How to Occupy Yourself with a Broken Foot, Poldark and more

Spotted this picture a couple of weeks ago on Facebook and saved it to my computer as a reminder.  The cute bright colored lady bugs are painted rocks.  I thought it was a cleaver idea, but knew I would not remember it without a picture.  I don't think I'll do this in a flower bed, as my flower beds are too large and far from the house so I wouldn't really see them.  But, perhaps in flower pots on the deck where I could enjoy them?  

Am continuing to work on this afghan, Learning Logs.  This picture isn't absolutely up to date, as this was several sections ago; but you can see it's considerably larger than the last picture I took of it.  I'm having a problem in that I may run out of the right colors.  I actually think I have some down in the basement in my stash, but with my foot still in the boot and limited mobility; I can't go searching through my stash.  I had put what I thought was enough in the project bag long ago when I started this in the class on Crafty's to learn how to do the drop stitch work for multiple colors.  I was able to have hubby get me more of the yellow.  I sorta remembered where in my stash it was, so he found it easily; but.......didn't have much luck when I asked him to see about the rose color.  Soooooo, we'll see how this goes.  I may have to put it aside until my foot is healed and I can go back down the stairs.  I do have another project bag of yarn that I could start another project (but not sure there's enough in there either, as I planned to add to it when I got the original idea of putting specific colors together.

 I've mentioned several times lately how much tv I'm watching while elevating my broken foot.  This is Poldark.  If you've not watched this series, I highly recommend it.  Firstly, ladies...take a look at the main character.  WOW!  The scenery is captivating and reminds me of what I saw touring Ireland last fall.

 There's lots of love stories, intrigue, suspense and good guys vs bad guys.

And did I mention, the main character is sexy!!  I watched seasons one and two as part of my Amazon Prime Membership.  I'm currently using a 7 day free trial of Master Piece Theater to watch the 3rd session.  It's my understanding from a google search, that a date for season 4 will be announced sometime early summer of 2018.  Not sure how or where that session will be available, so am keeping my eyes pealed.

What are you working on?  How many work in progress do you have?  Are you out doing gardening things yet?  Spring has been fickle around the country.  Have you watched Poldark?  What did you think of it?  

Google Rankings AND

I've not blogged yet about The Crown or

Call The Midwife OR

Land Girls.  

These were all series/shows I watched earlier.........before the broken leg.  Some on girls trips and some on a winter vacation to Hilton Head while hubby was playing golf.  I'll back track to these in a few days, as I'm continuing to knit Jeweled Lines as I elevate and ice my foot.

I wanted to post rankings from Google which I found interesting.  These rankings are simply where people on google give a thumbs up or down.  I would have preferred a middle ground on a few when I did my own rankings.  I've added the links to the blog posts where I chatted about these shows if you're interested in a bit more info...or why I liked or didn't.

Tulip Fever, which I didn't care for got a google ranking of 76%.  

Upstairs Downstairs I would probably rate about the same as google 87%

The Duchess was rated 88%, I would probably agree with that.

Larkrise to Candleford I would rate higher than google did at 93%.  I was sorry to see this series end.  I enjoyed it a lot.  I liked all the characters except The Thomas Character.  He really annoyed me.  I kept wanting to say shut up to him.  I was also disappointed Robert Timmons wasn't in the last season.  I wonder if it's because filming perhaps over lapped with Downton Abbey where his character was Mr. Bates?

Poldark I would also rate higher than google did at 93%  I LOVED this series and am most anxious for the 4th season to come to the states, possible fall of 2018.

Grantchester was also rated at 93% on google, I enjoyed it...but have rated it slightly lower.  It's entertaining, but I had a hard time with the premise of a Clergy being a solver of mysteries  and such a heavy drinker.

Doctor Thorne was rated 94%.  I watched one episode and didn't return to watch the remainder so ....would definately not agree with this ranking..........then again, maybe it got better and I would rank it better if I watched the whole thing?

Victoria was also rated 94% by google.  I would not rate this higher than Polark or Larkrise to Candleford.

Downton Abbey was also rated 94%, I would rate it higher than Victoria.  

**Land Girls was rated 94%, think I would probably agree with that, once I figure out my top down ratings.

Home Fires was rated at 95% by google.  I really really like Home Fires, hated the ended as it left you up in the air because additional episodes were planned and then it was cancelled.  Debating how closely I would rank Home Fires and Downton Abbey, and Larkrise to Candleford.

The Grand...was also rated 95%.  It was good, but again don't believe I would rank it as high as Home Fires or higher than Downton Abbey and or Larkrise to Candleford.

**Google rated both The Crown and Call The Midwife at 95%.  There are new episodes since I last watched Call The Midwife, I believe one more series so, will have to think about those ratings.

The Crimson Field was rated 96%  Debating here, yes higher than The Grand, and maybe tied with Home Fires?

Manor House was rated 96%...don't agree with that at all.  It's interesting, but definately not as good as The Crimson Field, or Home Fires or Down Abbey, or Poladark or Larkrise to Candleford.

• Poldark
• LarkRise to Candleford and Downton Abbey possibly tied
• Home Fires & The Crown & Call The Midwife
• Victoria & Crimson Field & Land Girls
• The Grand
• Grantchester
• Upstairs Downstairs
• The Duchess
• Manor House
• Tulip Fever

The only one I would not recommend is Tulip Fever.  Jury is out on Doctor Thorne since it didn't entice me to watch more than one episode.

Watching Lark Rise to Candleford, Knitting Jeweled Lines Afghan

Jeweled Lines is growing..added green, gold-ish, another small section of green and now back to amethyst.  The section of Amethyst I'm currently working on is the half way point.  This section will be larger than the other sections and then will do a repeat of what's been done so far.  Measures 27 inches at the moment.  10 Inches longer than the last photo.

A bit hard to see the newer sections in the first photo, as I stopped last night without being at the end of a row, so I couldn't lay it out very flat...thus the bunching.  Tried this sideways view and believe you can see the addition a bit better.  My debate as this point is whether to make the Amethyst section solid, or stop half way through and add another section of the turquoise and the amethyst.  Thoughts?  I was so worried about having enough yarn I added the dark green and gold-ish.  Eyeballing it now, I might have been ok with the amount of yarn I had...but you just don't know when you're winging it.

Lark Rise to Candleford.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series.  I'm currently in season 4 and highly recommend it.  Robert Timmons (2nd from right Brendan coyle was one of my favorite characters Mr. Bates in Downton Abbey.  And Mini (Ruby Bentall 2nd from left was Verity Poldark in the Poldark Series).   In my next blog post, believe I'll give some thought to ranking these series I've been watching while not very mobile due to my broken foot.  I know this series will be very close to the top, if not the top.

If you watched Call The Midwives you probably recognize Nurse Phyllis (Linda Basset) lower left.  I am enjoying her more in this role as Queenie.

I have officially been given the go ahead to say good bye to this Ortho Boot!  I've been several days now without it.  I drove the other day for the first time in months.  The bone itself really won't be totally healed for about 4 more months.  I can do pretty well indoors, but am to stay away from walking in yards, and un-even terrain.  AND, if I know I'm going to be doing substantial amounts of walking I should put the boot on.  Will be continuing with PT for another month twice a week, as we work to build some strength and range of motion.  I haven't yet gone for a walk, might try around the block today if hubby has time to go with me.  It's a process, but am indeed making headway.  Thanks for all the good wishes.

Knitting, Master Piece Theater, Romance and Physical Therapy

Making headway with The Learning Logs Afghan.  Have added about 10 sections since the last picture.  This afghan has what I call 3 zones.  The center...zone 1 where colorwork was done.  Knitting with 2 or 3 colors at one time using the slip stitch method.  I did this square as a class project.

Zone 2 has lots of texture with the solid colors represented in the color work in zone 1.  Zone 3.......is strictly garter stitch to help the whole afghan lay flat, and I  continue to use colors represented in zone 1 and 2.  Closing in I think.  Last I measured it, believe it was about 53-54 inch square.  Have probably enough yarn left for 2 more sections.  Imagine the finished ghan will be 56-57...maybe close to 60 inches after it's laundered and blocked.  The colors are more vivid than the pictures shows.  This seems a bit light to me, not sure why.  But, if you scroll back to the previous post the colors look more natural to me.

Just finished watching Victoria, on Master Piece Theater.  Season one is included with Amazon Prime Membership, but season two requires a membership to Master Piece Theater.  I joined and got a 7 day free trial.  I was able to watch season 3 of Poldark (see previous post for pictures and info), and then season 2 of Victoria with my 7 day trial.  Need to see if there's anything else I want to watch before my free time ends.

This photo seems to show quite a resemblance between the real Queen Victoria and the actress.  Was surprised to see this, as other pictures I've seen of Victoria didn't show her to be a very handsome woman.  Quite a love story.  She and Alfred were very passionate, and their marriage was't really an arranged marriage which is a bit unusual for Royalty.

Started physical therapy yesterday for my broken foot and will be going twice a week for maybe the next 8 weeks.  Therapist informed me that the bone I broke is the slowest healing bone in your foot.  So, apparently it's good I spent time today updating my watch list for both Amazon Prime and Netflix.

NETFLIX:
A Promise
Tulip Fever
The Dutchess
Serena
The Patadise

Anyone watch and recommend any of those?

Amazon Prime:
Elizabeth Virgin Queen
Home Fires
The Forsyte Sage
Jamestown
Last Hope
The Grand
Ekateriana
Cranford

Same question, anyone watched any of these or recommend them?