Queen of the Universe

When one is sick around our house you become, Queen of the Universe. That means nothing you say or do can be held against you. Well, I started upchucking last Friday, and although I think my last episode was last night, one never knows. I think it was stress, a bad pump set and a virus trying literally to kill me (diabetes + insulin dependent diabetes = DKA or near death). SO rough week or so and I haven't blogged.

First off thank you to BAM my SP10, who turns out to Bethanie Ann Franks and I love her blog and have lots of questions, which I will email later. She has been such an inspiring spoiler. I made a felted bowl that holds most of the smaller stuff and hopefully now that Adam has returned we will get a photo of all her lovely swag. I promise another blog in a couple days oozing about her greatness.

Our house is excited about a bunch of stuff coming up, first off Harry Potter Movie, Cat Bordhi's sock book, Harry Potter book, kyphoplasty and doctors appointments, and the fourth of July. Lots to do in July.

And I need to go to sleep, I wonder how long I will remain Queen of the Universe.... I am beginning to like it, so I suspect not long.

He can't sing "Behind Blue Eyes" anymore!

Jason chose hazel green for his eye color last month

His green eyes are more "real" than the baby blues, I keep looking at him and thinking he looks different, "Oh yeah, the eyes!" Tony did such a great job painting them, they do the hazel color change trick, they bring out the varying hues depending on his clothing. Of course many new questions arise from this color change. When people ask about the eye color, where did he get it, from Mom or Dad ? The half kidding answer is, "My mother in law." Although his color choice was "Captain Kirk hazel, since he got all the space babes." Tony actually looked at my iris to model on, there is something a little off about looking into your husband's eyes, only to see your own. All of us kids have hazel eyes just like my mom. So I will try not to think about the incestuous nature of the new eye color.

More things that could wind yarn.

So I threw out the question of how to make a ball winder to a group of knitters. So far we have use kids, the little ones in my life won't sit still that long. I think felting in a wading pool is more their speed. Other ideas have included using a treadmill or bike. Which I like, my dad hooked a bike up to a generator once and if we wanted TV that summer we had to ride the bike. So if I want yarn neatly balled then I have to earn it on a bike or treadmill. Doesn't that defeat the laziness of not wanting to roll from a dresser drawer?

American Inventor

Dang it, first my automated video rental kiosk in the grocery store, and now my mixer for a ball winder. I'll have to stay with knitting "willy warmers" for American Inventor. Just google <"willy warmer">, for those who require description, the gay knitter guy choose a peach fleshy color and yeah, he gives the pattern, and it's exactly what it sounds like. The blogger states that they are used for wearing kilts, answering yet another lifelong mystery for some. But I doubt the judges of Inventor are reading knitting blogs so they might think this is a real invention. Or is this as bad as not being able to carry a tune and auditioning for Idol. Perhaps I should get some sleep, I hear that deprivation could cause one to have implausible ideas. Nite Nite.

Kitchen Aid Magic

http://geocachingknitter.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html


It already exists, I googled someone who googled someone else. Directions are pretty simple, a dough hook and a paper tube.

Knitting with a KitchenAid stand mixer:
Faced with winding 30 some skeins of Jamieson & Smith 2 ply jumper weight into center pull skeins, I decided to search the web for an easier method than a swift and a hand cranked ball winder. Not wanting to pay for an electric winder, DH and I figured out there had to be a way to attach a small motor to the ball winder. NOT! So what other small motors were in the house that allowed a circular wind motion? Why an electric mixer of course!!! Having had surgery for carpal tunnel once, I prefer to save the hand motions for knitting rather than winding.
Google search brought up these sites from knitters who already had the idea:http://www.figandplum.com/archives/000365.html using a hand held mixerhttp://geocities.com/mama_bear_007/ using a stand mixer
So out came the Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook. I found that cutting a 4" square of lightweight cardboard, taping it into a tube and slipping it over the dough hook worked perfectly. There were no empty cardboard cylinders in the house at the moment but I will save some paper towel cardboard. I think they would be even better than thinner cardboard tubes.The first couple of skeins were a bit comical as they looked more like children's tops than balled yarn but what the heck. It saved a lot of hand winding. Kitchen Aid stand mixer run on motor speed 6 balled a skein of yarn in about 45 seconds.
Lesson learned - Google is your friend.

And my aspirations as an inventor are crushed... I may have to try this. I have a elementary school teacher buddy who saves everything, I am sure she has toilet paper tubes. While unhappy that it's not original, I think tomorrow will be fun. And I can hardly wait until J asks, "What the heck is a mixer doing in the bedroom honey?" He wants to hear fresh whipped cream, he is going to be really confused with "making yarn balls".

Speaking of Moebius...

So I find tying a bow tie to be horrendous for my honey and I. It takes a great deal of fussing. and the clip-ons look cheap, why bother? What about a moebius to create a faux bow tie with the twist and the openings on the ends, I can picture it, I can't describe it. The idea comes from the necklace in Cat Bordhi's Treasury of Magical Knitting series. Perhaps it won't look like an average bow tie, but it could look very modern, simple to wear and with felting even survive a night of gigging without the sag. Knit Picks has a pattern for a father's day bow tie... hmmm. I can try that first to moisten the parched brain cells, then try my idea. If the moebius is a failure of design, I'll just put it on the ogre shelf and laugh at it, perhaps call it a headband since the sock that went bad was pink, perhaps it is a lady ogre I making unique items for!!!!

Is it bad when you make a moebius out of a hank?

So without a ball winder and swift ... I have lots of hanks to wind. I found my top dresser drawer and a toilet paper tube work quite well for the occaisional roll. However, now I am wishing for something a bit more BOND (as in James). A high tech toy to wind my yarn. So I am imagining an attachment to my kitchen aid (instead of the usesless: ice cream maker, sausage maker, pasta roller or orange juicer) I want a automatic skein winding attachment. This seems to me to be a simple matter of re-purposing. Do you think we could convince the company to lower American cholesterol and assist weight loss by encouraging knitters? Imagine making a batch of low fat cookies while winding your yarn. Yep, sounds like perfection to me! For those not fortunate enough to have the mixer ( I inheirited mine from my grandma, it's 40 years old and the attachments are still designed to work with it, talk about legacy inclusion!) How about this... a bobbin fitter, it would go over the bobbin maker on the sewing machine and would wind the yarn same as it does thread. Any other nutty ideas?
Suzi

Low Lo Low

So I rarely have low blood sugars, but last night I did, around midnight. I treated it but that doesn't stop the adrenalin flowing, it keeps you awake for awhile. So I pulled out the racer back ribbon tank, it's all seed stitch, but the detail really doesn't show in my yarn of choice so mistakes make an imperfection, but one that goes unseen or unfelt. So I knit and listened to a PBS Frontline episode that I thought would be dud. It had audio description, so I settled in and didn't even look at the screen. It was the story of the tank guy, or rather the search for him. The tank guy was the one who stood in front of the rolling tanks at Tiananmen Square. I am pretty sure that it is running one more time this weekend. I am setting the DVR and saving it. Great journalism engrossing story and a good reminder of the price of freedom and what it is worth when you don't have a wal-mart in your country.

Big BIG biggest day ever!

Jason and Miss Penny went for a harnessed walk on their own today, I walked behind only to assist in refresher training for the ever so spoiled canine. She did pretty well and Jason and his cane were the best! My guy walked the block without assistance, no holding, no steering, no balance support, even with miss Penny tugging to the side of the road to pee. YIPPPPEEEEEEE! party! feista! I am so excited, I gotta go call my mommy!!!! The hospitalization happened June 26th last year and he is walking on his own less than a year later. Is my guy tough or what?

SCORE!

Good Suzi won. Boniva day is tiring because we get up early, and sit up for an hour and then what do we do? Well this Sunday we went back to bed after pills and waiting were over. We had a lovely day, read more of Treasury in the Forest. It's delightful, gotta read book. So what does good Suzi get for winning the Boniva battle - CHOCOLATE!!!!!

The Ginormous Scarf

I just finished a 72" scarf for a 63" young woman who is turning twenty this week. Why so long, so thick, I know she'll think I am crazy and this is what I have to offer in explanation:

As a Douglas Adams fan, a big scarf is like "always remembering to take your towel" and we all know how important that can be.

As a fan of Dr Who, well in my opinion a long scarf that is out of style and out proportion says, "I can handle being different, as long as I am loved, safe and warm" a good thought to put out into the universe.

I was often stuck with mass transit on a long distance in college, even then my meager babysitting didn't buy that much gas money. A long scarf can allow you to cover your eyes, have a pillow and a bit of blankie to nap on during tired stressful days.

Adults often need comfort and sometimes there is no one around to remind you how very much you are loved. I knit this scarf with all my heart hoping it would help her remember how geniune her family is, and that they love her and she is needed in this world. Even when you only have 2 hours left to write a ten page paper on why the impressionists changed the world while studying for a chemistry final. It's all worth it. She is worth it.

I knit it because being an Aunt is a privelage one she has let me do by remote since Jason's injuries. I want to do my best to be there for her even when I am not able to be in her presence. I knit it to remind her that I do sew and do all the girly stuff and when the day comes to make a bunch of bridal stuff because she is ready to start her own family, it would be my pleasure to help her with anything she needs.

I knit it to remind her that both her Mom and I place value on crafts of all kinds and we are here to teach her when she is ready to learn.

I am sending her things not so serious, socks and of course the pre-order on Harry Potter so she gets first dibs while her siblings drool as she finishes every last page.

Happy 20th Miss SugarBaby!!!! Your packages are on their way.

June 9th World knit outside day?

I read in VIP-ewes a knitting online group for blind knitters who tolerate this sightling in their discussions that June 9 is world wide knit outside day.

So my husband suggested that I go knit someplace no one ever sees a knitter. Like in the men's bathroom at madonna inn, (it's a tourist site in the area, Madonna Inn on the 101 in California, San Luis Obispo. The men's bathroom is visited by many a woman because it has a motion activated rock face waterfall for a urinal, even a blind guy can't miss ; ) Everyone who comes into town to visit with us gets a tour. When I was a little older than a kid, for some odd reason I thought all men's restrooms had urinals that acted like that one : ) Realistically, perhaps someone should suggest a better spot to pubically knit in a small town.

Boniva again

Darn it! Tomorrow is Boniva day

Good Suzi: It is going to be okay, it was the testosterone that made the situation worse with the two previous doses.

Bad Suzi: Here we go again, no picnic no fun, the early morning and the medication will have us stuck inside for a few days.

Good Suzi: Oh well even if it does knock him off his game for a couple days, Barbara won't be ill next week, and I have this stash to work with and birthday presents for neices and nephews. I would write out what they are, but they check in on the blog. Enjoy the break and work on fun stuff while he gets the drug out of his system.

Bad Suzi: You'll be too busy working and too tired to care. And you didn't stock up on chocolate!

Stay tuned who wins good Suzi or bad Suzi? Does J really have a problem with Boniva or has it been his recovery and bad timing. We will know this week one way or the other. Will U survive without chocolate until I go to Trader Joes?

Jason's Wellness

So much to be grateful for folks! Jason has been so much better since the kyphoplasty. He is able to roll up and sit, then get out of bed on his own more than 75% of the time. He has reduced his pain meds significantly. He is able to play for 45 minutes now. He is eating all meals at the table and getting out of bed. He is taking longer walks and is ready to start using a treadmill. He has had a geniune reduction in seizures. He is cultivating a more positive attitude, and truly believes that he has beat the odds. He is ready to start using Miss Penny and her harness to walk on his own with her assistance.

Testosterone patches were the key. The daily patch has simulated the natural rhythm of his body and no more emotional outbursts and issues with the waxing and waning of his shots.

This Sunday is music in the park around the corner, so we are planning a nice picnic and to listen to the music.

It's nice to feel normal. I am sure it feels even better to Jason.

Wubbie Bear - A project finished.

So a friends child's wubbie was in a terrible state of distress and in need of retirement. None of us can bear the separation, so I offered to tear apart wubbie and reknit with additional fibers into a stuffed bear, emily chose a bear. So off I went adding ragged fibers to a complimenting and contrasting base of worsted wool. This little bear is now heirloom quality with moveable eyes, a sweet smile and squashy belly. Even Emily agrees that wubbie has been transformed into something worth saving, so she has place wubbie bear in a place of honor on her bed. Anyone who comes to the house must meet wubbie bear. That's a nice feeling. Next time I go over I will try to get a picture of them together.

Of course then there is the one sock problem. Ok on our trip to LA I ran out of the yarn to finish even a one sock. FOr Mother's day similar problem, although since then I finished the sock but haven't had a chance to deliver it. And for my neice who was requesting school colors, and from Cat Bordhi, the cat sock, well, once again by the delivery date I have finished one sock. J is sending her notice that we pre-ordered Harry Potter for her, so she is okay with waiting a week. Then finally there is the felted boot I started a couple weeks ago. Well, it is huge, once again I can't imagine being able to felt this one small enough to make a slipper, not only that to make a second one will require three more balls, when the author only called for two (for both slippers). I have decided to felt this one first if outrageously out of proportion I will turn it into a scuptural peice.

Speaking of scuptural peices, I need to knit a felted mask of J's face. We get to keep the old eyeballs and I want to turn it into total artwork. I think if I start out with the concept of a face mask ski hat and then allow for looseness and shrinkage it should work. I have some stuff in stash to give it a first spin, but I have some very special additions to my stash yesterday that really speak to me to try to be more artistic and develop beyond my practical socks, hats, sweaters and scarves. I am inspired to make something truly representative of Jason with his eyes and my yarn/creativity.

So what is it with my one sock? I understand the ogre sock, I read the pattern wrong and when I changed the increases I in places doubled then and in the wrong places for got the decreases. The ogre sock in on the knob of the shelf next to the bed to remind me to pay attention, and to remind me to laugh at my mistakes. Summer brings on speed projects, knitting for school year, sewing clothes, and repairing those that can for the kids within the extended family. Let's hope some poor kid doesn't end up with one sock by fall.

Boniva

When J had to start a drug to maintain his bone mass there were a couple of choices once a week Fosamax and once a month Boniva. His doctor thought the once a month drug would be the better choice because of his other issues. I am so glad it's only once a month. He has to get up at the crack of dawn, take the pill on an empty stomach full glass of water and sit up for at least an hour. The reason for the early hours are so that his other meds are on time. He took it for the first time last month and it made him feel pretty crummy, we hoped he had a virus last month, but we are seeing the same symptoms this time. Lack of appetite and bone pain especially in his shoulder. So all that momentum of the kyphoplasty is set aside by the Boniva. Let's hope this doesn't crush his joy over the results of the back surgery. Knowing I have to do this again in a month is hard but as far as I know all the choices have this issue to some degree. C'est la vie, tomorrow is another day. And I have another sock to make and he will get better within the next couple days. He is dying to play his keys.

We're back!!!

Wow, last week was amazing. Arrived at the hotel at midnight, as usual, Amtrak was three hours late. We didn't have anything scheduled for morning so we slept in. The New Otani, in downtown LA, across from the central police station is such an oasis. A beautiful garden, a starbucks, each time we have stayed the room was very different. I request a room overlooking the garden, and this time the room had rice paper windows. They cut the heat of the day even better than black out curtains yet they allow light to pass that is very soothing. Plus the AC works and they have samples of Tarroco line of products. They smell of citrus, they are based on of all things blood oranges. As a knitter with constantly dry hands I have found that this lotion moisturizes and doesn't leave my hands greasy. Not as citrusy as the alchemic dragon stuff SP10 sent but wonderful none the less.

We saw Dr. Heck and it was a pleasant visit with a VNS change, we got J's shoulder CT and I will call Dr. I on Wednesday. Surgery went very well, we went in at 8 and left by 3. Back to the hotel, J slept hard. The kyphoplasty on the outside looks like someone used a nail to hang a picture on his back and missed the stud a couple times. They were only able to inflate one of the three vertebrae, so he may have gained an eighth of an inch, the other two were just too damaged. I was worried he didn't have enough recovery time and that the trip on the train, was going to be painful. Need not have worried. Surgery was very successful. He is walking, riding in the car, sitting up and feeling less pain than he has in years. The surgeon said that other levels can be treated as needed and that we will be seeing most improvement for the next two weeks, but continuing up to three months.

We got home and Jason hadn't showered for a couple days because of the home care instructions. He used the citrus alchemic dragon stuff and it cut the "man stench" he came out smelling yummy!

So did I get any actual knitting done. Well I was trying to make a pair of socks for my Mom for mothers day and I misread the label and ran out of yarn. Very cute sock but alas no mate and no time to go get another couple skeins to finish it. So I cast on on Friday night with some soft colorful cotton praying I would have enough to finish her spa socks and by Sunday at lunchtime I had (you guessed it ) only one sock for Mom. I took both to her when we visited and let her choose which one she would prefer to have a mate too.

Great weekend. I'll talk about today later. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. This time we did have a medical procedure that actually helped.

The Alchemic Dragon Soap

I have been pampered cleaned and feel refreshed. About to crawl onto Amtrak train until midnight. I took a shower to freshen up and used the soap SP10 sent this week, citrus splash, and Miss Penny the dog, was quite right. It lathered to the consistency of a mousse and the smell was like sitting under a grapefruit tree in bloom. It left my skin clean, and soft. Jason can't stop sniffing my neck. I think the train is going to be fun this time, private car, dinner and he's feeling frisky. I'll let you fill in the rest. So to my SP10 way to go, exceptional choice. Thanks for the refreshment, and the enjoying evening in advance.

My SP 10 Made my Day!!!!

Yesterday was our 2nd/3rd anniversary, and because we are headed for LA for a minor surgery for J it's been a little hectic to think about celebrating. Jason is having a kyphoplasty done on 3 of his mid back spinal bones. They put a ballon in your vertebrae and inflate it to restore height, then inject bone cement which is basically the stuff we use to attach long lovely nails. In 15 minutes they have basically put in a permanent cast to prevent osteoporosis from destroying that part of the spine. Since it's the back pain that holds back most of his PT, this is beyond exciting. So J, Miss Penny and I are taking Amtrak to LA again. Today the train is almost 12 hours behind, so we are worried about tomorrow's plan but it will all work out, we know it will.

So while rushing to get all our gear together and pack, the mail arrived my secret pal spoiled me yet again, and arriving with our anniversary gave J a real lift, in a way since he encouraged me to participate, he is responsible for hooking my SP and I up. And what a package. First off a card with this wonderful picture of a young buddist monk entering a monestary. J fell in love with the handmade paper it has a soft texture he hadn't seen before. 3 Skiens of "wild rose" feltable knit picks wool/alpaca yarn. Jason kept petting it, the dog got jealous. I know exactly what I am going to make, there is this great pattern for feltable slippers I have been dying to try. And even more stuff, purple bracelets with elastic string and silver bead separators. It suddenly reminded me of a afternoon last summer while J was in surgery, I went to visit a buddist temple just outside downtown LA. The monks saw my exhaustion and stress and in addition to offering their prayers a cup of tea and kindness were samples of generosity that lighted the load. They gave me a prayer bead bracelet and it reminded me of BAM very much. You think that would be enough but there was even more!!!! A magazine called TEA which I am saving for the long Amtrak ride. Cute iron on patches that I can definately use, I just "patched" a bunch of clothes with holes and I already ironed on one of the hearts, much faster than embroidery, perfect too! Today more arrived from my SP, two bars of soap from a company called alchemic dragon, oh my gosh. Citrus Splash and Vanilla. Glycerine soap that you just drink in the smell, wow, jason was threatening to put them in his pillow and let the fragrances drift him off to sleep. Fat chance honey! Those are going to be used in a nice hot bath, with a warm of tea tonight after I finish packing and when we return. Special soaps often wind up in a dish to display and look nice getting dusted along with the other bathroom trinkets. These soaps are getting used, I can just imagine the smell of the lather, ahhhhhhhh. Thank you secret pal, I'll take all your hints, relax with a cup of tea, some tunes and drink in the scent. You are a God send and have really improved my quality of life. I just hope my SP thinks the same. I got some things together to send this week and have two projects cast on hoping to finish them for her on the trip, we'll see. Oh, Miss Penny had to sniff the soaps, she seem to prefer the citrus to the vanilla, funny ol' dog.

I am planning a long couple of blogs when we get back to announce how well J is doing and catch up on many things in our lives.

Ta Ta For Now.
Suzi

SP 10 is the best!!!!

Ok not sure how my secret pal knew about my yearning for the Jordana Paige needle box, but she did!!! I remember seeing it in a knitting magazine and wanting it but decided instead to felt the Berroco Needle Carrier which I haven't finished. Why? It looks better as a crochet, dpn, circular carrier. So I used numbered buttons to identify my sets and then was going to have to do something else about my straights especially my long ones. Thank you secret Pally. My husband is also grateful for anything that organizes sharp objects, he hates finding dpns under his back on his side of the bed!!!! So with organization, came a huge leap forward this week. I canst on the coriolis sock from Cat Borhdi on Knitty Gritty. Hubby hates the seams, any seams in his socks, even hates tube sock seams. When she deomonstrated the pattern I saw somehting that I knew would be great. NO GRAFTING, no real seams. And when I knitted it up they came out perfectly, he is love with the sock, still have to make the other one, he may wear out the single waiting for the other in a pair. Toe up Coriolis socks on circulars here we come!!!!

BTW, he choose hazel eyes for the replacement eyeballs, apparently that's the color of Jim Kirk (William Shatner_ and he got all the alien babes, so he figures it will be good for gigs. His eye patches worked well. I had a migraine from lack of sleep and the sleep shades were very comfy and cozy. I'll be making more for Tony for his next trip to South America.

Ah, and another thing SCORE!!! My Mom's new next door neighbor is from Peru, and will set me up with a yarn supplier there so I can buy my wools direct from her anytime I want. Yipppeee.

Time to feed the little dog and check on the honey. Just really wanted to say way to go Mx BAM!!!

Sorry about that...

I haven't been blogging, J had a series of rough seizures. Sometimes they come in clusters, and like a swarm of earthquakes preceding eruption, they tend to build until the supervolcanoe has discharged the contents of the magma chamber. So I am back to resolving technical difficulties and getting more stuff in my blog next week. This weekend I take J to the eye guy and he is selecting a new eye color, not just blue, he has decided on hazel. This is going to be fun. He has his cool & comfy eye patches for the day. In a frenzy of knitting right now, for SP10 and because it really passes the long hours of the night when he is recovering and I am worried.

Apparently, my honey is learning lots from SP10. I like that, his comments on my last blog was well deserved. No one told me of this benefit of participating, husband gift training, the advanced course beyond flowers, chocolate and jewelry.

Yipppeeeee! My first SP10 package arrived

okay, I am so excited, I have to wait for the blind geek squad to arrive to fix my photo posting problem. Ironic? Yes, but also reality. Technology allows my blind husband to be the navigator in the car as well. If it wasn't for his abilities, my rather famous lack of direction would have us un Tijauna instead of Los Angeles. Anyway, pictures and a more detailed post to follow. I will follow the example of every television show, with a cliffhanger to bring you back to read more. My SP10 sent an item that led to an intimate moment. What could that be? Stay tuned for pictures.

Home again... ah the bed, the air conditioner it's all to good

I will take the time to tell the story of a four hour amtrak ride that took about 15 hours and a wonderful customer service agent who made our trip easier. I finished the shrug for my sister in law on the trip!!!!

Technology Foiled Again

I forgot to post about this, my precious knit lites, broke. As in they snapped at the point where the battery pack meets the shaft of the needle. I shouldn't use the plural they, it was really only one, but who wants to knit with a metal and a plastic needle? So I was really bummed, knitting on the train at night without my knit lites. I emailed Clover on Sunday, they replied early today less than 24 hours, and they will replace them as soon as I send in my defective needle. I mailed it today, it should be there by Wednesday or Thursday. In an ideal world I will be back to well lit dark colors by the end of the week. For the moment I have set aside the lace sampler and will look forward to resuming work when I get back. So J and I will be reading Lemony Snickets together on the train instead of knitting, my itty bitty booklight is still very trusty.

First SP Package on it's way

I am so excited, I have put together my first SP10 package, I am mailing from the train enroute to the doctors. I have put in clues to my home area, but only within a 500 mile range. I have already made plans for more surprises and can't wait to get started on them when I get back. I am way past smiling about the items I have sent and have on sticky notes on my computer to work on for the next shipment.

My latest and most inspired project.

Honestly, I will get the pictures done soon. DH DDog and I are headed to the city of Angels for a few doctors appointments. There is the neurosurgeon who just operates on brains, the neurosurgeon who just does peripheral nerves, the neurosurgeon who does spine, the neurologist who only see epilepsy patients and is an epileptologist, the orthopedic hip surgeon, the orthopedic shoulder surgeon and his expert internist. Sometimes we see all of them, sometimes we see one, this trip is four experts in two days, including xrays. Just a check up to make sure he is healing well.

So my most inspired and favorite project was started this weekend. My DH eyes are carbon fiber (not glass anymore) drop dead B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L bedroom blue. Really that's the color! The artist and medical professional who makes them colluded with J to create his latest pair of eyes (they get changed every few years, and J has had fake eyes since he was three, with many changes) to be the color that would win him girls at gigs. It worked, I married him didn't I? Well... it is time for a new pair of eyes, sometime they have him wear a bandage while they are making the new set. He hates looking like a pirate. So I am using very soft left over sock yarn to make an adjustable eyepatch with some flat braid and a bra adjuster. If this works out, I will take some more to Tony (the dude that makes the eyes) and contribute them to his trips to third world nations to give freely to those affected by eye disease or injury. It only seems fair to help the guy who helped my hubby get the girl. We are also trying to decide if he is going to stay with blue eyes or try another color for awhile. It's a surprise for Jason and Tony so the label is a warning to them not to read it.

Repost Secret Pal 10 Questions to make it easier to find.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?Currently, I am *in love* with sock yarn, it is so much fun to knit a small sock or glove and have it just pattern itself. My blind DH likes it too, no annoying stranding in the back. I am not fond of rayon, slippery devil yarn at the moment. I hate repairing the stuff.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?I use cosmetic bags with little zip pouches, and I am currently knitting a berroco pattern to felt a needle case, my first felt project.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?I am a intermediate knitter, I can do everything but lace, reading charts makes me woozy. My grandma taught be the basic skills and my mom brushed them up.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?I am making a froogle list for my husband I will list it in my profile when it is done.

5. What's your favorite scent?Freshly made yeast bread, lemon trees in bloom, Pleasures by estee lauder, my husband freshly shaved, clean linens off the clothesline, and vanilla.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?Dark chocolate, I am a Trader Joes addict, I go there for a coffee taster, food sample and dark chocolate whenever I need a break. I loved Chantico when starbucks had it, I was addicted, miss that very much. It was chocolate ectasy.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? Ok laugh, I still like coloring books and colored pencils. I love logic puzzles. Solitaire Card Games. Cooking & Gardening we are planning a large garden this spring. Embroidery - Love it. I am currently tailoring and embellishing J's stage clothes so that when he returns to gigging he will have a "look". I am easily amused. I haven't attempted spinning, yet. I am a little stymied by crochet, but I haven't really applied myself to it yet either.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)I love bluegrass, 80s, Cat Stevens, Opera, Musicals, Jazz, Classical, I like it all, if there is anything I don't like...it's when music becomes noise or painful.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?Favorite color on it's own Green. Favorite colors together, purple, blue. brown, a nice camo combination and neutrals. Things I can't stand? Lots of orange can bug me; but I am game to try anything.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?I am married, my DH is disabled, we have the cutest service dog in the world. My family lives nearby and we have the most awesome nurse who gives a hand. We are praying that as J recovers from his surgeries we will qualify to be foster parents and have little ones in our lives.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?Being beach girl, hats yes, scarves-if they are lightweight more decorative then warm, mittens, not often. I would love a poncho.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?I am totally into socks and fingerless gloves made with sock yarn right now. It totally rocks.

13. What are you knitting right now?A case to eventually felt and then hold my needles, a right hand glove to match the left one I finished this weekend, a red sweater for redsweaters.org, a dog sweater for Miss Penny, A lap blanket for my husband and pair of socks on circulars. I try to keep 4-5 things going all the time, so there is something always in the "easy" stage and something that requires concentration.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?Yes, they are the best, they inspire me!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?My current favorite is knit lites, I just love that LED on the end. I like Bamboo DPNS although the way my ribbing turned out on the glove I am thinking about getting Addi DPNs I always try to move things to circulars to take out weight. I just got a pair of flexible straights, I think they may be my favorite.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?He's called my husband, he is quite reliable and works for cheez-its.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?18 months, I am considering ripping it down and making something that I want to finish.18. What is your favorite holiday?April Fools - it our service dogs birthday!!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?Musical instruments are strewn throughout the house, the cheap tourist attraction stuff you find in foreign countries. We have asked everyone we know who goes on a trip to buy us some musical trinket and then put it on display in our house. This year I am asking travelers to pick on 1-4 skeins of yarn while on vacation and send it to me to build a more varied stash. My husband and I are waiting with baited breath for the last Harry Potter book!!!! July is so far away.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?No knitting magazines, I love interweave and knit.1 I am dying to look over books about using just a skein, ethnic socks, and the one about fixing your mistakes would be a huge help.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?Entrelac and illusion knitting are high on my list.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?Yes, love it!!! I wear a size 8 so nice and medium, I like a turned loose cuff.

23. When is your birthday?Sigh.... Ground hog day.
Posted by Suzi Doe at 1:34 PM
Labels: Secret Pal Questions

Projects Still on the Vine

Felted slippers from some garage sale wool my neighbor bought for me, she keeps her eyes open for stash builders, great neighbors are hard to find. I'm using the Cat Bordhi pattern with two circulars. Made a couple pairs of socks out of the book as well, each one came out so well, I was amazed.

Finishing the fingerless gigging gloves for J, he wants little caps over his fingers and thumbs for cold evening shows.

Still have cables and stitching to do on the needle case.

Barbara needs a costume made for the ren faire so I have to duct tape her to a T shirt to make a dress form for the corset. I have been making costumes for others since my teens so this is a snap once I make a dress form.

Miss Penny has a couple of sweaters that are so sweet, two of them are my own design so I haven't quite figured out what the final touches are going to be.

I would also like to make a lightweight shrug from some stash yarn for my sister-in-laws birthday, but with a trip to LA in sight it may not happen. I have ordered her something special that I hope will arrive in time just in case.

Our garden at the community plot needs to be dug up and readied for planting by the first of April. We are going to our favorite nursery this week to get some seedlings, seeds and supplies.

Oh yeah and who could forget this is the week that secret pal starts. I have so many ideas, I am so excited, I can hardly wait for the email to get started. A note to whom-ever gets me, I am easily amused and pleased!

Back to my own knitting.

I finally finished the never ending felt project, I did it by hand in the sink. Which for those of you who have never felted the directions never include the following advice: DO NOT HAND FELT ON HOT HUMID DAYS, ESPECIALLY IN YOUR BATHROOM. I created such a balmy environment I triggered a seizure in J, oops! Heat is one of his triggers, so I guess I need to wait for cold days to felt or go to Mom's. So I was agitating and agitating it didn't seem to be working and then all of a sudden whoosh it shrunk, like magic before my eyes from 30x18 to 22x15 just like the pattern said it would. The self patterning yarn created this beautiful fabric and now all I have to do is finish the cables and attach them to create my very own needle case. I also felted a stretched out headband I made awhile back and it is not only nicer than ever but I dried it on my head it fits just right. Oh, and one other thing the books didn't warn me about, might as well wash the dog the same day you felt since the whole house is going to smell like wet dog anyway.

DH has crafting success!

J is a fine musician, but until now a hopeless crafter. We have tried knitting with success on a round loom that got boring, crochet which turned into hopeless knotting, macrame - same results as crochet and I finally got so frustrated I actually said, get a life and your own hobby. Meaning I don't have enough time to enjoy my own hobbies trying to teach you stuff. Well guilt got the better of me and I spent a few days exploring local craft stores in search of "do-able" crafts. I picked up a children's knitting machine in Barbie pink&purple, simple enough, just doesn't work well in bed, so not a healing time craft. I also picked up a children's loom, you remember the kind, the fabric loopies, plastic peg loom. A few modifications, using a size 11 knitting needle as a heedle, and voila he is making potholders. It's good therapy for his hands and excellent craft. I am now researching smaller more versatile looms for him to use as he learns more. We also ordered a basketweaving kit and a spindle for him to try his hand at yarn. Guess what my Mom is getting for her birthday tomorrow? Yep, potholders and a handbag I knit out of fabric strips from an old dress. Borrowing a few myer lemons from next door to make a lemon pie, yum!

The defeat of Technology

So last night the power went out briefly in the middle of watching Hitch, which was a delight, a good movie for a really good day. I thought aha! No reason to be depressed I can continue knitting, earlier in the week one set of batteries had gone out, and now as I turned it on to work, the other one. Rule 1 of battery operated toys, always have a spare battery. Got that DH, adding batteries for my knit lites to the wishlist. Working by candlelight wasn much fun and about the time I was going to give up, the power came back on. It took us nearly four hours to watch a two hour film. We love movies like that.

Sleepy Saturday - Yippee

J woke up in a good mood! No pain!!!!! So we went into our TV room, ate breakfast and watched a couple shows and then we both fell asleep, Miss Penny too. Being the wonder dog she is, she insisted on our waking around 3PM for J's meds (she gets treats too and that makes sure that she acts as a little alarm, food is important to this little dog). He still felt good. Sigh, things are beginning to look better again, I think we can start PT again on Monday. No knitting today. But I plan to get J to go to Hunter's landing for a late breakfast and a chance to sit on the swings and knit in the open air.

Arrrgh, part deux

So I got away as planned, well sort of, Barbara had another minor mishap, her two front tires needed air before she came to work. So then I went to MickeyD's or the poor womans Starbucks and intended to get a latte and some of those cinnamnon things. Get to site of the crime and realize I left without my wallet. I had enough change for coffee in the ash tray. Went home and spent another half hour looking for my wallet. Found it in my yarn stash. (I didn't leave in there in some Freudian shopping slip, did I?). Finally got to the library. Checked out Lemony Snickets, book one, read it in an hour and I could stop girly giggling. Checked a couple audio books for J, and knitting with dog hair, couldn't resist although Miss Penny doesn't have good spinning dog hair in any of her breeds, and couple more knitting tomes. Headed to Moms, who kept her word, no lists of stuff to do for her, she let me sleep. Ahhhh, a nap it felt soooo good. I was a a knitting nook when Barbara called and let me know her daughter had been in a car accident, I needed to come back. So much for my thought of going somewhere quiet for a cup of tea and a pastry for dinner. J was doing well when I got home, Miss Penny had been fed and Barbara was beside herself. She left, came back a couple of hours later to tell me that her kid was fine, a few scratches, insults by medical professionals and other than that all was well. Except her adrenaline was going to be pumping all night from the fright.

Arrrgh!

I know he's in pain, I know he has lost his autonomy, but sometimes he gets too cranky with me. I've tried to talk with him about it, I can feel my own frustration building, thank God for Barbara! She will do a 12 hour day tomorrow and allow me to really stay out for a while. I am taking the knitting, going to the bagel shop, getting a couple of lattes and heading to the beach. Then I will go for lunch and a matinee, followed by a stop by my folks place to take a nap. I may not blog tomorrow but will catch up on the weekend.

Osteoporosis Awareness

I just sent a letter to California Senator Alquist who is holding an informational session to the legislature in March on the impact of osteoporosis. Wanna talk impact? If any of the doctors taking care of J in the past ten years had gotten their collective heads out of their !@#$# they could have ordered a bone density test. It would have been low and he could have been started on meds that would have prevented all the joint replacements and pain. Over a lifetime of his medical issues it would have saved the state millions on his care. Two hundred for a simple test. I am actively campaigning to bring bone density testing awareness for the populations that took dilantin & tegretal as children/teens for seizures, mood disorders or whatever to get them checked early. Lets prevent osteoporosis from making 30 year old men have 125 year old bones.

Miss Penny Uses Perfect Body Language

So earlier today Miss Penny refused to go outside. It's wet out there. She hates water, we live less than a mile from a beautiful beach, we walk there often. She will walk on the right, in complete defiance of her training, she wants the human to get wet before she does. She will chase a shorebird to the water and come to a sputtering stop if her toenails get damp. She hides when anyone takes a shower, we might ask her to get wet. She has issues. So wondering when she will consent and getting caught up in my project I missed her earlier signals of wanting to go outside. Finally she went running into the bathroom, stared at the toilet, ran back to me and then to the backdoor. Pretty clear language skills that she wanted to go out! Very clever.

Knit Lites Save the Day

I already loved the knit lites on dark fabric, but today I found another reason to own a set. Blackouts. It was heavily raining this morning. So much so that when Miss Penny was asked to go outside to do her business, she trotted up to the backdoor, stuck her nose outside, looked up as if to say, "What? You must be kidding, it's raining out there!" Then she scooted herself backwards in a hurry and blew off any thought of going out, she'll hold it until the downpour stops. Back to the blackout. The power kept blitzing on and off and finally went off. No TV, no radio, Jason was sleeping, what's a girl to do...KNIT, the lites worked perfectly in the dim light of a rain storm and during the outage I added a couple more inches to the never ending felt project.

It's Late, near midnight worries

J has had a good day, no extreme pain, eating but since his recent set back he doesn't want to get out of bed and do his PT. I haven't had a lot of sleep the past few nights and I took a nap this afternoon. I am having a bit of trouble sleeping tonight. I heated up some warm milk added a plunk of vanilla and I am adding this note to my blog. Soon as I am finished I am heading back to bed with the ever growing felting project, I am more than halfway done, it is getting heavy. I am getting very worried about the felting itself, will it really shrink? Will it really be pretty, it just looks like a giant shapeless mass of knitting. I thought knitting was supposed to ease my worries, sometimes I think it just gives me distraction worries. Why worry about PT when the felt might go wrong?

Secret Pal 10 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Currently, I am *in love* with sock yarn, it is so much fun to knit a small sock or glove and have it just pattern itself. My blind DH likes it too, no annoying stranding in the back. I am not fond of rayon, slippery devil yarn at the moment. I hate repairing the stuff.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I use cosmetic bags with little zip pouches, and I am currently knitting a berroco pattern to felt a needle case, my first felt project.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am a intermediate knitter, I can do everything but lace, reading charts makes me woozy. My grandma taught be the basic skills and my mom brushed them up.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I am making a froogle list for my husband I will list it in my profile when it is done.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Freshly made yeast bread, lemon trees in bloom, Pleasures by estee lauder, my husband freshly shaved, clean linens off the clothesline, and vanilla.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Dark chocolate, I am a Trader Joes addict, I go there for a coffee taster, food sample and dark chocolate whenever I need a break. I loved Chantico when starbucks had it, I was addicted, miss that very much. It was chocolate ectasy.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Ok laugh, I still like coloring books and colored pencils. I love logic puzzles. Solitaire Card Games. Cooking & Gardening we are planning a large garden this spring. Embroidery - Love it. I am currently tailoring and embellishing J's stage clothes so that when he returns to gigging he will have a "look". I am easily amused. I haven't attempted spinning, yet. I am a little stymied by crochet, but I haven't really applied myself to it yet either.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love bluegrass, 80s, Cat Stevens, Opera, Musicals, Jazz, Classical, I like it all, if there is anything I don't like...it's when music becomes noise or painful.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Favorite color on it's own Green. Favorite colors together, purple, blue. brown, a nice camo combination and neutrals. Things I can't stand? Lots of orange can bug me; but I am game to try anything.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married, my DH is disabled, we have the cutest service dog in the world. My family lives nearby and we have the most awesome nurse who gives a hand. We are praying that as J recovers from his surgeries we will qualify to be foster parents and have little ones in our lives.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Being beach girl, hats yes, scarves-if they are lightweight more decorative then warm, mittens, not often. I would love a poncho.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I am totally into socks and fingerless gloves made with sock yarn right now. It totally rocks.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A case to eventually felt and then hold my needles, a right hand glove to match the left one I finished this weekend, a red sweater for redsweaters.org, a dog sweater for Miss Penny, A lap blanket for my husband and pair of socks on circulars. I try to keep 4-5 things going all the time, so there is something always in the "easy" stage and something that requires concentration.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, they are the best, they inspire me!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
My current favorite is knit lites, I just love that LED on the end. I like Bamboo DPNS although the way my ribbing turned out on the glove I am thinking about getting Addi DPNs I always try to move things to circulars to take out weight. I just got a pair of flexible straights, I think they may be my favorite.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
He's called my husband, he is quite reliable and works for cheez-its.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
18 months, I am considering ripping it down and making something that I want to finish.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
April Fools - it our service dogs birthday!!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Musical instruments are strewn throughout the house, the cheap tourist attraction stuff you find in foreign countries. We have asked everyone we know who goes on a trip to buy us some musical trinket and then put it on display in our house. This year I am asking travelers to pick on 1-4 skeins of yarn while on vacation and send it to me to build a more varied stash. My husband and I are waiting with baited breath for the last Harry Potter book!!!! July is so far away.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
No knitting magazines, I love interweave and knit.1 I am dying to look over books about using just a skein, ethnic socks, and the one about fixing your mistakes would be a huge help.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Entrelac and illusion knitting are high on my list.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, love it!!! I wear a size 8 so nice and medium, I like a turned loose cuff.

23. When is your birthday?
Sigh.... Ground hog day.

What do we look like?

This is J and I on his 31st birthday in October. It had only been two months since his joint replacements and he was back playing the keys. He is so determined to get back to gigging. I am determined to help him. His birthday was a very big deal, we celebrated his 125th birthday (his age in bone years). We are looking forward to the next bone density scan and perhaps celebrating his 80th birthday next year. A friend of a friend gave us a baby grand, a 1932 Story and Clark, and it arrived just in time for J's birthday. We adore it. We lost our living room, now it is the music room, we converted a spare bedroom into our TV room. Our house is itty bitty, but so are our needs.

Why I needed to Knit

My husband is a gifted musician, jazz keyboards. I am going to get permission to put an MP3 on the blog of his work. We've been married three years and our second third anniversary is approaching in May, long story. My honey is a blind dude, it's not at all a disability, he is a very capable and well educated despite adversity. If blindness were the only issue, I wouldn't be knitting. He also has epilepsy, of the intractable form. Last year in search of better treatments that would allow for a more normal life for us both, he went off his very successful Vagus Nerve Stimulator to prepare to enter a study that places recording/treating electrodes at the sites of the seizure generating cells in the brain. To know where precisely to place the electrodes, they do a Deep Brain Mapping, placing recording electrodes on the brain and then weaning him off all meds to cause seizures to localize where in the brain the seizures occur. He did have the seizures, it should his brain had several areas of focus and he didn't qualify for the study. We also learned that he has osteoporosis, very severe, at the age of 31 his bones have the same density as someone who is 125. We found this out tragically, when he was having the seizures for the brain mapping. He broke both his hips and right shoulder. We also found out he had compression fractures in his mid and low spine. Due to the extreme deterioration of this bones the only choice was to replace them all, so a week later he had all three joints replaced as he recovered from having the electrodes removed from his brain. Rough week. We spent a total of 40 days in the hospital, I never left his side, sleeping in a recliner and making sure his needs were met. We've been home six months, the recover is slow. His seizures and blindness both impact the speed of his therapy and ability to move forward.

His osteoporosis is caused by a number of factors, seizure meds, being blind, not spending enough time outside getting vitamin D, low testosterone. We have talked to a number of groups urging awareness of osteoporosis in those who took seizure meds as children to prevent tragedies such as my husbands.

My friend was right, knitting the same horrific repetive stuff I hated as a child has become a wonderous therapy. I knit to meditate. I knit to empty my mind of all my worries. I knit to have something to do when J needs someone to stay close but needs the quiet calm. I knit to feel a sense of accomplishment when his therapy is progressing so slowly it doesn't seem to be getting better. I knit to stop figgitting when I can't sit still. I knit to have something to do when he is sleeping. I knit to learn new things. I knit for chairities to contribute to others when I can't leave the house. I knit to enjoy watching a chaotic ball of yarn become stripes of jewel tones on a glove. I knit colorful socks for my husband to wear on stage when he is ready to gig again. I knit sweaters for our service dog, so she can stay warm. As a young caregiver sandwiched between caring for my husband and my elderly parents, I have sought out local resources to help me cope. Finding none, I did find that local knitters are very cool. Joining in a class or stitch and bitch gives me an outlet of normality. Reading knitters blogs makes me feel apart of the community when I cannot leave the house. I knit therefore I still am. Besides, it's fun, YEP Grandma, ya hear me up there, you were right, it's fun!

The Prescription for Knitting

I learned to knit as a child. I actually remember as learning to R...I....P over and over and over. Grandma was patient, but sitting still that long was soooo hard. I excelled at sewing little dresses, made a quilt when I was 12 but knitting was not my thing. Grandma tried until the day she died to get me to give it another try. She must be chuckling in heaven, nudging my grandad, see I told her so! I started knitting again about a year ago, at the insistence of a friend who is also a psychiatrist (every one should have a mental health pro as a pal). I was overwhelmed by life (more about that later) and wondering if I needed therapy and prozac. She looked at me a wrote a prescription: "Two sticks and a ball of yarn". She said it would help with my ability to remain calm in the storm, it would give nervous mind and fingers something to do, it would provide a meditation space wherever I went and most of all it would reduce the anxiety and stress. Reduce stress, she must be kidding, all I could think about was Rip, rip, rip, hours of knitting and ripping!!! However, I chose to follow her advice, went to Mom and dug out some sticks, some yarn and a how to book and reminded myself how to knit.