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.

Halfway There!

 WHOO HOO!!!!  I have passed the halfway point on the Good Omens needlepoint project!!!

End of Week 7, with 17,170+ stitches completed out of 34, 340.  Whew.  I'll tell you, some of those areas drove me to near despair, with so many different colors that it took me two hours sometimes to do 100 stitches.  Luckily, I hit a section that was easier, with fewer colors (the figures' backs) that went much faster.  So overall, I'm doing well.  Except for the two places where I had to unpick about 15 stitches...once when I got off by one hole, and once when I accidentally grabbed color #3031 instead of #3032.  Sigh.

In other creative efforts, I hated the drawing for Wednesday's sketch group meeting, so you're never going to see that here.  However, the Friday one was most enjoyable:

In fact, I liked looking at this English country cottage so much that this painting is now framed and on the living room wall.

Meanwhile, in the very important dachshund world, Truman and Pippin met up at a park with the Tri-City Wiener Walkers:

Pippin greeted Finn, and then he greeted Madison.

It was a fine group all round and we enjoyed an hour long stroll.  Truman did not get his picture taken, because he is antisocial.  Oh, well.

As for walking myself, I'm back on track with another virtual challenge!  This one is 50 miles on a trail in Iceland that weaves in and out of some fabulous volcanic scenery, with a few spectacular waterfalls thrown in.  From day 1, my miles went up from a non-challenge average of 1.8 per day to around 5 miles per day.  Whee!

Part of my walking efforts took me to non-virtual Bateman Island:

I got in a little birding while there.  This is a Bewick's Wren:

And this is a Song Sparrow:

These are not birds.  They are enormous spiders which have webs all over a grove of locust trees.  Hundreds and hundreds of webs throughout the entire grove, at all heights.  Suffice to say that I did not go birding in there.

I did look at birds from the beach that has a lovely view of the Columbia River.

WAY out there I could see Great Egrets, American White Pelicans, and a Great Blue Heron, but they were all too far for photos.

One bird that was not too far was a Caspian Tern which was zooming around, diving for fish.  It's very hard to track flying terns, but after a few dozen failed attempts, I managed to get one decent shot:

So that was fun.

And that's it for this week's report, other than two photos of Pippin and Truman on the sofa, which I'm adding just because I can:

May you all have a good week, and stay safe out there!

In Which I Don't Do Much (Again!)

More nothing to report!  Perhaps this blog ought to go biweekly?

Well, okay, a few little things happened.

My medal for finishing the virtual England walk arrived:

I'm waiting to start the next challenge until a friend can join in the fun -- we're planning to have a race around 50 virtual miles of Iceland.  Hope to get going this week, and I need to get going, because the silly medals and the app that counts my steps do seem to be motivational.  During a one-month period when I was doing the walks, I averaged 4.3 miles per day.  But during the past week's lull, when I had no virtual challenges, that dropped to 1.8.  Yikes!  

In artistic endeavors, there was only one Zoom sketch session last week, and I felt utterly uninspired by the photo, but did my best anyway:

As for the never-ending needlepoint project of the Good Omens photo:

I finished pages 1 - 3 of the pattern!!!!!  That's 15,300 stitches in just six weeks!  Whee!

Of course, there's still a lot of blank canvas there...for pages 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the pattern...sigh.

Still, it's encouraging to make progress, and see the figures emerge.  And when I finish the next line across, I'll be halfway there, so that's a good goal.  Right on schedule, too, at my initial estimate of 3-1/2 months to work this piece.  Stay tuned!

That's all to report -- maybe this coming week I'll be off to virtual Iceland.  

May you have lovely travels of your own, whether real or imaginary!

In Which I Stretch Out the Usual Stuff with Extra Photos

 Since I haven't much to report upon lately other than "walked a lot" and "stitched needlepoint a lot", this past week I decided that clearly more photos were needed, so I snapped some while on one of my walks.  It's not really all that exciting, but it's better than nothing!

You've all seen pics from my typical walks along the Columbia River trail, and from the nature reserves, so for a change, I chose this walk instead:

The route ran from the Washington State University branch campus up through the research district, then over to the river and back to the campus.  This is part of the campus near the starting point:

This is the campus "garden".  It consists of several large chunks of basalt and a whole lot of sagebrush.

Here we see the main road through the large research area, which includes Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Batelle NW, the US Dept of Energy, and lots more fun science/technology stuff:

At the end of the district you will find the conning tower from the USS Triton -- a nuclear powered sub that was the first to circumnavigate the world completely submerged.

This is pretty much the halfway point of the walk, and there's a small public space with benches which makes for a lovely resting spot.

After a brief rest, I headed back along the river.

The trail takes one past a manufacturing plant (seen in the distance) which makes ingredients such as emulsifiers that are used in food production.

Here's a spot called the Arid Lands Preserve (part of the WSU campus) where more sagebrush has been kindly left alone for, as the sign that you can't see well in this photo claims, "the enjoyment of all."  Hm.

Wasn't that a thrilling look at some of the fine scenery that I typically get to see on my walks around Richland?  Whee!

As for my virtual walk along Hadrian's Wall, I had to make a push during the last week to finish, because the forecast warned that wildfire smoke and temps above 100 were in the near future.  I had been averaging four miles a day, but upped it to over five during that final week's effort:

I managed to beat the heat and smoke with about four hours to spare.  Whew!  All told, for this challenge I walked 92 miles in 23 days.  

I've been stuck at home for several days now due to that smoke and heat, which started to clear yesterday.  The walks shall resume as soon as I figure out where to virtually walk next.

As for the art practice sessions, our first pic was this bonsai, which had rather intestinal looking roots:

I didn't care for either the pot or the background, so opted to zoom in on one section, which I rendered just in pencil:

I found the pic for our next session far more inspiring -- this doorway at Tintagel:

I loved the view of the cliffs and water, which made for a fun challenge.  I used pencil and watercolor for this one:

Now for a Pippin update:  he is back to normal activity, and going on longer walks.  But I'm being careful about restricting his opportunities to jump up and down off the furniture, which is not good for dachshund backs.  He can handle short steps, though, which are all over the house:

He also enjoys hanging out in the many dog beds scattered about the place:

Such a sweetie!

Finally, the weekly update on the Good Omens needlepoint project.  

I've gone over the one-third mark!   Whoo hoo!!!  It's been five weeks since I started, and I've now completed 12,000 of the 34,340 stitches in this piece.  It's exciting to see the figures' heads begin to appear!

So I'll keep plugging away at that, and will go for more walks, and that's about it for the news from this corner of the world.

Have a wonderful week out there!