This Is My Life

Happy Monday!

I'm recuperating, but this one foot thing is for the birds!  The Tall Guy went back to work today for a half day as I have a doc appointment this afternoon.  My walker is my friend, although, I am using it more as a hopping aid right now.  It just seems more stable for me to get around with right now.  It's a bit hard on the hands, which is somewhat limiting my knitting for now, so I am just managing a few rows on the Honey Cowl for Baby Boy B's girlfriend for Christmas.

Thank goodness for my bucket bag from Knit Camp in 2015.  It is perfect to put over the body, with my phone in it when I have to get up and fend for myself or hit the bathroom.

We had a very low keyed Thanksgiving.  My niece from up North came over for a morning coffee.  We had just a most lovely time, talking, drinking coffee and watching a bit of the parade.  She brought flowers from the Tall Guy's family and Starbucks.  The cool thing, is the guy ahead of her paid for them.  How cool is that?!

The Tall Guy and I had hot dogs on the grill for dinner ala This Is Us Thanksgiving.  Baby Boy B and his girlfriend came over for a visit Thanksgiving night.  It was a quiet Thanksgiving, just hanging out.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'll check in later this week when I can.  Thank goodness for computers, netflix, Hallmark and You Tube!!

Finally Finished Friday

Miss Mona Lisa's Christmas Hat! I readied this post pre surgery.  I'm doin fine, will post more when feeling up to it.

Have You Had Enough?

Thank you all for the well wishes and for listening to all the surgery talk/whine.

I am hoping to blog bit in the next few weeks and I'll throw some knitting into…grin

I know it is not going to be easy for the next 10 weeks, because for over 45 years I've been working, the last 40, at least 5 days a week.  I've always been mobile, been able to hop in the car when I want to, up and down the stairs on a whim, and heck even going into the bathroom unassisted.  This is not going to be fun, sitting back and knitting and watching it snow.  And frankly for the next 6 months, I'll probably moan about the swollen foot every other day, but in the grand scheme of things and as I told my super assistant Barb, the guy in the cubicle next to us has been in a wheel chair for over 13 years ago I am sure when I am whining, is saying if only it was just about being off of a foot for 10 weeks.

It is all about perspective, now isn't it?!

On December 1st, I am participating in a KAL with a bunch of others on Ravelry and some of my fellow Knit Wit friends.  Just about then, I'll be needing this.

In the mean time, in the words of Elizabeth Zimmermann - Knit on in confidence and hope…


I'll catch you on the Purl Side and Thanks!

Getting Ready For Surgery

is like getting ready for vacations, whether they be a knitting vacation, or a family vacation.  For a knitter, going on any vacation,  before even thinking about what clothes to pack, a knitter starts thinking about the knitting they are going to take.  What patterns will they feel like knitting?  Should they pack extra needles?

So with an impending surgery coming up tomorrow, and knowing that I will not be able to just trot up the stairs to the yarn room or downstairs for blocking for at least 4 weeks (optimistically), I've been giving it quite a thought as to what I want to have fairly close by to work on while I hang out ( you saw my whats on the needles post last Sunday)

I started a few weeks ago making some lists, and I came up with a really brilliant idea, why not concentrate on some of my WIPS?  Wouldn't it be fun to come out on the other side of 10 weeks without working and basically hanging out at home with some finished projects?  (Sounds really cool to me)

Besides what you saw on Sunday, I have a nice little bag of goodies at the ready.

 

 There is one next to my bed, where I'm going to hang out for a couple of days to start with.

Ok, and yes, full disclosure, there might be a couple of things that I am just dying to cast on and knit that are not WIPS and the  yarn has a few skeined and ready to go.  

I am just hoping my knitting friends might take pity on me and wind a few extra if I send up the bat signal.

Happy Hump Day!  Here in Central IL, it is another drop dead gorgeous November day. 

Books To Read

A few weeks back when my hands first started giving me fits, I started thinking about what I could do to give them a rest (after my Christmas knitting is finished).  Back in the day, I used to be an avid reader.  Romances were my thing, you know the ones, you could start on a wintry Sunday afternoon and finish before bed.  A friend of mine would give them by the bag full and I would share with my mom and aunties.

My reading tastes have changed a bit, I prefer my romances on Hallmark now.  I started collecting some books that I could have on hand while recuperating.  The 2 Knit Lit Chicks were most helpful over the last couple of months adding to my collection of titles to check out.

I pulled out a couple that I have had waiting to add to the list.  The top is the latest from Diana Gabaldon and the bottom is an old book that my friend Nancy's Uncle was a part of and is very much different from my regular reading.

And just because one has to cut back on the knitting, there is absolutely no reason, one cannot read about knitting.

And just in case, I run out, I still have some books on my iPad ready to read.

Happy Tuesday/Happy Reading.

Fast and Furious

You know when you are working, you watch the clock-- there are some days when you see it and you think, "seriously, it's only______ o'clock?"

This is not one of those weeks.  The clock is moving way too fast and I've got way too many things I need to do at work and show my assistant before Wednesday.  And I've already forewarned her, I'll not be worth a damn by Wednesday!  The nerves will start to kick in, my stomach will be churning, my mouth will be speaking double time to get it out and everyone and I mean everyone will be waiting until that very moment to ask me something or want a problem solved.

In the words of 

I pity the fool!

Happy Monday!

What's On the Needles This Week?

I have always been quite open about my knitting WIPS.  So, when you see this week's on the needles, you may be surprised to see what I've brought forward.  It is no secret, I like to cast on projects, I like thinking about them, imagining how it will feel to work on them and to finally finished them.

Next Thursday, I am having foot surgery.  I'll be non-weight baring for probably at least a month and off of work totally for about 10 weeks.  And it is my right foot, so I am not sure exactly at one point I will be driving anywhere.

With that all in mind, I've got a nice little bag of WIPS by my chair ready to be knitted on.  I thought while I was off and sitting around doing nothing, I might just as well see if I can get some needles back in their case and finish some things.  (IF) the hands cooperate, but we'll worry about that when the good pain meds wear off.

First up, is the Honey Cowl for Baby Boy B's girlfriend.  The yarn is Cascade's Dolce leftover from a nice cable sweater I knit years ago.  The girlfriend likes pink, at least that is what I hear and she has to walk aways into work from her car, so I thought a nice fluffy, alpaca cowl might be handy.

Next up is Mona Lisa's hat for Christmas.  These are the only two Christmas knits I want to have done for Christmas, so I should be able to make that timeframe.

A couple of years back, I loved loved a sweater that Bonne Marie of Chic Knits knit.  It is a simple cardi out of a turquoise yarn, but what sold it for me was some super red buttons she added to it.  I just had to duplicate it.  It is the perfect recovery project as right now there is about 18 inches to be just done in plain stockinette.

In between meds, I am hoping to be able to knit a bit more on my snood.  I've got all the yarns wound, but just have not been able to show it any love for sometime and the hands can only knit so small of a needle right now.

Another great project for recovery which does not require a whole lot of thought is my Hap Shawl by Denise Bell.  Lots of garter and only have to remember to increase at the start and not at the end.

Second sock syndrome - my second Smooth Operator Sock is cast on and waiting.

And a fall shawl.  Not sure how much I will knit on this one, but hey, if I get it done this year, it will be all ready for next Fall.  You know when I'll have a nice new foot.

And the fingerless mitts out of Briar Rose Wistful.  These will come in handy later when it starts to act like Fall, and I need some warmth on my hands while sitting around watching Hallmark and knitting.

And last but not really, just last in the bag next to me, my Nancy's vest from Carol Sunday.  Small needles and small yarn, but it is some nice yarn, I'm telling you!  More stockinette of which I think I'll be grateful to have by my side.

So stay tuned for next Sunday's What's On the Needles.  I have a feeling it may be a repeat of this week!

Have a great week!!

Knitting Video Casts

I love You Tube!  And now that we have our Amazon Fire Stick, I can watch my knitting video casts on our t.v.  Here are some that I tune into and I'll be catching up on later next week:

The Yarn Hoarder
Stockinette Zombies
Knit Girllls
Grocery Girls
Dramatic Knits
Legacy Knitz
Fruity Knitting
In a sKnit
Bakery Bears
Kristy Glass Knits
Fiber Trek
A Homespun House
Dye Another Day
Knitting Expat
Stitching the High Notes
The Fat Squirrel Speaks
The Gentle Knitter
Tilly Trout
YarnGasm

It is quite the list, now isn't it!

Finally Finished Friday

A couple of items this week.

Poppy's Christmas Hat  - I bought the kit at Stitches Midwest from the Steven Be booth.  It is from DMC and it is called Top This.

The skein had three yarns in it that went from a cord to a beige to a fluffy yarn. But, I did not realize it until way after I snipped what I thought was a bad frayed yarn at the start.  When I came to the very top of the hat and had more frayed yarn, I decided to look at the label.

Hmmm, 3 textures.  Moral of the story, read the label...

Also, finished this Friday, is a Hospice blanket finished for yesterday.  The home is a little low on blankets for men and I happened to have one on the needles in the wip patch.  

And finally for this Friday, the 11th of November.  It's Veteran's Day!  Thank you!!

Happy Birthday to Me and the Marine Corps!

As a kid I loved that my birthday was on the 10th of November because the next day was the 11th which is Veteran's Day and that meant I had the day off after my birthday from school.  It gave me a whole day to play with my birthday presents.  

When I worked on the floor for a department  store, one of the perks was that we got our birthday off with pay.  Back then, I probably slept in and enjoyed the day.

Today, I took the day off to get some errands ran, go to a final doc appointment and go to Hospice and be able to stay the whole time without having to rush out and go back to work.  What a way to start a birthday!  How much better can a birthday be celebrated than with your Hospice Sisters?  Knitting, laughing, tears, coffee, donuts!

And presents  -  The bestest presents are yarn!  And I received so many cool yarns.  I cannot wait to kick back this weekend and plan.

I am so truly blessed in my friends.  These ladies, I just cannot tell you how much I treasure their friendships and how much they continue to change my life and enrich it.  They make birthdays special, knitting fun and give so much meaning to friendship.

What a great 59th birthday today was!!

It's Election Day

All I've got to say is to echo what everyone else is saying or thinking.  Is it over yet?

And the same response  - No, and even when it is over it is not going to be over.

Please go out and vote today.

Audio Podcasts I Listen To

Always in my car, I listen to knitting podcasts.  It has been forever since I actually listened to the radio. I'm not sure I even know what the cool songs are anymore!

I access all of the podcasts I listen to through an apron my iPhone that simply says podcasts.  I subscribe to the individual podcasts through the link for each through the app.  That way, when one of the podcasters upload a new one, it appears in my app.

Here are the ones I subscribe to, you may want to check them out.

NH Knits - Love the chickens
Knitting Boutique - it is just like sitting with them in the shop
Knitting Butterflies - in addition to the knitting, Emily has great photography tips
Curious Handmade - a fan of her shawls
Knitmoregirls - a multi-generational podcast with lots of info
The Yarniacs - they are always bringing sweaters to my attention that I want to stalk
Yarn Thing with Marly - get to hear interviews from people in the industry
Prairie Girls - Delightful young ladies and hey they are in states close by Illinois
2 Knit Lit Chicks - mother/daughter team and have led me to try new book genres
Woolful - pleasant voice and interviews which just make you want to start a business
Twin Set Designs - Twin sisters who knit and I think we may be in the same age bracket
Knit Circus - of the famed gradient yarns and Amy Detjen
Knitting Pipeline - A Central IL and close by native and actually met Elizabeth Zimmermann


Ones I don't currently subscribe to but will maybe in the future or occasionally I'll tune into:

Cultivate and Create
Knit British
Down Cellar Studio
Actually Knitting
Knit Actually

Do you listen any that I should be?

What's On the Needles This Week?

I am bound and determined to get this Hospice blanket off the needles this week and blocked before Hospice on Thursday.

 

Also, on the needles is a hat for Mona Lisa for Christmas.

I'm going to pop this pom from StevenBe's booth I picked up at Stitches Midwest last August.

It is another one of those beautiful, drop dead Sunday in Central Illinois!  I am not complaining, but are we sure this is Fall?

Have a great week!

Friday Finds

The Stockinette Zombies Birthday Kit.  It came with a super cool shawl pattern designed by Megan and a two color sock pattern from Amy.

And from one of my co-calendar friends, a bag and cards from her artwork.  She is amazing.

Thursday Things I Love

The new Webs catalog came yesterday.  There are some super cool cowls for my 40 Cowls 40 months project in it.

And from Coldwater Creek catalog, some things I would love to duplicate in my own knitting.

Love Love this long duster sweater, but yes that would be a lot of knitting.  And I love the olive green in the foreground and the oatmeal in the back.

Hat and scarf - this could be so duplicated with a variegated yarn.

And without the sleeves, a long vest to cover the you know what.  Again, a LOT of stockinette.  but maybe in a nice wool knit in the round and then steeked up the front?

I love this take on the monkey sock color way.

And the hottest of the hot these days, mug covers/cozies.

And last, but not least, how is this for snuggling down for the winter.

Just love when the holiday catalogs start coming in the mail!  So many wonderful things that are just begging to be knit duplicated!

Wednesday WIP

Despite a unplanned trip today to the doc to confirm that their new best guess is tendonitis in both hands, but more in the right than left, I do have a WIP that is a must knit right now.  And with braces on both hands, I can still do a bit of knitting without pain.

Over four years ago, you may remember I knit a stocking for Mona Lisa.  At the time, we were all calling her by her short name so that is what is on the stocking.  Fast forward to now, where she is being called by the long version and her parents wanted me to change the name on the stocking.  

Now in order to do that, it requires some new knitting, a lot of finagling since there just does not seem to be enough stitches and major surgery to get the two together.  I'll blog when there is a finished project and it is in the mail to them.

In the mean time in Central Illinois today - nope this is not snow, it is hail.  LOL!

And at this posting, it is still 61 degrees.  Not bad for the 2nd of November!  Happy Hump Day!