Time to Pivot

 For Spin Together 2025, I had originally planned to master the supported spindle spinning.  My body however had very strong reservations on the subject. So today I did a major pivot and  looked in my fiber stash and choose 2 color coordinated roving’s that I bought at my favorite Local Yarn Store, Grandma’s Spinning Wheel . By the way I am on the Grandma’s Spinning Wheel team  for Spin Together 2025. 

I switched to my Hansen mini pro e-spinner. Since I was not planning to use my e-spinner this week, I spent the morning finishing up some quick plying and skeined in the yarn off the bobbins.  I do not have enough bobbins to cover unplanned projects. Of course the four skeins had to have a bath and are now drying in the garage. You can find Hansen Crafts at this link.  I do love my Hansen e-spinner.  One of the best things about it is that I can use it when I am in a flare up and can’t use my Louet Victoria or Lendrum DT.  It’s the whole bit that I must rest as much as possible during a flare up. But as long as I am not treadling I can still spin.  

I am a little over 1/3 of the way through my first roving.  This is my spin from this afternoon. 

The Shawl That Grew in the Closet

 It may not seem like it at times that I am making progress.  In 2009 I started making changes to my diet and lifestyle.  I cut out aspartame and all artificial sweeteners. As time went on I made more changes like cutting back on sugar and carbs.  Recently I cut out red meat and most fats. I also started moving more.  The more I move, the more I lost and the more I moved.  It’s a very slow cycle.  I was trying to to do anything to make my arthritis better. I did a lot of reading.  I was not even trying to lose any weight.  At about the same time I knit this shawl in the largest size.  It barely fit. I used a small knot to hold it in place.  I was a size 4X at the time.  

Fast forward to September 2021, I am no longer a 4X.  Depending on the designer I wear any size from medium to XL. I am on a lot less medication and don’t have to take aspirin all the time. This was my main goal.  Everything else was just a bonus.  The shawl that just fit, well just look at the way the shawl fits today. It’s down at my hips.   I know that my face is a bit square today, that’s what my Sjogren’s  looks like during a flare up. So no smiles today.  

The downside if flare ups

 My body and I are not currently on speaking terms.  I have had a major slow down in what I want to do versus what my body will allow. For the past 3 days all I have been able to knit is 6 or 7 yards of yarn at best.  I really feel bad as each scarf represents a holiday present for a child in Tucson.  

To get over this latest Sjorgrins flare up, yes a flare up as I live with some effects on a daily basis.  I must rest.  Which is not always easy.  My bed which was picked out because it was soft and comfortable feels like cement.  Even playing jazz quietly in the background is not working. I wish I had some magic to fix this and everything else that is going wrong in the world. 

I am going to try to sleep again. I don’t know if it is possible but I will try.  My pain level is just below crying. Which makes it hard to sleep.  No more aspirin until 6 am. Sighs.  

Yucky Flare Up

Nothing but 5 loads of laundry and 2 hours of deep cleaning got done today.  I have almost another foot of knitting books for Bookman’s and a pile of craft magazines for my knitting friends.  My hands were to sore and tired to knit.  I did spend a lot of time napping. This flare up has knocked me out.  Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Time for a Change

It is time to slow down a little to get my body back in sync. Let my joints have a rest and maybe just hurt a little less. Maybe even get a full nights sleep. 

I will try to relax. On schedule will be knitting and spinning.  A few trips to Bookmans. 

Eric managed to have hiccups for over an hour tonight. That does not go with my new plan of slowing down.  I guess I forgot to run my plans past the boss. 

10,000 Steps

Today I walked over 10,000 steps, with about 8,000 steps before noon thanks in part to the Tucson Community Food Bank End Hunger Walk. After all that I did not have much energy so it was 4 loads of laundry, working on Eric's quilt and some knitting. I am calling it an early night, with the hope that my body does not resemble a 2 x 4 tomorrow.

Oh by the way I am planning on doing the Hunger walk again next year so now is the time to start training. I will be walking about 2 miles. They also do a warm up before the walk. I did what I could but I would have been able to do it all 20 years ago. Sigh.