lifelong knitter

Knitting...Actual Finished Objects!

Just under the wire
for project Spectrum:

Fishing Socks.
Toe up on US2 addi turbos, Magic Loop method.
3x1 ribbed tops.
Log Cabin Hideaway
Schaefer Anne.
These took forfreakingEVER
because the colorway is so out of my comfort zone....
and the ml method is still SLOW for me.
Love the finished product.
Super soft and comfy.

Conversely,
this scarf used four skeins of Noro Silk Garden
in earth toned shades.
Soothing Garter stitch,
alternating every two rows
light and dark.
I only knit this while I was WAITING.
I did a LOT of waiting during this portion
of Project Spectrum.
It was a good stretch to step outside of my color preferences
and finish these two things in the alloted time.
On to the next ELEMENT,
which is
AIR!
Onward!

SO thrilled...

to see THIS on the front page of a major crafty blog zine...
I jumped up and down and grinned from ear to ear!
woo.hoo.
I need to make one, too
don't you??

Back to Square One.

So, I finally heard back from the Gastro Doc.
(Only because I know someone who gave me his personal voicemail number....)
and all of the Boybird's tests came back Negative or Normal.
He's still losing weight
so now I guess we'll do some of the more invasive
kinds of tests.
sigh.
I just want him to feel All Better, please.
Thank You.
and YES, I have been knitting.
Almost finished with the Project Spectrum Socks.
Stepping outside of my comfy color zone
makes the knitting S*L*O*W.
Pictures, soon.
Pinky swear.

Doggies

Hope your long weekend is Happy!

Love, Molly

and PeeWee Poodle
xoxo

Puppy surgery

Molly has been to the vet THREE times for vaginitis/UTI issues....
resolved with antibiotics and topical ointment each time, but they have
escalated in severity. (and expense)
She is scheduled to have her reproductive surgery in a few weeks, so I am opting
to have the expensive additional surgery to correct a structural defect.
Opinions generally follow this line of thinking:
By delaying OHE until after 1st heat, you increase the likelihood of developing mammary carcinoma by 8 times what it would have been by spaying prior to first heat. Rate of mammary carcinoma in dogs spayed before first heat is less than 1%. Waiting until after first heat is 12%. Waiting until after 2nd heat is 25%. I'd much rather have a less than 1 in 100 chance of developing cancer than a 1 in 12 chance.

Mammary carcinoma kills; vaginitis is annoying and *may* eventually cause an ascending UTI, but you seem to have that under control. And waiting until after first doesn't necessarily change vulvar conformation enough to eliminate vaginitis anyway. Mild cases with no other problems (ectopic ureter, hooded vulva, perivulvar dermatitis, etc.) usually resolve itself whether or not you spay.

Her case is NOT mild and involves significant structural defects.

SO, poor little pup will hopefully feel MUCH better after all that is surgically corrected
and live a long and happy life.
She's SUCH a sweetie!

Interview

I went on a job interview this morning in The Big City.
Very tall buildings, with parking garages and lots of one-way streets.
Not my usual environs,
but I would very much like to have this job
as it would be a CHALLENGE
and comes with wonderful benefits.
Don't want to jinx anything by saying too much
at this point.
Final call backs are a week or so away.
sigh.

Knitting with Mr. Rogers

The Boybird gets a tape everyweek with the *best of*
his favorites...
Norm Abrams of This Old House,
Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow,
and Mr. Rogers.
I Tivo (and dvr...just because I am all about the redundant systems approach
to life....)all of the episodes and then choose which 6 hours to record for him.
This week we have selections from the Musicians Village in New Orleans
built by Habitat for Humanity with help from This Old House Ventures,
and today I sat on the couch knitting a sock, mesmerized, watching Fred Rogers cast
on with two sticks and rope (!) explain about knitting for puppets,
and then take a tour with Mr. McFeeley (SPEEDY DELIVERY!)
of a sock knitting factory.
sigh.
I got a call an hour ago from his House
saying he needed another new VCR/DVD player. STAT!
I always keep one in reserve and buy the extended warranties
for just such an EMERGENCY.
When I got to the House, one of the other residents greeted me at the door
and announced "He's been watching Mr. Rogers KNIT, over and over, and over again
and it broke the machine. Thank you for bringing him a new one!"
Oh yeeah, that's My Boybird!

Tomorrow, tomorrow...

The Boybird will have three more tests tomorrow,
Wednesday the 14th. 8AM.
Ultrasound of the gall bladder
an xray and a thyroid test,
I think.
Anyway, prayers if you are so inclined!
Blessings to you and yours,
As ALWAYS!

Mother's Day Weekend

This morning I was here:

playing with these:

(be sure to mouse over photos for *title* ;)

Then I went to get Daughter Bird a teevee and a dvd palyer and the stand to put them on,
and they had a desk to match...so while we are waiting for the cable and Internets to be installed on
Monday, I will be assembling furniture!
We had Italian food at her favorite restaurant in town.
She gave me a LOVELY card and a sweet pink bag full of gifties she picked out herself at he Hallmark store.
Awwwwwww.

Tomorrow, Mother's Day for reals, The Boybird is taking me to Wendy's for lunch...

The perfect weekend...I feel SO Blessed!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you!

I haz college graduate!

It was a beautiful day for a graduation...

and the symbolic casting off of a sock!
The keynote speaker arrived in THIS:

and after many speeches, and the conferring of degrees,
and the walking and the tossing of CAPS,
A very happy Daughter bird has a College Degree in Religious Studies.

She is now happily moved out of her dorm and in her new apartment and
Loving LIFE!
I am so PROUD.