Snapshot of My Life on December 14

Weather in SW Michigan ...
The days are short and without snow the landscape is almost colorless. The "without snow" is fine with me.

Really? ...
It seems like it should still be summer and I can't believe I'm going to turn 68 next month. How many realities am I living in?

Something from the kitchen ...
I wish there was something from the kitchen. It was egg sandwich for lunch and it's going to be frozen dinner this evening. Grocery shopping has moved up to the urgent column on my to do list.

I am creating...
Socks. This pair is done for a Christmas gift and I'm working on two more pair with a Christmas deadline. I don't think I'm going to make it. Fortunately brother Dave has been known to send his Christmas gifts out in June, so that takes away a little of the pressure.

I am procrastinating ...
Moving posts from my old blog to this one so I can delete the old blog. The time consuming part is the pictures. Before Blogger let us store pictures in Blogger land, I put them on Picturetrail. To convert the posts, I need to match up the pictures on my laptop with the posts and upload them to Blogger.

My excuse for taking so long: I haven't convinced myself this project is worth the effort.

I am reading...
A Wanted Man: A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child.

Normally I start a book and procrastinate other things until the book is finished. This time of year that's not feasible, so it's going slow. It may not get finished until after Christmas.

I am hearing...
Quiet except for Sunny snoring.

Outdoors ...
This hawk sits high up in a neighbor's tree watching all the other birds eat and fatten themselves up for his dining pleasure.

A few plans for the next few days
Christmas musical at Calvary Bible Church with friends. Church and teller duty at Lighthouse Community Church. Lunch in South Haven with a friend. And after Christmas I'm looking forward to lunch with a friend that I haven't seen in almost a decade.

Giving thanks for ...
All the good Bible teachers I've had in the past eighteen years. They have changed my life for the better.

And ...
I brought the doggy car seats into the house when I had people who needed to ride in the back seat. Pappy thinks his seat is a great place to take a nap.

Mondo Cable Pulli Done

The first picture below is the picture from the pattern. When I started this project the plan was to knit the sweater without modifications, like this picture.

It started out well. The raglan top fit. The sleeves were on hold, and I knit round and round to the bottom of the flared out p1,k5 ribbing hem. Then I tried it on.

I didn't like the lenghth. It was too short and flared from my hips in the most unflattering place. I could feel the cold air on my tummy.

So I frogged the hem, knit two more inches of stockinette, and hemmed it with a p1,k2 ribbing.

Much more to my liking.

I repeated the snugger k2,p1 ribbing on the sleeves.

By the time I was done, I wished I had frogged the body back to above the side increases. I washed and blocked it, and decided to try wearing it the way it was.

I've worn it twice now. It's snuggly and warm and I like it enough to call it done.

If I were to knit it again, there would be no side increases. Lesson learned. (Have I supposedly learned this lesson before?)

Pattern: Chic Knits Mondo Cable Pulli

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy Superwash Merino, heavy worsted weight

Color: Starless Sky. The top picture of the neckline is the most like the actual color.

Needles: US #8

Gauge: 4.5 stitches/inch, 6 rows/inch in stockinette.

Snapshot Of My Life for November 3

Weather in SW Michigan ...
Frostly nights. No snow yet.

Really? ...
I'm thinking about what to do with this blog. In the past year it has turned into an every other week diary of my life. And that's OK, but it wasn't intentional.

Now I'm wanting it to either be intentional or do something to change it.

Something from the kitchen ...
Food without chunks to get in the hole left by my newly extracted molar. Soft things that can be slurped down and don't need to be chewed by my swollen, aching jaw.

It was not a pleasant week in my personal dental history.

I am creating...
The Mondo Cable Pulli is done. It deserves its own post. Soon.

I am procrastinating ...
Calling one of Bob's stock market accounts to find out why they are sending me statements with a one cent balance when the account was closed a year ago.

They weren't easy to work with when I closed the account and I'm not happy that it appears we never finished the job.

I am reading...
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg.

An enjoyable read exploring how habits function. Full of true life stories. It's interesting enough so I want to be reading instead of blogging. Soon.

I am hearing...
As always, the dogs are on either side of me snoring. The refrigerator is humming. Otherwise quiet.

Outdoors ...
It's easy to spot the abandoned bird nests now that the leaves are gone.

Something new for me ...
I enjoyed having my Droid in bed with me while I suffered through dental agony last week. It was especially nice to be able to send and recieve email without ever having to sit up.

Giving thanks for ...
After two months on prednesone, Sunny will finish her taper off this coming week.

I just wish there was some way to tell her she is crippled so she doesn't hurt her spine again.

And ...
My wonderful granddaughters.

A week ago Kimmy turned seventeen. She's working at Target for the holidays and hoping they will keep her afterward.

I found this picture to post for her birthday:

Sydney is in second grade this year and was a princess for halloween.

The only thing scary about this is how quick she is growing up.

Snapshot of My Life on October 19

Weather in SW Michigan ...
Cool and rainy today. This is the view from the end of my driveway.

Really? ...
Love this picture of Daughter Heather and Granddaughter Kimmy out pumpkin shopping.

Yes, they really are biological mother and daughter, one beautiful and fair, the other beautiful and dark.

The facts of country living ...
Sat for two hours at the Toyota dealer yesterday to get my car serviced and have mice removed from the car heater.

This is prime "rodents looking for a warm place to nest" season. Normally I don't have the heater cleaned out until I really need it, however I'm taking some friends with me on a jaunt Saturday and wanted the car exterminated. Not all people appreciate sharing their ride with rodents, especially if the heater fan doesn't work.

Now hoping nothing else moves in before our outing.

I am creating...
For years I had a rule: No more than three knitting projects in progress at once. It worked great. Things got finished. I could plan the next project and buy new yarn for it without guilt. I didn't get stressed wondering which project to work on next.

Something happened. I'm not sure what. Due to a lack of knitting discipline, I have NINE projects in various stages of work.

One more sleeve to go on Mondo Cable Pulli. Then I'll be down to eight projects. Knitting life is better when I stick to three, so I'm working on getting there.

Three of the projects were in progress when Bob died. I haven't looked at them since, but I'm ready now. Either I'll finish them or frog them.

Two of the projects aren't started yet, but they're for Christmas and need to be cast on soon. The beautiful yarn I'm going to use is sitting on a table in front of me just begging to go on the needles, only I don't have any empty needles to put them on.

I am procrastinating ...
Knitting sleeves. Four of the nine projects on my list just need sleeves.

I am reading...
Listening to The Reversal (A Lincoln Lawyer Novel) while I knit sleeves.

While fetching the link, I saw a review that said, "Readers who crave a feel-good ending may balk at the novel's disquieting finale."

I don't think I'm going to like a disquieting finale. Maybe I'll move on to the next library audiobook.

I am hearing...
Raindrops. Not happy about that. I'm trying to wash the sap off my car and am about half done. If it was twenty degrees warmer, I could do it in the rain with a natural rinse from the sky.

Outdoors ...
Tuesday Keith, the lawn mowing guy, vacuumed up all my leaves. Next Tuesday he'll be able to repeat the process. The lawn is covered and there's three days left before he comes again.

Something new for me ...
A week from Sunday I will become a member of the Wesleyan Church, Lighthouse Community Church in Kalamazoo/Oshtemo.

After four years of attending there, it's about time.

Giving thanks for ...
Sunny is doing better. She's tapered down to one prednesone a day. If all continues to go well, she'll be on an every other day schedule next week. And maybe I'll feel confident enough to put the mattress back on the box spring, although after six weeks I've gotten used to sleeping with the mattress on the floor.

And ...
This year even the oak trees showed some color. The autumn has been beautiful.

Life Snapshot for October 8

Weather in SW Michigan ...
Crisp and beautiful. We almost had first frost last night.

Really? ...
Some tree dripped sap all over my car and now it's covered with bees and ants. Living in the country is so interesting.

I am creating...
Working excusively on the Mondo Pulli. The Dream in Color yarn is so nice to work with that I keep picking it up and ignoring my other projects.

I am reading...
Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture by Adam S. McHugh.

I'm only on page 55, but so far there had been many "Oh yes!" moments in my reading.

I am hearing...
Quiet.

Last week I took a walk around the condo complex that's at the top of my probable places to move. It was also very quiet considering how many people live there.

I'm so looking forward to being moved. I am not looking forward to the process of moving.

Outdoors ...
Found this in the driveway this morning.

Wish I could train the hawks to select from the abundant bird breeds instead of the rarer breeds like this Yellow Shafted Flicker.

Something new for me ...
The Lang Proud Rooster 2013 Calendar

Heavy paper, beautiful and colorful roosters. I enjoyed my 2012 so much I had to order the 2013. I hope to hang it in my condo kitchen before 2013 is over.

Report on Sunny
After a month on full strengh prednesone, she's not much better. Twice now I've tried to taper her off the steroid and failed. The vet says to give it another week and maybe another week after that.

The osteoarthritis has spread to her shoulders and neck. It's very difficult to keep her from aggrevating it by curved sleeping and just moving around. Ever try to keep a steroid filled dog quiet?

She has moments of acute pain even with the prednesone. I'm very concerned about her and heartbroken that she has to go through this.

Picture of Sunny from a healthier time.

Giving thanks for ...
The sale of the commercial building in downtown Paw Paw. Closing was last week. Such a relief that I don't own it anymore.

And ...
Equal time for Pappy, my other much loved little dog.

Two Sweaters on the Needles

Last time I blogged about Vitamin D, it had garter stitch edging that was curling up to the point I knew it would never block out flat. It got put into time out for a few weeks until the weather got cool. Then I picked it up, frogged the edging, and replaced it with seed stitch.

The seed stitch lays nice and flat, plus I like the looks of it better than the garter stitch.

Only the remainder of the sleeves are left to be knit. I'm still deciding if I want them three-quarter like the pattern or full length.

One sleeve is knit twelve inches, the other sixteen, so Vitamin D is almost done.

Pattern: Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier

Yarn: Knitpicks Andean Treasure. 100% baby alpaca. Sport weight.

Color: Mystery Heather.

Needles: Options #4.

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch, 8 rows/inch in stockinette.

In truth, the hesitation over the length of Vitamin D sleeves is only an excuse to cast on the Dream in Color Classy yarn that arrived about a week ago.

This is a quick easy pattern knit top down with no seams. The yarn is pleasant in the fingers and slips easily on and off the needles.

It's possible this will be the first project I have ever knit with no changes and using the yarn shown in the pattern.

Pattern: Chic Knits Mondo Cable Pulli

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy Superwash Merino, heavy worsted weight

Color: Starless Sky

Needles: US #8

Gauge: 4.5 stitches/inch, 6 rows/inch in stockinette.

Snapshot for September 27

Weather in SW Michigan ...
Autumn sweater weather. Some trees have just started to turn into their beautiful fall colors.

Really?
Last Saturday we had hail. The outdoors turned white and we were faced with thinking about the coming winter.

Further west toward Lake Michigan the white stuff was solid on the ground and cars were sliding off I-94 on an almost balmy fall day.

In my yard, the hostas that hadn't been eaten by deer were beaten full of holes.

I am creating...
Finished blessing hat number 7. Now I'm back to working on the Vitamin D sweater. Need to get it done because the yarn for my next three projects has been ordered.

I am procrastinating ...
Putting the mattress back on the bed. It's on the floor because Sunny has been taking drugs for her arthritic back and I didn't want her climbing up and down to and from bed height.

We just started a three week taper of the Prenesolone. I'm watching her very close to make sure she's not in pain, but it's difficult to tell. She's doing a lot of pacing this afternoon and I have to wonder if she's OK.

I also have some arthritis and climbing on and off a mattress on the floor is something I will willingly do for only a few special loved ones. I'm ready to put the bed back together as soon as I think it's safe for Sunny.

I am reading...
The Lake of Dreams by Kim Edwards, a pleasant, slow moving book about a secret family past and current family members with relationship challenges.

I have the audiobook and am using it for knitting noise. It's perfect for that.

I am hearing...
The guys on WKZO Radio as they talk about maybe finding Jimmy Hoffa under a Roseville driveway. He went missing 37 years ago. Bet my granddaughter doesn't even know who Jimmy Hoffa was. Maybe my children don't know.

Surprised that this made the news. Surprised that the FBI still cares. Will be even more surprised if they actually find him.

Outdoors ...
Sedum plants are amazing. I love them because they can thrive in my poor, sandy soil without watering, even in extreme heat and/or drought. They just proved themselves hail-proof as well.

Something new for me ...
Just bought Chic Knits Mondo Cable Pulli pattern and have some bright blue Dream in Color Classy coming to knit it. For several years now I've been reading about the joys of knitting with Dream in Color yarn, so I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

Giving thanks for ...
The lazy, relaxing, fun time I had last week with Granddaughter Kimmy.

Little Shell Ribbing Stitch Pattern

Judy S. asked for the stitch pattern on one of the baby hats I knit for Haiti, so here it is.

The base is a multiple of eight stitches with k7,p1 ribbing.

I have knit socks with this stitch pattern and they turned out stretchy and very pretty with the finer gauge. See them here.

Multiple of 8 stitches, 4 rows.
Knit in the round.

Row 1: k7, p
Row 2: k7, p
Row 3: k, YO, p, p3tog, p, YO, k, p
Row 4: k7, p

Snapshot for September 16

Weather in SW Michigan ...
Beautiful beginning of autumn weather. 70s in the daytime, 50s at night. Just a hint of fall color and plenty of goldenrod.

Really? ...
Yes, really. You will see nothing to do with politics on this blog.

I am creating...
Blessing (because it's for someone I don't know) hat number 6 over a canister.

Note to self: Find better way to photo hats.

I am procrastinating ...
Working on my more challenging knitting projects because I'm very stiff from an osteoporosis treatment I'm trying. Prolia. So far there's no pain, which makes it superior to other osteoporosis meds I've taken.

I am reading...
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.

Only a few chapters into it. So far Susan, an introvert herself, goes to places where people are judged by their extroversion. She interviews the introverts she finds there about how they're coping. I can identify.

I am hearing...
Quiet. Both dogs are sleeping.

Outdoors ...
The fall wildflowers are thick in the back three acres.

A few plans for the next few days
Granddaughter Kimmy is going to come spend some time with me next week. She's going to teach me how to do some important things like play Angry Birds on my new smart phone and edit wrinkles out of my face in pictures.

Giving thanks for ...
Sunny is probably going to get better. Her spondylosis of the spine has advanced to her upper spine/neck region and Monday she was in acute pain. She had a steroid IV and a morphine type shot which was supposed to knock her out, but didn't. She's been on prednesolone and pain pills all week. Tuesday we start to taper off but she'll be on some prednesolone for the next three weeks.

I know the day will come when the vet looks at Sunny's x-ray and says she can't be fixed. This time is probably not that time, and I am thankful.

And ...
This moth was in plain sight on the door this morning and is still there this afternoon. That tells me the phoebes have left on their migration.

In the summer, they start the day with a breakfast of insects the porch light attracted over the night. And they especially like a nice, plump moth.

Snapshot for September 7

Weather in SW Michigan ...
It's going to be a cool weekend with highs in the low 70s.

WKZO, a local radio station has been keeping track of our super hot summer. The count so far:

30 days with high 85 to 89
32 days with high in the 90s
5 days with high in the 100s

We're probably done with the 100s, maybe we're done with the 90s, but there will be more 80s as soon as next week. 80s don't even feel hot anymore.

Really? ...
When I called my insurance agent to let her know the building in Paw Paw was unused and empty, I expected a reduction in my insurance rate.

Nope. Empty, unused buildings cost more to insure. Oops.

Something from the kitchen ...
It's not easy to find a 100 calorie, delicious, satisfying snack. Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt qualifies on all three counts.

In my grocery store, they're found with the Healthy Choice frozen dinners which I don't find to be delicious or satisfying.

I am creating...
Another blessing hat knit to warm someone's head this winter. It needs and will get a good blocking for its pretty lace to shine.

The pattern is Falling Water Slouchy Hat by Rose Beck. Free pattern.

I am procrastinating ...
Having the septic system pumped, having the furnace serviced, having the noise the water pump is making checked out.

I am reading...
The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of It

Actually I'm reading it through the second time and this time I'm doing the exercises.

This is the best non-fiction book I've read in years. It has five out of five stars on Amazon. It's well written and easy to understand. I promise you'll learn something about how your thoughts are managing you no matter how well you think you understand yourself.

Outdoors ...
It's goldenrod/ragweed/allergy season.

Giving thanks for ...
Twenty-one years living in this beautiful place.

And ...
Baby hat number seven for Haiti. The lady who is assembling the baby packets has plenty of hats now, so I'm going back to knitting blessing hats for local charities.

Maybe baby hats will be part of the collection. They are quick and fun to knit.