I'm trying - YOP update

I seem to be a collector of problems.  I really don't want all the health problems though.  I'd rather collect vintage buttons.  I now have vertigo and then migraines and tension headaches triggered by it.  It isn't the worst thing because it's left sided so I can go to PT and somehow they have the magic to fix that.  I guess there are other types of vertigo that are not so easily treated.  I'm trying to look at the bright side on this.  I'm irritated though because I can't drive right now.  I just got my car a few months ago and already I can't drive it.  I am paying $75 a month for an exercise program and now I can't go.  I was doing so good too, getting stronger and losing weight.  It helps to have someone there to help push me but also help me modify to something doable for me. That price is for an unlimited plan too but last month I only made it 2 times because the doctor said not to go again until after I go to PT.  If I change the plan it will actually cost me more.  It is in the morning on weekdays so if I can't drive I can't go.  I also have other appointments and things I planned and I have to reschedule or find a way to get there.  I have to have a ride to go to PT because they will trigger the vertigo.  My first appointment is 9/2.

My husband and I are about to go on a trip to Anchorage to celebrate our 35th anniversary coming up on 9/1.  I'm not sure what we'll do.  We usually don't plan and just go and see what we find along the way.  We are going to rent a car and we could drive to some place outside of Anchorage we haven't been to yet.  Who knows what we will find.  I don't know if it will be rainy like it is here.  The hotel we use has these huge bathtubs so I could just get some bubble bath and a good book lol

I haven't been working on anything much because of the head spinning and headaches.  I do have a project that I need to finish but I put it in time out for a while.  I did part of it but I'm not really happy with it.  This is a poncho for my sister and I'm not sure if I'm doing it the best way.  I've never done this sort of thing before.  I usually just follow the pattern as written but I need to rework it.  I have about half of this done, or close to that, but I want to rip it all out and start over.  I would rather take it all out and fix it otherwise I don't want to work on it.  I want her to love it and want to wear it.  Also, I know she would tell everyone she sees that I made it so it needs to look good.  

She wants this poncho called Butterflies that's in a pattern book I have called Knit Ponchos by George Shaheen.  I feel very honored that she's asking me because she doesn't knit very much.  She's a great crocheter and is much better and changing patterns.  I want to make sure it's going to look good.  It calls for bulky weight yarn and she wants me to use worsted weight.  She lives in Texas so she doesn't want it to be too hot to wear.  I'm trying to work out how to make the pattern work while adding extra rows and I'm double wrapping the eyelets to make them bigger so they look more like the original pattern grouping of the 4 "butterflies". 

I'm using I Love This Cotton yarn and she loves the color.  I mostly have it worked out but I'm having a problem with the eyelets.  I had to add rows and stitches to make the grouping look similar to the pattern.  Is there a trick for keeping the knit stitches between the two eyelets looking neat and not loose and sloppy?  Where there are two eyelets I am doing this - YO (2 wraps), p2tog, p2, YO, P2tog.  On the return row I knit across dropping the extra wraps.  The stitches in the center between the eyelets and leaning into the eyelets and no matter how hard I try they won't stay.  Is there a better way?  I forgot to add that the purl side is the outside so I should have taken the picture of the other side.  I put the picture below but the lighting is bad and the color is all wrong.  Also, this will stretch out from the weight of the yarn and will be more open.  I really hope there is a way to make this look better.  If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.  

I think my eyelets look like a run in nylon stockings.  I can take a knitting needle and tighten them up afterwards but I would have to keep going that.  

I hope everyone has a good weekend!

DJ

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.