Thursday

Of the three, which would you choose for your (more or less) daily routine: ballet, yoga, or tai chi? 

So, now that you've chosen one, fess up! Do you do it? Why not?

I'd been a yoga fan for a long time. There's just no doubt about it -- it's good for maintaining flexibility. But with a knee that no longer bends at more than a right angle, it's a struggle to get motivated. I mean, if you can't do a child's pose, then where's the fun? 

I tried ballet this fall and I liked it! But it felt meditative with a tiny bit of flexibility built into it, rather than being physically challenging. I'm sure that those who practice ballet at a more advanced level will roll their eyes at my assessment, but for a beginner, the plies and frappes and tendus are only a very mild workout. I still go back to it, but more to achieve some semblance of calm rather than muscle strength. 

So now comes the third horse that's about to be unleashed out of the starting gate: tai chi. If yoga is for flexibility, they say that tai chi is for strength, especially cardiovascular strength. Sounds like something everyone could use, no?

As usual, I dig into the YouTube material first. Ah! No special clothes required! That's good! I can fail and there will be no financial investment. But, as I watch the video, I wonder -- can you really do this on your own? I've watched so many ballet classes in my life (my daughter's my grandkids') that I sort of know the drill there. Yoga? I've taken enough classes to keep me more or less at some stable place of capability. But tai chi? I know next to nothing about it! How do I even pick a good video? 

I watch a few. There's still knee activity, but perhaps I can adjust. Or, maybe you have some good tips on where to begin? Or perhaps you want to steer me away from tai chi in favor of... whatever! Drop me a note. I'm on the lookout for some added movement!

Meanwhile we have ourselves a quiet, rainy day.

The hens look out, turn around, stay in the barn. Crocuses fold up their flower heads and wait for it to pass. 

Oatmeal for breakfast. I mean, it's only right for a day like this!

And then I do my ballet, watch Tai Chi videos and take out my KenKen math puzzles (recommended by someone with exceptional math abilities!). I chose Volume 3, because it's called Stressless KenKen puzzles, with the subtitle: "Mind Stimulating Logic Puzzles That Make You Smarter." Yeah! Two down, 198 to go.

I pick up very wet kids in the afternoon. 

 

 

(a girl who loves rain...)

 

 

They are full of talk about leprechauns. These Irish mythical creatures may have had some standing in Ireland when my kids were growing up, but luckily, they did not make it to the homes of south-central Wisconsin families. In other words, I didn't have to deal with them on St. Patrick's Day. Since my girls have some Irish blood in them (not from me!), I made it an annual thing to dance a jig with them on March 17th. When they were older, they pulled out something green to wear. That's it. Not so this generation of American kids! They want to create leprechaun traps. They want to imagine that this green clad little fellow will come to their home at night. So I nod and smile and wish their parents luck! Cleaning up after a leprechaun who messes up your house while you sleep on the eve of St Patrick's Day. Fun!

(their five minute fascination with the "Cat Game")

 

 

 

In the evening, I reheat soup at the farmhouse for Ed, for me. So perfect for this wet day! Veggies, swimming in a broth, with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. And a chocolate for dessert. March has been kind to us. We can certainly stand to put up with some cooler, wet days. For a while! 

with love...