I Was Knit Together In My Mother's Womb

Want to see what I did last Friday?

http://brownbuffalo.zenfolio.com/p193775845/?photo=868129960.  With rehearsals every night last week, I have done precious little knitting.  But what an experience. There were almost 500 of us singing that night to a sold out auditorium. Rise Up was a live CD recording which will be nationally released this year. Talk about an amazing opportunity... All of us, singing and making music together to raise money for programs to address youth violence in Buffalo.

My May Day sock is just about ready to mail! 

Like Emily, I have been knitting within a stitch of my sanity every waking moment to get these socks complete. Tomorrow is May Day! Go figure! This has been such a fun little sock swap to hostess. Even though Emily and I have had every imaginable thing (baby, surgery, JR's diagnosis,Wee Tiny Sock Swap, and an endless stream of family visitors) in the last few months, we are already excited about the sock packages that will be making their way around the country next week. And just a hint of sock swaps to come.....think Halloween!   

Anyway, with these socks complete, I can finish up the Lush and Lacy Cardigan this weekend. She's all assembled other than the sleeves. "This Close" to another FO!!!!

Enjoy your day....and thank you thank you thank you for your prayers and encouragement. This weekend, I hope to tackle the few hundred emails and comments that you written.  And we'd like to get the porch painted.

Feeling a bit beside myself these days.

  Our lives have changed. From the moment we heard "cancer,' we are different. In many ways, this thing is proceeding at a pace that is hard to keep up with, so we just get dragged along for the ride.  Researching, phone calls, thinking, praying, talking. We are hopeful and strong, scared and weak.  Some days, we are visitors in our own life. Other days we are in bed with this disease....being more intimate with cancer than we ever cared to.

Friday, JR and I are going to Roswell Park to begin the process of treatment.  And I don't want to think past Friday, for I know "tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own."

Tomorrow I want to talk about knitting. But today, I had to talk about this.

So, my friends, I ask for you to pray for us. For me? I want to knit and love and serve and laugh and eat cupcakes and bless others.

Two days back at work, and I find myself

six days behind on my email,

two weeks behind in Bloglines,

five projects behind in my knitting,

seven episodes behind watching "Jon and Kate Plus Eight,"

three months behind in my exercise,

and desperately needing a nap. 

Not to mention the fact that our peonies, day-lilies and hostas are popping up (an exciting thing, since they are all transplants to this new house), the PJM rhodies are in bloom, and it is much more entertaining to check their progress every twenty minutes than to knit on my May Day sock or to watch Jon and Kate argue about who does what with their kids.

Anyway, with thoughts of another Green Gable, I am having some hesitation using the Berocco Touche. I can't quite put my finger on it, but before I cast on, do any of you have thoughts about this yarn? Is it suitable for a sweater? Does it wear and wash well?  Does it hold it's shape over time?  Would you recommend it for a garment?

G is for Groceries

Every other week, I get groceries.  It is one of my least favorite chores.

Somehow, over the years, I have gotten away from meal planning for the week. It's been easier with just JR and I to fly by the seat of our pants, preparing something quickly or eating out. But what I've been noticing is that I buy way too much and throw away way too much.

One of my goals is to start to plan meals and lunches once again, trying to use chicken, fish and turkey several times a week. They are staples of my grocery shopping, along with fresh spinach, brussels sprouts, oatmeal, berries and almonds.  Tonight, I'm preparing some grilled chicken breasts in a mesquite marinade. Along with?

  A broccoli salad and a fresh strawberry pie.

What are you making for dinner in the week ahead?

   

I'm going back to work on Monday!  I'm so excited. It's weird, isn't it, that I would be excited to go back to work? But I love my job, and I love my people there. This week, I've been gradually moving toward walking in regular sneakers, and every day, my foot is improving.

Speaking of feet. As usual, the pressure is on to finish the May Day Socks. I always find myself   frantically knitting that second sock the last week of a swap. But then, I always work best under pressure.

  (It's not easy for me to knit a sock when I have a sweater that's almost complete, either.) 

And speaking of May Day. It makes me think of warmer weather, and what you all are knitting for summer. For me, it's another Green Gable with elbow length sleeves, with this beautiful turquoise Berroco Touche.

And finishing the Katharine Hepburn. And after seeing a few finished Show Off Ruffle skirts

(from Lace Style) on Ravelry, the passion is re-ignited ! I must finish my skirt.

There has to be another something to knit for warm weather, and I haven't quite found the right thing just yet. Any ideas? What are you knitting in the way of short sleeves or tanks? Indulge me, please! I need some inspiration!

And speaking of May Day and feet. I think I paint my toenails today. In honor of Spring, and healing.

The last few days, we have been doing and going...trying to catch up on errands and tie up loose ends.

I got my new glasses and contacs.   We took Moses for his nail clipping (which is an adventure in itself, but bless his heart, our good old country vet does the job in minutes and only charges us $5!).

    We've made a few visits to friends and JR has been busy cleaning up our yard, and doing man chores.    We are delighted to see that we have birds at the feeders and some chickadees and morning doves that are nesting at our new house!

    

Spring brings with it such a fresh sense of renewal, doesn't it?

Our rehearsals for Rise Up are now twice a week, and I want to tell you, they are exhausting! Preparing a 350 person choir for a recording event takes much work and commitment, but I count it a privilege to participate.  I do need a black dress for the event, so we've been shopping around for the perfect dress. Finding a black dress? Not as easy as you would think, right? I finally settled on a skirt and short sweater...sort of a vintagey, fifties look. And, I'll probably change my mind about ten times in the next two weeks. That's just the way it goes.

Yesterday, you may have noticed that I shared some information about my husband and a current situation that we are dealing with. What happened was a flukey thing. I very often keep several drafts in Typepad to edit and post as I feel the need, and yesterday's post was no exception. As I was working on it, I began to have a few computer issues and to make a long story short, my draft was saved as a published post. Then we lost our internet connection. Please know how much I appreciate your concern.  I hate the gossip thing, and it's so good to know that you have been willing to email me  directly or to leave a comment sharing your support and encouragement. I know that many people read this blog, and JR and I are always thankful that God gives us an opportunity to share some of our story, not as an avenue to have people peer into our lives, but to let you know how thankful we are for the blessings and challanges that we face in our lives. As we are able, and as much as it will give glory to God, we will share and update our current situation.

May Day!!!! May Day!!!!

   Sock one is complete! This is Monkey Sock, knit with

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Sandridge. 

   For whatever reason (maybe I'm busy knitting sweaters?), I don't knit socks for myself very often, and instead wait for a swap to knit socks. And, I do enjoy a good sock knit from time to time. They are such perfect little projects, aren't they?    So, as I knit Sock Two for the May Day Sock Swap, I am so excited to think of someone wearing these socks, and of course, adding to my collection of "socks knit by others!" 

F is for Finishing!

Sunday afternoon finishing party. Denise finished her Drops Asymmetric Jacket

And I finished my Debbie Bliss Diagonal Front Jacket!

  Fun garment to knit, with a simple ribbed pattern that was easy to follow.  Knit in one piece (other than the sleeves), all of the shaping is done with increases and decreases, creating the prettiest side seams and sleeve details.

I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, and knit the Large size. Even though it's an over-sized, slouchy sweater, I wish I had knit the smaller size instead. But, it will be a great porch-sitting sweater, taking the dog for a walk sweater and watching the sunset at the lake sweater. Perhaps even a watching the news and drinking coffee on a summer morning sweater.

So, F is for Finishing. 

Finishing a sweater in Five weeks!

 

Blog blahs. And I'm not sure how it happened, other than the fact that I am inside four walls for most of my days and nights the past several weeks. I'm feeling like there is not much exciting to share. Woe is me, pity party and oh, well.

Really, though, some good things have been happening. My cast came off, finally, on Monday, and that was a good day. I am crazy about exfoliating, so, it was an Exfoliation Extravaganza in my bathtub that day. Have you ever seen a leg and foot that have been in a cast for a month? Oh. My. The not so good about the good day is the fact that I still can't go back to work or drive. I have to wait until I get the final x-ray in two weeks, before any decision is made.

 

I know that is the wise and cautious thing to do, so I'm grateful that my foot is healing the way it is.

I have my new bra!!!!! Last night I wasn't sure.I thought it gave me a sort of Jane Mansfield/Marilyn Monroe look, which JR didn't think was such a bad thing.  Today, I LOVE it!  I love this Le Mystere bra, which is the most comfortable bra I've ever worn.

I have a new sweater design in my head, based on another Anthropologie sweater, that you can see HERE. It's a great basic  but fun sweater for summer. I just love the bold graphic design.

   

So, the sketching has begun, and then I'll do some calculations and graph the motifs. By that time, the Debbie Bliss Cathay will be here and I can start knitting it.

Just now, JR called me out to the front porch for a little surprise....

  There are snowdrops at our new house!!!! Happy Day.