Jeff had his last PT session today...his final evaluation. It was decided that while he has increased his range of motion more than 75% his level of pain has not gone down significantly. The secretaries told him to stay in touch and told us both to stop in and say 'hi' once in awhile. Next week Jeff has an appointment to see the endocrinologist at Little Falls Hospital, and the week after the cardiologist at Herkimer Health Center. He doesn't see the vascular surgeon until the end of April...after some ultrasound tests on his carotid arteries. Then they will decide if he needs stents put in them. If he does he will probably need some kind of PT after that procedure.
When we left Valley Health we headed down to the Coffee Bar on Main St so I could deliver my 2nd 'When in Scotland' shawl. I offered to buy Jeff coffee while we were there but he ended up paying for our coffees and a very good muffin that we shared. If you're on Main St in Herkimer and want coffee, stop at the Coffee Bar. It's moved up the block towards the library, across Park Ave. The coffee was fresh, the muffin delicious and the prices reasonable.
After leaving the Coffee Bar, Jeff took me to Herkimer Health Center so I could have an INR done. It's been almost 6 weeks since my last one and that's really pushing it. Of course, today I was out of range at 3.6 but was told it was because of my cold. I skipped my last appointment because I felt so rotten last week I never got out of bed that day! BUT I've been a good patient and stayed away from the Robitussin couch medicine even tho I know it will ease my cough and let me sleep. (It would have really spiked my INR, too!) Instead I've been taking 2 Benadryl at bedtime to dry up my runny nose. I've got to go back next Friday and have another INR done. Hopefully, I'll be back in range by then.
After our medical appointments were out of the way, Jeff and I went to Walmart. I haven't been out of the house in about a week and while Jeff has stopped at the stores I really needed to do some shopping. We were down to the last of the paper napkins and the last roll of TP! I ended up spending a little more than I had planned but our menu for the birthday dinner on Sunday will be cheese ravioli with meatballs and sausage. I decided to bake a cake (sugar free) and make a chocolate cream pie (sugar free). I did want to use the recipe I had found for pumpkin cheesecake but by the time I collected all the ingredients I decided it wasn't worth it. It's a no sugar/low carb recipe and they are always more expensive to make. I invited Jeff's sister, Sherry, and my cousin, Ed, to join us. It will depend on the weather if they both make it.
After we got the car loaded up I reminded Jeff that I had offered to buy supper at his choice of restaurant. I had thought Denny's or Fat Cat's, but Jeff surprised me and said the Chinese buffet. I said I hoped the $35 I got from the sale of the shawl would be enough and he said not to worry but before we headed over there he wanted to stop at Tractor Supply to check out the flannel shirts. They had some on sale...but not in Jeff's size...but they did have 1 bundle of firewood left (that's where we've been buying firewood this winter) and he told me to grab it. That cut into my supper fund a little but Jeff said not to worry (and he ended up throwing in $3 to cover the bill). We were both well satisfied with our dinners...Jeff went the American route with roasted beef, mushrooms, stuffed baked potatoes and seasoned veggies while I had General Tso's chicken with refried rice and some delicious fish and beaded shrimp. Jeff even asked for a 'doggie bag' because he couldn't finish what was on his plate! I don't know if it will be his late night snack or the dogs'.
Well, I've got a pair of socks just about finished for Jeff's birthday (I have until Sunday) but I don't feel like working on them tonight. I had to buy another skein of brown yarn to finish the 3rd "When in Scotland" shawl because I can't find the other skein I know I have. I bought 2 skeins at Thanksgiving and only used 1 but I can't find where I put the other. I've been wandering around the house, pulling boxes, bags and suitcases out of closets and from under the bed muttering 'Sts Anthony and Joseph, please come around, something is lost and must be found.' but the guys haven't been cooperating. Now that I bought the yarn I bet the other skein shows up.
Friday, February 28, 2020
Saturday, February 22, 2020
What's OTN's
I've got 3 projects on the needles right now. The 2nd sock for Jeff's birthday next Sunday (3/1) is on 2 short circular US3's with the red-white-blue Merino that I got in a Yarn Pal package. Yesterday I realized
that I have just about a week to knit that 2nd sock so I started it last night. I got the toe finished before supper and about 4" total done on the foot before my left thumb started to complain. I put it aside and picked up the "Guernsey in Pink" shawl (designed by Anne B. Hanseen) that I'm doing in a Cadet blue superwash wool from Knitcrate but also on US3's. But since it starts with the lace edge and that's worked on 10 sts for 10 rows and repeated 54 times my thumb wasn't too upset with it (and I've got nowhere near 55 repeats done!). When I got bored with it I switched to the baby sweater I had started the day before. White sport acrylic on US4's and 7's but my thumb didn't like that it started out with 81 sts of K1 P1 ribbing! I did very little on that last night before I gave in and exchanged knitting for a mystery book, Andrea Camilleri's Rounding The Mark. I ended up crawling into bed...with the dogs, my book and my beanbag therapy bag heated up for 3 minutes in the 'micro' wrapped around my left hand. I got up twice to reheat the bag and ended up falling asleep before Inspector Montalbano solved the murder. This morning my hand, actually both hands were swollen and stiff. I hate to admit it but I think my high production knitting days are numbered. And I sold the 2nd 'When in Scotland' shawl (designed by Rilana Riley Munson) yesterday! I don't know if I can knit another one right now. I don't want to think like that but my stock pile is rather low. The only new thing in it
right now is the alpaca scarf/shawl, Frida, designed by Nerissa Muija.
I see my doctor after St Patrick's Day and I won't be surprised if he sends me to a specialist. I've lost a lot of range of motion with my left thumb and it hurts like hell most of the time. It's not my dominate knitting hand but it pushes the stitches toward the end of the needle bending constantly.To tell the truth, the only time it doesn't hurt most days is when I've got my hand wrapped around a cup of hot coffee...as long as I don't try to pick it up with just my left hand. I can't even hold on to the car's steering wheel or push a grocery cart with both hands. I remember telling my mom not to stop knitting or else she would lose the use of her hand and that's what happened...and it was her right hand. I suppose could always teach myself to knit continental....
I see my doctor after St Patrick's Day and I won't be surprised if he sends me to a specialist. I've lost a lot of range of motion with my left thumb and it hurts like hell most of the time. It's not my dominate knitting hand but it pushes the stitches toward the end of the needle bending constantly.To tell the truth, the only time it doesn't hurt most days is when I've got my hand wrapped around a cup of hot coffee...as long as I don't try to pick it up with just my left hand. I can't even hold on to the car's steering wheel or push a grocery cart with both hands. I remember telling my mom not to stop knitting or else she would lose the use of her hand and that's what happened...and it was her right hand. I suppose could always teach myself to knit continental....
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Shawls!
Edited and photos added Wed., 2/19/2020
I don't usually buy knitting patterns. Ravelry.com has so many free ones that I've never been able to justify spending that much to buy a pattern. Besides, since I usually change patterns as I use them...adapting them to my way of thinking, and if you've ever looked at Ravelry and saw how expensive knitting patterns can be, you'll understand why I stay away from paying for them. But, this year I've been lucky enough to find 3 patterns that were for sale and not too expensive. Two designers were British and one was Dutch. The patterns were all less than $4 each and the designers just asked that their names be mentioned if the shawl was offered for sale (something I do anyway), so I splurged and bought them! Between the snow and cold weather I managed to stay home for a week and run out of books to read, so I finally finished a shawl...at last!
I'm putting the metal clasp on my "When in Scotland" shawl today. For some reason that shawl has caused me problems. It's just garter stitch (knit on both sides for you non-knitters out there.) The first one came out HUGE! So, of course, I ripped it out...but not before I measured it every which way!! The directions said 'gauge is not critical' HA! The length along the center back was suppose to be 20". Mine was 29". The wing-span...45", mine near 50". Time to play with the gauge my knitting sense told me, so I started it again with a smaller needle.... The directions called for a US10 so I tried it with a US9 but there wasn't a noticeable change so I made like a frog again and rip-p-p and tried it with a US8. Success! I got the shawl knit to 218 sts (as it called for) with the length and width as it called for so I finished it. Rather small, don't you think? May be
perfect for a very petite woman or one in a wheelchair. So-o-o I started again, back on the US10's, trying to keep my stitches a lot tighter and ended up with a slightly larger shawl. I don't know why the size isn't working out right. The pattern calls for worsted, I'm using worsted. The designer, Rilana Riley Munson, used Wool Ease but I couldn't get the color she used so I used Red Heart acrylic. It looks OK to me...I like it. I like them both! I feel I've spent enough time on this shawl...I don't want to rip it out again!! And I'm not! Oh, the shawl is based on one the character Claire wore in a recent episode of 'Outlander'. (I won't go into detail about how much the 2 clasps, listed at $2.99 each, ended up costing with shipping. Or that it took almost a week for them to get here!!)
This is the 2nd shawl I got to work on this week called 'Frida' by designer Nerissa Muijs and I'm doing it with some of the beautiful Alpaca chunky yarn I got in my last Yarn Pal package from New Zealand. It worked up so fast on
US10's! The shawl is more of a scarf worn with the triangle point in front...and some easy embroidery in that corner. It was suppose to be done with 2 strands of yarn on US15's but my hands don't like a needle that large (I have trouble holding on to it), and besides, I don't have a circular US15 so I decided to try it with a single stand and to see how it worked. (I told you I change/adapt directions to my way of thinking!) It calls for a kilt buckle but of course, Walmart doesn't carry any. That means another order to JoAnn's (or a trip to New Hartford) both will end up with me spending more than I want to spend for a $1.95 buckle. (Yes, that's what it's listed as on JoAnn's website. Postage is about $7!!) The alpaca is so soft!! I just made it a little larger...more stitches...just to have the triangle bigger and be able to tie the ends. I bought cotton embroidery floss and the fabric stabilizer Friday and last night I opened the pattern (it's a download) and enlarged the embroidery template to a 1" grid and just traced the design onto a sheet of paper off of my PC's screen. When I'm ready to actually do it, I can just put the sheet if stabilizer over what I traced from the PC and trace it again. I think that may be easier than going to the library and trying to get the template to the proper size and printed.
The third shawl is called 'Guernsey in Pink' designed by Anne B Hansen. Of course I'm not doing it in pink (did you think I would?), I'm going to use some Merino superwash wool from KnitCrate's Knitologie in Cadet on a US3's. The picture with the pattern is pretty but I think a Guernsey will look just as good in a dusty blue...a bit more traditional, maybe?? It will probably be my only 'lace' shawl. I'm running out of time...it's almost the end of February!! Good thing the shop is opening in the middle of April this year. Gives me a couple of weeks more to knit. I spent too much time on that easy 'When in Scotland' shawl....
I don't usually buy knitting patterns. Ravelry.com has so many free ones that I've never been able to justify spending that much to buy a pattern. Besides, since I usually change patterns as I use them...adapting them to my way of thinking, and if you've ever looked at Ravelry and saw how expensive knitting patterns can be, you'll understand why I stay away from paying for them. But, this year I've been lucky enough to find 3 patterns that were for sale and not too expensive. Two designers were British and one was Dutch. The patterns were all less than $4 each and the designers just asked that their names be mentioned if the shawl was offered for sale (something I do anyway), so I splurged and bought them! Between the snow and cold weather I managed to stay home for a week and run out of books to read, so I finally finished a shawl...at last!
I'm putting the metal clasp on my "When in Scotland" shawl today. For some reason that shawl has caused me problems. It's just garter stitch (knit on both sides for you non-knitters out there.) The first one came out HUGE! So, of course, I ripped it out...but not before I measured it every which way!! The directions said 'gauge is not critical' HA! The length along the center back was suppose to be 20". Mine was 29". The wing-span...45", mine near 50". Time to play with the gauge my knitting sense told me, so I started it again with a smaller needle.... The directions called for a US10 so I tried it with a US9 but there wasn't a noticeable change so I made like a frog again and rip-p-p and tried it with a US8. Success! I got the shawl knit to 218 sts (as it called for) with the length and width as it called for so I finished it. Rather small, don't you think? May be
 |
| 'When in Scotland' shawl |
This is the 2nd shawl I got to work on this week called 'Frida' by designer Nerissa Muijs and I'm doing it with some of the beautiful Alpaca chunky yarn I got in my last Yarn Pal package from New Zealand. It worked up so fast on
The third shawl is called 'Guernsey in Pink' designed by Anne B Hansen. Of course I'm not doing it in pink (did you think I would?), I'm going to use some Merino superwash wool from KnitCrate's Knitologie in Cadet on a US3's. The picture with the pattern is pretty but I think a Guernsey will look just as good in a dusty blue...a bit more traditional, maybe?? It will probably be my only 'lace' shawl. I'm running out of time...it's almost the end of February!! Good thing the shop is opening in the middle of April this year. Gives me a couple of weeks more to knit. I spent too much time on that easy 'When in Scotland' shawl....
Friday, February 7, 2020
Snowed-in, Again!
Ah, as my mom use to sing 'The snow, The snow, the beautiful snow! Step on a flake and away you go!' This is what we
woke up to this morning...looking west out of the window in the TV room towards Wally's. Can you see his house behind the trees thru the snow? The forecast is calling for 6-9" today. It's coming down hard and fast,too, about 1-2" per hour. Nice, huh?
Here's a pair of shots from the same viewpoint months apart. Would you recognize the area?
What a difference a
couple of months and several inches of snow makes! That's Smallsbush Road going past our driveway and around the curve and down the hill between the trees in the center of the photos.
Most every thing in the Valley is closed today so I called and cancelled Jeff's PT appointment for this afternoon. He has to change a belt on the Cub Cadet, anyway,
before we can go anywhere and I don't think that's going to happen today. It's probably a good day to read...or knit...or sleep.
11:15am: they just upped the forecast!! 6-10" today with 1-3 more overnight!
Here's a pair of shots from the same viewpoint months apart. Would you recognize the area?
couple of months and several inches of snow makes! That's Smallsbush Road going past our driveway and around the curve and down the hill between the trees in the center of the photos.Most every thing in the Valley is closed today so I called and cancelled Jeff's PT appointment for this afternoon. He has to change a belt on the Cub Cadet, anyway,
before we can go anywhere and I don't think that's going to happen today. It's probably a good day to read...or knit...or sleep.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Start-itis Up-Date
I'm still suffering from my usual case of Winter Start-itis. Right now I have on needles 2 pairs of socks...both in New Zealand merino, and 2 shawls...1 in New Zealand Merino and 1 in Red Heart acrylic. On the top of my pile of
'What's Next' is the 2nd animal hat for Jeff's granddaughters (one is finished) and another shawl, this one in New Zealand alpaca. There is also a baby animal hat in there that just about finished for my cousin's great-grandchild that was born last week. (I just have to finish the lining on that and put it in the mail.) The pile of new patterns has several shawls in it eventho I've promised myself that I will only do 6 for the shop. (I received an order for one and I want one for myself.) I should consider a couple of baby sweaters for the shop but they can wait until next month...maybe that way they'll actually get started and finished the same week!
Lately I've been trying to spend at least an hour or two every day working on each project that's on needles. I thought I'd get all my 'started' projects finished that way but it's not working. The Test Socks just need 5 more rows of pattern and then the ribbing and bind-off and the 2nd sock will be done...only about 2 weeks late. I don't think I'll volunteer for any more tests. I have learned so much from this one (new toe, new heel, new bind-off, to stay away from US#2's and navy sock yarn) but it's been difficult and I will be glad to see it finished. I will also be glad to see it finished because I need a new pair of wool socks!!
The shawl that I'm doing in the navy merino is on a US4 and I've been taking it with me...my project in my purse...but I've found that I can't work on it while Jeff's at PT. The lighting there isn't great and when I get home I find mistakes and have to rip it out. The other shawl is the 'order' and is worsted on a US10. I could take it with me but it's rather large and heavy and wouldn't fit in my purse.
If I finish it this week and start another one like it I might be able to take it with me for awhile. I had to order metal clasps for them and they won't get here until next Wednesday or Thursday, so I may even have them both finished and will take them with me to let the customer chose which one (clasp) she prefers.
I could take the baby hat with me to Jeff's PT tomorrow and finish getting the lining sewed in there. We'll see. The animal hat takes the same needle as the shawl (and is heavy) and it will have to wait. Since the animal hats are going to Alabama I'm not lining them....it's not that cold there!!
And let's not forget the last library book that sitting on my night table. I want to finish that before picking up my new list of reserves.
You know, there still isn't enough time in a day to do everything I want to do. Knitting, reading, computer...it doesn't leave much time to clean house or cook! Why it took me almost 2 weeks to put all the groceries away!! (To be honest, I just got tired of tripping over the bag of canned veggies and put them away last night.) As for cleaning house....
'What's Next' is the 2nd animal hat for Jeff's granddaughters (one is finished) and another shawl, this one in New Zealand alpaca. There is also a baby animal hat in there that just about finished for my cousin's great-grandchild that was born last week. (I just have to finish the lining on that and put it in the mail.) The pile of new patterns has several shawls in it eventho I've promised myself that I will only do 6 for the shop. (I received an order for one and I want one for myself.) I should consider a couple of baby sweaters for the shop but they can wait until next month...maybe that way they'll actually get started and finished the same week!
Lately I've been trying to spend at least an hour or two every day working on each project that's on needles. I thought I'd get all my 'started' projects finished that way but it's not working. The Test Socks just need 5 more rows of pattern and then the ribbing and bind-off and the 2nd sock will be done...only about 2 weeks late. I don't think I'll volunteer for any more tests. I have learned so much from this one (new toe, new heel, new bind-off, to stay away from US#2's and navy sock yarn) but it's been difficult and I will be glad to see it finished. I will also be glad to see it finished because I need a new pair of wool socks!!
The shawl that I'm doing in the navy merino is on a US4 and I've been taking it with me...my project in my purse...but I've found that I can't work on it while Jeff's at PT. The lighting there isn't great and when I get home I find mistakes and have to rip it out. The other shawl is the 'order' and is worsted on a US10. I could take it with me but it's rather large and heavy and wouldn't fit in my purse.
If I finish it this week and start another one like it I might be able to take it with me for awhile. I had to order metal clasps for them and they won't get here until next Wednesday or Thursday, so I may even have them both finished and will take them with me to let the customer chose which one (clasp) she prefers.
I could take the baby hat with me to Jeff's PT tomorrow and finish getting the lining sewed in there. We'll see. The animal hat takes the same needle as the shawl (and is heavy) and it will have to wait. Since the animal hats are going to Alabama I'm not lining them....it's not that cold there!!
And let's not forget the last library book that sitting on my night table. I want to finish that before picking up my new list of reserves.
You know, there still isn't enough time in a day to do everything I want to do. Knitting, reading, computer...it doesn't leave much time to clean house or cook! Why it took me almost 2 weeks to put all the groceries away!! (To be honest, I just got tired of tripping over the bag of canned veggies and put them away last night.) As for cleaning house....
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