PTSD??

It’s been a less-than-exciting 2-3 weeks. Every day is a brand new experience. As I've mentioned, one can have no expectations.

Almost 3 weeks ago now I put Richard in adult day care for his own safety. He’s had a heat stroke two years in a row and I’m just not in the mood to go through that again. I told him this was his job and he sort of accepted that. The first evening he told me he didn’t want to go back and I told him we’d talk about it and he went out the back door for a “walk” When he wasn’t home by 9:30 and it was also dark-thirty I got anxious and called 911 and 4 police cars, the police helicopter, some friends, and our daughters were all driving around looking for him. Finally at 10:34 he walked around the corner and strolled on home wondering what all the fuss was about. Of course he couldn’t tell us where he’d been and no one could believe that he hadn’t been spotted by somebody! The police ask me if I was going to make him go back to the center and I said you betcha I am. I felt like I had no choice. Course I did but the choice was leaving him home alone no fluids, not eating and getting sick and I couldn’t do that.

As you can imagine, the rest of that week and the next were pretty terrible but at least he didn’t walk off again. He’s now beginning to enjoy it just a little bit and it’s doing some good for him. He’s communicating better and talking a little bit better and he seems to be calming down some. He gets very agitated—part of the disease. He told me there were 3 women that wanted him.
My blood pressure has gone down since I’m not worried about him all day. His blood pressure is perfect but he has no stress.

That evening I was very stressed and Kacie said call your mother so I did and of course the minute she said hello I burst into tears. Partly from worry and partly from sheer frustration, I felt like I’d been trampled by a herd of buffalo. Anyhow, Carter, my 28 month grandson, heard me crying and was alarmed. He brought me a ball of yarn and said “ball” when he gave it to me, went over and scooped up my current project (which he’d pulled the needles out of earlier) and brought it over and carefully set it in my lap, then went back and brought my pattern to me. Oh and I got a hug and kiss too. I thought that was pretty perceptive for a 2-year-old to recognize that my knitting makes me feel good.

So it’s been a difficult 2-3 weeks but he’s doing much better and seems rather resigned. He really needs to be a bit worse to be content, as it is he kind of knows he really doesn’t belong there but…..there is no alternative.

OTN: Stranded socks, Advent Calendar Scarf

Tick-tock, tick-tock

Isn't it amazing how fast time flies? Even if you're not having fun?? You break your leg; you spend a month in a cast, a month in a boot (that is ugly and cost $458 I might add. I don't spend that kind of money on pretty shoes and I get two of them--that match!) And two months in an air splint and suddenly it's June! What happened to February, March April and May? And then you find out you have to have cataract surgery. For heavens sake, this getting old business is for the birds! I never signed up for this--I don't want to pay dues to join this club!! It's in the Rules--no dues to join the getting older club. and I think I've had enough character-building experiences in my life to last me over the next few years!! Ah well... it seems life is what happenes when you've made other plans--I don't remember who said that, besides me, but I'm sure someone did.

Today I started Richard in Adult Day Care. He just came in and told me he didn't want to do this anymore. I told him it was a job. When I picked him up he looked like a storm cloud--let me re phrase that-- a tornadic storm cloud. He told me they worked him to death! but he was laughing and seemed cheerful. I told him I was so proud of him, getting a job and all. (lies to people with dementia don't count as lies, it's in the Rules) So we will see how tomorrow goes. I told him he had to go for a couple of days and try it out. Cross your fingers for me. He just isn't safe on his own anymore, doesn't eat, drink water, wear a hat, he wanders long distances, and he leaves the house wide open. He's had a heat stroke the previous 2 years and I'm just not in the mood to have one this year. Oops...I'm beginning to feel a bit grumpy!

OTN is the Advent Scarf-I'm on Day 8-- and a Crusoe sock, just one so far. I really want to learn to do two socks at once on two needles or two on one needle-magic loop style. I just can't seem to learn anything new at the moment. Overload I guess. Sock Summit looked really interesting but I seem to have missed all the drama and I guess without any classes there's not much point in going. One of these days I hope.

We are taking a tour in July. Going to Colorado Springs and see all the sights. Should be fun. I really enjoy the tours although we're usually in the youngest 4-6 of the group. It's really the only way we can travel at the moment. I can't do all the planning, driving and care-giving for Rich and take a trip unless I want to die. stress-related you know. At least driving in front of the train only crosses my mind about once a week now.

I'm doing a pretty fun thing this week. I'm teaching music teachers who are working on their Master's degrees how to play autoharp, spoons, limberjack, juice harp, and yodel. I do this for OU about every three years but I did it last year and now again this year. It is so much fun, but I'll tell you a secret--music teachers are a pretty rowdy group. I guess because they have to be really creative and creativity needs to express itself. (sounds good anyhow)

Kacie and Carter moved out. mostly. As soon as they're all gone--furniture etc. I'm going to do some re-arranging. I'm really anxious to get my yarn room back. And a guest room. I do miss them--that baby is a hoot and so cute--but let's face it--he's two years old and we all know what two-year-olds are like! I've already done that three times I think it's his mom's turn to have that pleasure. aaahhh the pitter patter of little feet! toodles....Anita

October stuff

Okay, so in October my mother, my Aunt Lavonna, and my Uncle Darrell all turned 80 year old. Their children (my cousins and my sister and me) decided to throw a big birthday party for them. they all go to the same church so deciding where to have it was easy, we split up the tasks and it was a really fun party! And the first time in years that the family has been together and no funerals were involved! All the first cousins were there except of course my deceased sister. This is a picture of all my first cousins on the Hern side of my family. I'm the oldest as they are so fond of reminding me!! I have a bunch more on the Russell side. I'm the oldest on that side too. Imagine that! lucky enough to be the first grandchild on both sides of the family!!

And here are the birthday people with their cakes. Aren't they cute? A good time was had by all.

Here is Carter busted with the evidence all over his face and in his hands (Oreo cookies)

I had a picture of Carter beinging a big armload of my yarn to me but I can't seem to find it now??

Oh well, later I guess toodles....Anita

Busy and Fun Week!

Wow what a busy week! About 10 days ago I was ask to present a "fiber" program to a group of about 50 home ec teachers attending a state conference. They had signed up to take a tour of the library and wanted a program. (in case you don't know, I work in the library and seem to be the knitter-in-residence) It sounded like fun in spite of the short notice so I said yes. Starting Monday, I began gathering from the library system, pattern books, how-to books, non-fiction by Yarn Harlot, Wendy Knits, Crazy Aunt Purl etc. and fiction with knitting themes. I went through my stash which seems to be fast approaching SABLE and made arrangements with Gourmet Yarn Co, to borrow some skeins of fibers I don't own. I very much appreciate that as the cashmere and assorted fibers I don't own really enhanced the presentation. I took a variety of needles-which I seem to have plenty of-and quite a few finished projects: Lady Eleanor, Clapotis, a Christmas stocking, some miniature Christmas ornaments, socks, a forest canopy shawl that was knitted but I didn't have time to block choosing instead to go to bed the night before! I wrote a speech, did the outline, practiced and crossed my fingers that I'd stay on topic and finish in 45 minutes. I had a wonderful time and they seemed to really enjoy the presentation, at least they were very complimentary afterwords. I also gave them a hand-out with some internet resources available.

That was Tuesday, then on Wednesday I was scheduled to speak at a Senior Citizens Group at a local church. I do that quite a bit but this group wanted an author program. I have this book talk put together a couple years ago about Oklahoma Authors (I have one about Christmas books too but that's beside the point.) and agreed to present that. Our state has an amazing number of very successful authors. And fortunately, I've been priviledged to meet many of them and hear them speak at state conferences. I also coordinate an author visit once a year for a system wide program and that's fun. Get a grant from the Friends of the Library to mpay them andp--well I digress. So I bundled up a stack of books to display, made my Oklahoma Authors list hand-outs fro them and headed out. Program went great, fortunately I'm not one of the group of people who fears public speaking. Did you know that more people fear public speaking than death?! But I love it, after I retire I intend to supplement mny income by doing just exactly that. Book reviews, book/author talks, and now fiber talks too! oops I'm digressing again...

Thursday, thank heavens, nothing was scheduled so I set about uncovering the top of my desk again and lo! there it was! Friday, I rested.

Friday night I finally got to block my Forest Canopy Shawl. It's made of Fleece Artist Seacell Sock weight yarn. I bought the yarn when we were in Alaska last summer. I think it's beautiful.

Don't you?

Well, I guess I'll leave you with a picture of young Mr. Carter. He decided to brush his teeth by himself and I happened to catch him at it. Aren't toddlers funny? Toodles.....Anita

HOT

I really do not like this heat. I get all sweaty and itchy when I go outdoors. I have enough trouble with my own personal power surges to spend any "quality" time outdoors right now. It's dash out the door, check the tomatoes, dash back in. My talents lie more indoors: cooking, knitting, singing and playing, etc.

Bryan took Richard yesterday morning for an over-nighter. I've been cleaning all day. Saturday I rested and played. It's hard to even clean when he's here because he follows me around so close and wants to help but...doesn't help even when he tries.

I really need to get rid of some of my "stuff". (Not knitting stuff or music stuff but other stuff.) I seem to have too much furniture for the size of our house but I have several antiques that I absolutely love and the rest of the furniture is necessary for sitting upon or eating upon, so I'm sort of caught between a rock and hard place. (How many of us still eat at the table or do you just trot your plates to TV trays in front of the you-know-what? I'll bet we're not the only ones who do that when it's just the 2 of us!) Anyhow, back to subject, with 2 families living in one house, it's a challenge. We get along just fine but we are crowded. That's okay, I'll really miss them when they leave.

I cut up an ice cream sandwich for Carter the other day and he stared at it a bit (didn't recognize it) picked it up dropped it and said "hot!" which makes sense if you think about it. He knows hot cause he burned his fingers on the iron awhile back. He has learned to jump up in the air and both his feet actually leave the ground at the same time. He's been working really hard on learning that. I don't remember all this stuff from my own kids. Either they're too old, I'm too old, or I was just too busy to take note of these exquisite little moments.

I finally got control of my Forest Canopy Shawl and it's coming along fine now. I can work on it in a group now but it took a while. Yesterday I was at Gourmet Yarn in the afternoon and had to laugh. There was a big crowd and everyone was pawing through the bags of Noro Sock Yarn both Kureyon and Silk Garden. The colors are so absolutely beautiful it's almost impossible to resist it--and I didn't. I brought home 1 skein of S8--greens and blues for probably socks, and 2 of S264 which is turquoise-y and light brown-ish and blue and who knows what other colors are in there that I can't see yet but the whole things looks like my sister so I think she'll be getting a scarf for her birthday or Christmas. It was really funny, Sandy and David were trying to put price stickers on the lables and they couldn't keep up with us. Linda P. came by with Nina and it was good to see them and hear a little bit about camp, but she was headed home for a nap and a ballgame--at the same time I think! Polly was there and Liz and Karen and Martha, and some others but I don't remember who all. I've got to take some pictures and post of my new stuff and projects.

I watched "The Other Boelyn Girl" last night. Good movie but what a terrible time to have lived--royalty being so difficult and all. English history is facinating. I've always enjoyed the Phillippa Gregory books even though uit's been a while since I read them. I'm planning to watch "Knocked UP" this afternoon. I saw the "Waterhorse' a couple weeks ago and it's really cute. I finished "1st. to Die" by James Patterson-wow. I've ordered "@nd Chance" now-I think I'll need to read the whole series. I'm reading "Final Notice" by Jo Dereske a Helma Zukas, Librarian mystery. They're pretty entertaining.

I am so aggravated that Guild was cancelled this month. I coildn't go last month but I can this month but now I can't cause we aren't having it. I should have just invited everyone over to my house!

For now, I think it's lunch time-guess I'll go see what leftovers I have in the fridge! Then possibly nap time if all goes well! toodles, Anita

I voted....

My conscious. I am totally for what's good for the City, but in my opinion this was Maps for Millionaires. I hope I'm wrong since it passed over-whelmingly. (I knew when I went to vote and there was a line of men that I was doomed). Besides, I like my City the way it is.

Pictures:
This is Carter holding the green hat I made him. He doesn't much like hats. And here he's helping me do the dishes.


Another Pic of the Lady Eleanor














And here's Bella, she a Manx--no tail. She can't be bothered to open her eyes, she's busy sleeping.

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!