Flute

The day started out well - I won off of 3/4 of my lottery tickets. Yeah, not actual money, but free tickets are a whole new chance to win!! 

Then I was off on my mission for the day. 

I spend a lot of time pondering the subject matter for my tattoos, then narrowing down the artist that fits the style that I’d like the subject matter to be drawn in. 

Today I went to Ink and Water and Mr Koo did what he does, and he did it in style!! 

My appt had been pushed back a bit, so I went up the road to Long and McQuade  I’ve been contemplating a larger case for my flute as the current one *just* fits, but feels tights with the cleaning wands and hole plugs.

I also bought a few books that only frighten me a little. If it’s not a little scary, it’s not worth doing. 

I am going to try these lip patches. 

Myrelle had the great suggestion of envelope seals, and they do the trick, but l’ll give these a go by way of comparison. 

And not to start a panic, but poppadoms have become scarce!! I stopped at 4 different grocery stores and nothing. Walmart used to stock Pataks poppadoms as a modular item, but nothing. I finally found some at Metro in Orangeville and I’ll be stopping at every Metro I see and buying all that they have. I’ll be a shameless poppadom hoarder. 

Uschitita

Uschitita yarn finally arrived at The Needle Emporium ! So happy that I had the day off; I stopped in Milton to pick up mi amiga Joan, and we enjoyed a good catching up on the drive.

I went with the mission of picking out a colourway for the What the Fade MKAL coming up at the end of this month. The purples called to me and with some help fromJulie, I put this kit together. Using black and white photography, I ended up switching the last two skeins for a more totally accurate tonal gradation. I;m a bit of a stickler for fading from dark to light ... unless you're fading from one colour to another.

Then Julie walked away to help customers and this one just sort of happened.

It may not end up being a What the Fade, it may be another fade or just stash, but I love them. 

This single skein of Hedgehog sock caught my eye - fairly screams Gryffindor, yes?

I put these for skeins of Hedgehog Singles together. 

Westknits is doing another MKAL come the end of September, and while he doesnt usually do fades, this caught my eye, but I managed to leave them behind.

My next project for Julie is a So Faded Sweater in a stunning green Merino Mia Gradient Kit from Prism Yarns  I wound up the first few colours and got started straight away last night!

On my way home, I ended up here:

I always seem to end up at Krispy Kreme when I go to Julie's. 

Since there was a Staples right there, I had the screen protector replaced on my phone. WOW!!! The original one was go cracked and abused that it's like having a new phone!! I also bought an external keyboard for the phone. I love it - it makes blogging so much easier! 

I have taken my flute playing back up; it's been a year!! I have missed it and am enjoying the playing immensely. My teacher, Myrelle, had suggested that I record myself playing, mistakes and all, so I did.

This is my favourite song (that I know how to play) and it is not bad considering that I've been not playing for awhile. https://youtu.be/Tt5NnEllCgw

It will give me a baseline for measuring my improvement.

Back to my So Faded Sweater before I head to work,

Doodling Along - clue 3 spoilers

I'll put the spoiler pics further down ...

I made sour cherry jam today!! I was so excited to get a couple of pails of frozen sour cherries at Zehrs last week that the kind produce manager let me have them at -50%!!






I love sour cherry jam - hand down my favourite!! I'll be making another batch, then freezing what's left of the bucket for pie filling as needed.

My fingers are getting used to the open holes on the Sonaré. It's a more precise fingering that is required, but I love the tone she emits when we hit it right.

Here's my Doodler shawl. Mrs Crosby Satchel Hummingbird (sorbet colours), Georgian Bay Fibre Co McCoy Sock in Meaford Spring Buds for the brilliant green, then Satchel again in Hollywood Cerise for the deep rich merlot.








I am loving the undulating edge, and it's being accentuated more and more as the wedges build out.

Ok ... a bit more Doodling then to bed. Much to get accomplished this week!!


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Not dead

I have fallen off the blog, but I've been very busy. I've forgotten how very much work store set is. That being said, I'm enjoying it immensely!!

I'll gloss over the knitting tonight, I'll take better pics in the AM when the light is better. I have been knitting, truly.

I've also been playing flute. I still enjoy it, and have been looking for one of my own. Myrelle has been lending me the one she has for students, and has been helping me in my search.
I happened upon a couple likely candidates today, and with help from Myrelle, find myself the proud owner of a Powell Sonaré.





It's going to take some extra attention playing with open holes, but I preferred the sound and feel of this one over the Yamaha that I tried. I'm working on a name for her ... it will make itself known.

Are all amaryllises so top-heavy and inclined to tipping??





I have sorted out a support for it, but is that normal?

I'm off to my Doodling ;)



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Ugh

I have been doing not much.
I had a few days off of my flute, and it showed in my practice yesterday!! But I set to with a passion and it all started coming back.
I find that the mouthpiece gets slippy rather easily, so I went with a trick that Myrelle mentioned - a piece of envelope sticky.


It serves as an oil/sweat absorber - brilliant.

The puppies got a bath. Petey hacked up something that he felt needed laying, and if one is getting wet, might as well do both!


They are funny, grooming each other afterwards!!
And they like Helen, acting as if I pay them no attention all day long!!


Petey is a sucker for a belly scratch!!

I have made it to the heel shaping on my Stitch Surfers!!


My Soxyzz told me so, which is just as well, as given the stitch distribution and being at the instep, it is almost impossible to try on my foot with any remote hope of accuracy.
I love this gadget!! It's portable, durable, and esthetically pleasing.Throw in that it's less than $15 Cdn and, more importantly, it's a Canadian indie shop, click that link and get one for yourself!!!

I helped Helen string beads Friday afternoon - I find the process of using a bead bowl much more fun than she did.


Helen was chasing the jumpers!!



I am working the fronts of the Mock Cape at the same time.


I find that the pattern is not as well written as could be hoped, so while I'm making notes, this ensures symmetrical accuracy.

I am knackered. Utterly exhausted. The Allergies are in full effect. The sneezing cannot be good. Given that lifting more than 10lbs is verboten, sneezing is clearly off the charts!!
I had no bleeding at all the first week. It has since started and increased, along with an increased degree of overall discomfort abdominally, along with some shaper pains, even at rest. Given that in really doing nothing more than increasing my walking distance/duration, (though not the gait), I'm chalking this up to sneezing.
I'll call the surgeon and my family doc on Tuesday to see what actual doctors think, and see if I can get some stronger/more effective symptom meds.

I hope that you are all enjoying the long weekend!!



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Finally

So it's finally here - no more delays, Hysterectomy Day!

I saw Myrelle on Saturday and learned a couple more notes that involve some coordinated shifts in fingering, and some more advanced (but very basic) music. I still seem to be challenged by longer note shifts, but I'm not displeased with my progress. I'll have much to practice!!

I swatched for the next sweater for The Needle Emporium. I've neglected to take a picture, but you know I wouldn't lie, especially not to you! I love the fabric, and the stockinette stitch will be a nice recovery knit.

But then I go and cast on for the Stitch Surfer socks!!


LOL!! I have loved this pattern long time, I found the perfect Biscotte & Cie yarn on our recent yarn crawl, Helen gifted me with the perfect complementary MadTosh, so I'm learning a new technique!

I played my last mixed game on Sunday; winning was a nice last game!!





I'm going to miss playing, but I'll be so happy to play a full, pain-free season next year.


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Whatta Thursday

Nice easy pre-op physical - I'm relatively fit and totally hot. not going to argue with a professional ;)
Dropped of some stuff by Amanda, who is making her way, slowly and on her own terms, but she is doing it and learning a lot.
Then a lovely drive out to The Needle Emporium. I miss seeing Julie, touching the yarns and seeing the colours in all their glory!! I spent a lovely afternoon knitting, chatting and picking out all sorts.

I'm made marked progress on the Secret Project, but have had to go back a bit, (silly mistake), but I'm back on track now.

The Manos del Uruguay Alegria that I had purchased on the last couple of yarn crawls had been whispering to me. After going through Julie's stock of Alegria, I knew I had to answer its siren song.



Yup - Sweetspot. I am very pleased and can't wait to do an Alegria Strip!!




A Namaste BYOB to make toting my Knitter's Pride set easier.


A couple of magazines that had projects I want to do.


A Mountain Colors Perspective gradient kit for a yet undecided cowl.



I was utterly smitten with this new colour Hummingbird in Satchel by Mrs Crosby. I set to finding a shawl pattern and after much fancying about in Ravelry, selected Chevry as the winner. Hollywood Cerise was selected as the companion colour, also after significant study. Crème Fraîche, Spicy Habanero, and Icebox Watermelon were all contenders.

I also picked up a project to work on after my surgery. I know, but I don't want to run out of something to do.


Stockinette, but shaping to keep me mindful.

On my way home yesterday my rear wheel bearing seized on the passenger side. Could've been a disaster on the 401, but fortunately I had control of my car, was near an exit and was able to ease into a garage. Active Green + Ross, while they were able to find a wheel drum that same evening and do the repair, fucked me hard on pricing.
But I am going to count the multiple of blessings that kept me safe and got me back home to my puppies, who held it long time!! *\o/* yeah for crate training!!!

Today I scored the remains sets in the BSG (new) series


for $30!! and found myself a new creative outlet. My teacher, who is also a friend and a knitter bonus, was impressed with my quick study and sent me home with an extra note (beyond the beginner three) to practice on. Clearly I'm a natural


The puppies weren't sure what was going on, but ignored it soon enough. (And yes, a seriously unflattering pic of my arm!) This will give me something to occupy my fingers & mind whilst on my convalesce. Not that knitting can't do it, but I am expanding my horizons.

Whew - it's been a busy couple of days, but I am feeling quite content within myself. This vacation came none too soon!

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