So here we sit, four months after our planned departure for an epic adventure. I have not been idle, however. Below are a few things I’ve been doing to keep me busy.
Knitting
I finally finished knitting the prototype of the hat pattern I started in August. I am thrilled with how it turned out, and people have already expressed interest in purchasing one. Before knocking out more adult-size hats, I’m going to knit up a bunch of baby and toddler hats: I have a 12″ cube full of DK yarn that I need to use up before any more enters my life.
Hiking
We went hiking on some particularly lovely warm days in November. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Glen Helen Nature Preserve
Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve
Macrame
A couple of days after hiking in 70-degree weather, the temperature dropped 30 degrees, and snow fell. Now I was ready for indoor activities. Some of the yarn I purchased earlier in the year was hemp and nettle and too stiff for knitting. So, I thought, why not add another fiber art to my repertoire and learn to macrame. I am enjoying it and may become “A Macraming Nomad,” too.
Since starting, I’ve bought some cotton rope, beads, and metal rings. Anyone who knows me knows I go all in on whatever I get into. After all, I’m the one that was just starting to learn to play bass 13 years ago and not only purchased a stand-up bass but commissioned a luthier I knew to make me a custom electric bass (that I still have never received).*
Cooking and Baking
I’ve been taking advantage of the extended access to an oven to bake, especially recipes with crusts. I do love making a crust from scratch, coming by it honestly from my mom. She is the best baker I know.
I am trying to create recipes as part of a project that the director of Ohio SPCA is planning called Kindly Stuff Your Face. We were initially going to do a cooking show to highlight easy vegan recipes and compassion for non-human animals like the residents of the farm. However, because I will be living on the road, my contributions will be camping-friendly vegan recipes.
I hate to make any predictions because of my terrible record on this, but I believe we will be heading out in approximately 3 weeks. The drive shaft is the only thing holding us up. The used one we bought was not in great shape, so a new one is being made by a drive-line specialty shop in Utah.
In the meantime. I will continue fiber arts while trying to avoid adding another one to the mix.
*My bass-playing career lasted about a year
WanderLyd 