Yopping Update #37 - Still Painting, but mostly coughing

 

It has been quite a week.  Mostly downs.  A couple of ups.  Life on life's terms.

I had the broncoscopy on Monday morning, and spent the rest of the day sleeping.  Tuesday I started coughing and I am still coughing as of Sunday night.  This makes sleeping for more than a couple of hours in a row difficult, but I am hopeful when the doctor calls tomorrow with the results he will have some solution to the cough/sleep problem.  Hope springs eternal.  

Speaking of Spring - I did get out for a walk every day except Monday (and today) and the flowers, mergansers, widgeons, and pussy willows are everywhere.  I even saw a cherry tree beginning to blossom yesterday.  Spring is Hope eternal. 

I finished clue two of the General's mystery sock knit - a very complicated cable pattern which required stitch markers every ten stitches and colour coding the chart to keep straight the eight different cable versions.  

The pattern recommended using three chart repeats on each leg, but I opted for two as the leg is almost seven inches which is long enough for me.  Apparently clue 3 is even more complicated so we shall see how I fare with it tomorrow. 

Since this is a mystery knit there will be no photos until the end of March. 

I did make quite a bit of progress on the sweater of many colours.  It is about 21 inches now, and only four more decreases until I start the armhole decreases.  

The clocks 'sprang' ahead during the night.  I finally fell into a more-or-less restful sleep at ten am this morning and slept until almost three this afternoon.  No walk for me today - just as well it was pretty cold and rainy out there. 

sign at nursing station Monday morning

I will leave you with this picture of pure joy.  I wish such joy for all of you this coming week. 

Yopping Update #36 - Painting with yarn

 

I have finished clue 1 on the Pescatarian Mystery Sock KAL, but no spoilers here until sock is complete.  I have knit both socks cuff and start of leg.  So far so good. 

I have been working on my Sweater of many (many) colours and I am following Kaffe's method of keeping the balls of yarn intact which means having to unravel the tangled mess very few rows.  

As Kaffe says about colour choices - "when in doubt add more colours"

I am not really following my original sketch, but instead choosing the colours and the increases and decreases as the mood strikes me.  I have to say I am quite impressed with the progress so far.  It will definitely be a Sweater of Many Colours and my friend and I think I may be giving Stephen West a run for his money with this project.  I do feel like I am painting with yarn as I go, and it feels very creative and freeing.

I have been walking everyday - my longest being almost 5 miles as I tackled a new to me loop through the parks and neighbourhoods of my city.  It is called the Green Necklace, and I wouldn't say it was totally green as I was walking sometimes beside traffic (but I think that is because I lost the trail for a few blocks), and it was a challenge as the last twelve blocks were a steady incline, but I did it none-the-less. 

and found pussy willow trees in the last mile

The next day however I was knocked over by two very large dogs who came running into me at full speed.  I wasn't hurt, just shocked and shaken, and so cut that walk short to just under a mile.  Just before the spectacular fall though I had seen nine herons on the river which was such a special treat. 

I had a CoVid test on Friday (negative) that was needed before a broncoscopy I am having tomorrow at the hospital.  I am anxious about it all but the fact everyone going into that part of the hospital needs a negative CoVid test within 72 hours of their arrival makes me feel a bit better. 

Spring is definitely on its way as this lovely garden of crocuses and snow drops proves.

more pussy willows yesterday

I will end with this lovely shot of my granddaughter sleeping with her sweet kitty.  I can tell by the little bit of cuff that she is wearing a sweater I knit for her.  I can't wait to hug her.  One day.  One very fine day.

I got a new app called Gaia gps  which shows all the trails in my neighbourhood.  I am off to explore a new one before the rains fall again.