The Knitting Channel-

Purl.

2010-08-03T12:09:00.004-05:00

Guess who came to our house? Last Thursday, I drove to Tyler to pick up Miss Purl. Friday, I drove back, all 371 miles, terrified I'd have to stop to go to the bathroom, convinced she would perish if I ran into a restroom for more than 2 minutes in the 97 degree heat. I only went twice, and the kids at Sonic were good about filling an ice cream cup with cool water for her. Yeah, I paid for ice cream but what the hell.

We were going thru pup names, leaning to Patsy, Ginger, and DH LOVED Sophia. Whatever. I tossed out Pearl, and he jumped on it. It dawned on me that Pearl could be PURL, and I hurried to Petsmart to make a tag. I felt less guilty when I remembered there was also a PERL (programming language) and then it became a matter of me getting my dibs in early!

Sonny LOVES her, and promptly peed on the floor in solidarity with her. At almost 80 lbs to her 13, we have to HEAVILY supervise their introductions. My boy is such a big doof. I bought Purl a pink little stuffie. Sunday, he 'stole' it from her, so she'd interact with him. Yesterday, he got it again, but she was totally OVER it and wanted to play with something else. Poor boy, he's trying SO hard!

Once again, I have a little one in the house. She's tiny, but has a BIG personality. She steals ALL the toys and takes them to her crate. Yesterday, Sonny sat (on a leash) in front of her crate. The door was open, and she slipped past Sonny, picking up all the toys she could to stash in HIS crate.

I am still waiting to get Sonny's results back. Purl's behavior is PURE boxer; she is so different than Sonny, but exactly what I expected in a boxer. It verifies my suspicions on my boy's seedy heritage.

Oh, yeah-the stats: A flashy brindle boxer, female, born 27 May 2010. Weight 12 lbs 9 oz.

Woof! Something rotten in East Cupcake....

2010-07-13T08:59:00.005-05:00

We put Miss Sugar down almost a year ago, and miss her terribly. She was such a sweet girl. We got the Puddlemaster because La Sug was such a GOOD girl. We really enjoyed her. We love boxers. When an enticing ad popped up on Craigslist, BOOM! Sonny landed in our house. Peeing all over. Dying for treats-I've never seen a dog more food motivated! LOVES little kids. Bites me daily. Thieves like crazy. Wha?? OMG, this dog is SOOOO high maintenance!

Last week, I was going thru some old photos of Sugar's puppydom. DH was out of town. (We determined last week that if Dad is out of town, someone WILL pee in the house. The pattern has been established....) I really enjoyed looking at pictures and remembering how dang sweet she was. Something was nagging at me, tho-we always KNEW Sonny had different eyes. I reflected on her shape, her muzzle....and I couldn't quite name it. Later, I took the boy out to pee, and LOOKED at him....

And then it hit me. I drove to MY library, and then the San Antonio library. (My stupid computer was being beat into submission in Apple land). The answer was so obvious-specific, and I am not exactly SURE how I hit on the exact one as I stood pondering the guy at the end of the leash but I think I am right....(ignore the jowls and the tail)

Oh. Oh yeah, I get it now. The idiot we got him from thought he owned a boxer-but Sonny isn't really boxy, nor does he have that triangular neck, and he's kinda grumpy, and.....

Sonny's probably half Rhodesian Ridgeback (bottom illustration). I looked in several breed books-he's 75 lbs, about 27" at the shoulder NOW, countersurfs, thieves at every turn, will do ANYTHING for a snack, is DEDICATED to ONE person, and my breed book has PAGES on demodetic mange. (We spent hundreds on mange treatment in Feb.) They are reserved and observant. A canine Cliff Clavin, compared to the boxer's "NORM!"

DH thinks I am nuts. I've researched the canine DNA kits-they have as many detractors as they do proponents, so I may wait on that-at this point, a kit could be an "I told you so" (I thought his mama didn't look quite right), but that's about it.

He'll be a much BETTER Rhodesian-Boxer than he was a Boxer. I feel much better. And it's easy to see he's a Daddy's boy.

In the mail

2010-06-15T06:47:00.002-05:00

Look what came in the mail yesterday! Complete with gummy bears! Orient and Ozident from Wollmeise.

I also got a Neibling book too! Gotta get to knitting!!!!

It's weird how things work out

2010-06-11T12:27:00.002-05:00

Last year I went to my high school reunion. One of my old buddies and I had a little chat on the phone-mind you, I hadn't seen her for 20 years.

So guess what her creative outlet is???

I think it's funny how little the world is.

Quietly chugging along.

2010-06-09T18:09:00.004-05:00

I'm still here. Although very handsome, someone is a lot of effort. I've threatened to send him to the pound more than once this week.

He's still blocking my mojo. I've been working on this-it's portable and idiot proof. Noro Kureyon Sock, for DGD.

So yeah, about that Gwen Bortner class

2010-04-21T23:23:00.010-05:00

About that class- I REALLY liked Gwen. No really. I went toodling to class on Monday all ready to fix my mojo. My class was all of 3 students. Gwen introduced herself and pulled out the project.

A felted entrelac koozie. Blech.

I was a good girl. I did not cry. I did not bitch. I did not sulk. But I quickly ditched my homework, because I sure as shit was not gonna make a koozie. I would rather eat dirt. I cast on for a hat.

And she was fine with it.

And I enjoyed my class-there was one rank beginner, one lapsed knitter, and me. (There are only 3 projects on that table.) And I think we all took something away from the class. I learned some adjustments and tweaks that will make me better at entrelac. And she made knitting backwards make sense.

I made Lady E in 2007, and had hardly messed with entrelac since. Except for this hat, and now I understand what was wrong with this pattern. I made it in February for Carol's chemo. Next time I do it, I will fix the errors in the pattern.

If you have a chance, take a class with Gwen. It's worth your time. She's normal, and would be great to drink with. She's coming out with a new book on entrelac, and I will probably pick it up!

Getting the mojo back.

2010-04-20T13:09:00.004-05:00

My knitting has really suffered since the PuddleMaster came to town. You might wonder what the hell my problem is. He's stopped peeing everywhere, right? Well, pretty much. We work hard at PuppySchool, too. He's an enthusiastic student.

Now, we have these episodes. Often.

He generally starts up well before I grab a camera. It never really occurs to me until he's in full run...

And thieving? Nothing is immune-books, underwear, laundry, sandwiches? Kleenex. Yesterday, I knit a few rows, and set it down on the couch. The sound must have been like a starter's pistol, because he woke up in a flash, and off he went to unravel!

Yesterday, I set out to reclaim my knitting mojo. I took an entrelac class with Gwen Bortner. And I think it's going to help significantly.

Oh, just go look. You'll laugh.

2010-04-15T01:06:00.000-05:00

Here's a link for epic cross-stitch.

Le Sigh...

2010-03-30T09:03:00.002-05:00

It's a good thing I didn't like the last pair of glasses I bought, because they were waiting patiently in their case for me this morning, after I found this. My dog is driving me to distraction. We thought Sug was bad, but this guy is a real handful.

Yesterday, I was on the phone getting an RX refill for hubs. And he lept up and bit me. On the ass.

He doesn't do it to be spiteful-that's what young dogs do to other young dogs. But I am not a young dog, and am getting frustrated. There have to be two long walks every day, and two absolutely crazy wrestlemania sessions when he's super tired and crabby. This morning, I am looking frantically for obedience classes.

Das show mit PRIZEN!

2010-03-17T08:21:00.006-05:00

You may recall I entered in Melusine de Tricot's contest over Christmas. My prize showed up this week!

I got scared-at first I thought I got the French catalog again-as it turns out, I got English instructions. Whew!

A box of black yarn and a booklet.....to make this-

Getting back on track-

2010-03-07T15:11:00.005-06:00

I'm really excited that my last day is tomorrow. You don't even know. I felt a little bad about quitting, because somewhere in the back of my head is my father's voice saying "Quitters never win, and winners never quit." On the other hand, I also remember him crabbing about people who complain about their jobs "Shit to bits...." At the end of the day, I felt like Sonny, making puddles in the wrong spots and not understanding why people were shouting. It's not good to cower when you go into work. I waited exactly long enough for my postmaster to get his eye surgery, and just a few days longer. And that is enough of that.

My knitting has REALLY suffered lately, between the soul-sucking post office and the Puddlemaster. I was totally gob-smacked to open up Vogue Knitting (S/S 2010) and see THIS:

Oddly, seeing THAT makes me feel better about quitting. Like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes, or sleeping in your own bed after a long trip.

I feel honored as well. I remember pouring over VK in Germany before I understood German, or even knitting, very well. I never EVER expected to see MY knitting in there.

I've got knitting that must not be named on the needles now. And since I have knitting that must not be named, let me leave you with a little something to make you smile:

Quit work.

2010-02-22T16:53:00.003-06:00

I gave my notice today. The post office is going thru a rough patch-they don't make money any more, and are cutting and trimming in every way they can. What's the old saw about "Doing more with less for so long we can do everything with absolutely nothing?"

Here it is-

“We have done so much with so little for so long that now we can do anything with nothing.”

Anyhow-after working for the post office, I think it's a miracle that we actually can move a letter across the country for .44 cents. And the people you see at your post office are working a good deal harder than you think.

It's the Year of the Tiger-

2010-02-14T08:34:00.002-06:00

There will be times you think 2010 is a good year and others when you will wonder if the opposite is true. On a positive note, the Metal year produces good fortune for you. The Tiger, on the other hand, is a big cat, and not exactly a friend to the Rat. Two important keys to your success are to be nimble and not to pick fights you have a chance of losing. The Tiger has claws, and defeat is not likely to be pretty. There will be plenty of action this year, which should suit you just fine. Scale back your endeavors in the first six months of the year and make your most concerted efforts during the next six good ones. This formula should leave your life's balance sheet in the black at year's end.

Hmmm. Not a Rat?

What I've been up to-

2010-02-09T16:23:00.002-06:00

An easy entrelac tam-Universal Yarns Moods, pattern from Verbena Knits. 175 yds, for Carol, who is going thru chemo.

Chasing after this guy takes up a lot of time too.

Chemo Caps for guys?

2010-01-28T06:57:00.002-06:00

Patricia's been looking for patterns. I think maybe this plain one. Or this one, done in one color.

Any other suggestions??

Holiday!

2010-01-27T09:40:00.002-06:00

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day. I expect someone in my family to organize a parade.

A chemo cap on the needles:

Here's the pattern. The yarn is Universal Moods.

Who takes all my knitting time?

2010-01-26T04:30:00.006-06:00

What are you talking about, Mom?

Two months, 20 lbs. Whadda ham. We had to buy special shampoo because he has demodetic mange (240.00). It's 50.00 for a dip. And special food, because he has a dainty (read stinky) stomach.

My money pit.

When was the last time you laughed til you cried?

2010-01-25T16:34:00.001-06:00

I suggest you have a look at the Sleep Talkin Man. Cause THAT's some funny stuff.

Another inspiration

2010-01-22T09:31:00.000-06:00

As it turns out, Fassett's feathers are Japanese trees....

Inspirations.

2010-01-21T09:22:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago, I was surfing on ebay and found this haori. The design is formed by shibori, teeny teeny little circles sewn in, then dyed. The threads are snipped away, leaving a pattern made from itty bitty tie-dyed circles.

I bid like a crazy woman.

It came in a few days ago, and it is inspirational. It reminds me of something I'd seen before. I remember reading that Fassett spent a good deal of time at the V & A sketching. He must have seen something like this.

The haori is much more moving than the designs it inspired. You know what slays me? Look at the first photo. The pattern matches at the seams. Swoon.

No, I don't wear these-but I might begin playing crazy art lady and start. DH has a company function this week.... It cracks him up-the older I get, the more Dragon Lady I become.

A portrait of the artist and his work...

2010-01-20T08:27:00.001-06:00

Some days, I just ask "What the hell?" Because who runs and pees at the same time??

I won!!

2010-01-18T07:58:00.002-06:00

I entered a contest on Melusine's blog a few weeks back, and got word yesterday that I won third! (I had to mouse over the podium for the results, and do a lot of copy and paste to Google Translator!)

Yay! I get to pick out a project from Bergere de France! Double yay. I DO love their designs!

Thanks for helping me win. I didn't realize that we could vote every day, but no matter-I am happy!

Mail!

2010-01-16T14:47:00.003-06:00

It's been quite a week. I worked at my post office this week. All this week. It was a LOT of work. I did everything but the mail carrier's job. I question whether the pay outweighs the PITA. The jury is still out on that. I'm daunted. My supervisor (an accountant) asks me why I am taking so long. Because I am unsure I am doing the right thing does not seem to be anywhere on that checklist.

This morning, I helped out at another post office. Very very different! I did one thing. It was fine.

This week, I got an email from DD entitled "I miss you!" I opened it up and found:

I melted.

Friday Funny

2010-01-07T20:28:00.002-06:00

For Carol and her lost biopsy results

2010-01-06T13:57:00.002-06:00

Eyeroll

2010-01-06T06:42:00.004-06:00

This week, I discovered the perfect time to go Christmas shopping. That's right. New Years Day. It was great-the roads were clear, the mall wasn't packed, and there were good buys. I bought THIS:

I was all excited, and put my new comforter and shams on the bed, but skipped the bedskirt for now. I noticed that it was all dry clean only....

Last night, DH put Puddlemaster on the bed. This morning I woke up under the covers, damp...DAMP? It wasn't me!! I CHECKED!!! I asked DH if he'd taken Puddlemaster out. He hasn't had an accident in days ..... DH will get the privilege of getting the new comforter back OUT of the cleaners.

And my knitting mojo is back. Hope I can keep my knitting out of the jaws of (young) life!

It's 2010 already-

2010-01-03T21:19:00.002-06:00

Wow. The last 90 days flew by. I was in a hydrocodone haze for most of October and November, and as soon as I was cleared to drive, I slammed those drugs into the drawer, we got Sonny the Wonder boy, and I started working for the Post Office. Both have been more effort than I originally thought.

Funny, this business of the New Year, and new beginnings. I had my big epiphanies on my roadtrip last summer. This year, I have to make good on the things I figured out.

It makes me laugh EVERY time.

2009-12-25T10:18:00.001-06:00

Vote early, vote often!

2009-12-15T06:43:00.003-06:00

Remember the contest I told you about? Now that I've said nice things about my knitting pals, I need your help! Fifty percent of the score is the readers vote, so I have to bang my own drum. Here's the link; I am number 14! Thank you!!!

A new generation of knitter-

2009-12-13T07:43:00.028-06:00

I was on Ravelry this morning, and happened to see a contest notice in the Asian Knitters group. It was for the Bergere de France's celebration on Mélusine tricote's blog, and I MUST play! They want to know what it's like to be a new generation knitter. What? Me? I am an old

school knitter! Or maybe not?

It is odd to write about a new generation of knitter. I learned to knit in the pre-Internet days, the days when I scoured the magazine rack, longing for French yarns, Italian yarns, British yarns; yarns that were difficult to obtain in Texas. I was isolated. I could knit, yes, but my skills grew very slowly. To learn new things, I relied on sketches in "How to Knit" books, and laborious instructions. I became lost on projects that were, in retrospect, simple.

In 2003, something happened. I joined a bulletin board, and got a chance to talk with other knitters. My knitting world EXPLODED. I found people who thought like me, knit like me, were LIKE me. I discovered that not all patterns are correct, and my friends could help me navigate the errors! My new knitting friends wore yarn under their blouses to check for roughness BEFORE they knit it. Learning knitting became FUN!

The influx of new ideas, new ways, and new know-how was GREAT. I learned how to knit two colors two-handed on YouTube, and posted a how to crochet clip for someone I knew. I could easily email a friend to talk about a pattern, a yarn, an IDEA, and work thru the execution. I discussed the color plan for this top with a woman who lives 1000 miles (1400 km) away! I could not show a badly-made project, so my skills grew quickly.

At some point, I became friends with these online knitters. As a group, we've done blankets for new babies, shawls for grieving widows, and slippers for sick friends. We've knit our way thru crimes and blessings, lost parents and siblings. We've made breasts for cancer patients. I've wagered sock yarn on television show contestants in a Ravelry group. We even had a 'bridal shower' for a friend-and we all gave her yarn e-gift vouchers!

At first, my husband laughed at my "imaginary friends", but as time passed, he came to see how solid we knitters are. I had a surgery recently, and my post box was stuffed with letters and parcels

from women I have never seen. I found a knitter in Malta who is a distant relative (very distant-the marriage between the two families took place in 1854)! I was even able to find local knitting friends!!!

My knitting world is SO big now. My knitting has no boundaries. I learned how to read a Japanese pattern on-line, and found sites with knitting translations, so French, Spanish, and German patterns are not confusing anymore! The patterns all start the same-needle size, tension swatch, and cast on! If I run short of yarn or need something for a project, I can buy yarn and patterns in ANY country, either through a store front or on-line auction.

It is a big, big world, but the community IS, dare I say it.....tightly knit! We share our lives as well as our projects. In a world that can be very impersonal, we have an oasis. That, to me, is the best part about being a "new generation knitter".

Knit on!!!

Life in the sticks

2009-12-10T06:46:00.003-06:00

This was a priority package at work yesterday. The roosters complained about their cramped, dark quarters.

No knitting content whatsoever

2009-12-08T22:06:00.002-06:00

I haven't knitted in a week. I am not sure what happened. Dog puddles? Dog piles? Hysterectomy? Work?

Work?? Yes, I went out and found a job. With the US Postal Service. God knows I use them enough, might as well work there.

I went to my orientation the week of Thanksgiving, and have been been going in for a few hours a day to work behind the counter and behind the front, sorting mail.

I understand now why people go off.

There are specific deadlines-if the post box says "last pick-up at 5", you had better be out there at 1700L with your scan gun. Or 1701L, but certainly NOT 1659L. All the mail needs to be in the rental boxes at a certain time, and sorted by a certain time. There are deadline stresses every day.

There are also personnel stressors. In my orientation class of 15, no one was eligible for benefits. The woman who's training me? Nada. Which is all well and good in a down economy, but I wonder how well that's going to go for people who get bitten by a dog. And you know why mail carriers have a satchel? To defend them (along with pepper spray) against bad dogs.

So it's interesting. And it's hard work. I'm learning a lot!

Three Ps for Sonny

2009-12-05T19:15:00.002-06:00

Package.

Play.

Pooped.

Thank you for the nice puppy prezzies, Stacey. He loves them.

The new parent report.

2009-12-02T05:59:00.006-06:00

OMG. It's been over 10 years since we had a new puppy. Boy, they are a lot of work! I've learned a lot about my dog, and discovered a few pitfalls of getting a Craigslist dog. The first thing is that he was almost certainly undernourished. It was a little creepy, because this guy was SO good at standing out on the back porch picking up dead moths (a protein source). He clocked in at the vet's last week, 11 weeks old and weighing 22 lbs. We figure he's put on at least a pound since then, and is looking like a much bigger dog! Just compare the photo from 10 days ago!! (I know the angles are different, but look at how much more tile he covers!)

Although puppies need a lot of rest, I certainly haven't had any. The first day or two we had Sonny, this devil dog look really creeped me out. It's just his ducts. We've been working extra hard to learn "potty outside". His former owner kept the boxers on cement and flagstone, so El Sunny knows he's supposed to pee there. Getting him to stop crapping on the porch is gonna be a chore, but we've kinda figured out that Mom doesn't like it when he poops inside. He's a really good puddlemaker. I just keep praising him when he gets it right.

Our neighbors were kidding around, and said Sonny hit the jackpot. That's only a partial joke. I don't have any good things to say about his former owner. When we visited, he told me the pups had their first Parvo shot and needed a booster, blah, blah. The next day, when I emailed him for the records "I had a busy day at work." Like I care. The NEXT day, he emailed me that he was confused. He had only paid for shots for the mother. This made me so mad, because it put every puppy in danger. I could deal with "I went to Tractor Supply and bought the vaccines, here's the lot number I gave him." I could deal with "I didn't start their series," even tho that screams cheapskate. But to tell us a puppy had shots when he had none was a bad, bad thing. Dewclaws? The guy said they hadn't been done. According to the vet, it was a bad home job, as was his tail. Sonny NEEDED to come home with us.

Fortunately, Sonny is an adaptable dog. This week, I have seen him leap 2.5 feet in the air (it is AMAZING what a well nourished pup can do!) and he's chewing on EVERYTHING-but oddly, not little Ian. He simply licked Ian's fingers-the kid must have tasted like turkey and string beans.

He was a very good pup, and slept most of our 6 hour trip to DMILS, and most of the way back. I have to give him lots of car practice.

And my DH is absolutely smitten.

There's a new kid in town.....

2009-11-22T20:40:00.005-06:00

Meet Sonny-

I think this dog is brilliant. When I went to get ice at the refrigerator door, he cocked his head, and ran around the back side of the fridge to see where the noise was coming from.

When I had to go to the bathroom, he was very interested about things, then ran away to poop in DH's office. He's a clever one, that Sonny is.

Updates-

2009-11-17T11:17:00.004-06:00

Well, Ok, then. It's been a long week for me. Lots and lots of pain meds, and sleeping pills (Me! on a sleeping pill) and taping kotex to my wound. The outpouring of antibiotics resulted in some discomfort for me, having killed off all the natural flora and fauna in my body (but I still have a zit.....how does THAT happen?) I had to go to Walgreens and buy a bunch of home rememedies. So be it, it was my 20.00 and I feel better now.

It's time for me to put away the pain meds and other stuff-I just want OUT of the house, and that is the trade off. I'm motivated.

I got less knitting done than I hoped-hydrocodone is rough on chart knitting, but did manage to work on a few things, one that I've already popped in the mail. Itwas my first sweater for the DGS. I'm claiming 400 yards for it.

I managed to pick up a few bags of the cotton wool blend on sale at Elann this morning, and I look forward to those.....the possibilities are endless.

Sometimes you just know.

2009-11-08T11:07:00.003-06:00

I had my first post-op appointment on the 29th. I was so relieved to get away from the damned foley! I asked my doc if he meant to send me away with no antibiotics, and he said yes. I had no idea that my troubles were just starting.

Two days later, it dawned on me that the reason my tummy felt so corrugated was because I had new stretch marks....hmmm. Wednesday saw me in the ER, with an infection so large it had to find a way out. I'd sprung a leak.

After two days in the hospital, I came home to a lot of really kind messages, and great mail. Thanks to all of you for your thoughtfulness. I'm not sure where this puts me for the rest of the month, but hopefully, it will all be on the uptick.

Computer Security & Identity Theft

2009-11-04T02:25:00.002-06:00

Christmas gifting for the office

2009-11-03T08:00:00.006-06:00

Office gifting is tricky. I've made bags of peanut brittle for FIFTY for DH to take to work. I've made platters of cookies, I've bought SACKS of RitterSport so DH could stuff Christmas stockings with something nice.

Nice. But inconsequential. That's really a tall order. DH is mid-level management. He wants to say "Thank you for digging me out of my messes" to support staff. So what's bigger than a card, yet does not require reciprocation? It has to be a 'one size fits all' gift-EVERYONE has to get the same thing. He's a naturally exhuberant gifter. If left on his own, DH will buy the same thing for staff that he would buy for me. I love his colleagues, but COME ON! ;-)

Last year, everyone got Circle E candles. We happened to drive by the factory, and I made DH pull over. I'm a bit of a quirky weirdo, do you REALLY want me to pick out the fragrances two years running?

I got up early this morning and ordered an armload of these:

I really LIKE Penzeys. A lot. I am glad to spread the gospel of pepper. I think this is the kind of present that even non-cooks can like-or easily re-gift. If you have never shopped a Penzey's, call them up and ask for a catalog. I learn something with every new catalog.

I'm excited about these. A little quirky, a little handy, a little cute. I'm stoked. I might order some for my nieces-with gift cards to go with!

Oh, yeah, and if you include code 43537C with your order, they will throw in a free jar of cinnamon. Offer good thru the end of the month.

My grandma's crazy

2009-11-02T23:08:00.000-06:00

And crazy about me.

Christmas stockings, 2009.

Allrighty then-a real mixed bag!

2009-11-02T18:56:00.003-06:00

I found a half bottle of amoxycillin on Saturday, and started taking them. What a difference it makes!

It's been an odd hour. When DH came home, we dashed off to the grocery-he's not going to be around for a few days, so whooosh! My ragged rundown self-I LOOK like I just went thru surgery.

While we were there, Glenda stopped us to ask for prayers-her ex-husband has been diagnosed with a gut-punch assortment of tumors and cancers. Their divorce was so ugly. I told DH that is it weird how things work out. If this had happened when they were together-just a few years ago, she was so dependent on him this would have crushed her. As difficult as it is STILL, she is better prepared to stand with her kids as they pass thru this difficult time. We used to stand outside and smoke with them. Glad I quit!

We got home, and DH was reading the golf club newsletter. Someone else we knew passed away-a little dark spot on his belly turned into many visits to MD Anderson and chemo. Younger than me. Now two girls don't have their daddy.

On the plus side, DGD sent me a get well card with photos. So fun, so fun!

I also got a gift package from someone. Oh yay. Lotsa fun stuff in the package! Tea, yarn, a movie....Yay! Perfect, because DH will be gone. And yummiest of all, there was a milk chocolate, honey and green tea bar. I didn't think I would like it, because I am not a big milk choco fan, but I think the tea mellows out the sugars. It's quite tasty! Thank you so much, G!

After that swirl of an hour-I just don't know what to think-but we should be kind to each other.

My Crazy Grandma's Christmas Stockings....

2009-10-31T04:12:00.005-05:00

Remember those Christmas stockings I started on a few weeks back? I worked on them today, and sewed one together.

I'm having a lot of fun with this-but trying to decide if I need to add another layer of furry poof to the cuff of this stocking. I learned from the last stocking I made DGD-large bells get REALLY heavy really quick, so I used fewer than I ordinarily would have.

I love this project. I'd like to see it done with patterned thrift shop sweaters!!! I've one left to do!!

Counting up-

2009-10-30T07:56:00.002-05:00

I've been working on other stuff too this week. I am trying to decide whether I need more yarn for this project. There's not much out there for sale, I should probably pick up two or three balls.

I smell like the subway. Or a show barn.

2009-10-29T05:30:00.003-05:00

I'm up early today. The toaster oven is on, and I have a date with the Gorton's Fisherman in about 20 minutes.

I have to go to the doc's today, and I am anxious. I have a few things to ask him, one being "Did you mean to send me home with no antibiotics?" Let's just say I DON'T feel the greatest. My staples still catch fire.

This catheter business has got to go. Last Friday, before DH busted me out of the hospital, one of the nurses sat down with me, and showed me how to remove the cable structure from mine, to replace it with a new one. She bundled up a new Foley kit, and away I went.

A few nights ago, I broke out the new kit. 'Professionals should empty bag,' proclaim the nice people from Bard. There are many patient advisories all throughout the package. One thing I DON'T find is a pictogram on how to switch out assemblies. (I KNOW it isn't shop class, allright?)

It occurs to me to wonder who gives drugged out women instructions on how to empty and swap out their own catheters before sending them home for a week. And I realize that I break the sterile seal by switching assembly A to the business that's hanging out of my underpants. According to the advice given to me by my medical professional.

Sigh.

I know it's not optimum. I know it's not even close. I'm not leaving the doc's until I can leave the foley assembly in his trash. THAT I know.

On the plus side, I haven't had to cook or clean house all week. My DH has done a decent job, and I can't complain, but will anyhow. He made fishsticks last night (I know, I wanted more when I got up) and was looking for tongs to flip them. Unless they are totally DONE, that's a sure way to have them fall apart.

He watches far too much TV. Just get a spatula and flip them already, mmkay? He did a little foot stomp, and found a spatula. I think I messed with his inner Betty Crocker.

Wish me luck today.

knitting that must not be named part 2

2009-10-28T06:05:00.005-05:00

This was my secret project this summer. Elann's Picasso will go on sale 10 Nov. I enjoyed the yarn.

image used with permission from elann.com

Knitting that must not be named.

2009-10-27T07:24:00.005-05:00

Wonder how it's going to turn out.

Finishing some details, and how to get ready for a hysterectomy

2009-10-26T07:24:00.009-05:00

I started this top in June, used 4 balls of Paton's Katrina, and finally finished it this weekend. There was a long long lag because I mislaid a ball of yarn. I'd try it on, but I am so puffy from surgery still, there would be no point. Yardage 652.

I decided to write out the basic commandments of hysterectomy; because this is yet another topic that NO ONE TALKS about. My cousins will have this in a few-Karen in a few months, Judy in a year or two, Kathleen too ...and possibly my nieces. So here goes-

1) Buy a body pillow. And keep an extra pillow around, because it hurts when you laugh or cough (and of course it is high allergen season for me). Hug the small pillow when you have to laugh or cough-it helps.

2) Gas hurts too. Badly. Plan your diet accordingly. The crazy people gave me broccoli and milk in the hospital! ;-)

3) Plan your aftercare for the worst possible scenario. I thought mine would not go well, and I was right, but I didn't have enough info to plan for THAT. The worst scenario is that you won't drive for three weeks, and the you should count on reclusive rest for a week. Why a week? Because one of the worst scenarios is that they'll nick your bladder while doing your surgery-this has me on a foley for a week so the nick can heal!

a) Shop to fully stock your pantry-and try to have seven frozen easy meals when you leave for the hospital. That "easy meals for a week" will save you from cooking while dragging a catheter. After hospital food so bad my DH laughed looking at it, it was nice that I could tell him how to thaw and bake dinner. And it was sooooo much tastier. If food and groceries aren't your area of expertise, make sure you thank your friend or S/O for the lovely dinner!

b) Find the long barbecue tongs and have them at the ready-bending is tricky for the first few days; the subscription cards from magazines, vitamins you spill, and all kinds of stuff will be easier to retrieve. Put a trash basket by your cocoon spot.

c) What do you wear? You want a knee length gown with IV friendly sleeves for the hospital-and knee length gowns for the recluse week. Yoga pants are good, except if you are a lucky catheter winner. Stuff with elastic waists are good-I'm wearing elastic waist shorts right now. Roomy grannie panties are spot on, too.

4) Use the scented soap you love, and buy a pack of hypoallergenic baby wipes. Be kind to yourself.

5) Get a pedi and a haircut. That helps a lot.

6) Make an activity box before you go in. I rounded up my projects and equipment I need to work while I am at home. I didn't choose challenging projects-I don't think my concentration will be much for the week. I also saved catalogs and the like as hospital reading material.

7) Make people help you. I can fold and sort clothes, but I made DH wash and dry, and pull all the clean laundry to a central pile, because my reach is stunted, and I am not supposed to lift.

8) Take your iron beforehand, and corral your meds. I was anemic in September, and had just rounded the corner with a hemoglobin of 10 when I went into surgery-taking 650 mgs each day. My levels plummeted to the sixes and I ended up having a transfusion. Now that I am home again, the sinus meds, the vitamins, the iron, the pain killers (2!) the horomones, and all the other crap live in one spot-and I just build a candy dish of drugs each morning. When the dish is empty, I have taken everything I was supposed to.

I'll be adding to the list as I think of things.

SisterWrecktomy

2009-10-24T04:21:00.004-05:00

ooof.

It is a God given fact that if you load the dishwasher on Wednesday, and go in for surgery, no one will hit 'start' til you come home. Dishes will be in the sink too.

People talk about "good drugs" after surgery. Psssh. I'm supposed to take mine every 4-6 hours for pain. What that really means is, take the motrin first, then the good stuff. Sleep for 6 hours. Staples 'catch fire'. Repeat.

If the doc wants you on bedrest, he'll leave the catheter in. Jerk.

Husbands will confuse your "I don't feel well" face with a "You are an idiot" face. Can't help that. Pick the one you like, and go with that one, mmm kay?

My girlybits were a mess, apparently, I had fibroids on fibroids, so he started out doing a laproscopic surgery, looked around, and just got his butt kicked. Go me.

I lost exactly zero ounces, and my tummy is so puffy, it looks the same as when I went in.

I had to have a transfusion.

And I can't drive for 3 weeks.

Boooo.

A little bit nervous

2009-10-21T07:13:00.001-05:00

and going in for it today!!!

My new model-

2009-10-20T00:02:00.004-05:00

Baby gear looks so much better stuffed with baby!

Finally set on a project

2009-10-18T00:23:00.006-05:00

You know I've been restlessly touching, then frogging projects for the better part of a week. Today, the lightbulb came on. I bought a Japanese book in January, Sweater & Vest For Mrs. (ミセスのセーター&ベスト) Vol.8, by Nihon Vogue. Today, I was rumbling thru the craft room/hotflash dungeon, and happened to run across some Noro Aurora I bought in July. You probably heard the bells and whistles going off.

I'll have to do a little tweaking, because this is for a 32" bust, finished ..... but I think I can manage. At least the scale is right. Short.

I don't normally crochet, and I never EVER make little motifs I have to screw with, but today, I started the crochet yoke for the cardigan. I'm alternating sides, so the color distribution is kind of equal, and each side mirrors the other.

It's a little exciting.

More Knitting Stuff-

2009-10-18T00:13:00.004-05:00

I've been making more felt-and dang it if I didn't accidentally knit some acrylic into that mix! In the long photo, there's a dark stripe 4up from the bottom edge. If you look in the second photo, it's 4th from the top, and no thinner. @#$@!

I think I have knit up enough felt for my crafty requirements. Except for the disasterous bit, it was mostly Cascade 220 that I had leftover from doing book swatches for someone this year. I'd guess about 600 yards, and that's what I am claiming. Wish me luck, I hope my intended projects work out!!!

Overpriced, oversalted, overprocessed, overrated

2009-10-17T05:48:00.006-05:00

I am worried about Mark and the kitchen next week. It IS self-serving-I want GOOD food, thanks, but I might not be able to manage the dutch oven.

Every month or so, I go "big grocery shopping" on Lackland (the Air Force Base). Every month, I come away from the store as confused as can be.

How could I possibly be confused? I cook.

That is the problem, I think. I shop pretty much the same way as I did when grocery shopping as a teenager-a car would pull up at the grocery, and the folks would kick me out-and then come get me an hour and a half later. I had a certain budget, I had certain meals to shop for, a check from my mom, and a list.

That was 35 years ago. So I still live in a world where packet gravy mix is a convenience food. And I don't nuke much.

Let's take yesterday as an example-during my pre-surgery grocery run, (aka Bets does not want her DH in charge of the kitchen, but has no choice) I bought 139 items. Thirteen were from the produce department. I bought a ton of nuts (trying not to eat so much starch). So what else did I buy? Cleaning supplies, meat (I learned a GREAT and easy way to make pork chops-yum yum!) Kleenex, TP and the like. Some canned goods. A ton of cheese. Plain frozen veggies.

Here's my list of convenience foods-1 bag fish sticks. 1 pack frozen ravioli. 3 Stouffer's Spinach souffles (I love this stuff-and have since I was 8. Don't judge). 3 ramens (remember, DH is cooking next week.) A tiny package of pork gyoza (for the surgery girl). 2 jars of pasta sauce. And about 8 cans of soup.

That's it. I buy real food, ingredients. It amazes me to go to the grocery and see mountains of things I have never tried. I blow past entire sections. It doesn't even occur to me to look, because I never buy it.

Frozen dinners? Generally, the picture is better than the actual contents. Bags of pasta meals? Again, the food stylist did a great job. Overpriced, oversalted, overprocessed, overrated. And truthfully, a lot of it makes me sick. My stomach doesn't take kindly to some fillers and stretchers and additives and mysterious THINGS in a lot of frozen foods.

Surely, I can't be the only one. And dammit, I forgot carrots.

Front loading washers aren't good for felting.

2009-10-15T23:03:00.004-05:00

I've been working on Christmas knitting. Yeah, I know. DD asked for a new Christmas stocking for DGS. I didn't love DGD's, so I figured I'd do two. My basic plan was to Bond/ISM up a bunch of scrap wools I have, felt, and then make up stockings.

I knit up a lot of yarn. A lot. Of course, it all pulled back in when I pulled it off the machine. I had heard that it was difficult to felt in front loaders, so I threw in soap, long cycle, hot water, and you know what?

There's a liar in feltland. It felted. HARD. !@%#&! So hard it's going to be tough to make these stockings. I will have to do another length of fabric, just for the second stocking.

Bah-forget it.

2009-10-15T08:59:00.000-05:00

I'll just weed thru my comments. I turned them back on.

Let's frog AGAIN

2009-10-14T20:22:00.004-05:00

I scrapped the Rowan this week. The chart was just to finicky to suit me....I don't want to watch EVERY STINKiNG row of a garment right now. So I cast on the peasant blouse from Reynolds 82455. If I was a tighter knitter, this would be a happy happy marriage, but I am not. I cast on the size small, knowing I knit big. Small is 18", and I am in the neighborhood of 24". I went down a needle size to a 4 already. So.... never mind. I am surprised by this yarn-I thought the Lurex would sneak out and be snaggy, and so far it hasn't. I like this yarn.

I have to go off in search of project #3. Wish me luck.

Fire sale ends Oct. 21!

2009-10-13T13:11:00.003-05:00

I got my surgery date. On the plus side of everything, I've lost five pounds since my last visit.

I'm not really scared, or worried, or in conflict. I've had my period since the end of August. Enough, all ready. So I went to the doc's today, and we've decided next Wednesday at noon. Like a showdown (key the music to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly....wah-wah-wahhhhh). The knitter in me wonders about the difference between a centimeter and a "sonometer", spoken in a snotty doctor voice. I have to go look that up. The average uterus has a capacity of 80 grams. Mine has one of 600. Damn, THAT's a lot of yarn. That's a freaking sweater.

As I leave the office, my husband calls, and admits he is absolutely ignorant of everything. I try to explain that it will take longer to heal if they splay me open like that frog in biology. So he gets it, but isn't too scared.

On my way to Wallyworld, I start making that mental list of things that have to happen before I go to the hospital Wednesday. Mailing a package to Japan is on that list. Later, as I careen down the aisle with some FABULOUS pears, some pork chops (yum!!) and a squash, I hear my mom's voice. She tells me the story of how her mother got up one morning, got cleaned up and fixed her hair, and went to the hospital to have a baby. And she didn't come home.

The first time I heard this, I was to young or immature to know what to say. Now, I think "oh, no, that sucked" in the truest, realest, original sense of the phrase. And I am not worried at all about myself, but am sad because of a woman whose picture I have never seen. And I won't tell DH, because he won't know what to say.

Still, no comments allowed.

Nah, I still have to tell you about silliness at my house-

2009-10-11T19:17:00.004-05:00

You just can't comment. Hopefully, you will laugh.

I'll probably go work for the post office. They've got a freeze on career employees (aka people who get benefits) and they are just hiring part-timers. Either I like it or I don't, but I will find out!

I can't wait for a surgery date. I should know Tuesday. Yes, it's still going, despite all the drugs.

I went to the outlet mall yesterday, and spend an absurd amount of money. I think it was because I was grounded last month, and expect to be grounded again soon, post-surgery. At any rate, I have most of the Christmas shopping done. For myself, I bought a pair of stretchy knit jeans and some makey-uppy stuff-and some yoga type pants to wear for 3 weeks. DH got 3 pairs of shoes, a jacket, and two polos, plus undie Claus showed up. Stuff to send to Japan. Stuff to send to Colorado. Stuff to take to north TX. We are having a low key Christmas this year, due to a few events beyond our scope, but for a good reason.

I bought DH shoes yesterday, that's right. I went to the Ecco outlet-he'd picked up a pair in town about 3 weeks ago, and has been raving about them ever since. I waltzed into the shop yesterday, and started taking pictures, so he could tell me which ones he liked. The clerks joked around with me about taking pictures and sending them to him. DH called me back, and we talked about what he needed, and which he liked best. "I can't believe I paid mumble-mumble for those shoes" he said. Honey, bow to the master. Two of the pairs were 65% off! So he is very glamourously shod.

Today, I tried to recreate a family culinary classic. I tried to make mushroom barley risotto with frico (little melted cheese crisps that are frizzled and brown). We've gone back to Sugar Busters, and he's lost 5 pounds in a week, and I've lost 3; I was looking for something that didn't have pasta, rice or potatoes. It tasted ok, but looked like mushroom barley barf. Unexpectedly, DH hated the frico!

In a vain attempt to stop some Japanese spam

2009-10-10T09:11:00.003-05:00

for free sex crap, that I get EVERY morning on this blog-I am taking the week off. I am turning comments off. We will see.

See ya in a week.

Huh?

2009-10-09T20:53:00.003-05:00

I went to the post office personnel office today. What paragons of...well, I don't even know what to call it. I waited in the lobby for 30 minutes before someone could walk out to get me-and she was right there!

I had to entertain myself, so I looked in an old San Antonio phone book....

That's right, a listing for Buckwheats Mammy.

Five miles in 2009

2009-10-09T00:23:00.004-05:00

Wow. I did it without using the Bond. Pretty good, pretty good. 8715 + 279=8994! I think I need a new counter!!!

Pompons are a crapshoot....

2009-10-08T20:14:00.003-05:00

A few months ago, I found a pompon 'loom' on sale at Wallyworld. I picked it up, thinking I might need one sometime. Lo and behold, when I was working on smallboy's hat, I thought it needed one. I dug out the loom, and made the perfect pom. A little sparse, but respectable.

Unfortunately, my second pom didn't come out at ALL. I had a HUGE pile of 2" strands, not a pom.

Ah well.

I attached the previous pom to the top of the hat, and today, I popped this in the mail for DGS. It's Schachenmayr Nomotta Gemini, 3 skeins, 279 yards. I got it last year when Herrschner's blew it out.

Kid clothing is so much fun! I used the Ann Norling top down cardi, and tweaked it a little for a shawl collar.

I think he will look soo handsome!

Are those buttons, or are you happy to be here?

2009-10-07T11:13:00.010-05:00

It's fashion week in San Antonio. I tuned in because I was curious. You've seen clips from my local morning show before. Our local fashion 'e xpert' gave the rundown on the basics that should be in every woman's closet...

a basic white t-shirt

a white button-down blouse

a black button-down blouse

a vest

an A-line skirt (the skirt she showed had so much ruching people will be confused-it was not a good example-because it was strictly a junk-in-the-trunk skirt)

a deep v sweater

a black turtleneck (really? I'll disagree on that; makes heavy or busty people look CHUNKIER)

a black jacket

basic black pants

little black dress

a leather military style jacket-she meant a bomber jacket

tanks

black and brown belts (if everything is black and white, do we NEED BROWN?)

scarves-there was a lot of yak yak about how to wear a scarf-you know, fold it in half and do a keyhole loop ..... nothing to see here, move along, move along...

basic black bag-get a basic Michael Kors bag and a basic black Chanel bag (eyeroll-you know how much WIC we have in our town?)

This was by no means the WORST "must have list" I have ever seen; it fit the presenter's demographic VERY well (25-34) but if you don't look good in white, can you have off-white? If you look bad in a turtleneck, can you get a jewel neck? The "Chanel purse" makes me a little crazy-I mean fer reals.

I have to wonder-is it just me, or do they really not see what they 'present' when they look in the mirror? Or maybe it's just the crew....

There walks a real genius, I'll tell ya....

2009-10-07T03:28:00.004-05:00

Our phones died on Saturday. Couldn't figure it out....we had DSL, but no landline. I called the fabulous hamsterwheel voice response ATT repair line yesterday.

"You are calling to report a phone service outage." (presses 1)

"Are you calling from that line?" (sighs)

It does no good to get snotty with this recording. Swearing doesn't help either. Ask me how I know this. Yesterday, Mr. ATT comes over, so I let him in the back yard. Ok. I looked out, and he's standing on the utility box, peering into the neighbor's yard. He is talking to my next door neighbor. I holler, just so she knows he REALLY IS the ATT man (and she did not seem really concerned about him NOT being the phone guy) and she yells back that her phone is out too... huh?

When DH came home, he went out and made friends with Mr. ATT. As it turns out, the neighbors behind our house and three doors down have been putting in a FABULOUS POOL. Mind you, this guy had his house built by some oddball builder. Rumor has it, it has some problems. Apparently, he hired the same great folks to put in his fabulous pool....and they yanked the neighborhood's phone cables out when they were digging. (When my niece heard about this, she felt she needed to point out that you can call the utility companies, and they will tell you where your lines are. People that drive by the manpower office every morning to pick up laborers to save money aren't gonna do that. Nice try tho.) So we got our phone service back today.

I walked in the house this afternoon, and DH was on the phone. I could tell he was in a miserable hamsterwheel call loop because his tone was agitated and he was starting to swear. Did you know that if your cheapskate genius neighbor yanks out the neighborhood comm cables, when your service is restored you get to reinstall everything on your DSL box? Nice.

On the personal front, I interviewed for a part-time job today. On the plus side, I think I have a good chance. On the minus side, waiting for my doctor's office to tell me when my surgery is scheduled is ruining all my chances. I had to tell the truth that I was scheduling surgery. Couldn't help it. She asked me to let her know by Tuesday what the plans were. I'll be pestering the doctor.

In knitting news, I hated everything I started last week, and I have one mitten done and not much else. I started a little top down cardigan for the little Mr. Man (DGS). I did it in Schachenmeyer Gemini, which is selfstriping acrylic and wool I snagged last year at Herrschners. I did a little engineering to make sure the sleeves were similar, now I can live with them. I sent DD a picture of it drying, and asked if I needed to make a hat. She said yes, with a light blue pompon on top.

My child does not know about selfstriping yarn.

How is that possible? Anyhow, the cardi is done and drying, and I cast on le toque. I will photograph as soon as I have buttons on and a hat garnished with whatever comes off the skein.

Still going along

2009-10-01T08:47:00.006-05:00

Yeah, ok, just indulge me. Even tho I knew my periods were worse than the average bear's, I was hoping I could tough it out.

I went to the VA yesterday to have all this documented in my records. Tuesday, I was kind of mad because I had watched all my chances drain out ... miscarriages, fibroids, goofy thyroid, and I blamed the VA and military healthcare.

I've rethought that a little. I had better healthcare than many American women-an exam every single year for 30 years. Interesting that we as a culture can have so many, many meds for erectile dysfunction, but for women, fibroids and thyroid issues are kind of up in the air. Both my cousins had trouble, so there really is no finger-pointing. And 100 years ago, I would have been dead. I would have bled out already, and they had no way to stop it.

My uterus extends all the way up to my bellybutton. Damn! DAMN! The twelve year old inside of me wants to giggle and tell my husband "my UTERUS is bigger than your head!" but I am afraid he will start crying and run away. So I don't.

The knitting front is a little jacked up. I had to rip Clara-I knit an entire ball, and found I made a ton of mistakes. Blah. Frogpond!

Ladies and Gentleman, I'd like to introduce you to my Sumo Uterus

2009-09-29T11:47:00.005-05:00

Do I have your attention?

We're gonna talk about girlbits and menopause today. They give you a big lecture about girlbits when you start your period, but you are on your own when you stop. 100 years ago, I would have been dead already, so we are talking.

My period started the day we put Sug down (Aug 30). It's still going. For about a week, it got BAD, and I am used to real periods, real run to the bathroom every hour periods. So when I say it was bad, it was insane.

I went to the VA, and they called me back because they wanted to give me a transfusion. Then they sent me a coupon for a hysterectomy from the civilian provider of my choice. The meds they gave me were ok-but notice I still have my period?

I went to see him this morning. He said "I expected your uterus to be the size of a grapefruit, but yours seems to be the size of a watermelon" because of my fibroids.

I looked at the tech and mouthed "CRAP!" and said "Oh, please, don't you mean cantaloupe?"

So a hysterectomy seems to be the biggest balloon on the horizon. I can't help but wonder if I didn't have military and VA healthcare, would my miscarriages have been prevented? I had an exam last year, not a peep from my provider. Makes you wonder, but not too hard, because fretting over that is futile.

I feel cheated.

In other news, here's mitten one. Good pattern, the thumb is a little long. I told DH we need to go somewhere cold.

Aimless knitting-

2009-09-28T05:52:00.002-05:00

I am still working on the Lace Leaf tank from earlier this summer, the Clara Dress (I found a bit of an oddity on that pattern; I am creative enough to muck up the pattern so that the skirt eyelets swirl.....a design variation!) I frogged the mohair loop and wool, and am making a pair of plain mittens now because that's what I want to do.

It doesn't get cold enough here to need mittens. If I can, I will make a hat or headband to go with. Also not cold enough here.

The shoemaker's kids

2009-09-23T08:37:00.012-05:00

Lookie lookie at what I found on ebay. Teeny tiny little copper cloisonne medallions (1cm) in the Fuji pattern. That's so exciting! The larger one is the size of a quarter. The only issue I have with it is that it's been chemically cleaned, so now it's rough and nasty. How do you restore 50 years of patina?

The design is my family's kamon. It's called Fuji, but it has nothing to do with the mountain. It's wisteria. I happened upon it years ago, while reading East West Quilts. My brother, looking over my shoulder, grabbed the book and said "Hey, that's on our grandparent's grave!" Indeed it is, and we've been wearing it out ever since. My shoemaker grandpa would be proud. Or maybe he'd pronounce us all "Baca!" and shrug. No telling.

I later learned that this kamon is kind of the "one size fits all" crest-it's like being named Johnson or Smith. Ah, well, we still have a crest, and I am excited that I have the medallions. I need findings to make some Christmas gifts.

You know that old saw about how the shoemaker's kids never have shoes? Well, the same thing can happen to knitting grandmas. I have been remiss on grandkid knitting. Remember I have a stash grandkid? I tracked down the dress from the SOAK ad. (I had to buy the yarn to get the pattern-but don't think I want to make an alpaca dress-because you know it would get felted. You just KNOW.) I am working on it in Zarina. And I have to work on something for the small boy too, and Christmas stockings. Fortunately, all family knitting is relatively small. Like the people I have to knit for.

Playing with stripes

2009-09-20T07:57:00.001-05:00

Prickly?

2009-09-18T08:17:00.002-05:00

Soundtrack

2009-09-16T10:51:00.002-05:00

This morning, I picked up my knitting that must not be named from the sweater dryer, checked to make sure it was totally dry, found a box, collected bits and stuff and got ready to box it up.

And.

Then.

It.

Hit.

Me.

I ran to go get the magazine and checked the photo.

Oh no. Instead of reverse stockinette sleeves, I put them on backwards. My lovely sweater has stockinette sleeves. Silly. Stupid mistake. Simple error.

I was so annoyed. And ramped up a litany of stomping, grumping, "disgust of my self" ... in my mother's voice. And it made me laugh, because my mother has been dead 9 years, yet I still can hear her crabbing about miscrossed cables.

Look ma, just like you!!!

Some of my favorite people!

2009-09-13T01:25:00.005-05:00

God only knows

what he's telling them

but it looks like fun!

In other news, I am tucking in ends on Knitting That Must Not Be Named, so I am adding another 1456 yards onto my totals!

"You have won a major award"

2009-09-10T10:32:00.003-05:00

Do you remember that scene from "A Christmas Story"? That went thru my mind last night as I opened a box I THOUGHT was my new circs. It was a bottle of cod liver oil.

You see, back in July I entered a recipe contest for a recipe made with fish oil. As it turns out, I didn't win....but I have a lovely bottle of fish oil so that I may try again next year. That's not a bad thing. It's funny, but it's not bad.

I've had a few emails asking me what's going on, why are you anemic? It is a scary thing when the VA calls you up and says "come back for a transfusion," because they don't move quickly on a lot of things. At the ripe old age of 49, my girly bits are giving me trouble, and I am about to kick the little vagrants out. We'll just say that it's been a rough 2 weeks, mmmk? I FB'd both of my direct peer cousins to ask if they had trouble, and yes, it seems to run in the family.

Thank you for asking. It's weird seeing yourself turn paler, and waxy looking. I swear, I was sporting a porcelain complexion!

The up side of that is that DH has been my gofer this week. It's funny-I asked him to pick up some onions and potatoes-he brought 5 lbs of onions, and two potatoes. I asked him for coleslaw (meaning, shredded cabbage mix) and he picked up a tub of deli coleslaw, all the time wondering "What does she want THIS for?" But we can all joke about it a little now.

People with pronounced anemia can't mop floors. ;-) Or so I say. My nail beds are starting to pink up when you press and release on them, so I think that's a good sign. My iron supplements from the grocery are 27 mg elemental iron, and the ones from the VA are 324 mg ferrous gluconate. I think of those as pig iron. Now that I examine them, I wonder if dietary iron will respond to a magnetic field. Stay tuned.

You know I feel much better. Must be the fish oil.

I have IRON POOR BLOOD!

2009-09-08T16:50:00.001-05:00

I went to the doc's today, and my iron levels are such that I can use that phrase with confidence. In addition, they called me and gave me instructions to go to the hospital for a transfusion if I do not improve.

I'll bet I get a lot of knitting done this week.

Just a little Labor Day shopping

2009-09-07T08:54:00.003-05:00

I am so excited. We decided to try going somewhere cooler for Christmas, so that means I can knit something a little bit heavier!!! I told you about my needle bargain.

I discovered when I moved my stash that my biggest yarn disappointments were from a specific East Coast dyer. I ignored their sale UP TIL THIS MORNING. I can only have so much discipline. They had my favorite Giant Loopy Mohair on sale. I caved.

I bought enough yarn for two projects, but only things I was pretty sure I would love.

Reasons to rip

2009-09-06T22:31:00.002-05:00

It's been a tough week. It sucks being without a dog, and tho I have no regret over the decision we made, I miss her every day. I've had some very specific health challenges that frankly, I need help with. I fully intend to act on them.

I've been playing with my bag of Rainbow Adara this week. I had an idea for a project, and set on it like a house on fire. I'm 25% done.

I have been really steady on my project. I came up with a good concept, noodled a few ideas, swatched a little, had two or three false starts. Then I got busy.

A day ago, I questioned my color placement. Was it really the best possible arrangement? (I'll confess, I was pulling them out in the order they were bagged.)

An hour ago, I was questioning the stitch placement of a row of garter stitch.

I just questioned the viability of another row of patterning.

These flaws are not show stoppers, but they are exactly the flaws that make my project less than fab. I'm not having it. Time to frog.

Very very excited!!!

2009-09-05T22:08:00.005-05:00

I just ordered 3 pairs of Addi Turbo circs for chump change (30.67, including shipping) at the Dizzy Sheep.

Can you tell how happy that makes me? I love 12" needles for hats!

They are going thru the deals thick and fast this weekend!

Never done this before-

2009-09-04T00:37:00.002-05:00

This is the work of one of my friends. As much as we differ, there are some things about it that that I really like. I took the time to look beyond the things that bother me, and well, here it is. He's put his heart and soul into getting it on the streets.

Like candy

2009-09-03T11:51:00.003-05:00

Don't you think that a rainbow bag of yarns is like a bag of candy? I have an inspiration, and am struggling with the execution. I've had a few false starts. And I am still chugging away at that Katrina top.

At odds with the day...

2009-08-31T08:53:00.004-05:00

DH and I keep finding odd moments in our day where the absence of Sugar is a gaping, screaming hole. When we moved in to this house last fall, I noticed the sound of paws on berber, as if they were puppy paws, and it always made me smile. It's so quiet now. DH sat finishing a spoonful of peanut butter, and had just a smidge left on the spoon. He stared at it, and knew that no dog would clean the spoon. It's so still.

She was a good girl with a big personality. I stare at the dog-nose-level smudge on the back door's window, and realize I need to clean it. It occured to me more than once last night that if anything bumps that window now, I would probably die of fright.

I think about her face during the last days, where my dog was no longer herself, where she stopped responding to pets and chatter, and I have no doubt it was the right time. I think it was pain that I saw in her face, DH thinks it was dementia, and at the end of it all, it doesn't matter.

I looked on Craigslist and at the Texas Boxer Rescue pages already. Nothing serious, just browsing. I suck at being dogless. I bought Astro when I was in the depths of despair during my divorce, and that was 20 years ago this month. It was the best money I ever spent. I've owned a dog every day since then. Suddenly, there's no dog in my house.

When DH came back from the vet's, he 'scolded' me. "No strays, no dragging home a puppy!" Which is a big freaking joke, because he brought Sug home instead of my new dishwasher 13 years ago. "Best damned dishwasher you ever had!" Yeah, yeah. So I told him "Look, either a puppy, or you need to let me plan a trip. Your choice."

I started looking at air fares last night. We haven't traveled together since our good neighbors watched the dogs, and Lady Eve's dad has been dead two years. DH fussed "I want this if we are going to go..." He was surprised that I found the vacation of his dreams and a price we can afford, if we start now. He's been tasked to calculate his days off, and to find out how many SkyMiles he has. Hopefully, this Christmas will see suitcases and passports. And we'll get a dog after that.

I've suffered a creative lull lately. Enid found this clip, and I think it presents some interesting concepts. I will probably start working upstairs more often, because I won't notice the dog is missing.

There will be no dog in my house tonight.

2009-08-29T09:30:00.006-05:00

She'll be in the back yard, perpetually warming her belly and rolling in the grass.

I am certain that we grieve for our pets because they make us better people. They just want to be by our sides, trusting that we'll pat the space on the couch and invite them for a snuggle. There's nothing like a dog rejoicing "Oh, you came HOME!" that makes us glad of our homes. And only a dog can convince you that your latest culinary disaster is indeed edible. They don't hold grudges. They don't insult. They don't bitch....much. I have learned to read subtext from my dog, learned that happiness is 60 pounds curled in your lap, and learned that compassion is not selfish. Compassion sees pain and befuddlement, and recognizes that joints are screaming.

My dog taught me a lot. I hope I lived up to her expectations.

I've been working

2009-08-27T09:50:00.003-05:00

on knitting which must not be named. Fortunately, I like everything about the project I have.

I've been watching the Little League World Series. It's sooo fun watching the kids!

Taking a stab at it-

2009-08-22T15:06:00.005-05:00

I rewarped the loom, using 10/2 cotton and Colinette Skye scraps. The Skye is aran weight, and I can't get it thru all the holes in the heddle, only the slots between.

As it turns out, THAT gives it a couched appearance. I got out the pick-up stick, and played with that a little, so now you can actually tell that the Skye has rich, variegated colors. I am using Elann Alpaca; for some reason, I had a lone ball of Old Rose.

I am learning that crisp selvedges happen when you beat the fabric evenly.

So how 'bout them Nazis, eh?

2009-08-21T14:49:00.011-05:00

I was doing my blog rounds today, and Cindy posted a link to a Mudflats essay. It's a reaction to Barney Franks and the Nazi comment at a town hall meeting. It's quite a good essay; I lost all patience reading some of the responses.

This mudflinging that started in the last administration is picking up steam. I think that a lot of it is manufactured, so we'll screech at each other in the streets while others pick our pockets. Makes for great headlines, but it doesn't get a thing done.

Because ONE small group compared Obama to Hitler, it does not mean that everyone who thinks conservatively does. That's ridiculous.

I've been to Dachau, I've looked at the ovens. And shivered.

There are no pictures of my mother before the age of eight. They burned when their home was firebombed. My grandfather was a shoemaker, not someone at Yamamoto's side.

My mother starved in wartime Japan, where one squash fed 8 people-the men got the vegetable, the women got the broth, and to her dying day, my mother was likely to stand in front of the refrigerator, gorging herself on jam because some switch in her body had flipped in that time, but never turned itself back. She could clean out a 32 ounce jar of jam in an afternoon, just her and a spoon. So I understand the ravages of wartime on a soul, and have seen it ripple out to ensuing generations.

I'm not flinging mud, or calling this administration anything.

We obviously NEED some healthcare reform. Having seen how one stimulus package was rammed thru legislation, a hurry-up bill does not interest me.

I don't trust our lovely government reps these days. When I went on my road trip a few weeks ago, I saw a lot of dealerships in a lot of small towns struggling. The Kia dealers are excited as hell because of Cash for Clunkers, but Detroit is still struggling, and so are all the loyal "made in USA" buyers. I feel like Washington is putting bandaid after bandaid on mosquito bites, while ignoring the rusty nail sticking out of their foot. The very fact that Cash for Clunkers and the auto bailouts weren't linked, when it would be a cost savings and a SMART move for everyone concerned, has me really worried. By golly, we just spent a lot of money stimulating Honda, Toyota and Kia. Whose dealerships DID we subsidize??

Did you ever watch a smart person who can't multi-task? They are fixing one part of the perceived problem, putting brick after brick into place, never looking at how the problem is morphing, changing, responding, and never really checking the result. They have worked really hard-but only fixed the problem on the surface, while a big mess festers elsewhere. Here's what I mean:

As a sound bite "sending millions to our disabled veterans" sounds great, doesn't it?

I got a stimulus payment last month because I am a disabled veteran. I don't know why I got it. I thought it was odd; unless you are of the group of people who are really stretching from nickel to nickel, I think a lot of folks would just throw 200.00 in the bank. Times have been tight-it makes sense to hold onto extra cash. So it's gonna start my grandson's college fund, not stimulate anything. That was a lot of money that went to a lot of checking accounts, but I don't think it helped the neediest enough, and those who had enough might not have done enough with it.

They didn't sight the target when they crafted that plan. I'd have done without easily, and saved my grandson's money up on my own. Instead, that money is a debt we owe now.

We need a smart, well thought-out healthcare plan, not the one we see because we are shopping at eye-level.

Trying to find balance

2009-08-21T13:42:00.002-05:00

It's one of those odd, changeling times, where something rumbles past our days. The wheels spin frantically in the dirt, flinging up bits of mud and rock onto our collective hems and doorsteps, and some of us trip on holes left in the road, and fall on the ground whimpering or sobbing. The rest of us shuffle and duck, trying to avoid hitting each other. Some of us only realize it when we step out onto our doorsteps with a broom, wondering "Where'd all this crap come from?"

Loomer madness

2009-08-15T12:10:00.007-05:00

The weaver's lesson for the week? Choose a strong thread for the warp. Learn from my mistake.

I recieved a loom on Tuesday. Less than 30.00 on ebay for a 20" rigid heddle loom, MIB. Yay me! The instructions are stilted and confusing, German translated to English. (That totally explains WHY it's MIB). I've put a call out for Rigid Heddle Weaving at my library, but it's not in yet. I want to set it up and go! I talk to Daryl, and look at Youtube videos, but I am resolute.

Later, I gave in to temptation, and put the warp threads on. I have some free laceweight alpaca and some Colinette scraps, so I use them. I thought it would be fun to stripe it (you know I can't ever ever do things plain). The alpaca catches on itself and tangles, annoying the crap out of me. I keep coming upon weird bits of alpaca, but it doesn't dawn on me.

Warped and ready to go. It's odd; I have a place in the set up where the tension sags. I investigate, and discover that the alpaca just isn't strong enough to handle the stress, and is tearing.

I am back to thread one!

That funny clicking noise that you heard was my brain engaging-

2009-08-12T08:30:00.003-05:00

Several years ago, I sat at a sorority function, and chatted with someone about her scarf-poncho "thing". She liked it because it was perfect to dress up tops and fill in necklines after her bout with breast cancer. I laughingly promised to make her a new one if I ever drew her as my secret sister.

She found cancer again last month, in the other side.

Oh. I kept thinking, "I should call" but in truth, I don't know what to say. Yesterday, I noticed that her birthday is at the end of the month. And I found THESE from the novelty scarf years that I made to have on hand as gifts. And a spare ball of Zen ribbon (the pink and brown, which is still on the needles).

And she's getting them, even if she's NOT my secret sister.

Danged if I couldn't come up with a stinking stitch pattern for the ribbon, though!

I am happy with what I have now. I also have "knitting which must not be named" and the stab yourself in the finger Katrina top on the needles. And I am waiting for my new used loom to come in the mail.

More stash busting?

2009-08-09T10:17:00.004-05:00

Look what I bought!

Or at least, something very much like it.

A few weeks ago, I rumbled through the stash, and decided that I had several things that were serious mail order disappointments. Look at this-really pretty, but impossible to use unless I get a carrier yarn. Or possibly weave it. Stupid loopy rayon boucle.

Then I got a flyer from Woodland Woolworks, and I've had loom fever ever since.

I've been intrigued by the possiblity of a large triangle shawl loom and am really interested in a large square (could you imagine looming baby blankets??) but for right now, the little one will do. This one was priced just right. And it looks like there's at least a little on-line help.

I wonder if I will like it?

Locked and loaded

2009-08-02T23:31:00.003-05:00

Bombs away!!!!

Other truths and secrets from my summer vacation

2009-07-31T07:50:00.015-05:00

Remember when you were a kid? Summer was sweeping up, autumn waited quietly in the wings, and your first assignment (while your teacher tried frantically to compare the attendance list with the class roster) was "How I spent my summer vacation". If this was my assignment, this is what I would say:

There is a special therapy that occurs when I drive a long distance, a re-creation of sorts. I learned several things this year. For example, I learned that although I learned several behavior response patterns through my life, I don't have to keep all of them. Of course, it took roughly 600 miles to reach this ephipany, and it will probably take a year to implement the corrective measures, but hey, there was a thought, and I had it, and I will probably keep it, too.

I learned that there is something fiercely wonderful about driving through the back of beyond, singing with Marshall Tucker, and suddenly, decades melt together. Satellite radio or I-pods won't do this- the music has to pop up spontaneously. You drove this

route then, you are driving it now, and that song is still a great one for the trip. Is it the seventies or the nineties? Does it even matter?

I learned that even though your friends or family might have stepped off into the abyss, and returned as people you can't or should not love (and there are some, folks, because I am talking about the ones who challenge your sense of self-preservation) their children are still wonderful.

I also learned that although MY family was really quirky and odd early on, almost every family IS messed up, although it might take years to show.

Somewhere in my travels, I saw an article which stated that the auto crisis had a disproportionate effect on rural America. I saw first-hand EXACTLY how badly Detroit handled things-I drove through many towns that had only one car dealer "Tubby Johnson's Cadillac, Jeep, Chrysler, Pontiac and Saturn Autorama" and now these folks are stuck holding a plateful of yesterday's news, and the only car dealership in 200 miles is teetering on the edge of extinction. Tubby's family is staring at the spectre of losing it all, and the dealer's mechanics, sales manager, and parts department wonder where they are going to make enough to buy school shoes and pay off the dishwasher. And whole counties that "bought American" for decades because they felt it the right and decent thing to do were lied to. How does the automotive industry explain itself?

I learned that you don't need special fancy applications and lenses to get a soft focus photo on your camera phone. Simply let a six-year old play a game on your phone, and her fingerprints will do the trick.

We are still a great country. Don't let the naysayers tell you otherwise. I know, because I saw it.

Rating the yarn stores of Colorado Springs

2009-07-30T12:12:00.005-05:00

I went to three yarn stores when I was home. Here's my take on all of them-

Knitter's Cove-Union Blvd: On summer hours. I showed up at 10 one morning, and they didn't open til noon. By noon, I was knee deep in diapers and singing the popsicle song. Miss.

Table Rock Llamas: Outstanding. This was DGD's first visit to a yarn store, and while there were no actual llamas, we had a good time. This store is MUCH bigger than you'd expect when you walk up, with a roomy extension (weaving, fleece and classrooms) out back. I know DGD is tactile, but it never dawned on me how much she would enjoy yarn petting. Grambee can be so dense. We picked up some fleece. DGD made felt beads with it, and really enjoyed herself. This was also a delight because a squirrel raided a pile of peanuts on the back porch. A hit.

The Yarn Outlet-8th Street: They got my money. I was delighted to find Austermann Mayfair (discontinued in 2004?) on sale, as well as some other older yarns, which I scooped up greedily. It pays to know your yarns-there were some real dandies and some that were easy to breeze right by. It warranted a second trip. A BIG hit.

How I spent my summer vacation Part I

2009-07-29T00:57:00.003-05:00

I'll be back later

2009-07-15T11:55:00.000-05:00

I want to keep this thought-

2009-07-12T09:39:00.001-05:00

One of my friends has this on her Facebook page. I don't know where it comes from, I don't care; I just didn't want to lose this train of thought......

Be brilliant at the basics. Be the change you want to see in the world. Be the first one. Be the only one. Be unforgettable. Be interesting. Be a sleeper. Be that guy. Be the world's expert on yourself. Be better than yesterday, but not as good as tomorrow. Be confident enough to be humble. But be somebody who reminds everybody of nobody else in the world.

You might want to donate that dress....

2009-07-11T16:40:00.005-05:00

No, really.

KENS5 San Antonio, Kelli Patterson

Hey, these WORK

2009-07-11T00:59:00.002-05:00

I'm a sucker for hair clips. I don't love the clampy clip things. I don't love that beaded elastic comb they show on TV. I like these. They work. I'll probably pick up another one.

The last little ho-house in Texas?

2009-07-09T19:29:00.006-05:00

A while back, I purchased an ambient weather beacon for my husband. It shows the next day's weather forecast as indicated by a radio weather beacon, in increments of 10 degrees, each segment represented by a different color.

Embarrassingly enough, when I set it up this week, our recent weather pattern makes it look like we've opened up a new business:

It's been hot as hell, I have ant bites on my ankles (GRRRggrrh!) and ammonia on the ant bites. I always thought my husband was really working hard to sweat thru the front of his shirts. This week it dawned on me that my bra was retaining water....or at least, absorbing all the sweat.

We need a break from this heat!

It's hotter than July-

2009-07-05T08:44:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, I rinsed off the back patio and found a lot of bird crap. This weekend, I found out why. We actually saw them panting. It's damned hot when the birds are panting.

I moved the china cabinet, and in the process, washed almost everything in it. Yesterday, I happened across these Czech flutes that I bought in Karlovy Vary for notmuchmoney. When I bought them, I remembered the lovely blue decanter that sat on the hi-fi at Laura Meyer's house.

I remember Mr. Meyer had a heavy accent, and now that I am older, I wonder if he came here away from his home to escape something bad in Europe. I also remember Holly Hodek's dad, and how he spoke in clipped tones, rather like Lawrence Welk, and wondered if he came or he fled.

Those people are the true cornerstone of our independence. I hope this weekend was enjoyable.

Hell, I am such a packrat, I have family I didn't know I had.

2009-07-03T08:17:00.002-05:00

In the category of "things Bets ain't supposed to know about" I present a DGD. Just roll your eyes, mmmkay? Family is complicated, and mostly, they bring it on themselves.

More Sonata colors-

2009-07-01T01:18:00.002-05:00

I got mad at the entrelac-I just want it in Sonata print. Boo! I managed to order one more bag in a low contrast color-so I frogged the light blue.

In the meantime, I found this Sonata, and cast on something for DGD. I've got a lot, hope it's enough!