Lynn...you'll have to let us know how the poles work out. When I saw that you bought them and went to the link, I thought, gee, my DH should use those. His back is so bad, but he needs to walk so his knees stay limber...the poles might help him walk more upright plus use other muscles. Heck, I need to walk with him and get some of my own!

Ina...I loved your description of your neighborhood and your area for walking! Sounds absolutely delightful. We are about a miles from a lake, and not good walking because you have to go out to the main busier road to get there...not a fun walk at all. Our neighborhood houses all have 3/4 to 1-acre lots in an old growth forest. Took lots of trees down, but left lots up in the backyards, so it stays pretty shady. There is one neighborhood road parallel to our court and one perpendicular to that road and our court...then you can walk down a graveled road to the next wooded area of houses...all on large lots as well with lots of trees. None of the streets are wide and none have sidewalks so it seems pretty countrified to some extent. Most peoples yards have parts that are natural and unlandscaped with lots of trees. But, I think I like the sound of your area better...I'd love a lake that close to me and country roads to walk on!

Jayne, I hope you have Internet as well while you travel. I know when susie australia caravanned, she rarely had Internet connection, so we didn't hear from her on the Favorites almost all of the 2 months or so she was gone and traveling. Our parks here in the States say they have Internet, but it is VERY sketchy! I'll never forget when we were camping at the ocean one time, and DH couldn't stand no Internet for the three weeks we'd been gone, so he drove the motorhome into the little town near the campground and parked alongside the road by a cafe/ gift shop that said they had a connection. So, I went in and shopped in the cute little gift shop while he got his Internet fix!

Take care all...I'm off to post a Thinking of You are for my brother and send it off!

Of course I will let you know. In the meantime you might want to speak to DH doc or physio and ask if it is appropriate. I got the "stability" versions so I would be comfortable using it for stability as well as exercise. There is no snow here right now but if you have some then you can test out cross country ski poles.. used.. might not be too expensive. The ones I have come with little booties for the pick so I can do pavement or sidewalk. I can go quite a distance around here on sidewalks. Maybe as the weather is better I can go to the parks with grumpy. There is one not too far away called Wilket creek. I figure grumpy does the whole thing and I turn back at half way. Then we can do a picnic. We have become very adapted at doing a picnic whatever the weather or the restrictions. That is my goal anyways.

https://www.nordicwalkingfan.com/a-b...ordic-walking/

I am playing my "Challenge Catch-up" cardmaking. This is a card for my brother who recently lost his wife. I've posted it into S2S21JUL - Flags & Banners - 7/5/21. I have included a fishtail burlap ribbon banner on my card.

Here is my card: Being Strong!

Here's my card for the first S2S challenge of the year.
For the second part of the S2S22 challenge, we are to send a card to a nursing home resident. So, I'm sending it to my FIL in Wisconsin. He has a good sense of humor and loves cards. I'm going to write inside that I'm sure there's someone that he'd like to throw a snowball at, whether it's a staff member or another resident!

https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/g.../photo/3067562

Lynn, I did half a Nordic walk! I used one pole and DH used the other! LOL. It was icy out this morning so we used them to go up to Mom's to help get dad up. Mom is funny. When I reprimanded her for going out to the garage this morning she said it wasn't all that bad. But when I told her we got our walking sticks out to come up she said be careful because it's slippery out there! LOL

I think a mom is a mom for life! So glad you got up there safely and a pole is better than a cane on ice! You two must have been a sight!

I have an open area and I have been using the poles walking in place as I get used to them. I have become a bit of a hermit since grumpy now has 3 friend with covid.

Thanks Lynn for the added info on the Nordic Poles. I've been passing along your info to DH...I think they would be great for him (and me as well)!

I am playing my "Challenge Catch-up" cardmaking. This is an addition to the S2S21JUL challenge: Flags & Banners, which I just posted. Checkout out my cute little swag banner!

This is a birthday card for a long-time friend and co-worker: You Can NEVER Have Too Much Happy!

So I have been practicing indoors which isn't easy! Basically I am walking in place and swinging the poles. It is very different from a cane. Trekking poles have a strap but these have more of a sling. It supports your hand and when the pole is fully behind you then you release. Trekking poles you hold the handles and use the straps only so you don't lose them. Now with the nordic sling strap I am using gloves right now. Why, cause I have psoriasis and I don't want to tear any of my fragile skin. My hope is that by summer any rough edges will be worn down. Grumpy has normal hands and doesn't find the straps rough at all.

Lynn, I watched this. I think I can do it and heaven knows I need the exercise. I just need roads that aren't icy!

That is it Kathy! I just don't know the stride with trekking poles which I think you have. Then again there are all types out there. The video you watched is just like the one I am following. Without the rubber booties it has a tip like a ski pole. For ice I have those things you can put on your boots. If it is slippery outside grumpy will tell me not to go out and I am not allowed to scare the grumpy! Lol so it maybe the parking garage for me. I had hoped to be further along but everything I go out for a bit, like groceries, my gut explodes. Like today half way through my grocery run. I used to have my IBS under control but that last med messed me up.

https://www-wikihow-com.cdn.ampproje...-Walking?amp=1

Oh Kathy.. how is Dean?

Ina, how is your walking?

Is Winnie allowed out to play yet?

My poles are made by Outdoor Products. The tip is rubber so really more if a nice weather hiking pole. But it will work as long as I'm not walking in snow or ice. t least not nordic walking. I use one to go up to moms to keep me steady. I'm overly cautious because if I fall I probably break a hip!

Dean's been good, but today he's been a little lazy. But he eats, so I'm not worrying about him. And I'm still his favorite chew toy!

Lynn, those poles look intriging. I may have to get some. But I fear that if I do, my walking partner will need some too. It would probably do her good, as she is about 5 inches taller than me, but her stride is shorter than mine, because she is afraid of falling, which she has done twice in the 9 1/2 years we have been walking together. Oh, btw, my walking is really good. On Friday we walked the full 4 kms. There is a slight twinge in my ankle occasionally, but that is all. I am very thankful.

Kathy does this help?

https://www.verywellfit.com/how-to-u...bility-4145313

I would recommend that anyone who wants to try it look for used ones at the end of the month. That is usually when new years resolutions start to fail! Lol the brand I got is Nordixx in Canada. It is the one the physio I was talking to recommended. Remember I want stability.

OK here it is with poles with straps. After the 7 minute mark you can see him walking on level ground

OK it is still getting colder in here. -20c wind chill out there. You would think it was winter! The crazy thing is that the people on the otherwise of the building are probably too hot! Lol

Kathy we had 21c today but the forcast says it’s getting colder from tomorrow still 15 c though, ha,ha

Sending a blast of cold air to Spain! Splat! Lol

Sorry Lynn , for some reason I thought it was Kathy, senior moment, just keep your snow in Canada, I hate the stuff

No snow here today. Blistering winds. It gets worse with the tall buildings. You can walk around a corner and get knocked off your feet! Too bad I still don't have kerra to hold me down! Lol

Cat is driving me crazy! She jumps on me for heat and as soon as I move she jumps off.

Tale of 2 apartments. Grumpy has not had heat since last year and he leaves his window open cause it gets too hot!

That wind is pretty fierce today. I only went once around my route at the school this morning, instead of 4 times. An additional problem was that it was slippery. I can quite imagine that your apartment, high in the air, is catching the brunt of it Lynn. Even my house is cold i have already turned the heat up to 65°F and I refuse to go higher. I just added another fleece top, over my fleece sweater and T-shirt.

I am doing layers like I used to do at the house. The townhouse had an exposed north wall and I was for ever watching for my pipes freezing. Grumpy told me to stay inside so I am not taking any chances on ice.

OK part 1 of the problem is that they should bleed my radiators.. they never do. Part 2 is that I didn't put down the area rurg the dining room to cut the cold from the cement. Part 3 .. when the wind blows you can literally feel it going thru my place. The pressure gets high enough that I can't open my front door. Oh well. The joys.

To bleed the radiator they need to shut the water to the whole building.

I had to make a Walmart run for my mom. Any ideas on what I can do for fingernails that break easily? Especially in the cold. My nails were long last year now they're just an average length. I'm trying to keep them cut back because it seems like I break them every time I do anything.

Something called " hair skin and nails" it has biotin in it, of course I am allergic,

Walmart.. the brand I used

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nature-s-...0?athbdg=L1200

Keep your nails short and they won't break as often. Wear gloves when cleaning or washing the dishes

I use Dawn dish liquid and while it is great for cutting grease, it removes the oils from my hands. I need to remember to use my gloves.

Send some snow..it’s 37 here today. I have chores to do and will be dripping,lol.

Lynn I was looking at poles in our camping store yesterday. They aren’t cheap.

Keep well everyone

For some reason it always makes us laugh when we see people walking with those poles on the Paseo in the summer, I can see they would be useful in snow but never understand using them elsewhere, am I missing something?

They are very helpful when hiking. It helps with balance. I used them to push myself up the mountain and to keep me from sliding down it! LOL I think they can help with Nordic walking even if they aren't Nordic poles. They say not, but the grips are nearly identical. When they tell you to release the grip when you pull them behind yourself no, but in their videos the women I've seen hang onto them front and back. The straps are different. And the tips are different. But I'm not finding out to buy new poles just because if it's just a fad for me at least I won't have wasted any money! LOL

OK. Nordic pole walking.. why? For me it will be upper and lower body workout at the same time. Walking with 2 canes hurts my hands and arms. Trekking poles are usually 7sed when hiking because they help with uneven terrain and going up inclines. It also works your arms. For me I am trying to get rid of my turkey wings!

I can see using them on uneven ground, hiking etc but on solid ground! I see it could be for upper arms but I would think they would jar your shoulders every time they hit solid ground!

No, not hard on shoulders and as Lynn says it's great exercise for the underarms. And if you speed your walking it's great for your heart as well. That's really what I want to do, strengthen my heart. So I would say on even ground you pick up the speed.

Oh right well I hope it works, getting rid of bingo wings as they call it here would be good!!

Yup just what Kathy says. Here..you have to be careful of some of the sidewalks. On our side it gets plowed plus salt. On the other side it doesn't. Also with the freeze/thaw cycle they buckle and Crack. So yup stability plus upper body exercise.

So I spoke to grumpy. He is going to grab some solid foam insulation tomorrow. The windows I don't use.. we will insulate. The bedroom I can put one across the windows and one below it where the wall is all cracked. Why don't I tape them shut. Well, I get stinker out when next door smokes pot.. no he is not allowed to! If I get more than 2 hours of good sunshine my place warms up. I remember it being 28 c in March. So I use my windows and doors to regulate the heat or smell. My kitchen vent has been taped up since I found mold. Oh the joys.

Yep they use them here on inclines and rocky ground. They give you balance. We also saw people using them when in Europe hiking. We aren't serious hikers, just walkers LOL but I know at times I'd wished I had one of those poles to help me up the incline LOL. I need to get rid of my bat wings too....LOL.

Lynn, get rid of the mould. Not good for your health. You need venilation.

We have black mould on our bedroom wall sometimes in winter but the log fire stopped it but this year with all that fog and damp it was back, we open the windows every day , hot or cold so I can't understand it, north facing wall, I wiped it with bleach water and it got rid of it.
I use domestos for everything, ha,ha

If you are thinking of trying it look for used ones.

My living room is 20 with a breeze so I am sending it to OZ! LOL

Yes black mold is bad so I completely blocked it up. In this place there is plenty of ventilation, trust me! No airflow in the bathroom so to stop any mold I have a homemade spray.

Stay safe. Stay sane

Our baby boy kitty Dean passed away this morning. He just couldn't pull out of it this time. I am guessing it was liver failure. Vet said his tests were not normal so we knew he had an issue. This morning he was limp and lifeless and barely breathing so we made him comfortable until he was gone. We are so sad.