Yopping Update #12 - Why can't I do things the easy way?

   Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Well, Advent apparently has come and gone.

These were a quick and enjoyable knit and except for the cuff/heel/toe it was all stash busting. 

So, of course for my next project I had to decide to do something not quick, and for the past 48 hours not enjoyable. 

Yes I started another gansey.  This time a cardigan.  I picked a pattern, but of course I decided to modify it so I could knit it with bigger needles.  I spent two days figuring out the math so that my gauge and the motifs of the pattern would work out.  

You'd think I would learn to work in pencil!

Last night I started the Channel Island cast-on, and then today got as far as the first button hole.  I clearly am out of my mind - but hey, in for a penny, in for a pound.  I also realized I like the wrong side of the Channel Island cast-on better than the right side so I had to sort that out and throw in an extra row. 

More math to figure out the button hole spacing as the pattern has the buttons grouped in twos with a larger space between each pair.  Sigh.  Really.  What was I thinking?

Oh, and did I mention I may be playing yarn chicken with this cardigan?  Oh well, if I lose I will just 'have' to make another order of Frangipani yarn from The Net Loft.  Don't cry for me....it is all good as there is another colour I want to order for another gansey down the line.  I think I may need a 12 step program...

My gnome-a-long starts on Tuesday and I have picked out the yarn for it.  I think....stay tuned. 

That's it for me this week.  I wasn't even going to blog today because I had another migraine last Thursday and all the medication I took has upset my stomach.  Grrrrrr.  I can't talk to the doctor until this coming Wednesday so I am just laying low (and knitting - did I mention I am re-designing the gansey I am knitting so I have to alter the pattern?)  

Also, we have had so much rain in the past two days I am thinking of looking up plans to start building an ark.  Or maybe I will just get my raincoat and rubber boots out of the closet and embrace the Autumn storms. I have been checking out a new 11km trail near my house that I think I will tackle next week - and yes, I will carry bear spray. 

 I have been a mother for thirty-six years as of today.  My husband, daughter, grand-daughter, son-in-law and I all video called the birthday boy and sang to him a capella.  It was great to have my whole family on the call.  No pictures, but a lovely moment to remember. 

Yopping Update #11 - She's done...onto Advent

  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

The gansey is done and even on the blocking mat!

planaria (one of four on front of gansey)

sleeve planaria and a better picture of the true colour of the gansey

close up of pattern including initials on bottom

Took me a while yesterday to figure out what to knit next.  I have plans for another gansey, but the Advent socks were calling my name so I spent a while picking out colours last night

I am glad the designer gave me sheets to colour in:

looks like I will use up some stash!

humble beginnings

Today it is very cold and drizzling rain.  I will go for a short walk and then curl up on the couch to read this book I got from the library (thanks to Self-Sufficient Sam's post last week).

now maybe some of my homespun will get dyed

On other news I am about 2/3 of the way through yet another round of edits of my novel.  I am amazed at how many times I can look at it and still find typos, spacing issues, and other mistakes.  However, I am persevering.  I have my Kindle Direct Account all set up and ready to push the Publish button as soon as I am happy with the edits and layout. 

I finally seem to have the headaches under control by stopping the estrogen cream I was prescribed.  I will talk to my doctor this coming week to review next steps. 

Tomorrow I have another CTScan to see how things are with my lungs.  I am hoping everything is stable so I won't have to do this for another year or so.  

I did get to the pool once this week for a long swim.  I don't have to pre-book anymore, so I hope this week I can get there a few more times. As of tomorrow our government has put into place a vaccine passport to be allowed entrance into non-essential businesses and events such as rec centres, arenas for music or sporting events, casinos, restaurants, and nightclubs.  The only thing that I will need it for is to go to the pool so I got that all set up earlier this week.  

In Canada we are in the middle of an election.  Voting day is September 20, but my dh and I voted yesterday in the advance polls.  The polling station was not very well organized and social distancing was not well managed.  I have sent in a complaint to Elections Canada but I am sure it will come to nothing.  I am glad I have voted and won't have to think about it anymore.  It seems for this election I am more voting against someone, rather than for someone.  Not a good situation, but it is what it is. 

Ok, that's it for me.  It has stopped raining - so I had better get out for that walk now.  

I will leave you with this picture of a cool plant my neighbour has growing in her front yard.  I looked it up and I think it is called lamb's ear, or Mullein.  Looks quite exotic.

Yopping Update #10 - Zooming along

 Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Hello dear Readers, 

It is Labour Day weekend here in Canada and it is raining.  I am glad for that.  We need the rain and perhaps the less-than-stellar weather will keep the crowds down at the holiday spots and therefore keep the Covid numbers from spiking as they seem to do after a long weekend.  

I am making very good progress on my gansey - I started the first sleeve yesterday...

I received my prize from Tour de Fleece.  I have wanted a spinning gauge for some time now - to measure wraps per inch and twist angle. 

I have been swimming this week and got out for a few walks.  It seems the crows were having quite the conversations on my last visit to the sea wall. 

Fall seems to be determined to arrive early and the leaves are starting to turn.  I saw this as I headed out for my swim early this morning.

On the novel front I have received an ISBN and I have finished the last round (I hope) of edits.  I also started designing the book cover.  Slow learning curve using the technology for sure, but I am persevering.

And the title of today's blog post? I have attended at least twelve Zoom meetings this past week.  Zoom, despite its frustrations, has been my lifeline over the past eighteen months and I don't think this will change anytime zoom.  I do manage to get a lot of knitting done during most of the meetings which is always a bonus. 

I did have another migraine this week, which I am convinced is connected to a new medication the doctor wanted me to try for a month.  I will call her this week to report my concerns.  I haven't had a migraine for months, so two within ten days of each other are two too many!

I hope you all are doing well.  Zooming along in whatever way suits you. 

the bear hasn't been back, but the squirrels are everywhere!