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.

Testing a Post From My Droid

I'm loving my smart phone. Why did I wait so long to get one?

Test picture, my lunch from yesterday.

Real post coming later today from my laptop.