And knittin', knittin'....

  "I am not the weather. I am the wide and open sky, and so I can let pain move through me and out of me." - Josie George

Let's get it started....  

song by the Black Eyed Peas  

I have not been feeling so hot lately but I am doing my best to do life.  I haven't been able to knit or read much for a while until last night.  I picked up the baby blanket I'm working on and got some done.  I've been knitting on it today in between household chores.  I have finally gotten the groove of this pattern.  I made so many mistakes when I first started and took it out several times but then I looked at the pattern repeat and counted the stitches.  I put in markers between where each repeat should be and that has helped a lot.  If I have extra or too few stitches I'll notice before I move on.  At first I was counting after each repeat to make sure I hadn't missed a yarn over or something.  Now I don't have to do that anymore.  There are 16 rows to the pattern but the even rows are easy (just knit the knits and purl the purls & yo's).  I think this will be a very pretty baby blanket and the yarn is so very soft.  I like that it is a light weight yarn because it can get hot in Alabama.  

• The pattern is Bernat #778 Cable and lace Blanket (intermediate level) 
• The yarn is Loops & Threads Soft Ombre in Plum/Periwinkle/White (light 3 weight)

I have gone on a few small adventures that I will have to post about later.  I did not go very far but found some interesting historical things close by.  A few of them I have seen before but didn't really explore in a thorough fashion until recently.  

I did listen to an audiobook although not the best.  It took a crazy long time to listen to an audiobook I would normally have finished in 1 or 2 days.  It was James Patterson's Cross My Heart (Alex Cross #21) James, I'm not thrilled.  It was really only half the story.  I'm continuing on with the next book, Hope to Die.  I hope it is better and less depressing.  I'm sure he didn't die though since the series has more books lol  

I've had a few medical adventures that were not nearly as fun.  I got a new med, it started working and then I had side effects so had to stop taking it.  I got a different new med and when I added it to my Samsung health app on my phone where I can set up reminders it popped up a warning about a serious interactions with another med I take.  It said it can cause heart rhythm problems among other issues. I called the clinic and the doctor was out of the office.  The nurse there did not seem to take me or my health app warning seriously.  While talking to her I just googled it and got the same exact warning.  She said, "oh but that's google.  You can find anything on google."  She wasn't interested when I said I could check the source (NIH).  I told her I would call my pharmacist then and my Rheumatologist who prescribes the other med I have been on for years.  My pharmacist is phenomenal and really went to work for me calling different doctors and other people.  Now I have a new doctor who is apparently skilled at figuring out the best meds for people that won't cause interactions and hopefully without side effects.  To be fair, I am a tricky patient but tricky patient does not want to die from a drug that is supposed to help.  

Off to another day...  hopefully full of fun adventures and chocolate.  

YOP update

I've been sick and having some other health issues so I didn't get as much done as I wanted.  I did get a lot of knitting practice in.  When I feel bad and try to knit anyway I usually mess up a lot and have to redo it.  I just call that knitting practice which I can always use.  I started knitting a baby blanket for my niece's new baby and it was more challenging than I expected.  I had to tink back and fix mistakes a lot and I improvised corrections in a few places.  I finally got irritated and tore the whole thing out.  I'll start over when I feel better.  I haven't knit for a while so I guess I'm pretty rusty.  I don't want to send her a blanket full of mistakes.  A hundred years from now my niece's family would be passing around my handiwork saying... God bless her, at least she tried.  

© Bernat

Cable and Lace Baby Blanket

I found a headband pattern (Wheat Headband) and made two with the green yarn.  I still have enough yarn to make one or two more.  Wouldn't you know that little skein is not enough yarn to make most things but when I finally find something it is suddenly way too much.  Well, now my sister and I will both have one of these and possibly a few nieces/cousins etc.  At least this pattern is easy.  I have been having a lot of dizziness and headaches or migraines (side effects of a new medication).  I can knit this pattern with a headache and while watching TV.  What's that Kelly Clarkson song?  What doesn't kill me makes me.... crazy?   

On a side note, I did win at Bingo a week ago.  I'd been going occasionally with my husband.  We tease each other about trying to steal the money from the old people even though we fit right in lol  We have both gotten so close with only 1 ball needed on multiple cards and someone else calls bingo every time.  This was the last game for the night and I was already checked out.  Then my husband said you got it about 3 times, nudging me, and I was confused...  I got what, looking at my hands.  He said, that's your ball.  I look up and was stunned.  I won a $1000 bingo and no one else called.  I'm still stunned.  

Well, there will be more fun to come.  I am hoping I will start feeling better so I can get some real work done.  

YOP Week 1

Premier Yarns: Deborah Norville
Serenity Garden Sport in Grass

My main goal for YOP (Year of Projects) is to use yarn that's been lingering in my stash forever.  If it is still there after many years, it is because I actually do love it but haven't found the right pattern yet.  What is this yarn going to be when it grows up?  I think it is at least 7 years old.  

I have a vague memory of seeing this yarn in the store.  I fell in love with it because I LOVE green.  I just didn't know what to make with it since it is a sport weight yarn.  I decided to just buy one...groan  and I could kick myself.  I used to do that a lot but now I've learned my lesson.  When I went to get more it was all gone and it was discontinued.  I even tried to buy some on ebay a couple of times but someone else outbid me.  I am determined to turn this into something and it has to be for me.  

Here is a link to my goal page which I will probably be adding to.

Meet Ms. Frizzle

Tradescantia Callisia repens 'Pink Panther'

This is a newish plant for me but it really makes me happy to see above my sink each day.  I think I got it in April and it has really filled in that container.  I really need to divide it and put it in a pot with better  drainage.  This is just an old canister that I removed the hardware that holds the lid.  I used the lid to put underneath a different plant.  I love that shade of green.  It is very close to the color of my kitchenaid mixer and tea kettle in pistachio. The lighting isn't very good so the colors are off.  There's more pink and the pot is lighter.  I tweaked the color a little but I can't lighten the color of the pot or get the pink to show like it really is without washing out the plant too much.

I had such a good Saturday.  I had looked through the Costco flyer and checked prices to see what items would be good to get and save us money.  I check the prices on the grocery store websites and compare.  I noticed there was a Ninja Deluxe Kitchen System (blender/food processor with 2 nutri ninja cups) for $40 off.  I got it for $139.  I added a link to it on Amazon but there's not a price for it there.  I really needed a new blender since mine old one was leaking. It was such perfect timing.  I was looking at another small blender on amazon and this thing with all the extras is somehow cheaper.  I've been making a lot of fruit/veggie smoothies and it's helping me lose weight.  It's also really good for when it's really hot outside too.  This thing can also shred cheese, grate/slice etc.  It shreds cheese better than the cumbersome attachment for my kitchenaid mixer.  I made a Frappuccino this morning for breakfast and added protein powder.  I'm super happy.  I think the sale runs through July 20 so if you have a Costco membership you might be able to still get the deal on this.  

Isn't it weird how we can get all excited about mundane things sometimes?  I'm mean, it's a blender.  I do remember my mom being super excited about getting a Kirby vacuum cleaner.  I thought she was crazy but I was a kid.  Now I get it.  I have so many plans for things to try out with this.  My main goal for today was to find it and all its parts new living quarters.  That's easier said than done.

I also went out for dinner with my husband and some friends Saturday.  We went to a sushi place and it was my first time trying it.  I had a california roll and it was good.  I really suck at using chopsticks but I kept trying.  Eventually I will get the hang of it.  

I need to go dig around in my yarn and find something I can make for next week for YOP week 1.  

~D

  

Latest book purchases

I bought the top two books when I was in Palmer, AK at Fireside Books. The first one is a book of short stories.  The other one is a twist on the Titanic story.  

The other two books I got at the farmer's market from a local author - Laurie G. Robertson.  I hope to enjoy all of these books.

Fun things I found in Denali

So here are the things I picked up when I was in Denali.  At Denali Rocks I picked up this butterfly that is made of carved Fruit Jasper.  If you google that and look at some more pictures of it you will probably realize, like I did, that it is named that because it resembles fruitcake.  I love butterflies and I thought this would look good with my fairy figurines.  There were so many neat things available in this store that it was a daunting task to pick what to buy.  They had guitars, ukuleles and other things covered in beautiful mosaic that were hung on the walls.  Those were expensive.  There were rings, necklaces bracelets and so many pretty display pieces.  I also bought a couple of cute mushrooms to go with my fairy figurines.  I love the one made of Lapis Lazuli.  I'm not sure what the green one is. 

I have a collection of trinket boxes so I like to have small things to tuck inside of them.  I picked out this tiny skull carved out of red gold stone.  It is so glittery in real life!  It is mesmerizing.  I also bought a couple fossils.  There were little baskets filled with them of all different types and sizes.  

 The woman that worked there, I'm not sure if she was the owner, was a cool lady.  She patiently told me what each thing was so I could learn more about them.  I wish all the people that worked in stores were so friendly and willing to supply information about things.  I enjoyed watching her work on assembling things to put out in the store.  Outside the store, around the corner a bit, there was a large block of concrete with some good sized pieces of pure white quartz that people had been breaking up into smaller pieces.  I picked up a few small pieces to take home.  I found one that kinda looks like a chicken and I'm going to paint a few details on it to look like an all white chicken.  My sister loves chickens.

The yarn store called Polychrome Fibers was also amazing.  There was a rainbow of beautiful yarns of all different sizes and types, kits, project bags, stitch markers. etc.  It was a small store but the selection was amazing.  I had such a hard time making a selection that I actually left with nothing.  I thought about the a few that caught my eyes and what I would want to make with it the whole time I was in Anchorage.  I made the decision just in time so I could swing in on our way back home.  I bought some beautiful yarn and I also bought a crochet hook that someone had crafted with a bamboo handle and glass beads on top.  I wish I knew who made it.  I got it in the size I use the most - H, which I think is 4.5mm.  A picture of the yarn I got is in the previous post. 

I also found these cute art prints in an art gallery in Denali.  They are painted by Christine Nethe.

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I had such a fabulous time on that trip and I can't wait to go on another adventure. Maybe I'll go to a different place in Alaska next time. ~D

Our Spring Trip to Anchorage

I had an appointment in Anchorage in May and we decided to drive.  It was so beautiful.  I stared out the window the entire time.  My husband drove the whole time so I could take pictures and enjoy the scenery.  I took a lot of pictures because I want to try painting some of them.  It was early spring when we left and the leaves were just starting to open and still small.  As we drove south we saw more and more green and fuller trees.  As we started going up into the mountains it got cooler again and the mountains were breathtaking.  I took so many pictures of them and what I call "mashed potato clouds".  I also want to try to paint those amazing clouds.  

Denali

We drove through Denali but didn't have time to check out Denali National park.  I have been through this way several times and have never gone into the park.  I definitely need to do that sometime.  I checked out some of the shops in Denali and founds some fun things.  There is a store there called Denali Rocks and they have a neat selection of neat rocks, fossils, minerals, crystals.... so many cool things.  I love rocks!  I bought a few things I'll have to show pictures of later.  

Another store I went into was called Polychrome Fibers.  I bought some beautiful yarn there that reminds me of the night sky.  It is finger weight sparkle yarn in black, blue & purple.  I can't wait to make something with it.  

In Anchorage, it feels like the mountains are so close.  It feels like they follow you wherever you go in the city.  They are looming all around and so huge and majestic.  They seem to curl around the city, except on the side where the cook inlet is.  We went to a few bookstores, coffee shops and just walked around checking out the different stores and restaurants we don't have where we live.  We ate at Applebee's and it was so good.  It was my first time going there.  It was so nice outside and I soaked up the sunshine that I'd missed all winter.

I really enjoyed Title Wave books & The Writer's Block Bookstore & Cafe.  I will be going back!

I had so much time I hated to go back.  On the drive back home, we decided to drive through Palmer.  I was looking on google and saw there was a cute bookstore there called Fireside Books.  I wish I had some pictures of the inside.  It was set up so cute.  The children's section was really a delight.  I did buy a couple of books there.  It looked like such a great little community and I'd love to go back.  I enjoyed reading about this old train engine #5.  It was a really fun trip and I hope I get to do it again sometime and explore some more.