Dinner out with Hubs

    That's right, we went out to dinner tonight! We had gotten a gift card to our favorite BBQ place, Billy Bob's BBQ, for Christmas. We finally decided to use it. I highly recommend Billy Bob's, if you are in or near the greater Poughkeepsie, NY area.


    It's run by a former co-worker of ours, and his family. They got it right. The BBQ is absolutely awesome. Now I am usually a pulled pork kind of gal, but tonight I tried the brisket sandwich. After a few bites, I was muttering something about my beloved Hubs having a terrible accident so I could marry the guy who cooked this meat. Apparently I was muttering out loud. Hubs heard me and was starting to look scared.


    But truly, this place is really good. It's very close to Vassar College, on Fairmont Ave. It used to be a place called the Dutch Cabin. I had never been there, but had heard of it.


    I was so enamored of my sandwich, I don't think I even ate half of it! Hubs had the Piggy Mac, which is pulled pork, with mac n cheese on top, then it's baked. He loves that dish. So of course, we brought it all home. This is the place where tried real fried pickles. They were really good but upset my stomach something fierce. So I won't order them again.

apparently I'm in a slump

    I've hit a low spot. There's nothing going on right now in my life. I'm still knitting, and I've made progress on Sara's sweater, yesterday I joined it together at the bottom of the V-neck.


    And my awesome cowl is almost done, just another couple of inches to go. I've tried it on, and it's so warm, I can't wait for it to be done. I guess I'm becoming boring. I can't even think of any stories to tell you. Let's all hope this doesn't last too long!!

yesterday and today

    I didn't post anything yesterday, and for that I apologise. I spent the whole day with Hubs, and we just hung out. So I really had nothing to talk about yesterday. I did knit some, on Sara's sweater, while we were watching TV. But that's really it.


    Today, I hung with the Cherub this morning, then with Hubs again. Today I knitted more than yesterday, and I'm nearly ready to join the front of Sara's sweater. One more row, and I'm at the bottom of the V neck. Yay! Real progress at long last. And I'm still on the first skein of yarn!


   Also today, I was awake at 4:30 this morning, and couldn't get back to sleep. So this afternoon, Hubs and I took a nap. He got up before I did, and when I did finally get up, we had received a dinner invitation! We went out to dinner with new friends, Jason and Becky. Very nice couple. Jason and Hubs work together.


    We had a really great time with them at Bugaboo Creek. I believe this was restaurant was chosen because it's about half way between where we live, and where they live. And I've never had a bad meal there.


    And now it's getting late, and I have to get up at 5:30 again tomorrow. Believe me, it's totally worth it. Cerub is my BKFF, Best Kid Friend Forever. Hopefully something exciting will happen soon, and give me more to write about.

Progress and V-day report

    Once again, I had to frog the pink sweater. Somehow made a big boo boo on it, and I wasn't that far into it that I couldn't just frog it. So I did, and started all over. Again. This time, I think I got it right...

    Pink and purple are my favorite colors, the pink, as hot as possible....


    As for V-day, Hubs was away, and got home late last night. It turns out that he brought me a present. My very favorite sparklie thing, in a pendant. It's very pretty. And since he wasn't home for the holiday, he took me out to breakfast this morning. We had a really nice time. I've spent the whole day with him, not even going on the Internet all day. Until now, anyway. I figured it would be OK,  since he's gone to bed. He has to get up early for work tomorrow.

WIP Photos, SnB report

    This morning, we had our Stitch n Bitch, the first one in three weeks. Last week, the weather was ominous, snow was coming down. The week before that, some of us had appointments that we couldn't change, so OFL (our fearless leader) decided to cancel.


    So this week we had some catching up to do. OFL is working a a gorgeous cardigan for a friend's birthday , Jan is still plugging away on her beaded lace shawl, and I brought two projects, but only worked on Sara's sweater. We had a good breakfast, and got down to knitting.


    Afterwards, OFL and I hit our local second hand store. I've been in there before, and was pleasantly surprised! They have so much stuff! Antiques, furniture, books, records, clothing and so much more! If you live anywhere near Hyde Park, I recommend stopping by.


    Now, for years, I've been searching for a leather coat for myself. I won't pay full price, so I've been looking in the Salvation Army, and Goodwill stores. I've had no luck so far. Until today, that is... I found an awesome leather coat today! It wasn't as inexpensive as Goodwill or SA, but still nowhere near full price. I left there a happy woman. Even Kim found a coat, and she looked awesome in it. She didn't want to pay the asking price, even though it was 25% off. So she asked, and they gave it to her for even less! She was happy too!


    And now for the promised photos! First up is a photo of the soft soft yarn that I'm using for the cowl:

    Here's a photo of my progress so far on the cowl:

    Next up is Sara's sweater, which you really can't see, because it's all curled up. But you can see the glorious color!

   And lastly, here is the yarn I chose for my own sweater. I hope the color comes out properly!

 
    Well, it's not too bad. I haven't started this one again yet, can't decide which size needle to use. I will probably go up to the size 9, and make a size small. But it starts out with the same number of stitches as the medium. So maybe I'll just stick with the medium. Who knows?

progress report, with frogging

    Recently, I decided to frog the beginnings of both sweaters that I had started. Mine was too big, so I will use a smaller needle and make a smaller size. Sara's was too small, it looked on track to fit my 5 year old granddaughter. Not a good thing. So I upped the needle size, and I'm trying a larger size. My fingers are firmly crossed.


    I went to Fishkill yesterday, to visit my mom, so of course I had to go to the LYS down there, Out of the Loop. Theresa was very friendly, as usual. It never ceases to amaze me that people remember me. I went in looking for needles, but she was out of the size I was looking for. She is expecting a delivery any time now.


    I ended up browsing through all the yarn. She has expanded her selection, and now has lots of Noro. But what caught my eye was Cascade Yarns Eco Duo. It's 70% undyed baby Alpaca, and 30% undyed Merino. It is so very soft, I couldn't believe it! I finally decided that two hanks would make a delicious cowl. There was a good selection of color ways, and I ended up choosing a black/gray/white. I love the fact that it's undyed.


    I made sure to do the itch test, by placing the yarn on my neck, and gently rubbing it there. No itchies, I'm pleased to report. I decided to use a big needle for the cowl. Ideally I wanted a size 11, but the only one I have is 16" long. So I settled on a 10.5. I think it's 32" long.


    Now, I have in mind to make a real cowl, not those things that are popular right now, that are just long scarves with the ends connected. By my definition, a cowl is a tube that goes over your head, on your neck. It's long enough to pull one end up over your head for extra warmth, and still have enough to pool around your neck. So you could wear it either way, just around your neck, or up covering your head too.


    For those of you keeping track, that was another mini rant. And now my second cup of coffee has gone cold. Dammit. Anyway, when I get further along with all three projects, I will post photos.

knitting, dishes and laundry, oh my!

    Today is Tuesday. I have to keep reminding myself, because I forget what day of the week it is. Today was the day that I had planned on catching up on washing the dishes, and laundry.


    I alternated again, watching an episode of Monarch of the Glen, then washing some dishes. I have to admit, that show is starting to lose my interest. I get annoyed at it because it starts out with just the two children, the older one died years ago. So the younger one becomes Laird.


    First, out of the blue, a sister shows up. There had been no mention of her before. Now, there's a here-to-fore unmentioned brother. Am I the only one who find this totally annoying? I may stop watching the show. I'm currently in season 4, I believe.


   Sorry, that was totally off topic, but I was overdue for a small rant. The only laundry I had to do was my son's karate uniform. It's in the dryer now, and he doesn't need it until Friday. I was pleased as punch to have that much notice. Usually he brings me a uniform and tells me he needs it in a couple of hours, or (at 10 o'clock at night),  tomorrow.


    I consider myself blessed that I don't have to do all his laundry anymore. He would save every bit of clothing he owns and then throw it all downstairs in one huge pile. It would be up tp me to sort, wash, and get it back upstairs to his room.


    I know you are all howling right now, "He's old enough to do his own laundry!!" and you would be right, he is. But he works long hours, six days a week. He really doesn't have the time. Being a Martial Artist leaves little room for stuff like laundry. Just ask Julie, his girlfriend, who is now in charge of it. I think she's better at it than I ever was, she doesn't let it get into huge piles. Kudos to her!


     There is some progress on the sweater front too. But I'm worried that Sara's sweater will be too small, and mine too big. There's nothing to do but push ahead, and when they're big enough, try them on. If my fears are warranted, I can always frog them, and start over.


   

a strange coincidence? I think not

    For years, my pulmonologist has been telling me that I have Asthma, as well as the Sacroidosis. I have, all along, been rejecting this notion. At least until my last visit, this past fall.


    As usual, he mentioned Asthma. This time I lost my temper. I asked him why does he keeps telling me I have Asthma? How can he tell? This time, he took my hands, looked me right in the eye, and told me that Sarcoid patients don't wheeze. Well, that took the wind right out of my sails, and shut me right up. All I could say was "Oh."


    Almost as long as I've had Sacroid, I've wheezed. I thought it was just part of that disease. I have never even met another Sacroid patient. When I was first diagnosed, I scoured the internet, and never found anything about wheezing. I thought it was just how it was.


   Last week, when I went to that other doctor, I mentioned that I also have Asthma. It was the first time I mentioned it, ever. I've called it "coming out of the Asthma closet". The strange coincidence part? It was at that moment, that very moment, my wheezing subsided. Not completely, but significantly.


    It was as if my Asthma was content that I finally admitted that I have it. All these years the wheezing was just my Asthma trying to get my attention.  Well, it's got my attention now.


    Today I saw my primary doctor for a physical. He was very surprised that I wasn't wheezing. He listened to my lungs, then I told him the closet story. He laughed, but admitted that he had never heard my lungs sound so clear.


    Coincidence? I think not! If there are any Sarcoid patients out there reading this, please comment, I'd like to hear from you.

new projects started

    Today was quite the day. I got to spend some time with my daughter, doing my favorite thing. Yarn shopping! We found yarn for her sweater, and some for a new one for me too!


    Hers is a really pretty dark purple with a little dark blue speckled into it. Mine is called hot pink, but it's a little bit darker than that. I love it, it's my favorite color, along with purple.


    I have actually done the gauge swatch for Sara's sweater, and cast on both already!
I want to do mine, but feel guilty about it, so I'm gonna try and do both, working on each one a little bit at a time. It's going to be confusing, but I'm willing to give it a go.


    I'll keep you updated on my progress!

the view from my front door

    Here's the view, before the storm hit. This is from about 11 am, 2.8.2013:

    I had first noticed flakes about 8:30 am. So ^ was after 2.5 hours. I wasn't impressed. But this morning, about 7:30 am, this is what I saw out my front door!

    Quite a difference, huh? Hubs is out there now, shoveling the walk and cleaning off the vehicles. That way, when out plow guy comes, we will be ready to move the cars. After we get plowed, I will go outside and get some pictures of the back yard, the snow looks so pretty in the trees!

today's doings.

     This morning, as I drink my coffee, I decided to open the living room drapes, so I could watch the weather. The snow is light, then heavy, then light again. Like it can't decide what to do. I'm fine with that, the less we get the better as far as I'm concerned.


    I am doing laundry today. First in went Hubs' things, as he has to pack for a work trip. Then I stripped the bed. Fleece sheets are so thick and heavy they require two loads, with our blankets.  But I wouldn't be without them in the winter! I've never had warmer sheets, ever. We sleep on the fleece in the winter, and flannel the rest of the year. Our bedroom is an addition off the back of the house, and it's very cold in there.


    Those of you who have been reading me since the beginning know that Hubs and I have separate blankets. For the reason why, you can go back to the early posts and find out.


   Just like yesterday, I am alternating my house chores with watching a new series on Netflix. I found The Monarch of the Glen, and have been watching it. I watched an episode, then did some dishes, another episode, put dishes away and wash some more. That made it almost painless. Today I'm doing that, but with the laundry. It's a bit harder, because of the stairs, but at least it's getting done.


    The snow is supposed to be worse to the south, and that's where Hubs works. If it gets too bad, he may come home early. I hope he does. But then he has to drive to Boston on Sunday, behind the storm.


    And now, if you'll excuse me,  I do believe my coffee cup requires refilling!


P.S.  In reality, it has taken three loads to wash all our sheets, pillowcases and blankets. Apparently I underestimated the loads. And I'm having to cycle the dryer again for Hubs' blanket and top sheet... I it won't need a third....

preparing for the worst

    I hear that there's a big winter snow storm coming, it's supposed to hit us tomorrow. The amount of snow we are supposed to get keep varying, hour by hour. I prefer to take a wait and see attitude.


    With a small amount of money left in my wallet, I headed to the supermarket to see what I could afford to purchase. I came home with 10 rice side dish packets, 10 noodle side dish packets, and a 3 pack of scotch-brite sponge thingies I use to wash the dishes. We really needed new ones. The side dishes were on sale, 10 for $10.


    When I got home, I parked my beloved Jeep as close to the tree box in front of our house as I could, allowing for minimum fuss with the street and our driveway being plowed. If you park too close to the road, the town plows will end up covering your vehicle with the road snow, making it twice as hard for you to get out.


    That is assuming I don't need to go anywhere else before the snow starts tomorrow morning. If I do, I will just park close to the tree box again. But I'm not planning on going anywhere.


    If, by some odd chance, we should lose power, we have a gas powered camping coffee maker we bought after the outage that knocked out the whole bleeding northeast. I don't remember what year that was. Coffee was the one thing I truly missed at that time. I remember, before that, seeing the coffee maker in a camping store, and laughing at it. I wasn't laughing when I made Hubs buy us one!


    So here I am, digging in and waiting for the worst. Hopefully the anticipation will be worse than the actual storm.

something to keep me busy

    I wanted a hat to go with my sweater, so I started one. I wanted a slouchy style, so I was going to begin with the Elizabeth Zimmermann model, and after making a wider ribbed band, increase a stitch every other stitch. Basically doubling my stitch count.


    I made the wide ribbed band, and was into the third or fourth round after the increases when I decided that this wasn't what I wanted. What I wanted was a hat with a rolled brim, like the neck, sleeves and bottom of my sweater.


    Remember, I'm making this up as I go along. So I frogged the first attempt. I got out my smaller 16", size 6 circular needle, and made a swatch. With that needle, my gauge was 5 stitches per inch, consistent across the whole four inches.  So I started again, after measuring my head. I cast on 110 stitches, and began knitting. Here is where I'm at right now:

    I am not really sure yet if it's going to fit me, but my hopes are high. It looks about right. I won't know for sure until it's long enough for me to try it on. Hopefully this project will keep me busy until this weekend, when I'm meeting my daughter to select a yarn for her sweater.


    I should mention that I'm not really sure yet how long the hat will be before I begin the decreases, or even how I will do those increases. Some of you know me, and know that I prefer not to make plans most of the time. I have always found that if you make plans, something usually happens to frack it all up. Hence my vigorous attempts to live spontaneously.


    However, there are some things that you just can't be spontaneous about, like doctor visits, and medical tests and the like. My greatest appreciation goes out to the lovely young lady who took my blood this morning, and made it darn near painless.

not a terribly fun day

    My day started out at about 3 a.m., when Hubs' work pager went off. If you don't push the button to look at the message, it keep going off. Every. Few. Minutes. I figure it kept going off for over an hour. I shook him, and woke him up. Told him his pager was going off. Another hour or so went by before he actually woke up and looked at it. In his half awake state, he thought it was the alarm clock, and kept trying to turn it off.


    Needless to say, I couldn't get back to sleep until some point after that. Then my alarm went off for me to get up at 5:30. So I was very tired today. After hanging with the Cherub, I went home to have a cuppa coffee with Hubs, but he was still asleep. Huh. So I turned the coffee maker on, and just as it was finishing up cooking, his majesty gets up.


    Like I said, I was really tired, and wanted nothing more than to go back to bed. Not gonna happen today. I had an appointment with a Gastroenterologist (sp?) at 9:45, so no time for nappy. He will be performing one of the tests that I need to have done. Enuff said.


    I did get to take a nap later in the day, and slept for a couple of hours, I think. I now have less than an hour before I have to start my blood work fast. And tomorrow morning, I get to go back to the medical group building to have blood drawn. I will be taking a snack with me for afterwards.


    I'm still tired, and perhaps a bit cranky. It really does suck getting old. I'm hoping to get to bed kind of early tonight, and get some good sleep with pharmacological aid. It's gotta be better than last night....

sweater photo at long last!

    This morning, I went to hang out with my friend Bonny. I wore my sweater, and took my camera with me, in the hopes that someone would take pity on me, and take a photo of me in my sweater.


    And my patience was rewarded! Bonny herself took the photo for me, and without further ado, here it is!

    I asked her not to get my face, just the sweater. You can see the thumb holes in the sleeves. Now I want to make a matching hat.


    Oooh, I just had a thought. The other day, I bought the makings of my special brownies. Maybe I'll make those today.....

so what's next?

     OK. I know what I want to do next, another fabulous sweater! To refresh the memory, it's the Simple Summer Tweed Top Down V-Neck by Heidi Kirrmaier. It's a free pattern on Ravelry.


    I adored making this sweater, as you all know! And the best part was no seams to sew! I adjusted mine, first by not making three decreases for the waist, and then increasing; but doing three increases instead. I know my body, and I don't like things clingy around my middle.


   Secondly, I added thumb holes to the sleeves. When I finished the sleeve decreases, it was the perfect length, so I bound off three stitches that lined up with my thumb, then went back and forth a few rows, then reconnected by casting the three stitches back on. Then I did a few more rounds so it would curl, and voila!


   I was so excited when I was finished, that I threw it right in the washer when I got home. I was going to trim out the thumb holes with crochet, so they would be a bit sturdier. I did it after laundering. The sweater made it out of the dryer intact! It shrank a teeny bit, but it's not a problem. I notice that there are some pills on it, but that just makes it look "not brand new". I will probably shave it when I get more batteries for my sweater shaver.


    I tried it on for Hubs last night, and he really likes it! He even said he would consider having me make one for him too! His would be the crew neck version. I spent over an hour this morning, looking at different yarns, and making a list for him to see, about the yarns, and how much it would cost for each choice.


    I started at Patternworks, and then decided I should do KnitPicks too, since that was where my yarn came from. I actually found an acrylic yarn that would cost less than $20 for enough to make his sweater!  How much do you want to bet that's the one he chooses? It's cheap enough that he might be generous and let me get yarn for another sweater for myself, in the yarn I want!

big news, although not unexpected, I think

    This morning, I got a phone call that I wasn't needed at work this weekend. That gave me free time today, to go hang out with my good friend Kim at karate. She would've just sat there, bored to tears, even though she was knitting.


    While I was there, I finished my sweater! We even made a trip to the ladies room so I could try it on, and figure out where the thumb hole went. I believe I finished just before 11:30 or noon, or whatever time it was the Demo Team practice started. I had my back to the wall with the clock on it.


    I even went back to the ladies room and put it on. I wore it for the rest of Demo Team practice. After I got home, I gathered up all my cotton hats and threw the whole lot, along with the sweater, into the washer. They are now in the dryer. I'm hoping against hope my sweater comes out alright. It's always a crap shoot, isn't it?


    So I guess this will be the last post about the sweater! Well, there actually be one more. I will post a photo as soon as I can get someone to take one of me in it.    

an active day

    This morning, after our coffee, Hubs and I went to see a lawyer. It was a satisfactory visit. I now have lots of forms to fill out, and get back to them.


    From there, we drove down to Fishkill, and I got to hang out at the house with Julie and the kittehs, Gizmo and the Lady. Am I the only one who thinks that the Lady and the Dude should get together?


    I got to hang out, and work on my sweater, while Hubs played the good landlord and fixed the leaky faucet/pipe in the downstairs bathroom. I got nearly four decrease repeats done on my second sleeve!


    After that, Hubs and I went shopping at Sam's Club. Very satisfactory day, all in all.

sweater update w/ new photos

    Once again, I am updating you on my sweater. Sometimes it must seem that I do nothing else. I am just so excited about this sweater, I can't even express in words. Last night, I finished the left sleeve! There was much SQUEEEing of pleasure!


    I was originally going to put a thumb hole in it, then I changed my mind. Well, last night when I tried it on for Hubs to see, and he wanted me to put them in. So I decided I would, after all.


    Here's a photo of the completed sleeve, with the beginnings of the other one:

And here are a couple featuring the thumb hole:

 

 

    And that's all for today, folks!

a recent, disturbing turn of events

    To begin this story, I need to go back to the beginning of my relationship with my Hubs. The very first night we spent together, in fact. Even though he was kind of young, he was extremely thoughtful. He got us a room in a local hotel. That's when I found out that he snored. He didn't just snore, he SNORED. It was worse when he was over tired, which he was that night.


    The only way I got any sleep that first night was during his quiet periods. I managed to get accustomed to his snoring, eventually. To this day, I have no pity whatsoever for these women who complain about their mates snoring. If I can get used to it, so can anyone else. I even found it rather soothing. In fact, the nights that he would fall asleep in his recliner, I would wake up after a few hours, because he wasn't there, snoring. I'd go out to the living room and make him come to bed.


    So, for nearly twenty five years, I've slept well with this. The only problem he's had with me, is that I used to grind my teeth in my sleep. Until recently, that was the only complaint he had.


    Apparently, I've begun to snore, myself. It's too funny, because Hubs complains about it. And he tells me that he knows that he snores, and doesn't know how I've put up with it for so long. That he is amazed that I never killed him in his sleep.


    Just this morning, he asked me if I had taken a certain medication before bed last night. I told him no, I hadn't. I asked him if I had snored a lot last night, and he said no, that I hadn't snored at all! So perhaps we have found the cause. I just won't take that medication before bed any more. At least, on the nights he has to sleep well, and get up early for work.


    And that's what is disturbing, at least to me. I have no desire to snore. It's funny, but I've never heard myself snore. I've been sort of awake, some of the times he says I've been snoring, and I haven't heard it.

my left arm

    I guess "sleeve" would be a more appropriate word, but "my left arm" sounds cooler. I've been knitting and knitting, and here's the progress on my left sleeve:

     And just for shits and giggles, here's a closer view:

    I've completed five decrease repeats, and currently working towards the sixth decease round. Woot! I am supremely excited about the fact that there will be no seams whatsoever to sew after I'm done! I've some a long way since my first cardigan; which had five separate pieces to be sewn together.


    If I had chosen the other option for the sleeves, there would be just two ten stitch long seams to sew. Either way, it's not bad!


    I sure hope you, my dear readers, aren't getting too tired of me tooting my own horn here. This is such a thrill for me, I don't think you can even imagine. The final thrill will be to get a photo of me wearing the finished sweater!!


    Right now, I'm watching vintage Doctor Who episodes on Netflix, and after the current episode, I will be taking a short break, to get some dishes washed. And perhaps to put a load of laundry in the washer. Then it will be back to Doctor Who and knitting. At least until it's time to put the laundry in the dryer. TTFN!

hope I'm not boring you!

    Much more progress on the sweater since my last post! Yesterday afternoon, I did the neckline/collar, and it came out really well. I am pleased, to say the least.

    This photo really shows what the color of the yarn looks like, at least it's the closest of all the photos, so far. The others look too blue.

 

 

Now here's a photo of the whole sweater, with the beginnings of the left sleeve:

 

 

    I'm really zooming along now! Although I may have to put the sleeve stitches on double points when it gets smaller. The pattern says to use two circ's, but I don't know that method. Even though I'm not all that comfortable with DP's, as long as it's started, I can manage. Like when I used them to finish the hats I made. I was prouder of that accomplishment than of making a whole cardigan!   

 

 

   Hubs and I were going to go to Sam's club today, but the weather isn't co-operating. So we stay home, and think warm thoughts. Perhaps we can go Thursday, his next day off. I hope so.

 

                                    

 

 

new sweater pics

    I knitted my fingers to the bone last night, and managed to get through the purl rows, and most of the last bit. It turns out that instinct is a good thing. I was very excited a while ago, as I bound off my sweater body, and watched as it rolled right up to the purl rows.


    Here is a photo of the sweater bottom, before bind off:

    And here it is after!

    Now on to the next challenge. According to the pattern, the sleeves are next, but I want to do the neckline. So guess what I'm gonna do? That's right, the neckline. After all, I'm the boss of me.


    

real sweater progress!!

     I am so excited, I can hardly contain my joy. I just tried my sweater on, and it fits! Not only that, it's also long enough! Yesterday, I transferred it to my 60" circular, so I could do this. I was nervous about it. Tonight I finally gave in, and we have excellent results!

    After discussing with my knitting expert yesterday, I shall now begin the anti-roll rows that she recommended. Two rounds of purling should do the trick, according to Miss Kim. Then I just have to do the sleeves and the collar/neckline. I'm looking forward to that.

my adventures out in the cold

   My day started with my alarm going off 8:15, I set it so I wouldn't miss Stitch n Bitch again. Made it to Stitch n Bitch. It was really cold out...


    We had our breakfasts, and some quality knitting time. Then I remembered, after I got home, that I was supposed to go to Bonny's house after SnB. I put my coat back on and went to Bonny's.


    After I got home from there, I didn't put my house clothes back on, as I had to go to the mall in a few hours to pick up my paychecks. So I hung around, read some more, and actually finished The Iron Druid Chronicles book 3. I then promptly ordered book four for my nook, and began to read that one.


    Finally the time arrived for me to leave for the mall. I went down there, got my checks, then went to JCP to visit Bonny again. I remembered to stop at Joann Fabrics on the way home. My son had asked me to make another cat toy for their cat, and his new foster brother. I had searched every knitting/crochet bag I could find in my house, and couldn't find the flat plastic rings I knew I had left over from the last time I made the cat toy. I bought more rings.


    Then I could drive to the credit union and cash my checks, and do a little grocery shopping. A very little, as it turned out. I also stopped by the Karate school, and told my son about the rings, and showed him the new ones. He was pleased.


    Now I am home, and have changed back into my house clothes. The few groceries are put away. I am warm and comfortable again.

                                                              The End

sweater update w/ photo!

    My yarn holding finger is recuperating, so I'm taking it slowly. I have progressed pretty far, I think the body of the sweater is nearly complete. I'm waiting for Stitch n Bitch tomorrow, to ask my expert the best way to stop the whole frakking thing from rolling up. It's gotten to a pretty good length, and I don't want it rolling up to my waist.

   
    So here is the promised photo. I am very excited about it, I can't wait to finish it.

my bizarre dream

    This morning, after Hubs left for work and I fell back asleep, I had a very weird dream...


    I dreamed that my palms and fingers kept turning a dark blue/purple. Sometimes the whole palm, sometimes blotchy. It would come and go. I went to the doctor more than once, but whenever I went, the color was absent. They could find nothing wrong, or any explanation.


    Then, one day, I got a call from my daughter, who had it too, but it was her lower face, and blotchy on her neck and upper chest. It also ran down her arms. She had known about my problem, so she called to tell me that she had gotten a diagnosis. She told me to get right to the doctor and be tested. Apparently it was caused by stress! A very unique symptom of PTSD.


    So off I went to the doctor, again; at least this time the color was there on my hands. Sara's color also came and went, like mine. At least the last time I went, he was able to see the color, as it hadn't faded away yet.


    The color was really dark, like a bad bruise, but it didn't hurt. Very strange. And stress is totally out of my character. I very rarely stress about anything. I give all problems to the Universe, and what happens, happens.


    I wanted to get this dream down before I forgot it. Don't you hate when you have a great or weird dream, then you can't remember it later? I find it really helps to tell yourself the story of the dream after you wake up, while you're still in bed. That way, even if you forget the actual dream, you'll remember the story.  Which is just as good, to my way of thinking.

last remnants / medical stuff

    I still have the last remnants of this cold, and I'm still taking the antibiotics. Yippee. I'm still coughing a bit, but the sore torso muscles are gone. Another yippee.


    I tried knitting this morning, and my finger is better, if still a little stiff. But there was no pain! This merits a third yippee.


    I have more doctor appointments coming up, with my primary as well as specialists. I decided to get a complete physical. I just felt we've been concentrating on my  pulmonary problems for so long, I want to check on everything else.


    I first saw the dermatologist, because of the dark(ish) stripe running up my thumbnail. Whatever you do, if you have something like that, DON'T google it!! I got the literal shit scared out of me by the horror stories. The prevalent word used was CANCER.... complete with stories about having to get the thumb amputated... and photos. The good news was that the stripes in the photos were very much darker than mine.


    My primary doctor  thought it was probably nothing, but thought it should be checked out by the dermatologist, who took a sample for testing. I should hear the results within a week.

    My beloved primary also wants me to have all these tests done. I probably will, but I won't be happy about it. In two weeks, it all begins. I will keep you updated if there's anything to report, I promise.


    And finally, here's the photo of my sweater! It looks like it's working again.

    This was taken a while ago. I haven't bothered to take a new one, but now I will! Perhaps I can post it tomorrow!

a well earned rest

    Today I went to work, and did my four hour shift. I helped chop vegetables for a new concoction thought up by The Awesome Store owner, Loraine. Equal parts red peppers, carrots, squash, celery, onions, green peppers, and I don't remember what else. Everything got cup up, then mixed in big batches. After that it was my job to fill jars with the mixture.


    Tomorrow she will be pickling all the jars. Along with all the jars of brussel sprouts that I trimmed and stuffed into jars today also.  It was very interesting to be in on the beginning of a new product for the store!


    Even though I only work part time, I really enjoy it. As I haven't worked full time in nearly four years, even this part time gig is kicking my ass. I get so sore, and my back aches for days afterwards. But I think it's totally worth it. I've actually lost a little weight in the last few months!


    It will probably take me a few days to get over the soreness and stiffness. After I got home today, before I could stiffen up, I washed all the dishes in the sink. And my knitting finger is starting to be less sore too. I will give it another day or two before I start knitting again, though. All in all I'm going to have a well earned rest!

I think I was knitting too much, is that even possible?

    My yarn finger hurts. It's actually sore! I may have been knitting too much, even though I doubt it's possible. So I have therefore decided to cease and desist the pain causing activity for a few days.


    Watching myself knit, I realize that I hold the yarn with my index finger and throw it with my middle finger. I don't know if that's normal, but it works for me.


     It just so happens that I downloaded three new books on my nook, and I've been reading them. They are a series, The Iron Druid Chronicles, by Kevin Hearne. They are named, in order, Hounded, Hexed and Hammered. I've finished the 1st, and started the 2nd. I am enjoying them immensely.


    I feel much better today, well enough that I went to work. I put in my four hours and then came home. I still enjoy working at the Awesome Store! Then I will turn  around and do it again tomorrow. Since the Hudson Valley Marketplace has closed, we are at the original flagship store in Hyde Park, on 9G. That's where they do all the cooking and pickling and stuff. It's fascinating!


   

feeling better / sweater update

   I woke up this morning feeling much better! My ribs are sore from coughing so much, but I haven't coughed nearly as much today. I just might be well enough to go to work tomorrow! I was worried about that.


    As I was feeling so much better, I went out this morning and ran a few overdue errands. I had to go to the supermarket, the bank, the drug store and the cigar store. After I got back, I treated myself to some Netflix. After this show is over, I'm planning on washing some dishes, then I'll settle in for some more viewing. I do love my British mysteries...


    I am knitting as I watch TV, I am getting anxious to get this sweater done. I just started the seventh skein of yarn. I believe I shall have plenty to finish the whole sweater. If I have enough left over, I was thinking about making a matching hat. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.


   

In which I forget what day it is.

    I am sick. I am tired all the time, and coughing my brains out. It was so bad this morning, I got up at about 8, and by 8:30 was headed back into bed. I totally forgot it was Friday, and I should have been getting ready for Stitch n Bitch.

  I was in bed until 11:00, and when I finally got up, I saw that I had a text message from my friend Bonny. She said she didn't know I was sick! I wondered how the heck she found out.... then remembered that I missed Stitch n Bitch.


    In the whole time I've been a member of that group, I've never missed a session. There was one session where I didn't feel so good, and left early, but I've never totally spaced about it completely!  I feel awful about it. I guess it just go to show how sick I really am.


    I've been on antibiotics for a couple of days now. I think I might be starting to feel better. Time will tell.

my visit to the Doctor

   After promising at the end of last year, I finally scheduled my visit to my Doctor. I got very lucky, as usually, it takes about two weeks to get an appointment. I called yesterday, and he actually had an opening today!


    It's a good thing I called when I did, because the night before I called, I started not feeling well. My usual danger signs, trouble breathing (well, more than usual), and a general heaviness in my chest. I also started coughing that evening too.


    And, as promised, I asked him about my cold hands. Just for you, Purl... He felt my wrists, and assured me that my circulation is normal. I am probably experiencing spasms in the veins in my wrists. He tells me it's possible, with my condition and some of the meds I take. PHEW. So it's not anything to worry about.


    He put me on an antibiotic for my upper resp. infection, and we scheduled blood work, and a complete physical for next month.


    As I didn't feel very well at all today, I didn't get any knitting done. After I got home from babysitting this morning, I made and drank my coffee. But I was so tired, I found myself falling asleep in my chair. Eventually I gave up and went in to my bed to lay down. I slept for a couple of hours, when I finally fell asleep.


    I actually did get to knit, after my Dr. visit, while I was waiting for scrips. That can take a while sometimes, so I broke out my sweater and knitted for a while. I didn't get much done, as the nice nurse came out with the scrips pretty quickly. It was the end of the day, after all. I'm sure all the ladies were getting anxious to get home.

Sweater progress

     I'm excited to report that my sweater is coming along swimmingly! I'm very excited about it. I am currently past all the raglan increases, and the sleeve stitches are on scrap yarn for later knitting. So that means I'm working on the body, just knitting around and around and around. It does get boring, but I'm keeping the end result firmly in mind.


     I did change the pattern a little bit. In the original, there are a few decreases for shaping, then increasing again. I skipped the decreases, and just did increases. I want it nice and comfortable. This yarn is so soft, I can't stand it, and I can't wait to wear it! I just hope I have enough yarn to make it as long as I want it, with enough to make the sleeves longer too.


     I was going to tell a few stories about my beloved Hubs, but I changed my mind. He feels I share too much here, and I thought I'd protect his privacy a bit. There is one story I can tell however. Last night, I was watching TV in the living room, and he was in the bedroom. I don't remember what I was thinking, but I had a realization. I went in to the bedroom, and shared it with him.


    It suddenly occurred to me that he has been married to me for half of his life. We just celebrated our 24th anniversary last month. I don't think he appreciated my pointing that fact out to him. It's the little things that bring us the most happiness, isn't it?

all caught up

    I am all caught up on my sweater, I've been knitting so much my yarn finger hurts. I didn't post yesterday, as I worked all day, and after I got home my entire body stiffened up and I couldn't move. It's been a long time since I worked more than four hours in a row.


    I will take photos of my sweater progress, I just hope that the blog site lets me post them. I haven't been able to post photos for a little while. I've no idea why.


    I do have a query, about knitting. Can anyone tell my why, when knitters start a project, they want to change things? For instance, with my sweater, I want to make it a bit longer, and the sleeves too. I want to put thumb holes in the longer sleeves. I guess I really know the answer, don't I? To make the project perfect for us. A little tweak here and there won't hurt anything, right?


   Well yee-ha everyone! Happy knitting!

returning to "normal"

   I think the funk might be over, for the most part. YAY! I finished the Gamer Gloves, and delivered them today. As I spoke to daughter this evening, via facebook, she told me her hubs was wearing them. Good! I hope they keep his hands nice and warm. I was wondering of perhaps he might be able to drum in them? Maybe he'll try. We shall see.


    This means that I could finally start my sweater. I must confess, I had already started it. When I went to Stitch n Bitch yesterday, I took the box of yarn with me, so I could honestly say the yarn was still in the box. My mama didn't raise no liars.


    My mama was very creative! I remember a few times when I was a teenager, and there was a boy calling me on the phone. If I didn't want to talk to him, mom told me to go get in the bathtub. I did, very reluctantly, but I could hear her telling the boy that I couldn't come to the phone, because I was in the tub. She was big on honesty.


    Then there was the time she told me to stand behind her, and as she twisted around, looking for me, I moved with her. Then she tells the caller that she doesn't see me, I must not be around. Or the time she told me to go stand out on the stoop. She told the caller, that time, that I wasn't in the house... Yup, I learned a lot from my mama. She was, and still is, a devious woman that you don't want to cross.

the yarn goddess'll getcha

    That's right, she will get you, if you have negative feelings whilst crafting. Those negative feelings go through your hands and into your project. I've seen it time and time again, but I was still guilty of it while working on those darn Gamer Gloves.


    You see, I didn't want to make them in the first place. But I had promised my daughter that I would make them for her hubs, and I couldn't put it off any longer. I was going to have to make them. Unfortunately, it was with unwillingness that I started them, and they have given me nothing but trouble ever since.


    So after the whole frogging incident, my friend Kim mentioned that perhaps the mistake was made because of my negative attitude towards the gloves. I realized she was right, so when I re-started them yesterday morning, I concentrated on how much son-in-law will love them, and how they would keep his hands nice and warm while playing his video games.


    Positive attitude creates a positive experience. I'm still in my funk, but I think things are starting to get better. Every day that passes gets me more finished with the gloves, and closer to my sweater! Happy dance!


   Update: To my surprise, I actually finished the gamer gloves last night! I even sewed/crocheted the seams. (I crocheted one and sewed one)  The whole "having to redo" thing went by really quickly once my attitude changed!


    Also, I'd like to thank Jenn J. for her comment on the other day's "funkytown" post. It really gave me a chuckle, and at that moment, I started leaving funkytown behind. Thanks Jenn!!

crochet disaster!

    I am, right now, very near tears of frustration. I had to frog nearly half of the nearly finished 2nd Gamer Glove. I had lost stitches somewhere.


    At first I thought the rows were shorter just because I was crocheting tightly. But I broke down and counted the stitches. It was difficult because of the small size, but I lost 2 or 3 stitches somewhere just before the thumbhole row. No matter how I stretched it, it wouldn't go. So I frogged it.


    I found the mistake, and am having to redo the stupid glove. Looks like I'll be in funkytown for a while. I wonder if casting on my sweater would make me feel a bit better? I hardly ever make promises to myself, just because I know I would probably not keep them. I like to think of myself as being flexible that way. Circumstances change, I should be able to change also. It's just so frustrating. These will be my last pair of the gloves, and I'm not enjoying making them. I just want it over with. It's a good thing I like my son-in-law!

my trip to funkytown

   After careful reflection, I do believe that's been my problem lately. I seem to be in a funk. When I open up my laptop, and think it's time to write my blog post for the day, there's nothing there. Nothing comes out. I get frustrated, and shut the thing down.


    I have been writing darn near every day for about a year and a half. At some points, I had so much to say that I would have posts pre-written, sometimes by three days! But now, I got nothing. I know I haven't run out of stories, I just can't think of anything right now.


    So, if I don't post for a while, I am still in funkytown. I hope you will all hang in there with me. Those of you who know me personally, know that this is very unusual for me. I'm usually upbeat and cheerful, some have likened me to Mary Poppins. It's just that right now, I'm having trouble keeping my beat up.


    I am working on those Gamer gloves, as often as I can. I actually just compared the second to the first, and it's almost done!! Maybe three more rows to go. I think I see light at the end of the Gamer Glove tunnel! Methinks it's almost sweater time!!

no updates at this time

    There are no updates at this time. The Gamer Gloves are still kicking my ass, I can only do a few rows at a time. Other than that, nothing. is . going. on. It's been too cold to go outside. There's nothing good on television. Hubs is home from work, it's a two day off stretch, and even though we (said with clenched teeth) "enjoy spending time together", at this point, we are spending it in separate rooms. He's watching TV in the bedroom, myself in the living room.


    Although yesterday, I did get to help out a friend who had sick baby guinea pigs. I was honored to drive them to the hospital, where they were checked by the Vet. They will both be okay. I am relieved. I can't wait until next week, when I will get to meet them properly.

in which I make a decision

    You have to know by now that these Gamer Gloves are kicking my ass. In days gone by, I could whip out a pair in no time at all. These days, however, it's getting harder and harder.

  
   It could be because I don't crochet all that much these days. It could be that I'm having to use my absolutely least favorite size hook in the whole fracking world, a G. I have always hated that size hook for some unknown reason. Well, that size and anything smaller than that.


   I feel I must state for the record that the fault is not with the recipient of the gloves, my son-in-law. I adore him, he makes my daughter very happy. And for that reason alone, he is still breathing. And he likes cats.


    Let me get to the point here. I do hereby vow and affirm, in this public forum, that I shall never again even think about making anyone, at all, for any reason, fingerless / gamer gloves, hand warmers, or any variation of this item.


    Now I just have to finish the last glove, crochet the seams up, then wash and deliver them. And that will be the end. Finito.   > sigh< of relief....

Gamer Glove report / still being good

     I am still working on the Gamer Gloves. I went to Sara's today after work, to fit one to her hubs' hand. I think two more rows will do. Then I can work more on the second one, until it's the same size as the first. Then I will crochet them up, wash them, and deliver them.  Then I can move on to my SWEATER!


    It's been so hard keeping my promise not to cast on the sweater before the Gamer Gloves are done. But they are almost done now, so things are good! I still can't post a photo, but you have my word all the yarn is still in it's delivery box.


     I'm sorry I haven't had much to say lately. I'm sure things will turn around at some point. I hate funerals, I hate death. Why is it that even at the advanced age of 93, we think they will just keep on going? We are surprised to hear they are gone? R.I.P Grandma Doris. You will be greatly missed.


   


  

My yarn's here / A promise kept

   Apparently, my yarn was delivered yesterday. Unfortunately, it was delivered to the house in Fishkill. I swear, I changed the delivery address when I ordered it! Anyway, we had to go down to Fishkill today anyway, so I was able, at long last, to get my yarn in my hands!


    I had a picture, but the computer isn't cooperating tonight. Hopefully, I will be able to add it at a later time. I am so excited to finally get my yarn! So far, I'm keeping to my word about finishing the Gamer Gloves before casting on the sweater. SO FAR.....


    As to the promise I kept, Hubs and I got an awesome Schwinn LowriderTricycle for grandson Mason for Christmas. When we were all leaving my brother's house, his big sister Chloe asked if she could have one too. I told her I would look for one, and if one was to be had, G-pa and I would get it for her.


    Today, as we shopped in Sam's Club, they had some!! This is the first time we'd seen them since before Christmas. So now Chloe has a cute, pink, low rider, and Mason has his red one. I brought it to her this afternoon. She was thrilled! I got to spend a few hours with my grandkids, they are so cute.


   Next time I go visit, I'll bring my camera, so I can get photos to show you. If the laptop decides to cooperate.

still patiently waiting

    I'm still waiting for my yarn to come. I will check the mail today, after 11 am, that's when the  Post Office says all mail is distributed to the boxes. So I will watch Doctor Who, take a shower and then go to the Post Office.


    If the yarn doesn't come today, I am hoping for tomorrow. But that will give me more time to work on the Gamer Gloves. I've had to quit for the last couple of days, as my hands really hurt. I'm surprised at that! In years gone by, I've had my shoulders hurt from crocheting too much, but never my hands. I know knitting uses different motions, and it can be hard for knitters to crochet, for that reason.


    I didn't think that my wrists and hands would lose the feel for the crocheting motions so quickly! I'm going to Bonny's in a little while, and will take the current glove with me, to work on while we watch a movie. Hopefully I can stick to my promise to myself, but really, I don't see that happening. The lure of the new sweater cast on will be too much to resist.

The rules for outside lights

    I have to do this post, because the new neighbors apparently have no clue. I'm talking about the lights we all have over/near our front door.

Rule #1 - The light is only to be put on at night.

#2 - At night, it is only to be put on under certain circumstances, such as -
        a) When the family, or any members thereof, are out.
        b) When you are expecting company, or food delivery.

#3 - After family members are all home for the night, or guests have left,
        TURN OFF THE LIGHT.

    The only times these rules are to be ignored is on Halloween, when turning the light on after dark means you are participating in trick or treating, and have candy to give out.

    Thank you for your attention. These new neighbors must never have lived in a house before. It makes me crazy to see their light on all the time, when it's obvious that everyone is home. I mean, all the cars are there, turn off the fracking light.
       

A light in the darkness OR I am not crazy

    A few months ago, we exchanged our cable boxes, for free, and upgraded to the newest version. Right away, I noticed a problem with the one in our bedroom. You see, the new boxes have a blue strip that lights up when the box is on.


    Very quickly I noticed that at night, the light that the strip throws off is very bright. So I started turning the cable box off when I turned off the TV. No problem, right? Well, Hubs had a problem with it. He teased me unmercifully about it, even telling his friends that I had gone loony, perhaps because of the change-of-life insanity? It was sort of implied.


    Well, this morning, I finally got to show him. We were both awake about 5 am, and I happened to remember about the cable box light. So I mentioned it to him, and turned the box on. That light is so bright, you could do a puppet show on the wall! And he finally got to see it for himself. He agreed it was bright, but of course, had something snarky to say. That's why I love him, he makes me laugh, he always has.


    So perhaps he will lighten up on the teasing? Now I just have to work on not falling asleep with the TV on. I sleep closer to it than he does, and sometimes it feel like the sun on my back when I'm trying to get to sleep. Actually, there's been progress on that front too. The last week or so, we've actually turned the TV off before going to sleep.


    But I'd grown so used to it, it's difficult. When Hubs worked nights, the TV kept me company the nights he was gone. It was like a friend, as well as a night light. But now things have changed. It seems that life is always changing...


    And HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! It already is 2013 in some places, we still have nearly 15 hours.

crafting update

    I've been working on the Gamer Gloves while waiting for the sweater yarn to come. I know it's been a long time since I crocheted for any length of time, but seriously. I'm only able to get through two, maybe three rows, and my hands start hurting.


    But I persevered, and one glove is now ready for a try on, and I've made decent progress on the other. I'm still hoping to get them both done before I cast on my sweater. I received an email yesterday, letting me know that my yarn had shipped. I'm hoping, even with the New Years holiday, I may get it Wednesday, maybe Thursday.


    I must tell you, I dreamed last night that I was casting on the sweater. How odd is that? Do you think I might be looking forward to it? I really am...

crocheting while waiting for yarn

    That's what I'm doing today, waiting. Yesterday, I ordered the yarn for my real sweater. I've decided not to continue on the practice one, If I can get through the top of the pattern on the practice sweater, then I am sure I can finish the real one. I had received as a Festivus gift, from a really good friend, a gift certificate from KnitPicks. And that's where I went yesterday to peruse through their yarn selection.


    I kind of knew that I wanted to do the real sweater in cotton. The first cotton yarn I found didn't have a great range of colors, so I moved on. The second one had tons of colors! So many that it was difficult to make a choice. I ended up with a really nice, mid-tone bluish purple. Now I just have to wait for it to come.


    While I'm waiting, I have picked up the Gamer Gloves again. I hope to get them done, as I have promised myself that I won't cast on the real sweater until the gloves are finished. I think I better get a move on.....

exciting knitting news!

    I'm so excited! Last night, the practice sweater body came off the needles! Unbelievable! It was very satisfying. The next step is to find the smaller needles, and pick up the stitches around the neckline, to start the collar.

    Of course, the first thing I did, after it came off, was to try it on, It fit me! It was snugger than I like, but I was thrilled I could get it on at all. After the collar, then I can tackle the sleeves. I will need to buy more of the blue yarn for that, I'm almost out already! I thought I had more, but I couldn't find it in my stash.

a slightly complicated situation

    I told you Santa brought me a Kindle Fire for Christmas. I've wanted one for a while now. My mom has a regular Kindle, and since she has no computer, we used my email address to link it to.


    Last year, a friend of mom's gave me a Kindle for Christmas. Since I have my nook, and I love it, I let Hubs use it. I try to encourage reading in any way I can. So that one is linked to his email account.


    My mom, as I said, has no Internet access where she is, so when she needs new books for her Kindle, my daughter does it for her, since she's there once a week for dinner. She takes the Kindle home, uses mom's credit card on her own computer, and the books get loaded via her wifi.


    For months now, I've been asking Sara to take my email out of mom's kindle, and put hers in. This was so that when I hopefully, got my Fire, my email account would be clear. Well, that didn't happen. I ended up taking Hubs' suggestion of creating a new email account, just for registering the Fire. It worked just fine! The only other problem I had was connecting to our wifi router. I chose the wrong one, and couldn't connect.


    Eventually, I thought to check my laptop, and saw that I had chosen the wrong one for the Fire. So I went back in and fixed that. Now I have access to the Internet. I have already downloaded two games, Angry Birds, of course, and Mah Jong. I love both of those games, I play Mah Jong a lot on my laptop. I used to play Angry Birds on Google+.


    This morning, I went to Radio Shack, to get a cover and screen protector for my Fire. Those things actually used up much of my gift card. Bummer, I was hoping to buy some sweater yarn with that. But now Fire has a cover, and I'm happy with that.

and a good time was had by all

    I am so very glad, in a way, that the whole hoopla over the holiday is over. It was a difficult one, for me, because of the empty nest thing. Jess wasn't here. But we did get to see him today, and Julie too. We were invited to her mom's house for Christmas dinner, and we went. I usually have trouble getting Hubs to social functions. But this was a small one.


    We had a really good time! Not that it was a surprise, or anything. We just haven't gotten to spend much time with them. Last year, they all went to the Giants game on Christmas Eve, then we all met afterward at her house, and had a big wing-ding. That was lots of fun! This year she promised it would be quieter, just Linda and Chip, Julie's grandmother, Jesse and Julie, and us.


    We really enjoyed their company, and the food was good. I've never had German food before, being of Italian extraction.


    Santa was good to me this year. I got the Kindle Fire I wanted, even though I was told I wouldn't be getting one. I initially had some trouble connecting to the Internet, then I realized I was attempting to use the wrong router. Once I got that straightened out, I was golden.


    First thing I downloaded? Angry Birds! I love that game. Hubs also got me some gift cards, Visa and from Barnes and Noble. I also have a nook, that I absolutely love, and will never give up. Technically, I own the nook, a regular Kindle, and now the Kindle Fire. Hubs uses the regular Kindle. I don't see me downloading many books to the Kindle Fire. I think it will be for playing games. But we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?


    I feel I must report that even though I took my knitting with me, I didn't knit at all today.

Checking Everything Twice

    That's what we have been doing, every time we leave for a get-together. We've found that wrapping the gifts in stages works pretty well.The day before we went and saw the grandkids, we wrapped their gifts.


    Tonight, we wrap the gifts we need for tomorrow's get-together. Then this year, I'm throwing out all out wrapping paper, it's all pretty old and worn. I will buy new on Wednesday, when it's all on sale.


    Tonight, we have our tree lit, with the new decorations on it. We are now the proud owners of our grandkids handprints on ornaments, as well as pine cones decorated by our granddaughter, Chloe. They make the tree even more special this year.


    Both Hubs and I hope you all have a very happy holiday, no matter what persuasion you are, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, or whatever else there is to celebrate!

Festivus is almost here!!

    I'm getting excited now, as Festivus is nearly here. I love a good, flexible holiday. Our Stitch n Bitch celebrated on Friday, but only three of us were well enough to make it. Tomorrow morning, I'll be exchanging gifts with my best 10 year old friend, and her mom too, I think.


    As for Hubs, I can only keep reassuring him that there are only two more events that we are attending, then he can crawl back into his cave. He is not a social animal at all. He would prefer if he never had to leave his cave. But this is the time of year when we must interact with people, especially family. In our case, it's my family. His mom was the last of his immediate family, and she's been gone for two years.


    Someone PLEASE remind me next year, that at our family dinner, Hubs is not to sit near my brother....

What a Day! Photo Added....

    Today was the day that my family all gets together and has dinner, then the kids open their gifts. My beloved late mother-in-law began this tradition, when her son and I were first married.


    When you are newlywed, you begin your own traditions, sharing holidays between the two families. In our case, we did Christmas Eve with Hubs' family, and Christmas Day with my family. At first, Betty cooked for us, but after a few years, we started  going out to the local diner, then back to her house for dessert and presents. It was fun, and our son Jesse got to celebrate and open presents three times! Once with Grammy and Pop, once with us on Christmas morning, then again with Grandma and Grandpa for dinner that day.


    Well my mom is the only grandparent Jesse has left, and she has taken over the Christmas Eve diner dinner. Only, since my kids are all grown up, two with families and in-laws of their own, we moved it to a day close to Christmas. This year, it was tonight. After dinner we went to my brother's house with gifts only for the youngest kids, and for my mom, of course, being the matriarch.


    All this was after I worked today, of course. And Hubs worked too, and had to go back after dinner to finish up. So he didn't get to have dessert. All together, I believe there were sixteen of us. Mom, myself and Hubs, my daughter and her hubs, my son and his wife and their two kids. Then my youngest and his girlfriend. My brother, his wife, their daughter with her boyfriend, and their young son rounded out the roster.


   One of our hosts kindly took a photo of our whole table!

    Whew! Thank goodness that's over with! Now we get to do Christmas Day, with Jesse and Julie at her mom's. There won't be so many people there, so it will be quieter, and pleasant. We went there last year, on Christmas Eve; we met there after the Giants game. They all went to the game, including my Hubs and son.


    I can't wait for Santa to come, I wonder what he'll bring me this year? I've tried really hard to be a good girl!

Knitting Progress Report

    A lot has been accomplished in the five days since I took the last photos of my sweater! Here is how it looks right now:

    I am pretty darn proud of how it's turning out! Like I said, I used two full skeins of the cream color, and started the denim blue. I'm saving the rest of the cream for the collar and the tops of the sleeves. Then I'll finish the sleeves in the denim.


   But first, I have to finish the body of the sweater. I'm making it longer than the pattern says, I like 'em tunic length.


    With all that said, I have a confession to make. I am finding that I'm not enjoying crocheting any more. I'm having to force myself to work on the gamer gloves. And that's not a good thing. I will still do the crocheted baby blankets, they are too freaking awesome to not make them. Here is what they look like:

last minute stuff

    Today, Hubs and I went out and did a few last minute things for the holiday. I believe we are ready now, except for wrapping. Hopefully we can do that tomorrow night.


    I have been knitting up a storm in the last two days, so much so that my yarn holding finger is stiff. I used up two skeins of the cream color, and have switched to a denim blue. I like it. I have at least one more skein of the cream, I'm saving it for the collar and tops of the sleeves. They will also have the denim added to them.


    But, the progress is unbelievable on the sweater! I haven't taken any photos today, with the running around, but I hope to tomorrow. After Stitch n Bitch. Maybe.

At Last! Sweater Photos!

    Today I present to you the progress report on the practice sweater, complete with photos! I managed to do the whole top with hardly any mistakes. When I got to the part where I was supposed to take the sleeve stitches off, I counted all the stitches, since a stitch count is mentioned in the pattern. I was only one stitch short in the back! I must have missed an increase somewhere. One stitch off isn't bad!!


    So here is how the sweater looks now:

    You can see where the sleeves will go, and the V neck!  It's starting to look like a sweater now. Here is another look, a little closer.

    I will keep going on this one until I run out of yarn. Then I will probably add a second color to finish it. I just want to finish it, I don't really care if it fits anyone, or if anyone likes it or not. If someone does want it, and it fits them, they shall have it.


    Now I think I can start thinking about what yarn I want for my own sweater!

this year, Christmas will be different

    Surprisingly, this never occurred to me when our youngest child moved out this past June.  I was a bit worried about the empty nest thing, sure. But Christmas never crossed my mind at that time.


    When Jesse was a teenager, I purchased an elf hat, which he was to wear every Christmas morning when he handed out the gifts. He was our official Santa's helper. He wore it willingly, and played along. It just hit me yesterday, as Hubs and I were shopping, that he won't be here this year.


    There are so many stories from holidays past. One of my favorites? You know how kids always try to get their parents up really early on Christmas morning? Well, one year when Jess was a teenager, we decided to get him back, and we woke him up at 5:30 am. We ran in his room, turned on his lights, and stood there shaking him, yelling, "It's Christmas, it's Christmas! Get up, get up!" Of course he got up, and we had a good laugh. He was very understanding of our insanity.


    But he did say that we had better not wake him up at 5:30 again, ever. So when Christmas rolled around again, we woke him at 5 instead. He was not amused, but we were!


    Then there was the whole moose thing. When he was little, Jess loved moose. I know that he'll say it was all us, but he did love them. One year, Hubs sent all the way to Alaska, I think, for a lucite paperweight that had real, genuine, moose poop in it. You should have seen his face when he opened that gift! It was hysterical, and to this day, I've yet to see him laugh that hard again.


    Aaah, the memories. I'll always have those, won't I? And the elf hat won't go to waste. I thought I'd wear to to work this coming weekend, as it's the weekend before Christmas.


   

In Which We Have a Shopping Day

    This morning, Hubs and I left the house, to do some Christmas shopping. On the way to our first destination, I got my notebook out, and we made a list. It constituted where we were going, and ideally what our purchases would be.


    All went pretty well. For obvious reasons, I can't tell you exactly which stores we shopped in, but we were both satisfied. We got gifts for our son, his girlfriend, and their housemates. Also for the girlfriend's step dad, and one of my friends. Then we got something more for our nephew. That leaves me with only one more gift to get, and I can get that one tomorrow.


    We even made it to Adam's Fairacre Farms, where I bought some more of his coffee, the chocolate truffle decaf. And since I was there, I got some of mine too. Before we went to Adam's, Hubs wanted to go to this little gun store out by our daughter's house. There is a really cute bald guy that works there, so I wasn't against going. Not surprisingly, they were pretty busy. After a while, I got bored, so I went out to the truck to knit for a while.


    I got through the whole upper part of the sweater, right to the row when I take the sleeve stitches off the needle, and put them on scrap yarn. Then I was supposed to connect the front and back of the sweater by casting on some sitiches where the sleeves were. I got a little confused by this, so I text messaged my knitting expert. She told me she would have to read the pattern to figure it out. So I put the sweater away, and went back in the gun store.


    In the end, Hubs bought a new rifle. Not a bad deal. Then we went to Adam's, then we got some chinese food, and then we finally went home. We ended up getting home just at dusk. We ate our dinner, and relaxed for the evening. Now he's in the bedroom watching football, while I watch whatever I want out here in the living room.


    Today was our 24th wedding anniversary, and it was nice to spend the day with him. At about the time we originally said our vows, we decided that we would do it all over again, and that it was a good decision the first time. I wonder if he remembers, all those years ago, that he promised me we could renew our vows for our 25th anniversary. I suspect that he didn't think he would live this long.....    


P.S.   I ended up deciding to give the sweater another whirl; I figured it's for practice anyway, so it really doesn't matter if I screw it up. It just so happens that I think I got it right.... So far, it's looking pretty good! We'll see what my friend the expert says tomorrow!