soy milk and continue to make bread as needed. Bob is remodeling our utility closet, painting it and adding moveable shelves, and I’ve been weaving. I finished this bracelet the other day.

Now I’m working on weaving a baby blanket for a soon-to-be-born niece.

We are practicing social distancing and washing our hands all the time. The Canadians who winter here in the park have been recalled to Canada and there’s a mad scramble for many of them to return by March 22 when the borders will close. The recall will effect their health insurance so there is real incentive not to dawdle.

The news we hear is that the Coronavirus will most likely still be on the upswing for at least the next seven weeks, so we are assuming that we won’t be going anywhere for at least that long and most likely much longer. There aren’t a lot of people spending the summer here but we have friends who will be here for several months anyway so we won’t be alone. And I’m guessing that once everyone leaves we may be allowed to use the pool, but who knows? We will get through this.

Stay healthy, stay inside, and wash your hands often.

March in Mesa

It has been a crazy-busy time here in Arizona. I finished my rosemaling painting class, which was so much fun that I may take more classes next winter. Our final project was a decorative plate and I think mine came out quite well. I may still put a border on it.

Weaving has really taken off at this park and I have some real weavers coming along. Plus, seventeen people have signed up to take classes in the fall. Check out Holly’s pick-up band—she did such a nice job!

My loom design (that Bob built for me) came out very well and a couple of people are building their own loom using my plans. It’s a combination of my favorite features of several loom designs, and uses an 8” Ashford Sample-It Loom reed.

Speaking of weaving, I finally attempted weaving a backstrap, using a backstrap loom. I finished it today and I’m quite pleased with it.

But life has not been just about weaving; I attended the park’s annual quilt show and enjoyed seeing all the amazing quilts sewn by the people here.

There was even a table of gnomes!

On February 29 Bob and I took the light rail into Phoenix to the PHX Vegan Food Festival. It was a gorgeous day and we have fun checking out the vendors, listening to music, and sampling yummy foods. We had a great lunch, too.

We are just starting to see hoarding of staples such as toilet paper as people realize that the Coronavirus is really going to impact them in some way. The park next to ours has just today cancelled all gatherings and activities. Our singing group has been planning to put on a concert for a local assisted living facility today but right before we left we got word that all unnecessary visits were cancelled. At the moment our park’s activities continue but I expect that to end before too long. We are unaware of anyone in the park who is ill.

Bob and I are hoping that our trip across the US will not have to be cancelled or postponed but we’ll do what we have to to remain safe. I’ll keep you updated if things change.