Life's a Stitch

^{It's obvious by now, having completed nearly 1000 miles on the Camino de Santiago, I like to walk.}

^{The pandemic has added an adjustment to my walking habits. Remember PacMan? The little pac people would happily mozy along until a ghost appeared. Wacka wacka wacka wacka was playing in the background. The options were two: eat the ghost or retreat by turning the next corner. I walk in different neighbourhoods, all with wide streets offering plenty of room for physical distancing. With no set route in mind, when I see a walker coming toward me or hear a runner approaching from behind, I turn the next corner. I notice others using this method as well. A drone view would capture a human PacMan game in progress.}

^{My pandemic walking has taken on a Camino approach, but only carrying ID and a debit card, the physical load is lighter. Early mornings are my preference with bird song, few people and their well loved dogs. This morning there were magical pink flurries of cherry blossoms, which had accumulated on the sides of the streets, to be shuffled through like autumn leaves, silent instead of crunchy. The lilacs are starting to bloom, happy perfume from my childhood. One foot in front of the other, the rhythmic muffled thuds of the rubber tipped hiking poles, paying no attention to distance, time or route. It's heavenly. Meditation on two feet.}

^{I come home to my watercolour painting, commissions for pet paintings are popular right now. Mostly dogs and they bring me joy because I watch them come alive without having to walk or feed them or be responsible for their health care or grooming. I know the painting is done when I can imagine the feel of their fur. My recent dogs started with last month's schnoodles, Lola nd Fifi, followed by Maddie and JJ:}

I can legitimately say I'm working from home like lots of others these days and I like doing it.