Month: June 2011

Knitting

The one where we finally get

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some rain.  The weather has been so hot and dry, when I have to go outside, it feels like I’m in a giant skillet.  I haven’t decided on a new project yet, but one thing I know, wool will not be part of it.  Makes me sweat just to think about it. Yuck.  Or, it just came to me, I could use wool and just turn the thermostat down to ice age.  Now, how’s that for a rationalization?  This is a good time to revisit Snowmaggeden….

Remember last February?  Snow is so much more photogenic than dry crunchy grass, don’t you think?

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.  Art is knowing which ones to keep.  Scott Adams, American cartoonist and creator of “Dilbert”

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Knitting

The one where I’m learning to

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set some of my expectations of myself a little lower than I’m used to.  I’m beginning to figure out that some of the things I push myself to do, like visit my mom and dad, coordinate their care with various people (for example, Mom has a dental checkup this month), making sure that the nursing home is aware of these things so transportation can be arranged, taking care of their financial things because even though they’re both in a nursing home, their electric and water bill still have to be paid and insurance continues to come due.  At the same time, Mr. Iknead and I are cleaning their house, going through things, cleaning out closets, trying to find a suitable facility for them here in Little Rock and driving three hours one way on the weekends to get these things accomplished, all the while, holding down a full time job here in Little Rock.  Oh my, seeing it laid out like this, I had no idea just how impossible my self imposed expectations really are!  No one can do all this stuff and remain physically and mentally intact and I need to scale back now for everyone’s sake.  Knitting continues to be a lifeline.

While cleaning out a closet of theirs yesterday, I found this gorgeous throw.  I think it belonged to one of my mom’s sisters (she had five), it’s vaguely familiar, but I hadn’t seen it in I don’t know how long.  I’m in love with it.  It has a tag reading The Three Weavers, Houston, Texas, Handwoven, 100% virgin wool.  I’m not sure if these pics do it justice but you get the idea.

Down to the toes of the Slippery Socks.  Finish tonight, for sure!

The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides.  Accept life and you must accept regret.  Henri Frederic Amiel (1821-1881)

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Knitting

The one where she gets a surprise in

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her mailbox.  Here’s the story – I’ve been having some personal family challenges in the past couple of months.  My mom is in a nursing home, she has dementia, and about eight weeks ago, my father was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer with spread to his bones and liver.  I’ve been going down to DeQueen about every other weekend, just to be with him and help him out with stuff.  So, to make a long story short, his cancer has spread to his brain and in a week’s time, we’ve had to move him into a nursing home because we just couldn’t provide the care he needed.  Basically, over a six week period, he has gone from being completely independent, driving and living in our family home to having to have nursing care around the clock.  Because of the brain mets, he’s very confused, gets angry and frustrated very easily and has to be supervised closely.  As you might have figured out, all this has been a very trying time for me, and I know I’ve not been my regular self lately.

OK, back to the story about the mail.  I love jellybeans, love them awful and a good friend knows how much I love them, so he put a new bag of Starburst jellybeans in my mailbox.  How sweet is that?  Gave me a big smile and warm fuzzy feeling.  I have wonderful friends.

Susannah modeling the Brittany Jumper.  Cute as cute can be, right?

Is she precious or what???
Never chase a lie.  Let it alone and it will run itself to death.  Lyman Beecher (1775-1863)
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Knitting

The one where she is still

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undecided about her next project.  If I was really forward looking and efficient, I’d start on the iPod socks that I’ve decided might be good stocking stuffers for Christmas.  Honestly, though, I can’t think any further ahead than this weekend; again, we’re going to DeQueen to be with my parents and work a little bit, going through things, shredding old paperwork (we found receipts from the 60s) and cleaning out closets.  Lots of memories and it’s so hard to not get sidetracked by old pictures, books and everything else that makes up lives lived and memories kept.  Very emotional.

Heel flap finished and ready to turn –

I hope I’ll have a new WIP Wednesday project next week, keeping my fingers crossed.

The best armor is to keep out of range.  Italian proverb

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Knitting

The one where the heel

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is ready to be turned on the remaining Slippery Sock.  Woo Hoo!  Takes so little to excite me nowdays.  So.  The sock is going swimmingly, and I’m already thinking ahead to my next project.  Should I start a new new project or finish my current pet FO, the En Pointe Pullover.  Which one?  Decision making hasn’t been my strong suit the last few weeks.  I’ve been channeling Scarlett O’Hara a lot lately, the whole “I’ll think about that tomorrow” thing.  Totally out of character for me, the Queen of Quick Decisions.  When I get overwhelmed about things, that’s the first thing to go and right at this moment, I can’t be bothered with what I call mosquito decisions, like what time I want to have dinner, where and exactly what or should I call (insert name here) now or wait until later or even, should I wear navy or black pants to work today?  The millions of choices I make every day that normally are just under my radar become impossible when I’m overwhelmed.

I do, however, have a new photo of the Papoose, sitting (kiddy) pool side, in her ruffly swimsuit and cool hat –  

Minnowknits Brittany Jumper modeled as usual, by Susannah aka Papoose.  Not a great pic. but you get the idea.  A little big but she’ll be wearing it before too long!
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. Edmund Burke (1729-1797)
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Uncategorized

The one where I finished

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one of the best books I’ve listened to in a long time:  Dark Places, byGillian Flynn.  It kept me guessing until the very end.  I’m totally addicted to audiobooks, it goes along with my issues of always multi-tasking, but as much as I love them, sometimes I want to feel the weight of a book in my hands and smell the paper and ink.  I’ll probably always be a little old school for books, always on the lookout for odds and ends, my current favorite bookstore is Dickson Street Used Books in Fayetteville.  Can’t make a trip to the ‘ville without dropping by Dickson Street at least once.

I’ve had a challenge the past few weeks keeping up with my blog resolution.  Suffice it to say that that particular goal has fallen by the wayside.  Now I’m happy if I can get one entry posted every few days.  I’ve been running to and from my parents’ house, a three hour drive away, trying to tie up loose ends and just being there for my folks, making sure they’re (somewhat) OK.  All that, coupled with no internet access down in the wilds of southwest Arkansas, has my blogging on the back burner.  Sigh…..

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.  John A. Shedd (1859-1928)

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Knitting

The One where it looks

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Like my dad is nearing the end. Hospice has been out a couple times to assess dad and kind of gauge what is appropriate to keep him comfortable with his physical needs met. He’s becoming more confused all the time and short of breath. I’m blessed to be able to share this time with him.

I got exactly one round done on the slippery socks. That was something anyway.

Life beats down and crushes the soul, but art reminds you that you have one. Stella Adler (1901-1992)
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This got typed lsat weekend and apparently I forgot to publish it.  So, better late than never.

 

Knitting

The one where she tries

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Out a new skill – posting a pic to my blog on my iPhone. That’s the closest thing to a computer I have here in the wilds of southwest Arkansas. Here we go, the finished Dragonskin iTouch cover.

Not happening, maybe I’ll be smarter tomorrow.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’character, give him power.

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Knitting

The one where she doesn’t

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Know when she’s going to back home. My dad has taken a turn for the worse regarding his pain. Dr. V started him on some heavy duty painkillers and while his pain is controlled, he’s been groggy and sleeping more than usual. Hopefully this will get better as he gets accustomed to the new meds.

Not a lot of knitting today. Maybe more tomorrow.

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. Eleanor
Roosevelt

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Knitting

The one where she takes one

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more jump at the Dragonskin iTouch Cover.  Easy to follow pattern, love the way it looks, I think I’m having a day-long brain fart.  I keep getting distracted which is nothing new, some days it happen more often than others.  I think it’s happening more now because I’ve got too many balls in the air and like always, a few get dropped.

I finished The Boy With the Cuckoo Clock Heart  today.  OK, I know I’m scattered now, it took about five tries before I got the spelling right on Cuckoo, that’s with the name of the book right in front of me.  How many times do I need to spell it Cockoo before I figure out why it looks wrong?  Sigh.

Here’s my finally successful start to the Dragonskin iTouch sock.  Much, much better.

I do have a project ready for WIP Wednesday.  Yay!

Tomorrow is often the busiest time of the year.  Spanish proverb

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