Ahead of Schedule

 I decided in the beginning of January that 100 knitting projects was a reasonable amount of knitting for 2021.  About one project for every 3 or 4 days. I am trying not to over use my hands.  At the same time I am trying to finish my UFO’s and do a major stash down.  At the same time making sure I have at least 5 dozen hats for the Flowing Wells School District Clothing Bank.  I have a lot of knitting wishes for the year. 

To that end I choose a basket with three partially finished blankets this week.  I finished the fourth missing square for the first blanket tonight. I will sew together the blanket tomorrow.  Then add the edging by picking out the 3 main colors and adding a Crocheted boarder. Then it will be washed, bagged and labeled.  I have started a box for a local nursing home for the blankets and shawls.  

Tonight I pick up the second blanket from the basket. I decided not to make a whole bunch of squares, but instead make 3 strips. I am doing this because the three blocks that are finished are different sizes.  So as long as the strips are the same length, I should be golden.  This means less sewing too. That is the problem with having a blanket project made by so many different people.  The thing is that even though five other people worked on the  two blankets I an knitting the majority of the squares.  Note to self never ever do this again.  

I will also go stash diving tomorrow to find stash yarn that will go with the second blanket.  I am really hoping that I will not have to buy yarn to finish the second blanket.  I do have a lot of cotton yarn in my stash. Wish me luck. I am hoping to find dark blue and purple.  A turquoise blue, and medium blue and purple.  I already have the white, I just pulled a cone out.  

Well it’s time to call it a night.  

Toggling Knitting Projects.

 Right now I am toggling between three knitting projects. I have 2 in the den. I am knitting squares for a blanket and am knitting hats for the kids.  Hats are for when I don’t need to pay attention to what I am knitting.  The squares are a little more precise so they are worked on at other times.  I am still working on the long scarf when I am on zoom.  

For those keeping count I am on hat 18 for the year or 1.5 dozen hats.  

I see more knitting in the next few weeks while my foot heals.  My feet don’t like cold weather so the tendons are inflamed.  So that does limit my walking time.  I am doing the right exercises for my foot. I have been here before.   

A Needy House.

 Last year was my year of retooling. This year the house is being super needy. It’s only the middle of February.   We started out in January having the refrigerator dying on us.  That was replaced at the end of January, it took a long time to deliver due to COVID19.  

Then in quick secession the washing machine started leaking in two different areas.  The first repair took care of half of the leaking.  The second leak was from the back hoses, intake and out put.  After the third try the washing machine is finally fixed.  It wash just in time. Because I have been loosing weight and inches I don’t have a lot of outfits. I had just enough clothing to last through today.   So before breakfast the laundry was started.  By tomorrow morning everything will be dry.  

The the ceiling fan lights went out.  Thankfully John was able to fix it the same day.  Later that night the guest bathroom toilet decided to die.  The parts are on order.  Pre COVID19 it would have just been a quick trip to the hardware store, now it’s order the parts and wait.    

Honestly there are other things that need to be done around the house like repairing the chips caused by Eric’s wheelchair. Rooms that have not had a new coat of paint since 1994 and other paint touch ups.  It’s also time to replace the grouting in two bathrooms.  As I am feeling better or after we have our COVID19 vaccines and we can hire someone. It will get done in due time.  

Attacking Mistletoe

 Today we worked on getting some mistletoe out of a mesquite tree in our yard. It seemed like we took out a lot of tree. I have to admit that I have not been doing much mistletoe removal in the past couple of years. I have instead relied on the gardener, that was a huge mistake.  He has not done any mistletoe removal. He is supposed to be here this weekend, so I left all the branches we cut off for him to clean up.  It’s my passive aggressive way of say you did not do your job, so John and I had to.  So you get to pick up all the branches. 

I finished knitting my yellow shawl today. It is a little small for me and I think I am a bit to pale to pull it off. I will weave in the ends tomorrow and take a picture.  It will probably be sold.  Now to pick the next project.  

Household Repairs

 We have spent part of the last three days on household repair projects.  The first repair was repairing two of the backyard screens.  The second repair of the washing machine lead to the third repair or more accurately the replacement of the water valves for the washing machine water intake.  John made it as COVID19 safe as possible by opening the newly repaired screen door window in the laundry room. He then sealed off the room with plastic.  Then we left the fan running to create a constant flow of air out of the laundry room into the backyard.  Even though we were on the other side of the barrier we wore masks while the repair men were here.  

I am absolutely done with household repairs for the time being.  I was too tired to do much today. I was to tired to knit which should tell you exactly how tired I am.  I did manage to get one load of laundry finished, John did a great job hanging all the clothing.  

It’s time to call it a day.  

Over Achieving

 Today is January 28th.  I might need to rethink my knitting goals for the year.  I have already hit 11% completed. I am only knitting a few hours a day, no all day marathons in deference to my hands. Maybe it’s time to pull out a really if project to slow me down. 

Serial Knitting

 I have turned into a serial knitter. Well what does that mean?  It means I have one project for the kitchen table so I can keep copious notes on my rows.  I have hat knitting on the couch for television time.  I have a third project at my computer for zoom meetings and face time. What does this mean for you? Well you will get to see more finished projects.  What does that mean in general, more items will go to the kids clothing bank. What does it mean for my yarn stash, hopefully it will shrink this year.