Pages

Search This Blog

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Knitting away life's ups and downs

I have been holding out on you.  Knitting has become a lifeline to normalcy ... a way to feel that everything is okay.

Husker has been ill.  It started with his annual well man and it has progressed to include 7 docs.   He was scheduled for hernia surgery, but the pre-op chest Xray started the ball rolling.  A spot showed up.  Then a CT scan.  The broncoscopy was inclusive, but will be repeated in 6 weeks.  He also has a T-12 bone lesion. 

In one month, Husker has gone from a strong, busy man to a moaning, tired, hurting man.  It is a big fast change.  He had no symptoms of anything except that his old hernia was acting up, and now everything is hurting.  He had a colonoscopy today that removed 13 polyps including 3 large ones.  Lab results coming.  He is getting a bone biopsy. 

I know that I am venting.  I am trying to keep up with the rest of life, including knitting.  I have finished three pairs of socks since this saga began in late March.  Socks are easy to carry along on the many visits to the docs.  I still try to take my walks, swim my laps, work at my part-time job, and keep the house somewhat liveable.  Husker has been giving up his "duties" around the house, and we have hired yard care.  Too much pain.  He was the cook, so now I am cooking, taking out trash, etc.

Something has to give.  I informed the board at church by email today that they must find someone else to be treasurer.

We are scared.  

Friday, April 20, 2012

Scarlet Woman Wears Hermione's Socks

 These are a textured, not a lace, pattern, Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder.  They have a lot of character and the pattern is easy to execute as well as memorize.  The fit is comfy and they are a pleasure to wear. 

Please note that the hue pops under an overcast day against some old weathered planks.  The color is indeed an eye catcher. 
This view shows off the texture a little bit better.  I am thinking that I should have purchased 2 skeins so that I could create a matching cap.  But, alas, the yarn is hand dyed, so there will not be any going back for more.  The yarn is Madelinetosh, Tosh Merino Light, in scarlet. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Life is not all Knitting

The spring is so beautiful that I must remind myself that my knitting is not everything.  I have gotten into the neighborhood for two days in a row (and got my 10,000 steps!)  I caught up with Annie, a local German Shepherd. 





Have I ever mentioned that we live in a very hilly neighborhood?  Well, here is the evidence.  I don't think I want to negotiate their driveway when it is icy, or mow their yard.






Doesn't every neighborhood have a geodesic dome?









 . . . and yards blooming with spring flowers.
 I have always wanted to go into this house.  It is on four levels.  Looks so interesting.  The deck on the other side is actually perching upon the hill on the left side of the photo. 
Wildflowers!












and more wildflowers.  Nothing is as beautiful as wildflowers on a sunny spring day. 

May your spring be as beautiful and as enjoyable. 

Sunday, April 15, 2012

St. Patrick's Day Green Socks

I knitted yet another pair of the beginner's lace socks to test the pattern's accuracy and language.  This time I used the green (and a little blue) sock yarn, Colinette's Jiggerbug 400 Lagoon,  that I bought at my LYS' St. Patrick's Day sale-on-green-yarn.  I am satisfied that the pattern is written correctly, and I am very happy with the yarn.  The lush deep richness of the colors and the ease of working with the yarn made it a fun project.

I have a little side story about the green socks.  I was at a meeting after church service today.  The meeting room was over air conditioned and I was about to freeze in my cottons and sandals.  Naturally, I had my project bag sitting on the floor beside me.  (Don't you take your project bag with you everywhere you go?)  I simply could not stand the cold any longer and reached into the bag and whipped out the completed green socks and pulled them on.  Everyone was so surprised that they started laughing at me.  One person, however, asked if that was the result of that green yarn he had seen me working with recently.  Yes, indeedy. 

My St. Patrick's Day yarn is of those yarns that you fall in love with, and will be purchased again.  And again.  Love making socks!  I have also been trying out some new needles.  Squares.  Kollage and Cubics.  I recommend both of them.

Up next ... Scarlet ... I will be a Scarlet woman. 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Texas Tornados

As residents of North Texas, fortunately, Husker and I were not in the direct path of yesterday's tornados, but I was at an office only a mile from the disaster while it was happening.  One person from that office had gone home for lunch and ended up in a closet at his house while the storm passed over, but the worst missed him.  It was all very exciting, and not in a fun way.  Heavy rain, hail, wind, and very dark scary skies.    I spent a couple of hours in an inner office away from the glass windows clutching my cell phone.  None of ours suffered any harm, but many others were not so lucky.

All flights into and out of DFW airport were canceled including the flight returning Husker's son and wife from the west coast.  They are now home. 

Monday, April 2, 2012

Crazy Girl! Crazy night!

Eli Young Band wins Best Song at ACM Awards, 4-1-12, no fooling.  We are over the moon and proud as can be.  Crazy Girl was the standout song of the year.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . . the knitting goes on.  

One green sock down and one to go.  In fact, the 2nd one is down to the heel turn.  Every time I make a pair, I learn something new or a better technique.  This is definitely one of those things that practice makes perfect.  Carnegie Hall -- here I come. 

I will definitely be getting some practice because I went to the DFW Fiber Fest last weekend and came away with two colorways of Madeline Tosh.  More about that as I get to them.  Think Scarlet and Earl Grey.