I'm Sorry!

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!

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!

packing, packing, packing!

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

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!

Eep!

I started an e-book. I made the mistake of reading a review about it. Normally, a review is a summary of the absolute essentials of the book. This one says "Because this is such a great ending, I'm not going to divulge anything else about it. You'll have to read the book to find out."

Now, for a person who has a hard time starting a book without reading the ending to make sure it all comes out okay, this is horrible! One of the few times I didn't want to read the end to find out and the reviewer does this to me? mutter, mutter, mutter! Yes, despite the years of being yelled at by family and friends, I still read the end of the book first.

So far I've not given in to tempation. Will it last? I dunno. :)

Maybe I'll take a picture of the goldfish sweater in the white rain that is on the ground. The forecast was "it is too warm for any snow, it will all fall as rain." HAH! That is some awfully solid white rain on the ground, I watched the neighbor shoveling it.

Stuff

Should I call this a Medley of Mitts? I also thought Melange would work as well. I couldn't post until they were received, now could I! As shown in the earlier picture, my sister and parents were so pleased with the mitts I sent right after Christmas, they asked for more. So more they got. These are made from (from upper left) dark green Patons Kroy, Trekking and Patons Kroy, (center) Brown Sheep Wildefoot Symphony, Patons Canadiana, Patons Astra and Brown Sheep Wildefoot Violet Garden (I don't think that color is on the general market, I got both of these skeins at the Factory outlet. That was ALL of the symphony!)


Here is the Hanne Falkenberg "Tutti-Frutti" in my variation so far. Two strands of Patons Kroy for each color. I need to finish the back as well as the ends of both sleeves and the neckband. And, as you can see, I have ends to sew in. I really like how it is turning out. At first I'd planned to just use black and red, but it seemed so -- blah. I think the white really pulled it together and made it. I've gotten many compliments already on it!

This is for Stacey, who complains that it doesn't get cold there. Hm, I think she may be bragging instead of complaining, actually. We set a new record low temperature last night, this was the inside pane of a double paned window this morning. You KNOW it is cold when the outside door has frost on the inside.This happened in the kitchen, the lower edge of the door and the sill were white with frost on the inside. BRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

EEEK!

We have spent 16 hours in the car over the last 3 days. Here to Nathan and Kim's, there to the MSP airport and back (to pick Serena up) and then home today. Then we will drive up Christmas Day to have Christmas with the kids, then drive Serena back to the airport, then back up to N & K's. From there, we don't know what we will do -- yet.

It is so frustrating, to get so freaking many political phone calls a day! Good grief! Even though I've committed to a candidate, they call me so many times to make sure I'm still planning to vote for this person. GIVE ME A FREAKING BREAK! The more you push me, the more irritated I feel. The political commercials are on constantly, the phone calls are ridiculous! Why in the world do we live here?

Still no baby. Poor Kim. She isn't comfortable. Neither of them (she nor Nathan) are sleeping well (surprise, surprise!) The only good thing is that we know that it will, eventually, end. Her blood pressure climbed suddenly, she was put on bed rest yesterday. Hm, good thing she was going to be off work Monday and Tuesady anyway!

With all of the driving time Thursday and today, I did get knitting accomplished. Not Friday, however, as we drove in the dark, and I didn't want to mess up the pattern. It is hard to get the correct number of rows in a Fibonacci sequence when you can't see what you are doing! LOL

A cold with asthma

Sorry I've not posted, I came down with a cold the day after I returned, and breathing takes a lot of energy right now! Actually, I really thought I HAD posted in between, but it is hard to dispute the evidence!

While I was gone, there were a lot of storms that blew through the area. In the space of just over 2 weeks our rain gauge outside has registered 12+ inches. That is a lot of rain! I think the day after I returned Howard pointed this out to me. It is the suet feeder that we see outside the kitchen window. The wind had wrapped it around the branch from which it hangs.

On the knitting front, I'm knitting baby hats. Not for the grandtad to be, but for the nursery at the hospital where we all volunteered. I had 3 operations there, Nathan had one -- it is a way to say "thank you" again. The Bernat Baby yarn goes a lot further than I had expected, instead of 2 hats per skein it looks as if I can get 3. Oh my! In other words, I'm on my third, and by the weight of the first two, there should be enough to finish this one. That is a lot of hats, when you count the number of skeins I bought! LOL They don't all have to be knit at once, but I'd like to get a good-size number together before I ship it off. I wish the yarn came in other than "baby" colors (pastels.) Many new mothers (or mothers to be) do NOT want pastels!

While in Colorado I just "had" to go to Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins in Boulder (such a hardship!) Mom brought a book in to the store and read it while I browsed. Actually, I bought enough yarn while in Colorado that I had to ship a box home because there wasn't room in my suitcase! I also shipped home some books, as I figured that it was cheaper to do that than pay airline over-weight fee. After I sent it off, I worried, because the only things that have ever been lost or delayed in shipping are things that are heirlooms or knitted goods, and I'd included all of the remaining yarn for the generation afghan. Wouldn't THAT have been annoying! But the box showed up intact on Monday. I've gone so far as to open it and remove the books. Other than that, it sits beside the couch, waiting for me to have the energy to enter it all in my database.

Random Thoughts

Look what I found in the back yard while Howard was gone! It was growing on the remains of a tree or bush that was cut off at ground level. I don't know if the heat and lack of water caused it, as there haven't been any more since the rain started. I wish I had included something for perspective, the mushroom was 6 inches (30 cm) across and about 4-5 inches (20-25 cm) tall.

Why is it that out of obviously 5 sets of measuring cups (based on the fact that 3 are Tupperware and are in different colors,one is a plastic from another company and one is aluminum), I have :
2 - 1 cup measures (one aluminum and one Tupperware avocado green -- so you know their ages!)
2 - 3/4 cup measures (one orange Tupperware and one is a different shade of orange Tupperware -- different dye lots?)
2 - 1/2 cup measures (one aluminum and one white plastic from somewhere)
2 - 1/4 cup measures (avocado green and orange Tupperwares)
Does this make sense to YOU? LOL Perhaps it is time to toss all of them and buy several new sets -- I haven't decided. Did I send partial sets with each kidlet when they moved out? Do you notice there isn't a single 1/3 cup measure in the lot?!

I wish the dentist didn't instill such fear in me. It has been years since I had a dentist who could be considered terrifying, yet it is still difficult to go in. I do it as I'm supposed to, but sheesh, it is hard! I knit through the exam as much as possible -- calms me. Today, however, I ran out of yarn. Didn't expect such a long wait and wasn't prepared. This wasn't good. But I survived, and no problems with the teeth this time.

Howard was sweet and brought me back a pedometer from California. I'm trying to increase the number of steps in a day. It would certainly help if I didn't accidentally reset it several times during the day! I must say it is discouraging to look down and have it a MUCH lower number than it was the last time I looked! For example, this morning I had 199 steps on it. Later on I looked down and it said 4. Somewhere in there...

I know there was something else I was going to write, but I sure can't remember it now! I'll add it if/when I remember!

I'm back!

Baby afghan progress: 16 of 35 squares knit I suspect I will need to knit a border around it. As you can tell, there is still a hitch in my getalong with knitting right now.

For my friends who suggested Birkenstocks, I asked the doctor about it, he doesn't feel that they are good for the feet. This was surprising for me, as my feet love wearing the 3 pairs of sandals and one pair of clogs I have. I've worn my Birkies for years. Perhaps it is a symptom of working in Ithaca for a while? LOL Actually the clogs were purchased BEFORE I started working at Cornell. Too bad I bought suede, as the rest of the clogs are in fantastic shape. They really don't look good enough to wear in public any more. :-( As to why I have so many pairs of the sandals, well I need to have different ones for going without socks than the ones with socks, don't I? grin

Reach out to someone you love today!

Saturday random thoughts

I've been talking with Serena and Howard as they are flying home. Both airlines have way overbooked all their flights!

We had some wonderful, much needed rain today. According to the little rain gauge in the back yard, 1.1 inches fell this morning. Yay!

Thursday I drove to Fort Dodge to get a pair of shoes that don't hurt. I tried on 15 pairs before finding ONE pair in the store that didn't hurt! It seems dreadful that I spent more on this pair of shoes than I've ever spent before, and while they are comfortable, they are NOT lovely. They truly remind me of what is referred to as "old lady shoes." I had to get shoes that diabetics buy.

I haven't knit since Howard left. I don't know if it is asthma related or if it is frustration with the baby afghan. I do have a baby sweater started, but haven't worked on that either. I should have checked peak flow a long time before this. Um, to be honest, I've not checked YET. sigh

Oh dear, I forgot to post this. It is now Sunday morning, I've picked up Howard from the airport (YAY!) and Serena is home as well. Oddly enough, they both flew out for their last leg within 10 minutes of each other! Serena made it home while we still had ~20 minutes left to go on our way home. She did make several stops on her way: my parents' place then the grocery store -- the grandcats were about out of food which would never do! LOL

Gas was 19 cents a gallon cheaper about 42 miles south of us, which doesn't seem fair in the least! It was 10 cents a gallon cheaper about 13 miles south of us, but, since I wasn't going to run out of gas quite that fast, and the town further south is historically known for being even cheaper, I kept going until I could get it there. Whew! I wouldn't have been happy if I'd knuckled under the pressure of the gas gauge and had paid that much more!

Random Thoughts

If anyone knows where my keys are THIS time, would they please let me know? They seem to have taken a brief vacation. Again.

Why is it that it was my credit card that was used to rent the car for the vacation, but the company keeps calling Howard for follow-up on the trip? (CC authorization and customer approval)

Photos of the family vacation didn't turn out very well. Although I did find this one on my camera that is kind of fun of Serena (wearing Howard's hat) and Nathan.

I tried to take a shot of the current knitting, because I wanted to ask for button color suggestions. But the colors didn't turn out well at all. I'll try again in the sunlight. I may just have to go with silver buttons. Gold doesn't feel right for these colors.

Okay, I'm confused

When each of our children moved out for good, we sent along household goods to start their new life. You know, such important things as silverware, dishes and the like. Yesterday with the chocolate debacle, I looked carefully at the silverware drawer. My initial reaction was "what in the world?" Because we have almost a complete set for 8 of one pattern, but only one knife and one fork in that pattern. The other set is an almost complete set of 4. They are similar, but not alike. The question comes in, does one (or both) of my cherubs have the others in the first pattern and the rest in the second? What did Nathan and Kim do with the silverware he had after their wedding? How in the world can you lose 7 knives and 7 forks? It is almost enough to want to send the whole kit and caboodle to the rummage sale and indulge in new silverware! I'd really prefer a matching set!

I'm also contemplating new everyday dishes. We have 3 partial sets of Corelle dishes. Again, there is a touch of confusion here! LOL Neither situation is a big deal, but it is a puzzle.

I started a baby sweater today, for a friend of Serena's who is going to have her second child soon. One of the two toddler sweaters I knit earlier will go to the big brother. I'm waiting to see what kind of baby sweaters Kim likes before I start knitting for the grandtad. I'm knitting
Presto Chango from the Jimmy Beans Wool website. I'm using a variegated Wildfoote from Brown Sheep, so I won't be doing the pattern on the panel, but stockinette. The pattern would be lost in a dark variegated yarn, so what is the point! A baby sweater in worsted weight (2 strands together) won't take a long time, and will be both wool and machine washable! A plus for a baby in the Denver area!

Cocoa (Mis)Adventure!

Serena gave me a tin of cocoa from Costa Rica -- the brand is Cafe Britt. This morining I decided to indulge myself with some. Opened the tin for the first time, and was confronted with a shiny foil pouch (I thought.) Tried to shake it out to find the opening, nothing. While it was upside down, my finger punctured the foil. Cocoa EXPLOSION! sigh Cocoa landed on the counter, in the silverware drawer, but little on the floor. Most of the flatware that had been in that drawer is now awaiting a run through the dishwasher. As are the trays that hold them. I was able to salvage most of the cocoa -- it seemed like more had landed everywhere than actually did. Luckily, a lot had landed in the mug that I had ready for my cocoa, so I was able to transfer it back into the tin. Such a lot of work for a mug of cocoa!

Finally my cocoa is ready, and I am sipping away at in, enjoying the rich flavor and warmth. I'll definitely order from them, but in the future I'll remember how to open the package! All I can do is laugh about it.

I think it is good news...

Saw the podiatrist today. He told us that the optimal time to pin a fracture is within the first 14 days. Since we are long past that point, I have to wait until the foot heals on its own, no matter how long that takes, then he will assess the repair to see if it needs to be re-broken and pinned. For the foreseeable future, I'm in the boot.

The baby afghan is almost half-way knit. I have 2 strips completed and ran out of yarn on the third. Serena has almost enough to make a 4th strip. I've already called and ordered more yarn. Isn't it funny how purchasing what you believe will be more than enough sometimes bites you in the behind? I bought all of the original lovely yarn as seconds at an extremely good price. Now that I'm home, I have to buy it at full price to finish the blanket. Snivel.

I need another knitting project. I'll have to decide whether to start the shell again or knit something else. The socks are in time-out -- again. I really wish I could pick them up and finish them, but it isn't happening right now. I was going to start knitting baby hats for our friendly hospital, but I left that yarn at Serena's. They insist the yarn be fingering weight, which is harder and harder to find. We couldn't find it in the two stores in Ames we tried. I need to call around.

Vacation!

Thursday Howard and I took off west. We went through western Iowa, then it was across Nebraska. Now Nebraska always feels as if it is taking such a long time to cross. I believe it is 368 miles or so on I-80. Not sure of the exact amount. Then I read in their state tourist booklet that it took the pioneers a MONTH to walk across the state! Talk about taking a long time! That put things somewhat in perspective for me. It still feels amazing that it takes almost the entire day to cross the state at today's speeds!

We took a jog north, and stopped in Scottsbluff for the night. Arrived just in time for a thunderstorm -- which was very welcome in that drought-stricken area. The rain didn't last long, but was pleasant. We'd planned to swim, but there were many children in the pool, and I didn't want to risk getting my foot banged.

The next morning we headed for the Brown Sheep Yarn outlet. Whee! So very much fun! I was restrained, and still bought a lot of yarn. grin And a little bit of superwash roving, because I loved the colors. I'll show pictures, if people really want to see my haul, but otherwise won't.

Finally I can share my news! The Sunday before Mother's Day Nathan and Kim announced that they will have a child in December. BUT, they wanted to wait to tell my family (my parents and siblings) until this weekend. I didn't want to say anything that might reveal the information to them so have really restricted what I write, which has been difficult! Friday night they handed my parents, sister and brother cards inviting them to celebrate with them and a tiny bracelet that says "BABY".

Among the things I bought at Brown Sheep, I bought yarn to knit a baby blanket. My mom is going to do one square and my daughter will finish that strip. I'll do the rest of the blanket. I think it will be neat to do a 3 generation blanket. We'll be making it from a Brown Sheep Wildfoote, a superwash wool/nylon sock yarn so it can be thrown in the washer and dryer as needed. We'll knit with two strands so it will go faster.

I handed Kim a pile of knitting booklets and books that have baby sweaters, and asked her to write down the ones she likes the most. Hopefully that will enable me to knit things she likes!

I did buy the yarn for another Mermaid for me and some new hand-paint that I've not decided what it will become. Lots of sock yarn to make baby things. Perhaps a shell for me out of Cotton Fine, as the woman said that machine washing makes the wool pill out. I'd originally picked it for the baby, but can force myself to make it for me. grin

I've not knit since the first hour or so of the trip. Peak flow is in the "almost neb" stage, which is probably the reason why. I did, however, spin. The first picture is my little support spindle and the singles that came off of it. The little skein is the result of my Navajo plying -- a first for me. I'd tried before and it wasn't pretty!

Sitting on Serena's deck, writing on the computer is heaven! There are some deer who live just beyond the property line, this morning a doe rested under the deck for several hours while Howard was on the deck, then she slowly came out and started eating. It is hot, but the awning provides shade, there is a lovely breeze, and the heat releases that distinctive evergreen smell. This is the best picture I could get of her. The elk are in town, we can hear them calling in the evenings. Nathan finally got to see some, every other visit they have been absent.

Tora-chan is not amused that we are on the deck without her. She really believe that she should be here as well! Not going to happen, but she can dream. I think she and Titania really think they could catch the deer. Um, no dear.

I'll write more later, this post has gone on long enough!

Good Gracious!

It has been one of those odd days. Almost everything I've done has lead inevitably to another, after another.

I decided today that enough was enough. Time to defrost the upright freezer. Luckily everything that was necessary fit into the ice chest. After a bit there was a loud sound in the kitchen. The ice had started to fall, and melt all over, ignoring the towels that were down. More towels. Cleanup. More towels. Did a load of towels in the wash.

Right now the little freezer is defrosting. Might as well get it over in one day, don't you think? The cooler will keep the stuff frozen, there isn't anything in it that will spoil if it warms up. I keep wool goods in there and some bulk foods. I heard a clunk a few minutes ago, some ice must have fallen. I'll check in a few minutes. If I'd thought, I would have saved the load of towels and done them AFTER the little freezer. sigh

Last night I finished a hood on a sweater, kitchenered it closed, and realized I had mis-read the directions. It was almost 2 inches too short. Rats! So, I unpicked the graft stitch by stitch and started to knit it up again. Today I redid the graft, and I think I may have the graft in garter stitch figured out. Instead of inserting the needle on the back row as if to purl and take off, I inserted it as if to knit and took the stitch off. I was going to show you, but the batteries on the camera died and are recharging as I type! Sheesh! It won't take too much longer, and I'll get a shot of it. Hm, I'm not quite sure how to take a picture of it that will be in focus and show you the seam "up close an personal", but you can see that it flows quite nicely, thank you very much!

Still on a knitting string, I don't think I'm going to be able to meet up with the Evergreen Yarn Floozies this visit! Rats! I enjoy meeting with them. I'll have to see if there is any other fiber goodness going on while we are there.

Some time ago Charlotte was reading my blog. She was a real sweetheart and sent me some sourdough starter. This stuff is great! This starter has been going for 30+ years! It sure makes lovely bread! Or rolls. I tend to make hard rolls right now, as I can portion control them from the start. Thank you again, Charlotte!

Another life lessons learned

When you wind up with a drug allergy, call your pharmacy and let them know ASAP so they can put it on your records. Mistake was made at the doc's today, and a med I'm allergic to was prescribed. Howard didn't know when he picked it up. So now we are out the money for an antibiotic I can't take. If the pharmacy has it in their program, they won't dispense even if the doctor's office makes a mistake.

I'm going to try to take a photo of my dyeing attempt. Tell me what you think.

I picked up Howard's cold, which has settled in my chest, triggering asthma. Surprise. More prednisone.

Whee!

Saw the doctor today about the foot. Much to all of our delight, the bone is still in place! I'm in the boot for at least another 5 weeks, then it is up to the x-ray and pain level to find out how much longer. As one of the nurses there in the office said, "Well, it is your own fashion statement." I did ask him what cardio exercise I could do. He stopped for a bit, looked at me and said, "moving your arms a lot."

I brought my Anne Grout laceweight Acorn Spindle with the gorgeous Australian merino roving in multi-colored browns from the lovely Belinda Daniels with me to the doctor's office. Put the little bowl in my lap and S T R E T C H E D my arm up as high as it could go before winding on each time. Received some bemused looks, but hey, I was productive! The X-ray tech looked at me and asked what I was doing. I explained. She said, "Hey you are actually SPINNING the yarn! That is why they call it that!" There was a gentleman waiting who commented that I was getting my aerobic exercise doing that. After I went back for the x-ray he started questioning Howard on exactly what I was doing and other fiber info. As we left to go into an exam room he thanked Howard for "an informative chat." smile I thought, while I was sitting waiting for the doctor that I really should call the Extension office and see if they would like a spinning demo at the fair this summer.

Rats!

I don't know if it is the foot or asthma, but it is hard to post right now. I'm not getting any knitting done either, which leads me to believe I need to be checking my asthma a bit closer. I see the doctor tomorrow about the foot. I'm supposed to be using an Ace bandage to wrap it, but that hurts so much! grump! I would think that after 2 weeks (as of today!) it wouldn't. Poor Howard tries so hard to wrap it without causing pain. As he said tonight in frustration -- it doesn't do any good to wrap it, since it is so loose it won't hold it in place! I am not able, so far to wrap it myself -- I tend to get it too tight, which isn't pleasant.

The sweater that I frogged has gone all of 2 rows. I suspect I need to make it in something other than garter stitch because I just plain get BORED if I don't change colors or something to break up the monotony! Sad but true! I managed a couple of rows of the socks and stopped them too. sigh This is how projects become abandoned! I need something fun but fairly simple to knit. Ideas? NO endless knitting, as in a felted/fulled project. Something that will keep my interest without requiring a lot of thought.

I' ve been chatting about spinning with someone on
Sparkpeople.com and my interest is becoming piqued again. Maybe I'll take the acorn support spindle and the lovely merino from Australia with me when we go to the doc's tomorrow. That will be something fun and different for them to see! LOL Too bad the staff knows me so well there! What is nice, they like to check out what I'm doing! I've thought several times about spinning on one of the wheels since I managed this stupid idiocy of breaking the foot, but am worried that it will hurt too much! I should just DO IT (thanks to the sports commercial!) and see, instead of wondering!

Still not skeined off the yarn so I can over-dye it. Can you say "chicken!" Or is it "lazy!" I think the best idea would be to knit several samples then try different dye solutions to see which works the best. The idea of so much work just to get the right results stops me. Silly me! It isn't going to become a summer shell if I don't! Perhaps it would be a good idea to have more than a warm brown and a gold on hand when I start that off! I have a cool taupe yarn, do I need more colors to change it to the warm spectrum? Since the yarn is linen/cotton/wool, I know that acid dyeing will only over-dye the wool. I'm hoping that will be enough. What do you think? Yeah, I know, sample! I'd still like opinions!

On a completely unrelated front, we've started buying washing soda for laundry. Yesterday I spilled something on my linen shirt. I'm amazed at how well soaking it overnight in washing soda/water did to eradicate the stain! Not to mention my poor hand-knit dishcloths that were so badly stained. Actually, I forgot about them and it went more than 18 hours before I washed them. The stain on the shirt had disappeared, and the dishcloths were so much improved, I was amazed! The dishcloths were knit by a dear friend from New York who has since died of breast cancer. I think of Edie every time I use them. She was getting on in years when we met her, dishcloths and lap-robes were the only thing she knit by then, as she felt anything else was too hard. She sold most of her dishcloths as a supplement to their Social Security and retirement funds. We were honored to receive them as gifts. So, I'm delighted to be able to get the stains out. She would have been hurt if we didn't use them as she intended. But the sad truth is that they will stain as they are used. The color of Peaches and Creme fades. But they were knit with love, and I appreciate that so much!

Howard stayed home with a cold today. I have to be honest and say I'm really hopeful that I don't get it! The poor guy is miserable!