Fiber Fanatic!

sigh

2011-05-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

So we are going through and doing a thorough turn-out - getting rid of a lot of things. As much as can is being recycled, but there is still stuff that goes in the trash. Yesterday Howard took out a load and said, "that's it until the trash is picked up." (This isn't just our trash in the dumpster, it is from 15 apartments and 2 offices - and is available to people in the neighborhood to drop things off. Just so you don't think I'm throwing away THAT much!) So today I thought, "I'm sure the trash has been picked up." and took out another load. Hm, the dumpster was still full, but I was able to squeeze this load in.

Stopped and chatted with someone else on the way back to the apartment. I asked about the trash being picked up today. "No, it is picked up on Wednesday. This is Tuesday."

I know this. But I really honestly thought it was Wednesday.

I guess I'll keep whatever else I gather up here until tomorrow.

Family

2011-05-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

Justin took this of Grandpa.

Aunt Kim with Merri

Uncle Nathan and Merri

Aunt Serena, Uncle Justin and Justin

Merri

Justin

We like kisses

Both were having a grand time bouncing and laughing

Our sister-in-law Stacey came this weekend, we all got together in Madison so she could meet Merri and renew her acquaintance with little Justin (who was maybe 5 months old the last time?) The reality of taking pictures of the two little ones -- one of them is going to move during the shot. But you can see, Justin thought Merri was the greatest toy ever! Merri thought the same of him!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

We had Easter dinner with the family. Justin has become very vocal - there are things he says that I KNOW he didn't pick up at home. LOL He loves his drampa! Howard and Nathan went fishing for a while, when they got back, Justin told me "It's your drampa!" I was trying to straighten him out, basically that while he is JUSTIN'S drampa, he isn't mine. Justin became impatient with me and said, "It's YOUR drampa! He's wearing his hat!" All righty then! Obviously I'm wrong! LOL

He got a package of Legos for Easter and was very happy putting it together with Kim's guidance. He didn't need much assistance, just direction. It looked really good.

Drat

2011-04-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

So I was sitting in a chair in the hall yesterday. Suddenly the back leg broke and I went down. Landed on my right hand again. Looks as if I might have injured it just about the same place I did 2 years ago.

Color me very unhappy at this point!

Hey Blogger?

2011-04-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

What is going on? When I click on "publish post" nothing happens. I have to click on "save now" then go to "edit posts" and click on the post then "upload now." Editing posts seems to be impossible. When I tried for 3 times, nothing happened. I tried to copy what I'd written and not a blessed thing happened! I'm not amused.

Drat

2011-04-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Minnesota is so ...interesting... in springtime. The grass has turned green, it is becoming nice outside. The chihuahua in the building enjoys going out and stays for a time. So what is supposed to happen tomorrow? sigh 4-14 INCHES of snow is projected through Wednesday. SHEESH!

Why is it? A slice of reality

2011-04-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

I have kept track of my yarn in a data base for years now. Since before we left New York. I remember sitting in the dining room of the house and weighing each yarn, using the McMoran yarn balance to find out yards per pound then figuring out how many yards of each yarn was on hand.

I lost a good bit of the database recently, I believe I started it in 02. So I have had plenty of time to adjust to adding yarns to it.

So why is it that every so often I come across a yarn that isn't in the stinking data base? Hello? How did I miss you? Tonight it was 2 skeins of a Regia Kaffe Fassett yarn. Now I've knit up 2 pairs of socks in various colorways of this yarn. I knew I had a lonely skein that will become either sock tops or wristwarmers. But I didn't remember this yarn. I don't remember buying it. I don't show a record of it coming in. Where in the world did it come from? sigh Any such yarn counts as a brand new purchase. And it is added in the "yarn purchased this year", "yards added this year" etc. The only way I can figure to make it work. Otherwise I'd constantly be reworking prior years totals.

Occasionally as I cook I realize how time has passed. As in, when I need to pull one of the boxes off the top of the freezer. Why? The aluminum foil is from Wegman's - the WONDERFUL New York grocery chain. I miss their bread. It was the best! We left New York in 03. The waxed paper is from Hy-Vee - an Iowa grocery chain. We left Iowa in 08. There are 2 boxes of Press and cling wrap (or whatever it is called.) We bought those in Iowa when Howard had the surgeries. Yet I think I'm on the 3rd box of parchment paper since we moved here a year ago.

My space bar has been sticking. I couldn't figure out why. Tonight I hit one of the keys and realized -- a size 0 needle had dropped down in front of the first row of the keyboard. Funny, the space bar works fine now!

Sorry!

2011-04-16T15:30:00.001-07:00

Sorry! I've been trying to decide if I have enough to say that people are willing to take time to read it. I have been knitting. And knitting. One of the ladies in the building remarked the other day that I don't look right without needles in my hand. I finished a sweater today and the recipient was thrilled. After I gave it to her I noticed 2 strands I hadn't woven in. I offered to take it back and finish, she quickly told me that she'd be perfectly happy doing it. Hm...afraid I'd not give it back? grin We are having a Minnesota spring. The snow went from several feet high to nothing in about a week and a half. The grass has been greening up, the birds have returned. Last night we had snow again. Not a lot, thank goodness, but enough to remind us that it isn't time to put away our winter gear. So, there are people from this area who are snowbirds in Arizona. We also have someone from Saskatchewan that snowbirds HERE! Perspective, I guess. She considers our winters to be mild. Hm...

Mom said there'd be times like this...

2011-01-17T17:12:00.000-08:00

I started a sweater (jumper) for Rick in London UK. Ran out of yarn just before the hood, so no way I can fudge it. I'm waiting for more yarn to get here.

I started a sweater for Geina, his Mom. It looks as if I may run out of yarn just before the end. I'm going to knit fast to see if I can avoid it. (Why yes, if you need to know, I ascribe to the "knit faster and maybe the yarn will last" theory of knitting.") According to my stash spreadsheet, there should have been 8 skeins of this yarn, which would have been more than plenty. Why, then can I only find 6!!!!!!

I'm afraid to start anything else!

All of my works in progress were going down, until I only had 2 left - the pair of socks and Hanne Falkenberg's Solo (in different colors, but you get the idea.) I had finished the baby blanket and Stacey's sweater. The over item that had started the year with me will be frogged tonight. Bliss! Only 2 WIPs. The socks would take maybe 2 days max of intermittent knitting. But could I just complete those, and be down to NO WIPs? Noooo, I cast on for Rick's sweater. See paragraph 1. I cast on for Geina's sweater. See paragraph 2. Now I have four WIP's and there is great temptation to cast on more. SHEESH!

I even made a list of things that I'd like to knit up next. I think there are about 10 things on it!

Unburdened

2011-01-08T10:59:00.000-08:00

After long thought, I put my spinning wheel up for sale on Ravelry. It was a hard decision, I loved it when I bought it.

The problem came after I'd flown out to Colorado and both parents came down with C Diff. They were so sick, and they were impaired mentally as well as physically while sick. I guess the best thing to say about it is: it was a very difficult situation. That misery attached itself to the wheel, since I had brought it along to destress while I was there. I was miserable every time I tried to spin on it.

Yesterday it sold. SUCH a feeling of relief! I will buy a different wheel at another time, and it won't have the misery attached. As for this one, the new, excited owner won't have the angst attached and will love it. Win-win!

Yay!

2011-01-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a GREAT knitting day for me! I finished the Sprog 3 blanket, well at least MY part - Howard needs to crochet around the edges before it is totally done.

I also finished Liquid Silver for my Sister-in-law. It had been on the needles for too long, I broke a bone in my hand in the middle of it, which caused the process to grind to a halt. I finally picked it up yesterday and was astonished to realize how very little was left to do! So, I did, then popped it in the mail today. I forgot to photograph it until it was already at the post office. Oops!

I waffled between working on the current socks or starting something else. I'll admit it, I looked closely at the socks, put them down and started a new sweater. Toddler size -- quick knit! Yay!

End of Year totals

2010-12-31T14:17:00.001-08:00

So, this is when each of us looks back on the year, good, bad and ugly. It has been a momentous year. Not all good. Not all bad.

Birth of Merridyth Ann - highlight
Moving to Minnesota to be closer to Nathan and his family - highlight
Losing my job - low point

My knitting totals for the year:
Christening Gown 1
Hats 6
Potholders 4
Scarves 3
Scrubbies 4
Sweaters 1 baby
Sweaters 2 child
Washcloth 1
Wristers 2 pair

When I factor in having to move, I didn't do too badly this year! Tonight I'll frog the project that isn't working so it isn't on the needles in 2011. I'll only have projects on the needles that will be finished. Not a bad way to start the year! I'd prefer not to have ANY projects on the needles, so I can start the year with a clean slate, but that ain't gonna happen this year! I refuse to frog the projects that are working, that just aren't done!

I made a concerted effort to pare down the stash. Giving yarn away, using it up. I started the year with 1,118.09 ounces of yarn, or 69.88 pounds. That also translated to 119,464.64 yards of yarn, or 67.88 MILES of yarn. The stash was worth approximately $2,572.17 on January 1, 2010. I purchased 247.16 ounces 16,206 yards.

Currently I have 719.11 ounces or 44.95 pounds of yarn on hand (including the projects on the needles, they don't get to count against the totals until finished.) That is 73,718 yards or 41.885 miles of yarn. Current approximate value of stash is $1,659.61. Not bad! Actually, I'm pretty proud of that!

End of the year

2010-12-30T11:08:00.000-08:00

Today I am taking a hard look at projects on my needles. One of the items on the needles isnot working. It is time to FROG! I'll do something with this yarn at a later date.

I do NOT want anything on the needles that I do not love or that will not be loved by the recipient.

As far as I remember, here are my projects on the needles:

a pair of socks for me - one is to the heel, the other is on the heel flap
Solo for Serena - about 1/2 of the body is finished - need the other half and 2 sleeves
Liquid Silver for Stacey - so close to being finished - just DO IT!
Sprog 3 baby blanket
Cross-over Rib top for me - going to frog the colors are pooling

I would like to start working on the items that are closest to being finished. That would probably be Liquid Silver, then the socks, then baby blanket and finally Solo.

I have a whole slew of projects that I WANT to start. I don't want to list them, my goal is to knit away happily! Most of the projects are for others, which is fine.

I've been destashing - passing yarns on to others who want/need yarn. If I'm not going to knit it, why is it waiting here?

Here we are in cold Minnesota. And it is raining. Blech. Perhaps elsewhere that would be cause for rejoicing. Here, it is cause for great worry. Because it is supposed to change to freezing rain, and then snow. Which means all of this lovely rain is going to change to ice. Which may, perhaps, last most, if not all ,of the rest of this winter. There are some fragile people in this building. This will mean they are restricted to home until the ice is gone. For some reason, the mood in the building isn't excited. grin

Honestly, I'm not happy about the ice. I remember breaking my wrist on ice. It is 10 miles for Howard to get to work. That is a long stretch of road to be ice covered.

ETA: So, I must be perverse. I made that list above. Decided that to finish Liquid Silver made the most sense. So what did I pick up? The BABY BLANKET! sigh I really do NOT do well with to-do lists.

Perceptions

2010-12-26T19:34:00.000-08:00

I wrote this at Christmas and didn't publish it. I don't know why not.

I was asked to bake rolls for the gathering at lunch on the 24th here in our building. I procrastinated (big surprise there, grin) and started them late the afternoon of the 23rd. We were going to leave first thing in the morning on the 24th for Nathan's so there wasn't any room for error. I did as I have done for years, threw in the ingredients until it felt right and called it good. Steel-cut oats, light rye flour, some potatoes, some molasses, some sugar, AP flour... It had a good hand as I kneaded it. It rose nicely several times. I divided it into rolls and set them to rise. Baked them and they looked great.

That night Howard and I had 2 for dinner. Too me, they were too sweet. If I had more time, I would have made more, but I didn't. I took them down with a note of apology.

When we got home the next day, I was stopped several times in the hall by people telling me how good the rolls had been. One couple had even taken some of the extras home, they liked them so well.

Sometimes, I guess, I need to step back from what I "know" and accept that I'm being too hard on myself. After all, Howard did tell me that he liked them. They just didn't fit what I expected. sigh

Oops

2010-12-26T10:46:00.000-08:00

We have had just a bit of snow here...

I will need to get Christmas photos from others, I brought my camera, took 2 snaps and then forgot it the rest of the day!

Christmas

2010-12-24T19:29:00.000-08:00

We spent a fantastic day with our family, 8 of us together loving each other. The almost 3 year old Justin had a great time, he opened almost everyone's gifts for them. What was inside wasn't nearly as important as getting the paper off! And he was helping! smile

I think everyone liked their knitted presents. Forgot entirely to take pictures as they were opening them! sigh I should have. Merri looks wonderful wrapped in her 3-generation blanket, knit by great-grandma, grandma, Mommy and a crocheted edge by grandpa. (No, I didn't remember to get a picture of that at all!) Just right! Big Justin and Nathan both seemed to like their hats. Kim and Serena each got kitchen items they had requested. I figure that gave the items the best chance of being what was needed and would be used. Little Justin seemed to at least tolerate his hat, but didn't want it on. Merri kept hers on, didn't seem to notice that it was there.

Whew!

The most important part, though, was sharing the time together. To be as one. Is this going to be a family tradition? I don't know. What a nice one, though!

Oops

2010-12-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

And then I started thinking...I still have the top for DSIL on the needles. Stopped knitting it when I broke my hand. Rats. One more project. Did I remember everything now?

Um, and there is the vest I started just last month. How did I forget that? Sheesh!

The socks I mentioned: I have 4 that came in the swap. One has been finished. "Only" 3 more to go.

For pete's sake! I have a memory like a sieve for projects in process!

Eek!

2010-12-20T21:06:00.000-08:00

So, I was looking on my blog today. I had knit a scarf while in Iowa, and was looking to see if I had blogged about it. Maybe I had, but I didn't see the pictures. I remember blocking the scarf, and it was in the house before it was torn down, so I could establish when and where it had been knit from memory. But I don't see, on the blog, what it was. Oddly enough, I can remember where the design CAME from! sigh

ETA, I found the pattern! Later in the blog. Wrong designer! I designed it! I don't know whether to be embarrassed that I remember so poorly or glad that I liked it so well that I wanted to knit it again!

Even worse, I looked at the post for the end of the year in 2004. MOST of the "to do" list for 2005 have NOT been done! Do you realize how embarrassing that is? Here is the list:

Serena's replacement graduation sweater (high school) Nope

Howard's sweater Done

Socks to be kitchenered Nope

My Lind Done (and fulled then cut into hotpads/potholders

Elsbeth Lavold tunic (back knit up by Dianne on machine, waiting for me) Nope

Unst Bridal Shawl Nope yarn given away, pattern sold

Princess Line Nope yarn used for other project

Isn't that ... sad? 7 projects on my "to do" list, and I actually did 2. And it was already knit, just needed the seams and hem. sigh Maybe it would be best if I don't plan ahead. That is the only time I did post such a list on the blog. Whew!

Right now I have the following on the needles:

sprog 3 baby blanket

a pair of socks (both are to the heel)

I still have the sweater back that Dianne knit up on her km, but I haven't knit anything up

the socks that need kitchenering still need it - they aren't on needles, do they count?

Oh well. Another day. Another try. Maybe if I read what I write occasionally...

Snow, sigh

2010-12-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

The small snow shower we were to get was at about 8 inches when Howard got home. I don't want to know how much more we've gotten. It was to stop at 10 AM, I noticed that it was still coming down somewhat later than that.

I am nebbing. Isn't that fun? I still haven't figured out how to do very many things while I neb. I am posting this. But knitting is out. Searching the web (or reading Ravelry) is fine.

I have some lovely pictures on the camera of the snow 2 storms back. They are still on the camera,which makes it a little hard to share. Then there is the issue that it is now _2_ storms back, instead of current. Sorry!

Really irritated

2010-12-09T18:13:00.001-08:00

Last spring (2010) we a new electric teakettle. Earlier I'd complained that the teakettle no longer turned off. Well today it went one better. It now leaks the heated water all over the counter. Joy. Into the trash it went. What an expensive purchase, to have it work so short of a time!

Ramblings

2010-12-03T09:34:00.001-08:00

I was knitting this morning, not very many rows, and both thumbs and the right forefinger went numb. That, in my book, means STOP IDIOT! I hate days like that!

Winter weather has arrived in Minnesota. Temps have been hovering in the teens (F), with wind chill of 0*F or below. Today through tomorrow we are supposed to receive up to 8 inches. I believe we have already had 2 weeks with snow on the ground. Looks as if it will extend further!

Happy Birthday to DD! Someone at work had a grand-daughter born this morning, I hope she is as wonderful as Serena!

The woman in the building who learned to knit has embraced it whole-heartedly. She doesn't want to purl, but has knit many face-cloths already! She had asked 2 weeks ago if she could get 9 done by the 11th of December, she wasn't sure it was possible. She had 9.5 yesterday! Yay! Someone in the building has accused me of creating a monster. grin What a shame. LOL

Argh!

2010-11-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

I have complained about the back burners on our stove not working since we moved in. Supposedly someone came and said that they work, but are slow. I tried an experiment today. I put the right back burner on high, put a pan with boiling water on, and waited. 2 hours later, it was cool enough I could put my finger in and leave it in (remember I gave the stupid thing a head start -- it was started with BOILING water.) I tried changing it to the next level down on the burner. An hour later it is a bit warmer. How is anyone supposed to cook on this!

Next experiment will be with the left-hand burner. I'll update here. sigh

ETA Half an hour later and the left hand burner is not hot. I'd say that whoever looked at the stove was a tremendous optimist. I know that we live in a people with older people, many of whom no longer cook. But I do. May I please have a working stove? As in, 4 burners working?

Hm

2010-11-27T08:04:00.000-08:00

My camera was among the missing for almost a week. I have no idea why it was hiding in the bathroom. All I can do is roll my eyes (I am sure I was the culprit, but why? Perhaps it is better NOT to know!)

This month I decided in a fit of insanity to join in NaKniSweMo, National Knit a Sweater Month. The idea is to knit 50,000 stitches in the month of November, at the end the knitter will have a sweater to show for the effort. I didn't want to be working on a sweater, but had two projects that would make my total. I started a hat for Big Justin and picked up my portion of the 3 generation baby blanket for Merri. I finished BOTH on the 24th. 87,442 stitches between the two projects. I am no longer counting stitches for the month. I did make and finish a hat for someone else, and still have knitting time this month. Do I finish projects on the needles? Probably. But how nice to get these out of the way!

Pictures will have to come at Christmas, after the presents have been gifted.

Testing

2010-11-21T11:46:00.001-08:00

I'm trying to post via my phone.

Knitting away at Christmas presents. LOTS of stitches!

I realized a few minutes ago that I somehow deleted my list of stitch patterns and stitch counts for all three baby blankets. Now I don't know which pattern I was going to use for the other two baby blankets is gone! Tears!

NaKniSweMo

2010-11-18T15:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit it. I'm a glutton for punishment.There is another side to NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month. That is NoKniSweMo - National Knit a Sweater Month. Knitters pledge to knit 50,000 stitches during the month of November, most planning to knit a sweater, starting November 1 and finishing before the of day November 30.

I wasn't going to do it, really truly! But then I started doing the math for a hat for DSIL - 3 ply yarn on 0 needles. I realized that it would take pretty close, if not more than 50,000 stitches. So, I signed on to the bandwagon November 8th. You will notice that I was already behind the eight ball, eh?

I decided to add Merri's baby blanket (the three generation one) to the mix, to give my hands relief, worsted weight for a while, then sock weight. Back and forth, forth and back. So, I started a spreadsheet, to track the stitch count on both projects. The other night I realized that I was close to the 50,000 stitches, but neither project was close to completion. My current goal is to finish both projects by the end of November. Insanity? Probably. I'll let you know the final stitch count at the end of the month. Can I do it? Dunno. But next year I will plan the project ahead of time!

Advertising sigh

2010-11-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

So, it is what, 36 days until Christmas, right? Why are we still being "treated" to ads talking about layaway programs where the payments are spread out for 8 weeks? Or the ads that speak of "it's summer, so I want to clear up my skin for my bikini." Hello, we are 5 weeks away from Christmas and it is late autumn. Reality check here, don't the advertisers think we can do the math? Do they think that we can suspend reality enough to believe them?

Ads on tv take up more and more program time. They are louder than the program. I find myself muting the ads, just so I don't have to hear them. I'd rather miss part of the program than listen to their drivel!

Eek!

2010-11-17T15:44:00.000-08:00

I was sitting in the hall today, knitting with another lady that lives in the building. Over the years, people have brought lawn chairs to this end of the hall, so people can sit and chat, while enjoying the sunshine (when there is such a thing!) and looking outside. She had been so sure that she wasn't able to knit, because her hands shake. She was finishing her second dishcloth today. Yay!

I heard a crack as I sat in my chair. It was one of a pair we purchased in NY. The chairs were very comfortable. But, as I sat there, there was suddenly a second crack and I was sitting flat on the floor! Not sure how the arm brace breaking would cause that, but it certainly did! I tossed both chairs out. It was questioned as to why I'd throw the second, whole chair. My thought process (if I actually can be said to have one!) was that if one broke, the second was probably not far behind from doing the same. I really do NOT want to be responsible for one of the residents of the building being hurt because of a chair collapse!

Phooey

2010-11-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

Two months ago repairs were done to our apartment, involving a plumber and a roofer. The plumber was supposed to also fix our shower, but, despite having a month lead time, hadn't ordered the shower part. Hm, a month's notice and didn't get the part ordered. This morning the building maintenance man told me that the plumber was going to come by, if he had the shower part. He told the maintenance man that he wasn't sure it was in stock, he may have to order it. Now, do you blame me that I didn't believe it? I went ahead and showered, I didn't wait for him to arrive. No, he didn't arrive. I have a difficult time accepting that after 3 months the man has not been able to order/keep in stock the piece to repair our shower. I'm not sure that even if the appointment is made for the repairs, that I will actually believe that the repair is going to be made. Cynical, aren't I! In this economy he can afford to blow off repair jobs?

Hm

2010-11-09T12:31:00.001-08:00

I have been thinking that Merri looked more like Justin than Serena. But then I saw these two photos next to each other. What do you think?

This and that

2010-11-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

Justin and Grandpa. Justin was asked to hold Grandpa's hat, he is certainly keeping it safe for him! Under Grandpa's hat he is wearing the bear hat that Aunt Serena and Uncle Justin gave him at Christmas. Welcome to Minnesota, where it is considered normal to have snow on Halloween! We drove up Halloween morning.

Unbeknownst to either set of parents, BOTH grandkids were bumble/honeybees this year! Merri was almost to big for her costume, Justin obviously enjoyed buzzing around!

This is Tutti-Frutti #4, she'll have to grow into it, hopefully this year!

Why?

2010-10-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

An ongoing problem in my life...haircuts. What in the world about my face/body/head is it that causes almost every hairdresser to cut my hair SHORT! I go in with a picture of the desired cut. I ALWAYS wind up with a cut that is much shorter. This morning's cut was supposed to be based on a cut which ended about chin length. What do I have? A cut that ends barely at the base of the ear lobes! That is a difference of several inches.

When in high school I'd take my mom or my sister along to oversee the cut. After all, I can't see a darned thing once my glasses are off. I usually wound up with hair even shorter than today's!

What is it about me that inspires/drives/whatever the cuts to be so much shorter? I do NOT understand! The usual reaction when people see my hair is "it is so SHORT!"

Blast.

Rats!

2010-10-17T02:58:00.000-07:00

Remember just last post when I rejoiced that I'd finally used up all of that black 3 ply Kroy sock yarn? Yeah, the exhiliration lasted less than 24 hours, I was looking for a different yarn, and found an entire bag of the stuff. I don't know, but I'm beginning to suspect it of breeding. I lost my yarn data base due to an unexplained computer error, so I can't tell when I bought it. I think I created the original yarn database in 2002, I know I had the yarn before that, because I made Howard several pairs of over-the-calf dress socks from it. I stopped in the middle of a pair in 2003 when he told me that purchased socks were more comfortable. I don't think I've made a pair for him since.

I'm making cranberry oatmeal cookies from my archive. I had thawed 2 packages of cranberries, so tripled the recipe. There were going to be so many cookies, I decided to try them as bars instead of drop cookies. I'll update as to how they turn out.

I made 2 scarves from Sally Melville's book with her daughter, "Mother-Daughter Knits". I used the tabbed scarf pattern. The second was a variation on the theme, I only had 2 buttons that went really well with the yarn, so I made 2 tabs instead of 3. I think I'll make one more of the 3 tab version of the same yarn I made the first (alpaca with a twist baby twist) for me. The other is for a friend. I thought it was a great pattern for cold Minnesota weather!

Thursday

2010-10-14T12:05:00.001-07:00

I decided to knit something small for several friends. So, when one of the people was asked what color he wanted, guess what he said? "Red or black." sigh I am certainly seeing a trend here. I suppose I can't use the excuse that I'm almost out of black yarn? A second person also requested red. Luckily, the other person wants earth tones. Hm, what quick items can I make?

I bought a lot of Kroy sock yarn when we were still in New York from the Paton's outlet (before it closed.) I have FINALLY used almost all of it up! By the time I finish this sweater for Merri I will be out of it. I didn't really think it would ever happen! I have some burgundy Kroy, do you think that counts as red? Actually, I will, now that I think of it, will still have enough enough of the red from this sweater to make a hat or scarf for him. I don't have enough black, but red... Don't know if there will be enough of the red for the second person.

Welcome Merri!

2010-10-13T03:34:00.000-07:00

This is Merridyth Ann, our new(ish) granddaughter. She was born in July, sorry I've been so lax in keeping up with the blog! I knit the christening gown (finished it the day before we left to meet her!) It is from Knitpicks bare, DK weight. I freely played with the pattern, only the yoke looks as it was designed. That's okay, I complied with Serena's wishes to have a true cable down the skirt, and then a cabled edging instead of a lace edging. The cables in the skirt are the same as the one in the yoke. The edging is Barrington Braid.

Minnesota has been interesting. We have been so busy (and tired) from work that we are still unpacking. The apartment is lovely, the people are so welcoming.

A new game being played in the apartment building: what are they cooking? Long before we moved in, some of the residents started sitting in the hall outside of our apartment and chatting. The comment was made that we have such nice smells coming from our apartment, they usually spend some time trying to figure out what is/was cooking.

This has been a rough year. But, the important thing I am holding on to is that we've made it this far, we can make it! Yeah, I wish Dad had been able to see Merri. That didn't happen. We rejoice in the fact that she is here and is healthy!

As you can see, Justin is taking his role as the big cousin seriously!

On the needles, another Tutti Frutti by Hanne Falkenberg, this one for Miss Merri. For some unknown reason, Mommy wants the exact same colors as I knit the 3 for Justin. That will be 4 sweaters using the same colors and pattern. The only differences has been the sizes. Sigh. I love you guys!

MN here we come!

2010-05-19T08:58:00.001-07:00

May 7 we got a call that we are being transferred to Minnesota. About an hour from Nathan and Kim. They have found us an apartment, we will be there May 25 but won't move in until the 26, as they will celebrate their 8th wedding anniversary on the 25. Boy, have we been moving frantically to pack everything up and be ready to move this Sunday! We are exhausted!

Whew!

2010-03-05T00:44:00.000-08:00

I am SO close to finishing these two sweaters for little Justin. I made the first, then realized my gauge was off, so it will fit him next year. I know it is getting late in the year, but I just need to sew in the ends on sweater #2. Actually, sweater #3, as I made it for him (in the same colors) last year.

Okay, so I read the above and guilted myself into sewing in all of the ends before I could take pictures. Now they ARE finished and can be mailed off. Hmmm, looking at the bigger sweater, it may have to wait TWO years to be worn. Does that mean I need to make an intermediate size for next year? I'll find out.

I'll post a picture of Justin wearing it later.

Still moving slowly

2010-02-28T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm still moving slowly after Dad's death. But, I'm starting to recover.

It helps to know that there is new life on the horizon. Serena and Justin will be parents in July. I'm trying to decide what to knit for Merridyth Ann. At least there is a 95% possibility that it will be Merridyth Ann, known as Merri. I'm going to try to do another 3 generation blanket for her (Mom, me and Serena.) I want each of the grandtads to have that, don't want one to be left out. That means I need to get going soon, to make sure that it happens. I'm thinking cables for this one. Haven't decided quite what, but...

Justin L's winter sweaters for this year and next are almost finished. A couple of more days of knitting on break and lunch and the 3rd will be finished. Then putting it together and sewing in the ends for both. Then they will be mailed off. I'm sorry that this year's is late, but circumstances conspired to lose my momentum.

It has been a colder winter here than normal. I'm so glad that Howard bought the winter coat that he did. When he did I thought (with some private snickering) that he'd wear it a week a year here. Who knew that he'd need it for over a month this year!!!

Thank God that the roof leak has finally stopped! I started off putting one container down. It gradually grew until there were 8 containers in and beside the closet. The roofers came to fix it, the next day it still leaked. But, whatever they did must have taken care of it, for the containers (I didn't dare pick them up) have stayed dry. If only I didn't hear the drip in my dreams, even though it isn't happening!

Not a lot more to post, but I'll try to get more active here. Some days are harder than others, still.

More photos

2009-12-10T04:22:00.000-08:00

Serena and Justin T. Serena saw this coat at Cabelas. The clincher to buy it (and a matching one for Justin T) -- see that fur? It is raccoon. As she says, "Revenge is SWEET!" Remember the raccoon story?Annette was delighted with raccoon fur too, as she has had run-ins with raccoons in the house too. Not to mention that they found that the raccoons were almost in the house when Serena moved out. They figured a few more weeks and the animals would have made it down the chimney -- again!

The two Justins, and they are both smiling! They took to each other immediately.

Justin L with Grandma and Grandpa.

Here is Justin L with his new sweater from Grandma (me.) Daddy (Nathan) is behind Mommy ignoring us. I thought of waiting until Christmas to give it to him, but with weather becoming cold, I thought it would be better for him to have it now.

Nathan, Kim and Justin L left early for the airport. Serena and Justin T left within minutes of us so we went to the airport together. We asked someone else in the waiting area to take our picture together. Turns out he is a professional photographer.

Goodbye Dad! (photo heavy)

2009-12-10T03:05:00.001-08:00

This is a really difficult post to write.

Last Tuesday, December 1st, my sister called shortly after we got home from work. My Dad had died that morning. He was 95 years, 5 months and 16 days old. This is the last photo I took of Mom and Dad together, last August.

We worked that night, I spent it in floods of tears, honestly. Thankfully, we had the next 2 nights off. Work was really supportive, and gave us bereavement leave for the next 3 days after our weekend. Thursday we flew to Boise, to be with the rest of the family. Nathan and Kim with Justin L flew in that night (late!) while Serena and Justin T flew in Friday. My sister Annette was already there when we got there, her husband Steve arrived Saturday. Mom and my brother Bill live there.

We had a great time together, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing. It was a time to remember the man that had meant so much to us throughout our lives, as husband, father, father-in-law and grandpa. Justin L was a bit young to comment on his being great-grandpa.

It was fun to watch Mom meet Justin T. What a difference in height! grin

Saturday afternoon we held a family memorial service. Two cousins and their spouses were able to come, John and Josie from right in town and Renee and John who were in town for a missionary furlough from Russia. Howard conducted the service. Almost everyone there spoke and gave a memory. From Dad suggesting that Serena and Nathan pick up rocks to form a rock wall (with the suggestion that Dad chose that activity to wear them out - grin) to how much he loved his family.

Justin L was such a delight. Annette bought a pair of sunglasses for him, he had a great time with them. Here he is with Mommy (Kim.)

After the service we all went out for a dinner full of memories, laughter and some tears. This is a photo of all of us.

Bill, John Michno, Annette and Steve.

We flew back Sunday and arrived in miserable weather. Snow, wind, ice and low temps. :-( And the temperature continued to drop once we got home.

We had put a duvet cover lined with a plastic shower curtain in front of the sliding glass doors to the deck, to cut down on heat loss. It is frozen to the doors and has been since we arrived home.

I'll do another post with more pictures.

SNOW!

2009-10-29T07:40:00.001-07:00

Oh my goodness. Some of you may have read or seen that Denver is having a snowstorm. It started Tuesday evening and hasn't yet stopped. Howard went out this morning (thank God it is our weekend!) and cleared off the car and shot a couple of photos. This picture is just past the front door to the apartment building. Normally that branch is high overhead. I would guess that the car on the right has not moved since before the storm started.

We worked Tuesday night, leaving for work early because of the forecast. It started to snow as soon as we were on the freeway. By the time we got off work, the car had several inches on it. It was a white knuckle drive down the mountain, the road was completely white. Oddly enough, the last little bit was the hardest -- the plows don't go through so much and climbing the hill was almost too much for our car. We parked the car in the parking lot (can't get it in our garage space yet) with the understanding that we did NOT need to go out again until Friday night. Whew! (This is the back view of that car.)

This is what our car looked like, having missed the first night of the storm. The one in the center of this photo, looking as if it has a thin line between the end of the snow on the car where it hasn't QUITE met the snow on the ground. Yet.

Howard cleared part of the windshield and took a photo of the contrast.

Howard used the shovel blade as a measuring tool to measure the depth of the snow on top of the car. The blade is about 14-16 inches deep (we need to measure to be sure.) As you can see, the snow extends a bit above that.

Our car is being protected a bit by the apartment building. I don't want to walk out and see what the cars that are unprotected look like. Call it lazy or call it cold. Forget it right now. Almost time to go to bed!

Welcome!

2009-10-20T07:39:00.001-07:00

At their own wedding. I'd like to welcome a new member to our clan -- Justin. Serena and Justin married September 30th.
Photo taken in June at Justin's brother's wedding.

That makes 2 Justins, now to be known as Justin T (or Big Justin) and Justin L (or Little Justin or Justin the Small.) We figure the initials are safer, as Justin L will grow. Will he be as BIG as Justin T? Who knows. grin

Justin and Serena were best friends her freshman year of college. They lost touch, but found each other again.

The newlyweds live in the Chicago area. With 2 cats and 3 dogs.

Serena is still looking for a job. Good thoughts her way would be appreciated.

Justin

2009-08-20T05:56:00.000-07:00

Here's Justin "reading." I LOVE this picture!

Raccoons

2009-08-14T01:56:00.000-07:00

You know, I've always considered raccoons to be cute and harmless. The other night Howard received a frantic call from Serena that raccoons were in the house please come help. It seems that 5 of them had pushed in a screen and made themselves at home. Tora-chan hid but Titania decided to defend her territory. When Serena got to the kitchen 3 raccoons were fighting one very angry cat. The other two coons were investigating the house. Serena started throwing things to get them away from Titania. They weren't afraid of her at all. She finally knocked something down on them. Titania ran away and Serena chased the coons out of the house, replaced the screen then shut the window. That's when Howard got there, to a trashed kitchen and a VERY upset daughter! No sign of Titania, Tora-chan strolled out leisurely shortly after, wondering about the upset and why the dreadful almost skunk smell in the house. After much cleanup they started the search for the missing cat. Nada.

After we got off work and other appointments we drove up to find the cat. Nope. By then we were pretty resigned to the worst. Maybe not resigned, but definitely thinking that it was inevitable. At 6:30 in the evening Titania strolled out, a little sore and wondering what was on the menu. After a vet visit she came away from the attack with a sprained tail (how can a cat sprain her tail?!) a sore foot and a slight infection. An antibiotic and short course of steroids and she will probably not even remember this-the cat with two brain cells, one in each lobe of her brain. She has no memory-be away from her for more than a day and she doesn't know you.

Knit stuff

2009-05-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

I can knit again. Those of you who knit understand, these weeks without knitting have tried me almost to the limit. I finished a pair of Happy Feet socks in the past few days. Okay, not quite finished, I need to graft the toes. But I look forward to wearing them, suddenly my socks are starting to show signs of wear. Part of me whines greatly, the other part looks at my list of completed projects and sees when each pair was finished and is grateful they lasted so long! After all, the latest to develop a hole is from October 2003. I'm going to try to darn the hole, after all, the rest of the sock still has plenty of wear! I started a pair in Kaffe Fassett's Regia Landscape, this time the colors are much better at singing than the earth pair I made last year. I'll let you know as they progress. There is something about the olive green that he includes that icks me. I love the rest of the colors so far. I found myself trying to knit faster, to get PAST the olive, as I reacted so negatively to it. Don't know why.

I'm trying to stay awake to call the apartment office to ask them to please fix the ceiling in our bedroom after bits of the plaster fell when the roof leaked. Part of me wonders why I have to ask that, as they already know of the problem and have reported that the leak(s) repaired. Oh well. Such is the life of a person who works nights as opposed to days. We are asleep when most of the rest of the time zone is awake.

Oops

2009-04-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

When I was really restricted on my right hand, I tried to sew. I planned out the cutting layout (including the length I wanted on the skirt) and Howard was a sweetheart and cut it out for me. I managed to get the zipper in and one seam before the pain won.

Tonight I got most of the skirt done. It is hanging at the moment, so the hem can hang out before I measure and hem it tomorrow. I eked out the fabric, it was all that was left on the bolt. I was so proud that I'd gotten all the pieces without any but a few tiny pieces leftover. You know what they say about pride. grin I forgot to read the pattern pieces, one said cut 4, I cut 2. The last said to cut 2, I cut 1. So I didn't have enough fabric. I used scrap fabric to make the inside waistbands. Without planning it in the least, the stripes (it is a pinstripe fabric) matched precisely on the pockets. That was NOT planning, luck is the only way to describe it. The other problem? Despite measuring several times, the skirt is way too long. It is one of those that really needs to be adjusted BEFORE it is cut. sigh And, of course, if I had measured that correctly, there would have been more than enough for those other pieces. grin

Yesterday was supposed to be an inch of snow, per the national weather websites. We left work with 6 inches. East and westbound I-70 was basically a parking lot, the commute wasn't pleasant.

LAST weekend we were absolutely hammered. I took a picture at work before it really got bad. It continued throughout the night and the next day -- a heavy WET snow that compressed as it fell. The roof at work wasn't built to sustain that amount of weight, 42 inches of snow when they measured it. The building was closed while the snow was shoveled off. Yeah, it is pretty, but it is sure devastating! Some people waited more than 3 days for electricity. Some of them also lost phone and water service too. NOT a happy way to spend the time. The main way we were impacted is that the roof leaked and we have ceiling that decided to come into our bedroom in one place. Joy

Whee!

2009-04-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

I saw the doc today. No surgery! Two different doctors, same practice, two opinions. I'll take this one, thank you! GGGGG I am to do occupational therapy for a month, then see him. If it still hurts, then try a cortisone shot. If it is still a problem, last thing is surgery.

I pulled out my knitting. Hard for you to believe, isn't it. GGGGG I haven't dared try it, but I plan to do so quickly!

:(

2009-04-10T08:31:00.001-07:00

I fell at work a month ago. Doc said it was a sprain. This week I had an MRI. Turns out I have a non-displaced fracture, a torn ligament and a tear in a different ligament. No wonder it hurts! Find out the 21st when I have surgery. No knitting or spinning for a while.

Big Grin

2009-04-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

I got a note from Serena the other day. The entire post is copied for your delight.

I tie-dyed your car at lunch. ;)

Love you!!

New Knitting project soon

2009-03-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

This knitting adventure came as a trade from a friend in Denmark. Whee!!!!

Fast postal service! Mailed about March 17 from Denmark and arrived in Colorado US March 23! Interesting, instead of colors 98 lagoon and 102 magpie I was sent 98 lagoon and 99 aubergine (purple.) The colors look good together in the package, so I am going to go with it. Now to wait until my hand has healed! snivel

The hand continues to be difficult. I know a sprain takes a while, but sheesh! Last week the doc's office made a plaster splint to immobilize the thumb (because it hurt more than when it first happened!) After a week in that, it has improved. Today the physical therapist gave me a new brace, one that fits better than the first. Turns out I need a size small, not the medium first given. Doctor again tomorrow. I don't expect to be out of the brace this week. Tell you what, these longer nights for a medical appointment is tiring! Especially today! Less than 5 hours of sleep because of the pt appointment in the morning and then knitting group in the afternoon. I'm going to have to skip knitting on PT/doc days, I NEED sleep!

Talking about trying to spin tomorrow, don't know if the hand will allow it, but it would certainly help my sanity!

Whee!

2009-03-09T20:57:00.000-07:00

My cell phone gave up and stopped working. Serena persuaded us to buy iphones (it hurt so much when she twisted our arms - not!) With this I can check e-mail at lunch, at least most of my accounts.

I fell at work the other night helping a customer get a wide screen tv into his SMALL car. The cardboard on the box gave way as I pulled on it. I waited a day to go in, verdict is a sprain of my hand. No knitting until it heals drat it.

weird

2009-02-10T05:35:00.000-08:00

So, I have a new job schedule -- 10 at night until 7 in the morning. The good news? I get to work the same shift as DH. The bad? Most of life is NOT on our schedule. YOU try scheduling appointments after 5 in the afternoon. Doesn't happen much, does it?

Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful to be working for a corporation that respects our need for together time. I appreciate the promotion from cashier to customer service manager. It still feels odd to have people are so genuinely glad on my behalf for my promotion.

We will (actually I will, DH has been working this shift long enough that he has adjusted) adapt. As others are getting up, I'll be preparing for bed. Can't find me on the normal scale wherever you look! :)

It is beginning to get light. I appreciate the changes in view based on weather here. Today is a clear day, with few clouds obscuring the sun as it rises. Glorious!

DS, DDIL and DGS are suffering from strep. For the third time for DS and DDIL. I wish there was more I could do for them other than prayer. But that is all they need.,

Gack!

2009-01-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted!

Justin has turned one. Hard to believe that it has been a year! These two pictures were taken about 11 months apart - he has changed a lot in that time! The sweater is the same, the modified Hanne Falkenberg Tutti-Frutti that I knit for him. I don't know if he'll be able to wear it much longer!

I finished the Hanne Falkenberg Plisse Monday. Pictures to come soon, I hope.

Howard and I have both changed jobs as our employers cut hours more and more because of the economy. Just couldn't afford to continue, even though we liked the jobs. We are both enjoying the new jobs. We are working opposing schedules, Howard works nights and I work days/swing. We cherish the few hours we see each other. After all that happened last year, I find that I have very low energy levels. I'm recovering, but it has been a haul.

Yesterday was a bad accessory day. I guess. That's the best way I can think to describe it. I lost my pedometer, my sunglasses, the stick on my shawl pin and broke an earring. Hello? What in the world did I do wrong yesterday? On the drive back to the house I was praying that I wouldn't break my glasses to finish the day! I did bang them and need to get them adjusted, but no break. Whew!

My dad was hospitalized over a week ago with a stroke. He was released Wednesday night to a rehab facility.

I'm Sorry!

2008-08-19T13:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry about the delay in posting -- Howard and I have been leaving at 7 in the morning most days and not getting home until 9 at night. That makes it rather hard to keep up here!

I'm working with some delightful older people, but sometimes things happen that tickle my funny bone.

The other night I was helping one of them as she decided what to wear the next day. As it had been chilly, she had laid out some sweaters to wear. She told me that she wnted the white one with big flowers on it for the next day. I brought out the only sweater that matched the description. It wasn't the one she had in mind. I brought out the only other white sweater -- still wrong. Finally I brought her ALL of the sweaters that she had put out. She pointed to the grey, light blue and cream argyle and said triumphantly -- THAT'S the one I told you I wanted!

I didn't laugh. But it was close! :)

The fire didn't destroy any houses and was out that evening. We stayed away another night, so the smoke wasn't in the air any longer. Well, there was still a slight smoky smell in the air, but it didn't get into our things. That was a big relief!

I'm knitting away on the Plisse. Still haven't finished the first half.

Oh My!

2008-08-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we were doing laundry at Serena's. (We gave her the washer and dryer with the understanding that we could do laundry at her house.) Howard went outside to put something in our car. He was surprised by the neighbor calling out "Hey, be careful, there is a bear in the area!" Sorry, that just ISN'T something that happened anywhere else we have lived! Yes, in upstate New York there were occasional bears. But that wasn't anywhere in our neighborhood, although there were church members who saw them. Our house was too surrounded by many others. We did have deer who slept in our yard (we could tell by the grass) but that was it. In Iowa we didn't even have that. There was an unnerving reality of "you have now changed locations" to that warning! grin

We were driving home this afternoon when there was a sign on the freeway saying something like "Fire on Green Mountain, visible smoke". Okay, we didn't know where Green Mountain was. Kept driving. Got closer to home, we didn't pass the fire. We turned off at our exit and there were so many cars going our way. Hm. Looked over to the foothills and BLAST! We saw the fires. Oh dear. So THAT is the name of the mountain! Bad words. The smoke was blowing away from our apartment, but we knew that could change. Text messaged Serena,"Can we stay with you tonight?" She wrote back, "yes, but why?"

Got home, started packing a suitcase for the next few days. Closed all of the windows, hoping that will keep the smoke from adding its essence to our things. Debate as to whether how many days we should pack for as well as what exactly we should take.

The last we had heard, the fire was 85% contained, with cooler weather and perhaps rain expected. The bad news? As we drove by on our way to Serena's, the wind had shifted and was blowing straight toward our place. But the windows are closed (also good news!)

We bought bookcases today, to replace those which don't fit in the elevator. I don't know if we bought enough, but we bought as many as we thought would fit in the apartment. Tomorrow was going to be a day of bringing books upstairs, unpacking then going back for more. We'll wait to see if the fire is contained before we decide.

Life is certainly interesting!

Bragging Grandma Alert!

2008-08-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

Look at what he is trying to do. Just before he turned 7 months, he is working on crawling. Doesn't he look as if he is having fun?

They went to Duluth today, and Daddy seems to be packing him around. I think he's teething again, don't you? grin Well protected from the sun! When Nathan was about this age, we went into a restaurant around Sacramento. The waitress enjoyed being around the 2 children. Nathan grabbed for her apron strings every time she came by. I don't know if she noticed or enjoyed the game -- he undid the tie each time, each time she tied them up again as she left our table. Justin did the same thing today -- like father like son?

Views from our deck

2008-08-02T19:43:00.000-07:00

Storm coming in!
As it was raining, we realized there was a double rainbow...
The other side of the rainbow...the railing on our deck isn't really secures, we are on the fourth floor, so I didn't try too many times for this side!
I REALLY wish this one had turned out right -- the end of the rainbow was in the tree next to the building directly below us!

What a week!

2008-07-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

This has been a week! Started a new job on Monday, that afternoon Mom found out she needed to be on oxygen 24/7, then I sliced the tip of my left middle finger off that evening! Monday was also our 35th wedding anniversary. That, let me be quick to assure you WAS a positive!

Last night I found out that Ruth Schooley, one of the Knitlist listmoms died Tuesday. Ruth was a great lady. She was warm, caring and knowledgeable. She loved to share what she was learning in the fiber world. When I was upset by something on the list, she had a gift for helping me see the situation in a different light.

Until the finger heals, I can't knit to destress! Yes, I tried. No, it didn't work.

Rocking Chair

2008-07-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

We went into a consignment store the other day, and there it was...a little maple rocking chair. Perfect. We snapped it up.

When I was pregnant with Serena, we drove from San Francisco to Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Texas and Arizona to visit family. While we were visiting, we looked for a rocking chair. I love to rock, and wanted to rock my baby. In Iowa, uncles and aunts helped us look. Then Uncle Myron asked if I wanted one they had that he'd refinished. It was perfect. He called it a nursing rocker, low and no arms. As he said, "it has been chewed by a dog on one of the rockers, so you don't have to worry about the baby damaging it."

So we stuffed the chair in the back of our tiny Datsun and drove home with it. The back of the rocker was over the cooler in the back seat, so every time we needed in the cooler we had to tip the rocker.

That rocker rocked both children, and became a knitting rocker. No arms, which was perfect for this body's repetitive stress problems.

Then Serena moved out and took the chair with her. I missed it. She set it so she can look out over her view and rock quietly with a cat in her lap.

So now I have a new to me rocker that is just right for me. It is set so I can look out over OUR view -- withOUT a cat in my lap. For whatever reason, I have been able to start knitting again. Perhaps it is the rocker? Whatever, my Plisse is starting to grow a bit.

Just for fun Howard asked her if she would trade rockers. Her eyebrows went up all the way and she said, "but it is MINE!" Which is almost word for word what I'd predicted. We all laughed.

Oops!

2008-07-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

I want to make a quick apology to Howard about my comment about not visiting the Brown Sheep Factory outlet while we moved.

He was very patient last year when we went. He talked with the ladies in the shop, encouraged me to buy and did not try to hurry me along at all. I did not have a concern that he would be difficult if we did go up there.

The reason I thought it would try "spousal patience" is called "logistics." To make that stop we would have either driven both trucks there -- incurring perhaps a mileage charge on my truck as well as additional gasoline expenses OR we could have parked the trucks somewhere, unloaded the car from the dolly, driven up and then back to the trucks. That wouldn't have cost so much in gas, but it would have extended an already tiring trip. I could not justify it in my mind.

So, other than the one point in time when he made an awful face when I suggested it half in jest before time, the decision was mine. I didn't suggest it a we traveled.

You know, I just realized that I didn't even take one photo of the trucks!

Mutterings

2008-07-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we celebrated my mom's birthday. We'd originally planned to picnic on Serena's deck, weather and fatigue contributed to going out instead.

When we arrived back at Serena's, the power was off, so the garage door wouldn't open (took us a while to figure out the culprit.) As we were trying to get the door to raise, look what stepped out from the front of the house... I left the little bit of our car in.

Today was a "nibbled to death by ducks" day. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better. For whatever reason in their benighted minds, the phone company decided to turn on our DSL service last Thursday, but did not turn on the land line. The cell phones drop service in the middle of calls even though they show full coverage. Just one darned thing after another.

On the positive side, though, we think we have all of the totes out of the garage and stowed away. All of the kitchen boxes that made their way into the apartment have been unpacked. On to the next step -- bringing boxes up out of the garage and unpacking. Forward!

I tried to take pictures last night of our exquisite view. They were either too light, too dark or too shaky to post here. I'll try again later. We have a panorama view of Denver all the way out to the airport. I will figure this out!

long drive

2008-07-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

We left our former town this morning around 7:30 and drove over 400 miles today to Ogallala NE. We thought about driving the rest of the way and swiftly decided that would be nuts. Is that the polite way to put it? If we had gone all the way, we would have either have awakened our daughter LATE at night, so she would have had a rotten night of sleep or we would have found a motel there, which seems silly, as we were both tired, hot, sweaty, grimey and ready to stop. So we did.

Stopped at a wonderful restaurant (walked over from the motel.) The waitress went absolutely out of her way to make sure that the food was safe for me. I know that food allergies make it more difficult for restaurants, but it sure makes it difficult on this end too! To have a waitress work so hard so I can safely eat -- priceless!

Right now we are in the motel room, praying that the air conditioning will finally kick in enough that we will feel cool enough to sleep. Right now, despite a shower, I am dripping in sweat.

We aren't going to stop at the Brown Sheep outlet. I'd love to. I really would. But with one truck on limited mileage and neither one exactly "fuel efficient," not to mention the "small" detail of spousal patience, I didn't suggest the stop. Actually, I did when we were originally in process of discussion of the trip, and his response was such that I dropped the idea. sigh I'd love to go, but we would probably spend more in gas for both trucks than I'd save. whine

Whine

2008-06-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a day that went on its way in a handbasket? Today was one of those.

We picked up the rental truck. I somehow misread the size of the truck. I thought we were getting one for a 2-3 BEDROOM house, and had requested a 2-3 ROOM house. Do you see the problem here? We could either have packed most of the furniture or the boxes. Not both.

I just about had a meltdown. I knew it was my fault and it was up to me to decide what to do. Howard was busy with the wonderful friends who were attempting to fill the truck as thoroughly as possible. I called around, there wasn't a truck to be had until Monday.

So, Monday morning we will pick up a second truck in Des Moines, drive it up here and load it with the rest of our belongings. We will each drive a truck out. I just don't see any other way around it. This is not a popular decision with either of us, but...

Lots of soda, water and nutritious snacks. Which will also mean rest stops. grin We will definitely be making a 2 day drive of it (found that out when we realized the tow trailer for the car has a 55 mph limit. ) So, we'll start off first thing Tuesday morning and drive about half way. Then we'll drive on in Wednesday.

Some of Serena's co-workers have volunteered to unload the truck Thursday after work. They are just as grateful as we are that there is an elevator -- we will be on the 4th floor! Others have volunteered to come by on Friday -- a holiday! they are giving up a free day to help us! We are grateful for such generous friends!

Just as I had the truck situation under control, I received another phone call. Howard's hard drive on his laptop has melted down.

Are we having fun yet?

Updates

2008-06-25T07:23:00.001-07:00

Before we left for Duluth we drove by some of the flooding in town. We are high enough that we were not affected in the least. People in town had sandbagged for several days, successful in some areas not so much in others.

Justin was teething while we were in Duluth. That means that as we held him we were dribbled upon. Isn't it wonderful that babies are so cuddly that one doesn't care? LOL
This is a WINDY picture of the family in Duluth. A lovely lady offered to take a picture of all of us, so we have this windblown shot. Don't you love all of the sunglasses! This is our immediate family, taken by Stacey. Kim, Nathan, Justin, Serena, me and Howard.

This is the Hunt clan that got together that day, me, Stacey, Kim, Nathan, Justin, Serena and Howard.

See how Justin is willing to play?

I feel as if I'm being nibbled to death by ducks. (Thanks to my friend Dianne for the expression.)

We are almost packed. We are waiting for final confirmation on apartment. Friends are coming in Saturday to load the truck. At this point it looks as if we will leave Tuesday morning. Life is an adventure! I am trying to remind myself of this.

Asthma has kicked in again (surprise surprise) and I'm on a high dose of prednisone. That makes all of what is happening even more emotionally wearing.

For good news, Justin now has two teeth. The first was expected, the second surprised his parents three days after. The first e-mail said, WE HAVE TOOTH!!!! The second message was a text message saying, "There are now 2 teeth! Didn't know that the second one was coming in!

Ack

2008-06-11T11:38:00.001-07:00

Today I fell apart. Cried when talking with someone. I think it is the first time I've cried since all this started. It was hard to stop.

I'm so glad that I'm knitting for someone else during this time. It would be so hard if I saw the sweater constantly. Too much of a reminder of difficult times. This sweater has such strong emotions knit into it, I'm amazed the yarn can handle it! The intended victim's dog died, then her house was hit by a tornado, I had to frog the sweater twice -- THAT elicted strong emotions! and then Howard losing his job. I think it will be finished before we move -- the new project will have different emotions.

We are packed. All but the last things around the house which will be done at the end. Over 2 weeks early, but I feel good about it. Boxes abound.

Oh Fudge

2008-06-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

I was quite proud of my progress on Margaret's Mermaid, but still had a niggling concern at the back of my mind. I measured today, with 1/4 of the body knit. Even though I had managed gauge on the sleeves with the same needle, the stress of the last weeks shows on my knitting. I frogged again, and am going up a needle size to be able to knit this correctly. So far I've knit the body 1 1/4 times. I look forward to knitting it completely, correctly and happily!

It is a good thing that I like the way this sweater looks as I knit it, or I think I'd throw it in a corner, stamp my feet and scream! snivel

On the packing front, the house is becoming occupied by boxes. I started a stack in the fiber room while I was working in there, and it kind of grew on me. :) So the two back rooms are stacked with boxes.

I have been nagged by the feeling that we need to be packed long before we need to be gone. In exploring that, I've come to realize that comes from our past

About a week before we moved from Portland Nathan was hospitalized with croup and asthma for 5 days. The Tooles and Petersons came in the last day and stuffed things in boxes and loaded them on the truck. (That was an...interesting move. We couldn't get the tow trailer lights to work on the car -- the first night we stayed at a motel and the crew from "The Incredible Hulk" got them to work for us! We didn't mess with that connection until we got to Oklahoma.)
When we moved from Colorado, I went to the doctor for a lump in my throat 3 weeks before we moved. A week later I went back to the doc, and was hospitalized until AFTER the truck had come to get our stuff. Wonderful friends who, in Howard's words, -- I was in the hospital 3 hours away -- "descended on the house like locusts, packed things in boxes until there were no more boxes then stuffed things in trash bags and loaded them on the truck." After they were finished he had to buy clothes and medicines for the journey as everything had been packed. That's all right, we would not have gotten everything to our new house without them.

So, I have precedent worrying me. If we are finished packing early, so be it. I'd rather whine about not having enough to read than not be ready when it is time.

Blech

2008-06-05T07:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry, whine ahead. Ignore if you like.

We have had problems with centipedes in this house since we moved in. I've not been able to get on top of the problem. I am sure a lot of the problem comes from the leaks in the bathroom and laundry room when we first moved in -- the crawl space is damp -- a breeding ground for the dratted things.

I don't do well with centipedes. They repel me.

This morning I was packing the kitchen. I opened a cupboard that has the best china. What do I see but a centipede wriggling away. Ick, ick, ick! I did pack that cupboard. I felt that I'd probably not be able to tackle that cupboard later if I didn't do it right then.

Now I'm taking time away from the kitchen, to slow my soul. I really don't like them!

That begs the question, of course...what else will I find? And WHERE?

I will be glad to get out of this house!

packing, packing, packing!

2008-05-30T13:12:00.001-07:00

We are packing and packing. Although I see progress, I am still at the point of seeing how much is left to DO, as opposed to how much is done.

I did finish the Velveteen Rabbit sweater, which is quite happily back with its owner. He picked it up yesterday. I think it turned out better than I'd anticipated, I'm not sure for him, as I really am not sure what he thought it would become. He hopes it is now good for another 37 years. :)

I suspect you really do NOT want to see the wall of packed boxes, correct? Nor the spaces where stuff used to be. Didn't think so. Take my word for it. They are both there. More will be gone by Monday night, as the city does a clean-up where you can put furniture etc. out of the curb for others to choose. What is not picked up by new owners is picked up by the city. Gone, out of our lives. Somewhat sad on some things, but freeing.

I hadn't realized how much NOISE the little freezer made until it found a new home with someone else today. We freecycled it, the people picked up the freezer, a dresser and a trunk.

Last night a bad storm blew through. The weather radio was going out fairly regularly. I have to confess, after the storm moved east of us, I unplugged it. I couldn't stand it any more. I'd almost be asleep and BLAAT! I don't know how yours works, but ours will warble/blat/whatever VERY loudly for over a minute. Actually, the other evening I was going to let it go, figuring that it was a test. After 2+ minutes I decided I should check it. Yup, it was a real storm, not the twice a week test. sorry about that!

Last Monday I got an e-mail from a friend in Denmark, checking to see if we were all right, as she had heard about the bad tornado in Iowa. We weren't affected, but my aunt was. She is in Parkersburg, but the tornado missed her. A tree down, but as far as I've heard, nothing else. Of course, she had to leave for a while as she didn't have services -- water, sewer, gas or electricity. Small world, that I hear about a tornado an hour down the highway from us from Norway.

Moving

2008-05-27T14:47:00.001-07:00

Yes, we are moving. No, we don't know where. We do know that Howard's job ends June 30, so that does give us a timeframe.

Scary times!

A motley post

2008-05-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Last week my computer presented me with the dreaded "blue screen of death". Four days later I have it back, still not sure what went wrong, but it seems to be working. We did buy an external backup for it, while I was backing it up monthly, it had been 3 weeks since the last one. The computer people were originally muttering about "wiping the drive", which worried me.

I really do not like packing. It seems that everything we own multiplies, so there is so much more than I think there is. It also takes more room to put it all in boxes, than put tidily away. I only have a small stash of acrylic yarn, it is being used to fill in those odd shaped places that happen when you put books in boxes. There isn't much left to pack of those skeins, only 3 left. Too bad I don't want to use the wool skeins! I might not have enough yarn to complete ALL of the book boxes, but it would do a lot of them!

And I do odd things. I was in the middle of re-reading a series. What did I do? I packed the rest of those books! Pfftp! I really don't want to open finished boxes, that rather defeats the purpose.

I know that one move I got tired of labeling boxes as "books". So I used variations on that theme: "more books", "I'll bet you can guess what is in this box!", "yes, we have a lot of books" and "yes, we've read all of these". You get the idea. I suspect the first 20 or so boxes were regular, but by the time we were at 63 boxes... That was the last time I actually COUNTED the number of boxes of books. It becomes a bit daunting.

I saw a new doctor last week, who changed my asthma medication. The pulmonologist said the next day that 80% of patients do just as well on it as what I was taking before. I'm part of the 20%. I've been wheezing since the change. I've changed back to the other medication, but my lungs have yet to forgive me. The dust from all of the books? Who knows. Whatever, it has certainly negatively affected my knitting! As in, I can't! grump

We are at that stage of life where we are paring down. It is hard to do. We have a lot of books up on PaperBackSwap.com (no, they aren't all paperbacks), there have been items of furniture that have found new homes. But I still feel the urge to pass more stuff on -- slowly. I guess I'll know when it is enough.

Oh Bother

2008-05-14T09:11:00.000-07:00

I realized last week that I'd changed gauge on the Mermaid as I knit it. Although I'd almost finished the body, I wound up frogging it entirely. I can't believe that I didn't notice, but it happened. It was way too small for the intended victim, so there wasn't a real choice, there isn't a point in giving someone a sweater that doesn't fit. I decided to knit the sleeves first this time, I finished the second one this morning.

Right now I'm starting on a job of sweater repair. It is a sweater that I believe has come something of a Velveteen Rabbit for the owner. He's had it for 37 years and has worn it every winter. It has held up well, but it needs some help.

New Justin pics

2008-05-07T09:53:00.001-07:00

Isn't this a great picture that Kim took? I laughed when I saw it, every time I see it I smile. He looks so happy. I love these pictures. This is a new toy, as he steps on the piano keys below, he plays music. There are many other things that he can do, but the making music seems to be key. (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun.)

There once was a

2008-05-06T07:11:00.001-07:00

When we moved from Fresno to Portland, many years ago, Mrs. Williford gave us a dresser and a book for Serena (who was around 18 months old at the time.) We used the dresser for years, it just went to a family with 4 children, to continue the tradition of giving.

But the book. Ah, the book. We read that book over and over and over to both children. It got to the point that we knew it by heart. I don't know what happened to our copy. I want to read it to Justin when we can.

Yesterday a new copy came. Howard was able to identify it by the back cover alone. He didn't know that it was coming, but he knew exactly what it was when this picture emerged from the envelope.

The book? "The Boy With A Drum" by David L. Harrison and pictures by Eloise Wilkin I look forward to reading it to Justin many times.

And then again...

2008-05-04T19:07:00.000-07:00

As I was admiring this sock, I thought, "This looks pretty small." After more rows, where I was still worried about it, I finally gave up and tried it on. I believe this means I will frog it again. sigh

Playing

2008-05-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

Remember me, Ms. "I Hate to Knit With Colors"? Look what is on my needles at the moment!

Finished!

2008-05-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

I asked my good friend Gen to model Mom's sweater, as they are near to a size. I think it turned out pretty well!

I have started a pair of gorgeous socks for me. Well, they will be gorgeous if I manage to get them knit up! These are stranded knitting, which means using a chart to keep track of the knitting. I can do this with cables, I don't know why I have troubles with this. Anyway, I just frogged (rip-it, rip-it) 35 rows on one sock and 25 on the other. whimper

Then I started another pair of socks for me. Just simple socks in a gorgeous color that has been marinating in my stash for too long. I had about 4 inches of each sock done when I took a good look at them. They were HUGE! So they frogged out as well. It wasn't my best knitting week, because while I finished Mom's sweater and the humming socks, the rest of my knitting turned out to be negative knitting!

Dentist knitting

2008-04-29T05:15:00.001-07:00

I had started the pair of socks that shall be known as humming to take to the dentist yesterday. Unfortunately, I'd knit more on the plain part than I should have. I realized that it was NOT going to carry me through the dental work. So I grabbed cotton yarn and needles on the way out the door and cast on for another Tribble. Started knitting away. And knitting. He needed to do a lot of work on that poor tooth.

I learned the following things while knitting without a chance of seeing my knitting (non-knitters, ignore all but the first one):

trying to pass the ball of yarn through the last stitch requires grabbing the CORRECT ball of yarn. You see, there was also another TWO balls of yarn in my little bag, and I carefully lifted the wrong one through that stitch and started pulling. And pulling. Finally gave up and stuffed the rotten thing in my bag. You know that cotton can make a mess when it isn't corralled, don't you? It did.
I can do an SSK, but it takes more thought than a k2tog;
I counted stitches to tell which row I was knitting. Counting helped me concentrate on knitting instead of the dentist, and if the row was coming up short a stitch, it meant I was on the pattern row;
a normal bind-off didn't take much effort, in fact, it was looser than my normal one;
my fingers are smarter than I think they are!

Another rotten mess straightened up last night. I am not good at winding a center pull ball on my own. Isabel tried a couple of times. I understand the theory, but seem to fail practicum. I rolled up a skein while at Nathan's. When I started knitting it I realized I made not been successful again. sigh I wound up as much as possible on the ball winder, then broke the rest and called it quits. Last night I sat down with it and untangled. Remembering WHY I don't like to untangle messes like this. But it needed to be done. And it now is in a tidy EXTERIOR pulling ball. That last little bit that might be needed for the socks, it would be terrible to run out!

That lady and her camera

2008-04-27T13:01:00.001-07:00

Nathan hates having his picture taken. I caught him chatting on the phone and smiling, and couldn't resist. Of course, with the way things go, it is NOT a good picture of Justin. But I like the expression on NATHAN's face!

These two are so close to each other, but I couldn't choose between him. He looks so serious, doesn't he. There were a lot of smiles this trip, I certainly didn't catch a single one on the camera!

Justin has found his voice! He has learned to squeal. It is hard to know without looking at his body language whether he is squealing in anger or fun. He likes the noise, but it tends to startle him too!

He's teething, Grandma's fingers were great to chew on. He is making bubbles and doing a lot of drooling. It will probably be a while until those teeth come in, but he'll chew away until they do!

But Grandma!

2008-04-27T12:58:00.001-07:00

I believe this is called, "But Grandma, you guessed WRONG on how big I am!" What do you think? He'll grow in to it, of course, but doesn't he look bemused?

But they ...

2008-04-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

I was complaining in the car yesterday about this sock yarn. It is part of the Kaffe Fassett collection by Regia. He is well known in the knitting world for his use of color. Which, I'm sure, is why he was asked to put together this collection. I don't know, perhaps something went wrong between the colors he chose and the colors that were reproduced. Whatever, I was whining (let's be honest here, right?) and said to Howard, "The colors don't SING!"

There was a pause as the man searched for the right thing to say. He has been around me long enough.

Finally he said quietly, "no, but they are trying to hum."

Musing on socks

2008-04-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

In the fall of 95, Joan Hamer donated a sock pattern to the Knitlist. It sparked a whole new era of knitting for many of us. Hundreds of pairs were knit by listmembers. When stores discontinued carrying Woolease, Knitters descended in throngs to purchase all of the existing stock.

After a while, people began creating new patterns for socks. XRX held a sock contest, the winning entries were displayed at Stitches and included in the "Socks, Socks, Socks" book. Judy Gibson designed a toe-up pattern that resulted in a sock that looked exactly like one knit from the top, her "You're putting me on!" pattern.

Some gentleman developed a machine that dyed the yarn in a pattern that striped or mimicked Fair Isle patterning! Big stars for him! That excited our imaginations. When the yarn first came out, it was easier to buy in Europe than in the US. So swaps were formed. Those living abroad had "wish lists", those that wanted the sock yarn (and other goodies not available here at that time) happily filled wish lists in exchange for OUR wish lists. I did several swaps with Colonel Holly Doyne -- she seems to remember the package of zippers I sent the best (all sizes and colors, based on her preferences), I remember the Regia booklets, the Horst Schultz books and a 100 gram skein of the most marvelous yarn. It was teal/blue/green/yellow and looked like spring to me. I was in a sock swap at the time, I knit up a PINK sock with stranded patterning for my partner and knit that green yarn with black stranding for me. The socks didn't match deliberately, I wanted to play with patterns. I did something wonky on the heels, but they fit well enough. After this many years, the socks are showing signs of wear. Serious wear, as in "I'm not sure I can fix this wear." Which was a cause of some sadness. And since I never received the socks from my swap partner, I couldn't replace them with warm thoughts from her.

Yesterday in the mail came two skeins that look as if they are family members of that pair. My heart is happy!

My yarn weakness

2008-04-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

It is sad, but I have realized that I have this terrible weakness as to sock yarn. I have a stash of it. I will admit to a having enough to be able to knit socks for several years without running out. Yet there is something about seeing sock yarn for sale that makes my heart go pitter pat for a moment. I talk myself out of it, so far. You will please notice that I'd like to make a promise that I will continue to do so, but... What is it about sock yarn, as opposed to any other yarn? I started to say I could understand if it were -- a different kind of yarn -- but then my mind went blank. I really couldn't imagine any other yarn "tripping my switch." I started to write cashmere, and remembered the cashmere in my stash that is patiently waiting for me to come up with some sort of project for it. Just to get it out of my stash. It has been there long enough, but without an inspiration it sits. Hm, qiviut? I knit up all that I had and gave the projects away. Sweater yarn? I have enough for many sweaters in my stash right now, I don't feel a need to pick up any yarn for that.

But sock yarn. Ah. What is it about SOCK yarn? I don't know. The fact that socks usually go fairly quickly? As opposed, of course, to a sweater which could take SO much more yarn and take longer to knit. The magic of turning the heel? Even after 90+ pairs of socks, I still delight in heels. I don't know why. But I love sock yarn.

Mom's Sweater

2008-04-17T07:54:00.001-07:00

So earlier in the week I was going to post this picture, of the finished sleeves. Took the picture, never put it up.
Early this morning I finished the body of the sweater. "Only" the miles of edging to go. Around both sleeves and the entire sweater. That may take as long as the REST of the sweater!
I wish I could get a picture that clearly shows the color. It is a mainly blue, but there are flecks of magenta and green, so it "reads" more of a teal. At least, it does to me.

I find it fun that I am knitting with this color. As I started in on it, I realized it is the same tones as Howard's vest I knit years ago o of the now discontinued color of Woolease -- Tartan Twist. That one used plies of the various colors to achieve the desired effect. The yarn I am spinning on Albert, my Victoria wheel is turning out the same as Mom's yarn, I'm spinning it so the colors blend instead of separating. I now know what to do so that I can make the colors separate, but right now I'm happy with the tweed effect. I don't know how many pairs of socks Iknit out of Tartan Twist, that was a color that several people were drawn to when I was knitting Joan's sock pattern, the pattern that taught so many knitlisters to knit and love socks. There we were, all learning at the same time. Whee! It was a fun time!

The Trouble With Tribbles

2008-04-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? Smoking knitting needles, I guess is the best way to put it! I saw a pattern called "Tribbles" online at Ravelry. And one thing just seemed to lead to another then another. I couldn't make just one, they are fun and addictive to knit.Then I knit some more of them!
And then there are those facecloths I've been knitting. I'm getting a nice basket-full, don't you think? This is popcorn knitting, mindless, easy at the end of the day when my brain doesn't want to function. Last night I just couldn't face the final bit on the body of Mom's sweater. So I cast on a facecloth, and by the time for bed, it was finished and a tribble was too, all but the finishing on the tribble! Which took moments this morning. I LOVE finishing a project so quickly.

Think Spring!

2008-04-17T07:44:00.001-07:00

Howard was outside the other day, and called me to see. Look! The strawberry plants are starting to grow! New growth is poking up amid all of the dead leaves, which protected them from frost. Whew! Winter is leaving!

Saturday

2008-04-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Howard was been gone all day. It was a nice, quiet day. My favorite.

I called the doc first thing yesterday, wound up going in. Which would have been all well and good, but although I sat in a corner, someone saturated in perfume sat 4 seats away. By the time I was called back, I was in some distress. At least the doc now sees what happens. He was amazed that my voice was so bad and deep. I think I’m going to have to rethink how I handle the doc’s office. Maybe check in, go back to the car and wait until they call me on the phone to come back? I wasn’t in good shape, dumped my purse twice (which I NEVER do!), shaky, just felt out of control. Unfortunately, yesterday Howard had needed to sleep, so he got up just as I was leaving (again a rare occasion.) That meant I had to drive to the pharmacy, wait for the new med, then drive home, even though I did not feel as if that was a safe proposition. Usually when I feel that way I refuse to drive. What was I supposed to do? It was raining, not a good day for my lungs to walk home either, the way they felt.

Got home, wandered around, and finally surrendered. I took a nap! I don’t DO naps! It was imperative, I slept more than 2 hours. Thinking about it today, I don’t think it was lack of sleep or the new med. I think it was the reaction to that perfume. That seemed to have done me in.

Anyway, today is MUCH better. Mom’s sweater is humming along, when I sit down to do it. I have had a couple of sweating issues, but not like yesterday evening, when I wound up changing from the skin out 4 times before I went to sleep. I was running out of clothing to put on! For some odd reason, I did two loads of wash today. I finished both sleeves today and cast on for the body.

A lot of nattering, probably about nothing. Thanks for listening!

Attacked by a project!

2008-04-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

This is partly what I wrote to Dianne and Helle, partly new rambling.

Monday night I decided to finally ball up some 5 skeins of yarn that have been waiting. For a long time for me to get a "Round TUIT." I was ready to start Mom's sweater. I really truly was. See, I had 2+ skeins (minus the swatch) all rolled. I had the gauge swatch done and measured. I had the provisional cast-on done for the sleeves. And I stalled. Big time. I was so tired, I just couldn't do it.

Showered, because I felt I was salt encrusted (it hasn't been a good time for these prednisone hot flashes. I am changing clothes fairly constantly during the day.)

Picked up one ball of the teal Butterfly cotton to do a gauge swatch. Just that. And it grew. I rifled through some Mon Tricot books, trying to find just what I wanted -- a onesie. Couldn't. Did find a top with matching shorts that could be adapted, I guess. Won't look like the original when I'm done! :)

Started the first flap, then did the second. Finally went to bed. Woke up at 4 this morning and couldn't sleep. Stayed in bed for about a half hour and gave up. I went into the other room, grabbed my knitting and a book and away I went. I we t to Kmart and picked up 4 onesies 9 month, 12 month, 18 month and 24 month Howard was at a meeting down the street. I can have enough to make a pattern in each size. If people are interested. I find it curious, all 4 were the same brand. The size 12 month was SMALLER than the 9. In fact, the two are reversed. I would say that somewhere there was a mistake.

Mom's sweater, of course, hasn't started. But I'm feeling really good about this one! LOL

I love Butterfly cotton. This is a DK, I'm knitting it fairly tightly -- at 6 sts an inch. I thought about doing snaps at the crotch, but I also remember how the snap tapes didn't hold well when I sewed things for Serena. So I thought small buttons. I think that if I do offer it up for a pattern, that I should do it in more than one color. Teal is what I have on hand. I'll have to see what I can find. I'm not doing a "girlie" color (which is all pretty much is offered on Ravelry at this time, unless I want to buy enough for MANY!) because I prefer that it be WORN! LOL

I woke up early again this morning and started in on this way a great deal of joy. Well, except for the time that I was talking with Howard later in the morning and suddenly bound off! That was a surprise. grin

It is in the dryer now, already having gone through the wash. I am hoping that washing will even the stitches, I did this in stockinette, but I really need to knit a cotton in at least a SIMPLE pattern, as it shows every single freaking tension change.

This is the first project in a long time that has grabbed me and not let go! :)

what must be learned

2008-04-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

It is funny how I have forced myself to change in some ways. Almost a year ago (hey, I was on pred then too!) I broke that bone in my foot reacting to the timer. A moment in time well remembered.

Now, when the timer goes off, I don't go running. There are times that I can tell it is driving Howard nuts, but I can let it ring. Stupid thing rings for a minute.

I don't always learn quickly. I don't always learn well. But I did learn that running to turn off a timer can be counter-productive, in fact, painful!

Timers are my friend, but I need to be in control of them, as opposed to them being in control of me!

I did get the stitches picked up for the collar. One by one by one. A slow process, hindered by this odd desire to save as much of the waste yarn as possible. Let me think about this. Waste yarn. By definition, to be thrown away. So what is my compulsion to save it? I have ounces of this pink yarn that was given to me. Some of it double stranded, some not. I have used it for waste yarn for several years now, um, longer than I really want to think. At least the early 90s? Serena was still in high school. There is probably enough to last me until I die and beyond. Yet I still try to salvage it when I use it. Who knows. I do remember Jane Carrigan, who gave the yarn to me way back when. She had started a top for herself and abandoned it. I got the yarn. It is wonderful for the waste yarn. Crochet up a chain (I can do that much) and pick up the stitches. But, I picked them up stitch by stitch, unraveling as I could, and snipping when it became necessary. Through all of that waste yarn in the trash when I was done. Ready to go on to the next step.

howard and birds

2008-04-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Howard loves to feed the birds. We have 3 bird feeders in the back yard, a suet feeder, and squirrel food on the ground. The squirrel feeder was an attempt to keep the um, the um, the pests (there are many other words that Howard uses here, I was trying to come up with a "family friendly" one) out of the regular feeders. They can only access one of them, their tries to get to the others are fun to watch. I've posted before about Howard's antics with the squirrels.

He isn't fond of grackles. They are messy, they waste the food, they scare off the smaller birds.

This morning, his loving wife (that would be me) text messaged him: Grackle grateful for suet!
Howard: Grrrr!
LW: :) but I thought you smile at the thought of pleasing a birdie! Giggle! :)
Howard: You are evil, in a very nice way!

I realized that trying to pick up the stitches from the provisional cast-on (for the facing/collar of the Mermaid) is NOT a good idea when the hands are shaking from the pred. Not, not, not. I'll do it later.

I tried to knit the sheep facecloth last night. It is cute, I had some white cotton that would have been perfect for it. I made it through the first row of bobbles. And frogged to the start of the pattern. Knit a facecloth in stockinette stitch with garter edges. There was no way I was going to happily do all of those bobbles. Just not. There was also the reality of how long those bobbles would take to DRY when the cloth was used! The rest of the cloth would dry, those could mold. That is my story, and I am sticking with it. I'm not a bobble knitter.

Bother

2008-04-06T12:48:00.001-07:00

I had planned to spend quality time today, learning how to do a braided cast on. I have decided that is better suited to a day when I am NOT on prednisone, and can make sense of the directions. Until then, I will knit a swatch, make facecloths, work on the Mermaid or whatever. Note to self: do not try to learn something when the brain is not fully present. At least, do not try on your own. If someone else is there to catch mistakes it might be different. Not today.

knitted prayers

2008-04-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

Friday night I was knitting away at the Mermaid for my friend Margaret. It felt as if I wasn't supposed to stop. I thought of her, prayed, and knit away into the evening and late into the night.

Yesterday I kept trying to call her. I felt there was a reason I had felt that way. The phones were busy. All day. Now that is odd. I kept trying and knitting. Praying for Margaret and Don.

Last night I received an e-mail from another friend that Margaret and Don are all right, but their house was damaged in the tornado that went through Friday night.

I have just a bit more to go on the body of the Mermaid, then I will put it down for a bit. During clean-up, she really does NOT need me to call and ask for her sleeve length. If I become too impatient, I'll just knit the sleeves per the pattern. I know they run long -- the designer is a tall person (so is Margaret. Hey, most people are taller than I am at 5' 2". I knit the sleeves for Serena, Kim and me shorter because we don't NEED that sleeve length. I'm pretty sure that Margaret will need the pattern length, if not a bit more.

Rats

2008-04-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

I like Panera's bagels. Plain. Those are safe. Toasted are best. grin Was eating one last night and broke a tooth. This is the second tooth I've broken on one of those bagels. Really, they aren't THAT hard!

I was putzing around the house, waiting for the dentist office to call. I started a batch of oatmeal cookies. I am, perhaps unfortunately, NOT a precise cook. Baker. Whatever. I tend to go with the feel. After all, the flour is more moist some days than others. I also use my fingers to form the little dough balls. Howard left, my fingers were absolutely covered with dough. Dentist called. I am glad she called, but 3 minutes either way would have saved a really sticky mess on the phone!

Mermaid is growing. There are less than 2 stripe sections to go on the body. I am enjoying this knit again. I love the kingfisher (teal) color yarn that is the contrast. I would never choose the black and grey for the body for myself (wrong colors!) but it is going to be stunning on Margaret!

All Fool's Day

2008-04-01T13:56:00.003-07:00

Yesterday afternoon the postman knocked. He had a lot of mail for us in the truck, but wanted us to know that we had what looked like a water main break. There is a little fountain coming out of the ground here. I wish it had showed up better. It ran down the sidewalk and out the neighbor's driveway, then down to the street all night, at a respectable rate.

The picture below is just before the dig. You will notice that Mother Nature had a surprise for us as well -- that white stuff was NOT forecast.

They started digging. And digging. And digging. 5 truckfuls of dirt came out, I didn't count the dirt going back in. It was a cold day to play in water. Although, to be honest, some of the things that they did looked a lot like little boys playing in a huge puddle of water. Making big splashes. With the backhoe. THAT makes a splash all right! LOL
Called the landlady, she had been under the impression that there wasn't much grass removed. Oh. Well. Yes. I think there was.

Someone asked if I was planning to do any April Fool's Day tricks. I think enough is enough, don't you?

Smile!

2008-03-30T09:43:00.001-07:00

SMILE!

Justin and Us

2008-03-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Justin and Grandpa. Need I say more?

Justin and me

Gen's Quilt

2008-03-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Gen made a quilt up for Justin. So we used it for play time on the floor. This almost smile was just before or just after a BIG smile. I just wasn't fast enough.

Justin and his sweaters

2008-03-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

This is the goldfish sweater, with the Dale of Norway Baby Ull yarn Mabel and Kay bought in Norway. Honestly the first sweater we tried on, but he wasn't quite sure what that idiot Grandma was doing with the camera! grin She sure stuck it in his face a lot!

This is the Presto Chango sweater, from jimmy beans Wool, knit out of Brown Sheep superwash

This cardigan became a pullover because Grandma forgot the buttonholes! sigh I tried to continue as a cardigan. It would have none of it. Perhaps that is just as well, because buttons like this won't be easy to button on a squirming toddler. As you can see, I went with the majority rule, and put in an additional 3 buttons. There are still 4 buttons left to decorate something!

The Joy of a Grandson

2008-03-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

We are a family of readers.

Justin was grumpy today. Actually, he was very hungry and wasn't happy about having to wait for his milk. We were trying to wait for Mommy to come home, but it wasn't going to happen. Sorry Mommy! I was holding him while Grandpa thawed milk for him. There was a copy of "Peter Rabbit" on the table, a tiny cardboard version of Beatrix Potter's beloved book. I picked it up in desperation and started reading it to him. I didn't show him pictures, but he quieted and listened to the rhythm of the words. The book ended and he started fussing again. So I read it again. Just as I finished, he came to the end of his patience, but Grandpa had come through! The milk was ready!

I think we have another reader!

Pictures will be coming! He is a toad like his Daddy about pictures. He will have the biggest smile on his face, but bring out the camera and it disappears! Especially as you push the button. It might have been there as you pushed, but in that moment, it is gone and there is a wide-eyed look of astonishment that you would even think that you could catch a smile. grin

chuckle

2008-03-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

We stayed in a lovely hotel last night in St. Paul. There are lovely white comforters on the beds. I was knitting away at my Mermaid, and thought "this would be a great place to take a progress picture!" I guess it is official -- knitting rules! Howard, the sweety, just laughed. The body is officially to half. Yay!

We were going to explore downtown St. Paul by foot. I was wheezing, though, so we didn't go very far. I needed my prednisone, and couldn't take that until we ate. Stopped at a likely place and had a lovely time. I'm so glad that retaurants here are now smoke free! We ate at Matty B's, the maitre d' took special care so that I could eat safely. It is worrisome trying to eat away from home with so many food allergies, he went far out of his way so that I could have a delicious meal. There was a jazz band playing in the background, we were on the other side of the restaurant, so chatting was easy. It was a delightful experience.

As you may have noticed, I'm back on pred. There wasn't much wheezing, but there wasn't much air getting in and out of the lungs either. My voice has been staying in the bass register, which causes some hilarity with friends. There was a debate as to whether Howard and I had switched voices (which would have been a good trick in and of itself, but it has been deeper than his.) Some people close to me couldn't recognize my voice. I guess it is hard to process when you know the person's voice and it is suddenly SO much deeper. Memorable, I understand. grin

Oh Wow!

2008-03-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Not very long ago I talked with our dear friend Gen about making a quilt for our bed. I've loved Star of David quilts for so many years. I tried quilting in the early 80s, I made a few tiny things and stopped. The ladies in Idalia Colorado quilted, I learned a bit more. But my abilities are um, weak. Gen is a QUILT MAKER! She loves to piece the way I love to knit.
Gen generously told me to come over and choose the fabric from her stash. Yesteday she came over to give this to us. She wanted to give us a visible sign of her love. I think that she has given us a hug that will be cherished the rest of our lives. I had tears in my eyes as I unfolded this precious gift.

She apologized that she wasn't able to quilt it. Oh my word! I think she gave so much already. I have checked with a friend who knows a quilter who may be willing to quilt it.

Each time I see this quilt, I will be hugged by Gen. Her love will enfold us at night.

What an absolutely lovely gift from the heart! God bless you Gen!

The Goldfish Sweater

2008-03-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here is the finished Goldfish! I dropped it down onto the snowbank outside the front door, then took it looking down at it. I couldn't quite reach the arm to untuck it where it fell, but the rest of the sweater almost looks posed. Almost.

Yarn used, Dale of Norway Baby Ull, 4 skeins, I started with Brenda Zuk's Salmon Run then played with it. My fish are shorter, thus they look fatter. Pattern designed using SweaterWizard and Stitch and Motif Maker.

Oh, and it is resting on a new bed of the white rain that fell last night.