Itty Bitty Snake
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: September 17, 2008
My daughter and I rescued this wee garden snake from my cat this afternoon.
Snakes don’t bother me. I actually find them quite relaxing to watch and handle…the none poisonous variety, that is.
and frankly, it’s this or the neighbourhood gopher that can munch through my garden in a nano-second.
Besides, anything is better than seeing one of these scurry across your floor. I’ll take the snake any day!
Husband Update: He’s doing well, though still in the hospital. His white count as of this morning was finally up to 1.7 (it went as low as .1), so hopefully he’ll be discharged tomorrow. We’ll find out within the next couple of weeks what his prognosis is.
Keep on knitting…
Getting Back On Track
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: August 23, 2008
Even though I was playing nursemaid for ten days doing this to my husband…
Two injections and the flushing of his pheresis catheter should only take approximately five minutes of anyone’s time, but…
my patient’s chair was usually empty for up to an hour. I can understand the reluctance, but I was also tired of hollering, “let’s fracking get this done, already!” Not to worry though. My husband has been hollering back and it makes me smile every time!
Now that those ten days are behind us and with his stem cells harvested, he will be going in on the twenty-eighth of this month for his high dose chemo and transplant. We’re very optimistic and chuffed!
In the meantime, I’ve been busy trying to clear up languishing projects.
I finished not just one pair…
Socks for “G”
Pattern: Basic sock pattern customized for G’s feet.
Yarn: Paton’s Kroy Krazy Stripes #54801
Needles: 2.25mm
not just two pair…
Socks for “S” wrapped up all purty-like.
Pattern: Basic sock pattern customized for Sandy’s feet.
Yarn: Regia #5271 – San Diego
Needles: 2.25mm
but three pair of socks!
These I’ve dubbed “Little Big Man” socks for my son.
Pattern: Basic sock pattern for son
Yarn: Austermann Step in colour #15/Navy
Needles: 2.25mm
I only have four projects left to be completed and they’re all at 50% complete or more, except for my Must Have Slightly Upsized Cardigan.
Since I have been doing so well finishing up projects, I allowed myself to cast on a new small project.
These are the Norwegian Snail Mittens found in The Knitter’s Book of Yarn.
These are going to be for my daughter, who just loves snails.
I’m using KnitPicks Palette in Garnet Heather, Golden Heather and Marine Heather.
I have a couple more mitten projects planned, along with a couple of lace projects that I hope to have done for Christmas gifts. We shall see.
Have a good one!
Knit On!
On Your Mark, Get Set…
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: August 20, 2008
Swatch!
Thanks very much for voting. Here are pics of my swatches in order of first to last in the voting rank.
#1 – Misti Alpaca Lace in Straw Melange paired with transparent rainbow Smoky Topaz Matte beads.
#2 – KnitPicks Shadow in Pink Posy paired with transparent rainbow amethyst frosted beads.
#3 – KnitPicks Shadow in Snorkel Heather paired with transparent rainbow black diamond matte beads for the bottom three beaded rows and glow-in-the-dark beads for the top three beaded rows.
#4 – KnitPicks Shadow in Vineyard Heather paired with glow-in-the-dark beads for the bottom three beaded rows and transparent rainbow black diamond matte beads for the top three beaded rows.
I think I’ve made my choice, but I won’t let you know until I actually start the project. I may change my mind several times before it’s definite.
Now, I leave you with my real-life version of Garfield and Odie.
Look!
Look up!
Look way up!
Dog says, “Can I get the squirrel? Can I, huh, huh?”
Knit On!
Help!
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: August 16, 2008
- In: Beads| Knitting| Lace| Mystery Stole 4| Poll
- 2 Comments
I joined Mystery Stole 4.
It’s not a bad thing, it’s just that I’m an indecisive beast and I’d like some opinions on which pairing of yarn and beads to use.
Click to Enlarge
#1 is KnitPicks Shadow in Snorkel Heather paired with transparent rainbow black diamond matte size 8/0 beads.
#2 is KnitPicks Shadow in Pink Posy paired with transparent rainbow amethyst frosted size 8/0 beads.
#3 is KnitPicks Shadow in Vineyard Heather paired with Glow-in-the-Dark size 8/0 beads. I thought this would be wicked fun but they may be back-ordered.
#4 is Misti Alpaca Lace in Straw Melange paired with transparent rainbow Smoky Topaz Matte size 8/0 beads.
What a knitter needs to ponder, eh?
Thanks and Knit On!
I’m On a Roll
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: July 31, 2008
This project had been stagnating for two years.
When I cast off, I was actually a little afraid to have it touch water, for fear that it might disintegrate before my eyes.
Obviously, the wool stood the test of time.
This will be a Christmas gift for another sister-in-law.
Pattern: Diamond Fantasy Shawl
Designer: Sivia Harding
Yarn: KnitPicks Memories in Redwood Forest
Needles: 3.75mm
I’ve been diligently knitting trying to get the majority of my current projects completed, in preparation of starting some new projects for Christmas gifts.
Husband news. He’s doing very well! Yesterday he had a pheresis catheter inserted in preparation for stem cell collection. Tomorrow he will be in hospital getting a chemo treatment to boost stem cell production, (weird, I know) and I’m learning how to flush his catheter and administer heparin and Neupogen. Can we say, fun times?!
This is going to be one hell of a month!
Also, because I can be such a forgetful arse, many thanks for the compliments on my Swan Lake stole!
Knit On…
I Actually Completed Something!
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: July 22, 2008
- In: 1
- 6 Comments
Too bad I’m not keeping it. This is for my SIL. I wasn’t thrilled when I found out the theme for this mystery stole was Swan Lake. I mean, who wants to walk around with a wing at one end of their accessory? Now that it’s done, I really like it. Shame on me!
Pattern: Mystery Stole 3 KAL (Swan Lake)
Yarn: 2 skeins KnitPicks Shadow in Oregon Coast Heather
Needles: 3.75mm
Knit On
My Heart Grew Three Sizes That Day
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: July 15, 2008
- In: 1
- 3 Comments
Perhaps the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, after all.
Knit On…
Cause I’m Goofy…
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: July 12, 2008
- In: Fibre| Handspun| Spinning
- 4 Comments
I wanted to know if I spin a somewhat consistent yarn. (snort) Sometimes, I’m easily amused.
So, I thought if I took some of this Louet Northern Lights Roving I had, weighed it and divided it into three (I’m aiming for a three-ply fingering weight) equal (or as equal as I could get it) portions, I should, when it came time for plying , use all of what I spun, or close enough if my spinning was consistent enough. I think I had 64 or 65 grams total.
So, I started spinning and weighing. Notice I’m weighing on the bobbin now.
Bobbin #1 = 4.15oz
Bobbin #2 = 4.15oz
Bobbin #3 = 4.15oz
Looks pretty evenly weighed, eh?
So, I start plying…and plying…and well, plying some more. I was having an issue with my Aberdeen (Majacraft Suzie Pro) at this time (needed a new crank that I was waiting on from New Zealand) so my spinning was a wee bit dodgy. Okay, it was a lot dodgy. Nevertheless, I was hopeful that my theory was going to succeed…not perfectly, mind, but close enough to make me happy.
What did I get?
Bloody hell, if I didn’t run out of one bobbin, entirely. If I had several more yards on it, I would have been happier.
In any case, I was appeased by the final product. I was aiming for a light fingering weight and I achieved that, at least.
It looks pretty good, if not consistent to the .005g and you know what?
I don’t care anymore if it was or not. It was a lot of effort to find out if I was going to come close to using all my singles, only to find that it was the same if I hadn’t gone through the effort. So, my lesson to myself is: Don’t be anal, it’ll bite you in the arse. Ahem…or something like that.
Fibre: Northern Lights Top by Louet
Colour: Toffee
Yarn Weight: 3-Ply light fingering
Yardage: 306 yards/279 metres
Skein Weight: 58g/2.045oz
For those curious about the state of my husband, he is doing well and had his second round of chemo last week. We had a meeting with the doctors Wednesday about the stem cell harvest and procedure of his final chemo treatment. Very intimidating and a long process. It will all start July 30th and will finish the first week of September, so I’ll more than likely be AWOL during that time. So, whenever you pick up your needles, spin, or buy some sock yarn, throw up a good word or two for my husband, please and thanks.
Knit On…
No Woe Here
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: June 24, 2008
I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.
I’m going to try a write this post in approximately fifteen minutes while I have my second cup of coffee (can’t blog after only drinking one) and the house is still silent…except for the dog eating and the cat playing with the kibble he knocks onto the kitchen floor.
My husband has had his first round of chemo and is as well as one would expect one would do on chemo. We had a little excitement this past Saturday when he spiked a fever and had to take him to hospital for blood tests and the sort. Of course, by the time we got to the hospital, his temperature was back to a normal 37/98.6. As they prepared to take his tests and because I’m a woman on the edge most days, I took pictures.
He looks impressed in that hot, smoldering, I need to lay down and vomit, sort of way, doesn’t he?
How is our daughter taking the fact that her daddy is sick and needs to be taken to hospital every other day on a good week?
All in stride, baby. She’s a little trooper and has already sucked our future retirement plans dry made us proud by announcing she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
Now, I want to back track a little bit. See the pic of my husband? See what he’s got in his lap? It’s a cute little Emergency Knitting bag I received in the mail last Friday from Illiane’s Corner.
Now, if you could please cue the Twilight Zone theme music in your head, while I explain.
I didn’t order it. At least I don’t think I did…credit card statement hasn’t come yet. But, I can be pretty certain I didn’t. I think.
In any case, my husband didn’t buy it for me…and after interogating questioning some of my closer friends, found they didn’t love me enough to buy it for me, which has left me completely stumped. There wasn’t a little note included letting me know who purchased this adorable, yet totally appropriate bag for me. So, to whomever it was out there that did this for me, THANK YOU! It totally made my day, even though I thought I had lost my mind and I love it. May karma rain a million dollars on your sweet, thoughtful head!
Knitting hasn’t been more stop and go in my life. I did join Summer of Socks 2008, hoping for the excuse to start a new project to get the motivation going again. Here is the sock I chose to knit and began on Saturday, when SOS08 officially started.
Pattern: Butterflies n Bees from Six Sox Knitalong.
Designer: Janine Le Cras
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Louet Gems Fingering in Gypsy Rose
Needles: 2.25mm circ
Now I really must go. No offense, but I’ve started my third cup of coffee and I really must GO!
Knit On!
Drive By Post…
Posted by: alwayscastingon on: May 31, 2008
- In: 1
- 3 Comments
Many big thanks for all your well-wishes and prayers. I haven’t been able to respond because it has been so hectic with daily hospital visits for various tests, but please know that it means so much to us just hearing your support.
I’ve been knocked down by some nasty flu bug since Thursday and feel like I’ve been turned inside-out, stomped-on and pull right-side out again. Blah. In any case, my lovely sister-in-law drove three hours (one way!) to take my husband for another several tests and his oncologist visit on Thursday. We have very good news! The mass in my husband’s sinus cavity is also lymphoma! We can once again do away with that damn niggle that haunts the back of our brains. My husband’s bone marrow and spinal fluid are clear of lymphoma! Yay, baby! He’ll be starting his chemo treatment this coming Wednesday. Relief. My husband has agreed to be a part of a chemo study that includes a drug called Rituxan, that works wonders with lymphoma.
Now, I’m about to once again get help from our most dearest, incredible friend, G, whom faithfully makes time to take me grocery shopping every week. Love you G! You’re gonna have to carry me this time around!!
Knit On…
Flickr Photos
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