Spring Has Sprung.....how's that for a heading!

I have been missing from the blog due to various health problems; but I think I should bring things up to date. It took over 3 months to arrange to have 2 bad teeth extracted! Being on coumadin sure makes a difference in what you can, and cannot do. *sigh*

THE BIRDBATH

This was a birthday gift from my friend, "Buttercup", aka Cathy Jo. :)

I've been wanting a bird bath for my back yard, like.......forever.

I just had to show it here. Needless to say, I cried when she gave it to me, and then ...... I cried some more.

Every time I looked at it, more tears would come. When friends sacrifice to give you something they know you really, really want...you know they must really care a great deal about you. And I have some truly wonderful friends, of which she is a very special member.

*

Thank you, Cathy Jo!

*

It is incredibly beautiful! I don't think the birds have found it yet; but it's done nothing but rain and turn off uncomfortably cool the past week and more. So, I watch from the west facing windows of the house, to see if and when they will discover and use it. She placed it where I could see it from the windows, since I spend a lot of my life indoors.

My Garden Spot

So, I'm waiting for the sun to come back out and for it to clear off, for my garden seed to sprout, and for things to grow in it.

It isn't very large, as gardens go. I put in 7 tomato plants, 3 bell peppers, an eggplant, a parsley plant, a birdhouse gourd, 2 hills of cucumber, 2 hills of zucchini, 2 rows of green beans, a row of onions, and a little lettuce/radish patch.......hoping to add some marigolds and nasturtium as insect deterents when it dries off enough.

My Wenslydale Sweater
I made a sweater some many years ago, before Wensleydale wool was something you could readily get in the U.S.....and I had to send to the Dales of Northern England for the yarn. That was a real learning experience for the novice spinner. I learned about trying to figure out the differences in money exchanges, duty, and all sorts of stuff I had formerly never even considered. I contacted a lady at the Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop and made arrangements for wool top and yarn. I shared the wool with my spinner's and weavers guild; so we could all experience spinning it.

Then I proceeded to knit "The Sweater". I'm not sure anymore where the pattern came from; but I thought it the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

As you can see, it is a vining leaf lace pattern. It has eyelets at the edges of all ribbing and down the button bands.

I entered it at my local county fair, and was surprised and pleased when it took several ribbons....and best overall of the Fancy work division and a Championship ribbon.

The only thing I would change, were I to do it again, would be to sew the shoulder seam instead of invisibly weaving the back and fronts together at the shoulders. The yarn is very soft, and needs the stability of a seam at the shoulders to keep it from "growing" in this area.

I really love the detail on the top of the sleeve.

DEBBIE MACOMBER

The co-moderator for my yahoo Indiana knitters and fiberholics list, (http://www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/indianaknits) Christy, attended a signing for Debbie Macomber's new book, Twenty Wishes, and knowing what a huge Macomber fan I am, she brought me a birthday book, autographed especially by Debbie herself! I have many of her books, and all of her Leisure Arts Knit Along With Debbie Macomber booklets; so this was a rare and treasured treat. Thank you, Christy!!!!

This is a photo of my lunch with a couple of friends, Brenda and Connie, and the first time meeting of Christy and her two darling little girls in person at Benjamins in Rockville. This was where Christy presented me with the Debbie Macomber book, Twenty Wishes. To the right is the very special autograph Debbie signed my book with.

Christy had invited me to go to the signing with her, by picking me up and taking me. Being a handicapper, I knew it would be impossible to stand in line; no matter how much meeting Debbie Macomber would have meant to me.

Thank you, Christy! Thank you, Julie and Kate! And, Thank you, Debbie Macomber! :) I read the scripture inserted, as well. :)

The photo is not really very good; and I am still wondering if the man in the booth - to the back of where we're sitting - is related to Dr. Suess's Cat in the Hat, or a Santa elf. Funny, what photos can distort! :)

Benjamin's has the very best walleye I've ever eaten, and I will invaribly order that when I eat there......which is as often as I can manage. :)

Until I post again, God bless.

January 04, 2008

Do you feel as strangely as I do, writing 2008, instead of 2007?

I have developed the rash from.........won't say that word; but if I did you would know what I am talking about! We are not sure what caused it; other than it is contact dermatitis, and it developed while I was in wrap mode for therapy. I have bi-lateral lymphedema of the lower extremities. To put it simply, I have a compromised lymph system to my legs that causes them to swell abomniably and hamper my mobility.

In order to try to keep the swelling down, we get MLD (manual lymph drainage) from a trained, licensed therapist, especially trained to work with those like me. It comprises of being massaged, then wrapped in layers of low stretch bandages that compress and help to drain the lymph from areas where it tends to collect and pool.

While in wrap mode, I began to get this maddening itch......and it broke out in a rash from hip to toe. Now I am slathering cream on it and taking an oral itch inhibitor that helps; but doesn't quite do the job.

I awakened at 2:30 this morning, itching and scratch like a mad woman.
I came in here and clipped my fingernails as short as possible. It is beginning to fade somewhat; but is still there, itching just beneath the skin. I look like my legs have been scalded with boiling hot water. The rash was fine and very red raised spots in the beginning.

The next thing will be to try to find out what caused the reaction......but how without getting in this mess again? It was either the moisturizing cream used for the very dry lymphatic skin, or the spandex content in the wraps. Which will create a problem if it's the spandex, as I am sure the new compressive garment will have spandex material in it. :(

While at the doctor's the other day, I learned that the little boy (the doctor's young son) for whom the hat in orange and black stripes was intended, was well received. He thought it was "cool" to have black stripes added to his favorite color of orange! This put a huge smile in my day. The doctor's wife is a sweety, and she took me to see his office, where a sunny window contains all the raised from seed violets I've given them..........and they were all blooming cheerfully there. So, two smiles to my day.

My oldest son has just undergone surgery. I'm praying for a rapid and full recovery for him.

I think indianaknits is going to have a dishcloth exchange in February.
www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/indianaknits
This is my restricted list for indiana residents (and borders) that are into knitting, machine knitting, spinning, weaving, crocheting, and all fiber pursuits.
We enjoy just hanging out with our knitting, and sharing what life brings.

We also have a list on Ravelry.
On Ravelry, I am fiberluvr.