Two Wooden Sticks and a Ball of Wool

So 2008 really sucked.....

Wow.  It's hard to believe that I am actually writing a post.  2008 ended up being such a hard year for me healthwise.  I anticipated not having a great summer (the humidity really bothers my fibro) although this summer was spectacularly bad - we had so much rain.  Which continued into the fall and the heightened level of moisture just kept all things fibro (and otherwise) at an exacerbated level. 

Add to that a wicked burn (I have a really nice scar on my forearm as a nice memento) I gave myself taking a broccoli frittata out of the oven which turned into a bacterial infection and then the rather large kidney stone that has decided to take up residence and it was the making of inflammation, pain, fatigue, nausea, tinnitis and general lousyness (oh and the added bonus of some perimenopausal symptoms) that I haven't experienced in oh so long. 

I think that my vulnerability and level of anxiety always increases during these bouts (and they always seem so much worse when I have had a taste of more normalcy) and my isolation becomes so much more severe (my level of cognitive fatigue just doesn't allow me to expend a lot of energy - hard to describe but it is soooo debilitating - kind of similar to that feeling you had in University when you pulled an all nighter or two).  I am in turn very hard on myself (see I just can't get that "I can accept where I am" crap) and the vicious cycle becomes quite a spiral.  I feel very much like the outsider looking in on a life I want to be living and my thoughts become very dark and the cup nearly empty rather than half full.  I want to be involved, I want to do more, I want to be able to get out and go places. I struggle with feeling that I am not giving enough in my relationships or my life (I have 900 emails in my inbox, phone calls to return, things to take care of, projects to finish, dreams to actualize) and I have so much guilt about what Nick and Ed have to put up with.  Chronic illness is a bitch.

Tomorrow (Monday, January 12) I have a lithotripsy scheduled at the Kidney Stone Clinic at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.  With any luck (and please feel free to send positive energy my way to bust up and expel the fragments) I can get this taken care of without further procedures and get back to aiming for some abatement of the 'other' current symptomology I am experiencing.  Of course, as the specialist noted my stone is in the lower pole of the kidney so not the best possible scenario.  My good fortune.  It's funny, in some totally perverse way, that my fibro pain is so bad these days that the kidney stone pain is not really that bad (and anyone who has had kidney stones knows that it rates up there with the worst), or at least it doesn't seem so to me.

On the knitting front, I totally blew up on the ABC along - I think I got to E.  I didn't join this year. Prudent move on my part I think..lol.  Of course I did sign up for a few clubs but no 'a-longs.'  Why court more disappointment?

In terms of knitting, 2008 wasn't a total bust - I finished some long standing WIP's, 3 sweaters for my two guys, 3 baby sweaters, 3 shawls, 1 scarf and 1 moebius cowl, 2 Lizard Ridge blankets and 6 pairs of socks (all posted on Ravelry but I am throwing in a few gratuitous pics here).  The knitting (even though I have pretty constant pain in my joints and muscles from my shoulders to my fingertips) is meditative and soothing and, most importantly to A types like me, something I actually accomplish.  I am so not "process" oriented.

I also read a lot last year and really got into papercrafts (card making, scrapbooking) although again my dreams of what I can accomplish are always so much bigger that what actually gets done.

Thanks for letting me vent.  I know I still have it so good in spite of all the bad.  If I owe you a phone call, an email or a good laugh I do promise I will get around to it.  I have to say I love the changes to Typepad.  Can you believe how big Nick is getting?  He is such a sweetie.

Note to self: Update the sidebars!!

Never say never....

Unlike most knitters (I say tongue in cheek), I have a pile of left behind WIP's who have been thrown to the wayside in search of newer, more exciting knits.  Soooo, this year armed with lots of integrity (and a nagging armada of guilt) I have decided that I will tackle that pile and get some oldies finished.

With this in mind I present the following two finished projects:

Four Panel Jacket

I can't quite remember when I started this (not a good sign) but most likely it was way back in early 2006.  My grandiose plans at the time included getting it done and sewed up before my Mom returned from Florida.  Didn't happen.  I had the back, two of the four front panels, the pockets...well you get the idea.  Fast forward to 2007 - I decided I was going to get the sweater finished.  Did the rest of the knitting.  Didn't do the finishing.  Enter Patrick.  Knitter and sewer extraordinaire. (I really need to do a post about the very special people I have in my life who do amazing things for me, given my particular "issues.") Patrick put it together for me and, I was able to give it to my Mom THIS year when she got back from Florida.  Better late than never I suppose!

Specs:  Four Panel Jacket from Jamieson's Shetland Knitting Book 2
Yarn: Jamieson's Chunky Shetland (purchased from The Needle Emporium) in Artic
Modifications:  I did not add the button loop as my Mom has a bunch of funky pins she can use to fasten.  Patrick left out the finishing edges on the armholes to create less bulk and some ease of wear.

I love the shaping and it looks great on my Mom!  She loves it and with the recent switch back to fallish/winterish weather it has gotten some good wear.  I'd love to knit another one of these but holy mackerel given how long it took this one to get done I'd better keep on movin'!

Ribby Cardi

This little sweater (and I do mean little - when Ed and Nick saw the finished product they both asked me what little kid was getting it - I do live in the world of big chested men!) was a quick knit but then languished in the needing to be sewn up pile (it's funny how that happens...).  I started it last spring and had the pieces done pretty fast and then......NOTHING!  When Patrick took the Four Panel Jacket he had me give him the Ribby Cardi and wow he did such an amazing job.  The man can put a zipper in! (Okay the photo below is not the zipper but I looooooove the shoulder seam on this!).

The sweater was a gift for Pam, who works her bahuee off as the Administrative Assistant at the Brain Injury Association, Quinte District, a local volunteer organization where Ed donates his time in the role of President.  It is like another full time job and Ed is so thankful for the work Pam does (she is the only paid person at BIAQD), given all the other things going on in his life.  Thankfully, she had no idea she was getting this because it sure has taken a while!

Specs:  Ribby Cardi by Chic Knits
Yarn:   Peruvian Highland Wool (purchased at Elann.com) in Starlight Blue and  Nutmeg Heather
Modifications:  None other than some extra finishing details.  Patrick added a lovely  decorative edge along the zipper selvage which looks wonderful!

Pam loves it!  When Ed went to the office with the bag, Pam sarcastically asked if there was something hand knit in there for her (Ed does wear his hand knits proudly!) and when Ed said, "well, actually yes," she was mortified!  Of course Ed got a big kick out of that.  Anyway, she says it is her favourite sweater and I am happy to have such a loving home for this boffo sweater!

Thank you so much Patrick.  You rock!  I love you Buttercup.  And besides giving you this (you chocaholic you although I have to say if you haven't tried this you really must.  Must.) I will so find some other way to express my appreciation.

I do hope to have more old and neglected WIP's done this year...here's wishing me luck; I am sooo going to need it!

C is for.....

catching up!

I know I am waaaaaay behind on Vicki's ABC Along (I have a good excuse I assure you...more on that later) but I figured I needed to get my knitting ass in gear so here goes:

Celestial Merino

Bought last October at the CSNF from Lucy's booth in the market.  This stuff is good.  Really good.  You have to buy some good.  Amazing colour; rich, deep and just like the name.  Sugar Maple. 

Anyone who has watched a Maple tree change colours in the fall knows Lucy has this bang on.  Seriously bang on.  This colourway is so beautiful.  Genius actually.  And the yarn?  Glorious.  It has the shiny look of Koigu or CTH with a wonderful elasticity and sproingyness (okay I know it's not a word but it perfectly describes the feel) that is really glorious to knit.

My Eyelet and Chevron Flame Socks.  I love them. I love them in their fraternalness.
Pattern from The Ultimate Sock Book.

Central Park Hoodie

For Nick. 

Who is continually asking why I am making yet another sweater for Dad and not for him.  Who adores the size of my stash.  Who has promised his undying love to the art of Handknitting.  Who knits, but until he falls seriously in love will probably never knit anything other than a hat or scarf (or maybe just more hats and scarves).  Who adores women who knit.

Who can now comfortably wear the same chest size as Ed (44"), with a bit of room of course (the kid is growing; size 12 shoes and a 40" chest - holy crap) and who can now pass his hand me downs (tee hee) to his father (I figure I am golden).  Who is 14 1/2 years old and 40 years old and 5 years old all at the same time.

Who decided that he wanted to start high school.  My 'little' homeschooler came to us last fall with the idea that he wanted to go to school.  Everything was settled by October but as the semester was well into itself already, the decision was made to wait until February when the new semester would start. 

He loves it!  He is up by 6am every day, he makes his own lunch, whistles while he does his homework and is just a teeny weeny bit in love with his math teacher (who also doubles as his homeroom teacher).  He wants to go to school on snow days.  He is running with the Track team and trying out for the Rugby team.  And he is pulling straight A's.

Central Park Hoodie
Donegal Tweed Homespun in Nick's favourite colour, RED.

Oh...and the excuse.  I went to Madrona (combination birthday and Christmas present from Ed who also told me I needed to get out there and start living; he would help me pick up the physical pieces after - I have to say the recovery has been brutal) - I will post on it soon!

la la Lavoisier...

I have started a new sweater for Ed.  Lavoisier from Alice Starmore.  I have to say I am in love.  Love the pattern, love the twists and cables, love the yarn, LOVE everything.  The yarn is Hebridian 3 Ply which is used double stranded throughout.  It is a joy to knit with.  Glorious actually.  The yarn is springy and substantial and just feels so wonderful in my hands and my lap. 

The colour is Sea Ivory and I am in love with the heathery olive texture (the colour more accurate above - it is a skillfully and subtle colour blend).  The picot edging is really nice and I am enjoying the 'development' of the pattern; there is a 9 row border and then a 16 row starting pattern which flows into a 40 row main pattern.  It is just so lovely.  I can't wait to get this baby finished.

Now, sweaters aside, Rhonda and I have spontaneously decided to do a mini KAL with the Math Whiz socks designed by Anne of Knitspot.  Rhonda has already posted her yarn (the yummily scrumptous Grandma's Blueberry Pie from Sophie's Toes), so I figured I better decide on a yarn.  The colour choice is unusual for me.  It is Water by Cherry Tree Hill.

While I am not one normally drawn to greens, I think this would make a fabulous choice for Math Whiz (what do you think Rhonda?). 

BTW, Rhonda works at M.I.T., which gives her a seriously qualified math whiz type personality; my only claim to fame is winning the Math Award in Grade 12 (and gee knowing what a math wizard I am now - NOT- I have NO idea how I pulled that one off).  The prize was interesting - a book named The Ape Within Us - seriously (I am still not sure what the connection was there!). 

Anyhoo, we have decided to start the socks next Friday, June 15.  So, if you think you have the math whiz skills (LOL) and if you want to join in let me or Rhonda know - we are happy to have more math whizzes whizzing along!