Valentines Day

 As I was doing more cleaning out of clutter. Clutter defined as things we no longer need or use, I admit I was thinking about tomorrow. Tuesday is Valentine’s Day. The restaurants are crowded and it might be a little too cold for outdoor dining, winter slammed into Southern Arizona with a huge cold blast.  As usual the Road to Mount Lemmon is closed because of snow and ice.  We had rain at our house.  We missed the hail and snow.  

We are in need of nothing.  So there was no need to rack my brain for what to buy.  I might buy some strawberries to go with dinner.  

So I started thinking, what if I filled my car with things that will leave the house permanently.  With everything going to Goodwill.  I can give John the gift of less clutter and more organized space around the house.  I told John about this and he is fine with the idea.  By the way I filled 2 more boxes today.  

We will go out and celebrate this weekend when it is supposed to get warmer.  

What is everyone else doing tomorrow?

Knitting Magazines

 I wish that I had discovered sooner in my knitting career that I don’t like to knit fussy knitting projects.  I am almost at the end of going through 8 feet of knitting magazines. I am honestly keeping less than half.  I am afraid that I many have more than one copy of some magazines, because friends gave them to me saying that I would look cute in a certain creation.  With the very odd hours and long days spent taking care of my wonderful children, husband, elderly family members, volunteering in the community and running a house I did not have the leftover brain power for anything fancy.  Sleeping was a luxury back then.  

Now that I have the time.  My hands are tired and wonky.  I don’t knit socks anymore.  I really don’t use small knitting needles much anymore except to get knots out of yarn.  I am also changing sizes so often that once I finish one part of a big project it will be to big for me.  I have a couple of sweaters on the back burner when my body gets to the size it wants to be.  

So for now it is shawls for me in smaller sizes. Spinning yarn on drop spindles.  Scarfs and hats for charity projects for kids once I can manage smaller knitting needles.  We find out about the next hand surgery this week.  Then it is physical therapy at home and gradually starting knitting again with lots of breaks.  

By the way, if you are looking for an older knitting, crochet or spinning magazine just ask. I might have it.  They are going for 50% off the list price except for the ones that sold for less than $5.00 from so last century which go for the original sale price. Yes I even have some of those.

Surprisingly, once the space is cleared and a bit of reorganization later the space is filled.  Things are looking neater every day.  

On Strike

 The washing machine went on strike today. At least I am mostly caught up on laundry.  I can still go to the laundromat or do a few loads of hand washing as necessary.  This is my personal experience. I don’t believe that LG is a reliable brand like Whirlpool.  The LG seems to break down every 2 years or so.  I think they need to work on reliability instead of how often can we make this washing machine break so people will buy more of them.  I even bet they don’t have a plan to recycle old parts or machines.

In other news 7 books are leaving the house on Monday.  I listed 6 inches of magazines and store bought patterns today.  I have 6 more inches of magazines to list.  I also found 2 more boxes of magazines to go through. That currently leaves over 40 books and magazines to browse through on my Ravelry book destash page.  I also have a bit of yarn listed on my yarn destash page.  After that I think it’s time to go through all of Eric’s CD’s.  If Bookman’s will not take them they will go to Goodwill.  

The more that is leaving the house the neater everything is getting.  

I also mentioned that our little free neighborhood library was nearly empty. So I like a bunch of other neighbors dropped off a few books.  

Busy

 I was on a roll this afternoon.  I managed to free up a lot of shelf space. I am dropping a few books off at our little free library this weekend. I listed more books on my Ravelry library destash page.  I have about a foot stacked of magazines and books to list tomorrow. I am also organizing by craft and author. This has lead to finding a few duplicates in my collection.  Not a good thing.  I know after this wild first cut that I will be able to winnow my collection down some more.  I also have sock knitting DVDs that I will try to list somewhere, as my hands no longer like smaller knitting needles. 

I will be going through all my cd’s this weekend. If Bookman’s no longer takes them they will be going to Goodwill.  

I think all this extra energy is coming from losing a bunch of weight.  

A Free Shawl Pattern.

 I actually started a simple shawl for my self today.  It’s a bit modified from a wash cloth pattern. I am knitting it on U.S. size 11 knitting needles. Using some Eco Cloud by Cascade Yarns.  Yes, this was the problem yarn of a few weeks ago.  I spent about an hour doing sewn together European joins formally called Russian joins.  I have not finished the joins, however I did join most of the smaller pieces.  

This is meant to be a very relaxing knit.

Sheri’s Simple Shawl

4 skeins of Eco Cloud by Cascade or any yarn from your stash that is 164 yards per 3.5 ounces or 150 meters per 100 grams.

U.S. Size 11 knitting needles with at least a 36 inch cable.

A darning needle to weave in the ends  

Cast on 20 stitches in your preferred method.  

Rows 1 and 2. Knit Across.

Row 3 and all rows except the bind off row. Knit unit you have 1 stitch remaining, yarn over, knit 1.  

When you have 4 times the last knit row do a loose bind off.

This will give you a nice subtle edge.  

Pictures to follow.  Please share the link to my pattern with your friends rather than photocopying the pattern. You many not give this pattern away with a yarn purchase, you must give the link.  I will give you the total number of rows later as I just started this today.  

I Figured It Out

 I figured out why I was in pain and cranky. A lovely little tendonitis flare up in both hands and one ankle. The solution was simple. Both hand braces and an ankle brace.  A lot of sleep. And I feel a little bit better. I will brace my hand’s again tonight.  

I listed a whole bunch of weaving books on my Ravelry books for sale page.  I might have just sold a few this evening.  Wish me luck.  Also more shelves of books to go through.  

TTFN

I made it through the day.

 The arthritis won today.