Look what came in the mail today! Isn't it wonderful! It is for my mini fiber room! Painted just for my by Toni at Rakestraw Galleries, http://www.spinnersflock.com I told her a very general idea of what I wanted, and she hit it perfectly! Makes up for the 4th trip to ER for an iv in 4 days, don't YOU think? Exactly the same size as the little rug, and perfect!

This shot shows 2 things. # 1 is the fantastic finishing job Howard did on the roof lines, by putting down partial shingles, completing the look. It really looks more finished now, doesn't it! Also, #2, the downstairs hall, dining room, cupboard and closet doors in the living room really ARE this color of gold. I think it is the first color that shows it without something else being destroyed in the color process.

I know, I should have put something down for comparison, this is bigger than it actually is! It is actually 1 inch wide by 2 inches long! This is a wool throw rug for the doll house. I don't know which room it will go into, but doesn't it look warm for a cold floor?

Migraine Madness

You know the migraine is bad when you willingly go to the Emergency Department for IVs to control the pain. The upside -- they really do. The downside -- so far it has come back.

I'm feeling better about the whole situation though -- I KNOW I'm gonna get through this! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Friday

I forgot to post about last week's knitting class. There were 15 of us there! Kay, who is NOT a new knitter, came to help out, bless her! Boy, did I appreciate her! Three people had the sad event of twisting when joining their knitting in the round, and had to rip back to repair it. One woman, finished her scarf. Now on to her sweater!

Another found that it was much easier to knit by putting her yarn in the hood of her sweatshirt, and walking around the room. At first she tried dragging the yarn ball behind, but the hood was much less complicated.

One nearly completed sweater, which the maker has decided is much too scratchy (Lopi) is going to become several felted bags, after the addition of some fake fur for fun.

The migraine medicine wore off just before the end of class, so everyone cheerfully said goodbye and left, promising to be back in 2 weeks.

stupid migraine

the migraine is still ahead on points. It is interesting, I've never been aware of my head for such a long period of time! Right now, some of the frustrating variations are:
sounds -- the lobes of the brain vibrate to certain sounds, such as a voice, the train whistle, music, the stupid beep of a truck backing up... any number of sounds;
light-- I've never really been as aware of lights before, but the small blue light on the air purifier is enough to send me over the edge during the night! How about turning on the cell phone with the blue light! HAH! Then there is that cheerful friend sunlight. I think I'll become nocturnal!

The good news is the pain is diminishing. I am slowly building up the medicine that is supposed to help. Maybe I can knit soon! Or work on the dollhouse!

Congratulations, It's a Migraine!

Well, after 5 weeks, it is official! It is a migraine. Now, to get it under control and regulated!

For once in my life, I am "textbook" something! Too bad it turns out to be migraines! I'm starting a new med when Howard gets home, and will be trying some other things to kill this one. I am thrilled to know that it is "only" a migraine. Can't wait until it is gone!

Tried to knit yesterday, couldn't. Tried to spin today, couldn't. Oh well, there is now HOPE!

Sorry for not writing, I don't think you really want long whinges about misery! I can tell you that being photophobic is NOT FUN!

The little pink piece hanging on the quilt is one of the pieces Charleen replaced. Strange how the moths liked certain colors more than others. Some of the pieces needed to be replaced because they had frayed. Again, she was a doll, and saved the old pieces, although I haven't a clue what I will do with them! I don't know the age of this quilt, I would wonder if it was a gift to take with him to college. A warm blanket to keep warm. As he moved soon after college graduation to Los Angeles, I'm not sure Great-Grandma would have thought it necessary then.

This is a "heart" present. The lady who fixed Great-Grandma Bryant's quilt, brought back Great-Grandma Hewes' quilt. The history of this quilt, as I know it. This was made by Great-Grandma Hewes for my grandfather's brother Charles K (aka Charlie.) It is made out of wool, with wool batting. I think the backing is a cotton flannel. I suspect it was from leftover fabric, but I don't know for sure. The reds have bled a bit. The moths had attacked in a few places.

Hello!

Sorry about that, it is hard to post when there is nothing to say! Today is a great day with the headache, new medicine that helps me feel as if I'll live! Yesterday I did try to knit, my fingers couldn't cast on well, and once I did, I couldn't figure out how to rib. Such is life, I'll survive it.

I'm going to try to knit something really easy soon, and see if I can accomplish it. Otherwise, it is back to reading, I guess.

The dollhouse roof is almost all on, I plan to ask for help this evening to get the last bits glued down. Then it is on to the next stage -- painting all the places that got missed before, and the trim that hasn't been painted yet. Pictures maybe tomorrow. A dollhouse is similar to any other hobby, you can pour money down it effortlessly!

Did laugh at myself yesterday, when I finish a knitted project, I tend to dump all of the double point needles in a basket, awaiting the profound moment of "putting things away", and the circulars usually hang on a lamp. I needed a set of dp's for a project, and started rummaging. I knew I needed 4 or 5s. In the first rummage, I chose 3 size 4s and 1 size 5. From looking at it! You know you've knit a LONG TIME when you do that!

Spring may come, eventually! Wouldn't that be a surprise!

the progress in applying each shingle separately. I did finally learn to turn the roof pieces the other way than shown here, I'm not constantly knocking pieces off. 2 pieces completed, lots more to go. I'll bet the 3 "kids" never thought I'd take so LONG to do this! The colors are fairly accurate, except for the yellow. Should I tone down the aqua?

starting to look like I MAY know what I'm doing! No guarantees!

Painting

I truly really am seeing the agony of defeat on doll house painting. Also why some people suggest spray paint. It seems I have spent more time painting this than anything else! And, no matter how careful I try to be, it seems that one coat means another coat for the OTHER side. Sigh Suggestions? Right now, I seem to be collecting bits of Styrofoam that cling to the pieces, and take off the paint when removed. I thought about using my huge baking rack (this thing is too big to call it a cake rack!) but it should then be removed from culinary use. With all the bits that need to be painted white, there is a strong temptation to go buy a can or two of white gloss spray paint, and do it on the back porch. Dry, turn over, do it again, and then check for damages. Anyone see anything wrong with that?

Going to see a neuro in a couple of weeks, to try to determine what is causing these headaches. As Howard wrote to his family, "She had a headache yesterday, but not as intense as it has been, still by her gauge, it is bad - she isn't knitting." And that is the story of this last month -- she isn't knitting. Or spinning. Cleaning lasted one day. Thank God for Books!

As knitting is my lifeline to sanity, we can all wonder what not knitting is doing to that precious commodity. Not a good thought, eh? Frightening, almost!

Isn't this a LOT lighter in feel than the earlier? I really think this lightens the feel. We are back to trying to decide quite what we will be doing to the house. Howard doesn't want cut out a door into the living room from the entry, so I think it is back to a house? Who knows

Without thinking, I took pictures AFTER I had changed the color of the living room. I used the original color of blue, and added lots of white to it, which lightens up the house a lot. The upstairs which was a greyed green was painted today

Aging

Silliness alert, I'm rambling here! No fiber content at all!

Aging is NOT for the faint of heart. The headache returned, so I've spent nearly the entire day in a dark room. But, it DOES do wonders for my diet! Who WANTS to eat! Not me!

But then, I think of my Dad, who walked at 5 K race last summer at the age of 90. Go Dad! Worse, he was at 7,000 feet altitude! That is one guy who has embraced the challenge of aging. Think I can do any less? Nah. No chance! Not the race walking. But the challenge to age as well as possible -- THAT I'm responding! Ya know the wrinkles (not many, but still) and the grey hairs (growing in number!) were EARNED! Why pretend that I'm the same generation as my adult children.

Hm, do you think the fact that I CAN'T color my hair because of allergies has anything to do with that attitude? Perhaps.

I do wish, however, that Dad had not bequeathed his eyebrows. As Dad has aged, his eyebrows have become curlier. And suddenly, the eyebrows on MY innocent head have started curling. Now eyelashes, I can understand. But WHY are the only hairs on my head that curl have to be restricted to the very ones I do NOT want to do so?

Color changes

Doll house is being repainted inside, the colors were too dark. Still trying to decide how it is going to turn out. Pictures of the new colors tomorrow. I still have to paint the upstairs bedroom, then I'll do a "reveal".

Still no knitting. rats It will start again, we all know it.

Whee!

Please celebrate with me, after 2 weeks of migraine-like problems (no, we don't know if they are migraines yet!) my headache stopped yesterday! Whee! So, in my normal strange fashion, I decided to clean the FIBER ROOM! EEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!!!!!

I had great plans yesterday to knit. Didn't happen. Well, actually, I got about 4 rows done on the Pi. But not what I'd planned to do. And the fiber room doesn't look neat yet either. NeatER, but there is still this pile on the floor of stuff that needs a different place to go. Some of it is yarn that has sat in the stash long enough to be collecting social security -- I made one thing of it, and that's it. hm. different dye lots, so there isn't enough for a sweater.......

Oh well, when accomplished, I will see how long it takes before I mess it up again!

This whole day's post is camoflage for the fact that I haven't accomplished anything for over a week! This is Serena's graduation sweater redo, on top of the graduation sweater. Proving the fickleness of coloration in photos, the two are almost the same color, the new one is Brown Sheep Wool the other one is an acrylic from 1994. I can tell you where it was in the Golden Unicorn in Corning NY, but I can't remember the name of the yarn. sigh

Howard, I think I want a door here. It is a bit of an abrupt change, going up the stairs and running into the wall! No, I DON'T know why the interesting color effect.

I think I have it. (Howard sighs in the distance!) The bottom floor is going to be a fiber shop. I'll have the wheel, and whatever else I can cram in there, as well as knitting books, knitting, whatever. You come in the front door, and the door seen in the picture above will probably have a Private sign. Also the other side of the staircase, that door will be the private entrance from the shop to the quarters.

I call this: can you see the problem? Besides the fact that the bed so lovingly made by Ed is missing 2 supports (I can find 1 -- it has been sent to model the new one!) the house is hm, perhaps the best way to put it is -- spatially challenged?