Yopping Update #48 - The difference a week makes

I had a much better week this week. So there is that.

I finished my Petty Harbour socks:

great use of leftover sock yarn x 3 colours

I started on my Wrapped in Jamie Square 11 - Next of Kin

but then had a major yarn chicken loss.

I frogged and hemmed and hawed about changing colours.  I then decided to try a two colour square - a brand new challenge for me, the novice crocheter.
I decided to try it first with some cotton I had in my stash.  If it didn't work I would still have a usable dish cloth.

It worked!

So onto the real deal:

Ta-Da

I have 4 more rows of the border to finish today and then I am caught up once again.  Then I can resume my Spice of Life Blanket because I have some leftover yarn (red and green) that I now know I won't need for Wrapped in Jamie.  I have lots of blue and white left over which I think I will use to join the squares (blue), and then do a border around the whole blanket (white).

I forgot to show you last week that I made two ear saver thingies for my hubby's and my masks.

  

I have been working on my list for the next year of YOPPING.  I don't know what I will cast-on tonight  - maybe I will get back to the spinning wheel.  (Didn't I say that last week?)

I had to go out twice this past week - once for a blood test on Wednesday, and yesterday for an MRI.
I was nervous about being in the buildings but both places made me feel very safe in regards to CoVid-19.

It was my first experience having an MRI.  Man are they ever loud!! Luckily I am not claustrophobic because it is a very, very small chamber than put you inside for 45 minutes.  Did I mention how LOUD it was.  I was thankful for my yoga breathing training, and that the technician had a very calming presence and voice. My doctor should have the results by Tuesday.

I walked outside by the ocean after my blood test, and I did manage to exercise everyday this past week.  I joined via My Virtual Mission app to walk the Camino de Santiago.  I had wanted to do this in person the year I turned 65 (this year), but my hip, and the ban on international travel put a kibosh on that!  With My Virtual Mission I enter my mileage everyday and the app sends me postcards of where I am with pictures and historical/geographical points of interest.  I can also see myself on the map.  It is 480.9 miles and I have given myself until the end of this year to finish as at this point I can manage to walk about 2.5 miles a day.  Although yesterday I clocked 3 miles (I danced for an hour).

There have been lots of phone chats with my son (he is looking for an apartment) and video chats across the miles with my daughter and grand-daughter.  Here is a screen shot I captured as we were saying our goodbyes last night (their morning).

Have a good week all and remember:

Be safe.  Be kind.  Be calm. 

new masks came in the mail this week too

Yopping Update #47 - Are we having fun yet?

Is this the fun part?   Answer at the bottom of this post.

Although I won't post until tomorrow (Sunday), I am writing this today (Saturday).  With me so far?

I have a headache.  I couldn't sleep last night - I finally fell asleep around 2:30am and slept fitfully until 7:30.  After feeding the cat, having some coffee and taking my pills I slept again fitfully until about 9:30.  So I am up now.  Dishes done, laundry in process, and a heel to turn on these socks I started a couple of days ago.

leftovers put to good use with wide stripes

I finished my Lady of the Lake jacket and I am very, very happy with it.

it is very warm and cozy

Today the next square of Wrapped in Jamie CAL comes out, which is good because once these socks are off the needles I don't have anything else of the go.  I might make the lady viking, or start on my nativity scene.  My spinning wheel is also glaring at me and feeling neglected.

finish first - then look for another project

I know I have much to be grateful for, but today I just want to whine (or whinge if you are in the UK).

Some business are opening up here - we are in phase 2, and phase 3 starts on June 1.  This is when campgrounds are suppose to open, but our province and the one next door where my son lives are only allowing camping to residents of that province so we probably won't be able to camp near him.  Although he is saying that perhaps he can come to us and work remotely from our house.  Time will tell.  He also said that if we go there and pick him up - he is a resident so perhaps they will let us camp together.  I don't want to ignore the rules, but I do so want to see him since seeing our daughter seems to be sooooooo far into the future.

I have got out for a couple of walks in my neighbourhood and there is a duck pond at the end of my street.

and irises

which meant I earned this medal over a few days of walking:

I did get a new mask from my sister:

Covid hair - don't care

Now to the not having fun part of the post. 

I am not sure where my warrior in me has gone. I hope she is sleeping, because after two nights of shitty sleep I am headachy and just sad.  Arm sore (rotator cuff), hip sore (who knows why), heart beating,( but not as well as it should) and because of CoVid who knows when I will get the heart MRI I need to have. I am tired and cranky and sad. I hope when hubby wakes up from his nap we will walk down to pond and see the baby ducks. Maybe then my warrior will return. I think she just needs a rest. She has been doing pretty well since March 3rd. That is when I stopped going to the pool and outdoor beaches because the virus was ramping up.  By March 17th everything was shut down.  And here we are - ten weeks later.

Sigh. So, Mary-Anne what are you going to do now? Today? I will do some knitting, some crying, and then go gently wake up that warrior in me. I miss her.

Sunday morning update:

We did go for a quiet walk in the forest and saw the baby ducks.  I still have a headache, but I can feel the warrior is stirring.  

Be calm.  Be kind.  Be safe.  

someone has a new ride-on toy

Yopping Update #46 - Short and Sweet

I was finally headache free by Thursday.  So that is good news. 

I worked on my two sweater projects this week. 

This is the colour

colour wrong, but wanted the lace view of back

I changed the sleeves from the original pattern which called for 3/4 length bell sleeves and my daughter and I both thought long fitted sleeves were better.  I am very happy with the finish product. Now they have to lift the travel bans so I can get it (and us) to her in person!

I then turned my attention to my Lady of the Lake Jacket.  I am almost finished sleeve number one. 

                                                                                                                       

I did get all my finished Wrapped in Jamie squares blocked so I am ready for Square 11 which I think comes out at the end of May.  I can't wait.  

I have started thinking about my list for the next year of Yopping.  I can't believe we are almost at the end of the year.  I have finished everything but my woven baskets  - but hey, I have until July 1st.  

I want to start a pair of socks this week - Petty Harbour - but we shall see what the week brings.

Today is my dh's birthday.  The day started with a lovely facetime chat with us all, 

Grandpa trying to beep grand-daughter's nose!

and I plan to make him a nice salmon dinner with pesto linguine.  I may even get out my Joy of Cooking and try to make him some sort of desert from scratch.  Wish me luck!

Check out her socks!

Yopping Update #45 - Pictures only

almost ready to start sleeves - Warm Circle

Lady of the Lake Jacket in progress

3ply spatz spinning - 20gms

started next 3ply - 113 gm sweet georgia Panda

sourdough cornmeal muffins with blackberries and strawberries

peanut butter chocolate chip cookies - gluten free of course

Succulents all outside for the summer

headache day 5

always makes me feel better

Yopping Update #44 - Presents and Presence

Look what I got in the mail!

Presents

Blogger friends are awesome!!!  Now I can't wait for the next Wrapped in Jamie square to be released!  Here is my tenth square finished.

square 10 - Hunter

I also got the wireless earbuds I ordered through amazon so I can get up and down while listening to music without dragging my earbuds with me, or hooking them on every knob in the kitchen.  Baby steps people.

not really naked - wrapped in a towel

I frogged the partly knit sweater that was part of the wool I bought.  It took me about 8 hours.  One row was easy, but the curly locks row was very catchy and I had to be patient.  But I did it and have 250 gms of each kind of Fleece Artist Wool.  I think I am going to make a jacket out of it, but I won't decide until my daughter's sweater is finished.

easy to frog

soooo hard to frog

My daughter's sweater is coming along.  I have only had to tink back 4-5 rows twice.  Once when I saw a mistake in the lace, and the second time when I decided to change the increases from kfb (knit front and back, to M1.  It is an interesting construction - starting with 7 stitches and working in the round.

currently 266 stitches per round

I made a second attempt at gluten free sourdough.  It was more successful, but I have spent some time on youtube and I think I understand better that the dough should be quite gloopy and not like regular dough - so stay tune for attempt three next week.  I have been enjoying it, but it is still quite dense and chewy.

I got myself into quite a funk on Friday night because a) the dough wasn't cooperating, and b) neither was AcornTv.  I can get into quite a state if things don't go according to plan - like a dog with a bone - but after a good cry I let it go.  However, on Saturday I needed to shake things up a bit and I decided to make a couple of facemasks.  I am quite pleased with the results:

mine made with some african material my nephew gave me

my husband's made out of leftover denim

My husband got into quite a fit of giggles trying his on.  He said it was just the laugh he needed.  (Of course just looking at my Covid-19 hair style should give him lots to laugh at). 

(As an aside as I type this it is hailing outside - hmmmm this might affect my plans to walk down to the duck pond).

I sorted out my cd rack and have a bunch to give away and also re-organized all the different flours I have (the joys of being gluten free).  We got groceries delivered on Tuesday and my husband did the butcher pickup yesterday.  

I did my exercise class Mon - Fri even though on Wednesday I was less than enthused having needed a 3 hour nap because I was awake at 5:30am and by 11:30am I was not fit for anything.  

(By the way - still hailing). 

We had a nice four-way facechat with my son and daughter today and my grand-daughter was as charming as ever.  

Here she is 16 months old, standing with the 1500 year old olive tree that is near their home. 

Things are starting to open up a bit in other provinces, but not in ours yet.  I am glad for this.  Our health officer is very cautious.  Where my son lives (the next province over) they are starting to open up some stores.  Here he is at his favourite game store this weekend. 

(ok, now I just heard thunder)

So, back to the title of today's post - Presence.  I am going to be more present this week.  Listen better.  Not interrupt.  Breathe.  Avoid fixating on unfixable things - or at least be more aware to just let some things go until another time.  

And keep admiring the apple blossoms just outside my living room window.  

(now the sun is coming out). 

I am heading out for a short walk before the locusts arrive!

Blessings to you all this first Sunday in May. 

Be calm.  Be kind.  Be safe.