Memorial Day!

I am so happy to say I am almost well again. I have been sick since May 14, and I never, ever have been sick like this before. I awoke at 3 am and started vomiting and had severe pain in my stomach, upper gut area. It stayed very, very severe for 5 days, and then the vomiting stopped. I finally went to a doctor, and if anyone knows me, that is like signing a death warrant. I had blood tests, a urinalysis, and an ultrasound. The urinalysis showed I had a bladder infection, but I was so not believing that with all the other problems I had. But I did take my round of antibiotics, as ordered. I never had any symptoms before, so I don't have any symptoms now. All the other tests were normal. So was this a gallbladder attack as I suspected? Who knows. I know I don't have any gallstones, so that is positive.

So everything I have been doing since has been to improve my diet, get lots and lots of rest, and just be aware of my body.

Then on top of all that, I started having severe pain in one of my back molars on the lower jaw. I had a repair done last November, and I guess it decided to fail. After an emergency visit to my dentist, he said I needed to go to an oral surgeon to get further help. So now that I am better, I can schedule that this week.

And my knitting has not been visited much in this past few weeks. I think I have slept mostly through everything. I did finish the BFL yarn and I started on the pink stuff. But sitting in that position is difficult, and I have to monitor the pain in my back and go back to bed.

On a happy note, a friend JH has a wonderful husband making her a spinning wheel. I have mentioned this before. He came by Friday to check some more measurements, and to pick my brain a little bit. In our conversation I mentioned I needed to make some templates for shibori dyeing. He went to a friend that has a laser computerized machine and I now have 126 new templates. I can hardly believe it. JH and LH came by yesterday and gave them to me. I am so thrilled to have them. They are heavy, thick, clear industrial strength plexiglass. They even etched the size of shape on the piece so I don't have to guess or stop to measure them.

Last night I started thinking up design ideas and pulled out my silk pieces. But now I really, really want to get an indigo vat going. It is finally into our summertime pattern, and I don't have to worry about fluctuating temps.

This Spring has had the worst storms in a long, long time. I am so thankful that I only got minor damage to my roof. I did get a new roof put on in the midst of all this illness. It looks very pretty, so let's hope it stays that way for many years. NO MORE HAIL!

My garden is flourishing, but it is very weedy. I have tried to go out and pull weeds, and to weed-eat some. But I don't last long. You know that commercial where the guy is up in the tree and shakes it to make a limb fall on your car? Well, I am now saying, "Shaky, Shaky. Time to quit." I am normally one to keep working until the project is completed.

I cleaned my little screened porch, and it is so pleasant to sit out there. It is like a little secret place to read, or do needlework. I am having a thing with a big, ole spider that seems to think it is her territory, but she understands that I bigger and meaner. But for the most part, she is never around. I just like to sit out there and listen to the birds.

I have a downy woodpecker and orioles that are feeding on the hummingbird feeder. I have had a major slowdown on hummingbirds, so I pulled one of the feeders so I don't waste sugar water.
A pair of brown thrashers have moved into the neighborhood and they are almost as pesky as mockingbirds.

So not a whole lot going on right now. I am laying low, and trying to stay focused on health. I will try to be more of blogger as I get my strength back. I am having to focus on just getting the riding mower mowing done. The trimwork has fallen behind. But those are not big issues, except to my neighbor who has a pristine yard.

Stay well and stay healthy. I am finally back in the world again.

Reflections

Today has been a day of reflection. Why? Who knows. Maybe the full moon; I don't know.
I sometimes wonder about the insanities of the world. But my way of dealing with the irrationality of the world is to do something creative. Sometimes it takes a while to make something I like. Sometimes it is just the attempt to make something and it doesn't happen the way I want it to happen. But I think the important part is the process of doing something creative. Some times it takes a really long time for something to get done. Some times it is fast. But I think the process of planning and then following through is the important part. Or maybe it is just that I keep on doing it. I don't give up. I get inspired and I just start something. I think the fear of failure often stops the process. So some of the time it never gets going. But for the most part, I may fail or I may be happy with the result. But I tried to create something beautiful and happy and fun and silly and part of me. It may be brilliant only to me, but I finish. Where does this reflection come from? I don't know. I just know it is important to me to respond in the way I find truth.

Let the Sunshine In!

Yes, the sun is shining. We had a normal little shower last evening that lasted 30 mins. A little bit of thunder, but nothing too earth shattering. I got the yard mowed just as the rain drops started their prologue. I got the tools put away, a little bit of weedeating, and then the real show started.

I am at the in-between food situation. I don't want a heavy cooked meal, but I am not ready for the liquids and salad meals part of summer eating. I know, lucky me that I have choices.

I had more company over the weekend. I am ready to seal the extra bedroom. My girlfriend doesn't get to come to town that often for shopping. She usually drives the 2 hour drive to see her grandkids, and then heads home to prepare for next day work. This week she found someone to cover shifts for her to give herself some time off work. After a day with the grandkids, they all came here for a visit. After the daughter and grandkids left, we settled down for some knitting. She wanted me to show her the linen stitch again, so we made a swatch and pinned it to the instructions.

Monday we went out in the rain to shop at all the stores she hasn't been to for a while. She needed more cotton for washcloths, but nothing else was important. She wanted to shop at some stores to look at yarn for the grandkids Fall sweaters she knits every summer. I was tired out by the time we got home and she left around 5 p.m.

Saturday I spent the day at JE's shop in Bentonville talking to Girl Scouts. I do not want to publish my opinion of how Girl Scouts get merit badges these days. Let's just say it is ridiculous and it wasn't that way when I was a Girl Scout.

JE did bring her Spring lambs with their moms to be sheared. Not the lambs, just the moms. There is nothing cuter than new lambs. They are clowns and precious. Of course, I left my camera at home.

I am proud to say I just bit the bullet and started knitting on the giraffe sock again. I like it again. I will say I will not do this again. I am tired of color stranded knitting on socks. This is the third one in six months, and I am tired of it. I said that with the pink clown socks, too. I remember that. But this time, no more stranded socks for a while. I did cast on for a plain sock to stick in my purse for knitting in public. I have trouble follow charts if I am talking to other folks.

Speaking of socks, I have yet to wash and put away my wooly socks. I was happy to have a pair on Monday in the rain and cold. Yes, I wore a light coat with a hood all day. It has been in the 30's and low 40's at night this week. The promise is warmer weather by tomorrow, and maybe next week I can wash all my sockies and put them away. I need to do the same with the gloves and mitts. Another chore to put on the list.

The insurance adjuster came by to check out my roof for hail damage. While he was on the roof he trimmed the tree branches that were touching the roof. And he cleaned my gutters that were under those limbs. Wasn't that nice of him? I guess there are advantages of being older after all. When he left, he acknowledged my thanks and said, "At least you can knock those off the chore list." I was very appreciative that I do not have to climb up to the roof to trim the limbs. I clean the gutters twice a year, and I just have to stand on the ladder to do that.

I am going to close by placing a link to mason-dixon.com. They are so clever. http://mason dixon.com I am not sure I have whatever it takes to be an operative with SEALKS.

Have a good weekend. Hopefully the showers next week will just be brief afternoon showers like yesterday. I think it is time to move on with this weather pattern. Of course, we haven't completed our tornado season. I am going to visit with CJE tomorrow and hopefully we will have good weather for a long walk.

Oh-and yes, I did watch the wedding. I am not going to hide from that. I loved watching the beauty of their event, but also to see how happy they look. I also loved seeing what I could see of the Cosmati Pavement in Westminister Abbey. YouTube has videos of the restoration of this beautiful floor. When I see it, I always think of weaving tapestries or making quilts or something out of the design. It is so gorgeous. I love the idea that a message meanders around the edges of the designs throughout the floor.

Anyway, keep happy and keep loving each other. Until next time.....

Does Anyone Know How To Build An Ark?

Before I start griping about the weather again, I wanted to show off Fraternal Leftover Socks drying on the rack. I used four skeins of leftover yarns and knit 4 rows, then changed to another skein, etc. They are packed and ready to ship off today. So right now I only have 2 UFO's, the afghan, and my handspun sweater left on the needles and hook. My right hand is hurting a bit, and I have an elastic glove on it. That helps.

Right now all I am focused on is the weather. It has been raining since last Monday. No, not raining, raining, but storming, thunder and lightening, and tornadoes. A couple of days last week I would wake up to some sun and warmish weather. Then by late morning the clouds would move in, and wham! another storm. Then Thursday the mess moved in for good. Continuous rain, storms, thunder, etc.

Friday night all that was on t.v. were the weather guys. I have never seen storms like this before. You could see the wall cloud, then you could see the rotation starting, then the tornadoes (notice plural) would start dropping down from the cloud, and then they would go back into the cloud. Really dramatic and unreal. There were a few that were reported touch down, but nothing significant. That was the night of the tornado in St. Louis.

Also the rain is unreal. First you could hear a rumbling quite a bit, then someone would unzip clouds and it would pour out. That is the only way to describe it. It would let up and slow down, then more rumbling, then unzip, pouring rain. And really, really dark.

The atmosphere felt lighter this morning when we got up. Noodles and Patty went running outside and enjoyed the bit of freedom they had. Right now it is getting darker and darker, and I hear thunder in the distance. I see a wall cloud to the north from the window. Really strange.

Oh! The other weird thing. I have tons of flies in the house. Really weird! I guess every time I open the door, more come in. I have been killing flies like crazy. Have you ever heard the old saying "The flies are biting. It's going to rain"? Well, these flies are not biting, but it is raining.

Someday in a few months I will be griping about the heat and the dryness. But right now I am just thinking about boats. I even dreamed I won a beautiful scull in a contest. I was so excited, and then wondered if I can still row. It had light pastel pink and yellow designs around the top, the hull was white, of course, and I was tickled to get it. I wasn't sure how I would get it home, but I thought it was gorgeous. I don't think I have ever rowed in a brand spanking new scull. All I have used is used ones. Even when I went to rowing camp at Harvard that summer.

I started the little quilt to put in the seat of Noodles chair by the window. That is all I have done. I have read two books. And watched the t.v. for more storms. That's all. Nothing exciting.

I made a quick trip to Oklahoma Thursday to see my friend OSM while her truck was being worked on. We picked up sandwiches at Subway and went to a landing by the river so the dogs could play. While sitting on the rocks on a towel, it started raining on us. So we went to her cabin to wait out the storm. The trip home was troublesome. I would run into storms along the way, slow down and try to see the road, then speed up when the storm passed over. By the time I got to Farmington, I stopped to go to the bathroom. The local t.v. station was setting up a camera towards the north. I looked where it was pointed and saw a wall cloud and blackness. I was going to go to knit night, but decided to head home, which was north. The closer I got to home, the rain was terrible. I ran into the house, dried Patty off, and answered the phone. My neighbor told me I had just missed the hail, and that a window was knocked out of their house and that they had roof damage. Friday morning the only damage I found was my tarp storage shed has holes in the roof. I haven't checked my roof yet, since it is raining all the time now.

This has been the worse tornado season in a long, long time. There have been 45 or more tornadoes in the month of April so far. Normally May is a big month for tornadoes. I guess we will have to wait and see. I have lived through 3 in my lifetime, and I don't want to experience it again.

So guess I will go into the sewing room and work on the little quilt for a while. I don't have much left to do- just a coupla more rows. I am doing a quilt-as-you-go, so when big enough, I just have to put binding on.

Stay safe and dry. Keep your eyes on the sky. It's that time of year.

Full Moon-Time to Take Stock!

Tomorrow is the Full Moon. It is a time to really take stock of how the month is progressing. Are you making headway on the goals you set two weeks ago at the New Moon?

I know that I primarily said to myself I want to finish the BFL I am spinning. Then three weekends of company messed up my schedule; but as persistent as I am, I finished the first half of the singles. I made myself stay in today and listen to NPR and podcasts until it was finished. I love, love the way the colors came out and the richness of the colors.

The other thing I wanted to do was make something with my pretty merino handspun. It is turquoise, blue, green, and some teal in it. I have 872 yds. I studied patterns until I was sick of that. I don't want a vest or a shawl. Okay, what to do? Well, duh, you could simply spin some more yarn to make a sweater. I ordered the roving, and started knitting on what I have. I actually did a good swatch, and settled on two patterns. Then I put it all aside and let it simmer while I had company. Then I woke up one morning with a decision,and now I have the cuffs finished on the sleeves. I am so happy that I let it simmer, because I think the yarn is going to be perfect for the sweater. Oh-I always knit the sleeves first. That way I can learn the pattern and know how it looks, etc. Then when I get to the body of the sweater, I have the pattern in my head and my tension under control.

Now to socks. The "giraffe" socks are stuck in park, and I am so over this pattern. I am almost at the point of making a giraffe sock puppet and be done with it. Something to mull over the next two weeks of this month.

I finished the first leftover sock and am halfway down the foot of the second one. This is 4 different skeins of leftover sock yarn in the leftover box. I am doing 4 rows of each one and then repeating. This should be finished next week. The only down side is all the loose ends because I cut after 4 rows and add on the next yarn. But I feel most likely they will get felted onto each other after some wearing. Someone suggested I "carry" the yarn up, but I think it would make a welt inside. I might try it next time.

And then I must not forget that I need to finish painting the guest bedroom. And I have to finish planting the flowers I have sitting on the table waiting for the last cold snap. Yard work is forever anyway. But I do want to get these flowers in the ground quickly.

So here we sit waiting for the Full Moon. I think I have taken stock of everything.

Oh-the quilt for Noodles' chair. I forgot. I began sorting fabric scraps and ironing, but I have not cut the strips yet. I need to get to that too.

And Patty needs a bath and trim around her feet. I cut Noodles back toenails Thursday night. Since he is still unable to climb trees, they were extremely long. He actually was trying to chew one this week. So I cut them back. He didn't try to fight me, so I guess he was happy to get that done. He is shedding a lot now, and I have to comb him daily.

So lots to do. Just got to get busy. I am taking a little break since I finished my singles and stretching out my back a little bit.

Gardening is not a rational act. Margaret Atwood, "Unearthing Suite," Bluebeard's Egg

It worked!

Just wanted to say-my solution worked. Huh? Makes no sense to me.

I AM Really Tired of This!

I have been trying for two weeks to publish on this blogger. I had downloaded a new Internet Explorer, and Blogger has not been able to sync with that. That is the story anyway. So I went back today and removed my program and restored my old Internet Explorer. We will see if this works. Of course, one cannot just email them and ask for assistance. You have to post to a forum. There are tons of forums out there with the same problem-I cannot publish my posts. So I started yet another one, and the only response I have gotten so far is if it is a problem with IE, then it will be fixed when it is fixed. But if it is my computers problem, then I have to fix that problem myself. Well-DUH! Anyway, my last company left this a.m. for the airport. I have had company three weekends in a row, and I am really tired of that. I like to have company every once in a while, and usually my overnight company is only 1 night. My last company has been my cousin for his annual visit. Usually he stays in a hotel, but his business meeting was not up here this year. So he took vacation days and stayed with me. We made our annual visit to his property in Oklahoma. I went to the annual Quilt Show up here that is usually just down the street from me. But the convention center raised their prices, and they moved way out in Benton County at the Fairgrounds. I enjoyed seeing all the amazing quilts that make me feel so inadequate. And the vendors were fun. I only bought a little bit. I did buy a cute embroidery piece that I am going to use as a center for a little cat quilt for Noodles in his chair. I have an idea of what I am going to do, but we will see how it goes. He likes quilts a lot, and it will protect the chair seat. I have been scanning patterns on Ravelry to knit my next handspun sweater. I had a good idea and I bought some store bought yarn to go with the pattern last Thursday at Knit Night. Now I am leaning towards a different sweater that I think I like better. I have been spending all my time for three days with a non-knitter person, and I am itching to get back to my routine. Not being able to knit with a busy routine is one thing, but not being able to discuss knitting is another thing. I did send my "cool colors" feather and fan scarf to my cousin's wife for a gift. I think she will really like it. At least next winter. We are in our Spring up and down weather pattern. And it is storm season. I need to mow today because it is supposed to storm tomorrow evening. The weeds are growing really well. So here's hoping this publishes. Talk at ya later.