Simple Woman's Daybook for January 31, 2012

Outside my window...
It's over 50 degrees today. Snow is melting and everything looks blah, but the roads are icefree.

I am thinking...
That this has been the strangest January I can ever remember. Normally we get "a" January thaw that lasts a few days at most. This year I've lost count of the thaws we've had, but I think it's been about one a week.

I am thankful for...
A careful endodontist who checked my jaw before digging in for surgery and found a molar that needed a root canal, which he did. Once the pain dies down my jaw problems may be over. Even if not, the tooth was part of the problem and needed to be treated.

From the kitchen...
Easy stuff. I've been mostly hanging out in bed holding my sore jaw.

I am wearing...
Jeans, a gray sweatshirt with some coffee drizzled down the front, and hand knit socks.

I am creating...
Occasionally knitting on Karen's socks. Both heels are done. One is knit down to the toes.

I am going...
Back to the endodontist tomorrow because my jaw is still hurting. After three weeks, I'm having a difficult time remembering what it feels like to have a painfree jaw.

I am reading...
Cutting for stone by Abraham Verghese. Months ago when I put this on hold at the library I was 24th in the queue. Maybe they should have bought a few more of this title? It's an excellent novel and I'm enjoying it when I feel good enough to read.

I am hoping...
That tomorrow's visit to the endodontist is the definitive end of my jaw problem.

I am hearing...
The refrigerator is humming in the background. Pappy and Sunny are both snoring during their after dinner nap.

Around the house...
I'm looking forward to feeling well enough to vacuum and dust. Now that's a change.

One of my favorite things...
A painless day.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Getting better and getting on with life.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Granddaughter Kimmy.


FOR TODAY January 31, 2012...

These writing prompts are available from Simple Woman's Daybook where each Tuesday we're invited to join in celebrating the beauty of everyday moments around us.

Karen's Retro Rib Sock Cuffs

Last week I was on steroids for my jaw ache and as soon as I tapered off the pain came back worse than it was. My jaw is not healing from the surgery I had last spring, so I'm going to have additional surgery on Friday.

Do I need a new blog post label "Dental agony"?

Working on a pair of socks for Karen to send off with brother Dave's huge red wonders. I would like to get these mailed out before Dave and Karen's Oregon winter is over.







Pattern: Retro Rib Socks by Evelyn Clark in Winter 2004 Interweave Knits.

Yarn: Stalwart Sock from Slackford Studio. 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon 4 Ply Fingering Weight Sock Yarn.

Color: Woodgrain.

Needles: Options 2.50mm circulars.

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch in stockinette.

Socks for Brother Dave

Finally finished brother Dave's socks.

Pattern: A variation on basketweave.



Multiple of 6 stitches: (I used 72 stitches for a man's sock)

X O X X X X Row 4: p4,k,p
X O X O O O Row 3: k3,p,k,p
X X X O O O Row 2: k3,p3
X O X O O O Row 1: k3,p,k,p

X = purl
O = knit

Yarn: Stalwart Sock from Slackford Studio. 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon 4 Ply Fingering Weight Sock Yarn.

Color: Passage to India.

Needles: Options 2.50mm circulars.

Gauge: 8 stitches/inch, 10 rows/inch in stockinette.

Crockpot Corn Chowder Recipe

5 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
16 oz frozen corn
1 tablespoon butter
2 14-oz cans chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 Eckrich smoked sausage sliced thin and cut in half

Throw everything in the crockpot and cook on low for about 8 hours.

Notes:

• Medium spicy. If you want more, up the cayenne but be careful.
  
• Sausage comes two to a pack. If you want more meat, use both. If you want less calories, use turkey sausage.
  
• The salt in the sausage and broth is plenty for my taste. You may want more.

Simple Woman's Daybook for January 17

FOR TODAY January 17, 2012...

Outside my window...
It's 40F and so foggy that some schools in the area had a two hour delay this morning. The fog wasn't gone after two hours, but at least it was daylight.

This picture was taken about 10 AM.

Later today it's supposed to get much much colder and snow.



I am thinking...
That my life right now is nothing like it's going to be a year from now. At least I hope that's true, with changes for the better.

I am thankful for...
Son John has been posting pictures of Granddaughter Sydney on Twitter. They always make me smile. More please.



From the kitchen...
Made a crockpot full of corn chowder Sunday and will be working on that all week. It's a favorite so I won't get tired of it.

I am wearing...
Gray sweatpants, a plain light pink sweatshirt, and handknit socks. Always the handknit socks.

I am creating...
Pounds. I've been gaining weight and have to stop before I gain back everything I worked so hard to lose. It's that diet time of year.

I am going...
Back to the endodontist tomorrow morning to see why the tooth that had a root canal and surgery to have the end of the root ground off last spring is hurting so bad I'm almost non-functional.

I am reading...
Time and Newsweek. Subscribed to both for the fun of reading about the 2012 presidential race and the fun of getting something interesting in the mail.



Time boggles my mind. Sometimes they use small yellow print on white, small white print backed with light blue, and graphics that hardly make sense at all. They certainly don't tell a story at a glance, they just cause forehead wrinkles when I bother to try and figure out what they're trying to show.

Granted, most of their readership is probably reading electronically and only us older people are still working with the print edition. But it's just my demographic that can't deal with yellow print on white.

I won't be renewing Time.

I am hoping...
The roads are decent tomorrow morning so I can get to my endodontist appointment. They're covered with thick ice and slush right now and I don't understand why they're not getting plowed off before it starts snowing again.

I am hearing...
Dave Ramsey in the background because I didn't turn off the radio in the bedroom. Will take care of that next time I get up.

Around the house...
Not much is getting done. Less jaw pain if I don't move. Fortunately I have a wealth of good books to read.

One of my favorite things...
My faithful friends and family who don't intrude, but make sure I know they're still with me and available as I go through this transition time.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
No plans until my jaw stops hurting.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
My maternal grandfather, John Kern, a Swiss engineer who came to this country as a young man and did well. He would have loved computers.



These writing prompts are available from Simple Woman's Daybook where each Tuesday we're invited to join in celebrating the beauty of everyday moments around us.

Simple Woman's Daybook for January 3

FOR TODAY January 3, 2012...

Outside my window...
The first big snow of the winter.



I am thinking...
Wayne State University has released its fourth list of 10 words the Detroit school says deserve greater use such as erstwhile, Sisyphean, supercilious. It might be fun to try writing a blog post using all ten. If I do, I will include definitions.

I am thankful for...
After two months physical therapy finished last Friday. I’m exercising at home for now.

Every time I went in she asked me what percent better I was and I annoyed her by saying I couldn’t tell her because I had no idea how much better I could get. She never offered an opinion on that. Finally Friday I told her I was 95% better, which I hope isn’t true, and we said goodby.

I am more flexible and “decompressed”, but things still hurt way more than they should.

From the kitchen...
I'm still trying to get used to the empty look in the refrigerator that comes from living with oneself.

I am wearing...
Jeans, a green sweatshirt embroidered with little flowers and leaves, and handknit socks.

I am creating...
My file folders for 2012 paperwork.

I am going...
To keep precise track of my spending in 2012 so I have some idea of how much I can afford to spend on a new place to live, assuming I decide to move. I have the ledger sheets and categories all set up and ready to go. This should be interesting.

I am reading...
Blog reader Carolyn sent me the entire series of Alex McNight mysteries by Steve Hamilton.

The fictional McNight lives in Michigan's upper peninsula in a little town called Paradise (it really exists) on Lake Superior near the Soo Locks. Just reading these books makes me shiver with cold and thankful for our much milder SW Michigan winters.

They are a good read and I'm enjoying them. Thank you Carolyn!



I am hoping...
That 2012 is all you hope for plus a little extra.

I am hearing...
The little mail truck just went down the other side of the road and will be back here in a minute.

Around the house...
We, the little dogs and I, are getting used to being without Glory.

One of my favorite things...
A Christmas gift from John, Anne, and Sydney. I told them when I was young I read and enjoyed a lot of science fiction/fantasy, but haven’t tried any in years and didn’t know where to start. Then I suggested they pick out the first book in some of their favorite series so I could try out various authors that they've enjoyed.

I decided to leave the books unopened until I was ready to start reading one, so I won’t have to agonize over what looks good to read next. Surprise is much more fun.

The first one I opened and read was the Crystal Singer. A very pleasant and entertaining read. I liked it enough to check that the library has the second two in the series and I plan to read them.

Then I opened The Eye of the World and could hardly tear myself away from its 800 pages to do the things that needed to be done. Totally enjoyed the writing, the story, the maps, and the glossary. Have ordered the next two in the series from Amazon and, since there are twelve books in all, if nobody hears from me the rest of the winter it’s all John, Anne, and Sydney's fault!

Just started Game of Thrones last night and haven't gotten into it enough to have an opinion except to note there seem to be an overload of families and characters to remember.

I'm hunkered down for winter with two little old dogs who like to sleep, so I'm doing a lot of reading alternating the McNight mysteries with the fantasy books.




A few plans for the rest of the week:
Yesterday's lunch with a friend was snowed out. We're going to try again next week. We both spent decades driving to work on slippery roads and enjoy staying home now on bad driving days.

Supposedly it's going to warm as the week progresses and the roads will clear. Then I need to go to the grocery store and drive to Kalamazoo for a haircut.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
Looks like Santa was very good to granddaughter Sydney.



These writing prompts are available from Simple Woman's Daybook where each Tuesday we're invited to join in celebrating the beauty of everyday moments around us.