It's Over For Another Year!

   Well, Christmas is over for another year and I didn't do as much as I planned.  I had gotten a sweater order early in December (for a size 4 Polar Express Cardigan) and it took me more time than it should have to knit it.  By the time I finished I could barely hold on to the needles!!  But, I got it into the mail with plenty of time for it to make it downstate to the lady who ordered it.  Then I started to work on my Christmas knitting and I'm sad to say I only finished one...and I still haven't delivered it!!  I postponed my Christmas socks to Birthday socks (both those guys are March babies so it gives me time) and actually ordered the yarn for the first pair.  It arrived today and while I like it and it's called 'superwash', it can't go in the dryer.  I just have to remember that!!  Good thing I've got time to look for another yarn...a true superwash...for the other pair.  I want to start those socks today and see how the yarn works up.  The yarn is Valley Yarns Superwash Sport, a 100% Merino, in Denim, and the pattern I'm going to use calls for US#3's.  I think my arthritic fingers will react to that better than working on a US#1 with sock weight yarn.  I'll post a photo of the socks here when they are done.

   

Another Yarn Poster!

 

Polar Express

 

Cooper Country Crafts

23h  · 

It is a week until Christmas and today we feature two of our fiber artists with very different styles…Abby and Mary. They each use yarn but come up with very different styles. Abby begins with the sheep, then are spun, dyed and knit or woven into the finished product. Mary typically knits sweaters and hats for kids, so washability is an important feature. Mary comes up with some of her own patterns, and we always enjoy seeing what she comes up with for the “Sweater of the Year!” This year it featured a train with button smoke puffs! Cooper County Crafts is delighted to have them with us. Come in soon for something truly special for yourself or someone you love! We are open 10-5 daily…weather permitting. Call if there is a question ~607-547-9247.#wearecooperstown, #fiber, #knits, #woven, #kids, #children

Cable Wreath

 

Maybe for next Christmas?!?

shawl

 ELABORATIONS Bubble K5 in the next st (from the front and the back), turn, sl1, p4, turn, sl1, k2, k2tog, turn, sl1, p1, p2tog, turn, sl1, k2tog, pass over the loose st = 1 st. Seed stitch Repeat *k1, p1* to end. On the following rows, p the k sts and k the p sts. The yos on each side of the middle st are k tbl and p tbl, respectively. Hole pattern The pattern is worked between the edges and the middle st. Row 1, RS: *Yo, k2tog*, repeat from * to * to end. Row 2, WS: P all sts. SHAWL CAST ON Co 3 sts and k 7 rows. Turn the work a bit, pick up 3 sts along the side, turn the work a bit, pick up 3 sts along the cast on edge = 9 sts. GENERAL INFORMATION Marking the increases: Place 1 marker after 3 sts, 1 marker on each side of the middle st and 1 marker 3 sts from the edge. The first and last 3 sts on each row are always k. The increases are worked 3 sts from the edge on each side as well as on each side of the middle st. Increasing with yarn over: A yo is worked on WS rows, and the yo is worked on the RS rows as follows: The yo on each side of the 3 edge sts are k and the yo on each side of the middle st are k tbl. Pattern repeat 1: Stockinette stitch Row 1, WS: K3, yo, p until middle st, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 4 incs = 13 sts. Row 2, RS: K3, k the yo, k until yo, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k until 3 sts remain, k the yo, k3. Repeat rows 1-2 until you have 33 sts. End with a RS row. Next row, WS: K3, yo, k13, yo, p1, yo, k13, yo, k3 = 37 sts. Next row, RS: K3, k the yo, k13, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k13, k the yo, k3. Poppel| No. 2004-213-7579| © Hobbii 2021 | 3 Pattern repeat 2: Bubbles See elaboration above. Row 1, WS: K3, yo, p15, yo, p1, yo, p15, yo, k3 = 41 sts. Row 2, RS: K3, k the yo, k1, repeat *1 bubble, k5* 2 times, 1 bubble, k1, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k1, repeat *1 bubble, k5* 2 times, 1 bubble, k1, k the yo, k3. Row 3, WS: K3, yo, p17, yo, p1, yo, p17, yo, k3 = 45 sts. Row 4, RS: K3, k the yo, k17, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k17, k the yo, k3. Row 5, WS: K3, yo, p19, yo, p1, yo, p19, yo, k3 = 49 sts. Row 6, RS: K3, k the yo, k6, 1 bubble, k5, 1 bubble, k6, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k6, 1 bubble, k5, 1 bubble, k6, k the yo, k3. Row 7, WS: K3, yo, p21, yo, p1, yo, p21, yo, k3 = 53 sts. Row 8, RS: K3, k the yo, k21, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k21, k the yo, k3. Row 9, WS: K3, yo, p23, yo, p1, yo, p23, yo, k3 = 57 sts. Row 10, RS: K3, k the yo, k5, repeat *1 bubble, k5* 3 times, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k5, repeat *1 bubble, k5* 3 times, k the yo, k3. Row 11, WS: K3, yo, p25, yo, p1, yo, p25, yo, k3 = 61 sts. Row 12, RS: K3, k the yo, k25, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k25, k the yo, k3. Next row, WS: K3, yo, k27, yo, p1, yo, k27, yo, k3 = 65 sts. Pattern repeat 3: Seed stitch See elaboration above. Row 1, RS: K3, k the yo, work seed stitch until yo, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, work seed stitch until yo, k the yo, k3. Row 2, WS: K3, yo, work seed stitch until middle st, yo, p1, yo, work seed stitch until 3 sts remain, yo, k3. Repeat rows 1-2 until you have 13 rows of seed stitch. End with a RS row. Next row, WS: K3, yo, k until middle st, yo, p1, yo, k until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 93 sts. Pattern repeat 4: Hole pattern See elaboration above. Row 1, RS: K3, k the yo, work hole pattern until middle st, k1, work hole pattern until yo, k the yo, k3. Row 2, WS: K3, yo, p until middle st, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3. Repeat rows 1-2 until you have 11 rows of hole pattern. End with a RS row. Next row, WS: K3, yo, k until middle st, yo, p1, yo, k until 3 sts remain, yo, k3. Next row, RS: K3, k the yo, k until yo, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k until 3 sts remain, k the yo, k3 = 117 sts. Pattern repeat 5: Stockinette stitch Worked like pattern repeat 1, but with more sts between the increases. Work 10 rows. End with a RS row. Next row, WS: K3, yo, k until middle st, yo, p1, yo, k until 3 sts remain, yo, k3. Next row, RS: K3, k the yo, k until middle st, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k until 3 sts remain, k the yo, k3 = 141 sts. Pattern repeat 6: Bubbles Row 1, WS: K3, yo, p until middle marker, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 145 sts. Row 2, RS: K3, k the yo, k3, 1 bubble, repeat *k5, 1 bubble* 10 times, k3, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k3, 1 bubble, repeat *k5, 1 bubble* 10 times, k3, k the yo, k3. Row 3, WS: K3, yo, p until middle marker, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 149 sts. Row 4, RS: K3, k the yo, k until yo before the middle, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k until 3 sts remain, k the yo, k3. Row 5, WS: K3, yo, p until middle marker, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 153 sts. Poppel| No. 2004-213-7579| © Hobbii 2021 | 4 Row 6, RS: K3, k the yo, k8, 1 bubble, repeat *k5, 1 bubble* 10 times, k2, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k2, 1 bubble, repeat *k5, 1 bubble* 10 times, k8, k the yo, k3. Row 7, WS: K3, yo, p until middle marker, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 157 sts. Row 8, RS: K3, k the yo, k until yo before the middle, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k until 3 sts remain, k the yo, k3. Row 9, WS: K3, yo, p until middle marker, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 161 sts. Row 10, RS: K3, k the yo, k7, 1 bubble, repeat *k5, 1 bubble* 11 times, k1, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k1, 1 bubble, repeat *k5, 1 bubble* 11 times, k7, k the yo, k3. Row 11, WS: K3, yo, p until middle marker, yo, p1, yo, p until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 165 sts. Row 12, RS: K3, k the yo, k25, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, k25, k the yo, k3. Next row, WS: K3, yo, k until middle marker, yo, p1, yo, k until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 169 sts. Pattern repeat 7: Seed stitch Row 1, RS: K3, k the yo, work seed stitch until yo, k the yo tbl, k1, k the yo tbl, work seed stitch until yo, k the yo, k3. Row 2, WS: K3, yo, work seed stitch until middle st, yo, p1, yo, work seed stitch until 3 sts remain, yo, k3. Repeat rows 1-2 until you have 13 rows of seed stitch. End with a RS row. Next row, WS: K3, yo, k until middle st, yo, p1, yo, k until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 197 sts. EDGE Row 1, RS: K3, k the yo, k until yo, k the yo tbl, p1, k the yo tbl, k until 3 sts remain, k the yo, k3. Row 2, WS: K3, yo, k until middle st, yo, p1, yo, k until 3 sts remain, yo, k3 = 201 sts. Repeat rows 1-2 until the edge measures 2’’ (5 cm). End with a RS row. Loosely bo knitwise from the WS.

Heart Beret

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BERÉT

 

Using 3.25 mm needles and B, cast on 75(79;83;87, 91,95) sts

1st row:  rsf, k1, (p1, k1) to end. 

2nd row: P1, (k1, p1) to end.

 Rep these 2 rows once more.

 Join C and rep these 2 rows twice.

 Break C and rep these 2 rows using B. 

Change to 4 mm needles and A and cont as folls: 1st row: RSF, k2(4;3;2;2;5)sts, m1, (k5, m1) 14(14;15;16;17;17)times,k3(5;5;5;4;5)sts = 90(94;99;104;109;113)sts. 

Beg with a p row, st st 3 rows. 

5th row: K2(4;3;2;2;5)sts, m1, (k6, m1) 14(14;15;16;17;17) times, k4(6;6;6;5;6)sts = 105(109;115;121;127;131)sts. 

St st 3 rows. 

9th row: K2(4;3;2;2;5)sts, m1, (k7, m1) 14(14;15;16;17;17) times, k5(7;7;7;6;7)sts = 120(124;131;138;145;149)sts. 

St st 3 rows. 

13th row: K2(4;3;2;2;5)sts, m1, (k8, m1) 14(14;15;16;17;17)times,k6(8;8;8;7;8)sts=135   (139;147;155;163;167)sts. 

Cont straight until work measures 10 cm from beg ending with a RSR. 

1ST AND 5TH SIZES ONLY: Next row: P, dec 1 st in centre of row. 

2ND; 3RD AND 6TH SIZES ONLY: Next row: P, inc -(2;1;-;-;2)sts evenly across row. 

4TH SIZE ONLY: Next row: P. ALL SIZES: 134(141;148;155;162;169)sts.

 SHAPE TOP: Next row: K1, (k2tog, k5) 19(20;21;22;23;24) times = 115(121;127;133;139;145)sts. 

St st 3(5;5;5;5;5) rows. 

Next row: K1, (k2tog, k4) 19(20;21;22;23;24) times = 96(101;106;111;116;121)sts. 

St st 3(3;5;5;5;5) rows. 

Next row: K1, (k2tog, k3) 19(20;21;22;23;24) times = 77(81;85;89;93;97)sts. 

St st 3(3;3;5;5;5) rows. 

Next row: K1, (k2tog, k2) 19(20;21;22;23;24) times = 58(61;64;67;70;73)sts. 

St st 3(3;3;3;3;5) rows. 

Next row: K1, (k2tog, k1) 19(20;21;22;23;24) times = 39(41;43;45;47;49)sts. 

St st 1(1;1;1;3;3) rows.

 Next row: K1, (k2tog) 19(20;21;22;23;24) times = 20(21;22;23;24;25)sts. 

Next row: (P2tog) 10(10;11;11;12;12) times, p0(1;0;1;0;1)st = 10(11;11;12;12;13)sts. Cut yarn, thread through rem sts, pull tog and fasten off. Sew back seam. Make a heart and attach to berét if desired

 

HEART: Using 3 mm needles and C, cast on 5sts. 1st row: K. 

2nd row: Inc in first st, k to end = 6sts. 

3rd row: K. 

4th row: K to last st, inc in last st = 7sts. 

5th row: K. 

6th row: Inc in first st, k to end = 8sts. 

7th to 10th row: K. 

Cut yarn and slip to end of needle. 

Using same needle and C, cast on 5sts and rep 1st to 10th row ending with the 2 pieces on the same needle. 

Next row: K across all sts = 16sts. 

K 4 rows. 

Next row: K, dec 1 st at each end = 14sts. 

row: K. 

Rep last 2 rows until 2sts rem, k2tog, fasten off

 

 

I got an order for another Polar Express sweater yesterday so today I'm heading to the store for yarn.  Sometimes life is so good!

What a Trip!

    Yesterday was my last scheduled day to work in the shop for the season and the first time I would have worked after the clocks had changed (meaning I'd be driving home in the dark) so I was a little aprehensive. The day was slow with only 5 customers all day...thankfully they bought things so my sales total wasn't too bad but still I closed up early and left Cooperstown about 15 mins early.  The drive along the lake on Rte 80 was fine...not too much traffic, still light and no deer! I made the turn on to Rte 20 just after 5pm and headed west towards Richfield Springs.  That's when I started to have trouble.  Every time a car came towards me I was blinded by it's headlights.  Those five miles to Richfield were awful, I thought but nothing like the trip down Rte 28!  The traffic was heavy against me and everyone was using their hi-beams!  I couldn't do much except stay slow and to the right.  I'm sure the drivers behind me had much to say about my driving but I couldn't help it.  I had tried to schedule my work days so I wouldn't have to drive home in the dark but when I caught a cold a couple of weeks ago I had to change days.  Next year I'm going to be more careful scheduling workday so I'm not forced to work after the clocks change.  It's tough getting old (Jeff's opinion) but I think my night blindness has gotten worse since I had the laser treatments in August.  In fact, I think my total vision has gotten worse since then.  Jeff says I may just be tired and need to rest my eyes.  We'll see what happens at my next eye appointment in June.

   I got a nice surprise today.  The woman who bought my Polar Express sweater from the shop called and ordered another one.  I think I can get it done in a week or 10 days so she should get it for Christmas.  

  Speaking about surprises...I had just gotten comfortable with a book with an idea of a nap when I heard a thud in the kitchen.  Since Jeff had gone to town I went to investigate and caught Fanny climbing off of a chair by the table!  She had gotten the box of chocolate chip cookies (big ones) and had dropped it on the floor.  The cookies dropped out and she grabbed one as I swung at her rump.  She hid under the table with her 'prize' while I stood there yelling what a bad dog she was.  After I calmed down and cleaned up the floor, she stuck her head out from under the table looking for more cookies.  Every time she came near me I told her I was mad at her and why.  It didn't bother her one bit.  Jeff fed them supper tonight and was generous with the gravy!  She ignored me until it was Peanutbutter Time (time for medication) and then she took hers with the usual dabs of peanutbutter like nothing had happened.  I keep telling her she's not the Alpha bitch in this pack...I am but she doesn't seem to believe me.

Polar Express

 

     While this Polar Express Cardigan has left the shop already, there is plenty of time to order one for Christmas!  This sweater was a size 2 which fits a 2-3 yr old but it is can also be made in a size 4 which would fit a 4-5yrs or a size 1 which a 18mo-1 yr old could wear.

The Days Before Thanksgiving...

 

I've got a baby gift to make, more stock for the shop to finish and of course, Christmas knitting to do so when I saw this on FB I couldn't help myself, I had to cut & paste it here!  Hey, I better get busy and KNIT!!

 

Free yarn

An old friend from camp sent me this link today and I applied!  I don't know if I'll get any yarn but it was worth a try.  I want to contribute again this year to the library's fence of hats and mittens and yarn is getting expensive!  I also ran into trouble trying to attach photos of my children and baby hats and since they're already on my blog I decided just to try and link them all together.  Just have to wait and see what happens.  See photos of my hats on 12/10/17, 10/16/17, 11/25/19 and other posting.

 

1st row(l to r): _ , _ , _ , _ , Louis Recchia, Shawn Foster 2nd row(l to r): _ , _ , Michael Casullo, _ , _ , Theresa Ristante. 3rd row(l to r): Kevin Wheelock(?), Nick Macri, Michael Plano, _ , Raymond Pedrick, _ , Larry Kuzniak, Tony Fusco, Mark Scialdone.

row(l to r): Georgina Madore, _ , _ , Lucretia Fiorentino, Blondine Syzyck(sp?), Nadine Alexander, _ ,

It's Beginning to feel like Christmas...

      I'm trying to plan my holiday knitting so I'm not knitting at the last minute but it never seems to work out right.  As the years so by there are fewer people I knit for at Christmas...or I knit smaller things.  Jeff still wants wool socks, as does my cousin, Ed, but this year I may try to add something different to their packages but I don't know what yet.  Jeff's sister is always a problem.  I usually do mittens and a scarf or a shawl for Sherry but how many can I do for the woman??  I was thinking of doing a shawl or amall afghan???  I want to do something special for my friend, Maggie, because she has been there for me a lot this year.  Since I'm doing something for her, should I do something for her husband, too?

      Last year I signed up for 3 swaps with the on-line knitting groups I'm in.  It was fun but it did get expensive so this year I signed up for only 1.  I really enjoyed the Advent swap (a small gift was given for each day of Advent with a larger one for Christmas) but while I was trying to make up my mind to do it or not,  I missed the signup deadline.  Oh, well.  I did sign up for the regular Christmas Swap.  That was fun, too, so I'm sure it will be again this year.

Perfect

   I had the laser treatment on my botched cataracts last week.  It was a breeze!  Unfortunately, the trip to the Griffiss Eye Surgery Center in Rome was torture!  The temperture was near 90 that day, full sun and high humidity.  Our car was uncomfortable even with 4 windows open!  (Neither of us likes riding with the AC blowing in our faces. Besides I can't stand the way I get so cold when I'm in AC for any time.  That's a side effect of Warfarin.)  We made it to Griffiss about an hour early because we weren't sure of the directions. Didn't know there was a "super highway" where Rte 49 use to be. It's still called Rte 49 but it's a 4 lane divided roadway where the speed limit is 65mph... but it's more like where the speed limit starts at 65mph! Everything and everyone was passing us and we were doing 65mph! Once we knew where we had to be at 2:30pm Jeff decided to try and find 'Runnings', the sports store. It was on the other side of Rome so I got a tour of the city. (It did not impress me.) We found 'Runnings' and, of course, Jeff had to go in. Anyway, we just made it back to the eye center in time! I checked in and when I was told it would take about an hour, went back out and told Jeff (he was going to be sitting in the hot sun that long!) Well, he wasn't... because as I walked back inside he drove off! (Found out later he went to Burger King.)

   When my procedure was finished I couldn't see clearly but I could tell that Jeff wasn't in the parking lot. So I had to sit there and wait for him to come back... about half an hour. He finally drove in and we headed home. He was mad because of the traffic and I was mad because he made me wait for him after the procedure. I couldn't see and didn't have any sunglasses, so I had to keep my eyes closed all the way home. (Try doing that while someone is driving at 65mph!). We made it without any problem but when we got home, Jeff had a hard time getting out of the car. He could hardly walk! His leg and back were in spasm... and stayed that way for almost 2 days!! The next morning he had trouble getting out of bed and had to lean on the hall wall to get to the bathroom... and that was using his cane! He was like that for 2 days! He even wore his back brace!! He didn't try driving until Tuesday and that was just to town and back. I've been driving this week and listening to his complaints! Yesterday I drove to Herkimer for my post-op checkup but he had to drive home because my eyes were dilated. Again, no sunglasses and I couldn't see anything for a couple of hours!

   I'm glad I had the laser procedure.  Dr. Nair says my eyes are now 'perfect' and I think so, too, but I'll never go to Griffiss for another procedure.  It's about the same distance from here (30+ miles) as Bassett but took about 15-20 minutes longer to get there even with the 'super highway'.  I'll take the country drive along a lake any time over that!!

   The next morning when I woke up I could see so much better I just sat and looked out the window. The colors of the sky and lawn were so much brighter! The apple tree outside the window looked like it was 2 feet closer to the house. I could see the little branches!! But when I walked into the bathroon I screamed! I never realized how dirty it was! The bric-bracs on the windowsill were so grimey!! The vanity was streaked on the side I use because I thought I was wiping it daily and the side Jeff uses... well, let's just say it wasn't clean! I was embarrassed!! My mother must have been rolling in her grave! I spent the next 2 days cleaning house. The bathroom got the full treatment: window sill, bric-brac, wall around the light switch, vanity, tiolet (inside and out) and floor. It actually looked clean!! Then I started on the kitchen! I did the cupboard doors and counter next to the stove and the top of the stove, the counter where the coffeemaker is and the counter where the Burkee waterfilter is. It's not the cleanest but it's better than it was. When I get my new glasses I'm going to tackle the shelves by the windows and take the curtains down and wash them.

   The day after I had my eyes done I went to see The Hand Man...for my left hand.  All I got out of that appointment is confirmation that I have arthritis...like 97% of women, he told me.  There isn't much he can do that I'm not already doing (heat, ice, rest, get rid of the carpal tunnel brace and use a thumb brace when I need to, and use Voltaren cream as needed) until I can't take the pain any longer and then we can talk about surgery.  But it's one of the worst replacement surgeries:  4-5 weeks in a hard cast and 3-4 months of PT.  He can do it but he doesn't recommend it until it's the last resort.  Oh, well. I guess I'll manage...I even started knitting.  

   Well, actually I started knitting a couple of weeks ago but just for 10-15 mins a day.  When my thumb started to hurt I put it down.  I finally finished a sweater and a couple of hats and with what I found in bags in the closet managed to send a pretty good replacement down to restock my display in the shop. (I seemed to have sold almost all my sweaters...there are only 3 left!!)  I'm working on a Pin-stripe Henley pullover that I'll take with me when I work a week from tomorrow.  I'd like to get a few hats done by then, too.  I just have to make myself stop and put the knitting down when my thumb starts to hurt.  Which means I should go and knit now!!

At Last!

   Finally got 2 appointments confirmed:  I'm having my eyes done...a YAG Laser Capsulotomy...at the end of August at the Griffiss Eye Surgery Center in Rome.  It's to clear my fogged over the coronary implants in both eyes.  Debris left behind after cataract surgery caused the problem and this procedure is suppose to clear it up in 20-15 mins without and fuss or muss.  Sure hope so!  

  The 2nd appointment is for the next day at Bassett in Herkimer where I'll finally see the 'Hand Man'.  My left hand is still swollen and painful.  The pain still wakes me up while it travels from my left thumb up my arm to my shoulder and back to my hand.  I've tried knitting a little and I can only work a couple of rows before the pain gets to be too much.  I sure hope this helps, too!

 

Let's Try This Again

When I got the notice the other day that the referral to Orthopedics went thru and I had an appointment with a carpal tunnel specialist for Aug 27th I tried to explain to the woman on the phone that Dr Miller had ruled out carpal tunnel.  His test (a lot of little needles hooked up to an electrical current) showed that I did not have a significant blockage in my carpal tunnel but she said that's the appointment I had.  I emailed my 'attending' asking him what to do and this morning he emailed back and said he'd take care of it.  I do not have any blockage in my carpal tunnel and seeing a specialist for that would make us all look like idiots...not to mention charging my insurance company. He didn't use those exact words but he did say there had been a mistake.  He was going to resubmit the request for a ortho referral so it's back to waiting.  I emailed him right back thanking him for taking the time to do this and telling him that a friend had seen Michael Pelcer, a P.A. in Ortho/sports for a similar problem with great results.  Hope Bill can get me in to see him!

What Next?

    I am still waiting to hear from Bassett for my Orthopedic referral.  Tomorrow will be 1 week since it was sent in. You'd think it was possible for someone to look at the schedule and make a phone call or two in that time, wouldn't you?  

    Last night was a sleepless night.  The heating pad and extra-strength Tylenol did nothing!  I was moving

furniture at 3am!  Guess I thought the Feng Shu was off or something.  Anyway, after I rearranged some of the bedroom furniture I was able to get some sleep.  Of course, it was 5am by then and I was exhausted. (Ever try to move anything without putting any pressure on your left hand?)  I slept to 9:15 and then the pain in my hand started moving again.  Such fun!  Who needs an alarm clock?? 

   Finally, they called and my appointment is Aug. 27th at 2pm to see Dr Ries for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ...eventho, Dr Miller decided July 16th that I do not have a significant blockage in my carpal tunnel. The only good thing about this appointment is that it is in Herkimer.

   PT called yesterday to confirm my evaluation but when I told them I had been refered to Orthopedics Brandon said I could postponed the eval until after I see the orthopedist...who knows when that will be.  Referal went in Fri or Monday and it takes at least 7 days before you get an appointment.  Today my entire left hand started having 'trigger' pain and I had to soak it in hot water and then rub in the Voltarn and take the extra-strength Tylenol before I got any relief.  My arm is becoming misshaped from wearing that brace!  And the pain doesn't stop so I'm taking some time off from the brace. At least when I feel a pain starting I can message my arm/hand/wrist!  Slept in my chair again last night.  Tried laying down but couldn't get comfortable...the arm kept hurting so I got up and got comfy in the chair.  Fanny okayed that arrangement because it gave her the entire bed and she liked being able to stretch out...nobody was kicking her!  Boy, those dogs know how to live, don't they?  Think I'll get a ball of yarn and start squeezing it with my left hand...maybe that will help?

Day -1

    No predniSONE this morning...life goes on and so does the pain!  Woke up just before 6:30am as the pain started rolling around my thumb. Tried to ignore it but finally gave up, got up and put on a pot of coffee.  Just holding the hot mug left so good! I took a single extra-strength Tylenol around 8am and was surprized because between it and the heating pad I was able to sleep in my chair...dose actually because I had to turn off the heat after 10-15 mins and wait until things cooled down before turning it back on.  Actually did that routine 2 or 3 times and pain faded...not entirely but enough where I just got up and refilled my coffee cup!   If the single tab works during the day I just take 2 at night...so I'll be getting more sleep than 'naps'!!

Last Day #8

   Today is the last day on predniSONE.  It doesn't feel like it has done much good, either.  My nurse said it was a 'very bad' drug and to stay away from it if I could. Since it doesn't seem to have helped me, I think I can do that.  I got email last evening from my 'attending' asking if I wanted to try an orthopedic referal.  Of course, I said yes and this morning I got an email from his nurse asking questions about 'the injury'.  Don't know how long it will take to get in to see an orthopedist but I'm willing to try.  That means, of course, cortosone shots but they've got to be better than living wirh this pain.  I have a PT evaluation at Valley Health on Tuesday.  I hope the orthoprdic referal is set up by then.  I think PT should be the "Last Resort".

   Today was the first time I drove  in 2 weeks as I took myself to the Health Center to have another INR done.  Thankfully I scored in range (3.0) but my arm and hand ached by the time I got back home.  I took 2 extra-strength Tylenol before Jeff took me to the library in Ilion (I was down to half a book...no way would that last the weekend!)  We stopped at Burger King on the way  and brought lunch home.

Day 7

   Another interesting day of arm pain.  With the rain we got this afternoon my wrist and hand really ached and Tylenol and Voltaren weren't doing much to control it so I just wrapped up in an afghan with the heating pad and tried not to move around too much. I heard from my 'attending' this afternoon.  He suggested seeing an orthopeditis and getting a shot...cortozone?  Hey---if it cuts the pain I'm for it! Probably will take a week or 10 days at least to get a referral and then who knows when I'd be seen.  Maybe he'd even have to order another course of predniSONE if it takes longer tnan that. Just have to wait and see,

  I did these 3  Christmas sweaters last year.  They have been selling 1 at a time with the SnoLady selling this past weekend. I'm glad they've  found homes and I'd like to do some more...before this season is over but it doesn't look like that will be possible.  I never thought I'd be so happy to be able to knit again.

Day 6

   This morning I woke a little before 6am with the usual terrific pain forming in the knuckles of the first 2 fingers of my left hand. (The Tylenol and Voltaren I used before going to bed had started to wear off by then.)  After several minutes the pain rolled down into my hand and  made my thumb curl up.  Then it rolled down into my wrist and went on it's way thru my forearm, elbow and up into my shoulder...where it turned around and rolled back to my knuckes.   A couple of repeats up and down and then it faded away and I was able to fall back to sleep for a little while.  I woke up about 9:15 and took my predniSONE dosage for today (2-10mg tabs) and had some Cherrios and a cup of coffee for breakfast.  I waited until almost 10am before taking the arthritis-strength Tylenol and the pain faded away to almost nothing.  I spent most of the morning in my chair with my library book...there was a nice breeze and lots of birds were singing.  My thumb kept curling up all morning so after I got dressed I rubbed in more Voltaren but it didn't help much (it doesn't always).  

   We went grocery shopping...and to the library again...this afternoon so by the time we got home my arm was really aching.  Vibrations from riding in the car and pushing a grocery cart around cause a lot of pain so when we got back home I rubbed in more Voltaren around my thumb and wrist, got comfortable in my chair by the open window and took a little nap.  I spent a quiet evening there after supper reading with the dogs stretched out on the bed!.  I just sent my 'attending' an email letting him know there hasn't beeen much improvement and since I have enough prediSONE for only 2 more days if he's going to order another course to do it now so there will be enough time to fill the Rx (my insurance prefers CVS in Little Falls) without me missing a day (per his instructions).

   Judy let me know today that I sold a couple of things over Induction Weekend.  My display must be so empty!  

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Day 5

  Day 5 with Tendonitis started like Days 1-4 with hard pain (when the Tylenol wore off) around 5:30am...today in my shoulder...and begans to roll up and down my arm into my wrist/thumb when I started to move around.  If I could settle into a position the pain faded...until I moved again.  Took the 2 predniSONE for today around 9:15am and will take the 8-hr Tylenol soon.  That helps me make it thru the day.  I don't plan on doing much more than sitting by the open window, reading my library books and taking it easy.  

   Yesterday was a bit too much!  I had an unscheduled INR done because Sharon, my nurse, thought with my history I'd probable have fallen out of range. (Besides starting the predniSONE, I ran out of 6mg tabs of Warfarin and had had trouble getting the Rx refilled.)  She was right!  I scored  4.5 which is 'critical'!  Got my dosage for the week adjusted and told to come back on Friday for another test.  Then I had an 1:30 appointment with an eye surgeon (in Herkimer) because my optical len implants have clouded over developing secondary cataracts.  That exam...with the eyedrops, etc...took almost 1 1/2 hr.  My arm ached from trying to hold it in place!  I hadn't taken any Tylenol yesterday before going out so when I got home around 3:30pm, I took the last extra-strength one in the bottle and got a nap with the dogs sleeping with me.  When I woke up around 7pm Jeff cooked supper (huge hamburgs with green beans...yum!) Mine was so big I shared with my 'nurses'!  I spent the rest of the evening reading and on my PC (typing 1-handed!) finally falling asleep around 2am.  (The arthritis strength tylenol might say '8 hr' but they don't start to work for a couple of hours after I take them.) I started out laying in bed, propped up on pillows but ended up in my wingback chair when I couldn't find a position my arm/hand liked. 

  I hope tonight is better...only 3 more dosages of predniSONE left and there hasn't been any real improvement yet.

And The Trip Goes On....

   Today is Day 4 on predinSone for the tendonitis in my left hand and arm.  (The actual diagnosis is left median nerve neuropathy with localized swelling of fingers of left hand and Tendonitis.) The pain has been reduced somewhat but still flares whenever I use my left arm or hand for much of anything like picking up a napkin or stirring my coffee!!  It still wakes me when I move my hand by flaring in my knuckles and rolling thru my thumb and wrist towards my elbow and shoulder, where it hesitates before rolling back down the arm to the base of the thumb. The pain starts to fade after a  couple of circuts but the circuits are repeated radonmly.  I'm finally getting some sleep because I got some arthritis-strength Tylenol which is great on pain.  Yesterday I took 2 around 10am (an hour after my daily prednoSONE) and the next thing I knew it was 2:30!  I kept dosing off the rest of the afternoon, too!  I took 2 extra-strength Tylenol when I went to bed at 10:30 and managed to sleep until 6am when the pain woke me up.  But there won't be any Tylenol for me today until sometime this afternoon...I have to have an INR done and I have an eye appointment. Four more days on predniSONE and then it will be decided if I need another course of it or if it has done it's thing...since there hasn't been much improvement....???

Nurses Aide Zoey & RN Fanny

   I think I'm going to need a shower with flea soap soon eventho I've been spraying the furniture since the girls both managed to take off their flea collars. I'm being watched over by my 2 dog guardians, RN Fanny and Nurses Aide Zoey, and they have been sharing 

NA Zoey and RN Fanny

my bed day and night since this latest medical incident started with tendenitis in my hand/arm.  Zoey still spends most of the night in Jeff's room but when he finally stretches out in bed she joins Fanny and me.  During the day they have control of the bed...eventho it is a queen there really isn't enough room for the 3 of us!  Zoey likes to curl up in the pillows and Fanny prefers to stretch out in front of the open windows.  During the day I like sitting in a wingback chair( at the foot of the bed in front of a window) so I can read or nap, talk on the phone or enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of cold soda...much easier/neater to do sitting up than laying down! It's also easier to elivate, ice, use the electric pad and generally keep my arm/hand still sitting in a chair.  We share our lunch here, too.  Today it was a slice of beef balonga with a squirt of mustard rolled in a slice of cheddar and horseradish cheese.  One roll-up doesn't go far when it's shared 3 ways but luckily we got to the packages of cold cuts before Jeff so we each got a couople of bites!  Dessert was a couple of Old-fashion donut holes each. I haven't the faintwst idea what's for supper.  Last night I did frozen General Tso's chicken with fried rice in the micro... relatively easy to do 1-handed but Jeff didn't care for it and cooked something for himself.  It will be a real surprize tonight

. .  

Here we Go Again

   I've had a lousy 2 weeks. While I was knitting (on 7/9) I got a really hard trigger cramp in the middle finger of my left hand.  It was so bad I had to stop knitting and soak my hand in hot water!  The next morning my hand still ached and the pain increaswd all weekend until finally on Monday I called Bassett and asked to be seen.  My 'regular attending' was away for the month so I agreed to be sceen by whoever was availabe and got an appointment for Tuesday afternoon.  That physcian decided I probably had carpal tunnel syndrom, gave me 2 wrist braces (eventho there was nothing wrong with my right wrist) and said she'd refer me to Cooperstown for an EMG and to be seen by a surgeon. On Thursday her nurse called me and said she finally had filled the referial and I could either be seen the next morning at 8am or 2 weeks later. We took the next day.

   Jeff woke up the next morning with low blood sugar and was in no condition to drive to Cooperstown so I drove while he ate a PBJ to try to raise his blood sugar.  By the time we got there he was a lot better but I wasn't.  For once we had our choice of parking spaces!!

  I've been operated on for CTS 3 times but never had an EMG before.  The physcian put a series of small needles in my left hand, wrist and arm and sent electric impulses thru them.  At first I barely felt the shocks, but as the test went on the lenght of the shocks increased (I was actually jumping off the table!) while  he plotted the strength of each impusle on a graph.  When it was over he said I had minor blockage and my pain was probably from tendon overuse.  He recommended I stopped knitting for a few days but continue to wear the wrist brace.  He also said any discomfort from the test would fade in a day or two.

   I didn't bother to put on the brace before leaving the room...I just wanted to get out!  All the way home I kept feeling the electrical umpulses shooting yp my arm!  By the time we were back home my arm really hurt and the pain didn't completely fade like predicted.  It would fade away and then come back strong as ever!  By Monday morning I couln't take it any longer and called Herkimer for another appointment.  And, wonders of wonders, my attending was scheduled to see patients today so I'm seeing him this afternoon. The base of my left thumb is swollen and my thumb and the 1st 2 fingers on my hand are tender.  I'm still having a moving pain that runs up my fingers/thumb to my elbow. I know that's a form of tendon sheaf pain, I'm just hoping somebody can do something for me.

    And then yesterday morning Jeff announced that the refrigerator was dead.   The freezer hasn't been working right for a couple of weeks but he felt it was because it was overstuffed. With the entire unit dead we had no choice but to go shopping...he has 3 different injectable insulants stored in it!  Our first stop on a short list was Robinson's in Mohawk.  My mom swore by them and bought many appliances there.  Well, we bought another one yesterday. Photo and details to follow but I've had enough one-hand typing for now.

7/22/2021/UPDATE:   

Our new refrigerator from Robinson Bros in Mohawk just fits!!  That corner of the kitchen hasn't been that clean in ages!!  And the inside of the unit shines!  We had to go shopping for food to put in it!!

The dogs were excited about how it
smelled on the outside, too!  It's going to take days to get the kitchen back in order.  I can't do a lot one-handed but I did scrub the counter and wall around the unit!  (I'll get to the stove when I have 2 hands again.)  Jeff says the inside will never be that clean again...if only I can keep his fishing bait out of it!

Make That #3

    I had my 3rd yearly infusion of Reclast yesterday and I don't remember feeling so lousy.  I felt...still do...like I got run over by a steamroller!!  Reclast is for postmenapause women with low bone density and a family history of osterporisis...and I fit the bill on all 3 levels.  If you remember my mom (& her sisters) you know how bent over they were with osteoarthrisis.  The 3 of them (Josie, Fran and Caroline) all had developed a 'dowager hump', too.  Even if you take into consideration the age in which they developed (post WWI, Depression, WWII) and how undernurished they were (an orange was a treat reserved for Christmas!!) you'd expect them to have low bone density.  Add to my family history, my medical history (treatment for Hodgkins' Disease) and I was also a canidate for low bone density.                                            Reclast has greatly reduced the chance of me breaking a hip, I think the last report said it was about 10%.  After breaking the tib and fib in my right leg when I had my cardiac episode in 2008, I was really worried that one of my wintertime falls in the driveway would result destroy my hip!  That's not bad odds!

What's New This Summer

     Spring has been good at the shop, Cooper Country Crafts, for me.  My revised sheep design, Sheep in the Meadow, has been popular with customers.  By limiting the sheep to just the yoke, the majority of the sweater is done in stockinette without having to count rows or stitches.  Once the sleeves are finished the body just knits up in no time!  The 'meadow' is enclosed by a few rows of ombre yarn that compliment the main color.  The color combination makes the sweater look so smart but keeps it simple to knit. (The revised design eliminates a lot of yarn ends that need to be worked in making me very happy!)

  This is a size 2 cardigan I just finished and put in the shop yesterday.  (There are 2 more sheep on the back.)  It is done in Red Heart's worsted weight acrylic in Amethyst with the trim done in Monet, which has become the most popular color combination for this sweater this spring.  I've also done it in White and Pink with the trim in Monet or Tourmaline (shades of pink from the palest to the  hottest), all Red Heart acrylics, in sizes 2 and 4.  Yesterday I started a size 1 in Gray Heather wih the trim in Icelandic (shades of Aqua and Gray).  I've been using old pearl buttons that my friend, Maggie Schanz, gave me as well as some new pearl buttons that I bought.  I have very few of the round buttons I used last year (from Buttons.com) that I really liked.  They were the perfect size and had the nicest colors but this year everything I wanted was 'out of stock'.  (Blaming the shortage on Covid!!) I'm hoping they get them back in stock soon!  Even buying buttons at Walmart gets expensive!!

   I'm planning on doing some baseball sweaters in size 1, too.  The smaller sweaters make up faster and if they're going to sell well, that's the kind I need to make!  Several customers have said size 2 and 4 hoodies don't need back zippers as long as they have a Henley opening in the front.  I can agree with that for a size 1 but will have to think about it for the other sizes.

   My sweaters are always available at Cooper Country Crafts, 2 Doubleday Court, Cooperstown, NY.  They may also be ordered in your choice of color and size thru the shop(607-547-9247) but must be paid for when ordered

(including postage if they are to be mailed to you.)

   Now it's time to get back to knitting!

Trigger's Tree

    We had some thunderstorm this morning!  It woke me around 3am and the thunder had the dogs diving under Jeff's bed!  I laid there for awhile but couldn't go gack to sleep so I finally got up and put on a pot of coffee...while the power was still on.  By 5:30am I was sitting in my chair, wrapped in a blanket with a cup of coffee and a book.(My window was open part way and while there was a chilly breeze, it smelled and felt so good I just snuggled in my blanket!)  And no dogs...they were still under Jeff's bed!  I  fell asleep in the chair around 7am and slept there until almost 10am.  I could barely walk when I finally woke up and decided I needed more coffee.  The russle of Cherrios falling into a cereal bowl brought both dogs into the kitchen...followed by Jeff and when he came back in after letting them out, he said the top of one of the evergreen trees close to the house broke during the storm.  I went out to see which one it was.  It was Trigger's Tree.

   Trigger was our neightbor's Shetland Pony.  This was 1962 and I always thought he was old but maybe not, maybe just gentle.  He had 2 large pastures...one across from our house and the other between our house and the neighbor's garage.  In the summer he was also staked out in the field across from our garage.  As Trigger got older he was allowed to roam around the lawn with just a rope hanging, clipped to his halter.  He stayed away from the road and didn't go into the woods.  

   My younger cousins loved to come up and 'ride the horse'.  An adult would put a kid up on Trigger's back and lead the pony around the property. They talk about it still! I don't remember anyone getting hurt or being afraid of Trigger.

   The spring after we moved here my father got a dozen or so pine trees thru Cooperative Extension and planted them around the property, including two he put along the driveway between the house and the gargage.  They all grew taller than the house except one.  Meanwhile, Trigger was free to roam and he would come up to our house everyday and stratch himself on that one little pine tree.  My father had to stake it to keep Trigger from knocking it over!  That tree barely stayed alive and never grew while Trigger used it as a stratching post but once he died it took off and ended up taller than the house!  

   In the last few years the tree has started to lose branches and Jeff has had to trim off the dead wood.  If losing the top of the tree kills it, it's going to be interesting taking it down.  The house and garage form an L around it and the electrical wires run along the driveway.  Oh, the joys of home ownership!

P.S.  After Trigger died our neightbors got another Shetland pony but he didn't stay too long.  He was nothing like ol'Trigger! 

Just Another Day As A Crafter

       Today was my turn to work in the shop so I made sure I had a couple of my Sheep in the Meadow sweaters with me.  I even remembered to bring my camera and make sure it  had new batteries!  Here's the picture I took of my  white Sheep in the Meadow.  It's a size 2T, raglan, knit from the neck down.  The other one in the shop is pink and I'm ready to do one in purple.  So far, this season I've sold 6 of this design in size 2T and 4T in those 3 colors.

I've done 3 cardigsns and 3 hoodies with Henley neck openings and back zippers.  I think this purple one may be a cardigan with a hoodie and just buttons up the front.  

   My display looked so empty today...even after I hung up these 2 sweaters!  I haven't been able to keep sweaters on the shelf for long this spring.  (It's rather like crying all the way to the bank!)  And the worst part is that I can't get those buttons anymore.  The company I was buying them from has them listed as 'out of stock'.  I hope they decide to make some more...and soon!

Strange E-Mails

    I've gotten some strange emails this week supposedly from an old friend who's been living and working in China for the last 13 years.  He's been home a couple of times but I've managed to miss seeing him both times.  Anyway, I got an email asking if I could do him a favor.  I answered 'what's up?'  No response for several days and then a repeat of the first email.  That time I answered 'what' wrong?'  Today I got a long, heartful email telling me about his 'sister' who lives in the Ukraine and needs an operation.  The cost of the medical procedure was $13,000.  The email said he was just back from visiting her and giving her all the money he had...$8000.  She was in a great deal of pain and he wanted to help her as much as possible, so could I lend him $5000.  

   Of course, I said no.  

   A day or two later I got another email.  This time he asked if I could send him anything because she really needed help.  Again, I said no.  

   Both times I explained that we live on a fixed income, in an old house that constantly needs repairs.  I was sorry but I couldn't help.

   Earlier today I was knitting and since that was when I do my best thinking I started thinking about this problem.  Suddenly I thought if only I could check out the sister angle.  And the easiest way was to check his father's obituary.  Then I couldn't remember his father's first name. That stopped me for a few minutes.  In the end I did a search on his step-mother's name and guess what?  His father's obit popped up!  When I read it and didn't find a sister/daughter mentioned, I was sure the emails were scams.

   I sent Wayne another reply and told him not to bother me again.  I knew he didn't have a sister. I asked Jeff if he thought the Chinese Mafia could be behind it but he said maybe a Tong.  We'll just have to wait and see.

6/8/2021   Just heard from a former student of Wayne's, Liwanen Lily in the Philippines, and she said she got similar emails from him.  She was able to contact him and he confirmed his email had been hacked!