Today’s photos are from reader Lenora Good, who sent a post called “Lenora in lockdown,” including two photos and their captions (indented). She’s suffering from a problem I share: lack of haircut; but Lenora’s hair is nowhere near as wild as mine is.
Jerry, you asked for them, so here are my two lockdown photos. You may use either, both, or none as the mood strikes.
Here I am proving an elder can learn a new trick. I’m learning how to record/make podcasts. I am not remodeling (the apartment manager would take exception, I’m sure), the 2″ thick sheets of foam insulation are to help keep the traffic noise out of my room as I’m recording. I also quilt, write, and read–none of which make exciting pictures. I also walk the d*g, but can’t take a selfie with him along.
As you can tell, my hair was considerably shorter when the lockdown started. This is the first mask I made. Behind me is the Columbia River. No, the pictures isn’t crooked, the far shore just didn’t show up. It’s there, and horizontal, not angled. Honest. Trust me. 😉
Good photos. I made it to the barber yesterday and feeling better today.
color me jealous! I do have a tentative appt to get my hair cut the 17th next month. sigh.
Your hair looks great! I’m jealous that you are so close to the Columbia River. I am in Kansas near the Kaw (aka Kansas) River — not nearly as scenic.
Thanks for sharing — you and the mighty Columbia River.
Good choice of fabric.
Gorgeous mask! Bet your quilts are beautiful, too!
Yes, it’s one of the nicest ones I’ve seen!
I’m really enjoying seeing other reader’s faces. Even mask-covered!
That’s the best mask so far.
Thank you.
A horizontal horizon?! Whatever next?! 😀
My wife has just finished her first quilt. She did a nice job and enlisted my help in straightening, holding it while she pinned it, some other menial tasks, and I cut the bindings.
I gained a new appreciation of quilting. I agree with some others here. Maybe we could have your quilt pictures (if they have the right elements) and call them “Wildlife Photos”.
I’ll see what I can do. Don’t have too many at the time, but….
Congratulations to you and your wife!
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Nice mask! I’ve only made a pleated one so far but am planning to try to make one like yours. Is there any advantage to the seam down the middle? I ordered pipe cleaners from amazon for the nose bit. Do you have ear elastic or ties or 2 elastics around the back?
I’ve made both the pleated and shaped masks, and I think the shaped ones are more comfortable, the feel less bulky. I think the ear elastics work better, easy on & easy off.
Lenora’s mask is beautiful, and goes nicely with her jacket.
Did you have a seam down the middle? I lost one of my favorite turquoise earrings undoing my ear elastic mask😿
I prefer elastic, but have to be careful as if I take it off and don’t pay attenction I lose earrings and hearing aids!
I think the seam down the middle gives it a better shape, and feels less bulky. I’d make it just a tad larger, otherwise when you talk, it may pull it down from your nose 😉
Great to see people using this time to learn something new!
Yeah, it is.
And, speaking of old dogs and new tricks, sort of on the spur of the moment, I started watching some of the classics of cinema history, starting with Renoir’s The Grand Illusion. Afterward, I was looking something up about it on the internet and, quite by accident, came across a lecture on it by an MIT professor by the name of David Thorburn. Turns out there’s a whole series of his MIT film lectures, 20 of ’em in all I think, for free on youtube.
I’ve read a fair amount of film criticism over the years, and attended some seminars at the local arthouse. And, when my younger son studied film in college for a while, I’d read his textbooks. But I’ve never personally taken any type of formal course in film studies. Now, that I’ve found Thorburn’s MIT series, I’ve been binge watching in spurts. It starts with early films shot by Thomas Edison in the late 19th century and goes all the way to … well, I don’t know yet, since I’m only halfway through, but I assume to the present.
You can find the first of the series here, if you’ve got any interest, Beej.
Thank you! I look forward to checking this out.
Have you learned anything new during the quarantine? I’ve mainly learned how to cook many more dishes than I could before. One might say I’ve gained the “Covid 19” (y’know, like the “freshman 15.” The joke doesn’t really work because the virus is called COVID-19, but…well, whatever).
I love the mask!
I love it, too. Neato paisley.
What’s your podcast going to be about?
The podcast will be short, mini escapes, and will be stories, memoir, and (shudder) poetry that I’ve written. The name is Coffee Break Escapes to give listeners a short listen while on their coffee breaks. If people still have coffee breaks. I hope to get them up in the next couple of week.
That sounds fantastic – I would love to hear some when it’s up. Maybe Jerry’s open to alerting readers when it is? Or have you got another way to notify people?
Cool mask; paisley is so cheerful. I love best the way we can still see your friendly smile. My son has me watching The Clone Wars (Star Wars franchise) series and playing Pokemon Go! I need more exercise and missing the gym. It’s cold out (Southern Australia) though. Keep healthy everyone. 🖖
Very eye-catching mask, Lenora. I’ve made a bunch of that style of mask, using old tied-dyed t-shirts and other pretty fabric I’ve stashed for ages. Most of the masks were with ear loops, but I made one with stretchy shoelaces since my son doesn’t like the ear loops (they can chafe over a long work shift!)
So Paprika (did you say your name was Pauline?), do the stretchy shoelaces tie in two places behind your son’s head?
I used two sheets. The other side is a very high thread count cotton (tight weave) and the paisley was another old sheet. I made some with elastic and some with ties, I have friends who prefer the one or the other
Yes! You need 4 lengths of string sewn to the ends of the mask, which affords the wearer a custom fit. I’ve seen a video where one guy like to pre-tie the lower air before he slips on the mask and then he ties the upper pair behind his head. It’s not necessary to have stretchy shoelaces or string, but this feature would make it easier to slip on, for those who like to pre-tie the strings.
Thx😻
I meant to type ‘the lower pair’ of course.
This is the method I followed. If you don’t already have a disposable mask to trace, then you’d have to guesstimate it or follow another video with measurements. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN0HH2Zb2hY&t=19s.
I’ve been varying the thickness of fabric I select, depending on the wearers’ preferences. Some get ‘hot face’ more easily!
I’m going to try a few with pleats and others with the earloops running freely through hemmed ends of the masks, so the fabric cinches/gathers up naturally to suit the wearer.
My wife has loosely crocheted some long strips, like maybe two inches by 8 or so. Then added a button at either end. You can then put the loop inside the crochet piece, and either attach it to the button itself or fold it over and loop the button over the strap and the button is inserted in a gap in the crochet piece. This makes it so the strap is pulling on the crochet piece or the button, and not at all on your ears. Your straps would work better with this if they are overly long.
Been ages since I crocheted, but great idea! My son’s employer does issue loop spacers but my son finds those are kinda sharp around the edges.
Here’re two patterns I found. The seam down the middle allows the middle to be the curved and thus provide more room. I find my pleated one goes into my mouth when I talk.
Whoops, here’s that link (I hope).
https://blog.treasurie.com/diy-mask/
Love the mask, but love your purple over-shirt even better!
Thanks, Mark. That shirt is so old, I’m having to patch it. I figure in another twenty years it will be a whole new shirt 😉
You could save the shirt remnants for making more cool masks!