Keeping On Keeping On

Now that we have jumped straight from winter to summer, Dairy Queen is in full swing!! I really love my job and the daily challenges that make it so far from boring. 

I am making some progress on Nicole’s sock.

I have a new project on the needles, so, as ever, the socks slow down. But progress is progress! 

I am keto’ing like a champ! My determination and willpower are unbreakable when I set my mind to something. This was tonight’s dinner - easy enough to put together after a long day and being rather too tried to really cook. I have recently discovered Haloumi cheese and I am quite taken with it! Salty with a nice soft bite to it. Without much flavour of its own, it pairs nicely with a fresh, bright marinara.

I have also tried guacamole. I have truly never tried avocado or guacamole, but quite convinced that i didn’t like it. In a bid to up the healthy fats in my diet, I decided to take the plunge and selected the Good Foods chunky guacamole from Costco. I may never eat an actual avocado, but this guacamole is now Life!!

The summer sausage is also from Costco. While I try to be ingredient-focused in my food choices, I love summer sausage, and this cotton-wrapped one from Noah Martin is just too good to pass up. It’s relative localness is also a plus. The amount of sugar is negligible, so it is one of my few exceptions.

On top of my secular job, knitting all the things, baseball season starting on Friday, I have taken on a reading assignment. The book is The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy. When i read the teaser for the book, I was quite intrigued and was thrilled when I was selected to read and review the book! I have to say that the presentation of the book was quite enticing.

I’m still early on, but the characters are being well developed; they and their interactions are quite believable. You are pulled in to their lives and that is what makes you want to keep reading.

So I’m quite occupied and have yet to cast on anything for my Wee Bean. I am saving and downloading patterns, so I’m not completely unprepared, I just need to get to it.

The puppies are well and Petey remains my constant little shadow.

I forgot to take their food out of the freezer last night, so it was also an easy dinner for the puppies. They seem to prefer the meaty bones with fibre roughage just plain, old dirt, on them. Silly puppies 

Okay ... back to something - the choices abound!!

Birthday Week

I am so happy that I have been trained in cakes at work! I was able to make a cake for my sister and it was as exciting for me to make and deliver as it was for her to receive! 

Also a part of my mission today was picking up my yarn that she bought as my proxy at the Koigu tent sale. 

This is the Kersti that will become an afghan. I think that I will buy a gaming die to make random colourization and striping easier for me. I'm really bad at randomization; i much prefer planning. It will, of course, be done in Knit One Below planned pooling strips.

There is also some KPPPM, but it's a secret as some of it is a gift. But here's a pic of the fab re-usable bags the yarn came in!!

I also picked up the leggings that I ordered from my niece. She reps for Legging Army  and I'm a fan! Way cool patterns and so comfy! An added bonus - Craig believes in leggings as pants - lol! 

Fright Night and Powdered Skulls

Moody Blue and Peaceful Dreams

I also managed to get some sock knitting done on the ever patient sock. Poor socky -- it gets set aside for everything else. But Winter is Coming ... socks will be needed.

Oh - and I've attached the brackets to the new, massive tele, maeasured and marked the placement for the wall mount so that John can just screw on the wall bracket tomorrow. Hopefully there will only be a few minor adjustments and I'll be ready to look for a smaller entertainment cabinet.

All in all, a very productive day!!

Okay ... more Brioche. I love brioche, I love brioche, I love brioche. There is something different in Clue 3 ... I can do this!!! 

Slow day

I pulled out my flute and practiced yesterday!! It was only 20 minutes, but my fingers didn't completely forget what to do. I did a few scales and arpeggios, then a few of my fave songs. It was nice and I'm going to have to make up for lost time. 

I baked some cookies last night. I'm experimenting a bit, but the first round is promising. 

 

I woke up this morning with about 5 different headaches. I medicated for all of them, had a cup of coffee and a glass of water then went back to bed. The puppies guarded me from all the imaginary noises, but I still managed to sleep the worst of them off. I went to DQ for dinner since I really wasn't feeling like cooking anything. That and my food stores are low ... a Costco trip is desperately needed!  

Since then, it's been me and some easy knitting. Petey has been especially attentive ❤️

 

The leggings are from Legging Army. I am surprised by how light and comfortable they are, while also being warm. If you're interested, my niece reps them here. 

Socktastic!!

I hate waiting for people to make decisions so that I can make decisions. It does my head in - my sleep goes for a dive, I am tense all over. Fortunately my canine and human support system is strong, and I have much knitting to fall into. 

Socks are moving right along! I am loving these big time ❤❤ 

  

I normally don't work on them at home, but I'm waiting for a pattern to knit up a frabjous fibers so fond of rainbows kit. 

I have been knitting so much on my little 2.5mm Signature needles that I have worked a painful cut/groove into the tip of my finger.  I still love that stiletto tip though. 

I finished Amanda's messy bun hat  I love it; I'm sure that she will too!  

Thanks to Woolly Wormhead for an excellent free pattern. 

 

Not Boring; done.

I finished them!! It was some trial and error knitting socks for someone else with just a shoe size, but we got there in the end. 

I amputated the ribs, then reknit them upwards with fewer sitiches. 

   

I don't know how I cast on using a simple long-tail cast on and it's perfect, but even a loose bind off is too tight. 

I cast off using Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off. 

 It's a bit flary, but this seems normal for the technique, and it functions as a stretchy bind off, so I can let it go.

I'm on the decrease section of the Born Trippy ... pics tomorrow!!  

Sock Love

So he tried on the sock and ... drum roll please ... 

 

His one comment was that the rib felt loose. I'll cut them off and re-knit them upwards. 

I am approaching the toe shaping on the last sock. 

 With luck, I can get it done tonight, then adjust the ribs tomorrow night. 

Also, check the near perfection on the matching!! 

 

With the exception of the heels and toes; I've used a different fluormania colourway as I wanted to ensure that I didn't run short of yarn. Again, a fortunate happenstance, but fluormania seems to do this more than any other yarn I've knit socks with. 

If the sock fits ...

Yeah. So it's been about 10 years since I've knit a mans sock, and not having measurements, it was a knit in the dark. 

Definitely looking too big. And Mark is a slight man, so I doubt he has massive cankles. 

 So I stopped short on the leg, powered through the heel and start of the gusset and sent it home with Mark last night so that he could try it on. 

He brought it back today with a 2" excess. Yikes!! So, 16 sts to decrease. I frogged it back to the ribbing, did some maths and am underway. 

Another extended night on dock should, optimistically, see the leg knit to 8". 
 

I am feeling much better! The soup did the trick on The Dreaded Lurgy, and with just a bit of a lingering cough and a healing cold sore, I'm none the worse for wear. 

Sock-tastic

Great night on dock last night! I nearly finished my Indie socks, so I finished the toes after I woke up this morning. 

 I love them!! I don't remember what yarn this is, but it was a large skein as I still have 35g remaining. 

I went stash diving to find yarn for the next pair. I'm going to knit a pair for Mark, the dock Team Leader. He lets me knit and I know that he will appreciate the socks. I was cautiously optimistic about finding a colourway that I thought would be appropriate, but looky here - 

 

Result!! I think that he will not be displeased. He told me that his mom used to make him socks; I gathered that they were thicker ones, but he's agreed to give lighter weight ones a go. I'll have to pull out my Handy Book of Patterns  as it's been a long while since I knit socks for anyone else but myself. 

I'm waiting for the computer to install updates so I can download the snooks that Helen and Mark have sent me. 

I am determined to read more this year and be better at logging them on the 50 Book Pledge  I've been a participant for 4 years, but with varying degrees of diligence. 

Just enough time for a nap then before work ... self-care comes more easily when I'm feeling poorly. If I don't take care of myself, I can't take care of the rest of the lot! 

Dreaded Lurgy

Kicking off the new year with a cold. It's not quite as wretched as the last one, but it is requiring more rest, which cuts into knitting time. 

I have made progress on Born Trippy though. 

 Once I was home to mine and could weigh the yarn, my stressing over the colour progression went away. I've just added in the first stripe of Wish. I think that I'll block it out soon just to get a fair feel for how it will look. It's so scrinchy right now. 

I have excellent progress on my Indie sock last night at work!

 A couple more dock nights and I'll have another finished pair :)
 

Chica has this tiny piece of fluff from the bedding in their crate. She is so adorable about it; she wool sucks on it like a cat. 

 

If Petey cared about it, he'd have it gone in one swallow. Like he does with my earplugs, naughty boy. He finds them and swallows them if I turn my head away from my pillow for even a second. 

I hatched some excellent eggs recently!! 

 

What? More Yarn?!

It was off to Ancaster and The Needle Emporium today. Not quite a lovely day for the drive, but Craig was still happy to drive so that I could knit. 

Julie picked out these colours of Sock yarn for me to knit a Born Trippy scarf. "Put them (the minis) in a nice order", she says. Is there a not nice order in which to arrange these minis?!? So other than assigning numbers and rolling the dice, some sort of order needs to be ascertained. 

 

I think that we are going to go with a tonal arrangement. Yes. This pleases me. 

I bought a swift and ball winder to have at Craig's so that I don't have to pre-wind a lot of yarn for any given project so that I don't have to worry about not running out. And really, I have enough challenges traveling lightly without packing a swift and ball winder just in case. 

I don't have the energy tonight to unpack them, set it up, and wind the yarn, so I'll set to it tomorrow after work. 

I'm continuing on the Indie sock I started yesterday. I don't remember what yarn company this is from, so it's just Indie. It's coming along quite nicely! 

 

Amanda has made a request for one of those messy bun hats that are all the rage. I Googled them and found a Wooly Wormhead pattern that is free - the Tea-Cozy hat. Julie had Charlie on sale, as it met Amanda's request for black, so it was meant to be! 

 

I also couldn't resist some new, bright sock yarns! 25% off ... you know you'd've done at least the same. 

 

Ancaster also did not disappoint on the Pokémon front. Good hunting in general and a quality Ditto specifically. 

Sitting at home with Craig, watching Goliath, reflecting on what a lovely few days it's been. I'm feeling really quite lucky. 

A Better Day

I was not in nearly as much pain this morning as I was yesterday morning! Much less constipated and I think that the gas is working out; I'm feeling less bloated.
I had thought that most of the pain would be in my lower abdomen; and while I am tender there, mostly I feel the effects where they went in laparoscopically. Dr Margell did well; the small incisions are well done and my belly button is not horribly affected.





The large scar that crosses both pics is from my reconstruction. There are 5 laparoscopic incisions, including the belly button. not a major concern, but I would like to have my belly button pierced again since I am - hopefully - done with procedures requiring the piercing to be removed. My tongue piercing can be out for longer than my belly button without it growing over! I did the minimum again today; the puppies are so adorably understanding. They seem to have toned down their jumping up, though if they're not on their halters, they are still prone to pulling, which hurts.
I am just over 1cm from beginning my heel shaping.


I am loving this pattern so much; I picture more in my future. And yes, the soxyzz is very handy; I can recommend it unequivocally!!

The Mock Cape saw progress as well.


Clearly, despite still requiring g a proper afternoon rest, I am being more productive.

Helen dropped off necessary provisions (wine and cheese), then whisked me up the street to have coffee and a knit at Coffee Culture. Normally an easy walk, today, a necessary drive. We had a lovely time (my incessant texts notwithstanding and actually adding to our amusement). She got started on her own Greek/TARDIS themed Stitch Surfers. She did well under supervision - lol!!






The Dr Who marathon continues. I have been feeling a bit off still - mentally clouded - so I have watched most of the 2^nd series twice. Not necessarily a bad thing, but out of character for me.
I just finished Love and Monsters. Probably the least Dr-centric episode ever, but I did enjoy the comic relief. Peter Kay is always a welcome appearance!! And Moaning Myrtle popped in as well.

To bed shortly; I am throwing as much rest at it as my body can take. Nought much can be done until I get my 6-week check up with my surgeon, but I want to be at the top of the curve for improvement!! I'm properly motivated.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Adapting. Kind of.

I am not a sit about and do nought kinda woman; I'm constantly in some kind of motion, even when I'm sitting, I'm knitting.
This post-op business has me well and truly knackered.
I slept well enough last night, Petey let me lay in until 9:30. Bad pain this morning. I think there's still gas needing working out, but my entire abdomen is just tender and delicate. Walking is ok in the shortest increments.
We got up, sorted out the puppies, coffee and did a bit more on the Stitch Surfer sock


, started the Sublime Mock Cape


, and then I was back in bed by 4:00 for a nice 3.5 hour nap. which is less of a nap really, and more of a proper nap repeat of the AM - feeding, walking puppies a couple hundred feet, (they are so good! I normally walk at a brisk, energizing pace and the puppies are trotting along. But now, they keep pace with my deliberately dawdling lack of speed without issue), making something to eat. very much focusing on protein intact to aid in physical recovery These 20-30 odd mins on my feet, perhaps especially at the end of the day, have me utterly done, pain not insignificant.
This is going to be a long, slow row to hoe. I am listening to my body, but it's frustrating.
Amanda's been helping out, but she's back to her life this afternoon. Chica was so happy to see her again, it did my heart good as well.
Helen is being amazing; I am grateful for such a friend.
And all of you - chatting me up on FB, texting, and calling; I'm in the best of hands.
Mostly I go to my bed to nap, but yesterday I just tipped over, the puppies found their places that don't hurt me,


and we dozed a bit. I am currently watching Dr Who (new series) which keeps me thinking.
Tomorrow is a new day; looking forward to it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Slow start

I could feel the migraine, but I just couldn't summon up the energy to get out of bed at 3AM to take the Zomig.
I slept poorly all the way 'round. Migraine, codeine buzz, breakthrough pain in my uterus, waiting to hear from Amanda, (she had a bad but hard to narrow down pain so she went to ER. She's seems better, but a mother's love/concern is like that), and just my mind free associating.

I did have my codeine & T3's at my bedside, so I kept on top of that. Petey and Chica let me lay in until 11. I love these two; they really do take care of me. I took the Zomig after I fed my puppies, downed a cherry Coke, and we went for a bit of a stroll. Rx kicked in, and I've been knitting on the Secret Project today.

I finished Criminal Minds through Ssn 9 on TurboFlix, and started on Sons of Anarchy.

Hoovered, roasted the carrots that I bought at the market at the Steampunk festival yesterday (so sweet and delicious!!!), practiced my fluting.

Pains still significant so despite the itching, I've been taking an oxy with my meds. I just need to make it 11 more days and nights. I can do this. I've made it this far; I'm in the home stretch. A powerful reminder though how things happen the way we need them to sometimes.

I tried a tape highlighter for checking off where I am on my pattern. A regular highlighter won't work as I have the pattern in plastic sheets.


I'm going to try dry erase markers; I know it'll rub off after some shifting, but I don't need it *really* permanent, just as I'm working.

I have decided on a cowl for my Mountain Colors (it's weird typing colours without a "u", but I respect their spelling) Perspectives Twizzle gradient kit. The Filan Cowl.

Oh, and I forgot to show you my sock! I finished it in the road yesterday.


I am thrilled with it!! I love the flow of the green.

Chica has made a lot of progress with letting me pet her and have my feet on/around her while she's gnawing on a chewy.





So that's where I'm at. Feeling rough physically, but emotionally I've come a long way. I'm quite content with my life as it is - puppies, fibre endeavours, musical learning, friends galore. I'm still getting used to not having Lee to reach out to, I don't feel like it's the yawning void that it was. I have a lot going on for myself, and I let myself forget about that. Thank you all for reminding me and keeping me from losing sight of that.


To my friends. Sláinte!!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone