Like Paddling in Ripples

I love my first tast of Koigu. I find this second Clapotis to be relaxing and enjoyable. I actually had the same feeling as paddling a canoe. A pattern in a few steps to pass the marker over or complete the J stroke.
This makes sense for Canada Day.

We've been to several tests and hospitals from New Westminster to Port Moody and the Clapotis has been an excellent travelling companion to augment a tense D. through cardiology.

The end result is he does need a heart repair, but he is allowed to pipe and we are going to Scotland in August for the World Championships in Glasgow.
This is a lot different from potentially emergency open heart surgery and no piping or flying for 6 months.

Did you see him in the Vancouver Sun on Thursday last week to advertise today's BC Highland Games in Coquitlam?



I also was gifted a huge box of acrylic yarns, some cool old patterns and plenty of needles from my great neighbour when she cleaned out her mom's apartment.
I use this wool and needles to share when I teach someone or to make donated items.

I'm just getting back on the horse. I have committee work that I begged off. I played flute last Sunday but I haven't been to band in weeks. They're performing tomorrow morning but I need to be available to a guest speaker instead. I'm not sure of Thursday either. I thought the season would be over by now. I'm trying to get ready for next season.

I also have some studying to do for volunteer work in September and I'd like to get my piano theory redone. I should have written it when my little Noodle-Pie did in grade 3.

All the report cards are in. Honours for both. Gifts given (replacement ipod and rollerblades). I'm "helping" Boo pack for 3 weeks of piano camp on the Island. Whew.

I also booked hotels for Bellingham and Vancouver for shopping/shows with daughter.

Make the most of this summer in the absence of beach weather. I'm not a beach person much anyway: I don't like sand in my wool.

Overcast

The sun shines weekly

Weakly

Summer reluctant to don

The small bikini

On blanched, exposed limbs.

She procrastinates

Fails to buy tickets,

Pack her beach bag

Nostalgic for days

Of shorter duration

Longer rests

By the fireside.

Big Steps

I am now the happy owner of an up-to-date first aid and CPR-C ticket. I took the course as part of my preparations to return to nursing and had a blast.



My first course was when I was 17 and in the reserve forces medical corps. We watched a film that had to be threaded through a projector and saw a woman choose a pencil and dial a rotary phone, very slowly. 9.........(the dial rotated back)1.........1.......

We practiced with no gloves or masks.

I got the chest crusher award because I was full of adrenaline at my test and almost busted the poor annie doll. I also got an annie hickey.



Yesterday was so different. I have taught first aid to other trades in the army. I went to nursing school. I have had two children and countless first aid events at camp and soccer and the skating rink. We had 4 nurses in the class and went through everything tickety boo. I'm proud of my success non-the-less.



THEN

I had a flute recital in which I played better than every before. I love my Haydn Serenade and my teacher is such a love ( and a knitter too). My kids were there. Though I had to drag them, they were very kind and it was not too much to ask them to sit through 7 flutist in 30 minutes with ice cream at the end. I'll play that piece at church next month.



So I have some tools to measure my life. The 15 miles I cycle at the Y, the steps forward toward nursing and the improvements I've made in my music. I can settle for that.

Big Fat Disappointment

This is the final product. Why am I surprised to have yet another sweater too big?

Hi, my name is Angie and I have trouble with gauge.

So what to do with this monstrosity? Here I am airing my dirty laundry (poorly constructed handicrafts?). But I feel that I'm not all alone and those of you out there who might chance upon this may have had a similar grief in the long past.

I'd even accept it being quite a bit longer than in the picture (or maybe not) but the underarm hole is gigantic. Not a quick fix. It is integral to the sweater.

My best bet right now is to take it to Hanne at my LYS and ask her to sell it. I think even one lady I've met there might like it.

I'm just going to ask the price of the yarn which I got at half price on Boxing Day.

To placate myself, I will start my Koigu clapotis.

I had to rip out that same sock. Poor thing. The sock that never was. I like the short row mitred heel, but I didn't finish decreasing- directly related to putting it down for too long. I like just having a sock on the needles so perhaps that's what I'll have.

The Fleece Artist Soft Wavy Wrap is lovely but too fluffly and hot for right now. I don't need it until October.

Sigh. Will I ever champion the acceptance of body image and knitting. Perhaps I should just knit something out of Big Girl Knits. It's sitting on my shelf, trying to be my friend and accept me for who I am.

IN other news, D. has a follow up tranesophageal echocardiogram on Thursday and possible heart surgery. It's been a big year. We are blessed with his tenatious baby brother ( an esteemed interist) and a great group of friends who are praying for him and us.

I"m Sorry William Shatner

I have been increasingly unwell despite working much harder than usual at my health, so I've taken a drastic step and taken out insoluble fibre from my diet.
I have IBS and bran is one of the noted gastro intestinal irritants. But I love my whole wheat everything and roughage. I was a Weight Watchers leader and the increased fibre can really make you lose weight and gain health.
For now I'm into white bread (from a good bakery) and cooked vegetables. Two cups of peppermint tea a day. I actually already feel less bloated after a few days. Unfortuately sugar and alcohol are also on this list. I can cut out the sugar OK for a while, but I would like a glass of wine on the weekends. Perhaps if I'm feeling well enough.
Mr. Shatner has a silly set of All-Bran commercials that I see when I'm on the bike at the Y. I think many people don't think about nutrition, fibre and whole foods. I 'm not enamoured of packaged anything. And now no granola, seeds or whole wheat and bran.
So the only fibre challenge that I am up to is using my imposed "rest" (non-weight bearing) to knit and plan knitting and wind up my lovely new balls from Mothers' Day.

One Good Turn

I turned the heel of this neglected sock and hardly realized it.

I've heard a lot about Nancy Bush and I was surprised to find I actually had the right yarn for her Ribs and Cable Sock in Interweave Knit's Fall 2005. This is a great pattern.

I'm no sock expert and I thought I would make Jay Walkers (put me alone on the list who have not made them yet) but I couldn't resist trying this simple, classic design. The yarn is from Helen's Needlework in Mt. Vernon Washington where I am lucky enough to shop during the July Highland Games. It's from a few years ago. I also enjoyed Wild Fibres there and would hit that store first. But I don't think I'll be going to any games on this bad foot.

So I managed to pick away at this sock during travels. I hope to make the toe with Lucy Neatby's chimney and cast on quickly for the second. I like having a pair of socks on the needles even if I don't need mindless knitting.

I like the short row heel. We'll see how it fits soon. This Mountain Colors is fuzzier and not as tightly spun as the Socks That Rock. I do love the colours. I like the idea of fancy socks that don't kick you in the teeth with their pattern. I have big feet and cold feet, so these socks should do fine.

I've knit several pairs before (5? 6?) I have three more pairs worth: 2 more mountain colours (one for pedicure socks for my friend for Xmas I hope) and Trekking XXL. That's pretty yummy stash for such a small gathering. I wasn't even tempted to buy more while I hadn't turned the heel on this one.

The great disappointment that is my blue diagonal cardigan now has one short sleeve and one long. I just ripped it from the longest point I could live with and knit up the cuff. I was going to knit it separately and graft it on, but with two rows of garter stitch, it didn't seem to matter. Still I couldn't face ripping up the second one last night while D. and I watched O Brother Where Art Thou (alone!), so I tucked in all the loose ends. It was surprisingly comforting like soaping a saddle or hanging laundry in the sun. Soon I will do the second sleeve and, instead of a pile of yarn in the stash, or an unfinished object on the needles, I will have a sweater. I will even try to love it.

I managed to get to the knitting Friday morning at the Chilliwack Craft and Wool Shop. I like those ladies so much. A fine smattering of old Dutch grannies, ladies my age from field and forest, and the odd (not so odd) hipster. Lots of learning going on in that group. I am their link to knitty and the internet. I can't imagine managing knitting without the internet community. So much sharing going on. And I'm learning to open up and add my two (Canadian) cents.

Well, one good turn deserves another.

7 Habits

Seven habits of a creature of strange habits.
This comes from Li at Life's a Stitch. Note to self: learn how to do hypertext links.

http://lifesastitch.typepad.com Hope that works.

Here's some of my many habits:

1. I always back into a parking space or pull through, "ready to go".

2. I have to earn my morning shower with a workout. Even if I don't get to clean up until 2pm.

3. I like to wear one donimant colour with neutrals. Denim is a neutral. Pink, red or purple are stand-alone accents. This has trickled into my knitting except for fair isle.

4. I do housework at the beginning of the week (Monday) so I can enjoy a clean house while my family is back at work/school.

5. I treat myself to a fun mystery novel after each serious read.

6. I can surf. I have surfed. I did surf. I have pictures to prove it. That was my dream for my fortieth birthday and it tasted great despite the salt and sweat.

7. I have lost some dreams on the sidelines.

Not Finished

This diagonal stitch cardigan from Debbie Bliss is a difficult sweater. I quietly picked away at it, row by row. I liked the interesting construction. I like the raglan sleeves. I like the drape of the fabric.
But it's TOO BIG. Can't win.

At first I thought the sleeves were just too long and I could easily rip them back, knit a new cuff and graft it on. Thanks to my on-line friends for even thinking that is a reasonable, normal venture.

But it's too drapey. It's not the sweater I was hoping to have. I wanted it more like the picture.

What to do? NOT abandon it to a container in the basement. I've had disappointments before and I have had successes. I will fix the sleeves and try to shrink it a bit in the wash. It's mostly cotton and may ignore it's acrylic content for me. It's not a bad sweater. Just not the one I hoped for.
Blogger is being cranky and won't let me post a picture. I'll try soon.
I'm not finished with you yet!

Finishings

I am spending a lot of time on very simple little baby sweaters. The knitting is very basic, the shapes are basic and the yarn is the focus.

Why would I do that when I can knit fair isle and lace, complicated sweaters of my own design and fantasitcal productions in wool?

I am enjoying the simplicity. At the same time I came upon a Lucy Neatby video at the library and I am charmed by her no nonsense and gentle approach to finishing.

Much of what she showed me was what I had been trying to do as the best choice from trial and error (lots of error) but I haven't been consistent because I never was sure.

I really felt that a "real" knitter would scoff at my finishing. I dreaded it and made a botch of it in anticipation of failure.

But now, when I'm rather exhausted from doing to much "out there", my knitting is simple and calming and I am free to gently and correctly match seams with the expertise of a great teacher behind me. What a joy.
In the past I have often charged that which I deplore. I became a crack nurse at gross dressings and the dying patient.

I'll do the nasty chores before settling in to get the nicer part of the job done- the equivalent of my oldest sister's "eat your peas first"

But finishing must be done last. It is so easy to go on to the next project with the promise of finishing later. I know people who pay others to do their finishing.

But now I have joined the ranks of those who accept finishing as part of a sweater project.

Just in time, too because I was brave enough to cast on the shawl collar of my diagonal sweater and I will have long raglan seams to finish as soon as I knit 4 more inches.

The scarf fit in a little plastic box. The kimono is ready for the mom's visit next month and the blue chunky sweater of Patagonian cotton will be ready to give our expecting skating coach this last week at the rink.

The cardigan collar is a fraction of what I thought it would be and I think I may work on my thistle lace shawl (also for myself) before beginning a nephew sweater of a birthday gift shawl. The Fleece Artist is awfully tempting. A siren rather than a muse.

I dipped into my extensive button collection to find buttons for this chunky cardigan. I finished it while watching Pan's Labyrinth. Not a great choice considering it is in Spanish with English subtitiles. But a wonderful fairy story told in a beautifully dark mood. Haunting music. I can still hum the tune.

This spate of finishing was foretold and I am not feeling any sense of loss. Rather relief to be caught up to my (artificially imposed) deadlines and expectation of future buffets of wool.

It is almost the end of the skating season, the school year, piano classes and Sunday School.

Aye Fond Farewell.

May Retreat

I'm just back from camp up at Cultus Lake. I'm so tired from helping the wonderful cook.
We had a blast but it was very heavy work for two to feed 80. Cook was so great about having vegetarian and vegan and milk free and wheat free. I got confused.
Not just camp food, either. Chicken enciladas, brilliant lasagna, they were very lucky.
Thanks wonderful cook for the fun and singing and tips on making things yummy.

My daughter went and had a good time at her second retreat.

I came home in the evenings and crashed infront of the TV. It was our 18th wedding anniversary and D. was on call, so we're going to celebrated with dinner tomorrow night at the restaurant where he proposed, La Mansione.

Right now I have to get my turn at the shower and put in a load of laundry. I have some finishing to show off next time.

Too Much of a Good Thing

Mothers' Day came with a trip to Urban Yarns in Vancouver. My friend has lost both parents and I was grumpy about last year's horrific Mothers' Day, so we took off for a lovely day.

I had ordered some lace weight, but it was sent to the other store. I ended up, after more than an hour of poking about, choosing the Fleece Artist Soft Wavy Wrap. It has the luminous blue and waves look I was going to use in the Print of the Waves shawl. The bonus is the quick knit.

I seem to be up to my armpits in projects.

I am dutifully decreasing on my sleeve. Good knitter.

Also having trouble with the pink tape online solo scarf as I have to use my right hand to throw the yarn.

Also quickly knitting up a black toque with pink wormy projections for daughter's super hero costume for camp this weekend "Anemone Emily".

Also looking at list of babies due. I have found the original patterns for the thicker yarns I had chosen and now have extra light yarns for future babies. Must finish one for May and one for June. The scarf is also for June.

Then...

the new yarn. Fleece Artist shawl for October- my second sister turning 50!

Kiri in purple Rowan Kid Silk Haze for September for Auntie turning 70! I'll probably work on this during out August Scotland trip.

Another Kiri for October- good friend turning 50! She'll get her pedicure socks for Xmas.

Another baby in October- our best babysitter we had for 6 years. She will be getting a baby denim jean jacket.

That's already more knitting than the calendar allows.

Whew.

And my carpal tunnel is acting up. Of course. I will try to moderate my rowing machine, but I love the way it strengthens my shoulders and improves my posture (all the better to knit my dear).

The list strangely calms me.

Don't expect me to stick to it too closely. Right now I'm a bit of a magpie.

Too many things on the needles. Perhaps in the coming weeks it will all come cascading to finishings. This is May, right?

My kids did do a lovely job of making me feel appreciated when I returned from my great escape. I'm lucky. At 16 and 14, they are poised to escape on their own adventures.

A Prayer

A new friend of mine is having a breast cancer lump removed on Friday. I feel helpless.

I start talking 'Nurse" about making sure she has what she needs and sticks up for herself. Listens to her own gut and rests and looks after herself.

I ask about pre and post-op care. But I am not her nurse and I am only a new friend.

So I made her a prayer shawl.

The stitches are in groups of three.

This one is knit on size 5mm and size 17mm needles. It is Caron shadows from Michaels. It was quick and fun. I knit it in one day and thought of her and prayed for her all day. I don't know how I'm going to get it to her. I've made myself a new problem, but I needed to reach out and I hope she can wrap herself in some love as she enters the world of the Cancer patient. I was a pediatric oncology nurse and I have trouble not immersing myself in all the care giving measures that suited me so. I cried so hard the day my son was born for all the invasive procedures I had done on other people's children. I know I helped them to live, but I didn't know how horrible it was until I held my own baby in my arms.

My friend was someone's baby and she is someone's mother and wife. She is also a good friend.

Who Are the People In Your Neighbourhood?

Because of my stinking foot, I'm avoiding the mall. You can't get anything without walking miles.

Yesterday I went down town. Our sad and neglected little town. I usually shop the used book store, the shoe shop and the cool home furnishings: Objekts.

But I popped in on a friend from the choir and listened about her trip to Holland. I'm not in the choir anymore and miss our casual visits. She works in a "quaint" shop of new and used lace and teacups. A bit twee for me. So good to see her.
Around the corner is a hobby shop that may have the little figurine I'm looking for. I need a horse. I'll tell you about it in another post.

I walk in and the lady shouts, "I know you!!!"
Oh no. Is this another Weight Watchers client I have forgotten? Someone I nursed years ago? A skating mom? Someone from the other side of the soccer field?
No she recognized me from the wool shop and she remembered my felted bag (constant companion from Knitters' Stash) I had bumped into her at the wool shop months ago. She's going to have a nice hobby shop. She invited me to the Tuesday night gathering. I invited her to my as yet to be formed Sardis knit group.
She was so interested in one of my projects I told her I wanted to write it up and maybe have it published and she offered to be a test knitter.

How rich it is to step out of the virtual world and visit with real knitters. She brought up knitty and we both agreed we love "folly". I think it was before its time. Maybe we'll knit it together.

Pass It On

I was honoured to be asked to teach a child how to knit.

It's been a while since I've started someone from scratch. UBC was a good time for that and Nursing School.

This is a little girl who comes to the rink with her babysitter and she has actually pestered me and didn't believe I would do it.

She's about 8, but funny and funky.

I grabbed some needles from my extensive stash. I've inherited needles from my family, D's family and the past aunties of many friends. These are for sharing.

I cast on 15 stitches and showed her the rhyme again. She already had memorized it a few weeks before. I got it from Melanie Falick's Kids Knitting.

Under the gate

Catch the sheep

Back we come

Off we leap

She sat close to me and we worked the needles together. I knew I had her when there was no break between taking a stitch off and starting the next. Good girl.

She was very philosophical about mistakes and accepted the ideas that we share in this virtual network: everyone makes mistakes. Some of them are to be fixed and some of them are to stay. Learning how to fix your own mistakes is the goal- not not making mistakes.

I hope she comes back next Wednesday. She will be the only one in her family who is so gifted that she can knit.

Time After Time

Unfortunately I just found a wonderful teaching method that so totally agrees with everything I'm trying to do with my Sunday School, that I want to drop everything and immerse myself. I'm years behind and there's all sorts of resources on line. I borrowed the book in September and never even opened it because it's a big commitment in time and understanding and the dreaded self-discovery. What if I'm not really in there?

I don't know how to juggle another ball.

Yesterday I went to the Y and had a great workout but ended up the day with terrible foot pain. What caused it? I hated being in the anorexic gym after the welcome and belonging of the teaching workshop.

Today I gave up the gym for the rose bed. Only one. I have about five and each is at least 2 hours of work. This is the first day I've had the weather and the where with all. But two wheel barrows is definitely beyond my limit.

How will I knit if my hand is crippled with pain? See the cycle?

I finished up the morning by cleaning the downstairs fridge. Ugh. I need to do the one upstairs as well as assorted spring cleaning that was cut short by my crappy health.

We need to have a family meeting and discuss what we will do to prepare for the potential flood. We are in the flood plain, but in the second zone. Does that make a difference?

I'm still waiting for paperwork to start my registration back to Nursing. These mundane time-takers will have to be evaluated and some will have to go.

One sleeve done!! I told myself I could work on my coooky scarf gift if I finished the sleeve. Well, I got the scarf done and I found myself very sensibly casting on the second sleeve. Good for me. Do I want a sweater? Yes. How will I get to enjoy it? Oh, yes, knit and finish. Some day I will be so smart... when I find the time.

Virtual Comfort

I'm back at the Y but not in the pool. It's great fun to read on the recumbant cycle.
But it hasn't been a great week.

D. has lost MY keys, locked himself out of his (my) van far away on a farm, bought a new practice van and made us late for cello, lost his phone/palm pilot and finally lost his wallet.
Make him sit down so none of us get hurt or lost.

On Tuesday I made a lovely roast beef dinner which I couldn't sit down to because Noodle pie coaches at the rink. When we came home, I sat alone with a book and a glass of wine to enjoy my dinner while the others played violent video games. Well, I choked - on a pea- and I went into an asthma attack. A real one. The first I've had in about 20 years. Now I'm on a hair trigger and have had to fight off other smaller attacks all week. More of my very own limitations.

The good thing is that, after I rescued myself from the pea and scared my family, I rested in bed with my sleeve and listened to Lime and Violet. What a fun podcast. They really comforted me. I was able to laugh and listen along.

I also found out, thanks to them, that I do have a kimono pattern for the organic cotton I bought for a baby sweater. It's in the Mason Dixon book. Of Course! Well at least I was able to be comforted and get good knitting vibes.

I'm OK now but shopping for a medic alert bracelet. I'll look on line.

We Interrupt This Sweater

I was inspired by a new North Van friend's mitten mission. Stolen dreams.

I have knit many mittens. Most of them kept their partners and many of them kept my children's and their little friends' hands warm with us on the playground.

Now mittens are superfluous. You can't drive with mittens, you can't walk the dog or carry groceries. At least I require gloves.

But at the rink, my daughter's teeny coach wears mittens and I was compelled to use this malabrigo for her. Figure skating is a difficult sport and there is a great need for support and understanding. This coach allows my noodle-pie to grow at her own rate. She's very special and I would love to shower her with innocent mittens.

Today the skating club picks up litter for Earth Day. I hope there is a good turn out because this teeny coach will be there to encourage them.

On other fronts, we've been having a film festival. M. Night Shayamalan. I have so much trouble with his name. But I so appreciate his careful craft. My kids decided last night that his movies are more like short stories. Isn't that insight? I was chuffed. They have grown up with my snobbish ideas about encouraging the intelligence of the audience and I think they get it.

Still non weight bearing and coughing. I feel like a hedgehog and just want to roll up into a ball. D. is finally reaching out with some hugs. He doesn't like it when I'm sick because it cramps his very busy life. So sad.

Back and fronts almost done on the diagonal sweater so I will be wading into the sleeves today. I'm a bit worried about the investment of the collar. It may be as big as another sleeve. But when I'm done this sweater, I can make another few baby sweeties and a nephew sweater.

My niece moved so her sweater came back. Ouch. Exactly the reason I must reach out to my family. Mommy lost another brother this week. Many, many aunts and uncles I never knew. Still the loss is real. We must do for family as we are able.

Symptom Management

I've found another cold. I wondered if I was (tragically) allergic to the Y pool as I was struck down last Thursday night with Strep-like symptoms. But it has (thankfully?) settled into a full blown cold. In defence this time I started on antibiotics. I can't afford to lose another month to coughing and fevers.

But what did I do with my time?
I foolishly went litter picking with my Community Band for Earth Day. Not recommended for non-weight bearing activity. But it was fun and certainly worthwhile.
We took the kids to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum in Vancouver. This entailed more walking and late night but what a rich and inviting concert. Stephen Hough is extraordinary. He played a lovely Brahms and our piano students were enraptured. Bramwell Tovey makes the evening so intimate. Thank-you.

Sunday was too busy with a skit at church, a meeting and our first birthday party for my 13 year old nephew. My family DOES birthdays. A little present at breakfast, your favourite supper and family for cake and coffee. My kids would have all day affairs like I did if they were smart enough to be born in the summer.
This nephew pleaded to have a cake and coffee party with family. I just about brought up a cake, but his mom caught on and he sparkled as the center of attention. He also loved the dragon we bought him.

But where is the knitting?
I finally caught up last night. I had prepared the diagonal cardigan to just pick up and begin the front. Note to self: do the first few rows before putting it down. Leave the project to begin at an easy place. Otherwise the fever-addled brain will imagine the sweater is too smart for itself and choose to read instead. Or write. I'm actually writing.

The Geometry of Love by Margaret Visser is a beautiful book of history and symbolism surrounding an early church. Almost finished that puppy.

Last night the kids and I watched M. Knight Shyamalan's The Village. We love his films and relish the first watching for it's twists. Mucho knitting. I also knit at the rink and a middle school band concert. Front done, back well under way.

I could clean house all day, attend meetings, look after children, make a wonderful supper, but I measure my day by the knitting accomplishment.

You Just Wait

There is so much waiting in the wings right now.

My beautiful dogwood expresses it for me. In a few weeks, if the sun co-operates, he will have stunning white flowers. It is a Willie's White Wonder dogwood, developed in our own Agassiz research centre and perfectly suited to our climate.

I planted it September a year ago and spoke to a friend about missing an important duty because I was planting. Oops. He died before Christmas, so I think of this as Ian's tree.

This morning I started a very big ball rolling. Re-entry to nursing. They make it sound like I'll need a space capsule and an anti-gravity suit. This may be true.

I've checked into it before, but never when I've had such independence training to my family. D. even says he'll be taking a year off piping. It doesn't mean we'll see him more, but he won't be off piping.

So I'm serious. The librarian thing didn't work. I'm going to look at returning to nursing as a long-term care giver. That way I can have long-term relationships and give care- not just drugs. I won't go back to the hospital and you can't make me.

My Haiku is finished and sent to Stratford for a very lucky baby to be born to good friends.

Look at the buttons!! It's a good thing I take pleasure in the little things of life because the big things sure take their time finding me.

I'll just have to wait.

Rainbow Country

The powers that be have dubbed our city "Rainbow Country"

As magical as that sounds, it's a bit like celebrating "Pain Relief Wednesday"

We get a lot of rain. Usually it feeds my soul and makes our forests and gardens green. But it has been so cold again that I worry for my neglected garden. I have only been out two days. The weeding and pushing of the wheelbarrow exacerbate my painful hands so that I cannot knit.

Until last year, D. never helped in the garden. I did all the mowing until I complained about the vibrations from the blasted mower causing more hand pain. I have had a few injuries from riding and motherhood and have battled tendonitis, tenosinovitis, repetitive stress injury and burgeoning arthritis all along. My sisters are the same. We call it "turkey hand" because one sister removed her enormous home-grown turkey from the oven and couldn't release the grip. We all knew the pain.

My heel is improving. I am doing my stretches. I'm loving Aquafit and the reading time I get on the recumbant cycle. Plus the friendliness and encouragement I crave.

It doesn't matter if it's raining when I'm in the pool.

We have only one more meeting with my committee (plus and extra one I can't attend) and then a break before I join the next set in the process. We've almost completed our report.

The Haiku sweater is completed and buttons have been bought. Too cute. I need to mail it SOON.

I sent the cotton Mariah to my niece. I made it a while ago, but I wanted to give the nephews (and her) their sweaters in order of age. I hope she likes it. Noodle-pie tried to like it, but I knit too loosely and of cotton, so even though I knitted a medium to achieve a large, I ended up with an XL too big for me. That's what family is for. It's a more intricate knit than I may have attempted for my amazing niece, but I can see her wearing it as she goes to her masters in archeology classes. I hope she can feel the love for we rarely see her. I'm trying to find pictures of the cream cotton aran hoodie, but I think I finished it before I had my own camera. I'll ask D. to email it to me.

Off to the Y for some important sweating.