Babies!!!!

Here are my new babies!

Miss Pearl (a frosty pearl French Angora) and her sister - who still needs a name! (blue tort French Angora) They are 9 weeks old and have very sweet temperaments.

Inspiration

Rebelling

Lately it seems that my body is betraying me - I have no control over it's crazy decline. So, one of the few things I feel I have control over is my hair. Thus black and pink hair. Any yes, it does make me feel better. I wish that the photo showed the pink better - but believe me, it's bright pink highlights. :)

For those who don't know, I've been searching for answers to many physical ailments this last year. As it stands I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, CFS, Menieres, Reynauds, and hypothyroid (possible Hashimoto's). We are still looking into auto-immune disorders.

Dealing with the extreme exhaustion has been a bitch, but the daily pain is really wearing me down. Enough whining! Back to knitting...

So Proud

Finding the words to describe how I feel after such an amazing day yesterday is proving to be quite hard. It has been so long since I've felt proud to be an American. I've felt embarrassed, hopeless, and at times fearful these last 8 years.

Today I am PROUD to be an American. Proud.

With an amazing feeling of peace and hope.

Thank you Mr. President.

Home again...

What an amazing trip! Italy, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia... WOW!!

I managed to find plenty of yarn in stores and open air markets! I loved the markets! They were a feast for the senses! And the Gelato... oh the gelato!!! My favorite was a coconut gelato in Florence. Florence was the most beautiful city - second only to Venice! As much as I loved Italy I fell totally in love with Germany, and can't wait to return! Here are a smattering of some of the photos:

Updating

I really haven't forgotten this blog... or maybe I have!

The plans are set for my big Europe adventure! It still seems unreal that I will be going at all!


We will be traveling in Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, with Italy being home base. I've learned a smidgen of Italian - hopefully enough to make due if I get lost (gasp!) or need help. :)


I will, of course, be bringing knitting with me. My goal is to fill a suitcase full of yarns and fibery goodness to return with! If the exchange rates continue to improve, I may be able to!

So, until I return - enjoy the beauty of fall!

Sanity Saving

Knitting Lace = Sanity

Didn't you know?

These are a few of the projects that have helped me keep my last shred of sanity these last months!

Below are: Laminiaria, Swallowtail, Voyager Lace Stole, and Rhea Lace Stole (from 101 Designer one-skein Wonders). OTN I have a few other lace projects plus socks - always a few socks otn.

Are you on Ravelry yet?? It is an unbelievably amazing knitting community. I'm desertwindsong on there - sent me a pm to say hi and so I can see your projects!

Hope you are having a fabulous summer!

THE bag

So, it's not pink. I did do a different skull one, though, that is pink! Will post photos of it soon. Not sure if this one will be for sale or not...

Corriedale Wool & Silk

I apologize...

Dear Aunt C,

I apologize for the disturbing photos in the last post. I assure you that I have not crossed to the dark side.

Here is what I just made.

Look, no skulls. :)

Embracing that OTHER side...

Sculpted these little guys to decorate a felted bag I will be knitting soon.

I've decided that since I'm living in a houseful of boys, that instead of fighting it, I may as well join the whole skull and crossbones club.

(But my skull bag will be PINK)

Spinning Fever

I dyed 4 ounces of roving (Corriedale Cross). Spun singles, which I 2 plied. And the finished, hopefully self-striping, sock yarn!

Absent (minded) Blogger

I'm here. And apparently you are as well. I'm not sure why. I've been very bad (baaa'd) when it comes to updating this. I've been obsessed with spinning. and knitting. I have no exciting news. Nothing. But I'll post a bunch of photos just to reward you for coming!

First on the bobbin is some bamboo that I'm spinning. The next two handspuns are merino/silk blends. Ahhhh..... fiberholicism is grand.

This felted bag was a lot of fun. I used some really crappy yarn I had found at a thrift store, and it felted up beautifully!!

The next little pouch is knit from alpaca.

Socks.... my passion.

Alpaca lace scarf. Angora blend hat and scarf.

Bamboo!! Lovely stuff!

The Kindness of Friends and Strangers

I have been so touched and amazed at the kindness of total strangers. These are many of the cards that I have received these past couple of weeks - many from stampers/crafters that I've never met! Each one that I receive creates a bright spot in my day. Many thanks to Char and her online stamping group for many of these. Also, thanks to Rita for her envolvement as well.

I'm feeling better each day. The road back has been a bit bumpier than I had imagined, but I am slowly eating again!! Tiny bits and "chewing it to death" as my Dr. told me.

Thanks again to everyone who has sent get well wishes, the phone calls, visits, etc. I feel so lucky and blessed.

Tapping my Bucket

I had what may have been the scarriest day of my life yesterday. In a nutshell my surgeons had me go to the ER thinking that I had a bloodclot in my lung. Long story short, it all ended up ok. I still have the shoulder/chest pain - but I'm ALIVE!!! and no bloodclot! They're discussing my case today and are supposed to get back to me with a pain med that will help.
It's a beautiful day.

Two Down

Two weeks. I've made it two weeks without eating! Whewwww.... One more to go and then I see the surgeon. Hopefully then he will clear me for.... Pureed and soft foods!! Whooopeeee!!!!

Had a rocky week. The chest and shoulder pain have really been wearing me down. Had x-rays taken yesterday. Haven't heard results from those. Assuming the best. Dr. thinks that it is referred pain from irritation/trauma to my diaphram during surgery. Apparently quite common with abdominal surgery, expected to last 2-3 days... but NOT 2 weeks!!!!

Here are the fingerless gloves that I knit.

They are made from a cashmere blend yarn. SO so soft. Instead of a boquet of flowers, my dear dear friend brought me a "bouquet" of fabulous yarns. Ahhh, yarn...

Here are a few of the many flowers that have surrounded me the last 2 weeks.

Oh, but did I mention that I have NO heartburn or reflux??? THAT part is blissful.

Quick (liquidy) Update

First day that I've felt good enough to have a computer in bed with me (COMPUTER.. not commuter!!) :)

Finally feeling like somewhat of a person today. At noon today it had been a whole week since I've eaten. Whew... and it feels like it.Surgery went well. I'm pretty much pain free now, just sore - kicked in the ribs sort of sore.Amazing that there is a plethora of sweet drinkables, but finding it hard to find savories. Must be "pourable" with nothing "chunky" at all. I seem to be able to take in about 1/2 cup of anything at a time, then have to wait an hour or two before more.

Oh, nausea was a big worry for me before going in, and I am happy to say that it all stayed under control. I had a nausea patch that I put on the night before surgery, and the nausea meds post surgery work immediately - so only a few times were needed - but with no real "oh my goodness I'm going to puke" episodes. whew.

On one of my narcotic-induced days, I managed to knit up a fingerless glove... then lost all ability to knit for a couple of days... Off of all meds now and feeling like taking up the needles again. Thank you to everyone that has sent me cards!!! Even cards from people I don't even know!!! (thanks Char for your sneaky ways...) And beautiful flowers surrounding me. Ahh...Well, that just pooped me out.Signing off.....

Il calzino è rifinito!!

The (first) sock is finished!! From tip of toe to top they measure 24 inches. I’ve used about 125 grams of DK merino on this first one. Whew! This sucker is huge!

My Stomach is in KNOTS!

Well, not yet, but will be soon. Tuesday. Quite literally, in knots.

So, I keep busy. One of the projects I'm currently knitting are these. This is how far I am. I envision wearing them in November as I trek through Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Germany. Toasty, happy thoughts.

I also just finished 2 knitted/felted bags. But, can't post them until the recipients have been gifted with them. :)

I'm frantically trying to keep my mind occupied and to stave off the huge waves of anxiety that are crashing over me. busy, busy, busy..........

1/12/08 Ooooh, here's an update!! It's getting longer!! 19 inches long!!! Starting on the foot now... my goal is to finish this sucker today and start the other one before bedtime. Bouncing between sheer terror and calm confidence.....

End of a Year

Christmas was quiet this year. I had no desire to do any of my usual baking and candy making - but hunkered down and knitted to keep my mind as peaceful as I could. I made the family and my parents socks which they all opened christmas eve. It was a fun moment.

I've also had the huge honor to design the covers of the new Angel Company "Inspiration book & Catalog". I also did several of the pages inside. It was a great way to get through the medical hiccups that I've had this fall. Creativity calms the mind... So, here are the covers:

As far as a medical update... this mass in my breast will have to wait a few months and then I will have another MRI to assess any changes. The problem being that my breast tissue is so dense that this "thing" doesn't show up with mammograms or ultrasounds, and so getting a biopsy proves a problem. So, with the doctors assurance that if this a common cancer that it won't grow catastrophically in the next few months, I shall wait. I will focus on the esophagus/stomach surgery still scheduled for the 15th, and healing from that. It will surely be an interesting road ahead. Anyone up for going on a month-long liquid diet with me after the surgery?!?!?! :)

An Update

OK, Just a quick update (excuse) for not keeping the blog updated!

Medical nonsense. Yep, the last couple of months it's all been about medical nonsense.
I've been having such fun medical procedures that I haven't had the energy to log on here and post. Excuses, excuses, right?

In a nutshell... I will be having surgery to repair my stomach and esophagus in a few weeks (waiting for the biopsies for those was excruciating - just found out yesterday that they were fine - no cancer there). WHEW!

Meanwhile I had my first mammogram, got a call back to have another and an ultrasound as well. 2 strange lymphs inside my left breast. The radiologist told me that I shouldn't worry about it, and that I was too young (35) etc. etc. etc. HA!!! I wanted to scream! Well, thank goodness my regular doctor felt as strongly as I about it. So I had an MRI 2 days ago. And what do you know, the found something even worse in the same breast!!! I will be seeing a surgeon for it soon, and will have it removed. We're hoping that if it is cancer, then we've caught it in time. With a Sister, Mother, Aunt that have had breast cancer, I wasn't about to let this slide.

So, is that enough of an excuse for neglecting the blog?? :)

Have a fabulous holiday season!!!!!

Not really abandoned...

Good grief! It's been forever since I've posted. Life has been crazy busy!

I'm currently working on a plethora of projects for upcoming holiday sales. I'm also in the process of setting up an Etsy shop. I'll put a link here when it's up and ready!

Paper crafting, dying, spinning and knitting. The wool bug has certainly bit me again. :)

Here is a bit of Mohair that I dyed.

And the resulting artsy yarn that I spun with it. It was really fun to work with.

Off to work on a knitting project - or ten. Have a great week!

Busy as...

this sweet little bee working hard in our carrot field.

This is how our carrot field currently looks. Beautiful. Full of hardworking bees.

Here is a glimpse of my work area.