Nothing But the Needlepoint

 I went on dog walks and virtual walks but did not take any photos of note thereon.  Since our last virtual strolling update, I've finished 32 miles in Athens...

And a brisk 13 miles through Venice (the medal has not yet arrived).  I'm now hiking up Mount Fuji, sort of -- it's a whole lot flatter here, all in all, than it is on the actual Mount Fuji, so unless I trek up our local big hills, this walk will remain very virtual indeed.

I also drew stuff during our two virtual sketch practice sessions, but did not care for either result, and thus am disinclined to share.  I suppose, in theory, there may be some virtue in posting examples of failed artistic efforts--you know--a sort of guide to What Not To Do.  However,  I already know what not to do, don't care to be reminded of what not to do, and am assuming that my few regular readers are not anxiously awaiting instructions on what not to do with watercolor paint or any other art materials because they aren't actually out there painting things.  Right?

Right.

So.  What does that leave for my big accomplishment this past week?

Nothing but the needlepoint.

Yeah, it's not much, although I did do more stitches than usual--my typical weekly output is between 2000 and 2500 stitches, and this past week, thanks to a few sections that were slightly less complicated than most of it is, I managed to get over 3,000 stitches completed.  Whoo hoo!  That's something to shout about, yes?  Yes, it is.  WAHOO, I say!  Plus a big old YIPPEE YEE HAW!

28,500 stitches completed!  I can see daylight at the end of this crazy-making tunnel!  Whee!

Another three to four weeks and it might be DONE.  Of course, then you will find me sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at the skeins of leftover embroidery floss, my hands twitching in phantom sewing motions as I mutter to the Hounds, "But...but...NOW what do I do with the five hours a day that I was spending on this?  AIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

It's a good question.  Check back in a month and we shall find out the answer.  

Meanwhile, have a lovely week out there!

Good Thing I Picked the Pacer App First

 There are two major companies who offer the virtual walking challenges that I've been doing this past Summer:  Pacer Virtual Adventure Challenges, and Conqueror Events.  Both turned up in my Facebook ads regularly, and I chose to try Pacer mostly by chance.  Both had walks I was interested in trying out.

After a few months wandering virtually via the Pacer app, I decided it was time to give Conqueror a try.  Well, boy howdy, I am so glad that Pacer got the initial nod, because if I'd started out with the Conqueror app, I would have stopped and never started up again!  It's awful.  Slow to open on my phone, lousy interface, clunky streetview function, only updated my mileage once a day.  While the medals were the same price, they charged for shipping, which Pacer doesn't do, so it cost more, and then I found out that the longer walks were more expensive, while Pacer's are all priced the same.

So bah humbug to that!  I'm glad I tested Conqueror on a shorter walk of 41 miles through some flower growing areas in the Netherlands.  I finished it yesterday and am going back to Pacer tomorrow for a virtual jaunt around Venice.  Yay!

Speaking of walking, here is a view of the river on one of last week's faux Netherlands strolls:

As usual, the Hounds strolled along too:

I don't see Great Blue Herons here very often, so this was a bonus treat:

For art practice last week, both pictures turned out well, much to my surprise, because the first one, at least, was not that much to my liking -- this is an Icelandic turf house, and it had way more green than I'm usually happy about.  But I managed to do a passable job, if I do say so myself:

The second picture was a cut-off photo of some old suitcases.  I used both ink and watercolor for this one, and am quite pleased with the way the locks and straps and the wheel turned out.  Getting the colors, details, and highlights right was a very fun challenge.

Finally, we have the weekly Good Omens needlepoint project update, here at the end of the TENTH week of stitching.  I've now completed 25,500 stitches.  Only 8,840 left!  Whew!

That's all for this report.  Have a lovely week, and stay safe out there!

Pippin Gets a Girlfriend

 Pippin has a new friend!  But first, other stuff of much less importance so I can save the best for last.

First, I knocked off yet another virtual walk challenge, for a mere 32 miles around Athens. I did not do any eight or nine mile days--it was a very sensible walk of around four to five miles a day.

On nearly every morning walk by the river, I got to see at least one pelican, including this one, backlit by the sun:

I'm now walking virtually around some flower fields in the Netherlands for 41 miles, via the other major walk challenge company, Conqueror Events.  I thought I'd see how they compared to Pacer Adventures.  Not as good, for many reasons which I shall not enumerate here because they would bore the pants off of everyone, but suffice to say that once I've finished this walk, it will be back to Pacer for me.

For the art update, only one of the sketch sessions resulted in something worth sharing, and even that has some issues, but oh, well.  We can't always bat a thousand, right?  Anyway, here is an elephant walking away:

We chose this picture partly because we figured the rear end would be easier to draw than the front.  Probably a good idea.

As for the Good Omens needlepoint project, here at the end of week 9, it's going mostly okay except for a few hiccups now and then when I miscount the squares in the pattern.  Sigh.  I've now done 22,600 stitches:

Okay, it's time for the important part of this post:  

PIPPIN HAS A GIRLFRIEND!!!

Her name is Madison, and she is the same age (both turn four in October).  We met Madison's owner quite by chance at the Farmers Market a while back, and told her about the dachshund walking group here.  After meeting again a couple of times at those group walks, where they seemed to like each other a lot, we decided to try a play date at my place.

They had a fabulous time!  They zipped and zoomed all over the yard, chasing each other like mad.

They also paused to wrestle, and Pippin politely rolled over in the submissive pose every time.

It didn't take more than half an hour to wear them both out.

Yay!

We are planning to meet up weekly, alternating homes, so next week Pippin gets to visit Madison at her place.  I'm so glad he has a young friend to play with, as poor Truman, at nine years old, just doesn't want to romp around with him any longer than a few minutes.

That's it for this past week.  Have fun out there, everyone!

Racing In Iceland

 Before I get to Iceland (in all its virtual glory), here are the two Zoom sketch session drawings I did last week:

This colorful baobab tree and its rocks made for a fun challenge.  I spent a lot of time on those rocks, trying to get the various planes and shades and shadows right, and wound up having hardly any time left to work on the tree.  Thus the tiny branches on the ends are a little slapdash but on the whole, I'm pleased with it.

This atmospheric canyon piece was even more fun -- lots of gradations in value from the palest background mountains to the deeply hued foreground.  I enjoyed capturing the lighter areas of misty air between the layers.  Good stuff all round.

Now on to Iceland!

My friend Jocelyn decided we ought to have a virtual race via one of the walking challenges.  We chose a 50-mile route in southwestern Iceland through volcanic lands.  After the first day, we were tied, and then things got interesting.

You see, Jocelyn lives in a time zone two hours away from mine, and she's an afternoon/evening walker while I'm a morning one.  Over the next five days, a pattern emerged:  I'd get up and out there early and walk far enough to pull 4 or so miles ahead.  I'd feel confident.  But then as the day wore on, Jocelyn made her move -- and by evening, she would be close on my heels.  I found it ever so vexing.

One day I put on six miles and felt secure.  Alas, when I arose the next day, not only had she caught up, she had passed me!  Honestly.  This could not be allowed.  I must win the race!  How could I rest secure in the evenings if she kept this up?

So I got super competitive and did something a bit excessive:

Yes, that does say 9.1 miles for ONE DAY of total walking.  20,865 steps. I took one very long walk and then three shorter walks and it also counted my steps around the house.  This was a new record for daily mileage.  There was no way Jocelyn would catch me after that!

And she didn't.  Because the very next day, feeling perfectly fine, I went out and walked 8.3 miles to reach the finish line before noon.  Whoo hoo!  Seventeen miles in two days!  Ha!  

Overall, I averaged over six miles a day during the 8 days it took me to do those 50 miles.  It was rather over the top, but hey, I won!  And best of all, no major aches or pains appeared at any time.  And I slept like a proverbial log.

However, I do not intend to do any more virtual racing, or real racing of any kind.  I have now returned to my more reasonable 3-4 miles per day.

I also got in more stitching on the Good Omens needlepoint project:

After eight weeks, I've finished around 19,500 stitches.  Onward!

So that's my report.  I hope you all had a wonderful week that did not involve walking 17 miles in two days.

Whew.