Thursday, October 21, 2010

Waking Up To Winter

Winter?  When I woke up at 7am, it was rainy and 55F, that is winter to us, here in the desert.  Yesterday on my walk, I saw quite a few people in winter jackets and it was 75F.  I can only imagine how bundled the natives were with a high of 66F.  No, I didn't go out to see, I need to find my own winter clothes.

So many, interesting to me, things have been going on in the past 36 hours.  You may or may not find them entertaining.

From Knitting Kitties

First of all this "a weed" growing in front of my window.  It is not weed as in marijuana like the head of management insisted to our manager, bright and early yesterday morning.  I had just poured my coffee when two old guys, that sounded like they were from the Sopranos, only without the Jersey accents.  Could be Chicago accents, I didn't ask D when he got up a little later.  The owner is coming on Monday, so the bigwigs came by to give orders.  So I'm sitting in my chair with two old guys staring in at me, through my window, yelling about my weed to the manager, who had the decency to keep his eyes down, on my weed.

Today, we have workers scurrying every where fixing up the empty units.  They are also finally fixing the leak from the pool pipe under the pine tree.  I guess they had someone come last year with expensive equipment to find the leak and that's as far as it went.  They are now draining the pool out into the concrete courtyard and we have Lake Mead forming from the courtyard and out into the parking lot.  I took pictures from behind the blinds, so not to be noticed.  The madness never seems to end around here.

From Knitting Kitties
From Knitting Kitties
From Knitting Kitties

I took the pictures of the dress at Target.  I was afraid I would be questioned by employees, but nobody seemed to bat an eye.  I was noticing the neck is between a turtle neck and cowl.  I doubt it would work GD, she's like me and can't stand anything up around her neck.  Maybe, I'll get some fingering weight superwash wool and knit one in a similar style.  I have big, like huge cones of lycra thread in white opal, gold and purple. The black one is the same as the white one, only without a lycra thread.
From Knitting Kitties
From Knitting Kitties


My body did curse at me during the walk.  I cursed back and threatened to do this every third day.  Someone had mentioned that 2.5 miles was pretty good.  Actually, being that I'm 44, with fibromyalgia and various 11year old low back and pelvic injuries, I think it's excellent. Last year at this time I was in Rochester, New York with my chronic pain specialist trying to convince of me going on methadone and wanting to put in a request for a wheel chair to my insurance.  I think I'm doing fantastic walking 2.5 miles without a cane, even though I'm bracing for the agony that will hit me tomorrow.

When I got back, I found my daily afternoon visitor laid out on my patio.

From Knitting Kitties
From Knitting Kitties

All summer, I watched this butterfly come and check out all the bushes and my neighbor's kumquat tree.  He is alive, I think barely. When I touched his wing he took a few steps forward.  This morning, J came to the door and said my friend was dead.  I looked out and saw him laid flat out in a puddle. (The butterfly, not J) I waited for the puddle to dry out, and went out to check on him.  His wings fluttered barely, and he tried to take a few steps.  A lady almost stepped right on him when she used my patio to avoid the lake.  So now he's resting safely in the lid of a candy box, inside my secretary.  I'll show you a picture tomorrow.  I have to save something for tomorrow besides my FO.  Besides we have more territory to cover, come along now.

From Knitting Kitties

I made more progress on the stole.  The colors seem to be brightening up with the knitting.  Fiber crafts can be so magical and fascinating at times.  To think it started out a cream colored alpaca fur, which I soaked in vinegar water and then added dyes.  The brightly color top is spun into more brightly colored yarn, then a wash leaches out some of the dye and mutes the bright colors.  Then the knitting makes it a little brighter again.  Fascinating.

From Knitting Kitties
From Knitting Kitties


With the cold, I had to set aside the stole for a bit.  I don't know where my footies are.  My back and hips are hurting too much with the cold damp to go searching.  It was much easier to find some handspun bfl and make new footies.  I can whip up a pair pretty quick, just not as fast as my cold feet would like. I knit the cast on and knit the cuff in less than an hour while watching Grey's.

From Knitting Kitties

I think I'll do some baking while waiting for the new episode of Grey's Anatomy to come on.  I'm thinking of something yummy. Will post about that on Saturday. Plus  I need to write tomorrow's FO post tonight, you know, just in case, I'm  unable to tomorrow.

If you are still here and awake, I thank you for coming to visit in my strange little world.  Please leave a comment I love to here from my visitors and return visit if you leave your calling card in the plate by the door.

8 comments:

Chrissy said...

I love that blue green yarn you have just cast on with. Such a pretty shade. I think you have done amazingly well with your walking. But I do think preparing for the aftermath is the only sensible option. I hope it doesn't wipe you out too badly.

Just-Do said...

Hi Denise,
I love comments too so I came over here to thank you for leaving such a lovely comment on my blog. I just had a quick look at your photos and I love the things you make. I will return!
groetjes, Dorien

Spundun said...

It is good to see so much more knitting/crochet in the stores this year - if only I looked half decent in it, lol!

Poor butterfly, I guess he has passed his genes on by now and has fulfilled his life - maybe his offspring will visit you next year.

Love the stole and the start you have made on the footies - both are in beautiful colours!

behind the ivy said...

That blue yarn at the end is so pretty!

Dina said...

What a pretty little dress. I would think it would fairly simple to recreate. Loving the colorways of the pink.

Unknown said...

I love the yarn for the footies and the stole! What beautiful colors!

And 2.5 miles tires me out, a healthy 21 year old, so don't feel bad about that!

Vinita said...

I take pictures all the time at clothes stores, especially if I like the color combos. And kids' sweaters usually have such great color work, I have to take pictures and save them for later. That dress does look nice.

2.5 miles IS excellent! You really inspire me!

Julie said...

I'm way behind on blog reading, sorry

Hope your pain has now eased, i thnk 2.5m is a great achievement, my DH has fibro and i know he couldn't manage that far