What Would I do Without Knitting

So ... just one more day before I get pathology results from the surgery. I seriously don't know how people who don't have a hobby/distraction/obsession get through hard times. I still think about the endless "what if's" while I knit but having the yarn sliding through my fingers and fabric coming off of the needles keeps me from dwelling too deeply and gives me a zen kind of peace that keeps the demons at bay.

You're familiar with China Clouds - I'm on to the RF now. After a wee OOPS! where I forgot to do the vent shaping on the border it's full steam ahead.

I started on the Beverly Cardigan for Julie - deadline Knitters Fair. I got this.

The Creatively Dyed Sweet Spot strip is going great - notice how just a wee change in tension changes the angle of the patterning. I knit that stretch at the beach - obviously quite relaxed. Still lovin' it!!

We went to the beach again yesterday - I taught Randy how to knit. After Nic & Krista learned Randy mentioned that he'd like to learn and what better place than at the beach. Another natural - he totally took to it!!!

My niece Chantal made me this lovely wall hanging - I don't know if she's heard me sing ... LOL. Thanks Chantal - love ya!!!

Still with the Old & In with the New

It was such a wonderful day - the weather was perfect for a drive, Joan was lovely company - we got well caught up on the dish, Holly had the hands that I remembered and Julie had even more wonderful yarn & books than I remembered.

Holly was my massage therapist while we lived in Milton - she treated me for upwards of 10 years & did the labour & delivery massage for Amanda's birth. When she knew that Joan & I were pretty much driving by she invited me by & after 5 years away it was like no time had passed at all. I didn't realize how much I missed her treatments & listening ear so much until I saw her again. She is awesome & beautiful ... and while she is wishing for the best for me I wish her the best as well.

I picked up some Kauni for a Beverly Cardigan & Mille Colori Big for a Ginormous Cabled Cowl for Julie. Joan & I wandered & poked around for a couple of hours and though I had no special thing in mind except exploring all of the new & excellent fall offerings, I came away with a Zauberball lace weight from Skacel, probably for a Lacy Baktus or Revontuli, a lovely glass shawl pin from Moving Mud and a linen stitch scarf pattern from Churchmouse Classics.

No fear - still deep into China Clouds!! I finished the LF last night.

How many ends do candles have? I think I'm burning a star-shaped candle here!!! All the better to keep from thinking about the follow up appt on Thursday - I tend to be an shining optimist during the day with a powerful & deeply dark imagination at night. Maybe I should try flipping my sleep routine ... though that would suck for entertaining Amanda. Good news though - I don't have detectable bone or lung cancer!! SCORE!!

"That Guy"

OMG - I forgot to post a pic of "That Guy"!! He was wearing board shorts, but was wading out and I nearly died holding in the laughter when I saw him hitch up the shorts and hold them up like speedos ... like a little kid or an old woman who didn't plan to go in the water but really, really wants to & doesn't want to get their clothes wet. And check out his lips - he was styling out there like he's totally working it!

Got stuff done on all 3 projects but they pretty much look the same as yesterday ... only more. LOL Pics tomorrow!!

Life's a Beach

We had a great day at Wasaga Beach. I found the free parking lot that I always park at (though it's been a couple of years) after nearly stroking out at the $16 that the main beach parking lots were charging. Seriously ... on a week day?!? There was some sprinkles that we sat through then when thunder started about 1/2 hour later I made the girls pack it in. By the time they had made the 1st trip to the truck and come back the thunder clouds had passed by so I gave in to the pleas and we stayed another 3 hours!
Amanda is so photogenic & a beauty already! The picture of her running in the waves makes me think of her in a Survivor challenge - she'd totally be the smart, hot chick!!!
After a shower to get the sand out of all the places that sand manages to get I sat outside & watched Kerwyn toss the ball against the side of the garage. I love watching him. He has this cute little habit of examining the ball for defects then wiping it off on his shirt if he misses it.
I took a picture of me before we set out - the hat is a classic Chic Knits bucket hat.
I made progress yesterday on China Clouds & Mystery X & got a bit more done today at the beach on my Creatively Dyed Sweet Spot strip. I love how this is patterning!!

Sorry about that crazy pink yesterday - I don't know where that came from. Trying something new - again - today!!

Outgoing & Incoming

So I finished Elise's sweater for XRX and it is now in the hands of UPS. This is the best picture of it that I can show you ... I can't even begin to hold a candle to Alexis' photographic skills, so I'll leave the hard work to him. Check out the documentation that they needed me to fill out - I put the same info on all 3 pages!!!

Now that that is done I'm back to China Clouds - I cast off for the LF armhole. I'm so happy to be back into this project!! The only problem is is that after working with Alsan Trends 100% alpaca, even Rowan's DK Tweed feels rough!!
Joan & I are heading to Julie's on Saturday - she has been posting so much about all of the new fall stuff that I just couldn't stand it any more!!! I'll be picking up a project using Kauni ... it'll be my first time using the yarn & I'm so exited. You know me ... anything variegated!!!

I have developed some swelling, most likely because, even though I'm sure that I have a whack more, having 7 lymph nodes removed has reduced my capacity for effective drainage. It's still not as painful as before the surgery and doesn't interfere much with my knitting, but it is seriously uncomfortable & distracting. My most trusted non-MD advisor is an RMT and she reminded me that I need to get up from my standard seated knitting position and do some moving & stretching of my arm to help encourage whatever drainage I can. To that end (and because getting up and just stretching really isn't my forte) I have dragged out the Chatelaine Mystery X (which really is no longer a mystery, but still ...) cross stitch to work on. The x-stitching motion fits the bill for arm movement that is lacking in my knitting. I'm excited to be back into this project to - like most x-stitches the picture totally does not do it justice!! I love Martina's Mandala designs!!

Tomorrow we're off to the beach - I promised Amanda and it's time to pay the piper. It's supposed to be sunny & hot so she get's to take a friend (the better to leave me to my knitting) and have fun. I can't wait to get beach pics of her - she's growing up so much. Can you believe that summer vacation is half over?!?