Slow Going

Yup. Recovery from two surgeries is not just slow, it's rather boring, too. I'd figured that knitting might be a challenge (it is), but had hoped to work on my crochet Summer Garden in the Snow. Well. That's really been slow going.

But in the past couple of days, I've made 3 squares.

I can crochet faster than that of course...normally anyway.

I've also managed to read a novel, and learn to use the Overdrive app on my Nook. Baby steps, right?

I go back to work for 1/2 days next week. I have a feeling it will be a real challenge to still be in this sling and also try to accomplish everything that's waiting for me in 3.75 hours a day. Hmmm?

Ten on Tuesday

Here we are again, Tuesday! And this time it's ten things I did over the weekend:

1. Was squired to My Sweetie's

2. so I could attend his cousin's memorial service.

3. visited with his family most of the day Saturday

4. and stopped by a yarn shop (Backstitches) on the way back to his place, where I didn't buy a single thing but...

5. put something on my wishlist for when I can knit again

6. drove back home that night and ran into my Sis-in-law and niece at our favorite pizza place where we had dinner

7. Sunday we drove up Bent Mountain to Floyd in the Honda del Sol with the top off

8. My Sweetie helped me in and out of the car multiple times, and it's doable, even with this ridiculous sling!

9. We drove back by way of the Blue Ridge Parkway, before he had to return home to go to work on Memorial Day (boo-hiss)

10. My Sis-in-law and niece came over on Monday and planted my two tomato plants for me - Sun Gold cherries are on their way!

Ten on Tuesday

Writing this post on my iPhone so please forgive any typos?

Ten on Tuesday this week is 10 things to bring on a picnic:
1. A red/white checked tablecloth and napkins!!
2. A wicker picnic basket with utensils, wine glasses, real plates (not paper!)
3. A cooler with food and drink
4. Wine in some form (Sangria is nice)
5. Salads: in season veggies and fruit, no mayo, creative dressings -- FRESH is the operative word here
6. Cheese. Real stuff, not processed
7. Bread: from my favorite shops locally, Wildflour & On The Rise
8. For dessert? Big homemade (the same shops) oatmeal cookies & berries.
9. My Sweetheart
10. The Honda del Sol to carry us to our favorite picnic spots (I know where his is)

All of this will have to wait a bit, as I can't get into the del Sol with my arm in this sling. Maybe by fall? And, yes, I'm still alive, on short term disability for a couple of weeks till I get past the worst of this, especially the TWO general anesthetics in 3 weeks. Does that ever drag you down!

Not Ten on Tuesday - Not This Week Anyway

I'm not someone who can speak to this week's topic on Ten on Tuesday (10 TV Mom's) as I'm just not much on watching TV (my favorite all time TV Mom is Sophia Petrillo on Golden Girls. I want to be her when I grow up - or her daughter Dorothy (really I AM her, now).

So that will have to do. I've done something really stupid and typing isn't happening these days. I may be facing more surgery, and won't know till later on today, so will just leave this entry at that.

I appreciate your good wishes, thoughts, and prayers - all kinds.

(((hugs)))

Ten on Tuesday

This week's ten on Tuesday is "Ten Reasons I Knit."

1. Knitting is my passion. It's really and truly something I can't imagine not doing (which is very interesting because this month, I mostly can't knit. And yes, it's bugging me.

2. I'm a very tactile person. I love the feel of the yarn in my hands. When I first began knitting I had no idea of the differing weights of yarn, nor of the textures. I was only in 2004, when I needed something to keep my hands busy as I sat in a booth for Nana Sadie Rose, my handbag business, that I realized knitting would help. And eyelash was the order of the day for yarn. That first year, I knit the eyelash scarves for doctors and nurses I was dealing with during a health scare, but I made enough of them that I started selling them in the booth, too...I now loathe eyelash, tho' I still have times when working with it is okay. Like for instance:

3. I'm also very much a color-person. As much as I want to touch something, I want to SEE the color variation. When I discovered sock yarns - the self-patterning ones - I was a goner. Socks have probably become my favorite project, and I don't even attempt patterns anymore. I just let the colors and variation speak in a plain vanilla pattern I've memorized. Toe-up, picot finish on the cuff.

4. Knitting is portable. I take it everywhere (socks, anyway). My sewing machine definitely isn't. That's critical, as I like being able to stay busy and creative wherever we go.

5. Gift knitting is an important part of keeping the people I love covered in warmth. Whether it's knitting a shawl, or socks, or a hat, or even a toy like the one above, gifts of handknits are an important part of my life. Not really sure that it's such a help to the budget as once it might have been, but my tastes have improved where yarn is concerned. It's less of an issue how much the gift costs as it once was.

6. I also use my knitting in my charity/good works life. I'm passionate about causes, and knitting something (like during the flooding in Vermont 18 months ago) that I know will be used makes me feel as if I'm giving part of myself. I suppose money gives of me (my time), but I do think a handknit is a more personal gift of my creativity.

7. Not long after I started Nana Sadie Rose, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, and I found myself spending a lot of time in doctor's offices and having lots of tests. Knitting kept my hands from shaking, kept my mind occupied while I sat all those hours in medical facilities. It calmed me.

8. I enjoy belonging to an exclusive club. Knitters are neat people, and I enjoy everyone of the ones I know. The social aspect of our knitting groups and Ravelry, well, you just can't find that anywhere else.

9. Knitting challenges my mind. While I haven't ever and may never knit a sweater, lace knitting provides all the mental stimulation I need. Hopefully it's keeping my mind flexible, and I know that My Sweetheart may just laugh out loud at that one, especially since having surgery last week, my brain is foggier than usual - but then, you know, I'm not knitting right now, either. Hmm...wonder if there's a connection?

10. I knit because I love it. It's become a compulsion, a passion, my way to ward off loneliness, a manner of fighting boredom. It's my one true love, beyond My Sweetheart and my family. With everything knitting offers me, as long as I can hold the needles, I'll have them in my hands.

Update! Me and My Knitting, too

The stitches came out this afternoon, and the sling (which is really just another word for a piece of torture equipment) was resized, making it a bit more comfortable but still hot as h-e-double-hockey-sticks!

There will be no PT until after my 4-week visit, so June at the earliest, but I have a few very mild exercises to do, mainly to keep the elbow and wrist from freezing up. I'm starting to wonder if I have the same issue in the other shoulder or if it's *just* that I'm overcompensating and wearing it out since the other one is immobile. Hm.

Before Monday's surgery, I managed to take something off the needles that was desperately overdue for being finished. I finally finished the Blue Jazz Fest Socks (which have been renamed, since the first one was knit at the Richmond Jazz Fest last August). Here's their glamour shot (without The Tonk, who was fast asleep for a change!)

I'm slowly making progress on my huge backlog of WIPs, but for now, knitting is having to wait...at most I can get 1/2 a row on a sock. So instead, I'm trying to catch up on a bit of reading...