GAINING SOME GROUND

I cut the rest of the tumbling blocks for a table runner. 

  I'm hoping to start to  sew some together today!

I've been working on another kerchief with the same cotton yarn.  

I'm thinking I have enough for at least one more.

This one is a variation of the granny square triangle with a picot edge.  I took this to work on after my bone density test when I was waiting for Bill to come and pick me up. 

 

IN THE STUDIO

A friend came over yesterday with an alteration project 

and once I set her on the right course, I tried to do a bit of cutting out using the Accuquilt and some Autumn fabrics.

I was able to cut out some small tumbling blocks which will eventually form a table runner!

 

GOTCHA COVERED!

I watched a simple tutorial for this kerchief 

and whipped it up in a few hours. 

 I used #3 cotton yarn (more like threads) and a size 5mm crochet hook.  I will be making several more of them! 

 This is the graduated yarn from black to light grey

 (this yarn  tried to be a shawl but after ripping it out several times, I was definitely over it!) 

so it will be interesting to me to make the kerchiefs

 through the different colors!

 

A BIT WONKY JUST LIKE ME!

The blanket is completed--I was making 12 different blocks from the book, 60 Quick Knit Blanket Squares.  Even though the blocks were knit on the same needles and yarn, they did not have the same gauge because of the different textured knits so I got mad and put them in a box and tried not to remember them!  I did enjoy making them at the time, though.  But out of sheer boredom now, I dug them out and thought I would crochet them together no matter the variation in sizes and just make a blanket.  

And I did.  

It has been on my lap all day and I am glad it is doing what it was made for--warmth and color!  Someday soon, I will soak this blanket, spin it out and then lay it out to blocks and see if that helps but for now, it matches it's Maker just right!

(after a very discouraging week, I woke up feeling so much better yesterday.  I needed the boost!)

 

SHE KNITS

 This pair of socks made in KnitPicks' Stroll in the colorway, 

Frolic, but I think it looks more like a beach 

with the sand, water and seaweed! lol 

 2.5mm needles, 64 stitches, toe-up socks with a k3, p1 ribbed leg.

BLOCKS

   

After a couple of rough days, I finally was able to sit up again and so I dug in my closet and pulled out an old abandoned project.  It was abandoned because while I enjoyed making each square, they were not exactly equally sized squares when I was done!  I decided to crochet them together and ignore the differences.

It worked well for the most part.  I am working on adding quite a few rows of crochet around the outside that they are joined.

I will keep adding rows (hdc ttbl) until I run out of yarn!  

 

SMALL SOCKS

This sock for me was a much quicker knit than the man socks!  One done and the toe begun on the second one.

 

HEMMED IN

My 'accomplishment for the day' yesterday, I hemmed the towels.

Gave them all a good measure and tossed them into the washer.

And after washing and drying, they are perfect!  

(Well to me they are!)  

The towels shrunk 1" in width and 3 1/2" in length so they are 

now 15" wide and 27" long. 

 

BOTTLED UP

I did a craft yesterday morning!  I cleaned the bottle then stuffed it with 'leaves' and a cork topped fairy lights.

I had cut the white vinyl lettering, peeled back the waste

 and pulled out all of the leftover bits.

I then placed the transfer tape on top 

so I could position it on the bottle!

And the best part is putting it on the window ledge!

 

ANOTHER DAY

A little bit of outdoors time and an ice cream sandwich

 to reward me for the effort! lol

Last night when I was playing yarn chicken and lost....

I had to rip out the first sock so that the legs would be even! 

 It worked out without too much trouble!

And in no time I had a pair of socks to give to Bill!  

SO I SEWED

I worked hard to sew the last 5 rows together and then to the top 5 which were already sewn pre-Sepsis!  It was a lot of work and stumbling to sit and sew, get up and iron, reach for the next row, etc!  My eyes, hands and feet are not coordinated with my brain yet and it took a lot of thinking to do what should be so easy to do!  BUT I DID IT!!!  I did have to go and rest afterwards. 

 This recovery stuff is hard work.

ONE DONE

Bill gave the socks a try on to see if it was high enough

 for his taste and he said it was just right!  

A photo for scale --my size 8 sock

 is a bit smaller than his size 15....!

 

SOCKS

I made it up the large foot and around the heel and am ready to begin the leg ribbing on the socks for Bill.

The pretty bouquet from Bill to cheer me up!  

I do love the color!

 

MILTON LEFT A MESS

Power outages and no internet gave us a few days without being connected to the rest of the world! 

 The yard is a mess everywhere but there was no damage 

to our house for which we are grateful!  

The banana trees didn't fare as well, unfortunately!  

I did a bit of knitting on the smaller Sentro knitting machine 

using DK weight yarn.  I would think It will fit 6-12 month olds.

I also finished another pre-illness project, the crow wall plaque! 

I just needed to put the polyacrylic on to seal the painted wood 

so I could put the Cricut cut vinyl on as the finishing touch!

 

And a noble view of my companion, Lena.

WEDNESDAY WIPS

I am putting out a few decorations at a time.

And weaving a 14 row repeat each time I take my 'walk' .  

I am on towel #2 at least so the 1" at-a-time is adding up.

I added a row along the side and along the top on this blanket that never ends.  I still have enough yarn to make it a king size blanket but right now it is 40' x 60".  

I will be setting it aside for a while again.

I did wind up some new sock yarn, Hawthorne, because Bill has asked for a new pair and it will be a nice way to say thank you for the care he has given me over this last month!

We are getting rain already from Milton; we will be experiencing 30-40 mph winds but nothing like the coast will be receiving.  Our home is not in a flood zone so while the lowland way out back where we have our pond will flood, it is not going to impact our house. Bill has the generator all primed and ready if we do experience a power outage.  I know it will be a wild night for many and I will keep my eye on my view from bed...

 

ONE MONTH AGO TODAY

One month ago today I went to the ER by ambulance for Septic Shock from an infected appendix.

I was in the hospital for 8 days. 

Daily blood tests and IV failures made for some very colorful arms.

they finally inserted a midline that helped giving meds 

without the vein collapsing.

I had battle scars.

One month later and I am doing better.  I can walk (with a walker) to the kitchen 3-4 times a day which is 50' away and then back again.  I have also gone into the studio which is 80' away but that requires a rest before the return walk!  But I am walking!

The bruises are almost completely gone.

And are just memories for the most part.  The surgery to remove the appendix went well and I am completely healed from that. 

 I can do my stretching exercises-reach for the sky and touch the floor without any pain.  

I am struggling with brain fog (which is already an issue with the MS) which has been exacerbated with the Sepsis. 

 I am struggling with stamina 

and a return to all of the creative things I love. 

It is slow going and I am not a SLOW person by nature.  

I am grateful to be alive and to find it worth while to build up my strength everyday even if it is by baby steps!

God has a reason for me to be alive; it is unusual to survive two bouts of Septic Shock (my first one was four years ago) 

so I am even more aware of the fine thread that keeps me connected to this life.  I do love the life He has given me and I am grateful for all of the family, loved ones and friends that make my life so rich.  If you are reading this blog, I count you as one of these jewels.

 

A ROW IS DONE

I managed to knit 19 squares along the side of the blanket.  

I am going to knit the row along the top next.

I've pulled out some old and recent leftovers of socks yarn 

to handle the job!

My bed buddy says, "Just don't make any noise, please!'

 

WELCOME TO OCTOBER!

I wanted to have this sign done before I had become sick but things don't always go according to our plans.  I had the letters cut out on the Cricut and the sign all cut out and painted.  Over the last few days, I have worked to measure and place the letters and to decorate the top of the sign.

I had hoped to finish it for yesterday, October 1st, but I didn't realize how much time I would have to be upright to accomplish that task!!!  Being upright means my heart races and my breath comes fast like I'm in labor. 

 I see the surgeon today and am looking forward to hearing what he has to say about my recovery. I think the easy part has been healing after the appendectomy, the septic shock recovery is what is messing with me.  If you are interested, here is a good overview of what septic shock is medically.