Yopping Update #39 - Time to get serious

Okay - I get it. I have to stop knitting.  At least for a while.  I knit on Sunday a little,, and on Monday too much and boy did my arm hurt all through Monday night.  Tuesday I put all my knitting away in the craft room so as not to be tempted while watching TV.  Turns out, TV is not as much fun as when I can knit.

I did finish the drapes on Monday, and hung them Tuesday.  I think putting the hooks in on Monday night attributed to my sore arm - but they are done and hung and I am very pleased with them.

Much better than the very old and broken bamboo curtain that was there for certain.  The colour isn't showing correctly.  The design is in a dark blue, not brown.

I frogged a square where I had lost on yarn chicken. I tried to match it with another yarn but it was too noticeable so I knew I wouldn't be happy for it to go into the blanket.  So I finished one square and frogged one square so that puts me at zero (I did start another, put it is in the time out with my fisherman sweater until my arm is better).

I did spin about 10 gms of fibre, but that too puts too much stress on my arm so instead I spent an evening entering all my fibre into Ravelry so I will be ready to spin again when I am healed.

I have been going to the gym and using the treadmill, stairmaster, elliptical and recumbent bike since I can't swim.  Trying to look at glass half full, but boy do I ever miss my swimming and my knitting.

I have been studying my Croatian and having the answer book is great for checking my progress.

As I write this I am on the little island looking after my sister's two jack russells.  Lots of walks in my future while here, and I have brought a whole bunch of recipes with me that I want to try.  I also have a few novels that I have been neglecting, and I have been thinking about reworking the novel I wrote a couple of years ago.   I can't knit, (did I mention that?), so I need to find other things to do. I also plan to journal daily.

Oh,and  I also have prep for my summer courses, so that is here with me as well.

You can find the other yoppers here.

By the way....

Tomorrow is April first.  Don't get fooled!

PS:  I just changed the bulb in the headlamp of my car - ALL BY MYSELF!  Thanks to youtube and also there may have been some curse words....but I DID IT!

Yopping Update #38 - Still grumbling along

Yup, still grumpy.  I did see the physio last Monday and I go again tomorrow.  I went to chiropractor yesterday and I think it helped a wee bit - at least I slept better last night.  Tomorrow I go to my doctor to request an ultrasound and then the physio again.  I think she will do some acupuncture or needling tomorrow.  She has given me exercises which I think help.

Knitting?  Not so much.   Swimming?  Not at all.  Thank God the weather has been wonderful and I went for three long walks this week.

I can knit about 20 rows a night - so I am plugging away on my KAL blanket.

I am about 40 rows in on another square - so little by little I am getting it done.

I have two more squares to do before my next issue arrives so I will be caught up by then.

I was going to go to a fibre show today to buy some yarn for the border, but it ended yesterday!   What????   I thought it ran all weekend.  I am going to head down to Michaels this morning and see if I can find something suitable.

Since I can't knit I have tackled making drapes for our bedroom out of some material I was given over a year ago.  I have pinned the pleats and today I will stitch them on the machine.

I bought the drape hooks yesterday so who knows, they might be hung by the end of the day.   My husband has to help me lift them into position of because of my arm, and I will post pictures next week. I promise, because right now they are just in a heap on the floor in my craft room.

My taxes got filed  and the answer book arrived for my Croatian exercise book so I am able to mark my work without having to wait to go to my lesson on Thursdays.  I have had a major break through understanding the verb syntax in Croatian so I am excited about that.  When I watch TV now I find myself translating words I hear into Croatian.  I am dreaming about my lessons now, and a friend once told me that is a good sign when you are learning a new language.

I have been feeling down this week, being lame and all, but I am trying to keep my spirits up by visiting with friends and doing what I can do.  The yard is taunting me because it needs a good raking from all the winter wind storms, but raking is definitely a no go.

I can't get my amaryllis to bloom like my son has been able to with his:

but my lawn is full of violets:

and my orchid and hoya are blooming in the kitchen window:

So spring is here - hooray, and the trees around my house are full of birds: robins, towees, juncoes, flickers, hummingbirds,jays, crows, chickadees and nuthatches.

Life is good.

I came across this saying today:

Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: 

Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?  

Kinda fits with my lenten promise, I think.   And since God felt it necessary for me to also give up swimming and knitting for Lent (apparently chocolate chip cookies and facebook wasn't enough) I have to believe it is all for a reason.

It will be all right in the end.  If it is not alright, it is not the end.

Follow my other intrepid yoppers - they are amazing in their support and their talents.