Blog Contest and gratefulness

First, today is my Sis In Love's BIRTHDAY!!!!!! SHe is having a blog contest to celebrate, complete with prizes! Go Check it out at COLORJOY.

Second, I have been trying to find more positives in my life to combat the big scary stuff that might be coming up.

I realized I spend more than enough time on fear, and worry and pain. The GOOD stuff deserves at least as much consideration.
I am going to contemplate (at least) one good thing in my life each day. It can be the same thing on different days, I just need to spend a little quality time appreciating it.
The good stuff sometimes gets lost behind the negatives, but it deserves my thought-time so much more!

In honor of Lynn's birthday, here are some photos of her :-}

New techniques

One of the things I love is learning new stuff. It's probably why I enjoy hand work, and herbalism, etymology and languages and, of course, writing. There's ALWAYS something left to learn.

Non-knitters may want to skip to the pretty pictures at the end:
I loved Cat Bordhi's book :New Pathways For Sock Knitters" but occasionally had almost dyslexic trouble with what marker went where when I used double pointed needles. She kindly suggested I give using two circular needles a try. I bought her book "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" and finally decided to give it a shot yesterday. I haven't moved on to the New Pathways book, but I am doing fine with a standard sock pattern so far.

I know I'm bragging, but I knit pretty quickly for the most part, so the new technique isn't that much faster for me than using the DPNS (so far). It is probably about the same, though, as my old method. What I DO like about it is the traveling potential. With some yarns, the DPNS can slip right out of the loops if I grab them the wrong way when getting them out of a workbag. That won't happen on the circular needles. I also think I can use them to make two socks at the same time. That would be really cool, as I don't really like knitting the same thing twice in a row.

Also, looking at a lot of shawl and stole patterns, they start with a temporary cast on, you knit haldf the length, bind off, then grab those initial stitches and knit the other direction. (this keeps the lace or stitch pattern looking symmetrical.

I think if I use two skeins of wool, I can just use two sets of circulars technique and knit outward from a mutual cast on. Should work fine.

Non Knitters may tune in again. Here are some random eye candy-type things conjured from my old photo folders:

Long time no blog

Ok, just a week, but I managed to blog almost every day until last week. Anyway, I'm back.
Oscar is up in the Great White North, well, Gaylord, not REALLY far north but colder and snowier.
He's hunting a wild ruminant a.k.a. the White Tailed Deer. He'll be happy if he gets one, we love venison, but he will also be happy just to have spent time sitting quietly and watching.
There are a lot of critters up on my Dad's land to keep him amused. When he was turkey hunting this past Spring he got a chickadee to hop almost into his blind. He and Dad have a lot in common that way.
He's due home on Friday evening.
I have been spending time knitting (of course) and watching my Stargate DVDs. I'm keeping my energy for taking care of our domesticated critters, and myself. I also have a huge stack of books to read, some by J.D. Robb, some by Kim Harrison and a few other authors, but I haven't started those yet. I'm currently re-reading Harry Potter as my bedtime books.

The following may be TMI for some folks. It's medical stuff:
My fever is alive and well, and after the most recent run of three months and counting of almost daily elevated temperatures, my Doc took a white blood cell count; it was still too high. I guess she thinks enough is enough, because I'm scheduled to go in for an Indium Scan. (to see if my fevers are from the hernia mesh instead of just my bad ankle (marrow leaking).
When I had the test done two years ago, it showed some activity around my abdomen, but the hot spot was my ankle. This time I will be keeping off my feet as much as possible in the weeks leading up to the exam, to make certain any problem in the abdomen can be clearly seen. I would be off my feet all the time everyday under doctor's advice, but our home is far from fully accessible. Maybe someday, eh?

The Indium scan is a fascinating thing. They take some blood, extract the white blood cells, and send them to a lab to be 'labeled' with radioactive Indium before putting them back in. The next day, after the white blood cells have had time to gather around any place that needs their warrior capabilities, the patient is scanned and the irradiated leukocytes (white blood cells) show up any problem areas.

It would be more fascinating if it wasn't me. The results will determine whether or not the my mesh needs to be removed. NOT looking forward to that possibility. If it gets rid of the fevers, though, it is probably the best choice. I don't have a spleen, so I am considered to have a 'compromised immune system' If the mesh HAS been causing infections all this time, I've been dodging some pretty big bullets.
I hate waiting and wondering, soI am glad Doc Farmer moved so quickly on my behalf. She has my scan scheduled for Dec. 5th and 6th. Very fast work in the medical world!

Now for the gratuitous color (from my former quilting days), to cheer up a grey Michigan week:

Cunning Jayne Cobb Hat was a BIG HIT!

Chris thanked me a million times for the hat, and kept reaching over to pet and pat it during dinner. I didn't bring the camera so I don't have a pic of him in his hat, but Oscar modeled for me earlier. (see pics below)
Oscar and Chris looked adorable in their matching Jayne Cobb hats at Bob Evans!!!! Next time we get together I'll get a picture of them both wearing them.

Busy day, then a week alone

Oscar is on vacation. I am SO glad. He really needs some time off, from work, and from here. He's headed up north, ostensibly for hunting, but the real goal is to get out into nature, away from everything . He will be visiting my Dad, in Gaylord (Michigan), a wonderfully peaceful place. He'll likely be the only person for acres, once he hikes out to his spot. (Dad has a lot of land there).

Today, I need to finish a second Jayne Cobb Hat. If the first one is too big, Chris can have the second one, either will do for Oscar. After making this second one, I think it will match as closely as I possibly can the images I found online HERE I learned what needed changing from the first one :-}

I have all but two items finished for Lynn. I will be shipping out all but one tomorrow or Monday (Oscar will drop them off)

Then there's the knitting for gifts and finishing Lynn's final item next week.

And writing. I didn't wake up with a fever today, if it stays away for a week, I may be able to get lots of writing done while Oscar is gone.

Sherri called. She adopted many of my plants when I had to give up gardening. TWO OF MY ROSES BLOOMED!!!!! In November! I think they like their new garden :-}

Time to go get cleaned up. We also need to go get some blood tests done, go shopping, and then out to dinner with Chris for the presentation of the Cunning Hat.

(image of hat to be done later.. for now, here are some pics from up north last spring, one of the roses, and a few stills of the Hat. )

autumn gold

a few images from a maple in the back yard

My favorite travel knitting GARDEN bag

I have a wonderful bag. It's one of a set made for me by Ysabeau. The HUGE bag is terrific, it fits across my shoulders, nestles in front and holds everything I need as I wheel myself around. One of the pictures below is of me wearing it last year. It's got an ocean theme, and it incredibly useful, with pockets of every size, yet all of them easy to get to.

The smaller bag was a gift when Ysabeau heard I could no longer garden, and it is perfect for knitting in the car, or when I sit in waiting rooms. The handle is lined with flannel which keeps it from slipping on my arm, and as I knit its at the perfect height for letting the yarn feed to my needles.

On top of that, it IS a garden. She beaded it meticulously, and added all sorts of terrific little touches to make it even more beautiful. Enjoy the pics!

Big varmints on the roof

With much banging, fluttering old stuff, and occasional calls for "MORE PAPER!!" the roof is getting redone from the deck on up. I think the guys are in a hurry to get finished, as hunting season starts tomorrow here in Michigan.
They are a wonder to behold. Here you see them at the far reaches of the dance, they come together in a pavanne once in a while, to exchange new materials or hand off tools. The animals are uncertain about all this, but as long as their mealtime isn't put off, they are willing to put up with all the weird noises.

They are removing an old chimney right now, from when we had a dangerous free-standing cone fireplace. Lots of soot in the air in here!

Well, I'll take my adventures where I can find them, how much better if they come right to the door!

Autumn Socks For Ysabeau

These were knit from Twisted Sisters Avarice (Alpaca) in colorway # 4. It took two skeins.

I started with the Colorjoy FIRST TIME TOE UP SOCK then adapted it to fit my particular ideas. It's my favorite "Vanilla Sock" recipe, and has lots of opportunity for adaptation to any size foot, baby on up to BigFoot, and for any yarn or needle size that work together.
(My adaptation this time included extra ribbing on instep, extra loose cuff, with 3 'eyelet' stitches on each side to add ribbons for fit adjustment, tab at the back to help put the socks on, ripply single crochet cast off)
She likes them :-}

My Spoon

Another of the special gifts Ysabeau made for me is my beloved spoon.
(for the Spoon theory, see HERE )
I wear it almost every time I leave the house, even if it's to go outside to shoot a few photos. Its a reminder to be cautious with myself, not to stand too long, or bend over too often. It has made for much better quality of life since I've had it as a reminder.
She chose the stones with great care. The ROSE QUARTZ symbolizes many things, but particularly to me, self-love, to be gentle with myself. The GARNET is also good for self-esteem, balance, and general good health. The PEARL helps with self-acceptance and also links to water (Since I am an otter kind of chick) The silver spoon links to my name (Diana) who was a Goddess of the Moon, symbolized by silver.
Thank you Ysabeau, it is beautiful, and dear to me.

Giftings spread about the country

Lynn my sis-in-love gifted me with a big bag of yarns, all kinds. Straight worsted woolen, a big variety of fancy novelty stuff (ribbons and eyelash and fuzzy oh my!) and a bag of mystery boucle in slowly changing pink-purple-turquoise shades.

From just the boucle and novelty yarns (plus some I had in the drawer) I ended up making a new shawl pattern, donated for a sale to bellydancers in Lansing, Michigan, a ritzy scarf for a friend in Rhode island, and a big artsy fancy schmancy stole knit on size 50 needles for Ysabeau in California :-}

Here are some pics:

Ysabeau's Tendril bag

I am blessed with many special people in my life. One of the most special, I have never met face to face, yet she is one of my very best friends.
She has gifted me countless times, with art work, jewelry, special one-of-a-kind gifts from her heart. Each time the gift seems to arrive on a day when I really need a boost. She's good like that :-}

I can't choose a favorite from among the many things she's sent to surprise me, but right up there in the top three has to be a bag she created from left over tapestry wool, a few beads (some made from scratch!) a lovely branch and her wonderful imagination. Here are a few pictures.
Enjoy!

Writer's Journey

I just received my brand new copy of the Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler. The third edition was released this week.

I have been peripherally aware of the book for a while now. It is based on Joseph Campbell's "Hero of a Thousand Faces" and I have been a fan of Joseph Campbell since long before his PBS interviews with Bill Moyer.

Is it the be all and end all for writers as the blurb might have it? I doubt it. The author himself cautions readers to use it as a place from which to fly off in your own direction, not as a formulaic blueprint for your work.

He also cautions that although Heroes are most certainly female as well, the journey of a woman may sometimes be inward-, then outward-spiraling instead of a linear path as described in the archetype as he uses it. (I think some male heroes also follow this type of inward/outward spiraling path, so think of the concepts as two types of archetype, rather than something divided along gender lines) His list of suggested reading to illuminate those differences consisted of books I have already read, as luck would have it, so I feel prepared for this particular book as well.

I like to read this kind of thing just before falling asleep, the concepts seem to embed themselves in interesting ways (and sometimes the dreams are pretty interesting, too).

I can tell you that (after reading the introductions and preface) I made it to page eleven, and I've already found a way to strengthen my opening in my current WIP (Work In Progress), and realized the story outline as it stands mirrors the archetype almost exactly.

I guess reading all that Joseph Campbell embedded itself rather effectively even if it was more than two decades ago!

I think my own journey as a writer is alive and well, despite the most recent fallow time, while trying to recover from a few tough weeks.

Knitting? I am working on a fancy schmancy scarf for an online pal, and a pair of lovely alpaca socks in Twisted Sister's Avarice. And the Burly Zig.. it is looking fine!
Image is of the Hoo Hill Maze, in Shefford

What were those needles made from, anyway?

I love new things, don't get me wrong, but there is a certain magic about using an almost antique crafting tool. All the repetitive moves it's made when held by other fingers make it long to dance again, and when I use it it seems happy and content to be out of the storage box and back into the fiber.

Nothing wrong with new yarn, or a spanking new pair of Addi Turbos for sock knitting, but I still have a huge weak spot for a bundle of knitting needles and crochet hooks and stitch markers etc etc etc picked up for a song at an auction or rummage sale.

I got this double pointed needle container at an online auction, and even re-purposed it to hold all my #1 DPNS. It wasn't until just the other day that I really LOOKED at it, and read its claims. Go ahead, and click on the bottom image there.


Yep. NON INFLAMMABLE. That's comforting, that is. Now, no matter HOW fast I get those puppies moving, I know they won't burst into flame! I suspect the needles it contained might have been from bakelite or some other new and thus suspicious substance... and I wonder how many knitting needle related fires had to happen before they came up with this warning? :-}