While I was eating lunch... dinner... breakfast?

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I never can quite tell what term to use when days and nights go catawampus.  Sometimes because I am not sure how long I have actually been awake, sometimes because I don't know what tradition would suggest, sometimes just because.  The last of the chicken from last week, and next to the last meal of mush, plus a grapefruit and a glass of milk.  Anyway, while I was munching, I realized... while working on the anchor trolleys, we didn't really get the knots right.  I have a slick little knot packet, offering a number of general knots, but I couldn't find it.  I think it might be in my pack, come to think of it.  Probably.

So, I went looking on youtube.  Why not.  For now.  I found a video that might have the knot I am looking for.  They are simple enough.  Some of them look like they might do the trick.  Then again, I'm just not sure.  There are several separate function I need from the knots.  One function is to tie off two ends of a rope to hold a ring or other rope tender, another is to tie the end of a rope to a metal ring, and there may be others.  A little tinkering, and one or more of these knots would do.  Just thought I'd share.  I did tie one knot, that I am almost sure is a pro-grade knot.  But... not sure where it came from, or even if I could do it again.

Why can't I tie knots?  First, I've never been taught in the last two or three decades, that I remember.  As I said, I am not sure where I learned the knot I did.  And I haven't been taught because I haven't had need, that I know about.  More, while I was taught some knots, when working with horses, skills are like anything else.  Use them or lose them.  A lot of people think all sailors were taught knots.  I assure you, I was taught no such thing, and never had use.  Not for sailor type knots, anyway.  As I told my friend recently, when the ship went out, or came into port, the only thing I was taught to do was stay belowdecks.  Which I did, and well.  No smiley face on the deck pictures of any ship or sub I may have sailed with or been a sort of crew aboard.  Too damn ugly, I suspect.  *smile*  It has it's advantages.

I'd like to learn knots, but without use and frequent use, need really, the learning will not stick.  Try it.  Learn, memorize, an half dozen knots.  Stop using them, then test yourself in a year.  One knot I learned, practiced, and really got to know... back in Iowa when I considered learning climbing the first time, has baffled me when I have tried since.  I couldn't remember the name, if they used either some obsolete, colloquial, foreign, or maybe made-up name for it.  Anyway, now I can practice.  It's one of those knots, possibly the first knot, climbers should know... or so I have been told.