I had plans for today. I was going to do a few morning chores, then go play in the cottage - maybe work on that deer skull potential puppet head. The last time I was going to go play I ended up having to fix the bookshelf and sort my books.
I'm not quite sure what happened, but I sort of tripped while I was vacuuming (see - housework is bad for you). I had paused to move a box that the cats play in, and possibly I stepped on a cat toy - somehow I rolled my foot up and over. My big toe did not appreciate this.
But the big problem was that when this happened, I flailed my arms (as one does) and whacked my spinning wheel. Fortunately I didn't do any real damage to it - but the leather bearing that holds the bobbin broke (well, it is some 40 years old). That should have been a quick fix. The problem is that there's a tail on the bearing that goes through a hole in the upright, and over the last four decades (and with regular oiling) it had somehow both completely solidified, but also become friable. It took a ridiculous amount of time to try to dig it out, because it would just crumble. But it was too hard to chip out. I didn't want to use a drill because I was afraid of accidentally drilling into the upright instead. I finally found a long screw and tried using that like a corkscrew - not too successfully but I eventually got a hole worked through it and then with various implements of destruction got it cleared out. I found a stiff piece of leather in my stash and was able to cut out a new bearing (the scroll saw comes in handy, as did my dremel) and got everything fixed.
The most annoying thing is that I have some tools in the house, some in the barn, and some in the cottage and whatever I needed wasn't where I was - so I had to keep running back and forth - well, not so much running as limping, because see Exhibit A: my toe.
Other bits and pieces. I had a very painful dream (not the dream, just waking up). I did the 3:00 a.m. wakeup to answer the call of nature. Bob was sleeping beside me. I started to cry - he woke up a little and asked me what was wrong. I told him that he had no idea how much I missed him. I snuggled over to put my head on his shoulder, feeling his warmth, his scent - and then I woke up for real. In the words of a song
And sometimes, at nighttime, I dream that you are there
And wake holding nothing but the empty air.
But one soldiers on.
I had one of those moments where I felt a bit competent. When I was taking apart the tree on Wednesday, I was using the chainsaw more than I thought necessary because my loppers just weren't cutting well (I like to clear branches out of the way before using the chainsaw). Well, they are old - I don't know how old, somewhere between 8 and 12 years, and have been used a lot. Next week I have my chiropractic appointment, and his office is across the street from Home Depot, so I thought I'd run over and pick up a new lopper. But then I wondered - had I ever tried sharpening them? A few minutes with a file, and voila! Loppers that lop. Funny how that works.
I got the pathology report back on Bug. Sarcoma. Not what I wanted to hear. But there was no bone involvement, and the surgeon thinks that he may have gotten it all. So we're just in the wait-and-see mode. Bug got the big bandage taken off, and he's healing nicely, but needs to be on restricted movement for another week. I think he's getting depressed, staying under the bed all of the time, so I locked Hamish out on the catio (the two of them fight) and let him out for a bit. I think he's liking it
I've had another episode of Lord Knows I Try. I keep getting annoyed at the reports that show up, saying that loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking (or diabetes, or whatever). Being told that I Should Reach Out. So sometimes I try. Someone posted on the Highway 20 page that the community center was going to offer sewing classes to pre-teens, and asking for donations of sewing machines, scissors, whatever. I responded - twice - saying that I had experience in teaching sewing, and could bring a machine and supplies. Crickets. There was also a posting on the Living Tallahassee page from a graduate student who wanted to interview people over 60 to see what they do in their free time. I sent an email, as requested. More crickets. Then I get annoyed - I mean, how hard would it be to give a simple "no thanks" rather than just ignoring someone?
People. Ugh.
To end on a more positive note, in my last post I wrote how I was worried about Liam opossum - so thin, so frail. Well, the corner has been turned. The next day he decided that food was a good thing, and started eating on his own. He is now a proper pink plump possum. It's amazing how fast they can grow. Tuesday morning he was 88 grams (3.1 ounces). This morning - four days later - he was 104 grams (3.7 ounces). 18% gain in 4 days.
Here's a before and after.
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