Happy Holidays Everyone

Everything was frozen out there. The Weather Channel said -7, which is very cold for Surrey. I looked outside through bars of icicle - I can tell which window is old & single glazed - with not a crow in sight. My car was a white hill of snow. And my feral cat would NOT go outside. I have to admit that I won't go either but at least I'm taller than the snow! I ended up with a teeny bit more than 17" when Mike measured it the other day as he shoveled a path down my ramp. And I've had snow since .  .  .  .

So the cat & I stayed inside where it was safe & warm & woke up this morning to a mostly melted world out there. Santa brought bare roads & almost cleared cars & yards! All of my icicles are gone & an avalanche cleared the roof with a big bang around 5 AM. Hopefully my skunk was asleep under the stairs.

I am making soup for dinner tonight. A big pot of Italian Soup with Tortellini in it. I might even open a bottle of wine to celebrate another year of survival. Hopefully, you're all having a safe & warm holiday with your favorite people, animals & things. A good meal & warm toque to you all .  .  .

Let it Snow

 Another snow day! Looks like we might have a White Christmas this year! All I know is I'll be canceling my Doctor's appointment at the Clinic tomorrow since there's no way I'll be out in the snow we have right now, nevermind the next dump expected on Thursday. I think I have at least 10 inches on the porch right now & it's still snowing. Mike was here with a bag of groceries on Sunday & dug a path down my ramp, around my car & behind to the road so I could get out if I wanted. But we've got more snow on top of the old snow which should warn people who drag oxygen tanks behind them to stay home. So I shall do so. Even the feral cat prefers to stay inside. It's so quiet out there .  .  . 

As long as I have power, I have lots to cook & tea to drink. I don't have candy, cookies, cake or turkey but I do have Triscuts, cheese, canned meat & fish to party with. I can download a couple of Audiobooks - Murders? Mystery? Sex?? or SciFi? or curl up with a couple of new e-books.

Knitting - yes! I've started a new winter cardi for myself!! Just a plain top-down so far with a little fanciness around the raglan increases. Haven't decided if I want a little more of it up the fronts & around the cuffs. Too soon to decide. But, I'm on my way.

New books - Saltwater Classics & Saltwater Gifts by C Legrow & S Scott. I'm a real sucker for books with patterns & stories about the patterns. I think I enjoyed the history & stories of Newfoundland even more than the patterns! Good books. I recommend them both.

A Foggy Night

It was a dark & foggy night when my cat howled at the door. I didn't want to get out of my nice, warm nest to let her in, but I did anyway because she was making a horrible noise. And went back to bed. Her dish was full of crunchies & I was still tired. Must've gone back to sleep but it was still dark when there was a hellova lot of noise in the back of the kitchen! I heard actual squeeks. No way was I getting in the middle of that! And pulled the blankie over my head & went back to sleep .  .  .  .

This morning I found TWO mice laying by the back door. Fat, grey mice, too. They should be since they've been living off my Gourmet Popcorn which came in a heavy duty, ziplocked, plastic bag - one more crappy use of plastic!! The new Gourmet Popcorn lives in a glass canning jar. And that's why I get out of bed for the feral cat.

Another Appointment

 Two medical appointments down & one to go. Had an early Dental one this A.M. Not happy about the time! 11:00 is a bit early for me in the winter & it takes longer to get up & out. Today was a mess from the beginning .  .  .  too cold for light sweater, too warm for heavy sweatshirt. Couldn't get my socks on - the right knee wouldn't cooperate so I had to go in my slide-on slippers after trying to get shoes on the same foot without socks. I forgot to comb my hair. Decided at the last minute I needed to change the O2 cylinder to make sure I had enough air if the appointment ran over. The inside of my windows AND the outsides were frosted. And the Dentist's office called just one more time to see if I was coming. I yelled. By the time I left, my breathing was not good & I was mad as hell. I almost went back home. But, I went the back roads & pulled up just 3 minutes before my appointment. And I survived the session, came away with a new temporary molar & apologized for my bad behavior. Got myself a lovely hot chicken Caesar salad on the way home as a reward for the struggle.

Sat outside in the sunshine for a half hour before picking up my brunch & enjoyed it. I don't get out into sunshine much these days & that's a pity. Must do it more often. 

So after my awful morning, I managed to get out of the car, up the ramp, into the house with my lunch & into my recliner with a huge glass of cold cold water - we have the best water in the world here in the burbs - & promptly fell asleep. I had exhausted myself with my trip out - again. I don't have a lot of stamina after spending the last couple of years at home. So, now, I'm just a blob of goo. But I intend to go out as much as I can until I can't anymore. Maybe I'll try for a coffee tomorrow .  .  . 

I'll take a Snow Day

Vancouver & the Lower Mainland had the first snow of the season this past week. What a Zoo!! We don't get snow often enough to give most people much experience with the stuff - especially our immigrant population. Living in the Canadian Riviera doesn't give the native gang much experience either, but at least we know enough to prepare for the worst! I've been caught in it when I had to commute & it was a bugger back in the days before cell phones. I remember fighting my way across town to get home & finding the last bridge closed. I could almost see my home across the river but I was stuck in line on the other side .  .  .  .  

Now, of course, I can't go out when it snows. I'm too wobbly & my oxygen equipment doesn't come with Tundra Tires. I just stay in, make soup or mac & cheese & listen to an audiobook with the Burning Log on the TV. That log is wonderful! I swear I can just get a whiff of wood smoke every now & then but I wish it gave off a little heat as well. Too bad we can't just get a lovely evening of snowflakes like that log, snow that sticks to grass & trees but not roads. 

Needless to say, I haven't been out since the snow started & I wasn't out much before that - too much rain for me. My buddies brought coffee to me! So, the two weeks before Christmas should be fun. I now have three medical appointments & a Dentist just before. The Clinic Doc insisted I come in before Christmas & they're now so busy I can't get in till the 23rd! At least they're not in a mall .  .  .  .

Knitting - I miss my grubby old purple cardi that got tossed to the cat a couple of years ago! I'm still winding good old Briggs & Little into balls. I bought two boxes of the singles yarn at a big sale but the stuff sticks to itself & doesn't wind easily. It DOES wear like iron & if not moth proof it doesn't run & make big holes if something takes a bite. I have my pattern & my yarn. I just wanted the lighter version . . .

Lost in Time

Well, wasn't that a party??? Must've been a hellova party because I don't remember it! I'm not sure what happened to the last couple of weeks but I survived. My day-in-the-chair turned into more than one. Got this terribly sore throat, nagging cough, general weakness, sore knees & hands & stickiness. I felt like I was a balloon full of goo. Problems breathing. Problems swallowing. Problems keeping my eyes dry. Drank & drank & drank. Coughed up half a lung of sticky something or other too. My buddy little Ron woke up with a version of it the day after he brought me coffee. He tested Positive for Covid while I did not. We both isolated anyway.

I managed TWO Dental appointments in the last two weeks. One before I got sick & one last Saturday. Since I was still negative, feeling better & had no fever, they took me in. First cleaning in two years!! And I'm getting that broken molar fixed. I broke it when I fell in March but couldn't/didn't get it fixed because it didn't hurt. And I wasn't driving. Sold my husband's old motorcycles to pay for a gold tooth!! Wouldn't he be pissed .  .  .  .

The Cat & my hand are both progressing nicely. I am not petting the cat. I look for her in the mornings & evenings, most of the time she's around looking for canned food, occasionally she stays in at the back of the kitchen but mostly she heads out the door when she's full. This last week she's taken to sitting next to my legs while I'm on the computer but I'm not petting her. I have permanent nerve damage in the finger - it tingles like it's going to sleep, it's painful & it doesn't bend all the way. Good thing it's a little finger!  I feed her & let her come in because I have mice again. One furry devil has been quietly eating my gourmet popcorn through it's heavy-duty, resealable bag!!! 

Meanwhile, I have been out. I got a couple of lunches, a couple of coffees, missed the Starbucks Christmas Cup again - I don't know why I even bother anymore!! But, I don't have a lot of stamina yet. An outting today costs me tomorrow. I can't go two days in a row yet. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I'll be able to go every day if I want!

Knitting - no knitting but lots of winding. I think making balls out of skeins is the job I hate most in the world except for washing dishes. Yes, I know there are skein winders & I even bought one once .  .  .  .  but it's difficult to do when you're sitting for most of it. I have dreams of pulleys & fixed links feeding across the room & back to my ball winder but Mike is too busy to build it right now .  .  .  . 

Sunday in the Sunshine

Another beautiful, sunny day on the Wet Coast. I didn't go out yesterday because I just felt crappy with a horrible sore throat & headache. So, I stayed home in my jammies wrapped in old blanket with my book. My friend little Ron dropped in mid-afternoon, to my delight, with an XLcoffee from Mcdonald's. I'd been too shaky to carry the large pot to my stove to heat so I hadn't had a hot drink all day. I was really happy to sip hot, milky coffee from my cocoon! 

Today I feel a lot better, not so shaky & my throat is not as sore. So, I dressed early - for me that is - went out & got my own coffee at Mcdonald's. I sat in the sunshine at the back of the lot in my car & read my book for an hour or so before heading for home. I'm trying to get out every second day at the very least to build up my strength & endurance. My goal is to be able to shop at my local Chinese grocery once again. To buy roast pork, Udon noodles, baby bok choy & fish balls when I want! I'm looking forward to shopping for myself once more.

The cat was waiting for me when I came home today. She's back sleeping in the chair on the porch or on the ramp in the sunshine waiting for me to open the door & feed her. I'm actually glad to see her hanging around again because I think I've acquired a furry houseguest in her absence. Last night I distinctly heard it at the back of the kitchen! Where's a cat when you need one???

Knitting - not much knitting going on but lots of reading about knitting. I checked in on a blog I've followed for years which gets updated now & then. Funny how all the old bloggers have disappeared .  .  .  Anyway, this old time blogger made the Mr GreenJeans sweater from Knitty, I believe it was 2007ish. She made a couple of hacks to it waay back & has decided to make it once again. I love the extra buttons & the cinched in waist. I just wish I had the shape to wear it like she does!

Remembering

 

Bright, Sunshine & Cold

 Woke up to a beautiful day outside. I wanted to hop in the car & go for a Big Breakfast somewhere with fried real potatoes, poached eggs & rye toast dripping with butter .  .  .  .  somewhere with good coffee in big mugs too. It was only a dream of course, @ 5AM, those places aren't accessible for me or have no handicapped parking. Or they're just too far away for me to drive to right now! 

I do have several drive thru options & a little work cafe which delivers to my car. Mcdonald's isn't too bad since I just go thru the drive-thru & back in under the trees to read & munch. The coffee is really good & comes in BIG cups. The Wifi is excellent so I can download the latest ebooks from my collection - right now I'm rereading all the Ava Lee series from Ian Hamilton - & I really DO like the Sausage Mcmuffin. But even they don't make up for the lack of fried real potatoes & poached eggs! LOL

Yesterday I made a huge pot of Italian Soup & tossed in a whole family style package of baby spinach at the end! I do Love a good thick soup when it's cold outside & nothing's easier than home made soup that cooks itself on the back burner all day. I keep a good stock of canned things like diced tomatoes, beans & fish & always have sweet potatoes, cabbage, onions, carrots as well as jars & jars of dried grains, pastas, legumes & flakes. Yes, everyone, my depression era mother lives in me. As long as I have power, I can eat & drink hot food. I do miss the old wood stove though, you didn't need power to stay warm, fed & comfortable. But I'm too handicapped to haul in wood these days. Still, Italian soup will be very tasty tonight!!

Knitting - it was a little cool outside today for any clothes I have so it's time to break out the Briggs & Little Heritage yarn - the worsted weight - and make an real outdoor cardigan. It's too cold out there today for my heavy cotton hoodie! I've been working with the singles boot sock weight - more than a sock yarn but not a sport weight - to make a hat, gauntlets & a capelet that covers the shoulders & upper arms. Working slowly I might add because my damned right little finger is incredibly sore!!

It was a Dark & Stormy Night

 Wasn't that a weekend?? My power went out before midnight on Friday & didn't come back until Sunday morning, just in time for brunch. Not a big thing in the scope of things unless you're attached to a compressor that supplies most of the oxygen you breathe. I do have portable oxygen in tanks so I can leave the house but my house oxygen supplies most of what I use, especially at night. Tanks, when set for my use, last about 4.5 hours & we normally have 10, less any used ones. I was lucky this time, I had 8 unused tanks or about 36 hours when the power went off. I was prepared to load myself into my car & go to the hospital when I hooked up the last tank since they'd hook me into the house oxygen & give me a nice, warm blanket to boot. But the power came back on while I was still using tank number 8. 

And why didn't I call for help?? Cell phone died. And I really didn't need help until my oxygen reserve got really low. I had my eBook with the backlight & my audiobook player to keep me company. I could go into my car & charge my phone if I got desperate. I had a couple of  Berkshire blankets from the Shopping Channel so I was cozy in my chair & bed. Mike came over on Saturday because he couldn't get hold of me, brought me coffee & a Mcmuffin, hooked up his generator & plugged my phone into his truck for a charge. Unluckily for me, my compressor pulled too much power & killed the generator. But, of course, we thought the power would be back on any time! His mom, not two blocks away, had power on Saturday morning! 

I survived it all. Secretly, if I had the oxygen machine, the TV & a pot of tea hooked up to the generator, I'd be more than happy if it happens again!

When it Rains it Pours

 Sunday morning .  .  .  did intend to go off to Mcdonald's & sit under the trees with my ebook & eat sausage Mcmuffins today but it's pouring out there. Not only is it pouring but it's really pouring! Not many people are aware of how long it takes to back down a ramp with an O2 tank on wheels, pack it into the back seat of the car, tie it securely & then get into the front seat of the car with a bag & keys. I wear hoodies a lot so I have a pocket for keys & wallet for easier access but it still takes time getting in & out. In the pouring rain I get soaked, since I can't move fast enough to dodge many raindrops. I missed the whole dry summer reading under the trees while my knees healed, sigh. The knees are better but the right little finger is disgustingly painful .  .  .  do you know how often you NEED that finger??? But, I don't care, gonna drive to it anyway, unless it's raining buckets.

I hope it is NOT raining buckets tomorrow since I have booked a time for my Covid booster - #4 - & a flu shot. I took the chance of getting one of TWO only handicapped parking spots in front of the Injection Centre since I don't have to walk too far. A lot of the other sites have a long walk in & out which is just too much for me right now. I have only been back on the road for a week!! Hopefully, I will get one of the parking spots. Hell, I'll just sit there blocking the road until I do!! Why did they stop the drive thru injections???

I've been a lot more ready to fight since the Respiratory Therapist came & increased my in-house oxygen. My new little compressor is now pumping twice the air I breathe as I move around the house & it has made a big difference to me. I can actually stand at the stove long enough to fry an egg! I can go to the bathroom from the livingroom & get a hot drink in the kitchen on my way back without having to sit down. And that damned laryngitis I had for a month is now gone. I am shocked. Apparently one of the indicators of low O2 is laryngitis!! Who knew??

There's a lot more kids on the block than we used to have so this year, I prepared for Hallowe'en & ordered yard-long fruity rollups! I figured it was the least offensive treat for kids. I am not decorating or carving a pumpkin. There's only a half dozen kids more or less which is 6 more than I've ever seen before but  I'm prepared. Someone, a block closer to the school, has the whole house & fence covered in black with filmy cobwebby stuff stuck to it. THINGS hang from trees & peek out of the hedge. I've seen a boney hand sticking through the bushes as I drove by. There's even something making weird noises. It must be terrifying to go there after dark!!

Knitting - started a cap in Trinity stitch - popcorn stitch - but my sore little finger keeps getting in the way .  .  .  not sure if I can knit until this is a little less painful but I intend to keep trying. Might attempt the top-down simple cardigan instead since there's no fancy stitch to bother my finger. 

 

On The Road Again

I sure surprised the gang at my favorite little cafe on Wednesday!! I got myself into my car, drove down & parked in front to order lunch to go! I didn't go in because  that damn Mike left the driver's window down an inch or so & the seat was soaking wet. I found out when I sat down & got MY seat wet. But I was in & ready for a nice chicken wrap & coffee, so I went. 

I took my lunch to the park & ate it in the car while parked under the trees - it was wonderful. I think the sun even came out & shone down on me for an hour. Woohoo, back in the saddle again! Good thing because I have a Dentist appointment tomorrow .  .  .  .  

And then, I have to make another appointment to see my doctor & arrange to get my flu shot & my next Covid vax. 

Mike has filled my fridge with goodies before he goes off for the weekend & I intend to get the soup pot going once more. Made Chicken Corn Chowder last week which was excellent but this weekend, I want a tomato based soup with root veggies & Tortellini for a change. Soup is so much fun this time of year!

Knitting - no knitting but lots of crochet for the past couple of days. My favorite old Log Cabin wool blanket was attacked by moths. I used it as is & made the holes bigger last winter. When I got it out for this winter - I cover my sore knees when I sit in the recliner - the holes bugged me. So, I've been crocheting patches for the holes. I couldn't find a big needle to sew them so I got out a medium crochet hook instead. They aren't pretty but they work.

The Cat Did It!

 My feral cat bit me rather badly two weeks ago. Dunno what upset her or why but it was like someone touched her with an electric wire, she suddenly puffed up, growled and grabbed my little finger at it's base and tried to take all the meat off in one bite. I think she ground her teeth on the bone as I lifted her off the ground and shook her with her firmly attached at the finger. I have never felt anything more painful! I didn't realize at the time that she had dug a couple of holes in my leg as she took off - I was too busy staunching the blood shooting out of my hand. I knew I needed a tetanus shot & antibiotics right away but decided to go to the clinic in the morning. Stupid of me, of course, but I wasn't really thinking at that point, covered in blood, hurting like hell in my ratty old shorts & tee with no bra on at 2:30AM. 

By the time Mike got here in the morning, my hand was really swollen and my leg was weeping into my slipper. My clinic squeezed me in, cleaned me up, gave me a shot & prescription and ratted me out to my Respirology Therapist, Respirologist & regular Doctor. Within two days, I was on new medication - the Nurse Practitioner was concerned about me!!, I had a new compressor - goes to higher levels of O2 AND two prescriptions for antibiotics - they wanted me to go to the Emerg for IV delivery but there was no room at the Inn. I promised to get it filled immediately and take every last pill. I may be careless about my pets but I am not stupid!

Other than a sore and still healing little finger - it's amazing how often you NEED that finger too - there is Ulnar nerve damage for sure & it may never bend all the way again. BUT overall, I feel better. I have more OOMPH in the house because my O2 levels are higher! My new compressor is much quieter and of course, it delivers a lot more compressed air. I can stand up to cook much longer. I can do more chores in the house like unloading my own washer & some of the dryer! 

And the cat??? Well, I have never seen such behavior in any cat before. She has always been such a quiet, shy animal. She showed up a few days later sitting next to the food bowl. She won't come near me & I don't try to touch her. I do keep crunchies in the bowl and will put wet food in morning and night. She does keep the mice away and feral cats keep the raccoons away too. Much rather have cats than raccoons!! 

Knitting - well, not much knitting going on right now with my sore little finger .  .  .  .  but I have two projects on the go. One is a cap from the Salt Water gang in Newfoundland and the other is a plain, vanilla, top-down cardi from Deb Gemmell from the Need a Plus Cardigan book. Knitting both of them in Briggs & Little yarns. Yeah Canada!!

A Smokey Fall

I ended up spending the whole spring & summer on my porch instead of out in my car. My knees are better but the left one is still a little swollen & not quite normal. You know how your fingers feel when your hand goes to sleep??? Well, my left knee feels like it's partially asleep. The right knee is often quite painful & occasionally unstable but I think I can drive since there will be no weight on it. This week, I'm going up & down my ramp & to & from the car just to get back in some sort of shape to drive because I have a Dentist appointment in 10 days. First one since Covid! Whoopie

And I still need Covid vax number 4 so once I'm out again, I have to plan for that! Oh, and a flu shot & my doctor as well .  .  .  .  being housebound is soooo inconvenient!!  My shopper Mike will be so happy to see me out & about again too - he's been unhappy about me staying home all the time. I told him I am not psychologically impaired & too scared to go out, just sore. The poor old knees don't like to bend a lot any more. It's always wise to say these things in public just to remind yourself that you HAVE to get your ass out or people will know you're broken.

Back Again

 

The problem with a blog is that the longer you don't tend to it, the faster time flies since it was tended to. It's hard to believe that over a month has passed. Not that my life is very interesting these days but hopefully it will improve somewhat in the months to come. I haven't been out of the house except to knit on the porch since my birthday in April.

And why haven't I been out??? Well, the still swollen knees haven't cooperated to drive the car - even the two blocks to Mcdonald's. And then the government went back to pounding pilings for the new bridge about a block away - adding great amounts of dust to the air & the damn Cottonwood fluff started blowing everywhere .  .  . I had problems breathing outside so it seemed safer to stay home. Behind screens.

So, what have I been doing??? Well, I loved my old Petunia baskets at my former place so I got two of them for the porch. They aren't quite the same size as the one above yet but they are the very same color.

I planted my big hanging box on the porch with herbs - the basil has grown so fast I'll have to freeze some of it! I wish I could say the same for the Rosemary. 

I've also been knitting more cotton washcloths & one large afghan in rainbow spring colors. Most of my close male friends now have a half dozen cloths each in yellow or variegated greens. I have 6 to go in a variegated blue & 6 more in orange. My knitting muscles are almost back in shape  - at least I can actually knit for an hour or two. When I started knitting again, I could barely move my arms the next day! Even my armpits & shoulders hurt. I found the secret to decreasing the 'flappers' - you know, the saggy muscles on the bottom sides of your upper arms - knitting, without letting your elbows touch the chair .  .  .  

Suddenly Summer

Wow, the weather suddenly changed & warmed up. My door has been open for several days, all day long. Well, not quite all day long. The cats have discovered the open door once more & there's been a mob in & out to the food bowl. I think they hear the crunchies hit the bowl from across the street! Haven't seen Skunkers yet but I'm sure he's not far behind .  .  .  I have a new lawn service guy & he's spotted my big fat skunk already but luckily, Steve likes to work during the day while the skunk comes out at dusk for the evening shift. I am trying to feed My feral cat earlier & sit close by until she's finished the meat, at least. One thing is for sure, nothing stays in the bowl for flies .  .  .

Ami, my cleaner & I, have been working on my boxes in the back room. I know what's in the Rubbermaid tubs - yarn, fleece & fabric according to color but the cardboard boxes are a mystery. Mike hauls them into the living room for us, a couple at a time, & we sort them out. I wanted all my books & knitting materials out where I can use them. And I'd like to sort everything since I'll eventually have to move & it would be nice to know what I'll take to a smaller place. I've given some stuff away, thrown more out & found a few things I need. It's been three years since it was all packed up & I just don't need all of it anymore. We even found the missing amethyst earring that somehow escaped the jewelry case. What a surprise that was! I think we've tossed most of the first 6 boxes already & haven't found a single book. 

But I found my Red cup. And it wasn't broken! My favorite wine glasses both had their stems snapped off but my mug was in perfect shape. And we found another knitting mug - someone in the group brought them as Christmas gifts ages ago - see, I do use the gifts you gave!! So, I now have a company mug to serve coffee to friends who come over. They don't have to bring their own anymore. hahaha Mike gave me a Tassimo machine for my birthday & boxes of coffee capsules to go with it. I ordered several exotic blends from Amazon as well. Don't tell Mike, but I still prefer Mcdonald's extra large with two milk .  .  .  it may be the trip OUT, the Mcmuffin & the Wifi that I like the most .  .  .  .

Knitting - no real knitting going on, just some garter washcloths. I love them, my buddy Little Ron loves them, not sure about Mike although he took two home. When I finish the yellow cone, I have another project in mind. I popped into Stephen West's blog, Westknits.com/, the other day & saw his pattern for a Garter Marler pullover. It's made from the top down in sock yarn. Two strands of sock yarn held together! It gave me an idea .  .  .  I bought a load of B&G sock yarn years ago & it's been aging nicely in the back of my stash. It's just too bulky for shoes & I haven't been the mitten or hat person. Not sure if I want to use my expensive regular sock yarn but the thicker B&G yarn might be perfect. And it's so simple.

Haven't been out in my car yet but I intend to start back again now that the weather is milder. I did not want to sit in a cold car with my sore knees. Yes, they're still sore but better. My huge swollen left knee is much closer to normal although it is still swollen & numbish on the surface. I can walk but not far & I'm a little stiff although I think that will wear off with use.

Biting off More than I can Chew

 

Boy, did I give myself a headache. No, I didn't take another nose dive. I took on a small job that has become a job too far. I get up, take my meds & start data entry. I work till lunch - more or less - eat, rest my eyes for an hour & head back to the keyboard until my eyes film over. I take a nap, eat something & come back for another couple of hours. I've been doing this every day for the last 9 days & I'm bushed. It didn't used to be this tough to do simple data entry. Asthma & COPD has taken my stamina away, big time. 

My COPD has swallowed a lot of my life. I don't cook like I used to because I can't stand at the stove for very long. Dishes are almost impossible to wash for the same reason. Bending over to take the laundry out of the dryer is very strenuous & folding it can take a couple of days. When you can't breathe normally, your body doesn't work like it used to. 

There are days when I can plot every move to do a project & end up sitting in the chair because nothing works & I'm short of breath. I can remember how I used to do things but lack the resources to get up & do it. Some days I wonder why I bother to get up at all - other than a bathroom run - & others, when the cat wanders in to purr & rub, why I don't have the Indian spinner outside on the porch.

Time to get back to data entry. This is the very last time .  .  . THIS summer I am going to be spinning & knitting.

Same Song, Different Verse

 

Another year, another birthday. A couple of people noticed this year. As usual, I missed my Starbucks freebie - I can plan for a year & I still manage to miss it. This year, I struggled to get to my car because I was determined to get there for a change, & found a dead battery. Mike kept moving it in & out of the drive when he came over to haul stuff in & out of the garage but I haven't been able to drive. Battery got low & then we got hit with snow & several cold days. Whammo. Dead. Dead. Dead. Missed another year. Mike showed up with my favorite Flat White & a box of Huge Strawberries on Monday. I laughed & enjoyed every mouthful. I'd marry him if he was old enough!!

And speaking of my birthday, I bought myself a gift. I'm very fond of amber & have a couple of pieces of GREEN amber. One is my favorite silver freeform ring with a spoonback. Since it doesn't close all the way, it's a great piece for sore fingers that swell. I ordered a pair of earrings & a pin to go with it. Photos - I hope - when I get them! I have a camera but misplaced it eons ago.

My fluffy cat has decided to come back again. She's been mostly wild all winter but has taken to flipping the chain on the door once more when she wants to come in. She is looking a bit ratty & unkempt but not too skinny so I guess the food wasn't too bad wherever she ended up. She must've been in & out several times a day lately & I don't know if I'm annoyed or amazed. The big black wild cat even managed a free meal yesterday too. I don't mind when he cleans up her leavings but do put my cane down when he's there first!

Knitting - winding Briggs & Little sport into centre pull balls. I hate making balls out of old B&G! especially the singles. What a chore! For some reason I bought two boxes of the stuff on sale forgetting how well it clings to itself .  .  .  .  but nothing wears as well, sigh. I must've been mad.

April Snow Showers

 Another month & still I'm limping along. My bruises are now blue & green instead of black & purple while my right knee is doing very well. The left one is still very swollen - probably bursitis - but isn't nearly as painful as it was. Very strange to see all the bruising at the back of it too. But, while I can walk with almost no pain, I can't walk very far at all. I haven't been out since before I fell. Doordash already  knows the way to my door though, I had a gloriously decadent bowl of WorWonton soup the other day for late lunch. It was so big I didn't even have to find dinner!! And my cleaning lady brings me Philippine food on Mondays. Mike - bless his heart - keeps me loaded up with good bread, sliced meat, salad & easy food. 

This week my cleaner & I went through another three boxes. These ones held kitchen stuff. We found 6 cans of coconut milk!! And I wanted to make curry & thought I had none  .  .  .  it's nice to find some of the kitchen supplies I had even though some of them had to be tossed. We found all my soap molds so I can make soap once more - I have several 'kits' with oil combinations ready to make up. And I love my Hive & Ladybug molds, they make a rounded soap with a flat back that fits in the hand nicely & lasts a long time. 

Update: Yesterday I went to the local drive-thru for a coffee. First time I've been driving since I fell on my face. It almost did me in. Had trouble holding the brake while waiting for the Flag-person. Sore knee pressed against the door as I drove. And all the dust from the bridge repairs made me wheeze. Mike had to help me up the ramp when I got back. Guess I'll be home for a while yet .  .  .  .  sigh

But - I took on a small data entry job to keep me busy. What a glutton for punishment .  .  .  And I have a couple of pension applications to do. Keeps the old brain functioning, I guess.

Knitting - no knitting again. I've been sorting thru boxes of yarn & spinning braids instead. OMG - I think the Stash has outgrown my projected age limit. But I found my copy of 'Salt Water Classics'!! I bought it & a bunch of Briggs & Little 'Sport' yarn to make some winter socks w-a-a-a-a-y back. I love the Moose touque but it's the Vamps that really speak to me.

Getting Over It

I'm doing quite well - even if I do say so myself - I'm upright & moving, albeit, slowly. I have no black eye from the whack on my forehead but a third eyebrow instead. I can deal with the eyebrow! I also turned black & blue from my right shoulder down to the elbow with the occasional bruise here & there elsewhere. Both knees are very swollen but the right one is doing better  - guess which one I actually fell on?? All in all it could've been much worse .  .  .  .  Mike brought me a ton of good bread & good fillings for easy meals & checked in every day while two other pals brought hot coffee & food donations since I couldn't carry things easily. Hint, hint - they all want their tax returns done hahahaha. I'm on the mend.

I discovered that the secret to recovering from a fall is to keep moving as much as you can & take anti-inflammatories. If you sit still or stay in bed, whammo, you freeze in place. I think the movement helps carry the internal bleeding/swelling  away from the injury too. I just can't do too much, stand up for too long or get down my ramp just yet. 

While I have been sitting, I've been staring at that big, sheer bin of yarn on the shelf across from me. I see balls & balls of purple Marble yarn. I bought it years ago because I loved the color & wanted a sweater. It turned out not to be a good candidate for an Ample sized garment - too soft & stretchy - but I wonder what kind of blanket it would make??? I always need one over my knees when I sit to watch tv. Or maybe a big shawl which could keep me warm when I sit on the porch. I was thinking sweater when I bought it but maybe it would be so much nicer as a plain Shetland type shawl?

On My Knees Once More

Yesterday I got up early to go out for breakfast & did a nose plant on the carpet on the way to the bathroom. I didn't trip over anything but my own big feet - my right foot doesn't lift as high since I tore the meniscus in my knee - but I ruined the whole day. Had to crawl for my phone & call for help since I can't get up on my own with that bum knee .  .  .  Got to greet the Fire Department braless with my arse pointed into the air since I crawled into a space that I couldn't get out of. What a morning. Amazing how fast they got me back on my feet! My knees were so painful but I could stand & walk without help so I thanked them & sent them away. Only later did I realize I whacked my forehead & shoulder as well .  .  .  .  Spent the rest of the day getting up & down & walking as much as I could to keep my knees from seizing up & took Tylenol Arthritis every 6 hours. Said, 'What the Hell' & let DoorDash bring my supper. I figured today would be the horrible, painful day when I couldn't move.

Well, got up this morning & found I could walk better than late yesterday! Last time I fell I couldn't move the next day!! But, this time I guess I changed that by moving as much as I could yesterday. Surprise, surprise. I'm turning black & blue though. No black eye but my forehead is coloring up nicely & so are my knees even with all the swelling. You just can't win. Sigh.

My cleaning Lady came again on Monday & I introduced her to my Steam Mop. I loved that thing when I got it for Christmas from friends. I thought it was lost but Mike found it in the garage last week. We had to play with it a bit but I got it going & she was thrilled. She'd never seen anything like it - mine has that triangle head so it can really get into corners & around the toilet. I like it because you don't use anything but plain water to clean - no fumes. She steam cleaned my bathroom to death!!

The poor cat has gone feral again even though she comes to rattle the door chain to be fed. So many strangers have come & gone in the past two days that she won't come into the house if I close the door. Good thing summer's on the way & I can leave it open all day. I wonder if the skunk will come visiting again?

Knitting - not much knitting done this past week. I am trying to do some data entry for a friend & it's Tax Season once more .  .  .  . 

In Like a Wet Lamb

 No cleaning lady this week. I decided to be sick instead. Funny thing about that, I realized I'm not looking forward to the cleaning but rather dreading it. She really does a good job but I'm exhausted when she leaves! Since I sit in my chair & watch her do all the work, it's me that's got old & cranky. It's the noise, the fussing & the change that gets me I guess. Mike laughed at me & then said he has the same problem with people in his life. We spend most of our time alone & can only handle people that don't stay too long at a time. Yeah, come & visit but skedadle when you've finished your coffee .  .  .  

I can't wait until the weather gets warm & sunny!! It's finally March & I have hopes for sunshine. Mike built me a new planter box on the porch rail - almost 6 feet long! I intend to fill it with interesting stuff as well as the butt ends of my Romaine lettuces. Sweet potatoes make neat vines & I love Ginger - looks a little like bamboo. And I have some Shallots that sprouted in the fridge. They should look great with a Spider plant, Coleus & ferns .  .  .  .  I want to fill my little porch with color & foliage. I like to sit out there & spin when it's nice.

Speaking of spinning - found a bag of dark alpaca & I'm thinking of combining it with wool. Not sure if I want to blend them or spin them from a big, teased cloud. Alpaca is just too warm on it's own, even for old, cold broads who sit most of the time. If I knit a shawl, memory isn't a problem but anything else needs some. I don't remember if alpaca sheds but a big swatch will help. I hope. 

I remember spinning blended dog hair/wool & I think we used too much pooch because that shawl shed like a mountain dog in Spring! Silk does that too - if you forget to set the twist before crocheting the shawl .  .  .  Oh, the tales I could tell about mistakes!

Still cranking out washcloths - those cones just never end!! But, there's a new sock on the go for a friend & I have to wind "Frog Fight" for my gloves!

More Trash

 

Tuesday's cleaning adventures located not one, not two but the remains of three different sets of dishes in the back of the old cupboards! And there was a jumble of cutlery that went with all three in the old drawer behind my Ikea island. My cleaner & I had a great time tossing most of it out. I saved two Corning Ware dinner plates & two bread plates that I owned 35 years ago when I first moved in. I loved that set. It was translucent white with delicate tiger lilies painted in the middle. I have no idea where the rest went but I don't need them now anyway. I now have three shelves that I can reach easily & more paring knives than I need. Funny how it goes with paring knives .  .  .  .  you either have too many or can never find one. I love them. I also love my veggie cleaver which, don't tell anyone, I usually use for meat as well. It's not the big, heavy one the Chinese meat man uses but that stainless sharpens up nicely & does whatever I need!! I once butchered up an entire quarter of venison with it!

While snuggled in my recliner I watched snow falling yesterday. Just what we need at the end of February when the buds are starting to swell. I have a pot of bulbs on the porch with 3" of green poking out of the earth. And snow on the ground is not good for gimps who need to walk .  .  .  .  

A blast from the past - the photo is my favorite Crab Cactus in it's blazing glory. It used to spend late spring to late fall outside, on the patio, under the table with my Jade plant in the semi-shade. It bloomed all winter when it came inside & often  kept on blooming when it went back outside as well.

The Cleaning Lady - part 2

 She came, she cleaned & I managed to dirty only 3 things before she came back this time. My gawd that girl is a whiz.

 She's decided to clean the fridge next. I'm so glad it isn't that bad. My pal Ron hauled everything out after Christmas & tossed most of it. I even wiped the shelves before he put them back so it isn't too terrible except for the crispers that get backed up .  .  .  but I'm buying fewer things more often now so it doesn't go bad on me. 

One of the big problems is that I have to cook or get things going in the morning before I get tired or I don't cook dinner at all. By 5, I'm too tired to chop, peel & dice. More & more of my evening meals are light with a large late lunch. I am not a breakfast eater at all so it works out. And since I do like oatmeal, I often have oatmeal & dried fruit for dinner. I love it. Thank gawd for the microwave!! Slow cooker chilli for tomorrow I think . . . . .

She also cooks. She brought me two skewers of Philippine BBQ pork. Was soooo good! I ordered 10 of them. Two or three with a salad or veggies on the side will make a really nice meal. Mike put his order in too. I think we'll keep her.

The cat left me a gift by the back door last night. I didn't find it until I stepped on it as I turned on the kitchen light - yup, a big, fat mouse. She didn't even eat any of it. Guess the processed food in the food dish is so much better that raw mouse just isn't the same anymore.

Knitting - two more wash cloths down half a cone of yarn to go. I wanted to knit some gloves - I fell in love with that Knitty pattern - Handspan - and finally found the yarn to cast on. It's called - Frog Fight - florescent green with dark splotches, if you can imagine! When I find my damn camera, I'll include pictures.

Found my Chicken Bag, above, with needles & half a sock inside on Monday. Someone stuffed it into a box of kitchen supplies when I moved. Now if I can only find the other ball of yarn .  .  .  .

The Cleaning Lady Cometh

 I've been hanging on to Independence with breaking fingernails. As I become feebler - is that even a word??? - I've been squawking loudly that I can do it myself. But, if it falls on the floor, it stays there unless I can get it up with my picker up stick or bend over on a good day. 

Sunday I knocked over a half cup of coffee & had to throw a towel over it because I couldn't wipe it up. There's a ring of 'stuff', including garbage bags, where I sit most often. I have a method to the madness. I have to admit, it gets out of hand. Just pulling stuff out of the back or bottom of the fridge or the dryer reduces me to breathlessness very quickly. Do it too often & I have to spend the rest of the day in my chair, quietly or go to bed. Cooking has become difficult unless it's in one pot & washing floors is impossible. But, I'm not ready for Care quite yet. 

Enter the Cleaning Lady. She's the girlfriend of a friend of mine who came to Canada to work in her Aunt's cleaning company. Aunty sponsored her, provided room & board & minimum wages. And then aunty treated her like a slave. She managed somehow to save enough money to get back home but my friend offered free room & board if she would keep house for him, instead. I think she's also been cooking for his best friend who lives in the basement suite! She eventually organized the whole house, renters & all, became engaged to my friend & looked after him when he had a near fatal illness & surgery! She's all of 4'11" & never stops working. She called me & told me I needed help & she was available on Mondays. Before I knew it, she was here with rubber gloves & bucket. She cleaned the kitchen & moved stuff around until I had to make her stop & go home!! Boy, does my kitchen sink ever sparkle! That woman is a dynamo. She did all the work but I was worn out when she left. She also thinks she needs to cook for me. OMG. I'm going to try to confine her to 4 hours a week doing all the things that make me breathless. Mike loves her already .  .  .  .

Knitting - you know how it is when the sun comes out & you start dreaming of summer Tees & airy open Cardigans??? I've already been sitting on the porch with the old Ipad looking .  .  .  .  problem is, I think I'd like to spin on the porch instead. Meanwhile, I've just cast-on another big washcloth in orange & white stripey cotton.

Finding Knitting

My doctor has been telling me for the last two & a half years to lay down with my feet up for at least an hour every afternoon to help the circulation in my feet & ankles. Problem is, when I lay down I fall asleep. When I fall asleep, even when it's intended to be an hour or so, I'm out for several hours. That screws with my bedtime & keeps me up till dawn. If I could lay down with my feet up & knit??? Not possible, I've tried. I just don't get enough knitting time.

And speaking of knitting, it was my intention to have a new cardigan by now. But, I wanted to finish the washcloths first & then get right to the cardi since I really need one in this cold & drafty house. The truth is, I still haven't finished one. I have several started, they got packed stuffed into bins when I had to move fresh out of the hospital, but that's it. Two sets of Denise needles are scattered throughout my yarn bins in this project & that project but no completed cardi for me. Even though everything's in the back room in bins, I still need help getting to it!! It's horrible to contemplate, but I may have to buy one. 

So, I continue to live in thick, winter sweatshirts. I love them but a wool sweater is so much warmer than a thick cotton sweatshirt any day. I have the horrible suspicion I'll be finishing my sweater just in time for summer .  .  .  

Has anyone seen the new Knitty Winter Surprise???? 

 

Another Marshmallow World

 I survived Christmas & New Year's Eve all by myself once again. I made a huge pot of Italian Soup - Mike brought me more Tofurkey sausages & a bag full of zucchini before he left for a short visit to one of the Gulf Islands for a break. He snuck in a couple of bags of Tostidos & hummus for a treat too. So although I ate Tostidos, I also ate bags of cauliflower & broccoli dipped in hummus so it wasn't too disastrous!! I'm not a drinker, although some cider would've hit the spot, but I sweetened my tea with Hazelnut & Butter Pecan flavored whiteners, yummmm. Last night, it became a marshmallow world outside once more.

The cat was IN on New Year's. I did hear a mouse the night before so the cat was in hunting mode. I suspect she really likes to lay on the carpet & look out the window for racoons & wilder cats. The cat was also IN last night as the new load of snow fell too. I think she ate all night & is looking extremely big & glossy right now. Her coat is sooooo soft & thick on a slightly fatter cat below. She, for one, doesn't have to scrounge & starve outside all winter like a lot of others do.

I haven't been OUTSIDE since the day before Christmas Eve. I miss going out for coffee but this is disastrous weather for anyone unsteady on their feet. So I won't tempt fate & go anywhere. Good thing Amazon delivers . . . . 

Knitting - dug in the stash & found twelve skeins of PURPLE heather Mule Skinner yarn from Custom Woolen Mills in Carstairs, Alberta. It's a rustic 2 ply, grown & processed in Canada but softer than the wool from Briggs & Little. It also has less vm & dust. It might be different pastures - all I know is, it's easier for me to use in doors. I was very happy to find it. I want to make 'Enveloped' from the latest "Knitty"!! I need something warm to wear in the house when I'm working at the computer or watching tv. My little house is heated with a trailer furnace - we always used the Mama Bear wood stove as well but I'm too feeble to carry wood even if my O2 hose would reach the woodshed! So the poor little furnace is working hard to try to keep me warm. I prefer to wear heavy cotton sweatshirts & lined joggers but, of course, wool is much warmer. I thought Enveloped would be a fast knit on bigger needles - my cold fingers don't like fine needles right now - & I really like the upsidedown version. No spinning going on but there are plans .  .  .