I woke up at 8:00am and came out to the living room to do some work on my typing project. I'm happy to report it’s almost done. I typed for 2 hours and then woke Eric up at 10:00am, so we could have breakfast together and watch THE VIEW. Unfortunately, it was a repeat, so Eric made grits for us both (I don’t like it as much as he does, but I was just in the mood!) and we went into the bedroom to watch BOSTON LEGAL, which I had recorded on Tuesday. What a great show.
After that, we watched an episode of MONK I had recorded, too. Eric fell asleep soon after the episode was over, and I watched a DR. PHIL I had recorded and then fell back to sleep, too! Are we lazy or WHAT?
When we woke up we went to work on my frame projects. First we put the big gold frame together with the batting and the brown crushed velvet. It looks SO beautiful. Then, we did the small silver frame with the batting, a purple fabric and the fishnet fabric over it. We hung them both up and I immediately hung all my earrings on the fishnet frame. It looks SO cute and now I can see all my earrings at once – just like the rhinestone pins. It looks great, and it serves a purpose – it helps me to see all my accessories and, therefore, to wear more of them.
It’s funny how Eric and I work together. We have ALWAYS done decorating and craft projects together – since before we were married. When I had my apartment, we had a lot of parties, and he would help me decorate. When we got married and lived in the apartment in Flushing for 2 years, we decorated the whole place together. When we bought the house in 1986, he helped me decorate every single room. He’s so handy, and great with all the tools. He will help me with anything I ask, and he’s much more exacting about measurements than I am. We don’t always see things the same way, and sometimes we argue about how something should be done, but it’s always fun and the results are always beautiful! We really make a great team.
After that was done, he went into the shower and geared up to go for a ride. I went into the shower and got dressed to go for a “power walk.” I left the house at 4:11pm and walked along Clairemont Drive to Balboa and back.
I walked really fast on the way, and the muscles in my shins were really feeling it. I worked up a good sweat and could tell my face was all red. I get red-in-the-face when I exercise, which is SO attractive!
By the time I got close to the apartment, I was actually feeling lightheaded. I have been sedentary for SO long and even my few bicycle rides weren’t as strenuous, because you can just coast a lot on the bicycle, and don’t have to pedal all the time. I had to put one foot in front of the other all the way there and back. I got back exactly an hour later – 5:11pm. It was just getting dark and I was glad to be home.
As soon as I started walking I remembered why I don’t walk more. I have arthritis in my right foot. Every step hurts me, but I’m so used to it and it’s not excruciating, it’s just a dull ache all the time. The problem is, when you’re walking a few miles, and every step hurts, after a while it starts to get really annoying. By the time I got back my foot was killing me. I had to put on this orthopedic cushion that I have from my holistic podiatrist, back in New Hyde Park. The problem is, the flatter my shoe, the more it hurts. Barefoot is the worst. Sneakers are a little better, but still cause a lot of pain.
I want to walk every day. I keep reading about how it’s the best exercise, and since I’m in a new neighborhood, everything is interesting to look at, so I won’t get as bored. I’ll see how my foot feels tomorrow. If it’s killing me, I’ll have to go back to bicycling, which is fine, but just a lot more trouble – the gearing up, the helmet, the gloves, the traffic. You know what I mean!
I do want to start yoga again and that’s a definite. I want Eric to go with me, and he’s promised he would, but we’ll just see if he follows through. I happen to think yoga would be fabulous for Eric, because although he is in good shape due to riding, he NEVER stretches and is hamstrung. If you ask him to touch his toes, he can bend down about 3 inches, so that his fingertips are by his knees. Stretching is very important. My back never felt better than when I was taking yoga. My foot felt better, too. It really helps a lot of things. It’s good for you spiritually, physically, and mentally. I highly recommend it!
So, when I got back from my walk, all red-faced and sweaty, I drank a big glass of water, cooled down, and watched today’s episode of DR. PHIL (which I had recorded) while I waited for Eric to get back from his ride. When he did, I made us a big salad – pecans, black beans, sprouts, red cabbage, snap peas, edamame, avocado, cherry tomatoes, shredded Asiago cheese and mixed greens. Delicious and healthy!
George's girlfriend presenting Elaine with The Big Salad:
For dessert we had mango sorbet and pineapple chunks (packed in juice, not syrup) with more pecans on top.
Eric watched the basketball game and I watched UGLY BETTY while I put all the colorful rhinestone pins on my new brown velvet and gold-framed pin board. It’s so nice to look at all my pins and, even though I may not ever wear some of them, at least I'll look at them every day!
The pin with the big purple stone in the middle belonged to my grandmother. It's one of my treasures!
I am going to keep my eyes peeled for more frames, because I think it’s something that lots of girls would like to have to display their pins or earrings. Eric and I had fun making them and I’d like to make a bunch and try to sell them at the Swap Meet. I’ve never seen anyone else with them, so at least it’s something unusual and interesting!
The light blue dangle pin with the "marbles" is the one I just purchased in South Carolina. Isn't it unusual?
I love my crafting so much. If I could just sit all day and do decoupage, or jewelry mosaics, or make my jewelry frames, or sponge paint, I would be as happy as a pig in you-know-what. I got to do so much crafting for 5 years, while I had the shop. Now, it’s something I’ll have to fit in, when I’m not working (which I hope I will be soon!). Crafting makes me happy!