WEEK 32

 

Hello again!  I hope your week went smoothly.  Mine was rather pleasant and productive.  Here is a recap of my week.

Sunday (after blogging) - I had mentioned, last week, I was going to wash all my sheets.  Well, I did.  Folding the fitted sheet is my least favorite part of sheet wash day.  I also did 2 other loads of laundry as well as making a loaf of bread (via the bread machine) and making potato salad from my mom's recipe.  It was so yummy and brought back such sweet memories.  

I was going to cast on the next Simnia cardigan but changed my mind and decided to cast on the Quick and Easy Baby Hat.  Even though this says quick and easy, it was not this time.  First off, I tried to do it magic loop and for some reason, I was getting serious ladders on it.  So, I ripped it out and went in search of double points.  All I had were bamboo DPNs in the size I needed.  Not a fan of the bamboo needles and I seem to have a plethora of them!  I went ahead and cast on the hat.

Monday - Pt again for Josh and myself.  I worked with a new therapist this time and she was really good and very informative.  Once PT was over, I dropped Josh off and got our water jugs (for our water cooler) filled.  The laundry I did yesterday finally got folded and put away today.  

Tuesday - Hubby taught a class in the morning while I did a few little household chores.  Ya know, like empty the dishwasher.  We had a lunch date with two of my cousins.  We ate at Famous Dave's BBQ.  Hubby and I never go there unless it is with a group.  The food is so good.  Hubby and I both ordered enough so we would have leftovers for dinner.  After we got back, Tiffany and Jay and a one of their friends came over for a bit.  Seems, the poncho I made Tiffany looked like it was coming apart on the neck and a button had popped off.  After looking it over, I saw it was the woven in ends that were popping out and one of the stitches attaching the neck to the body was looser than those around it.  When she had first called, I had visions of the whole neck unraveling.  What a relief!  It is all repaired and ready for her to pick back up.

Wednesday - Another lovely day of Physical Therapy.  I was back to my original therapist today.  Josh did not make it all the way through with his therapy.  He was not feeling his best so he sat and waited for me to finish.  Our daughter, Jenn, came by and took Hubby and myself to lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  It was nice to get to spend some time with her.  But the best part of the day was....................................

I finished the baby hat!  And, yes, I immediately cast on the Simnia baby cardigan.

Thursday - I actually had a fairly quiet day.  Menus for the coming week were made as well a grocery list of needed items for the coming week.  Then I gathered my air fryers and scrubbed them up.  I used to hate cleaning them, but with the Dawn Power Wash, they clean up pretty easily.  Hubby and I had Adoration this evening and I took my RCR sock to work on it during that hour.

WOOHOO!  Another 7 rows added.  At this rate, I should have one sock done by Easter LOL!  Actually, once, the baby stuff is done, this and my other WIP will be my main focus.....I hope.

Friday - grocery shopping day!  I only had about 4 items on my list but by the time we checked out I had a cart full.  This was the best deal of the day..............

Hubby and I are not vegetarians by any means!  These steaks are normally $14.99/lb but were on sale for $5.97/lb.  One steak will feed the both of us quite nicely.  I froze one of them and the other is marinating in my fridge for tomorrow nights dinner.  I try and limit our red meat consumption to once a week.  Neither of us have cholesterol problems and we don't want them either.  I also try to do one meatless meal a week.  Variety is the name of the game in my house.

Before we hit the grocery store, hubby and I visited my LYS. (local yarn store)  Those bamboo needles were not doing me any favors.  I completed my DPN selection!  I went with the Chiagoo stainless steel needles.

I normally use Signature Needles.  Both circular and DPN.  But they decided to close their business last year.  And me, not being smart enough to look and see what was missing from my stock, missed out on getting the needles I was lacking when they discounted them.  Hopefully, I will enjoy the Chiagoo needles. I was good at the LYS.  The needles were the only thing I purchased.  I didn't even look at yarn!  Hubby was quite impressed.

Saturday - Woke up super early (5:30) to go and pick up the food for our food bank.  It was a sad amount this week.  Only 2 little bags of carrots and a few things from the deli.  Each week we have been getting less and less from the store we go to.  Yet, the need is getting greater and greater for the food bank.  

There was a marathon being run in our town this day so getting to and from the store was a challenge since we live smack dab in the middle of the marathon route.  Luckily, it was over by the time we left to go to Mass in the afternoon.

I did do another load of laundry and made another loaf of bread today too.  The little baby sweater saw lots of love also.  Maybe not the kind most people imagine.  I had worked 9 rows of the skirt of the sweater when I noticed one of the bobbles had dropped.  That is a five stitch bobble that dropped all the way to the beginning of the skirt!  No way could I pick that up and weave it all the way up 8 more rows.  So, I got to frog and re-knit those 9 rows. 

As of this morning (Sunday), that is where I left off on the sweater.

I plan on working on this most of the day.  Not sure if I will finish it or not, but I will do my best.  

Today - It is Superbowl Sunday here in the US.  We choose not to do a gathering today for the game.  Each of our son's has a team in the Superbowl and they are not the same team. LOL  So, hubby and I decided it might be best if we all stayed at our respective homes to watch the game.  I am sure there will be a lot of texts flying back and forth though.  

We decided to make life very easy on us today too.  I will be smoking up some wings and chicken thighs.  Hubby has pizza on order from our local family owned Italian restaurant.  That should keep up fed and happy for the day.  This will give me plenty of time to knit and finish up laundry.  I might even sneak in some reading time too.

Speaking of reading.............I started the Carly Moore mystery series a few weeks ago.  The author is Denise Grover Swank.  It is very good!  I have made it through book 4 and just started book 5.  I was able to get them for free through my Libby App.  The last two in the series will need to be purchased through kindle.  Such a good mystery series.  

Yes, I have a little chuckle for you for this week.  If you have ever had a dog, I am sure you can relate.

 Until Next Time..............Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 31

 

Hello my friends and welcome back.  Happy February!  We ended last month with my DIL, Stacie's, bday and started this month with my son, Josh's, bday!  So, celebrating over the past 3 days has been fun but, I am about celebrated out.  We have one more 'celebration' this coming week, when we get together with 3 of my cousins for a lunch date.  After that, life should return to normal which, I am looking forward to. 

I continue with Physical Therapy twice a week for the rest of this month.  After that, they will evaluate me to see where I am at and if I need more therapy or not.  I told them, if I can get up off the floor without help, than I will be happy.  So, that is their goal for me.

In knitting/crocheting news..............It was a grand week for finishes!

The Simnia Cardigan is 100% completed as is the Quick and Easy Baby Hat to go with it.

Excitement ran through me when I discovered I had buttons in my button jar to go with this little ensemble!  In fact, I have enough of these buttons to go on the next set which will be started today.  The above set will be sent to Seattle for my Nephew's first baby.  I do believe she is due this month.  The next set will stay here in town but, the baby is not due until June.  I just want to get the second set done so I can move on to my languishing WIP's that are sitting next to me in their project bags.

Granddaughter, Josie, is working the Renaissance Festival, which is in our area for the next 8 weeks.  She is required to wear 'period clothing' while working there.  She has had so much fun putting together outfits (garb is what she calls it) for each weekend she works.  The only thing she lacked was some type of outerwear.  So.............of course she immediately thinks of Mimi. (that's me)  I was lucky to have enough worsted weight yarn in my stash to be able to make her a half granny square shawl.

This is such a quick crochet project.  Only took 3 days to complete.  She was thrilled and said there were a lot of other shawls just like this one out at the festival.  This almost depleted the last of my full skeins of worsted weight yarn!  The stash is getting smaller and smaller.  YEA!

Josie and one of her friends came over on Friday and made Snickerdoodle cookies, for her to take to her coworkers at the festival.  She had never made cookies from scratch before and loved the process.  I sent my Kitchen Aid mixer home with her and she whipped up 3 more batches of cookies to take also.  She was amazed at how easy using a 'big' mixer made the process.  Now she is interested in learning how to make more items from scratch!  Maybe there is hope for that generation!

Normally on Sundays, Hubby and I just sit back and relax.  Not today though.  I have so much laundry to do.  I have been putting off washing our bedding for several weeks now.  But since I am down to my last set of sheets, I think it is time to do that.  (I hate folding sheets!) There is also other laundry needing to be done.  There is a loaf of bread and some potato salad needing to be made for our dinner tonight too.  So, if you need me, I will be in either the kitchen or the laundry room.

There were several funnies I found this week.  This was one of my favorites.

Hey, I have been known to sing along with the music but have not danced...................yet.

Until Next Time..............................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 30

 

We are finally in the throws of winter here in the desert.  We have needed to cover our plants a few times to prevent frostbite from getting them.  They are newly planted and just babies so protection is needed for their first year.  

With the weather being 'cold' it has inspired me to knit a bit more.  I finished the first baby sweater.

I still need to get buttons for it and weave in the ends.  Otherwise, the knitting part is complete and I am so happy with it.  I will be starting the hat to go with it today.  

I did not work on any other items this week.  

Nothing special going on in my daily life.  I did get to decrease my PT from 3x a week to 2x a week.  Not sure how much longer I will be there.  I do enjoy the challenges they throw at me.  Some of my muscles have been awakened from their deep sleep.  I can tell a difference, in my daily life, that I am getting stronger.  

Here is your chuckle for the week.

Until Next Time.................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 29 - THE WEEK THAT WASN'T

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Unfortunately, there is nothing really to report or show for the past week.  Hubby and I were given a gift from his brother..............the Norovirus.  So, I spent Monday through Wednesday in either the bed or the bathroom.  (Is that TMI?)  I finally ventured into the familyroom on Thursday and even went for a car ride to pick up my new glasses.  On Friday I got caught up on all the laundry and took several naps.  Saturday I finally started to feel human again and even went to church.  Today, I am going to find my kitchen.  With both of us under the weather, things just kind of got a lick and a promise in there.  Scrubbing all surfaces and sinks sounds like a plan.

I did get a fabulous report from my cardiologist on Monday morning. (before the virus hit)  My heart is normal and healthy!  She just asked me to loose 10 pounds in 6 months.  Heck, I did that in 5 days thanks to that nasty virus!  Bananas and toast were my best friends!

Here was what I saw for 3 days.

My ever faithful companion, Enrique stayed by my side the whole time.  Well, other than to eat and go outside for potty breaks.  What a comfort he was too.

I did not loose my sense of humor either.  So here is a chuckle for you this week.

Until Next Time.................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 28 - HAPPY WEEK

 

Whosh............and just like that another week has passed!  This was a very busy week and full of emotions.  But before we get to life, let me show you what I am doing in my 'spare' time.

My shawl saw very little work on it.

Luckily, I did not need to do any tinking back this past week.  I started on my third skein of yarn.  This means, I am getting close to the end of the pattern repeats.  It will still be a few whiles before I can bind off as the rows are very long now.  I was hoping to have this done before Christmas.  Now, I am hoping for Easter.  LOL

The RCR socks are still my out and about project.

True mindless knitting.  They only got one day to be worked on so not much done there.

There are two couples expecting their first baby......SO.........I had to purchase some yarn to make a couple of sweaters and hats.

Sweater #1 is underway and I am loving it.  I decided to do a two tone and even am doing a new to me pattern.  Both babies are girls so made it simpler when looking at yarn.  The pattern is Simnia Cardigan.  This one is being made in the 3-6 month size.  The second one will be made in the 6-12 month size.  Baby #1 is due in early spring.  They live in Seattle where the weather is always a bit chilly until the dead of summer.  Baby #2 is due in June and they live in Phoenix.  That baby will not need a sweater until December or January.  Baby knits are always a favorite of mine.  

I did get two books read so far this month.  Well, one and a half.  I really tried to love "The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store".  I got a little over half way through but, it just could not hold my attention.  I did finish "A Christmas Duet" by Debbie Macomber.  I just love her books.  I am now on the look out for another book to read.  I have several on hold on Libby but they are all several weeks out before I will be up to borrow them.  Sounds like something for me to do today............find a book to read.

This past week was CRAZY!  Here is a quick run down.

Monday - I had PT in the morning.  Afterwards I stopped by the Vet to pick up an appetite stimulant for Enrique.  The  Hubby and I went to Costco for a 'few' items.  By evening, Enrique was eating again and acting more like himself. Also by evening, I was feeling every muscle that had been worked earlier in the day!

Tuesday - Josh had his biopsy to find out what the spots on his remaining brain tumor were.

This was his attitude going into the biopsy! Josh's biopsy went as planned and he was released to home a few hours after it was completed. Enrique's appetite stimulant worked quite well.  Enrique runs to the kitchen everytime I get up from my seat!  He is really hungry.  We need to be careful with him as he gets chunky very easily.  He is getting 4 small meals daily though.    Hubby and I made a Sam's club run.  It is crazy that to complete our 'monthly' supply run we need to go to both big box stores.  We also went to the Vet again to pick up more prescription dog food for Enrique.

Wednesday - Physical Therapy for me again.  These appointments last for an hour and I am fairly gassed by the end of that time.  Before my PT, I stopped by my BFF's house and dropped off Enrique's 'old' dog food.  One of her dogs eats the same as E used to.  After PT, I stopped by my cousins to deliver his Christmas slippers.  He was not able to be with us for the exchange but we still had slippers for him.  On the way home from his place, I stopped at Hobby Lobby as they had all their yarn on 30% off.  Since I needed baby girl yarn, I decided it would be the place to go.  I also picked up a couple of skeins to make baby boy hats to donate to my niece.  She is a nurse in a NICU in Las Vegas.

Thursday - Laundry day!  I also worked on getting menus and the grocery list completed for the next week.  Luckily, I am not sore after my PT from the day before.  In the afternoon, we got a call from Josh,  His biopsy results came back..............NEGATIVE FOR TUMOR ACTIVITY!!!!!!!!!  We are not sure what it is that is on his remaining tumor, but Thank God, it is not more Cancer!

That is one happy couple!  They have been celebrating all weekend long!  As well they should.

Friday - PT again for me.  Afterwards, I went to JoAnn's to find a zipper to repair one of Josies corsets.  Then it was on to the grocery store.  I seldom go alone as hubby seems to enjoy the trip.  This time, he wanted to stay home and steam clean all our tiled floors.  You won't hear me complain about that!  

Saturday - Did our early morning food pick up for the food bank.  Joe's brother came into town and we spent time with him until he left to go to his Blue Oyster Cult concert.  Our temps were toying with freezing so we covered all our new baby plants to protect them.  Will be doing that for the next couple of nights.  I have been so cold lately..............

I am very thankful for this throw my son in law made for me several years ago.  It is my best friend lately,

Today - We went to Mass and came home and decided to relax for the day. Joe's brother left for home and it is quiet again.  I scrubbed down the kitchen sink and counter tops.  With being out of the house 3 days a week, I have neglected my kitchen duties.  I have dinner in the crockpot so I don't need to fret over that.  Hubby is watching NFL Football and I am getting ready to look for a new book to read as well as to pick up the baby sweater and work on it.  Hoping to finish it this week and start on the next one.

I have 3 PT appointments this coming week as well as my cardiologist follow up from all my tests that were done last year.  Josh has one appointment I am taking him to also.  I see some down time for me and am happy about that.  We did get our Christmas taken down last week and put away.  It always feels good to get my house back.  Now I can continue with my decluttering.  That is a never ending process!

Here is your chuckle for the week.

Until Next Time.......................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WEEK 27

 

Happy New Year!  Our neighborhood decided it would be fun to shoot off some super loud fireworks this year.  I normally do not mind fireworks, but this was over the top and very disturbing.  Luckily, Enrique is hard of hearing and did not seem to be bothered by the ruckus.  When the artwork on my walls needs to be straightened in the morning, you know it was loud!  Thankfully, it was only for one night!

I am still working on the shawl.

Not as much done this week as last.  My week was kind of busy.  I will talk about that later.

With the new year, I wanted a new project.

Got another RCR started.  This is my waiting room project as well as my mindless knit.  The shawl is not mindless!  I ended up tinking back on that, again, for half a row this past week.  It is so easy to drop a stitch and picking it back up in the lace section is nearly impossible.  The sock is soothing and like visiting an old friend...........easy.  

Other than those two items, I did a little coloring to relax my mind.  It has not been a good week for me.  

Josh had another MRI and there are 2-3 new spots showing up on his brain in the same spot the rest of the original tumor is.  He is going in for a biopsy this coming Tuesday to find out what exactly it is and what the next step will be.  It was just a little over a year ago we were going through this exact same scenario. Hopefully, he will have as good of results with surgery, meds and radiation as he did last time.  He did find out he is qualified for another trial.  He did that last year with really good results.  

Enrique ended up in the ER on Monday night.  He was not acting right and I was concerned there was more wrong with him than his pancreatitis.  They thought he had a bad disc in his back and wanted to do lots of xrays and tests.  I declined as I knew I could get him into my vet the next day for those tests at a fraction of the cost.  I am glad I did.  My vet did an xray and found a large mass in his abdomen.  Next step was an ultrasound later in the week.  We got the results yesterday.  He has liver cancer.  My heart is breaking.  Being 14 yrs old, we opted not to go for surgery and chemo.  We will do palliative care for him until that no longer works for him.  Today, has not been a good day for him.  He is not interested in eating today.  This is not the first time he has done that though.  So, tonight, I will make him a scrambled egg to see if I can entice him to eat a bit.  If not, I will call the vet tomorrow to let her know and see what she suggests.  Otherwise, he is acting like himself.  Hopefully, we still have a little more time with him to spoil him rotten.

I also started PT this past week.  I was surprised I was not 'sore' after my first day there.  I do think this is going to be of great benefit for me.  Plus, they give me exercises to do at home to help even more.

So, now you know why my knitting has not been very productive.  Not thinking this coming week will be much better.  But that is ok.  It's not a race LOL.  I do need to go and pick up some yarn to make 2 baby sweaters and hats.  Both are girls so I see shades of pink in my future.  One is due in February and the other due in June.  The one in June will be made in the 6 month size so she can wear it next winter.  

Here is your chuckle for the week.

Until Next Time.....................Happy Crafting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!