Knitting Under Pressure

Not that I like doing it, but I seem to get more done when under pressure.  If I have all day, or week, or month, I'll find a million other things to do and take forever getting whatever it is done that I need to do (cleaning, laundry, paperwork, knitting, etc.) but give me a deadline and somehow I can move much faster. 

 They say knitters usually fall into two different categories, those who love the process of knitting most and those who enjoy the products that they finish.  I enjoy the finished products, but am definitely more of a process knitter.  I enjoy the knitting and just always want to have something on my needles and unless time is an issue I take my time with projects, unlike  some of the others in my knitting group who impress me every week with all of their FOs.  This week however I turned into a product knitter by necessity and finished this baby blanket in a little over a week even while having out of town company both weekends.  I thought I had till October to make a baby gift, but was then invited to a baby shower for this person and had to get in high gear. I chose something simple but cute and was pleased that it turned out well.  Hoodie Baby Blanket by the Thrifty Knitter. 

Thanks to Pooh Bear for being my model!

 I finished it last night, washed and blocked it at 11:30 pm (had to finish drying it and then steam the border flat just before I wrapped it for the shower this afternoon).  Nothing like going down to the wire!

It has been quite a week!

 Last weekend our son and daughter-in-law were coming to a town near us for their church and so brought the girls (plus a friend) to stay with us.  They all spent Friday night with us, then the girls stayed all day Saturday.  We did a little shopping, ate lunch out and took good naps that afternoon, then cooked dinner and their mom and dad came back by, ate dinner and drove the four hours back home that night.  Long day for them!  

 Then one day this week we had an earthquake!  No damage, but it was a strange feeling.  There is a window behind my desk at work and the front driveway to the building is just outside the window.  I had my back to the window and my chair started shaking.  My first thought was that a big truck had driven up to the front of the building, but there was nothing there!  Then it got a little worse and everyone around me started to notice the shaking.  My first earthquake and hopefully my last.  Very glad there was no damage around here.

We ended the week with Hurricane Irene.  Since son and DIL live in Norfolk they evacuated to here and stayed with us from Friday night until about noon today.  They brought another friend with them whose husband is out to sea and her family is in NYC, so they were in the Hurricane path also.  I was glad to get to see them again so soon.  Since they are 200 miles away we usually only see them every couple of months so twice in a week was really unusual.  Nikki is doing so well!  Her back is so straight and perfect and she has a very smooth scar that is healing nicely.  The best surprise has been the way she has handled it all.  We were so worried about the brace she has to wear, and expected her to fight it tooth and nail but she has been a real trooper and willingly wears it.  She is doing so well the doctor has given her some time out of it every day, but she rarely asks to take it off.  Brave little girl!

Last night we all went out to dinner and here are a few pictures from out waiting time and at the table.

Nikki and Sophie - the first hour or so they are together things are a little difficult - lots of jealously and each of them claiming everything as "theirs", but after they sort that out a little, they love playing together.

 Nikki and her mom. Sorry Janet and getting you with eyes closed!

Bethany and dad.

Sophie & her mom. (And Pooh Bear of course)

 
Miss Sophie being her charming little self.  Even after waiting a long time for our table and eating a lot later than usual for her she was happy and funny all night.
 
Back to work tomorrow - I need a day off!  Thank goodness Labor Day is coming up and a 3 day weekend!  Can't believe summer is almost over though.

Much Improvement

Nikki is doing great.  Right now she feels safe in her brace so she is not fighting that and last night and today has gone to bathroom and walked (with help).  We are so thankful and feel so relieved.  Obviously there's still a lot more to deal with but we will take any small steps.

Bethany has been with her other grandparents most of the weekend so I am missing her.  Except for a little shopping we haven't had much time to do anything fun.  Hopefully we can before she goes home.

If you have seen many pictures of Sophie she usually has Pooh Bear in her arms.  She loves her Pooh - so Amy knew she had to try and take her to see the Winnie the Pooh movie yesterday.  This was her first movie and she did great.  I helped that it was just an hour long, but I think she could have even lasted a little longer.  It was a cute, old-fashioned movie.

As you can see - Pooh went with us!

Tough Week

My sweet little 4 year old granddaughter is going through something no little girl should have to go through.  Since birth she has battled scoliosis and we've all hoped and prayed that surgery wouldn't have to happen for years, but it came to a point where the doctors said it had to be now. The curve in her spine had progressed to a point where it was beginning to cause other problems.On Wednesday she had surgery to place rods alongside her spine and straighten it.  It was an early morning for everyone and a nail-biting nervous wait for all of us, but she came through the 4.5 hr. surgery fine. The pediatric orthopedic surgeon was wonderful and he said the surgery went just as it should - no unforeseen problems. 

After they moved her to the PICU unit we got to go in 2 at a time to see her.  She had come out of the anesthesia fine, and before they sedated her again she was in pain and a little agitated and kept saying, "Mama, I don't want this".  It was soooo hard to see a little one in this situation who doesn't understand what's going on.  Heart breaking.  In a little while they got her sedated and calmed down.

This was day one after they got her pain regulated and she went to sleep.

We left late that afternoon to come home and brought Bethany with us so that my son and DIL could stay at the hospital as much as needed and not have to worry about her.  Since then we have been in contact by email and phone, but really wish I could be there too. 

She was kept sedated until today.  Yesterday they measured her for her brace and today Jon said they put the brace on and stood her up.  They have taken out some of the tubes and possibly will move her to a regular room as soon as they have one.  She has such a long journey ahead of her.  Please pray for her and for Jon & Janet for patience and guidance.  She is a headstrong little thing and isn't going to like that brace, but she has to wear it for awhile.  I know this is all for the best - but will be so glad when it is behind her and she is comfortable and pain free again.

We hope to see her like this again soon.

Catching up.......

My life seems busy - but not interesting enough to write about anymore!  It seems like I just go to work, come home, go to work, etc.  If you work I'm sure you can relate.

Summer is definitely here - it has been very hot and dry which means lots of watering.  The flowers are doing well right now though.  If you remember a few weeks ago when I first planted things looked like this:

And now they look like this:

So I guess the watering is worth it.  By August I'll be really tired of dragging that hose around though.

Also in bloom right now are the daylillies and the butterfly bush.

I'm still plugging away on the socks, but they are generally my take-along project so they are going slowly.

 I've started the Cladonia Shawl by Kirsten Kapur and am liking it so far.  There will be lace, but the body is a simple pattern easy to memorize.  I like a little lace, but not too crazy about a big lace project where I have to read a pattern on every row. The yarn is Denali, a hand dyed sock yarn by Pagewood Farm.  The color is Fruit Freeze,

And on a totally different note, this little guy is my companion tonight.  My neighbors left on vacation today and I am pet sitting.  I haven't had a dog in years so this should be interesting.  He will stay in his own home during the day while I'm at work, but I hated for him to be alone so much so he will be visiting here with us some too. 

Ses@me Street Live

Happy Memorial Day!  Can't believe it has been so long since I have posted!  Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.

Friday night DH & I went to a movie!  First time in forever.  We tend to always go to his pick, so we saw Pirates of the Caribbean.  Pretty good I guess if that is your type of movie.  On the way out I heard lots of laughter coming from the Bridesmaids theater and wished I had been in there! LOL

Saturday Amy & I realized the Ses@me Street Live was playing in Greensboro and she got tickets for us to go.  Sophie absolutely loved it and I'm so glad we were able to take her.

When Big Bird walked out on stage she was so excited!  She didn't have any idea what to expect and it was so cute!

Of course Elmo is actually her favorite so every time he came on stage she loved it. Some of the characters walked through the audience and Zoe shook her hand, but I missed getting a picture of that.

A few weeks ago my other granddaughters came to visit and I just realized I didn't post any pictures. Sophie and Nicki have a few jealousy issues, but after a little adjustment period they love to play together.

School will be out for them soon and I'm anxious for Nikki and Bethany to come down and stay for a few days.  Nikki is facing surgery for scoliosis in July and she is going to have to go through so much I want to get her for a few days before she has to face that.  No pictures of  Bethany this time - she avoids the camera!

On the needles - two at a time, toe up socks:

 Have a great week!

Easter Weekend

Saturday started off gray and cool, but the rest of the 3-day weekend (I had Easter Monday off) was beautiful - and actually hot! We have been so lucky and missed the worst of the storms that a lot of the country is experiencing.

Saturday afternoon Sophie dyed her first eggs.  She took it very seriously!

Sunday was beautiful all day.  Sophie loved her dress, but getting her to smile is almost impossible. Little stinker is so serious till the camera disappears and then shes all grins and giggles again.

Monday DH and I worked outside most all day planting flowers, and vegetables.  Right now everything looks small and pitiful, but I took pictures to compare to later when everything is lush and beautiful (yeah, right!) Some years things do look pretty later and some years I'm really disappointed, but we'll see how this year goes.

The two hanging baskets for the front porch -

So I won't forget later, these are three of the flowers in these pots, along with coleus and regular impatiens.

This container goes on the front walk and also has coleus (which didn't have a label).

An old wheelbarrow filled with impatiens.  I did this several years ago but haven't the last couple of years because by July I'll be sick of dragging the hose out there to water it every day!

Just because I love lavender!  I just added this into a bed in the back yard.

Some of my herbs.  Thyme, basil and oregano.  I have another pot that I failed to get a picture of with rosemary and more thyme and oregano.

I filled in a little bare spot with these perennials.  The pinks say they are deer resistant.  We'll see. The deer have nightly buffets in our yard - they actually pulled whole pansy plants out by the roots.

And finally - tomatoes and squash.  We only have a small garden spot, but at least plant our favorites.

There you have it - my online journal of my pitiful gardening attempts.  Hopefully later in the summer I'll have progress to show!

Bolero Finished

 I knitted this from some yarn in my stash, Cascade Pima Tencel.  I had knitted me a summer sweater in it a couple of years ago and wasn't really happy with it as it stretches as you wear it, but it does have wonderful feel and I hope will do okay in this.

 Miss Sophie has gotten too busy to stand or sit still for a photo most of the time, but I did get one of her going shopping with Pooh wearing her new sweater.  She is very big into pretending now.  We go shopping, cook, march in a parade, and have parties all the time. 

My lilac bushes are in bloom!  Love the smell!  Spring is definitely here - thunderstorms almost every day, one day hot, one day cold, dogwoods and azaleas are blooming.  Really beautiful when the sun shines, but not such a fan of the cold, blustery days.  Of course we'll soon be complaining about the heat!

Back in January for my birthday my daughter and husband together gave me a gift certificate for a spa day - facial, massage, manicure and pedicure.  This isn't something I do for myself, so I was really looking forward to it.  A couple of weeks ago I finally made an appointment for yesterday.  The owner of the shop made the appointment on the phone and we specifically talked about finding a day that I could come in and have it all done at once.  I showed up yesterday at 10:15 for my appointment (this is a new salon for me, I go somewhere else for my hair).  No one was at the desk and not one stylist even looked up at me to ask if they could help me, which started out wrong for me.  Several other women were waiting so I took a seat.  After waiting at least 15  minutes finally someone came up front from the back.  I approached her and she said yes, she had me for a massage at 11:00, but checked the appt. book and I was scheduled for a facial at 10:15, but the right person wasn't there yet.  She finally came in - was very apologetic and I finally got started about 10:45,  I was irritated, but have to admit the facial was wonderful.  The room was perfect - the darkness, the candles, the music and no talk, which I like.  I have gotten massages where the massage therapist talks the whole time and that ruins it for me.  I have never had a facial so have no comparison, but I thought this was great.  It would be great to have one regularly.  Right after the facial I stayed on the same table and the masseuse started the massage.  Again, very professional, very quiet, and very relaxing, but not quite as intense as I like it.  I like someone to really get into the muscles, but I did enjoy it.

After the massage she told me that apparently the owner had failed to schedule my manicure and pedicure and they couldn't fit me in!  So much for all the talk about having it all in one trip.  They had to make me another appointment for that.  We'll see how this goes.  I had worried about how to leave tips, but the experience solved that problem.  No one got a tip from me!  I think I'll call T@bitha and suggest a salon makeover!