finished and packed

We were so disappointed, none more than MIL of course, that after traveling more than 70 miles, they were unable to complete her medical procedure, and she may have to travel even further, to university hospital, get it done in future. She is doing well, and had no adverse reactions. I'm glad we could be with her.

Finished! The knit-along baby's cardigan ( I made up the pattern for this one, using the measurements from an old pattern, and adding the lace collar, cuffs, and hem). The most troublesome part was the collar. Even though I added extra stitches, and I water blocked it as I did all of the pieces, it still has a tendency to curl up. I will block it again sometime, but it can also be worn up. I made it a one button since it is meant to be worn over layers of clothing. The button is actually clear and pearly, but the reflection makes it look silvery. Oh, I knitted the leaves and crocheted the flower. I'm not fond of crocheting, but I can manage to make up small things. I will enjoy seeing the sweaters by the rest of the group.

I'm all packed for the hospital for surgery on the 23rd. I don't want to go, but I must. I'm to be admitted at 7:30 a.m.

The house is in order; Apart from the usual daily housework, I've been sorting papers and cleaning cupboards, the 'fridge, the upstairs and sitting room windows, etc. I always try to do this intense sort of cleaning before a long trip or a hospital stay. It's nice coming home knowing that even the things not immediately seen are in tidy.

The flower beds are weeded, (between the many rain showers. It won't be long before there are new weeds, *smiles*but the beds look great today. The peonies are fragrant and lovely in the back, and the ones in front they are starting to open.) and the projects I wanted to get done are done. So one would think I have some time to sketch and watercolour, but there is always something which needs doing, eh?! I do have some things in mind that I want to craft for the Etsy shops. I've closed the shops for the next two weeks.

'Ta ta for now!

moods and friends, family and appointments

Mood: thankful, hopeful, creative.
It was so warm and sunny in the early hours yesterday, I decided to make sun tea in this re purposed 4 litre juice bottled. I filled it just over half full with water and used 8 regular Lipton brand tea bags, and 8 Green tea bags. I actually had some while it was still quite warm from the sun, and then later after it had been refridgerated for several hours, with a few fresh 'mint leaves added.



Isn't it wonderful having friends and family who seem to have a knack for knowing when you need them, even miles away? Among other contact this past week, I got another lovely handmade card from my friend Jo. I won't embarrass her by posting a photo here. Suffice it to say that her work is distinctive and that her sentiments are greatly appreciated. Jo, you know how much I enjoy your "snail" mail, our taste in music, ;), and our usually unplanned crafty exchanges. To my friends who have e-mailed or telephoned, Thank-You! Also, hurrah for mother-in-law who give me those hugs mum wishes she could give across the miles.


So, days before Emergency Care I ate very little. Great for losing extra pounds, but not so good for one's health. (my follow up visit to my doctors' showed weight loss; I rarely weigh myself, I try not to be a chained to the scales, it's too depressing, *lol*)

For the first 48 hours after the hospital along with lots of fruit juices, this is what was recommended, and all I could tolerate due to the nausea and pain. Peppermint tea, made from leaves fresh picked from my garden, also helps.


Hubby bought for me loads of these Popsicles and ready made Jell-O and we had lots of packets at home. I'm not so fond of Jell-O, most remind me of hospitals, but I do like the lime flavour.





















I have a test in nuclear medicine tomorrow, which I've had before so I know what to expect.

I'll be meeting with a new general surgeon on the 12th. The surgeon I saw for 20 years moved away last year, so It will be interesting meeting someone new. By several accounts, he is likable.

Here is the back and front of the child's cardigan I'm doing for the Knit-Along at My Craftivity. I had to "frog" the front pieces entirely. Since the pain med keeps me in a fog when it is working, and the lace pattern I had in my head was not the one I had worked out for this project, ( they are quite similar)I had to take it apart.

I've received several knitted or crocheted dish washing cloths from my MIL, but I've never made any for myself. I noticed that about half of my store bought cotton cloths have holes and tears in them, and I usually buy replacements when this happens, but I thought I'd make some. These may end up being presents for friends and family, but they are fun and quick to make, and not too much thought is required when I'm in a fog. The yellow mock cable was the first one, but I thought it might be too heavy when wet, so I made up a simpler pattern, which uses fewer stitches. (I have several skeins of Peaches and Cream cotton on hand but any worsted weight cotton will do.) Here is the pattern for the lavender cloth. Easy:

With size 7 needles, cast on 38 stitches.
Seed stitch:
Row 1, right side---
knit one, purl one across
Row 2, knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches. Repeat until piece measures approximately 1 inch
Keep to seed stitch pattern for first six and last six stitches, working the remaining stitches between in straight stitch (that is; knit right side rows and purl wrong side rows)

Work until piece measures about 7.5 inches from beginning, finish as for bottom border with seed stitch until piece measures 8. 5 inches. bind off in pattern, sew in ends. Finished size is approximately 8.5 inches square.
I think when I just need to pick up my art journal and start sketching. I haven't done any sketching lately, and I miss it.

photographs, life is...

The pain I have been having in my right back and sides took a turn for the worst over the holiday weekend and I spent Sunday in emergency care when it became unbearable. I have a long road ahead but I choose to celebrate life, because in spite of many obstacles, life is good.

We went to the cemetery to rake and decorate the family plot as we do at least once a year, but I forgot the camera, so no photos.

However, here are some photos of scenes of home and nearby travels.
For the humming birds :



The Landscapers' finally opened for the season, so we bought another cubic metre of cedar mulch for the tomatoes, and

to replenish the flower and herb beds

The bluebird house on the garden shed:

The raspberry bushes have been pruned!

At the vintage/thrift shop, hubby played with this Alvarez guitar:

I bought this butterfly house, someone else's handiwork:

I repaired it, sanded, gessoed, and painted it blue and white.

The thin plywood is not sturdy enough for posting it in the flower bed, so I think I'll use it as decoration on the front porch for a while.

A stack of old magazines and a vintage book from 1928
version after the (silent) movie came out, starring Faye Ray (The original King Kong’s “girlfriend“) While the book is a Grosset & Dunlap publishing, which I collect, it is not a children’s book, but I broke my rule of collecting only their vintage children's books for the black and white photos and Ms. Ray :)

Lilacs:
An unoccupied bluebird house on the south border:


Pear blossoms, very tasty pears, yum!

A bat in our belfry, or our chimney any way:

A bat took up residences in the gap between the house and chimney. Here's hubby cleaning the bat guano from behind the chimney. After which we sprayed liberally with bleach, and rinsed with a solution of Green Works and water.

It's time to finish this pair of cotton denim and wool blend socks:














As for the baby's cardigan, I have finished the back and both fronts, but I will be out of yarn before I can finish the sleeves. ( I considered making short sleeves, but I decided to order more yarn instead. Photos are forthcoming.

The positive side have needing bed rest is that I can knit and sketch without guilt :)

Take Care of each other!

my back, ouch!

My back, or more accurately, my right side, has had it, at least for a few days. No more planting, shoveling, or climbing for a while. The pain tablets are not helping very much, and no matter what I do, it has gotten progressively worse over several months. It may not just be another kidney stone. :( so I just have to rest and behave for a time, and see if it improves in the next few days. :)
I've weeded the herb and flowers beds and have also potted some plants. Here is the flower box on the front porch, I promise to post more photos of other flowers around the garden next time:

In the last four years we reduced our once large vegetable garden to a 8 x 2 foot strip to the right of the back porch. I no longer preserve vegetables, since I can and do stock up on most canned veggies at the super store. I think I'm ahead 3 to 6 months ;)) However, if I find something at the farmers market, I do get a bushel and cook and freeze whatever it is, like green beans and corn. I've kept most of my canning jars and utensils in good order just in case ;)

I've planted two kinds of tomatoes :















On the left is "beefy" and on the right is "cherry"
I got some fresh yeast last Friday, and I baked two loaves. Since there will be no more work in the garden for a few days (except for watering the plants and flowers) I'll probably make a few more loaves and buns.

Now that my sister's birthday has come and gone, and I know she has received it, I will show you the necklace I bought for her some time ago ( this photo is from the website):

I have amethyst earrings in a square silver setting, and they are so lovely, I thought sis would also love something in the same stone, even though it is not her "birth"stone.

It's funny, but when I was younger I was not terribly interested in buying or wearing jewelry, but as I get older, I seem to be turning into a magpie bird( They find shiny things attractive *giggles*). Not that I own very much, but I seem to have become more interested in the last three years in at least looking at jewelry.

The hummingbirds are back, and so we need to make nectar for them. Whilst I was standing on the back porch, one flew up, had a look see at the spot where we usually hang the feeder, and flew away. We have been feeding them for at least twenty years, so each generation probably has the location in their genes by now *lol*

Off to put the laundry in the dryer ( too rainy and cold to hang on the line even if I want to). I'll also try to have photos of the progress I've made on the baby's cardigan I've been knitting. I finished the back at the weekend.

winds and weekend

It's been so windy today! It was nice and sunny while I was driving and doing errands, but later, the high winds brought me back indoors after many attempts to work in the garden and do other outdoor projects.

Beautiful flowers from hubby; roses and freesias:

Scenes from the informal gathering of extended family:

One of the two quiches I made for the gathering:

The finished anklets. I keep a small amount of synthetics blends as that is what is requested when I knit for charities but I don’t like how they feel against my skin. I am allergic to some wools, but llama, and cottons and cashmeres ( not that I can afford cashmere :)) feel wonderful . (My friend S. recently sent me some quiviut which is heavenly!) If I’m going to put time into knitting something, it should be done in well.

The anklet on the bottom was sprayed and blocked, no change. The one on top was machine washed. It pilled and is fuzzy. I will keep these for myself and wear them over socks as slippers ‘round the house.

I haven't baked bread in weeks, so I may do a loaf and some buns(rolls) tomorrow.

It's May!

The rain came last night, and now, at 7 in the evening, is coming still-- a day late for April showers, but the sounds were soothing. No thunder or lightning, just heavy rain. Of course it is now cold and damp, but at least it's not snowing, and the trees will be blossoming soon, and the lily leaves are 6 inches high. As well, we were able to get an early start on some outdoor projects, so that's a plus. A northeast view of the backyard at 6 :12 pm:

There is something about damp weather which makes me want to knit. I've nearly finished with the wrap, only six inches to go, and I've started a pair of anklets which I've made many times before in red and blue wool, so I thought I'd try this lambs wool and acrylic blend in zinna. The lace pattern is from my knitting encyclopedia, but the the rest I made up. My bamboo needles are in use on another project so I must use the aluminum ones, which I don't like as much.



Another packing tube of lovely papers for bookbinding, including antique"italian postcards"( cartolina postale italiana, it sounds much better in Italian :) ) The print of the writing is quite small so I can only make out names addresses, but the colours are lovely.

Etsy has changed the "items sold" link in all the shops to" sales," so the numbers are smaller. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I'm glad I made a sale yesterday, since it's been slow there for a while. thousands more sellers have joined in the short time I've been a member.

Happy weekend everyone!

Happy Spring!

A view of the first day of spring from my front door. Not bad, It’ sunny, and much of the snow and ice are gone. How is your first day of spring? A nice one, I hope.

I'm going to colour some eggs today.

It’s here, the spring issue of American Archaeology magazine. Okay, so it’s been here for more than a week, but I’ve only just had a chance to look at it and read in detail. The article on the development of ceramics is of particle interest, since primitive methods of crafting was, and remains one of my favourite areas of study. The In the News pages covers both fun and disbursing facts, including pre Spanish beer making in the south-west, and the looting of historic sites.
Hello Amy, Hello Amby! Thanks for stopping by.

Nothing in the spring issue of Knitty peaks my interest, and, while I’m determined to finish all knitting projects before starting another, (there are two projects left-a pair of socks and the wrap.) I am
swatching for this bag in Knit Simple magazine‘s holiday 2007 issue.
I’m using two strands of worsted wt. winter white wool though the pattern requires a single strand of bulky weight. The gauge is pretty close, and since it is a bag, it is close enough. However I’m not certain I’ll do it in white since I have several skeins of bulky yellows and purples that I bought when we were in the southwest last year, and I’d like to make use of them. The pattern is not too difficult so far, though I do have to pay close attention on the wrong side rows on the chart, as that gets a bit confusing at times because of the seed stitch. I do like the cables. A vintage floral lining would be pretty I think.