"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either." ~ Elizabeth Zimmerman

9/28/11

Ramblings

I have an appointment with a Gynecologist for this afternoon and I'm extremely nervous. No, let me rephrase that. I'm scared to death. A Xanax sounds really good right now. I will refrain though. I'm afraid to take it under the circumstances.

My blood test results came in yesterday morning. There was a bit of a panic at my doctors office. It's never good when that happens. Yeah, I've definitely lost too much blood. Drug therapy is out apparently. I fail as a candidate for that. Rats.

Today was the soonest a Gyn could see me. I've been taking it easy. When I'm this anxious, though, I can't bead at all, and knitting is difficult. I have almost no ability to concentrate. My thoughts zip around like crazy. Reading a novel is helpful. It seems to stop the zipping and calms the mind down. I finished The Mote in Gods Eye  (it is every bit as good as I remembered) and now I'm reading a CSI novel, The Killing Jar. Pure entertainment. It's all I can handle.

I have added a couple inches to the sock. I'm thinking, though, that I need to do something really brainless cuz I'm tinking as much as I'm knitting on that sock. I'm going to start some plain vanilla mens sized mittens for Knit Wits. We are seriously in need of them and they make a good portable project. Maybe I'll do the hand part in seed stitch so I don't get too bored.

Firefox is my web browser of choice. For some reason, it has stopped working on my laptop. I spent most of yesterday trying to get it working again, including a complete uninstall and then install of the newest version, checking for disk errors, scanning for malware and viruses, and all manner of things. Sweet Hubby worked on it for a few more hours after he got home. He couldn't get it to work either. We don't know what is wrong. I worked fine on Monday morning and that afternoon it wasn't working anymore. There are days when I really really really really hate computers.

So now I'm using Internet Explorer, which I can't stand. My daughter says to try Google Chrome. She used to use Firefox, tried Chrome out of curiosity, and never went back. Maybe I'll do that. I hate to abandon Firefox cuz I've really loved it up until now. I'd much rather know what is wrong and fix it.

The weather has been unseasonably warm this whole month. It's giving my tomatoes half a chance of getting ripe before frosting. We did get a nice cool day of rain yesterday though. It cleaned a lot of the smoke and dust that is typical for this time of year out of the air. The air smells wonderful right now. It has that sweet spicy aroma of autumn.

Tilly the turkey seems to have taken permanent residence in our yard. There's a reason for that. About 3 weeks ago, after Sweet Hubby and daughters latest brew, they dumped the used grain into the brush in the back yard. Tilly has been eating it like crazy ever since. No, she is not drunk. There isn't much alcohol in that grain anymore. They made this brew of millet, which is sold as bird seed in the US. It tastes pretty darn good (the brew that is. I didn't try the grain). I can see why Tilly likes it.

She has been deliberately teasing Tommy. Even going so far as to stand under the open living room window and clucking to get his attention. She waits for him to come dashing out the doggy door and around to the front. Sometimes she runs, letting him chase her in circles. Eventually she leaps out of the circle, stops, and watches Tommy continue in a circle (he is not a smart dog). It will take a couple laps before he realizes she's stopped. I think she gets a kick out of making him run after her and then jumping up and flying into a tree. Silly dog, she has his number. She is extremely camera shy though. She sees it, she runs. She's providing us some very good entertainment, and getting Tommy to exersize. I see that as a good thing.

Along with the ripening of tomatoes, I'm getting Dahlia blooms that I would not normally get with the lengthening of this summer. I leave you with this pic I took over the weekend.






Live long and prosper. \\//

9/26/11

Sometimes Ones Body Is Not Ones Friend

I have not been feeling well the past week. So much so that I've not even wanted to knit or bead. I did get a little bit forward on the sock. I settled on the type of heel that would be used in this pattern.


Now I'm going up the leg. I weighed the skein after getting the heel done to see if I might have enough to finish and I think I do. I had slightly more than half left. If I get to the cuff and it's pretty clear I don't have enough I've decided to do it in the red. I'll be glad when I finally get this sock done. I will be knitting the second one to test knit the pattern after I finish writing it. It may become one of those Yazi projects.

Sweet Hubby was away most all of last week on his bike ride. He came home safe and sound and very happy. He had a wonderful time and wants to do it again next year. His legs are also so sore he's having problems walking. I'm pretty proud of him though. 350 miles in 5 days is no small accomplishment.

On Sunday morning my glasses broke. I picked them up to put them on and one of the arms fell off and hit the floor. I had a really really bad night Saturday. Got hardly any sleep at all and was in a very foul mood. The glasses were no help at all. I was quite upset.

Today, though, I went to Visionworks (formerly Eyemasters), where I bought the glasses, to get them fixed. They were out of warranty, naturally (just barely too). But I got lucky. They still carry the frames so I was able to purchase new ones exactly like the old ones. The sales clerk let me have them for half off too, which was nice of her. I didn't have to get new lenses, which is a huge relief. She just used the ones from the broken pair. I kept the broken frames so I have some spare parts, just in case.

As I've mentioned, I'm not feeling well. Today I went to the doctor. The news isn't good. I've been going through Perimenopause for a few years now. You know when they tell you you'll get hot flashes, mood swings, and 'menstrual irregularities'? Yeah, that last one is a variety of things, including Flooding. It's when your period flow is so heavy that you think your going to bleed to death. You're changing the pad every hour and usually getting huge clots along with it. (When I say huge-I mean lemon sized!) It's normal to have Flooding for a day or two, but I just went through an entire week of very severe flooding. I've lost so much blood it's affecting me pretty strongly-headaches, dizzy, weak, tired, heart pounds at the slightest physical effort, and I'm so darn cold. When I told the doc what's been going on the past week, he said "You're scaring me Linda." I'm scaring him? Not nearly as much as I've scared myself.

The doctor is sending me to a Gynecologist. I expect to be having surgery in the near future. Something has to be done to eliminate the problem. Usually drug or hormone therapy (Estrogen) is what one would start with, but I can't have that due to meds I'm on and a history of DVT. So surgery comes next. Not sure what exactly. I guess I'll find out. In the meantime, I have to take it easy, increase my iron supplement intake (which I'd already done a couple days ago), and eat more steak and other iron rich foods. Thankfully, the flow has eased up quite a bit today. If it goes back to being heavy again, I'm to take myself to hospital emergency immediately.

Aging. It sucks.

I don't want to end todays post on a negative note, so here's something cool. I ordered a new t-shirt last week and it arrived today.



It's a take on the phrase "Haters gonna hate". If you are interested, visit Spreadshirt.com. I'm looking forward to wearing mine to my next knitting group meeting.

Live long and prosper. \\//

9/18/11

Catch a Falling Star

It's been a productive weekend so far. I finished painting the headboard. Just waiting it to be completely dry before I attach it on my bed.

I also got the necklace for the star donut done. I've named it Catch a Falling Star.
Click on the pics to embiggen.


The strap is done in tubular Herringbone stitch with size 11 and 15 seed beads. I used the pale yellow and dusty pink ones to pick up the colors in the stone donut. There are 6 beads in a round. I wanted something a little thicker than the typical 4 bead round.


This is a view of the necklace with the back side of the donut showing. I wish I knew what kind of stone it is. I am pretty sure it's Jasper, just not what specific type of Jasper.


 I made a toggle clasp with peyote stitch.


All in all, I'm pleased with it.


The pattern for this is on the French blog Bienvenue Chez Fly. If you click on the link, scroll down for the November 8, 2009 post. You will need to click on the picture of each pattern page, then save the picture on your hard drive, or print it.

The work on the sock is not going so well. I discovered the gusset heel doesn't work with the design so I've frogged back to where the gusset started and will try a short row heel instead. I am learning quite a bit about toe up socks with this project. They are definitely different from top down with their own set of construction problems.

Sweet Hubby is getting ready for his big ride. He leaves on Tuesday. He's been packing for 2 days now. I think he's a little excited. We went shopping yesterday to get a few things he needed and to refill my pantry. Costco was packed. It took twice as long to get around the place because there were so many shoppers. I don't think they're feeling the 'recession' as much as other retail businesses.

Live long and prosper. \\//

9/14/11

WIP Wednesday 9/14/2011






This day is not going as planned what-so-ever. It started last night with Sweet Hubby informing me I had to stay home today because he'd ordered a new phone and someone had to be here to sign for it (it was FedExed overnight). I had plans! I was going to Yarnies. I also had an appointment for my monthly blood test and a few other errands to run. As much as I love Sweet Hubby, it really aggravates me to have him dismiss my 'life' so much that he can't even ask me first if or when I'll be home on a given day before scheduling me for something. I find it rather rude. Sigh.

Anyway, I have some WIPs to show you.

First of all is this headboard. I bought it from my friend Judy last year in the fall. I started stripping it then, but then the weather turned wet and cold so I put it away for the year.


2 weeks ago I got it out to finish it. It was horribly hot so I set up some shade to do it in.  I don't have a garage to do this kind of thing in when the weather is bad and there was no way I could do it in the house either.


I got it all stripped, sanded, and looking nice so last week I went and bought paint. But it was way too hot to paint. I tried priming it first but it was drying so fast! By the time I would stroke my brush from one side to the other, the beginning of the stroke would be dry. That will not work. Paint that dries too fast will peel rather soon. I want this stuff to stick for the rest of my life, so I put it on hold until things cooled off enough.

Today it is much cooler. Since I ended up being home anyway, I went ahead and primed the whole thing. I hope to start the actual paint tomorrow and if I have any luck at all, it will be done by the end of the weekend so I can start using it. I haven't had a headboard on my bed since I was single. I've wanted one all this time, but just never got around to it I suppose.

I am painting it with a matte dark purple. The color is the same as the purple on my droid phone cover. Not because I was dead set on having that exact shade of purple in my bedroom, but because when I said "I want a dark purple" to the fellow helping me out at the hardware store, he said "how dark?" and I, thrashing around for an example, pulled out my phone and said "Here, this will do." He matched the paint to the phone. It is very pretty. Should look nice on a headboard.

I have been beading. First of all I'm working on a necklace to hang the Star Donut pendant on that I made last year. I seem to still be in a Herringbone mood.


I have started a bracelet project that has been on my mind for some months. I bought the beads for it last June. It's about time I got it going. The first step toward my Honeycomb Bangle.


Just iris gold delicas in a tubular band so far. I was kind of surprised to find the pattern is free online. I found it in the April 2011 issue of Bead & Button magazine. It is the cover project.

Here is the current situation with the Chevron sweater.


I'm ready to decrease for the armholes. Or increase. I've got an idea I want to try out. Just haven't had a chance to sit down and work out the math yet.

Those are the WIPs for today. If you're interested in participating in WIP Wednesday, please join us.

Live long and prosper. \\//

 

9/13/11

The Red Toe

Early last week I was thinking about knitting on the sock I'm doing at the moment even though I really didn't feel like knitting that day. Just to remind you what sock I'm talking about, though I was actually up to just starting the gusset when it entered my thoughts:


 I thought about how nice it was going to look with that red toe and heel. I was thinking about how I hoped the person I'm giving the socks to will like them. A picture of the partially knit sock flashed in my mind.

OOPS!

What red toe? Arrgh! I forgot to start with the red.


 I did not want to frog and start all over. I've already frogged this sock so many times I could scream. I tossed it in a corner for a much needed time out.

The next day I dug it out of it's bag and tackled the problem. I decided, rather than frog the thing, I would remove the toe at the row just before the first stitch pattern row, place the open sts on a couple needles, and knit the toe top down. Here's the removed toe:


Here's the sock in it's current construction.


 Success! Didn't take long to fix at all. Took a lot less time than starting all over again, that's for sure.

Top down toes look different from toe up toes, so I'm going to have to do something about that in the second one. I'm going to start with a provisional cast on where the stitch pattern begins, then knit the toe top down like I did the first one. However, the instructions I've written are as it should have been done. Cast on with red, knit toe, change to brown when stitch pattern begins. It will be a 'do as I say, not as I do' kind of pattern. Lets learn from my experience, shall we?

Please keep this to yourself. It's a secret.

Live long and prosper. \\//




9/9/11

A Fawn and a Turkey

About an hour ago we had some visitors. Tilly the turkey met a fawn. Click on the pics to embiggen.

Hello! What are you?



Lets play!



Mmm, this grass is yummy!



Are you coming with us?



'K, thx, bai!


Live long and prosper. \\//


9/6/11

Simple Woman's Daybook for September 6, 2011




FOR TODAY
September 6, 2011

Outside my window...
Sunshine! and the distinct look of fall. Leaves are changing color and the forest undergrowth is turning brown and dry.

I am thinking...
summer is too short here.

 
I am thankful for...
the cool air coming in through the window. It's supposed to get into the 90's today.

From the kitchen...
what a mess! The kitchen looks awful after yesterday's brewing session. Sweet Hubby and daughter making spirits.

I am wearing...
my jammies and favorite purple robe. Eventually I'll be into jeans and a feminine style t-shirt. Haven't decided which one yet.

I am creating...
as always. I've got 2 beading projects going at once, and I've actually made a small bit of progress on the chevron sweater.

I am going...
to Rathdrum Knitalong this afternoon. I'll take the Chevron sweater to work on.

I am reading...
The Mote in Gods Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. It's a classic Sci Fi book about humans first contact with an alien species. I read this book years and years ago (Freshman year in college?) and loved it. Thought I'd read it again.

I am hoping...
the weather holds out long enough for my tomatoes to get ripe. I've got a couple nice big green ones.

I am hearing...
the tv. Live with Regis and Kelly is on. Don't particularly like the show, but since I'm not paying attention anyway it doesn't matter at the moment.

Around the house...

it's pretty quiet. The fur kids are asleep.

One of my favorite things...
is this time in the morning when all is quiet, the Sweet Hubby has gone to work, and I'm doing my computer thing.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Lots going on. Besides Rathdrum Knitalong today I've got Yarnies and Knit Wits tomorrow. I will be taking all the KW fair stuff and giving it back to it's rightful owners. I'm looking forward to handing out all the ribbons. Knit Wits members did pretty good this year.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...
My daughter baked her first berry pie. Blackberry, to be precise. It was delicious.




If you want to join the Simple Womans Daybook, click here.

Live long and prosper. \\//



9/4/11

Fair Entries that Impressed


Finally, I'm getting this post done. These are some things that were entered that I thought were pretty impressive, or fun as the case may be. Click on the pics to embiggen.

This was the big winner in knitting. Aside from the knitting itself being very very good, what impressed the judges the most was what the knitter did to this yarn. She loves this color but it only came in a 4-ply worsted weight yarn. The pattern calls for 2-ply fingering. She split the 4-ply yarn in half so it would work for the pattern. That is some dedication to a colorway in my book.






This sweater was a very simple pattern. Stockinette with a ribbed collar. But, the stitches were so even it looks machine knit. Big winner.


This fairisle vest is absolutely awesome in it's workmanship. It won Grand Champion Adult Knit.


This coat got a lot of attention from folks wandering the building during the fair. Isn't it gorgeous? The fabric was knit at just the right tension for a coat too. Won Grand Champion Senior Knit.


This was the one and only lace thread item entered this year in knitting. Gorgeous!!!


For something fun, my daughter entered a pig with a wig. The judges got quite a chuckle out of it.


I love these fairisle mittens. About as perfect as is humanly possible to knit.


The Grand Champion Junior Knit (knit by a child) was this pink hat. It is almost perfect in construction. A very talented young lady.


The afghan is crocheted. I talked the maker (she's in Knit Wits) into entering this baby blanket. She didn't really want to. I can hardly wait to deliver her Best of Show Crochet ribbon to her at this weeks meeting.

Another crochet afghan made by a member of Knit Wits. Lu always impresses me with her projects.


We had a LOT of crochet afghans made in a round pattern. I like this one the best. (It's probably the purple.)


I don't usually care for tatting, but this doily is so pretty!


I am feeling much better today. The nasty headache of Friday is gone and I'm human again. The weather is perfect today, so I think I'll go enjoy it. Have a great holiday weekend.

Live long and prosper. \\//


9/2/11

Fair Report for 2011

The fair ended on Sunday evening. Monday we took everything down and returned the entries to their owners. We will be having a follow up meeting on how things went later this month. Other than that, it's done for the year.

On Tuesday the weather cooled off. It has been quite pleasant since. I have been exhausted. It all caught up with me and I've been feeling pretty lousy all week long. Still, I had a lot to do because I was behind on stuff from not being home to do it all last week. I've been trying to get caught up.

This morning I woke up with a massive headache, runny nose, nausea, and mild fever. I was exposed to something at the fair. I'm glad my body was able to keep it at bay until it was all done. Now I have a 3 day weekend to be lazy and recover. Anyway, since I'm laying around feeling wretched, I thought I'd do my fair report on my entries.

I had 4 knitted entries and 5 beaded entries.

On my Mohair cardigan I won a White ribbon.


On my Flirty Fir Harvest Dew socks, I won a Blue ribbon.


I won Blue on the entrelac mitts. To the left are my daughters entrelac mitts she made while test knitting the pattern for me. She won a Blue ribbon too.


There is a Blue ribbon on the Gansey style baby sweater.


I won a Blue ribbon on the triangle pendant necklace.


A Blue ribbon was won on the Herringbone Donut necklace.


I won Blue on the French fancy donut project.


But the ribbons I'm most proud of are the ones I won on the Loop de Loop necklace. I won Red for construction, and Blue for "Old and New".


Old and New is a special category for things made with recycled materials. The beads for this project were rescued from an old sweater. I tend to make my fringes too tight with the tension which is why the red for construction. I need to do it more so I get good at it.

Tomorrow I will show you pics of some of the entries in the Needlecraft building that really caught my eye. For now, I'm gonna go take a nap.

Live long and prosper. \\//