Today's the Day!

Today is the 3rd anniversary of my heart valve replacement. Seems like I've been falling asleep to the boom-boom of my St. Jude mechanical valve a lot longer than 3 years but that's all it's been. And we still don't have my clotting factor under total control. Just about anything can throw it for a loop...I'm in one now. My number has been 2.2 for 2 weeks...which makes it just a little too thick for my good. On top of that I'm vitamin D deficient which is probably causing what's left of my thyroid to work over time...T3 factor isn't becoming T4 fast enough (or something like that). It leaves me very tired and sluggish. My doct0r was talking about ultrasound to see how the cysts are growing but I think vitamin D supplements will probably solve my problem. And with Spring coming soon there's a lot of work to be done in the garden. The pile of seed catalogs next to Jeff's chair is growing and he's got some seeds sprouting in the hydroponic system in his living room. He's got some alternative methods planned to increase our garden's production. Pictures will follow. And I listened to my cousin Jo, got a statue of St Joseph and started a novena and guess what?? The camp sold!!! Mom's a little sad that it's sold and we're leaving most of what's up there but where are we suppose to put a full trailer of furniture??? Hopefully, what isn't wanted by the new folks will make it's way across Rte 8 to TWIGS and be sold this summer. We had over 30 great years up there but it's time for a change. Keep checking here for the latest on the garden and our collective health!

Spring or Winter??

The calendar says it's still Winter but we're suppose to have another spring-like day with temperatures in the 40's. Wish Mother Nature would get things straight...these swings in temperatures are murder on my arthritis! The metal plates in my leg act like magnets and the ache/pain starts at the break site and moves up my leg to the knee (that's my 'tennis knee'...can't blame everything on the broken leg, now can I?) PT is still helping a lot...we're working on the muscles supporting the back...but I think it can't go on forever. I've been working on a couple of orders for CCC members and as long as Jeff picks the movies we watch I can get quite a lot of knitting down in an evening. Saturday night we watched something called Bugs that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and I got the yoke(neck to underarm) down on a size 2 black sheep sweater. Last night I tried to watch the Super Bowl and work on the sweater but gave up...too much distraction on the field! (YEAH! GIANTS!!) Last weekend Jeff stayed home and I watched Sherlock...on the pc monitor in my room. I really like stretching out in bed and watching a movie! Worked on the other order from a shop member...socks for his wife...and that's working up well, too. I'm also doing baby socks for a gift. When I get these done...hopefully, this week!!...I've got to get started working on inventory for the shop. I think I'm in a 'sock mode' so I may just keep working on those.

Jeff's gone into hydroponics in a big way and has quite a set up in his living room. He wanted to set up in ours coz we have a large southern exposure but Josie put her foot down...loudly...and said no. So he took an old shop light out of our pantry and is working on rewiring that to be a 'grow light'. His basil and peppers have sprouted but neither of us have had any luck getting our heirloom Stevia seeds to sprout! And what I paid for those!!

Ever see the underside of a car? My car has been in the shop since last Wednesday, something called a 'cradle' had to be replaced in the rear end...boy, it had literally rotted away!! And something in a front wheel casing had broken off. I couldn't believe how rusty things are under there!! Carl and the mechanics at Cole's managed to get the rusted pieces off the car without further damage and replaced with this used parts that they cleaned and sprayed making them look new. Only 1 bolt was stubborn and wouldn't come off so we're waiting for a replacement for that. I do not want to see the bill for this job. But if the Subuaru keeps going for another couple of years.... The thing is the car runs great, it's the suspension that's rusting out!! In the meantime, my cousin John has lent me his father's car...a Nissan. (We keep losing it in Walmart parking lot and have to look thru the windows to find the right car!!) When I talked to Fran yesterday he just laughed!

Time to get working!!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays! And another year nears its end. Boy, have we been busy this year! The garden has taken up a lot of time and energy and we've really enjoyed it. Things didn't start too well with Jeff's hospital stay but so far, it's a distant memory. He's got many seed cataloges and has started to order heirloom seeds. He's also found sites on-line that are giving him ideas on how to do things differently. Jeff wants to make the garden larger if we can, maybe add some bees....

The shop's rolling along in Cooperstown. I wish I had more time to knit and work down there. Maybe after I retire.... Hey, I'll be 62 in April so 'retirement looms on the horizon'!

Mom will be 98 in a couple of weeks (Jan 13) and she's still taking care of herself and knitting. Without Jeff it would be a lot harder and I don't think she'd still be living at home. She listens to him when she thinks I don't know what I'm talking about, and I couldn't get her to appointments without him.

Lady Dawg is one of the best dogs we've had. She's so gentle and caring. Whenever she's outside for more than 15 minutes, she wants to go in to check on Mom. Then come back out to be with us...or really with Jeff. She goes out with him more than I do.

Going to PT this fall has made a great difference in my mobility and pain levels. I can't believe it wasn't suggested 4 years ago after the break! Why don't more orthopedic surgeons recommend PT? I know I'll never be pain free but at least now I'm learning on how to cope with it.

Camp for sale

As another year comes to an end I've reached a decision about camp. It's got to go...be sold...so I'm willing to give someone...anyone...a holiday deal: the trailer, share and contents...as is...for $24,000. We had many good times there and we miss it but it's time. It's still got plenty of time left in the trailer...the living room has a propane stove, the windows in the bedrooms and over the kitchen sink are new vinyl insulated replacement windows. The sink in the bathroom is new. So, if anyone out there is interested in a camp in Speculator, NY, please get in touch with me. Happy holidays!

Garden is Closed

The garden is offically closed for the season. Saturday Jeff planted garlic and shallots and tilled in the compost that was ready. Then he covered it with all the leaves that could be collected near by. I was assigned the leaf blower and moved a fair pile to the garden for Jeff to spred around. Then together we cleared the rest of the lawn and he filled the compost bins. (Photos to follow...need new memory card for the camera.)

Sunday the new panry was assembled. Actually, the old sewing room was cleared out and cleaned, new shelves put up and all the jars labled and put on the shelves. It looks very impressive to me but Jeff is wishing we had done more. Hopefully, there's next year to look forward to. He's already busy ordering heirloom seeds.

I've been knitting...hats and scarves for swaps and the shop. Tried to knit snowflakes with crochet thread...think I'll go back to crocheting them!

Little Piggy Went to Market

I did this market bag a couple of times for swaps. It's so simple...it's the ribbon yarn that makes it fancy! I loved the yarn...got several skeins on sale...then didn't know what to do with it until this swap came along. And the gray heather yarn is a silk blend...again on sale that I didn't know what to do with. I'm sure it will work up beautifully. I try to include something funny/cute in my swaps and this pink note holding duck is just too cute! Hated to send it away!

Necklace

This is one of 2 beaded necklaces I knitted for swaps. I used #3 cotton crochet thread and a pattern for a scalloped edge necklace I found in 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders. Of course, I changed the weight yarn it called for, the size beads, size needles; I strung the beads differently and then added the lace travel pouch to go with it. The Dove Bar and postcard of General Herkimer were extras for the swap. I did 3 more necklaces & pouches for the shop.