It's Been a While

I haven't posted anything in over a year on here.  I've been concentrating on slowly getting better. There has been lots of improvement.  

I still need the walker (I think that's a permanent situation) but am able to walk a bit further than I used to.  Primarily, it is my back issues that cause the limitations. I can go to the store but have to use the scooters.

I have a wonderful dietician who helps me with my needs. I am on a low fat, sugar, and salt diet and count exchanges instead of carbs.  It works better for me. I'm losing weight.

As for the heart, no problems.  It's perfectly healthy. No residual problems from the effusion. My eyes are good too.  I have 20/20 vision again, although I do need reading glasses for stitching and some up-close stuff. 

Diabetes is better.  My A1C is around 6.5 at the last check in. My evening insulin dose got lowered too. My dietician has a monthly class on nutrition for diabetics which I go to.

As for crafting, since my last post I finished knitting four sweaters, a hat and mitten set, another hat, and my Vivid blanket.  I also spun up 10 ounces more in 2024. So far, I've spun up 35 ounces in 2025.

I finished my cat cross stitch but need to do the backstitching on that one. I also finished another cat one that looked a bit like my Sophie. I made it as a memorial to her. I stitched a cute snowman cartoon one, but again it needs the backstitching part. There are several others still in progress with no finish date in mind.

My plans for now are to stitch on a few more projects, work on and finish a crocheted cape I started last week, spin a couple more braids of fiber, and stay on track with the diet.

Finally a Finish

It takes me longer to work on crafts since naps are still a required thing for me.  Plus I have to keep my feet and legs elevated when in the recliner which makes crafting harder to do from that angle.

It took me five months to finish my sweater project.  Part of the lengthy process was due to my decision to modify the pattern.  I made the "Lauriel" sweater but only used the yoke instructions.  Then I made a plain cardigan for the rest. It came out a bit big but it's loose and flowy.  I intend it to be a layering piece anyway.  

Now, I pulled out my "Vivid" Blanket to get that put together.  I decided to just make it to the size of squares I already completed.  It's been languishing for so long I no longer love the project but don't want to abandon it.  It will be about a full-size bed throw which is good for using in the recliner.

I also finished spinning up 7.5 ounces of a gradient colorway.  Tour de Fleece starts June 29 and I'm looking forward to that.

Some stitching has been accomplished as well.  My Sophie cat project is about 75% done.  "Ambilight" also got some stitches put into it.

My upcoming plans are to spin for TdF, finish the cat stitch, start another sweater and crocheted blanket, and try to get more stitching on a couple other cross stitch projects.

I still need the walker.  I think that is a permanent situation.  I go in the stores now.  Pat brings the riding scooter out to the car for me, and I ride around doing my shopping.  It works well for me.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to walk that long.

Goodbye Sweet Sophie

Today was a sad day.  My 18-year-old cat passed over Rainbow Bridge.  She had been sick with congestive heart failure and thyroid problems since right before Christmas.  We had fluid drained from around her heart and lungs a few times.  She had a medication list my husband took care of.  She also had developed dementia at the end.

Now, she is playing all the other fur babies who met her at the crossing.  

I am stitching a picture of a cat that looks a lot like her and want to finish it as soon as possible.

2023 Year in Review

This past year was not my most productive for crafting.  I only finished a few things - 1 cowl, 1 pair of socks, 3 sweaters, 1 small cross stitch, and 21 ounces of fiber was spun.  There was quite a bit of stitching on other cross stitch projects, but they are large and long term. The yarn stash saw 31.5 skeins used and 278 skeins added.  I couldn't resist that big sale at the end of the year from Knit Picks with a few orders placed.  Several sweater quantities were bought.  I only added 32 ounces to the fiber stash so that was not too bad of an increase of 11 ounces.  Several cross-stitch kits have been added to that stash as well.  

I was doing well until I got sick in May.  Recovery has been slow and includes many naps.  My energy level is still low.  I hope to knit 4 sweaters, and a few other items in 2024.  One of my targeted items is to finish my oldest WIP - Vivid Blanket.  I'm thinking of just sewing the squares I have and see how big it is.  My husband is not fond of the idea of putting it on the bed.  He thinks it will be too heavy and warm.  I can use it in my recliner instead.

I had cataract surgeries a couple weeks ago, so no spinning lately.  I have safety glasses to protect my eyes from any errant fibers in the future.  I hope to set my mini spinner up next week after my final post-op visit if the doctor says it's o.k. now.

A Year of Ups and Downs

My year has continued to be challenging.

Mid-May found me sick with what I thought was the flu.  I did two Covid tests and they were both negative.  I had contacted my doctor and he told me to give it a few days and call back if I felt no better.  I was worse.  I had a dry cough to the point of coughing up water and could not breathe well. I called back, and he told me to go to a walk-in emergency center.  I could hardly walk I was so weak and faint. I had my husband take me to the hospital ER instead.  I got admitted with what they thought was congestive heart failure.  It was actually a pericardial effusion caused by a micro-bug I had picked up somewhere.  My heart was drowning in fluid and my other systems were trying to shut down.  I had no idea how close to dying I was.  Meds didn't work.  I had to have a needle aspiration done   It drained about 100cc of fluid from around my heart.  I had to be awake for that, just numbed up.  My systems started to recover, and I felt much better. I was still as weak as a kitten and could hardly walk from the bed to chair with someone holding on to me. 

After 8 days, I was sent home with a walker and still have to use it to get around. My balance is still off.  When I came home, Pat had to follow behind me with the desk chair if I was trying to walk to the bathroom or bedroom.  I could only go about 20 feet and had to sit down.  Now, I can go much farther.  I can walk from the car into a doctor's office without taking a sit-down break.  I've not gone to any stores or other places except medical appointments. Going in the car just to get out of the house once in a while is all.  I keep the walker with me in the house but try just touching counter edges or tables sometimes. I am on fluid restriction, and a special low salt diet with many restricted items on that too.  I'm wearing the stylish compression stockings unless I am in bed for the night.  

I also had my annual eye exam, and the cataract is worse, so I need surgery for that soon.

Hubby is feeling better.  Thankfully, he has been able to take care of me 24/7 while I recover.  The hospital wanted to send me to rehab to build me back up, but I refused.  I felt I could do better at home and have,

And my 18-year-old cat has been diagnosed with heart disease and thyroid issues.  She has daily meds for that now.

Crafting took a back seat to all of this, since I still take a lot of naps.  I did finish the cowl from May, spin up a pound of fiber over 3 months' time, knit a sweater, and do some cross-stitching on my projects.  I added a medium one of a cat and have about half of it stitched.  There is a ton of backstitching to do after to it. 

Now the cooler weather is coming, I hope to get more crafting done.

Crafting and Life Updates

The last part of 2022 was not good.  My husband was almost killed in a car accident when he was struck on rte. 95.  The driver had a rental car and no insurance.  Luckily, my husband was driving the '79 Cougar which was totaled. He was spun completely around and hit the barrier and construction barrels. If he had one of the smaller cars, he would not have lived.  He had some injuries but is doing better.  He is having knee surgery later this month.   

Other than the chronic back issues, I'm doing well.  My A1C is down, and I feel better.

There was not much crafting in 2022.  I only finished one sweater and a crocheted blanket.  I did a little spinning (8 ounces) and some stitching on my three big cross stitch kits. The small "Curious Cats" kit was finished.  

So far 2023 has been better.  I started and finished a smaller cross stitch kit. It's two rabbits in the snow.  I have the body of my "Giselle" sweater finished and the first sleeve picked up.  I decided not to do the patterned part down the sleeves and the sides of the body, leaving them plain instead. A sock has been cast on too. 

I broke the use stash only plan early this year.

I spun 5 ounces but added 32 to stash in January.  I had 1000 points at Paradise Fibers, so I decided to splurge and use them. 

In March, my cord came apart at the metal part while I was knitting. I had to order replacement cords, so some yarn also was ordered - 46 ounces worth.  Knit Picks was having a 20% off site wide sale for that weekend.  I got three more colors to go with my leftovers from the previous blanket for another one.  Two sweater quantities of worsted weight yarn also were added.  One is a pretty pale baby blue, and the other is a purple so dark it's almost black.  Patterns are already picked for both colors.

Several stitching kits have also been added as well.  

Of course, Sophie is still here, meowing and being her sassy self.

My Crafting Finally Returns... Goodbye SweetTipper

 It's been a slow year for my craft projects.  I had other things needing my attention and I also got into a slump.  There's been very little knitting or spinning, and a little bit of cross stitching done since the New Year. 

I did finish a sweater, a shawl, and the snowflake wreath.  There was some fiber spun, too.  There is progress, but none of my cross-stitch projects are completed yet.  They do take longer to do.  Plus, three of the four are larger pieces.  One is over five feet long.

I've been good about buying yarn and fiber.  I only added a few skeins and some fiber for dyeing purposes.  Since the basement stairs are still an issue for me, Pat will help me set up my supplies on the deck table and I will dye up some lovelies soon.  I am waiting for the weather to be a little bit cooler.

We had to say goodbye to our boy kitty, Tipper, a few months ago.  He had end stage renal failure and there was nothing we could do.  We do still have our old girl kitty.  Ironically, she was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2019 and we thought she would go first, but she's still here, looks and acts healthy, and being her sassy self. 😊

Giant Snowflakes and Shawl Progress

 The Fibre Friends Podcast has challenges every month.  October's was to try a craft you have never done or not done in a long time.  I crochet but have never made snowflakes.  The steel hooks and crochet cotton are just too fiddly for me to work with. On the show, Louise made giant ones and I loved them.  Bernat Blanket yarn and a size N hook got me the best results.  Hooks K and L made to loops too smooshed together.  My hands hurt after just one so I have to limit making them to one every few days.  Plans are to hang them in my picture window and make a wreath for my door with some.  The pattern is found on ExpressionFiberArts.com . I used the video instructions which are clearer than the written ones.

Love In the Time of Coronavirus Shawl was originally a MKAL.  It has seen some progress, and I'm ready to start Clue 2.  The pic is midway thru Clue 1.

Tonight will be spent with my Hansen mini spinner and some fiber.  It's been a while. 

Pat made me an attachment to hold my magnetic board on my metal floor frame and make it easier to see my pattern when cross stitching.  I can just leave it upright to look at it, and won't have to keep stopping to pick it up and check where I am. 

Crafting Progress

With the arrival of slightly cooler weather, my desire to be crafting has improved.  The Hoarfrost Shawl is finished and just needs blocking and a picture.  I did some stitching and spinning too.

I decided to do a finishing things up project for the next couple of months.  I'm calling it "Finish-It-Up Fall".  I have a list of several partial or waiting for a long time projects I would like to see completed.  My Vivid Blanket needs 5 more squares and put together to be next off the list.  A Shawl, socks, and cowl are also waiting in the knitting bag.   (Hope to at least get the socks and cowl done) There are a couple of spinning WIPs to get done so the wheels are empty again. 

There's also cross stitch projects listed. I want to finish the last of the back stitching on the cats, and a few small stitch projects for ornaments. 

That is more than I will finish, but I want to make a good attempt.  Remember the story of how to eat an elephant - one bite at a time.  Well, one stitch at a time will get stuff finished.  I want the blanket, cat stitching, and at least one fiber project off the list first.  Then I tackle the others and see how far I get.

Summer Heat Wave and Crafting Progress

 The heat has been tough to deal with during the last few weeks.  I know it's all over the country and I hear some friends saying how hard it is to keep cool and safe.  Luckily, I do have air conditioning and stay inside with it most of the time.  I keep all the blinds closed to and that helps to keep the house from heating up.

My crafting has been affected by body aches and pains.  I didn't finish my spinning goals for Tour de Fleece this year because of this.  It's the first time nothing was completed during the race since I started participating in it.  My intentions are to finish the two fiber I started before the end of August.  My other crafting had to take a week long break as well so I could rest my hands.  Extremely small amounts of cross stitch has been done in the past week or so.  I did finish my "Skaha" sweater a few days ago, and promptly cast on for the "Hoarfrost" Shawl by Andrea Mowry.  That's moving along splendidly.  I have until September 30th to finish it for a KAL in one of the Ravelry groups I'm in.

We finally bought the new crockpot to replace the one Pat broke.  I picked a smaller one, since nothing seems to make it to the freezer.  lol  I mad Shredded Barbeque Chicken breast in it three days ago.  It was only two large breasts so I knew it would go fast.  Meatballs and sauce or a roast are next on the menu to cook in it.

Knitting Along in Slow Motion... Summer Heat

 It feels like I am slow motion knitting.  Plans were to have my Skaha sweater off the needles this past week.  The finish was so close, I could see it.   I had the yoke down to the last couple of decreases when I looked closer at it. It looked too wide at the neck.  Yep.  It helps to read the pattern correctly.  I had only done half the decreases required.  I had left out all the ones on the left of the markers.  So I was visiting the frog pond with it for a few days, ripping the whole yoke out.  Markers are where they need to be and sleeves are re-attached.   It will be in time out for a bit until I love it again.

Meanwhile, it's Saturday and Tour de Fleece starts now.  I have some fibers picked out and my wheels ready to go.  Plans are to spin every day but not to over do the time.  Taking breaks is very important not to cause an injury to yourself.

Pat made up the vertical support for my floor frame so the frames don't tip down on one end any more.  He made two so I can leave them attached to the scroll rods and just swap them at the clamp on the floor frame.  I am trying to spend a little time stitching on my current projects, but progress is very slow.

Summer is here and we are getting ready for sticky, humid, hot weather for the next few days.  I will be inside with the a/c on.

Multi-Timer, Project Finishes, Vaccine, Spring Has Sprung

I started using a Multi-Timer on my phone.  I saw it on one of the podcasts I watch.  You set it up with 12 hours for each of a few projects and only work on those items until they are finished or the 12 hours are up.  You can reset anther 12 hours for a project to continue working on it.  I did add 7 instead of the suggested 5.  You just can't add more projects until the original ones are done.

 My 'Frozen' Sweater was finally finished at the end of March.  Two spinning projects are also finished.  Right now I have my 'Skaha' sweater, 'Vivid' blanket, and the 3 cross stitch on my timers. One cross stitch project just needs the backstitching finished so I hope to get that done this month.  I re-set the spinning timer so its an on-going project.  Plans are to use it and finish a braid a month.

I went for my first Covid vaccine.  My husband had his in the morning and told me it would be impossible for me to walk the building to get mine, due to my back problems.  I had to try. I took the crutches instead of my cane so I could lean on them if I needed to. I got there, parked, and got out of car with the crutches.  A National Guardsman saw me and got me a wheelchair.  He pushed me through the entire process, and took me back to my car after the observation wait time.  I never could have done it on my own. The only side effects I noticed was a sore arm - no worse than with the flu shot last year.  I go back in a couple of weeks for my second shot.  There are no plans to go to stores or socializing  after the required 2 weeks after shot 2 as of yet.  

Spring weather has made an appearance and I look forward to sit in the back yard under my awning.  

Sweater Attempt Number 3

 It appears my "Frozen" color work sweater just does not want to become a garment.  The first two times it was much too big.  

Try number three has issues as well.  I think the size is fine this time.  After frogging the almost complete body, I started knitting with the same yarns, just not in the same order as I frogged the skeins.  I didn't realize there was a bit of a light blue tint on the natural cream (main color) from where I had used the darkest blue in the color work.  About five inches into the body, I could see this discoloration at about an inch from the arms separation point.  So, now I frogged back to a row under the arm separation, switch to a skein I know was just used in the body and have knit onward.  Here's hoping I finish the sweater and can wear it before Spring gets here.  I have plans for the other skein to become a hat after a good soaking.  I will put the same pattern in the area of the blue tint just in case.

There's still only a little spinning and cross stitching progress so far this year.

Time to feed the cats.  One is meowing and the other sort of makes a trill noise for food demands.  As they age, they are getting much more vocal and a bit sassy.   lol

A Demanding Old Cat

 My old boy cat has become quite vocal, even more than he was last month.  He goes in the kitchen and calls me loudly.  He even does a meow that sounds like he's hurt or in pain.  lol  His "pain" is a demand for extra canned food.

His other activity is to stand in front of me when I am in the recliner, stare at me with his big Puss n Boots (from Shrek) eyes and then meow.  He wants his snacks.  He also is demanding I give up my chair to him so he can go to bed on it.  Ummm....no.   lol

Knitting and Spinning 2020 Tallies

My end of year totals are not that great.  It's like 2020 stole some of my crafting mojo.  I only finished 6 knit projects, 61.5 ounces of fiber spun, and 2 medium cross stitches.  The knitting included 1 sweater, 3 pairs of socks, and 2 shawls.  

My objectives for 2021 are simple.  Craft what I want when I want.

Starting of the year is my "Frosted" sweater which has been almost finished, frogged twice, and re-started for attempt number 3.   I still have "Skaha" kitted and ready to start.  There's also the "Love In the Time of Coronavirus Shawl" kitted and ready to go.  And, of course, the never ending Vivid Blanket.  I need to put some strips together on that.

My cross stitch plans are to finish my current WIPs.  "Curious Cats" cross stitch just needs backstitching of which there is a fair amount.  "Christmas Tree and Birds" is showing progress.  It's slow going because you have so many color changes with lots of 1 or 2 stitch sections.  "Seaside Lighthouse 2" hasn't seen much attention lately, but that needs to change.  There are a few small ornaments in the works too.

Spinning has been mostly in limbo since TdF last July with only a little done since then.  I need to jump start that and get some braids done. 

Goodbye 2020....Hello 2021....A Day We Will Never Forget

 The year of 2020 was the worst anyone had seen.  It brought such devastation, fear, and death from Covid-19.  It saw the entire world restricted and in isolation.  There were many protests across the country.  So much needs to be done to make our country fair and equal to all.  The start of 2021 was a continuation of everything, except for one huge hope - a vaccine to fight the virus.    Now we have mutated strains of the virus spreading it even faster to contend with.  I still have high hopes of the vaccine's success.

Then, yesterday happened.  The attack on the Capitol in Washington, DC was something I never dreamed would happen.  I'm still numbed by the horror of seeing it on my television.  It will take a long time for recovery from the trauma inflicted by it.

Re-Knitting my Sweater, Other Crafting and Thanksgiving

When I tried on my partially knit sweater, it was much too big.  So it had a visit to the frog pond, and has been restarted on the proper sized needles.  It will still have plenty of room in the fit but I won't be swimming it it.  Progress is slow with the yoke finished, sleeves separated, and almost half the body knit.  I decided to leave the color band around the lower belly and hip area out.  That area of my body does not needed added accentuating.  I plan to add a row of the yoke snowflakes above the sleeve ribbing instead.

Cross stitch and spinning projects have had a little attention too, but nothing completed at this time. 

I caught the tip of my slipper on the edge of my area rug under my recliner and fell last week.  There's an abrasion (rug burn) on my big toe with lots of bruising.  If it's not healed by the end of next week, I have to go back to the podiatrist.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we will be cooking our meal and staying home.  I'm still isolating with Pat doing all the errands and shopping. 

Have a wonderful holiday and stay safe and healthy.

Project Progress and Snuggle Kitty

I've seen some progress on many of my projects.  The color work sweater is slow going and has one more color to be knit in the yoke, then it's basic sweater knitting from the top down until I get to the color band just above the bottom rib.  I will have to adjust the neckband a bit since I did it on size 4 needles instead of the called for 3s.  It looked a little high in the pictures and I hate anything too close to my throat.  I did pick up a Vivid blanket square and knit on that too.  It will eventually be finished.  

The cross stitch projects are coming along nicely with about 80% of the "Curious Cats" (cats and tea service) one done.  There's lots of backstitch left to do and a couple of small areas to fill in.  I love using my new floor stand with the "Lighthouse 3" and "Christmas Tree and Birds" ones.  It makes it much more comfortable to work on them.  There's tons left on both of them to do.

Only a little spinning has been done.  I'm just not in the mood for it at the moment.  

Still no yarn purchases have been made this year.  I was tempted to buy a couple braids of fiber, but closed the shop window and didn't do it.  I slipped up early in the Spring. I bought only did one purchase of colored fiber, and one of undyed .  I'm shopping the stash for everything.  I plan to continue doing that next year too.

My cat, Buddy, has suddenly become much more attentive, is talkative,  and wants snuggles.  I find him sleeping in my recliner most mornings.  He will come over, head butt my leg and look at me for a treat.  He's also taking them from my hand which he never did before.  He's 15 so it's probably just old age settling in.  I noticed  a couple of my other cats got mellow as they aged.

Knitting Finish and A Treat

 I finished my Fonse` Shawl  last month.  I made it in the same color and yarn as in the pattern. I decided to knit an extra repeat of Chart 2, as directed in the pattern, to increase the size a bit. Then, I cast on for my Frosted Sweater in similar colors of the pattern. It's colorwork so a bit slow going for me.  I'm enjoying the process though.  The wheels have been slumbering since Tour de France, but I need to finish a project on one of them, too.

Now for the treat:

I bought a new cross stitch floor stand in August.  It didn't hold some of my frames very well, and Pat told me to return it.  I told him I wanted a Lowry stand instead.  He was going to buy it for me until I said tipping was an issue with all floor stands and it would need a weight on the base of  it. He decided to make me a better one instead.  I love it!  It's sturdy, and holds my frames with no problem.  It works great with my wood or PCV type, including the long ones.  There's a grippy pad so the clamp does not damage my frames.  I can also use the clamp to hold my magnetic board with my knitting pattern on it if I want.  It fits well with my recliner's puffy arms.  I can adjust the height of the stand as well as the clamp arm length so my frames are in a comfortable position for stitching. I can flip it over for starting or ending threads, and it swings out of my way when I need to get in or out of my chair.    Here's some pictures he took outside after painting it. Top is the stand closed, middle is a closer look at the clamp part, and bottom is the stand extended.

I also have the two tabletop one he made me and the modified Edmunds floor stand.  (He made "arms" for that, but it gives me a backache after leaning forward when using it a while.)  I don't think I will need anymore.  :)

Tour de Fleece 2020 Finished; A Prize; Goodbye Tiger

Another year of Tour de Fleece is finished today.  I spun 1986 yards from 34 ounces.  I'm happy with that result.  I won a prize from The Corner of Knit and Tea chatter thread and am waiting for it to come in.  

In the middle of the race, we had to say goodbye to my boy kitty, Tiger.   We were spoon feeding him and using a dropper to get water into him due to his mouth infection.  He had lost so much weight and just laid in his bed most of the time. Then, he had a stroke and was blinded from it.  There was nothing we could do to save him.  

Since spinning is done for a while, I'm back to working on my Fonse` Shawl and cross stitch.  I do have a braid in progress on the wheel but, will leave it be for now.

I'm still isolating and staying home.  The heat of Summer is not my favorite time of the year anyway.  I'm enjoying the air conditioning.

Here's a picture of my pre-wash skeins.