Wednesday, December 31, 2014

It's The End-Again!

Although I don't think of the traditional Jan 1 as New Year's, it is the beginning of new things.  It is an Aries moon, a time of new beginnings, a time of turning things around, a time to reflect and change.

Since my last time to leave Patty at the boarding place, I knew that my adventures away from home would be coming to an end.  She is not doing so well; she has certainly showed me signs of a geriatric dog with special needs.  I notice them because of my education and training and the fact that I am with her all the time.  Her vision has decreased, her hearing has decreased, and her need to be with me has increased. 

So this whole month I have been thinking about what to do.  Partly thinking, anyway.  I have a tendency to put ideas in and let them stew for a while.  I have enjoyed my selfish knitting and my selfish spinning.  I don't feel the pressure to put out more and more.

I have also decided to teach myself a new skill-rug hooking.  I don't think the process is difficult-it's the practice, practice, practice kind of skill.  I like the type of hooking that looks as if it is painterly.  I like the mixing of colors and textures to add interest.  It is the color in the lines part I don't like.  We will see how it evolves. 

So this is just one more thing that is taking up my time.  Now add to that my sewing.  I bought a design wall and I have placed my quilt blocks from the quilt that was abandoned two years ago.  I did give a lot of fabric away to my SIL that quilts.  I cleaned off the shelves.  I did not sort through the flannels yet.  I also need to decide what to do with some other things in that room.  I have pillowcases to make, also.

So this is the end of the year 2014 by our traditional calendar.  Time to reflect and decide how things are going to go.

Thanks to all my friends and comrades that helped me along my path this year.  My book was published, book signings were done, fiber shows were done, and lots of stuff to consider. 

Several transitions have occurred and it is time to think about those people too. 

See you next year!

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Day 2014

Yes, it is another Christmas.  Strangely I haven't been singing as many songs as I like to sing during the season.  This is the first year I haven't worn my Christmas pin.  And I didn't put up the Christmas tree this year.  Although all this sounds sad, I am not sad.  I just feel right. 

I went to CJE and AE's house yesterday to help clean out his mom's closet.  It was an archaeological dig and then some.  It is apparently going to take a few days of pulling things out, rather than a one day event.  CJE and I did not want to traumatize him and it was beginning to be apparent that he was saddened to see us take both cars loaded to Care and Share to drop off sacks of stuff.

I did bring home a sack of woolen clothing that could be made into fabric for rug hooking.  I left it out on the screened porch last night to freeze any critters.  I will sort it out there, wash them, and cut them into useable parts.

I just read an interesting idea for dyeing fabric that I want to try out.  It looked like fun and something to experiment with.

I began giving Patty a medicine "treat" that has chondroitin in it.  She just thinks it is a treat, and gobbles it down.  I am hoping this will help her hips and back knee joints.  She is having some difficulty with jumping.  She is more "spacey" lately and it is obvious she is thinking through the process of whatever task she is supposed to be doing.  The OT in me watches her and tries to think of creative ways to keep her independent.

I just heard honking and looked up.  Evidently my neighbor across the road has relatives coming.  Three cars pulled in behind each other and through her gate. 

I have been knitting on my sweater and have one more inch before the ribbing.  I have slogged through all the miles of stockinette, and relief is in sight.  I started knitting a feather/fan scarf with some of handspun yarn.  The colorway is so gorgeous.  It reminds me a forest floor with shadows, moss, and tiny flowers.  I will post a pic next time.

Today is a beautiful sunny day.  This has been the cloudiest and gloomiest weather month.  We have had drizzle, freezing rain, drizzle, and more drizzle.  Clouds every day.  I think I will wash something and hang on the line.  It was cold last night, but pleasant today.

I had Santa Claus when I got home last night.  Someone (I don't know who) sent me a new camera.  It isn't an expensive one, but nice.  It has more megapixels than the one I had.  I also got my package from Ryan and Holly.  She always finds the best little gifts.  I would rather get a sack of small gifts than one big one.  I donated money to a charity for them, and I sent them a few items in the mail.  I know that it is cheating to do that, but I like to think that they appreciate the idea of the donation.

I guess I jinxed the sky.  Clouds just covered up the sun.  Sigh!

I haven't been very faithful to this blog.  I think I need to reassess what I want to do about that.  I either have to close it or write more often.  I guess now that my book is published, I could write more here.  I just don't seem to "get around to it".

I also need to consider what to do with all the "stuff" I have lying around.  I need to finish some projects that have lingered too long in the unfinished line.

Instead of thinking about any of this, I think I will go and watch the birds.  I think this is a sit and stare out the window kind of day. 

More pictures next time.  Have a Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Oh No, Not Another Learning Experience

This has been a strange beginning to my hibernation season.  The weather has been up and down as it does in December.  I am so happy we have not had another December like last year's mess.  I remember the ice and snow.  It has been overcast, dreary, and damp.  The highs are seasonal. 

I am now facing the facts that I have a geriatric dog and that I am now getting geriatric.  I have more aches and hurting than ever before.  Patty has been doing a lot of staring at me and shaking.  After a phone call with my friends, we decided she is in pain.  I read online I can give her a low dosage aspirin.  So I gave her an 81 mg pill after calculating her weight and dosage.  She slept in her usual way, with getting up and groaning and stretching, and she could not jump onto her usual places.  That seemed to get her through that rough day.

Then she did the strangest thing the other night.  I walked into the kitchen to get a snack around 8 pm, and she followed me as she always does now.  I don't know why I turned around as I walked into the living room, but I did.  She was squatting and peeing on the floor.  She never does this.  She could not understand why I was screaming and yelling "no, no, no, no" over and over.  Of course, she isn't able to hear me, but she could read the body language really well.  She walked through the puddle and went to her safe place-her bed.  Sigh!  So she is being monitored constantly for any more signs of aberrant behavior.

I did a most unforgiveable thing for me to do.  I forgot to pay a bill.  It is so bizarre.  I have a very rigid method of recording my bills in a notebook and in my check register.  I do most of my bill paying online, but some require checks to be mailed.  The other night I was thinking about a gift for my son and daughter-in-law and thinking of putting it on my credit card, etc.  Then a flash went off-"Did I pay that bill?"  I remember getting it, but I couldn't remember anything after that.  Of course, my excuse is that I had to clean up my house really good for someone to come over.  I went through the stack where I keep bills-another rigid habit I have.  I have one place that I place bills.  I tore the house up looking for the bill.  I went online to check my electronic statements, I checked my check register in my purse, I looked and looked and looked.  I finally concluded that I hadn't paid it.

Sure, you would think I could go online and check there.  No, I have to have an access code that is on the statement.  No statement-no access code.

Finally I called the bank in Kansas City.  I explained I had had a senior moment.  Bless "Nicole"'s heart-she waived the late fee and took the info down to  pay the damn thing.  Then when I hung up I cried.  I can't believe I did that.  How could I forget what I did with the damn bill?  Either it will show up many months down the line, or I burned it with the paper trash.  My bets are on the latter.

That's two things that I have forgotten this week.  It is very scary to me.  Is this a sign of dementia or is it truly just a "senior moment". 

I also could not find anyone to knit those damn slippers for my friend DA.  He wants a pair of slippers like the old ratty one for his brother.  His brother loved that slipper until he wore a hole in the bottom.  So I found a pattern, cast on, knit them both, and sewed up the first one.  That's when I realized that these were way, way too small for a heavy-set man to wear.  I threw it down and sulked for two days.  I finally ripped out the two I had knit and cast on again.  I finished the one and sewed it up and it is 11 inches!  I was so thrilled I squealed.  So last night I knit the garter bottom and I am ready to start decreases on the second damn slipper. 

I really shouldn't hate knitting these as much as I do.  I am knitting with two worsted threads together on a size 9 needle.  It should knit fast and quickly.  Unfortunately I find the bigger needles hurt my hands more so than the smaller needles.  So I have to stop, flex my hands, wash the dishes in hot water, and go back later to it.  I will have this damn thing finished soon, and it will be done!

I finished the most beautiful yarn on my new electric spinner.  It is a multi color with black, dark blue, greens, yellows, and a dab of pink thrown in.  Really pretty.  Quite proud of my first skein off the new machine.

I am also getting really close with the sweater I am knitting.  I have over nine inches of the body completed.  Stockinette is boring, but I am getting it done.  I have to have fourteen inches of this and then the ribbing.  Yay!  Then the sleeves, then I am DONE!

I have picked out a pattern for my handspun handknit project this winter.  The blue yarn I love did not produce as much yardage as I expected.  So I am going to do a vest.  The pattern I picked out is Kasuri Chanchanko out of Folk Vests by Nancy Bush.  It will require a contrast color for the stranded work.  I think I am going to use white.  I have to finish the sweater on the needles first.  I am still planning ahead.

The Wild Foods Party is this weekend.  AE is in his fevered preparation stage, as usual.  CJE is fighting her sinus infection and avoiding his anxiety.  It will be fun to see everyone around the table again.

When I talked to the young lady at the bank this morning, I was asked my security questions.  I don't remember what I picked, but obviously one of them was my mother's maiden name.  How secure is that anyway?  After I hung up, I suddenly thought about that.  I remember then that my mother has been gone 30 years now.  It just seemed strange-30 years! 

Well, I guess I need to go knit on those slippers and get that project off the list.  Sigh! 

Patty is staring at me again.  Maybe she needs to run outside again.  Another Sigh!

I am going to try to be a better blogger, but no promises are made.  Have a great weekend!