Quite last few days!

I've spent the last few days at home. Friday, I stayed home to have a repair done here. I wish things could get fixed at night or at least on the weekends! Bob was always home to take care of these things. Friday night and most of today Caroline and a few friends of hers and I had girls night. We watched most of Grey's Anatomy Season 1 and 2! I still have season 2 going. Well, now one sock is done from the August STR club yarn. I'm up to doing the gusset on the second sock! Hanging around at home does get knitting done. I should be able to finish up that cuff at a family birthday party on Sunday. I have some Lisa Sousa Sock! calling my name AND the latest STR yarn. The daughter is getting a new camera this weekend so I will be getting my camera BACK!!!!

Great Boxes Came in the Mail Today

I wish I had my camera to show the treats I received in the mail today! My one skein partner sent me a BEAUTIFUL pair of cozy cable footies. They are a delightful violet, and I just love them. What beautiful work and the very first pair of handmade socks that I have had made for me by someone else! THANK YOU Violet. And Violet also slipped in two votive candles in a butter caramel fragrance. I'm burning one now and it is scenting the whole house! AND Libby, who worked with me last year as a literacy staff developer,( I'm a math staff developer )sent me a two skeins of sock yarn from Austria. She and her husband are teaching in Vienna for a few years. The skeins are only sold in Vienna because they are the colors of Vienna's football team. So, I the least sport minded person around will be wearing Vienna Football socks!

what flower are you?

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

Check this out to see what type of flower you are!

Knitter's Tea Swap 2

Well, I received my Tea Swap buddy this weekend and received a message from the person who will be sending to me. So in honor of the tea swap I've been drinking tea all weekend. So far, I've had vanilla bean tea from the sensuous Bean, in NYC and an unlabeled Chai Tea which I love and can't remember where it came from to replace! I also made a pitcher of cold green tea flavored with a bit of lavender rosemary honey. It sounds strange but is a great combo. I'm also almost finished with my sparkly tan and gray socks. They are VERY fraternal really close to just cousins! I did one either at the hospital or rehab with Bob and I can't remember exactly what I did. Reading the stitches is more trouble then it is worth so anyone looking at these sock cuffs is in for a surprise. I'll have to be sure to wear long pants with these and photograph them with a disguise in mind! The camera is still in the land of lost stuff taken to college by Caroline. Maybe she will let me borrow it back.

Where does time go?

I keep thinking that I will post at least once a week-- I used to think I could post every day! For some strange reason, maybe being back to work after a busy and stressfull summer,(and being very busy at work) living alone for the first time in 26 years, or some such nonsense-- time keeps on getting away from me! I noticed today that I passed almost two weeks without a post.It is cool and rainy here in NJ so when I got up early this morning I made myself some baking powder biscuits for breakfast and started poaching a chicken for pot pie and soup. AND I've broken my soapmakers block and have three batches in the works with plans for the rest of what I'll need to make for my abbreviated Fall/Winter season. It felt good to make a batch of lavender soap again. This must be the longest I've gone without soapmaking since I learned how! Caroline is away AGAIN with MY camera or I would take pictures. I may need to buy her a camera in self defense.

Flowers

So many of you fellow bloggers show beautiful photos of flowers from your gardens. I would have to buy flowers and hold them up with bamboo sticks to get a shot of anything in my current garden. BUT I did have beautiful flowers to enjoy all weekend from Denise and her family. I took the arrangement apart and had upstairs and downstairs flowers.I'd show a new picture of the fir cone wrap but my progress is so slow you might as well go back and look at yesterday's shot! Well off to knitting tonight.

Batteries = Pictures

I finally went to get some batteries to take pictures of the fan & feather scarf I finished last week. I also took a picture of the fir cone stole from Wendy Knits. I frogged it so much last week end that I should have twice as much as I have finished. It is going well now. I just joined a knit along for the Swallow Tail Shawl from Interweave Knits. I love the look of triangular shawls but I was having trouble with that one! This weekend I got back into cooking. I even have meatballs simmering in tomato sauce all day! Yesterday I made cream scones for breakfast and a beef stew with homemade rolls for dinner. This morning I made cornsticks for breakfast. I've got meals frozen to take to work now. It's too expensive to keep eating out and I have a house full of groceries to use up. Bob ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at home and I just stopped cooking when he went into the hospital and rehab. It has been fun to getting back into it.

Quiet Weekend

I've had a quiet weekend. My back has really been bothering me so I spent lots of time on the couch with either the ice pack or heating pad. I also used the meds the Dr. gave me so about half of what I've knitted this weekend got frogged! Caroline went back to school today and NOW the house really, really feels empty. Next week will be super busy at work and that will help the empty feeling but might not help with progress in my projects! I started a stole from Wendy Knits blog. It's called fir cones and after a few false starts it is working up nicely. Now I hope I don't jinx myself. Can't show pictures as Caroline left for college with all the batteries and all my laundry baskets and probably most of my good clean towels!

First Day Back at Work

Today was my first day back at work. I went in on Tuesday just to set up and prepare but today was my first day with responsibilities. I did two workshops and they both went well. My topic was Moving Towards Algebraic Thinking in the Elementary Grades. I didn't let anyone know the theme until the end or some people would have objected! I'm also seeing lots of people for the first time since Bob died and as much as I appreciate their good wishes and condolences it get hard and I felt weepy too much today. I made plans to go to Park Slope on Sept 16th to see the Yarn Harlot in person. I plan on bringing one of my own socks in progress along for the visit! I'm making good progress on my fan and feather scarf and I have used so little of the cone of white silk wool lace weight yarn I got from the jagger, zepher coop that I think I may not need to ever buy lace weight until I am ready for retirement!or later. It feels so soft and comfy. I'm thinking of doing one for my grandmother's 95th birthday. She is ALWAYS cold and this soft scarf would be nice tucked into her sweaters etc.

August 27

Yesterday I took the medication the doctor prescribed and felt better but must have been more woozy then I thought because I totally messed up the shawl I was working on and had to frog the entire thing! I started a scarf with fan and feather so I'll try the shawl when I can better concentrate on it! I spent today quietly at home and cleaned up my desk. I have thank you cards to write and so many medical bills to deal with. I've been feeling a bit blue the house seems too empty and quiet. I go back to work in a few days and it will be good for me!

50th Post

This is my 5oth post. I guess that is a marker of some kind! I could not sleep last night because my back is killing me. I hurt my back during the big rearranging of furniture etc. we went through earlier this summer. It seemed to be getting better with hot and cold packs etc, BUT yesterday the pain returned with determination. I was up almost all night using hot and cold packs and searching for a comfortable position. This morning I went to the doctor and he is not sure what is wrong but he gave me a fist full of prescriptions and suggested an x ray. He also said to take it easy for a few days. I think this means sit on the couch and watch movies and knit, or at least that is what I plan to do. I have four projects on the needles and I can't concentrate on a specific one so I just keep jumping back and forth! The camera is promised back later today so I will post pictures.

Thanks to my swap pals

I have gotten goodies in the mail the last few days, actually I have gotten wonderful things in the mail ALL summer and I am confused about who all this wonderful stuff is from! I still don't have my camera, so pictures will have to come later. I got a spoiler package from my SP8. There was THREE wonderful skeins of yarns, chocolate and hot chocolate. Then today I got another pack of two skeins of sock yarn, Sock It To Me in great shades of blue and greens and I can't figure out what swap they are from! I think my brain is fried. I joined the SP8, the One Skein Swap, and the knitting chicks not secret swap. BUT I keep getting everything confused!!!! Right now I'm into startitis, I started the Swallowtail Shawl from the current Interweave Knits, and the Rabbit Proof Scarf from Morehouse Merino Knits AND I have about 12 other things I want to start RIGHT away. I go back to work next week and I have millions of projects to do around the house SO why am I starting two projects now?

August 18th

I have no knitting ,quilting or soaping content to talk about in this post. I have not been able to quilt or touch knitting needles since Monday. We had Bob's funeral on Wed. and I believe that his life was celebrated by the number of people who came to support us and remember him. My daughter and I made a collage of pictures of him and that was the most healing act for me. I have the picture of his face in pain in my eyes and seeing him in happier times and remembering what he used to look like helped. I can't be in the family room right now. There is a HUGE hole in the room where his bed was. I went to IKEA yesterday and bought a work table to put there. I'm going to move my computer, sewing machine and yarns etc down there. Right now it's the little things that side swipe me. I made an appointment to have the dog groomed and the groomer said, "Where's Bob been?" She went on to mention that Bob used to walk the dog over near her store to visit with a stuffed bear outside the florist next to her. They were wondering if something happened to Bob or the dog. I am going to my afternoon knitting group today, then out to dinner with friends and on to a planning meeting for a workshop I participate in every year. Last night I had dinner at my mother's house. Steven goes back to Hawaii on Sat and Caroline goes back to school soon also. BOY, this house is going to be empty!!!

Bob is at rest

Yesterday at 4:50 Bob passed away. Caroline and I were with him and his dog was very near. His passing was very peaceful and he was in no pain. During the week that he was home, family and friends visited and the dog was on and off his bed. He knew he was dying and his strongest wish was to be at home. The funeral is at 10:30 Wed. morning at Holy Family Church on Route 36. Following the funeral we will be going to my sister Carol's house in Marlboro. Please join us to celebrate his life.

Bob's back home

Bob came home yesterday. He is home on hospice care until the end. The goal is to keep him comfortable, painfree and in his own space until his end. Right now I'm his main care giver. Caroline helps out and I do have the hospice services. I don't know how often I'll get on the computer as it is on a different floor then him BUT please keep us all in your prayers. Steven is coming up on Wed. and I hope that Bob is awake. Right now he is not really awake but he does not seem to be in pain either. I wish he could have come home sooner when he was in better shape but who knows why things happen the way they do.

Still melting

Well, lots has changed since Friday. Bob had an appointment with a pain specialist Monday afternoon. After a bone jarring ride in the ambulance which left me with a back ache we met a doctor who was the exact opposite of the puffed up a** we saw on Friday. He actually listened to Bob, was patient and waited for him to speak then outlined his options. Bob has decide to begin hospice services in the nursing home and do a bit more of physical therapy then come home ASAP! We met with the visiting nurse service they signed him up, had a medication review with medication specialist and we were told how grossly under medicated he has been for his pain! New order were written and now a few nurses are dragging their heels at giving him the "Amount" of medication he is receiving. TOO bad, I want him comfortable and home. If they don't get with the program, I'm just going to bring him home in a few days and do the physical therapy at home. I'm so glad that the hospice nurse kept telling him he has a right to be comfortable and pain free as much as possible NOT trying to tolerate as much pain as possible! I finished another petal bib and a garterlac wash cloth BUT the darling daughter filled my memory card with trashy pictures from the beach so you will have to imagine them!

Not much knitting but lots of other things going on

Is everyone else melting out there? My AC bit the dust a little over a week ago! There is one small chance of getting it going again BUT I spent a lot of time this week buying TWO window units, lugging them home myself and putting them in. My windows tilt out so I can only keep part of the house cool. I spent most of last week painting, rearranging and getting the downstairs ready for Bob to come home. He is coming home on my birthday, August 5th just for a trial, from 11 to 6. Hopefully he will come home for good on August 14th. We will start with home health care then transition to hospice when he needs more services. We had a frustrating doctor visit on Friday. Through miscommunication my poor husband was carted off by ambulance to see an orthopedic who would not see him BECAUSE he is post surgery!!!! Well DUH that was carefully explained when the visit was being set up!!!!! You would have thought that he would have share that little tidbit BEFORE we paid for an ambulance etc. It has taken Bob all weekend to recoup from the visit. After lots of venting on my part and much apologizing from the staff we are now are working on setting up an appointment with the first surgical deity who cannot be usurped by the local deity. He has an appointment with a pain management doctor Monday afternoon and I hope that he has some ways to help Bob. He is in constant pain and if that could be addressed things would be so much better! I'm up to the heel flap on my latest STR club sock and just about up to the cuff on a very nice sparkling sock. I need some sparkle in my life now. I made and gave away three of the petal bibs from the One Skein book and the Moms were thrilled with them. I had to reassure them that they really are made to be used!!!!!

Two Finished Projects and what's going on now!

I've been knitting with Sugar'n Cream the last few days. A real change from the sock yarn kick I've been on for months! The first is a bib from One Skein by Leigh Radford and the kitchen mat which was inspired by the Mason Dixon crochet bath mat.
The bib was challenging to make with following the short row shaping but really fun. I'm going to trim the fringe on the mat but it really is very soft and cushy.
Yesterday, Bob and I met with a nurse from a hospice program as suggested by his doctor. We have not decided if we are ready to use hospice services yet. I hate this whole insurance scramble. It seems like a cruel game. You need this, but they will give you some of it---- if you handle EVERYTHING perfectly, jump through each and every hoop, and anticipate all contingencies perfectly! Tracking down his doctors, getting information from the insurance companies,whose's a provider who is not etc.
I really want to concentrate on taking care of Bob and myself and so much of my time and energy goes to managing these other details. Right now the plan is for Bob to see a spine specialist July 28 and hopefully get a more comfortable brace and better pain management. I am hoping for him to come home mid to late August. We are trying to figure out the home care, pain management etc. Caroline and I are working on setting up the family room floor for Bob. He will have a bathroom, kitchen ,family room and bed all on one level and wheelchair ready. My friend is lending me a ramp and one of those scooter motorized chairs. Hopefully Bob will be able to be comfortable and we will see what will happen!

The Opposite of Socks

I started working on a project today which has to be as opposite as possible from socks. I've been eye balling the bathmat in Mason Dixon Knitting BUT I do not crochet and I'm not about to start now! SO I decided to BUY size 17 needles and use three strands of Sugar and Cream and using a modified log cabin approach I'm knitting a kitchen sink rug. I just want a cushy rug to sink my toes in while I do the dishes or just gaze out the window! I already have a square about 14 inches done. It would take me a life time to do this in sock yarn on size two needles! I'm not ready to talk about what is going on with Bob yet but please keep us in your prayers and good thoughts. We REALLY need them.

Another pair done!

Here's my latest sock, done in between running (actually slowing pushing a wheelchair) to physical therapy and OT with my husband and WAITING on hold on the phone and trying to understand the in and outs of insurance. Who pays for what, from which provider etc!!!! It's a FULL TIME job. I can't understand how someone like my husband who is not up to all this would actually be able to do all this in a hospital bed with very limited energy and limited access to a phone. I keep coming home and knitting like a crazy women and deadheading every flower my my garden that does not run away from me!