First Sample Is Finished.

 I made the first of two sample washcloths for a class I am teaching next week.  I like to start with smaller projects for a first pass on a new skill. I like to keep the supplies as inexpensive as possible.  This should come in under $15.00 for 2 different washcloths.  This will be 1 skein of yarn and 2 different crochet hooks  

As a teacher I really hate to see students spend almost $150 USD for a beginner project that they might not like.  So if they don’t like Tunisian Crochet not a lot of money is down the drain. If they like it they have 2 new washcloths to use themselves or give as gifts. If they don’t like it they have 2 different washcloths to show for their efforts. If after making the 2 washcloths they still want to make the expensive shawl we can move forward with the project.  

The next washcloth will be in the same stitch that they want to use for the 3 skein designer shawl pattern.  That I will do tomorrow. In the meantime this is the basic Tunisian Crochet stitch in washcloth form.  I do believe that the picture is sideways.  Do turn you mobile Device 1/4 turn and it will be right side up.

I managed to craft today.

 I am spinning some yarn for myself.  The samples are on the smaller side, so I am plying the wool with a llama silk blend yarn  that I bought for a weaving project that will never happen. This will give me twice as much finished yarn.   I have to use the yarn for something. It might as well be me. Hopefully this will give me enough yarn to make a small shawlet.  I am in the middle of plying the third mini skein.  I have a great rhythm going. First I spin the singles for three bobbins. Then I ply those three bobbins.  I will use my 1 yard knitty noddy to skein them.  Yes, they are very small skeins, but not small enough for the knitty noddy that I use for my drop spindles. 

After I finished spinning and plying the entire set, I will divide them up by color ways and wash them in small batches using Soak Wash.  

There will be no pictures tonight because the antibiotic for my sinus infection has hit my tummy very hard today. I spent most of the day resting. I am half way through a 14 day prescription.  Therefore my knitting/ spinning room is very unorganized.  

Also my knitting hit awesome tonight. I found 2 dropped stitches in a black section of a shawl that I am knitting. I was able to fix both dropped stitches so that I can’t find the repair work at 12 inches. I have come so far in my knitting   I used to rip out something like that  now I just go to the row and fix it without have to rip out hundreds of stitches.  

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.  

Wow, Just Wow

 It’s 5:00 am where I live. I know it’s a little bit early to write a blog post.  Today has started off weird, not the bad kind of weird, but the good kind. I have had a continuous sinus infection for over a year. It has caused an array of health issues. The sinus infection has been going on so long that I don’t remember when it started exactly.  Today I woke up very early being able to breathe freely. My face does not hurt anymore.   My body does not know what to make of it. I have a sudden burst of spoons.  I will try to not overdo it today. I am just going with this is a good thing.  

It has been a very long journey to get here.  It involved 2 new to me doctors.  Lots of lab work and x-rays.  A surgery.  Surgery recovery. My current round of antibiotics.  By the way the antibiotics are messing with my tummy, I am totally ok with that for this result.  

I am really hoping that this is a sign of things to come.  I hope that after I finish the antibiotics, I will have more spoons and less inflammation. That a few weeks after I finish my antibiotics, I will be able to get my fall seasonal vaccines. I can dream about that now.  

In the meantime I will enjoy this new sensation of peace and tranquility until it’s breakfast time.  

Have a wonderful day. 

Bigger Steps

 Today I managed to do 2 loads of laundry without John. Empty the dishwasher.  Then pick up around the house.  Yes, it required a nap that was over 2 hours long, but I accomplished all of this on my own.  So I consider this progress.  Just a few weeks ago, I required a 2 hour nap after sitting and eating a meal.  Now if I could just build up my core muscles a little faster.  

After all the chores around the house I did not have the spoons to knit or spin.  Everything has a different priority on different days.  Just in case you were wondering. My to do list was only half finished. The top priority items all got finished.  

Where Does Your Loyalty Belong?

 I am finally being to feel better.  I have had the same sinus infection for over a year. It has caused major health issues this year for me.  This year it has caused a major health crisis.  A surgery.  Months of required resting. Just recently I have been cleared to begin to get my body back in shape.  I am taking baby steps. 

I have had constant sinus issues since the 1960’s.  Until Covid19 hit. I never had trouble getting the help or antibiotics that I needed.  COVID19 changed a lot of people including some medical professionals.  A small number of people became irrational in respects to healthcare. Sometimes medical science was just thrown out the window. Conspiracy theories are currently the rage in some circles.  

If you find yourself in the situation where you can’t get the same level of care from your current health care provider that you got before COVID19 hit, I urge you if at all possible to find a newer and younger healthcare provider.  

Now that my sinus infection is responding to the new antibiotic, here are a few things that I have noticed.  My blood sugar levels are generally lower. They were pretty good in recent months, but are even lower which is good. I am in less pain.  Remember infections cause inflammation which results in pain and higher blood sugar levels. I have more energy.  Inflammation can make me tired.  My creative energy is back.  Yes, inflammation can mess with my creative mojo.  I am getting things done.  Last week I finished 1 spinning project and 2 charity beanies.  I am also finding it a little easier to get things done around the house.  

Now to the question at the top of the blog.  Just where does your loyalty belong.  First and foremost it belongs to you and your family.  If your provider is continuing to provide a good level of care, by all means stay with them.  If, however you find your level of care is getting a little bit wonky, just remember that you are buying a service from them.  You are under no obligation to continue to purchase care from them if they don’t meet your expectations.  By staying you are telling them that everything is perfectly ok. This can put your health in jeopardy.  This in turn puts stress on your loved ones.  

Please take care of yourself and your family.  TTFN..

Recovery Is Exhausting

 I find it just amazing how little it takes right now to tire me out.  This morning I emptied the dishwasher. Knit with friends for an hour before I started falling asleep.  Spent less than $75.00 at the store and put the groceries away.  

I was too tired to eat lunch instead I slept for about 3 hours.  My head hit the pillow and I was out for the count.  I woke up just in time to talk to John and tell him what I forgot to pick up at the store today.  

I started to ply 2 eight ounce bobbins into a DK weight yarn  I am wondering how many bobbins I will fill.

By dinner time I had a pounding headache. After dinner a cuppa helped get rid of the pounding headache.  

My goal tonight is to try to get a good nights sleep.  

More Baby Steps

 Today I started with 3 pound weights.  I did a number of upper body exercises plus some stretching. We walked again after dinner. We went a little further without stopping. This is what progress looks like after months of being a couch potato.  

A little bit of knitting happened.  I have to say that after the little bit of exercises that I did, resulted in long naps.  

This seems to be a recurring pattern these last 4 years.  Get in shape and my body makes a bad decision.  Then rest followed by trying to get back in shape.  The good news is that I never stop trying to slowly get back in shape.