All the Things

I knit in the baby blanket last night while out with some colleagues for a going away drinks do at my local.
This morning I slept in a bit, walked over to Tim's for a coffee as I'm out of Tassimo pods. I know, I don't know how this happened. Then I was fit for Churchmouse linen stitch scarf. Progress was made.
After a nap, I packed up the CEY Moss Cardigan and headed to Crabby's to watch the FIFA ladies Canada vs China match. Happy for a win, even if it was in the last minutes.


I made excellent progress! I calculated my yarn consumption at .04km/hr. This includes eating time and alcohol consumption. It doesn't sound very fast, but I don't have much to compare it to.

Anyway, I'm 5 days T3 free! Stomach bug notwithstanding its been a decent week. Though the abdominal pain was kicking off today, I got by. Taking it one day at a time, I won't endure pain I don't have to but I like the clear-headed feeling.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

'Tis the Season

Spring really is my least favourite season. The weather is so volatile and my poor head/body pays the price.
I have a crushing migraine. Took Rx at 6:30, crashed and woke up again at 11:30 feeling like I'd been drowned and rescued several times over. Not that I've ever had that happen, but I feel like this is what that would feel like.
I had such a fantastic day yesterday - energetic and productive - that this is an especial blow.
The meds generally take care of the migraine itself, but I can feel effects of the medication all over and it takes about a day to feel like I'm myself again.

But I have made progress on the CEY Liberty Moss Cardigan. I think that they may have named it after the colourway as there is no moss stitch.





Almost time for the sleeves!!

The puppies (I'll likely never stop calling them that!!) and I enjoyed the lovely weather on Thursday in my cute front stoop.





I bought a small planter at Costco - I just love gerberas. They are such a simple flower, but like a garter or stockinette stitch, the simplicity is what makes them so beautiful.
And there is just no me without music! The knitting was easy under these circumstances.

Okay ... more nap now, the better to knit later.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Checking In

Not made a whole lot of progress on any one thing. I've felt especially exhausted all week long. Capped off by waking up in the early morning hours with a migraine on Saturday AND Sunday night. that's me off of red wine for a bit!!
But after frogging on CEY Moss Cardigan, again, fortunately not as much ripping as I've had to do before


I realized that I have some sort of mental block about what size I'm working on. I pulled the pattern out of the plastic sheet protector and circled the applicable numbers for the size I am actually to be doing.


I'm trainable. Eventually.
Then back at it.


I'm going to knit on Véronik's project for a bit before bed.

I'm getting excited for the Frolic; only 5 more sleeps!! you can count it on one hand now!! I'll be working at Julie's booth - come by and say hey!

I had put together a good week last week with my pain at a bearable level without taking the T3's. This evening has seen an increase and I'm going to hit the bottle (of drugs). Still trying to change my mindset that it's not "caving" to accept pain management that's available.
Still no surgery date; I did call to make sure that I hadn't fallen through the cracks. Nope, just waiting to get scheduled.

So I signed up for baseball again, the women's league and a mixed league. I'm stoked about this- going to get as much in as I can!! Since the surgery won't likely be until into August, I'll get a majority of the season in, for me & the teams.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Day of Rest

How could I have forgotten to brag about my little interior decorator who built my discount fireplace?? I need to empty a bookshelf in order to shift it enough to plug in the fireplace where I'd like it to be, but it's portable enough to slide to another outlet for now.


It throws the perfect (adjustable) heat at floor level, especially since it's almost always my feet that are cold.
It also operates without heat, so will be just perfect for romantic snuggles on the floor with my puppies.

And I am really the last person to know about this creamy, perfectly cinnamony and brown sugary deliciousness?!?


I could eat it with a spoon!!

Today was a gorgeous day! I went outside with the dogs and truly intended to knit. I had the stereo turned up, perfect outdoor knitting, - garter stitch strip - and then the T3's kicked in at the same time as the sun became drowsily warm. I just let my head loll back and relaxed.


The puppies didn't argue.









I brought us in before anyone got burnt, and after everyone took in water we went for a walk.
I'm swear I'm going to buy a harness for Toby; he's so strong that his pulling when I walk him takes all of the pleasure out of it.

Toby misses his main human. He loves the puppies & I, but we aren't Lee. Toby spent a good while keeping watch for Lee's return.


It was both sad and heartwarming.

I knit, finished Breaking Bad, grilled salmon for dinner. The puppies had some fun digging while I ate!






It's been a decent day pain-wise, for which I am grateful. Now - back to my knitting :)



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Romi Mystery Shawl Spoiler

Friday was a struggle, but that's alright. By the end of the day I chose to not take any Rx, clear my head and body a bit. I worked some on Romi's Mystery Shawl. I'm not sure about the colour. it's lighter IRL


A darker colour will get worked in later on (this is Clue 2 of 5). It just seems quite pastel. I know, but like baby pastel. I'm keeping on knitting as I'm hoping that the darker colour will help some of the coloured bits in the the Dream in Color Smooshy pop. But I am reserving final judgement and might still use the lighter Wollmeise


(on the far right in the pic).

I slept for 12 hours. Between the constant pain (in varying degrees), and the drugs, my body is exhausted. My choice today has been to accept the pain. Easier when I can just relax (kind of) and knit through it. Not having to deal with people makes it easier to bear as well.

Still working with the hand-pleasing Loft from Brooklyn Tweed. Secret Project. You know.

Enjoying, as ever, the garter stitch. Especially in the variegated CEY Liberty Wool.


I do like the redo better; the colours seem to lay nicer. I know, sounds crazy, but there it is.

Amanda came over for a couple of days to hell with the puppies & Toby. Lee went on an impromptu drive to Boston. He misses the sea.





Don't worry, I explained about Oceans & Seas ... Amanda & I coloured (I bought her her own Enchanted Forest and colouring pencils) and had a lovely time. I should have taken a pic of her colouring - we have very different styles. She walked dogs and fetched bagels - a good daughter.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Groundhog Day

Seriously, doing everything over again today.

I *knew* that I was supposed to be doing the M size, but somewhere along the way when I turned over the page and looked at the numbers, I ended up doing the S.



Fortunately I realized this fairly early on and I do love knitting garter stitch.

So, today will be about correction and tomorrow can be about actual progress.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Next

I made an error on Véronik's project so while I was awaiting approval for a potential work-around, (no simple fixes on such detail-oriented shaping!), I was able to start on a perfect 2nd project.



Good thing since it was my take with project for the day.

I am going to have a hysterectomy. The ablation was a limited success, but since November I have been in nearly constant pain ranging from low-grade nagging to nauseatingly fierce. Fibroids have returned, and I just can't continue; not with the pain or the amount of drugs that are needed to kind of control it. Hopefully I'll get a date in the next couple of days; not likely until into August. Not ideal, but it could be worse.

Chica's basking in the last of the morning sunshine rays that light up my living room.



And I've declared today Hobbit Day,


so I'd best get back to my knitting and adventure!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Amalfi poncho

The Amalfi poncho is done!!


I had Lee take a quick pic sans make up or hair fixing - it was just too hot to be bothered.
I finished it last night but after some texts and chat with Julie we decided to go with ending 12 rows earlier than the pattern calls for and knitting the last triangles in the CC.






The designer -Ann McDonald Kelly - responded to me on FB saying that she wanted to have the cast off triangles the same colour as the cast on ones so she eased the last triangle into the seam when finishing (as you can see from the pic in the magazine).
I personally wasn't bothered by that detail and didn't like the bunching created by easing in the extra colour set.

And the seam at the collar - I am very pleased. I didn't give it much thought until I had cast off for the collar, rolled it over to have a look and said, "no Siree Bob"!! To my admittedly particular self this is significantly better.



All in all though I am very pleased with it - a well written and easily followed pattern and the yarn makes it even more fun to knit.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

CEY Jetty

I updated my sidebar yesterday; it felt good to do a bit of virtual housekeeping.

I got wonderful new project from Julie after The Frolic, Classic Elite's Jetty. I am really enjoying it - a simple project but I love the colours. I have had a wonderful long weekend. It has been sunny and restful and productive. The proof is not in the pudding in this case but in the pictures. Cast a glance.

I still love doing my math in my own mixed up way.

I'm also working on a project for Elise - you know the drill. 

 







And a pair of socks for myself. I have got to knit more on the socks - I'm wearing out my socks fairly quickly since I've been back to work and I can't knit fast enough to keep up. I know ... the horror should I have to wear White Sport Socks!!!

Getting it Done!!

Julie sent the extra ball of CE Liberty Wool & I finished Elizabeth - awesome!! I slipped the edge stitch for the bottom of the sweater & the outside edge of the collar; it makes for a very nicely finished edge.

I'm making excellent headway on Every Last Yard, I'm on the 2nd sleeve already. The ball that I used for the sleeves is a bit redder than the rest of the sweater. I didn't notice until just now, but since it will be the same for both sleeves I'm not too bothered; it's the nature of hand dyed yarns. I should be able to finish it tomorrow and then block it (definitely needs a good blocking!) and delivery them both on Saturday. Yes -- I'll be at The Needle Emporium for the day!! I'm so excited, it's been awhile since I've actually put in a days' work at the store & I can't wait. Amanda is waiting to hear back about a babysitting job - she wants so badly to work at Julie's but doesn't want to lose a potential babysitting job. 13 is rough!!

I've done 5 of 13 radiation treatments. Yes, I'm making my own collective. So far, so good. The treatments are quick - in & out in about 10-15 mins. Check out how thick that door is!! OMG!!! I'm a bit disappointed that I'm not showing any signs of additional special powers with the mega-radiation that I'm being shot through with. I'm using the Glaxal Base cream and hopefully will be able to stave off any burning. It's super thick, easily absorbed, non-greasy and I'm quickly becoming a big fan!

The Bachelor - all I've got to say about that is this: OMG - there is always a stalkery/crazy/possessive chick and Michelle is it this time. They make for good clips & ratings but seriously? Brad. Dude. You're not going to marry her, kick her bony Fatal Attraction ass to the curb!!!

CE Elizabeth

So here she is blocking. Just a couple of seams and the interminable ribbing for the collar. I was really hoping to have it done for tomorrow but I've been a bit of a slacker the last few days. No worries Julie - I'm all over it now!!

My hair is starting to grow back!!! I have some fluff of hair that didn't all fall out and is a bit longer but I can see actual new hair growing out of my scalp! Yeah, my wish for the 'not grey' - FAIL. Now just waiting to see if it comes in thicker and/or curly. I don't care - I'm just glad to have it coming back!

I start radiation on Feb 1^st. There is apparently no physiological reason for it to make me tired except for the back & forth to the hospital and considering that I'm back and forth to somewhere almost every day hopefully that won't be a problem. And I will allow the Cdn Cancer Society to drive me most days so that should take some of the load off (and not driving myself will avoid that eating into my knitting time!).

And I've sorted another dyeing day at Shelridge Farms on March 5^th. If you live in the area (Durham, ON) or area-ish and are interested in joining in on a whack of colourful fun let me know & I can give you more details!!

I Almost Forgot !!!

Do you knit so much that you forget about what you've done?

If Véronik hadn't blogged I may not have remembered knitting the Lush Swingy Jacket. I know!!!
Here's a pic of it blocking that I couldn't share at the time.
It's totally another stunning & timeless Véronik Avery design.