Friday Morning

I've been out on our screen-in porch since 7:30 am, enjoying the balmy weather, a cup of tea, and the company of cats.

When we first moved into this house, all I wanted was the back patio screened in so I could sit out there (I am SO anti-bug it's not funny). Then the next thing that happened was the cancer and I spent hours and days in a zombie chemo fog on the porch.

I realized this morning, my screened in porch is one my favorite places. Let me share a little bit of it with you. Here is the lantana and spruce oasis:

In the cool of the evening, about 8:30 or so, two different hummingbirds and a handful of butterflies come by for an evening meal. I think the orange flowers are Lantana and the spikey looking flowers are the spruce. It's really fun to sit out here at dusk and watch the hummingbirds dip and sip.

Then later, out by the crepe myrtle, the fireflies start putting on their show, looking for a mate.

We don't use chemicals in the yard because as most of you know, firefly grub live in the ground. I prefer extra bugs (the reason the porch is enclosed) to losing fireflys. Yes, the picture is crooked. My balance is not quite what it could be.

And the trees are alive with birds and bird calls. We have Bluejays, Mockingbirds, Robins, Pigeons, Grackles, and a very shy Baltimore Oriale who makes an appearance maybe once every two weeks. Most live in or behind our redbud.

And yes our backyard is not landscaped, though it will be one of these days, it's still plenty cozy for us. We used to live on an acreage between Edmond and Guthrie and belive me, this is much nicer!

I had a few more pictures I was going to share but blogger has decided I've shared enough. I do have a question - I'd like to put up some hanging plants on the patio, any suggestions for someone who has the "thumb of death" where most plants are concerned?

Has It Really Been That Long...

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted! But the last couple of weeks have been kind of miserable so I guess that the answer. That and I've actually been working. At any rate, the Guild committees are really working hard on getting everything ready for the Yarn Harlot. You have one more day to pre-order your book from Gourmet Yarns to get the discount.

I've actually got some more knitting done too. I made this layette set with a drop stitch and really think it turned out cute. Little blanket, bopper hat, and matching booties.

The blanket is about 17" x 17" and made from Jiffy as are the booties and hat. It's funny you can see the drop stitch really well in one bootie but not in the other. I've been having Jim take the pictures for me as I like to take them outside in the sun but am not up to doing it at the moment.

And, of course, another DW, just because I am now carrying them on showings and can knit to and from.

Hmmmm....it looks like this is the back not the front....Oh well, it's another potpouri ombre. And turned out very pretty - even the back looks good.

I have a baby sleep sack in rainbow stripes on the needles for one of my nieces. The other niece STILL doens't know what she's getting so her stuff will probably not get done in such a timely manner.

As soon as the sleep sack is finished I plan to start the chevron tee shirt. And is it possible that someone out there has an older Knit Picks catalog I could borrow? I originally was going to make the fingering weight fair isle, then decided there simply was no way I was working on size 2 needles and threw out all my old cataloges. Now I wish I had a picture of the sweater so I could use it for color coordination. I've decided to make the sweater but on larger needles and using motifs of my own liking. So if anyone has a copy of the catalogue and would let me borrow it, I just want to get a look at the color scheme. Thanks!

And that brings us to a medical update. I have my followup MRI on July 5th. I've only fallen twice in the last week (Kay keeps saying she's going to get me one of to Samuri body suits - boy, that would be fun). Once when Sugar tripped me and I landed on my rear and once when I realized my left foot turns inward if I don't watch it closely.

I'm being very careful walking because if I go down, I can't get up by myself, which is very frustrating. But eventually this will all come to an end. I know most of this is steroid induced and my dr is trying to bring me off the steroids as fast as possible. Which is fine by me!

The BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

The Yarn Harlot is coming to Oklahoma City complements of the Metro OKC Knitting Guild and Gourmet Yarns!!! She's COMING HERE!!! July 25, speaking at the Village Library from 6pm to 8pm, then a reception and book signing at Gourmet Yarns!

We are so excited!! Margaret at Gourmet Yarns is offering a 10% discount on her book if you order and pay for it early! I ordered mine this afternoon, I didn't want to miss out! And the Guild committees are starting to meet to get the word out. We don't have much time and we don't want anyone to miss a chance to meet Ms Stephanie in person! So sign up, get your book, and get ready for a truly huge event in the world of knitting! IN OKLAHOMA CITY!!!

And speaking of knitting, here is the baby blanket I managed to get finished for my charity knitting for the Guild - it's a basket weave and very fast to finish.

I've got another one on the needles, same color, Jiffy brand yarn but this one is a drop stitch which also is easy and cute.

And I even took some pictures at Guild. I managed to get down one side of the room before my batteries ran out. POOH!

We had a really good turn out considering it was Father's Day. I figured over 30 people showed up! By the time I remember my camera, some had already left.

Look how industrious we all look! This is a great group and we are growing steadily. Every month we get one or two (or four) new knitters and they always come back!

And wonder of wonders, last night at about 9:30pm my knees came back! I've be really weak for almost a week but today they were still back! So maybe the steroid reduction program is starting to work.

I've been swatching for my next sweater. I have an assortment of blue cottons from Rosie's Cellar and I plan to make a striped chevron tee-shirt out of them. I just need to find a gauge I like on a needle size I like and I'll be off and running.

Don't forget to order your Yarn Harlot book from Gourmet Yarns!!!

New Knit In

Yeah! Another knitting group! This one met last night at Starbucks on 63rd and Western. Okay, there weren't many of us and I forgot to bring my camera but me and Emily, Anita and her daughter, and Jo-Ellyn enjoyed ourselves immensely. We will be trying to meet the second Wednesday evening of every month. You should come. It was fun!

And I actually have finished the side to side tee shirt. I had Jim take pictures. It's kind of long so a little hard to photograph.

It fits nicely. I may decide to take the sleeves in just a bit, they seem a little wider than they should. But at the moment I really don't have time.

And in the great scheme of things I made another DW. I can't remember the name of this and I'm too lazy to get up and go look at the label. At any rate, I just keep turning them out. I think I'm going to try the one from Mason-Dixon knitting book. It's an interestng pattern and would look good in a variegate. Anita also mentioned a pattern she thought would look good. I may try it instead. Expect I can't remember the name. Will have to get it from her at guild on Sunday.

Speaking of Guild, I know it's Father's Day. Some of us have Dads here and won't be able to make it but some of us (like me) have Dad's out of state and will certainly be there. I might just say we have a HUGE thing getting ready to happen here in the Metro and it will be announced at Guild FIRST! You might want to come if you can.

It will also be announced next week. So it's not like you won't find out.

I am still having kneeless days. Which means I'm having a hard time getting up and down, sometimes walking. I am assuming the steroid reduction program has something to do with all this. I noticed this morning my face is still huge but my nose is back to normal size!! How funny!

And on the needles I have a little basket weave layette blanket for our charity knitting. I will finish it then begin my chevron sweater with souvenir yarn I got at Rosie's Cellar in Philly a couple of years ago. I also think I will start a drop stitch scarf with the yarn Terri gave me. I just realized it's a thick and thin and should look gorgeous!

Some Actual Knit Content

I've been working on my side to side knit tee shirt between actual real estate appts. It's tough to get knitting done when you have to work. Any way, no pics of it yet. I just need to sew up a side seam and put in the bottom seed stitch. In the meantime, guess what I finished:

I couldn't find the band for this so I'm calling it "sunshine ombre". It's really a pretty lemony color. And, of course, I've started another one from my drs appt yesterday.

Also managed to get some charity knitting done. I'm planning on a baby blanket also in Jiffy. Just haven't had a chance to start it yet. But these turned out cute. I didn't have enough orange to make a blanket or I would have.

While sitting on the back porch the other day, I watched Sugar pick a fight with Rimsky. The one year old and the 14 yr old. Sugar doesn't pick on Blue. I think she's still really intimadated by her. But for some reason poor old Rimsky turns out to be fair game.

Rimsky is laying in the sun minding his own business. Step one: Sugar comes and lays down close. Then she starts poking him. He trys to ignore her.

Step 2: She starts rolling around on her back, poking him and poking him, until he finally sits up and decides to give her a whap.

Step 3: She finally gets him going. They roll around whapping each other for a few moments, then Rimsky gets tired and goes off to sleep in a corner or on a chair, leaving Sugar still on her back ready to play/fight.

For the last two or three days, I've been having trouble with my knees and feet. Walking is just not as much fun as it could be. I'm hoping the steroid reduction will help. Tomorrow I drop another pill. I can't wait!

Lookee, Lookee, Lookee...

At what showed up in my mailbox today!


It's sparkles, it beguiles. It's called "Darling" and is a nylon, wool, acrylic blend from the Woolie Ewe in Plano, TX.

It came from Terri for my birthday! What a sweetie! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! How did you know today was my birthday?

This yarn is definitely petting yarn. I'm not sure what it's going to be yet but for sure petting yarn. I love it!

And on a more boring note, here is the DW I tried to get up last night -

It's called "Spice Pot" and it looks nice. I've started another one in a yellow varigate but am only about half way thru it and am bored. The front of my side to side tee shirt is almost done. I'd planned to work on it this evening but fell asleep on the patio.

I didn't get much sleep last night and this morning, in celebration of making it another year, took a tumble in the kitchen. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but I know I turned too fast, lost my footing, slipped on the rug and crashed into the counter. Luckily I landed on my left side first then hit my head. I thought maybe I'd broken my shoulder but just wrenched it really good. Tonight I feel okay, shoulder is a little sore. I expect it will be more so tomorrow. But I didn't really get hurt, thank goodness. I need a stunt double!

And this didn't stop me from going to Hobby Lobby to pick up some more beading supplies, because you can never have too much yarn or too many beads!

I noticed there are lots of new knitting books coming out. Brand new - a whole book of cuff to cuff sweaters, a book I saw at Margaret's called "Every Day Style", "Yarn Stash Workbook" on Amazon,and a couple of others. This is the time to be a knitter, that's for sure!

I Went To a Garden Party...

And lots of my friends were there....Well, not actually a garden party but a tea party at the Gourmet Yarn Knit In this afternoon. It was really fun and a great bunch. AND I remembered to take pictures! Check out Terri's cool vintage hat!

Jan and Karen. Karen was nice enough to indulge me. Since I never know what I can eat, she helped pick out some goodies for me to try and then MOST graciously removed the evidence of what I couldn't eat. She also had the coolest tea cup I have ever seen! You wind it up at the bottom and it played music!

Knitters were busy knitting, drinking tea, eating dainty finger food, visiting and laughing. This, folks, is a high energy Knit In. Always a treat to get to go to it!

And look at this! This is dedication! This woman is knitting with HER ARM IN A SLING!!! Too impressive for words!

Anyway, it was great fun and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Carolyn came over to collect the guild library books last week and brought some knitting to work on while we visited. Guess who showed up and promptly made herself at home in Carolyn's knitting bag - Oh who else!

And one more DW. One of these days I'm going to go back to the beginning of the year and count how many of these I've made. Certainly my fair share. Well, blogger is not letting me upload any more pictures so will post the DW later.

As most of you know, I underwent the Gamma Knife last week. Now we wait for 4 to 6 weeks to see the outcome. Prognosis is good. The drs say everything went exactly as expected. So far nothing has changed except the fatigue is back big time. But it's not keeping me from knitting!