Still Almost Done

So the knitting is done and the ends are sewn in. But it’s not blocked. It’s a massive piece and i just need to clear a space on the floor and just do it. 

I’ve also started on a new project that I can’t share online at the mo, but I am quite busy on my week of holidays knitting away! Chica is a most excellent little swatch-blocking assisstant - lol!! 

Petey has a new favourite guard-dog position on the cedar chest. I keep waiting for him to actually fall asleep and have his chin fall off the window ledge! 

I have managed to get two little cuts while I’ve been off. Normally I’m nicking myself on the daily at Dairy Queen - stainless steel is a devious and cruel material. IDK how I’ve done it here at home, but it’s annoying.

The kids were up the other week and I remembered to have a picture taken! Craig was hamming up the photographer role, giving Amanda & I a shared moment.

They are both doing well in their lives, making better decisions, and being responsible adults. I am so proud of them both!! Remember when they were tiny?? Where does the time go?

I’m going to have to knit quickly to get back to publishable knitting content, but until then, I’ll have to share more of me and my life. 

A demain mes amis!!                 

What the Fade

Spoiler pics below. Though not too spoilery -- I'm back to Clue 1.

OMG - it's been two steps forward and one step back on this and I'm only one Clue in (barely made it into the 2^nd Clue). 

Brioche is a half sibling to Knit One Below and I'm aces at that, yet I keep forgetting incs and having to rip back. 

This is the at the end of CLue 1 -- before I was 10 rows deep into Clue 2 and THEN discovered that I was missing !!2!! Increases!! 

Le Grand Sigh 

I love how brioche is reversible - thewrong side is just a non-public side, whichever one the wearer chooses that to be!

I know - crazy!! At this rate I might be caught up in time for Clue 4.

That is my poor Petey in the pic above. He is suffering from The Allergies. I joked early days when he'd sneeze about him having allergies like his mum. Then when he'd bite and scratch at himself, I thought it might just be mosquito bites. 

Then after a day outside, his paws and belly turned pink, he started scratching and biting in earnest, his eyes and muzzle turned pink ... he was an allergic mess. I am loathe to out him on strong anti-histamine or cortisone, so after much consultation with doggie friends who've gone through this and searching my soul in the reflection of his sad little eyes, I am pursuing natural easements, building up his immune system and I have also changed his diet to raw on the outside chance this is a coincidentally occurring food allergy. 

The Cone of Shame has him quite dispirited, but he still has the gumption to bark at John the Landlord and snap at Chica on occasion, so he is not seriously ill. I have ordered an inflatable neck ring that I hope will keep him from reaching his paws, and also return some of his dignity.

All I can say is that I'm thankful that it's not Chica with The Allergies. She's bitchy enough as it is - lol!!

Oh - looky at what Helen sent me!! New to me yarn. 

Okay. Fortunately I close tomorrow - though I am up early to go get my hair did (yes, something new!!), so I am on a mission to knit back to where I was. 

This 'n That

I finished my Doodler!! It's not been blocked, I really will do that this week, but it's done. I'm quite pleased with it.

I have picked up the Secret Shawl and have been working on it.


The linen had been hard on my hands, but I am pleased that it's almost done; tonight should see it to a conclusion.
I am a fiber snob, preferring natural fibres. I especially love the way that plant fibres soften with wear & work. It makes using garments made with them a special pleasure.

Chica loves her squeaky toy. She was quite amusing today in her gentle relentless chewing.

Petey has this quirk where he will "sing" whenever there is any operatic music, whether it's on the tv or stereo. Every. Time.
He also derives an intense pleasure from licking my toes.





I generally don't find it ticklish, so it's a winning bonding time for us.
Chica has never shown such an interest, so fortunately there are no fights near my 'ickle piggies!! She has her fave spot on my lap.



I took advantage of a cold day to defrost my freezer. It was well past time, but I needed an alternate "freezer" to use to get the job done whilst maintaining food safety standards.


Thank you Mother Nature!!

Don't forget to comment on this blog post to be entered to win the Denise-2-Go circular needle set.

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First one of the Year

Woohoo!!

Seeder is a fait accompli!
I went with a crab st rather than a double or single crochet around the armholes. I find it's a sturdier, more stable edge, and it gives it just a bit of texture.





It is now ready to send off to The Needle Emporium, so you can have a look in person if you'd like.

Now what?
To figure out where I left off on The Doodler!! It's been entirely too long, but I'm near into the 4^th weeks clue.


I got this.

I had a minor terror yesterday. To let the puppies out for pee, I put them on their retractable leads, stand at the outside doorway, and they use the 16' of lead to do their business.
I apparently didn't actually latch Petey's lead to his collar, because he just kept trotting away!!
He's normally not the one to do a runner, that's Chica. But he did. I called in my happiest, "mommy's not mad" voice, offered "num-num's" for the hungry puppy, but he was not to be enticed.
I took Chica back in, went out on my crutches on the sidewalk to the side of the workshop, but he was nowhere in sight.
I was truly beside myself. I knew in my head he'd come back, lived pets know where home is, but my heart was beset with fear.
Chica didn't understand how she was on a lead and Petey got to go off on a walkabout.





I fed Chica, texted my work wife that I might not be in to work, and just keep whistling and calling. 10 of the longest minutes later, he came trotting back like all was right in the world. I reined in the instinct to yell at him for worrying me, gave him a treat for coming inside, (and gave Chica one for being a good girl), and rushed to get myself sorted after giving him the biggest hug ever. Idjit dog is lucky I love him so very much.


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Seeder

I am on the final stretch of the body of Seeder.


It feels good to just knit on something so simple, but captivating. I am thoroughly entranced by the colours!!

Work was long today. I was in a foul mood for most of it - trying to catch up on days of missed paperwork, hobbling around, can't carry or lift anything, and tired af from a poor sleep last night and my body needing extra to heal.
But the day just kept moving along, me trying to keep pace. I ended up getting quite a bit accomplished and plans in place to get yarn sorted tomorrow so I can work on orders.
I had to change shoes near the end of the day. Crutching so much, bearing almost all of my weight and balance in my right foot, took its toll.


I have fucked up my 2nd<\sup> baby toe up hard!! Tomorrow might be a slipper day.
Petey is doing his best at kissing it better <3


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Lazy Day

I slept in until noon, though I did go to bed quite late/very early depending on how you judge time. I sorted out the puppies, then I had a coffee, slice of pie, made a few calls, up loaded the hundreds of pics on my phone to my laptop into all of the appropriate files. I may be disorganized in general, but my picture library is quite well organized. Though I do have to go through and re-title them from assigned photo numbers to real descriptors. Then I was exhausted, so I went back to bed for a nap.

On the subject of pie. I really enjoy the lemon cheesecake pie from Costco. But I think that it's time for them to drop the "cheesecake" from the title, or put some more cheesecake back into the pie.






Shameful, really.

I had a lovely nap, actually slept. When I woke up, I picked up these pieces from the floor of my bedroom and living room.
Needless to say, Petey was quite thoroughly scolded and put into a time out.





Fortunately, my favourite pair was in a hard case and are safe.

Between this incident and the yarn fiasco the other day, I'm sensing that he is acting out his jealousy over Chica getting the bed with my during my naps. He has never behaved like this before. I'm guessing since I'm home more, hence napping more, he is feeling more put out. I will be crating him for my naps going forward.

I have discovered the freedom and comfort in wearing mens shorts.






Seriously, I may never buy womens shorts again!! They hang perfectly off of my hips, one pair slightly lower than the other as I've lost some weightbut mostly with a long enough t-shirt I maintain a fair modesty. They are just so comfortable; I can bend and shift without worrying about splitting, and the pockets!!! Like women don't have stuff to carry; no wonder we need handbags!!

I went to town in my Iris socks last night.





I started on the heel shaping; I'm reinforcing this one to see how I like that. no wonder I was up late, too much fun on the needles!!
I finished watching Sons of Anarchy today. I had a lot of feelings about the last couple of seasons, but I was pleased with how they wrapped up the series. I would love to see a prequel (apparently I'm not the first to think of it!!), or a sequel set 10-15 years in the future.

I am recovering from my slothful start to the day. Curry on the stove - a request from Amanda. She'll have it next week whilst I'm in the hospital - and knitting picked up.

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Naughty Puppy

Deadline met, project posted. As soon as I can I'll link you all to the details.

I've put proper dressings on my scuffs. The Jelonet is helping them purge the ooze within.





I'll spare you *those* pics.

Crazy storms cracking and popping 'round here today! Very close and the thunder sets the puppies off in a bout of manic barking.

I napped. The Allergies (for those of you who don't know, I write and say this with capitals because when Kyle was young, that's how he said it. "Why do I have The Allergies mom?" It was cute and stuck with be me.), the pain (thank you for one last period Mother Nature. Bitch.) and the meds are exhausting, so I took a nap. For the first time EVER the puppies had at a skein of yarn. Even though they're staying stum, I know it was Petey. So that's how I've been occupying myself; untangling.


I think this is his contrite look. I was quite cross with him and he just got allowed back up beside me.


Then there were the kisses.


He's fortunate that he is adorable.
When he's up with me, if Chica's not got me tossing her the ball, she either sleeps beneath the footrest or in my bed.





My sweet little loner.

Tomorrow - grocery run before going under the knife.

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Routines

I do this silly thing mornings when I'm home. After I've sorted out the puppies, I open the curtains and sing this song.

The puppies think I'm as daft as Amanda used to, but it makes me happy, and it starts my day off with a song and a smile.

I played my last ladies softball game on Friday night. It's a great bunch of women who play with heart and for the live of the game. I hope to get out to cheer them on once I'm up & about.
I play my last mixed game tomorrow afternoon. I'll miss that too, even though it's my first year with them, it's felt good.

So. I'm not on holidays, but I'm not working. I'm psyching up for being in different pain and being fairly helpless for awhile.
I've got my knitting lined up, and way more than I can possibly do. LOL.

Petey is practicing taking care of me. I love this dog - it makes my chest hurt a bit I love him so much!!


I think I'll have to hide Chica's ball post op for a bit. What was I thinking getting a replacement?!? I love her hyper little self to bits as well, so I was thinking about her, not me.

If you follow me on Facebook, you'll know I'm a bit of a sucker for those quizzes. I did this one today, and got this result:



Sometimes these quizzes are eerily on target. This describes my humour sensibility rather well.

I'll leave you with this thought tonight.


It resonated with me and describes my headspace lately.

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At Home

Today was an easy at home day. I did a lot of knitting; you'll just have to take my word for it.



The puppies got bathed to get all of the dust and sand from my dads off of them. I'd forgotten about it until I got up from the love seat and there was sand from Petey that I had to dust off.
They took it well enough for all that I don't need to bathe them often.

After that it was napping & knitting.






I rubbed pad cream into Petey's paws. They get quite dry and you'd think he'd like it, (or at least not hate it), as I've been rubbing his feet since he was tiny. He barely tolerates it, then he promptly sets to licking it off. Idjit. <3


I made a quinoa salad tonight. I clearly underestimated the combined quantity of all the ingredients!!


It's delicious, but there's no way I can eat it all before it is inedible. At Helens suggestion I'll likely freeze most of it for when I'm less inclined to meal prep during my convalescence. Except for the peppers, it should freeze and thaw well.

I am trying out TurboFlix. I've been on a Criminal Minds binge (saves me purchasing 8 & 9 until they are much less costly). Alias, CSI Miami & NY are queued up, and I haven't even searched much. I am pleased, and will happily hand over my $3.99/month.

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Still knitting

It's been a challenging few weeks, but I am finding a way, every day, to keep moving forward.
It's different from the dissolution of my marriage; it hurts in a different way, but the pain runs deep. It seems to be not about the years together, but that intangible investment that your heart has made.

My hands are fine, though I might just touch base with my family dr about my left one. The middle knuckle is still giving me gyp, snapping my fingers with that hand still makes it ache. I think that it may have actually been broken.

I have finished my Churchmouse linen st scarf!! Took a lot longer than it should have, but we got there.





It needs a blocking, not the least so that the fringe straightens out so that I can trim it.
I like it a lot. *Almost* hoping for cooler weather to put it to good use.
Julie has sent me a couple of small projects. I'm starting with this wee stuffie.


Georgitte is a cutie, no doubt about it, and will perhaps change my attitude towards stuffed animal projects. We shall see shortly.

I have been spinning. It is good therapy as I can't let my emotions intrude upon my process or it gets ugly fast. I am feeling more confident in spinning a fairly consistent light-weight single. I think that it will be closer to a sport weight than the fingering that I was hoping for, but only plying and setting will tell.
I am halfway through the super wash roving that Barb gave us at the Frolic class.














I have found quite a bit more roving that had slipped my mind that I will spin up and practice on before I give a real shot at spinning a serious length of yarn for a project.

The puppies are well.
Chica's caring style is to keep me preoccupied with throwing her ball. Lol.





She loves that thing and makes me laugh with her antics.
Petey is my sensitive carer. He will not watch me cry. He jumps up and is licking my face until I stop - if for no other reason than to halt his zealous ministrations!!





He snuggles beside me, morning and night, silently, consistently comforting.
I had Toby for two weeks while Kee was away for work. Chica & I will miss him a lot. We had some great fun at the soccer pitch. I told Lee that he had to keep forking out for the Chuckit ball.








Baseball has been terrific this year; I'm so glad that I got onto a mixed team. There's more overall playing, and it gives me that many more games and exercise. I bring the puppies sometimes; Chris & Maria are their fave minders.


I am working towards a big change. I'm due for a positive one that I choose for myself. It's geographical. Nothing definite at the mo, but I won't give up on this. I need somewhere new, where I can make positive memories unclouded by the past. Not haunted by memory triggers everywhere I turn.



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