Party Hearty--All Fall Down

Whoa I completely forgot about the parties when I posted last night. It's been a party filled weekend. First, we celebrated Carter's first birthday with what turned out to be quite a gathering of folks including three babies. One could hardly turn around in our not-so-big-but-warm-and-loving house, but gosh did we have fun. The house now looks like a day care with all the toys and Grandpa tripped over something and nearly fell on Carter (sitting on the floor) but recovered nicely with no injuries just lots of whoops!

Sunday, I was invited to lunch with a group of fiber fanatics Christmas Party (slightly delayed by the ice storm). They were so much fun and so funny and I'm just thrilled to be a part of this laughing group. I really look for opportunities to laugh...sometimes it's easy to forget.

Today I accomplished a fall that was pretty spectacular even for me. (I do all my own stunts) I was climbing into the library (3/4 ton) van. I have to step on the running board, grab the steering wheel to balance myself, then finish climbing in as it's very high off the ground and I'm not. Well something happened--I have no idea what--and I began tumbling backwards. I recall thinking uh-oh I'm going to hit my head as down I went. When everything stopped moving (that would be me) I was lying on the ground with one foot stuck under the seat of the van, (up in the air I might add thank heavens I wear britches most of the time) which was something of a stretch for me being five foot tall and the rest of me sort of hanging upside down and on the ground. As I looked under the door across the parking lot I saw one of the maintenance guys who hollered are you okay?” Yes I answered when I could catch my breath from laughing. And again yes when he came dashing over to help me up. I once told people that I fall down so often that it doesn't even embarrass me anymore, but this one was a trick. I sort of wish I had a picture....or maybe not.

not so easy but workable

Well, having a blog is about as hard as I thought it would be. Seems as if there's never anything cheer-y to write about. It's been a busy week in Lake Woebegone--oops that's a different group! (and probably under copywrite protection) But it's still been a busy two weeks.

My husband, who has Alzheimer's was stopped for running a stop sign and as a result his driver's license has been revoked. Hell hath no fury like a man who isn't allowed to drive. And guess who he's been taking it out on?? The Dr. add Naminda to his meds and I think it's staring to kick in, his mood has improved a little bit. But it's heart-breaking to watch this disease do it's dirty work. The good news is: Safe Return works! The policeman called them who called me and I went and picked him up instead of him being taken to a hospital or the jail. I highly recommend it if you are in this situation. And I feel pretty good that if he wanders off that he'll be returned to me. Okay on to other things...

Like knitting. I'm working on a comfort shawl of Berocco Foliage for a friend with cancer. In the interest of speed I'm using a drop stitch pattern but it's turning out much better than I thought it would with that pattern, and size 13 needles.

Here's my finished Multi Directional Scarf of Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn and size 5 needles. Pattern from Simpatico Yarn in Texas. I love it and have received many compliments.

Okay next are the socks I've been working on for quite some time. They are of Regia Kaffee Fassett. I plan to finish them someday. Pattern is knit2, purl1 all the way down. Something simple, dare I say boring? which might be why they're going so slow. who knows?

Moving right along is the Heartbeat Sweater from Just One More Row made of Schaefer Laurel colorway Henen Hays. I'm finding this patterna bit of a challenge but think it will be worth it.

Hopefully soon I'll figure out how to place pictures and text so that they aren't so far apart!

And last but not least is another multi directional scarf of Shaefer Miss Priss Clara Barton.

Okay, maybe one more picture of the birthday boy-Carter.

Good way to close an entry. See you later!

Evening thoughts....

Time certainly flies whether you're having fun or not! A whole week has gone by since my last post.

In my never-ending quest to master the MP3 player, I bought another one. It's a lot more anita-friendly and I'm having more success with it than the others. (3 to be exact) My whole family now has the discards.... I've mastered turning it on and off, loaded the software on my computer, and even transferred 3 audio books to the player! woo-hoo! Next step is figuring out how to listen to them instead of what the little devil wants to play, but I'm sure this too I shall achieve.

I keep planning on adding some pictures to this site but I can't seem to take any that show my FO's well enough.

On the reading front: currently reading "Back on Blossom Street" by Deborah Macomber. It's okay, a little more romance than my preference. I like the interaction among the strong
women characters who share each others strengths to navigate those difficult challenges of life. Has anyone read "The Knitting Circle"? That one was tough but very good. I haven't been able to tackle "The Friday Night Knitting Club Yet" but "Chicks With Sticks" (really a YA novel) was great! The Monica Ferris needle work series is fun and Maggie Sefton is okay. The writing is a little weak I think but they're still fun to read. Mary Krueger's knitting themed books are good too.

You may wonder about the word "clog" in my blog title. Clogging is a style of dance that pretty much originated in the Appalachian Mts. in the 1700 and 1800's. It consists of dance steps from many different cultures (immigrants) including Irish, English, Scottish, German, and African American. Tap dancing, a more perhaps intricate and sophisticated style of dance evolved from clogging. It's high energy and a lot of fun. Also hard on your knees and if you're (getting) older! I was 48 when I finally found a local group and started dancing. Due to a variety of reasons, I haven't been able to attend the practices in several months and I really miss it. I've always said that those of us who clog must REALLY enjoy it because no one would sweat that much on purpose!

Well, I think I'll go watch disc 3 of "Big Love" I've become rather hooked on that show.
Till next time.....

Sunday Morning Going Down

I get out of bed early Sunday morning. I have on my nice blue long nightgown with little cap sleeves and a lacy v-neckline. Over this I put my (favorite) ancient, worn out, shabby, stained, faded, pink terrycloth robe. I get my cup of coffee and sit down to read the paper. Soon I notice that my feet are cold so I go and get my red furry slippers, sit back down. Soon it feels like the temperature in our house drops a bunch and I go put on my burgundy sweats with the seat seam coming apart but if I wear them under something long no one can tell. (notice I haven't removed anything thus far) Finally, I'm comfortable and I finish reading the paper and drinking my coffee. Are you visualizing this yet?

Totally unsuspecting, I head to the bathroom to take my shower, spot myself in the mirror and wonder who that (homeless?) woman is and how did she get in my bathroom! I darn near scared myself looking in the mirror! (you might not realize I still had bedhead!)

I go in the front room to my unsuspecting husband and ask if he's noticed how lovely I'm looking this morning and how I dressed up just especially for him? He replies that yes he has noticed but figured it was in his own best interest not to mention anything, in particular, my attire.....

Darn I hate getting old, but being comfortable is really a good thing.....

Blocked!

I think I have "knitter's block". You know kind of like writer's block? I can't figure it out, I have literally hundreds of patterns, miles of yarn, enough time and I just can't seem to get started and stay with any projects. I thought I might need drugs...but then I remembered that I already take drugs (the legal kind) so I'm wondering if I need fewer drugs....? or maybe more....? Hmph. I just don't know what the problem is.

I think sometimes life just gets in the way. I work all day, come home, cook and clean (not nearly as much as I should probably)--but we all do that, right? I'm a caregiver for my husband who has dementia and sometimes (well really often) that's pretty intense and demanding. He's fairly self-sufficient but not entirely. My daughter and her baby live with us so although I'm not a grandparent raising grandchildren, I'm helping.

Our power was out for almost 8 days during the ice storm and I had to work really hard at being grateful for all the people who offered us places to stay and fed and cared for us instead of being angry that all our neighbors had power and we didn't. We fell in that group of people who were served last by the repair crews because there were just a few of us in each spot. (oops guess I'm still a little bit angry) BTW a big thank you to Sandy at Gourmet who caught me at the worst of my hysteria during that time. Oh well I'll go to the Knit In tomorrow night and get inspired!

Does anyone read the quilting series by Jennifer Chiaverini? I really enjoy her books because they could just as easily be knitting, but the one I just finished was a bit of a letdown. I realise that it was probably intended as a "holiday story" cause it's a very short novella, but it pretty much repeated things from previous books. Still worth reading though. I've started Hand of Evil by J.A. Jance. She's a really good author.

Here's a couple pix from Alaska last summer, so beautiful. Lush and stark.

and one more of the glacier. It's pretty amazing.

Such a beautiful state and such an interesting population. I wanted to ask people how they got to Alaska. I thought of "Northern Exposure" everywhere I looked, remember that show?

I've got to get some knitting posted--if I ever get anything finished/started...

Okay, I feel better now. see you later.......