Beading

 Today was spent doing the usual Sunday morning chores.  I did manage to get the bed stripped and into the washer for the second week in a row. This is one step forward in my Hand recovery.  

I spent a few hours making one of a kind stitch markers for crocheting and keep track of the front side of knitting projects. I had a great time playing with my beads. I also went through my bead crafting drawers and am going to destash some findings that I no longer need, because I am no longer doing fund raisers for Eric’s day program.  I use to make between 50 and 100 pairs a year to raise money. That was followed by lunch and a very long nap.  I find that by either using my hand or going to physical therapy both do require naps afterwards.  

Tomorrow I plan on making more stitch markers.  Of course a nap will follow.  

Sewing Room

 Today I am working in the sewing room. Doing minor repairs. Making some stitch markers and stitch stoppers. Maybe even sewing on a button or 2. Maybe even a dog pillow or 2.  The end result is going to be less projects piled up waiting for me. 

The first completed repair jobs were 2 shopping bags that had holes that needed patching.  The largest one with the turquoise bottom, got the small green patch today. You many have noticed that I tend to overlap the patches.  I think that gives the bags more strength and less places to have break through holes. I have had this shopping bag since before we were married so last century. The one with the dark blue patch is newer.  I find the newer bags need more repair work than the older ones. Just goes to show they don’t make things like they used to. Now they are heading to the laundry before they go back into rotation. I wash my bags with regularity and they seem to last longer. I also put my groceries in these bags so I want them clean.

Now back to the sewing room to see what I can finish today.

Six Plus Heat

 It was a 6 jigsaw puzzle day. I had physical therapy for my right hand today.  After a few errands and lunch it was nap time.  Afterwords I could not hold a knitting needle or do any spinning. So I listened to a book and did jigsaw puzzle after jigsaw puzzle this afternoon.  

It was also pretty hot outside today with another day of 110f temperatures.  This being Tucson it is not unusual for this time of year before our summer rains. No matter what they say on the national news broadcasts.  I really hope we get some rain in the next week or 2. Otherwise it will be a very long hot summer.  Also for those of you not use to this kind of heat if it is going to be above 90f you want to start your walk or hike very early and plan to be OFF the trail by no later than 10 a.m.   Then go hydrate. If you feel thirsty you are already low on water. No matter what ads you see or read, water is the best summer drink around.  

I will see where my hand is tomorrow.  Maybe after my early morning errands I will actually be able to spin a bit or do some sewing. Maybe it will cool off tonight a little, it’s still 92f at 11 p.m.  

TTFN

Busy Again

 I was busy today.  I finished 2 more dog pillows before breakfast. Went to lunch and knit with a friend.  Truth be told we brought our lunch back to the house, it was even too hot for a patio with misters.  Worked on a new pattern and got past the half way point and color change. Did some random cleaning. Grocery shopping. All this dispute my body and a heat wave.  Tucson peaked out at 110f today. 

I ran out of energy for spinning and tagging yarn.  I am now going to call it an early night.  

Big Steps

 With Christmas in July coming to the Old Pueblo Knitting Guild on July 19th at 9:30 am,  I have been spinning up a storm and deciding which of my current hand spun yarns are going to leave the nest.  With my hand issues still not going away. Add to that my limited time to use my hands daily some big decisions had to be made. I only kept what is currently talking to me.  To that end, I now have over 1 cubic feet of hand spun yarn tagged and ready for the 19th.  I still have a bit more to tag tomorrow.  

When that is done I will come up with a few more simple things that I hope my friends will love.  I also have a bunch of dog pillows to make.  Then those will leave the house too.  I think I might be able to fill my car with dog pillows once I am done.  

I am really hoping we don’t have another summer like 1994 with over 100 days over 100f. On the other hand being just a couple of years older the heat seems to be effecting me a bit more.  I am less heat tolerant.  I am trying hard not to mope and being more proactive on getting things done.  

One last thing.  This is the first batch of Tour De Fleece 2023 newly minted or should I say hand spun yarn.  I had fun spinning it.  

A New Pattern

 I have released My Doodle Shawl knitting pattern today. I also have a version with a lighter weight yarn in progress. The numbers are totally different. I am knitting as fast as my body will allow me. My Doodle is currently on Ravelry or your local yarn store.  Here is the link to My Doodling Shawl . Since the yarn I used has been discontinued by Cascade Yarns I would personally recommend going to your local yarn shop or Indy dyer to get 5 skeins of Aran weight yarn in your color choice. If you are giving this as a gift, yes it would make a fantastic gift make sure you use a washable yarn.  If you don’t have them already you will also need a U.S. size 11x 60 inches or an 8mm x 150 circular knitting needle.  

This is a beginner level pattern perfect for watching television for the more experienced knitters out there. Please post pictures when you’re finished.  Also let us know which yarn you chose, and who the Yarn maker was. 

It has been too hot to take out door pictures here in Tucson. 

In memory of…..

 My biggest accomplishment today was dropping off 11.9 pounds of soda tabs to the Tucson Ronald McDonald House. They took up most of the back of my car.  They will go to pay the utilities and the leftover money will help the families.  I do this to remember both my dad and Eric.  I know that their memories will always be a blessing. 

Please feel free to drop off your tabs at your local Ronald McDonald House in memory of a loved one so that they may be remembered with fondness..