Knitting Passion

Bag Ladies and Gents still needed. Read about the project here and contact me at prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net if you’d like more information or would like to contribute. THANKS!

At my daytime job part of my duties is to arrange for - or give - various trainings. Some are required trainings, while others are educational, entertaining, or plain fun. Some are a delightful mix of all of the above.

One of the latter occurred this week when I invited some of Kenai’s finest firefighters to come and teach us how to utilize fire extinguishers properly.

First, they started a fire in a burn barrel. They used plastic bags filled with newspapers and poured gasoline (!!) onto them, then ignited the lot with a barbecue fire starter. Oh, pyromania!

One by one, our staff members extinguished the fire (which was started over and over again) with the firefighters watching and coaching closely. Much fun ensued!

And, they, of course, made sure the fire was fully extinguished before heading back to the station.

Then, my brain tried to figure out a way to tie together knitting AND firefighting, and you know what? I can do that!!

Here is a blog written by someone who both knits and is a firefighter - for two different companies! Whoot! She also apparently is fond of breaking double point needles.

And, for my British friends - here’s a group of firefighters who helped make a calendar to raise money for some seniors. I love this comment: “We have such unlikely situations as a firefighter sitting in the garden being taught to knit by three older ladies and a polar bear being rescued from a tree (scared by fireworks!)” Yup, the story has a picture of the unlikely firefighter in the garden. Cute!

And, last, but never least . . . a pattern for firefighter’s socks - well, socks that reminded the crafter of ladders . . . thus of fires and firefighters.

I’m off to the big city tomorrow - driving up with a friend after swimming and a dental appointment. We will stop by the mall to see my pictures (hopefully) hanging in the Fur Rendezvouz Photo Contest, and have some lunch before we head back home. Oh, we’ll hit a couple of stores, I’m sure - a yarn store for absolute sure.

You all enjoy!

You know it’s almost spring when you hear about babies, babies, and MORE babies headed for a soft landing on this earth. Two of my longtime online buddies are going to be first time grandpas. And, while the situations (in both cases) are not 100% hunky dory, nevertheless, these two gents (did I mention they are both Brits?) will make stupendous Grand-das. Yes, indeedy.

So, I’ve been the knitting gramma from across the pond (also known as “that wacky ‘laskan” and other not so charming monikers - heh) and I’ve been knitting baby socks. I’ve sent some off to one of my friends and am ready to send some off to my other friend.

And, THEN, I found out that my dentist is going to be a first time dad this summer!!! Can we say MORE baby socks?? I knew we could.

But, not just socks . . . BOOTIES!!! How about these for an upcoming holiday . . . Booties go Bragh! from Vickie Howell. Or, you could knit her Hugs and Stitches newborn booties. key-ute!

And, for those feeling all goose-bumpy about babes, but not in the family way . . . nor even having a family man (so to speak) . . . here’s a quick and cute Boyfriend Scarf that just might help (or not).

okay, friends . . . you know how you do a search and click a link that has NOTHING to do with whatever you were originally searching for? Right? Right? And, it just happens to be one of the most interesting links you have seen that night? Right?

Yeah, like that . . . here’s a site for those who have no sight - braille knitting books! That’s very cool.

Bag Ladies and Gents still needed. Drop me a line at prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net if you are interested in helping out for a great cause.
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Hearts and Flowers

Well, if you watched The Apprentice tonight you no doubt noticed that there were NO hearts and flowers on Piers’ team. Oy! And, I must hand it to Donald Trump for doing the right thing in NOT firing anyone from Trace Adkins’ team. That would have been so tough to do - and a completely WRONG move on his part. Kudos to him!

So, what did you and your honey do for Valentine’s Day? Go out to eat? Buy candy - cards - flowers - write special words - buy/give a ring - pop the question - survive the night? or did your love go wrong?

Hubby and I had an early dinner out - a bit disappointed that our favorite Mexican restaurant didn’t have the special dessert - Tres Leches - yummy when they have it. Sigh! I was disappointed - but probably better off not to have had it. Right? Right.

After dinner hubby went home and I went back to work - it is group night and I am one of the facilitators . . . soooooo . . . and it was a good group tonight. Lots of insight from a couple of the participants and that is refreshing!

Anyway - I looked around for some more hearts and flower-type stuff for you all.

I just love this little hearts and flowers scarf! And, she also is selling this little kiss on your neck scarf.

My sister is the one who always did such lovely filet crochet. Here’s a beautiful doily - just fine work.

And, how about the little dolls in your household - both living and plastic? Here’s a sweet little outfit. (Oh, I am SUCH a Gramma, aren’t I?)

How about this slightly naughty valentine candy pillow?

And, oh, by the way . . . . I wanna be a domiknitrix!!! Wearing that I could LOOK the part and reading this I could knit the part. Heh!

Hope your Valentine’s Day was full of Hearts and Flowers!

. . . In a couple of ways . . .

first: I put the finished afghans into the mail today - so Shelly should be receiving them by Friday at the latest. So, they are on their way and I am ready to do a couple more if Shelly has any to send to me.

I’ve really enjoyed this project. It’s been great fun to see all the different styles and patterns of squares - and it has been a real kick to see squares from all over the globe. I’ve worked on squares from Japan, Australia, and all over the United States. It was most fun to find squares from an online friend in New York as well as an IRL (in real life) friend from right here in town.

It’s a wonderful to see the love people have in their hearts - and to know that from one woman’s dream came this concerted effort to work together.

Now, I’d like to ask the seamstresses out there for your help in a secondary project for the Share A Square . . . we’d like to put together 140 drawstring bags to hold the tags from the afghans. You see, each square (48 of them) in each afghan (140 of them) is made by a different person. Each person places a tag with their name and sentiment (i.e. “get well soon”) onto the square. Then, when the recipient is ready to take all of the tags off we thought it would be nice to have something to put them into. The recipient from the first afghan played with his tags like they were playing cards.

So - if you’d like to help email me at prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net and we’ll exchange addresses.

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secondly:
On my way - I’m in Anchorage this week for a work related conference. The laptop may (or may not) get to go with me and I may (or may not) have wireless connection at the hotel. If it is and I do, I will be updating throughout the week. If not, well - I’ll see you when I get back. How’s that?

You all be good to yourselves and we’ll see you on the flip side.

still more about the Knitter - but, hey, be sure to check out Summer at Creative Mom Cafe on Monday for a crafty sorta giveaway, okay?

On Tuesday before the docs would let me out of our local hospital I had to do the dreaded treadmill stress test. Oy!

I was trussed up rather fetchingly with leads and wires and whistles and beeps - while the tech told us about his next patient who would have his heart stopped thru medication and immediately restarted with medication. He seemed much too thrilled about all that - “it’s so cool,” he said. “They just go along on the treadmill, I push the button and they sorta slump and go ‘uhhh’ and then I reset their heart with the next button.”

Okay . . . . then he plopped me up onto the treadmill and started that baby up. Yeah, I made sure he didn’t have that plunger anywhere near me.

The doc looked at my short legs and took pity on me after 5 minutes. He was going to make me do 6-10 minutes and then said that he forgets women have shorter frames - a 6 foot guy can easily do 10 minutes. Hahaha.

I passed this test with flying colors, btw. While driving to Anchorage later that day I nosed through all the documentation I was taking up with me and found this doc’s notes on the stress test . . . “patient was dyspneic, but joking.” Yup that’s me - breathless, but always with the jokes, baby. lol

Once back in my ICU room, I was allowed to begin getting ready to go home - well, to Anchorage - while they readied my discharge paperwork and prescription orders. About 4 pm I finally got all that, we stopped at the pharmacy, and then ran home to get some clean clothes for the Anc. trip. I was going to Providence Heart Center for an angiogram! Woot!

Now, my daughters will tell you that I would rather drive than be the passenger - so I can tell you that I was on edge slightly (!!!) while hubby drove. It got really dark - he doesn’t see well in the dark - I tried to sleep so I couldn’t feel him driving the saturn like it was his van - that didn’t work. I made it 115 miles or so to Girdwood where we made a pit stop - and I took the keys away from him for the last 35 miles. Yes, I wasn’t supposed to be driving (due to the new drugs) but dagnabbit! I wanted to make it there in one piece!

We spent the night in our favorite B&B where hubby would stay while I was fussed over at the hospital. I spent Tuesday night there with him and was able to watch him eat brekkie the next morning while I had to be happy with juice only. (sigh!) Then off to the hospital we went.

What a great staff in the cath lab!!! I cannot say enough good about them as I was treated so well by them all. They got me (yet again) trussed up into an ohsolovely open backsided gown and the IV started while question after question was asked. Then I met the doc and began my wait until it was my turn for the angiogram. And, this, my friends, is where it begins to get a bit surreal.

I’m not an itty bitty gal by any means and my cholesterol levels have been elevated. I fully expected the doc to tsk and moan a bit as he searched out my arteries. Instead he was quite pleased to note that my arteries were BIG and BEAUTIFUL and just like they should be - a cardiac doc’s dream! (yes, he speaks softly, but with many exclamation points!) Of course, that being the case, he does not know WHY I had the heart attack. He knows that I did - the ekg and enzyme changes show that - but, he likes to know WHY and how it can be fixed.

I’m an enigma!

So, they kept me overnight for observation - more forms - more questions on birthdate - more pokes and prods and vital checks. More fun nurses - more laughter - I love being me!

On Thursday I was scheduled for a chest CT to rule out blood clots - and an echocardiogram to check my valves and blood flow.

The doc again came in to visit with me and to tell me that they just don’t know what happened to cause the heart attack. I do have a congenital “defect” as one artery is not where it is supposed to be - but that didn’t cause it. I do have a teensy artery that may (or may not) have had a blood clot slide through, causing a spasm, causing the heart attack. But that artery is SO SMALL that even if I had a problem there they do not make stents or balloons that small - sooooooo -

And - I am a bit anemic - that and the (possible) blood clot could have been caused from the kidney surgery 7 weeks ago.

Have made an appointment with my urologist to check on that - and an appointment with the internist to followup on the Anchorage stuff - sigh, my insurance is gonna love me!

So, there you have it in a nutshell. And, now I will quit talking about it. Thank you all for caring and reading and commenting and guest posting. As one of my friends says, maybe God just healed me during the drive to Anchorage. You never know - He does have that power!!!

file this under The Knitter herself, rather than knitting.

Hey there, friends. I am home again, home again, and jiggity - jigging my jig. Albeit, I am jigging a teensy bit slower due to some new meds and doctors’ orders. Doctors plural, you’ll note. I have several new docs now - how can a girl get just so darned lucky, I must ask?

Thanks ever so much to Winnie from Watching the View who stood in for me by writing about The Intimidation of Knitting. Winnie - don’t be intimidated - we’ll convert you yet!

Thank you also to Mark from Get Incensed who wrote about knitters and special rooms in a totally hilariously snarky way. Mark, thank goodness I did not have stitches to pop when I read your entry.

If either of you ever needs a guest entry, please feel free to let me know and I will do my best! It’s so nice to know that Lessa sticks up for me so well - read that “guilts people into helping out her mum so well.” Ooooooh, look Mark - italics - and barbara reads them quite well. hahahahaha.

Lessa wrote recently on her Watching Rachael Ray blog about “Go Red for Women“

As she says, this is even more important to our family now that I have had that first heart attack - trusting the Lord that it is the ONLY heart attack I ever have!

Yup - that’s why I’ve been away for a bit - it happened last Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church. I was just drying my hair and I felt a fist tighten over my heart - hmm, perhaps a muscle twitch? Nope, it wouldn’t let up like a muscle twitch. Maybe heartburn? Nope - hadn’t eaten anything yet.

Do I go on to breakfast and church - orrrrrrrrrr - do I go to the hospital? (this, by the way, is not a conversation I would encourage anyone to be having with themselves at this time - GO TO THE HOSPITAL!!!)

Then I broke out into an all-over sweat - that is a sure sign I was in trouble. I took my blood pressure and it was pretty high - so I took two aspirin, my bp meds, and asked hubby to take me in to the hospital. We did bypass the emergency squad - also not a great idea - and he drove me over himself.

Once to the Emergency Department I told the desk lady my name and birthdate (always with the birthdate - sheesh!) and she entered it into the computer, gave me a (very lovely, indeed) plastic bracelet and ushered hubby and me through the doors . . .

whereupon she began to yell “CHEST PAIN!” and lordamighty you shoulda seen ‘em whip into action - rushed me down the hall (breathe, barbie, breathe!) to a clean room with a monitor - whipped me outta my clothes - got me into an ohsolovely open backsided gown - and into a bed where they began to hook me up to beeps and squawks monitoring devices and poked me for an IV.

Blood samples were taken and a Troponin test was done. You can read more about it at that link - but short story is this - the first test did not show elevated enzyme levels, although the EKG showed some damage somewhere - so the second was ordered for 6 hours later - yes, friends, I lay on that hard ED bed for SIX hours plus. The second Troponin showed elevated levels and the doctor came in to visit with me again - a bit shocked because they did not think from my description that I’d had a heart attack - the test proved otherwise.

I was admitted to ICU for observation and stayed there until Tuesday. The third Troponin was even more elevated, but the subsequent tests came down to a normal level. Yes, pokes for blood every six hours! Ouch!

My hubby and Lessa were awesome - with me every step of the way. Daughter Ladybug brought me the neatest handmade card from the grands and brightened the room with her smile.

I’ll tell you more about what happened after Tuesday - tomorrow.

For now, know that I am blessed - I am much better and in no pain - and I am praising my Lord for HIS hand on my heart.

Now, go on over to the Go Red for Women site and find out how heart healthy YOU are, okay?

apparently, friends, akismet spam blocker has been blocking some of your comments. I read about it on the 451 press forums tonight and thought I should check and sure enough there were NINE of your comments that had been blocked.

I apologize - the powers that be are looking into the problem and hopefully will have it fixed soon.

Thanks so much to all who commented!!!!

barbara

Knitting is not my first learned craft. I actually didn’t start to knit until I was in high school when a friend showed me how to cast on and do the basic knit and purl stitches. She may have shown me, but by the time I was ready, I totally had forgotten how to cast off. That first piece was truly a sight, I’ll tell you!

My first craftiness actually was crochet. My grandmother taught me when I was four years old. She sat me down on the porch - oh, yes, we had a porch on nearly every one of our rentals - with strips of fabric tied together and taught me to make my first rag rug.

But, what I remember most is the big wooden crochet hook she gave me. I sure wish I still had it, but have no clue whatever happened to it. It was hand whittled by her brother, so that would make him my “grand uncle”, right? Yeah, I get confused, too, by the various stages of relationships.

I came across a site this morning that has me waxing nostaligic. Turn of the Century Crochet Hooks. Here’s a picture I borrowed from them:

These just remind me so much of the one I used for the rugs.

In talking with my friends on Saturday, we began to compare notes on, of all things, how we hold our hooks. My grandmother was never able to get me to hold the hook “properly” (see figure 3 on that page). Instead I hold the hook so the end is tucked into my palm and I control the motion with my whole hand. I guess that is the easiest way to explain it.

Holding it the way the picture show and the way Grandma wanted me to always felt too awkward.

So, my friends and I were chatting about it and I finally think I have the answer to it. I was only FOUR years old!!!! My dexterity wasn’t as good then as my grandmother’s and so I learned to hold the hook the way it felt best to me.

And, you know - it works, too. My gauge is generally right on and my stitches look neat.

So, I guess the moral of this story is - hold the hook the way it feels best to you - and crochet or knit to your heart’s delight.

By the way, I’m still watching what to do in Columbus this spring. Granddaughter is beginning (I think) to get excited about the trip - or maybe she is just resigned to spending 10 days with her doddering old grandparents. lol. At any rate, WE are excited.

Hubby and I have both received our passports (what? you don’t need a passport for Ohio?) and we have been picking up some things for the granddaughter also. (a new carry-on bag, notebooks - all in various shades of PINK, etc.)

So, stay tuned for the updates.

p.s. if there is an ad on this site that you find distasteful, I’d like you all to know that I have no control over the ads shown on this or any 451 press site. But, I will take your concerns to TPTB. Thanks for bringing them to my attention.

I hope you heard me say that in the best Alfred Hitchcock voice possible. Yes, I grew up watching the chilling (to me - at that time - in black and white - I was a little girl!) Alfred Hitchcock show. But I always loved how he would walk out and fit into his silhouette - double chins and jowls and all, turn and say to ME - Goood Eeeeeeeevening !

But I digress . . . this is, after all, a knitting blog.

Finished my socks a couple of nights ago - and last night I finished the second of the little orange ones. Yes, for those of you who might be counting, this is the SECOND pair of the little orange ones. (And, the orange color is better in the photo in that entry, btw) The first pair, along with the blue pair, is winging its way to merry old England for a friend who will be a first time grandpa this summer.

This pair and another, yet to be decided on colorwise, will go to ANOTHER friend in England who has discovered that HE will also be a first time grandpa this summer. Must be sumthin in the water, I tell ya. (glad I’m not drinking THAT water!) heh.

It would seem that the same stuff is in the water hereabouts, too . . . and I drink a LOT of water, so I am going to have to watch it.

What? You mean that’s NOT the way babies are made? Hmmmmmmm

oh! a mother’s room! Aha!
hahahahahahaha

The scarf was a big hit with one of the younger women at the party the other night. I was kind of hoping a teen would get it so was well pleased when she seemed to enjoy it.

After all was said and done (we do the pick a gift, someone else might take it and you pick again type exchange) she began trying it on different ways. We all had to laugh when she got to THIS pose:

She wrapped it around her head with the ends sticking straight up - well, it WOULD keep her ears warm while skiing at Alyeska, I guess.

She finally put the ends behind her neck with the flat side on top of her head. Like I said, it was just fun watching her.

So, I am finishing up the last homemade Christmas gift. It should come off the needles tonight and then I will wrap up the last of the gifts. I had planned ahead and wrapped everything before I went into the hospital - just to have it all out of the way so I could be on the mend in peace, if you know what I mean.

And, yes, still mending quite well. I am going to see my regular doc this morning - the surgeon took me off my blood pressure meds while I was in the hospital because my bp was so low - in fact, it went so low one time they almost had to intervene in the opposite direction.

Anyway - when I saw the surgeon yesterday he told me I could probably start taking the pills again, but my pressure was “normal” all last night and this morning again so I want to run that by the regular doc.

Besides, I am thinking that he could use a good dose of Christmas miracle. He needs to know just what he started when he sent me for a hernia consult.

Trusting that all of you are looking forward to good times with family, good food and great fun over the next couple of weeks. Be sure to eat some goodies for me. I’m trying to cut back and be good.

Did you know that obesity is one of the leading factors in kidney cancer? Yeah, me, either. Blood pressure is another contributing factor.

Of course, there is also the tetrachlor . . . drycleaning fluids, too. And, I had a good dose of that back in the early 80s when I was working for a drycleaner whose machine was on the blink. So, I guess it could be any of the above, or a combination of all three.

Whatever it is, I am thankful and praising God that it was discovered before it metastisized.

Thanks so much to daughter, Lessa, for posting on what has been going on. She’s a good one, but don’t tell her I said so. Haha

I am just peeking in - it hurts to sit upright for too long, so this will be a quickie - hopefully I can write the required 250 words (like THAT has ever been TOO much of a problem with the great winded one. lol)

Surgery Tuesday went well - I got out of the hospital Saturday afternoon and it felt SO good to be in my own little world again, I can tell you that! I see the doctor tomorrow to get these doggoned staples out - and to hear the pathology report. Both surgeons have told me that it was what it was - but it will be good to hear from the pathologist and to know that it was all gotten and that I am free and clear.

Since I’ve been home I’ve done a LOT of snoozing - some reading - some knitting (hey, I’m dedicated!) and some trash tv viewing. Watching other people’s concerns is a kick sometimes.

I started this scarf (from the One Skein Wonder book) Saturday evening and finished it today. I’ve wrapped it and am taking it to a Ladies Christmas Party tonight - I’m being picked up shortly by a very dear sister in Christ, who happens to be a nurse, so I’ll be in good hands.

Click to see the larger view on the right - there are knitted in loops on both ends to “tie” the scarf around your neck. Very cute - made out of wool - the same wool I made the Girl’s Christmas purse.

UPDATE: Back from the party - EXHAUSTED!!! (who knew having fun could be SO MUCH WORK?)

The young woman who received the scarf loved it. So, YAY! And, good night.

It’s time to start thinking about the great 2008 Knit Out! February 17 and 18 at the Mall of America. It’s the second annual and promises to be bigger and better than last year’s event. Over 50,000 people attended in 2007 . . . were you one? Will you be there to join in the fun in 2008?

You might get the chance to see and meet author Debbie Macomber or Knitty Gritty’s Vickie Howell.

There’ll be lessons and demos and yarn “doctors” and fashion shows and all kinds of goodies like that. And, really, friends, just who would NOT want to be rubbing shoulders of 50,000 of their favorite knit-a-holics after all?

Erm, Yeah.

Okay - those big convention type things are not really my cup of tea - I’m not sure I’d even really enjoy the Mall of America - it seems a LOT bigger than my little space in the scheme of things. I mean, good grief! They have over 13,000 parking spaces!!! We don’t have 13,000 parking spaces in all of my little town - and that includes the next door neighbor’s house where they park three across and two deep and still use the street!!!!

So, here’s a thought . . . why not shop green - instead of burning the green - shop globally minded.

Of course, if you are of the mindset, you might just try the great Knit Out - or maybe hold such a function in your hometown or one nearby. No, you might not have the big names like Debbie McComber, but you surely have your own local celebrities who knit or write about knitting or crafty folks like that. Yup, I’ll just bet you do.

Drop a note here and let us know what types of things go on in your little town - who’s the craftiest person you know? Who’s the wittiest? Who would travel across state lines to meet?

One of the things I decided this year was to not go into debt for Christmas. I try very hard to stay out of debt anyway, but this year’s added expenses have just made it a very important thing to not add any others.

So, just how do we do that?

Well, there are some ideas over at Woman’s Day online magazine. And, even some ideas about how to shop for those on your list - and still save money.

One of the ideas that particularly grabbed me was to periodically throughout the year purchase a $20 gift card from your favorite shopping place. Stash them in a safe place and then when the holidays come along you will have those cards to use. Make sure, of course, that the cards don’t expire before you use them. Better yet, make sure you get ones that do NOT expire.

You might also utilize the type card that you can continue to add money to over the year, saving a plastic card tree in the process. (heh, punny, I know)

Talk with your children and extended family members - decide ahead of time your expense limit and then stick with it (ack! so hard to do!). Choose some ways WITH your family of toning down expenses so that the big headache won’t come the week after the festivities have blurred away.

Maybe you can all make your gifts - that can be so much fun. The hurried whispers and giggles and paper rustlings and the spilled paints and paper cutouts strewn across the floor - just look at it as fun and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. It’s the thought that counts, you see.

In the making of all of the grandbabies’ hats and their mamas’ goodies, I utilized some of my stash of yarn, and didn’t buy a whole lot extra. There was a cost decrease in that.

…this is Lessa, Barbara’s daughter. I’m here in the hospital with her (WiFi! In the Hospital! In ALASKA! WHoo!) and she wanted me to post a quick note letting you all know she came through the surgery well, and is doing just fine. Thanks for all the good vibes! There will be new posts for the rest of the week, and she’ll be back in full form by next week.

Thanks Again!
~L

You’ve noticed over the past months that I have linked to Shelly’s Share a Square project several times. I’ve sent her a bunch of squares, pieced together 4 afthans, and have encouraged at least one person in Alaska to do the same. That is very cool.

But what is even more cool is the fact that Shelly is doing the project in the first place. Sometimes we get these ideas and then file them on the back burner for someone else to do it - to put forth the effort - to get things accomplished.

Not Shelly - she got the idea, put it out there for the great blue ether to digest and then started the hard work to get it accomplished. And it has snowballed and people from all over the US and around this great big blue ball of ours have contributed to the project.

Shelly is over half way to her goal of completed afghans for Camp Sanguinity. A lot of people are taking a bit of a break for the Christmas holidays - but will begin again after that. In the meantime, won’t you go over to All Tips and Tricks - see the link in the quote below - and put in YOUR vote for Shelly?

It can cost $20 or more to send off a box of squares to a volunteer to piece together. A lot of those boxes have been sent off on Shelly’s dime. She hasn’t complained, but I’m sure that the $100 prize for the most votes will be sure to help out. My vote goes to Shelly and I hope yours will as wel.

thanks, everyone!

Simonne at All Tips And Tricks is having a group writing project asking…’What is Your Best Blogging Achievement?’ You can see the entries here. I vote for Shelly to win.