I HIDE YARN

Bye Bye Birdy

Our feathered visitors went home finally.  Before they left, they came to my room to visit once they were in their traveling cages.

This is Maggie - a blue and gold macaw.  I wish I had gotten a picture of her from behind with her wings partially open so you could see her glorious dark turquoise color.  Maggie is very entertaining, and came close to me when I started singing to her, which she loved.  I put on a song about dancing and she began to dance.  She hangs from the top of her cage and rocks her body between her feet to the beat of the music.

Maggie laughed several times when I talked to her - "Ha, Ha, Ha!"  Apparently I am very funny.  She is the one that calls my DH Margaret, which we all think is hilarious.  Especially since it had been his intention to have the birds say, "(his name) is a stud!"  Instead he gets "Hi Margaret!"  I called him on his cellphone so he could tell her goodbye, and got his voice mail.  I had my phone on speaker phone, and as soon as she heard his voice she said, "Hi Margaret!" 

She told my noisy dogs to shut up.  When in the garage, and she would see them standing in the open doorway she would alternate between saying, "No, no!" (don't come out here) or "Wanna go outside?"  I asked her if she was coming back to visit, and she said "I doubt it."  I can't speak for all birds, parrots, etc. but these two do not just repeat what they hear.  They respond appropriately to questions and situations at times, which is a little eerie.

This is Applejack who is a double yellow headed Amazon.  As he ages, the yellow on his head will continue down to his shoulders.  I was quite relieved that Applejack did not use his traditional greeting when he saw me, which is "Hello fat girl!"  My sister used to have a dog she called fat girl, and that is where he picked it up.  However, he also knows when to use it.  If my sister won't give him something he wants, he says "All right fat girl!"

Applejack wolf whistled at me 3 different times while we were visiting.  He asked me "Whazzup?"  (Thanks DH.)  He also loves music, and enjoyed when I sang to him - but he did not join in as I hoped.  Applejack sings country music with a operatic vibrato.  I didn't get to spend as much time with Applejack, so he did not talk as much as usual.

If they weren't so messy, and it wasn't so difficult to get them into their traveling cages - I would have really enjoyed having them in my room on occasion.  Applejack is small enough to spend some extended time in his travel cage.  Maggie however is quite limited in her travel cage, and cannot open her wings fully.

The latest on the medical front...

Kiddo has strep throat and mono!  She was diagnosed with strep throat early last week, but she wasn't getting any better.  Today she went to a convenient care and they also tested her for mono, which was positive.  She has been working this year in an amusement park in one of their restaurants.  She cannot handle any food or be involved in contact sports for 3 weeks.  She will be off work for a few days, and then will be reassessed to see if she feels well enough to return to work (with non-food related duties.)  She has band camp coming up in a couple of weeks.  She is a member of the color guard, but they don't think she will be able to practice in the extreme humid heat we experience here in July.  Preparing for whiney teen...poor baby.

Monkey See Monkey Do

I have been trying out some patterns for my Sockapalooza4 sock pal.  Monkey socks were not going to be in the picture, because the pattern is so popular.  I wanted my pal to receive something different and special.

So explain this...

How did these Monkey Socks get in my needles?  Now I know why everyone is knitting them.  They are a blast to knit!  Cookie A. you ROCK.  I don't know when I had this much fun knitting a pair of socks.  The yarn in Sunshine Yarns in the color violets.  (Pssst.  If you follow that link Dani has some of this color available right now in her Etsy store.  It is a tighter twist than this particular yarn.  A tighter twist will wear even better.) 

My pal likes purple.  Boy howdy did she get the right sock pal...red and purple constantly vie for my favorite color.  The only problem is these socks might be too big for my pal.  Oops.  That means they would fit me....mwahahaha!

I originally chose this yarn for my pal...

It is Cherry Tree Hill supersock in the color amethyst.  I swear I am not going to buy any more Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, and then I forget why and get sucked in again.  Just one of these wound balls (1/2 a skein) has no less than THREE knots in it.  Bleh.  It seems like there is always something wrong with the yarn...knots, not colorfast...something.  I have a neat pattern picked out that should show up best in the vibrant solid color, if I can work around the knots.

DH is feeling much better at home getting his IV antibiotic treatments.  Surgery is now set for early Wednesday morning - the same morning Kiddo graduates from the 8th grade.

Your prayers, good thoughts, comments and emails mean so much.  Friends really do ease the burden.  Thank you.  I hold each one of you in my heart. 

Change of Plans

They decided to send DH home to me to continue the IV's instead of holding him in the hospital waiting for his blood thinner to get out of his system.  Now the plan is he will have surgery very early on Wed. morning.

I'm sorry I haven't been able to respond to comments and emails yet.  My MS doctor changed doses on some of my meds when I saw him on Tuesday, and I am battling sleepiness, or sleeping when I was not talking with DH by phone, etc.  Thankfully I truly can give IV meds in my sleep after so many years - heh.  It's the knitting in my sleep I haven't mastered yet.

The teenager seems very contrite.  She has been doing chores without being asked.  I know!  I'm pretty sure tomorrow pigs will fly.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and good thoughts. 

Update

Surgery has been postponed due to the fact he is on a strong blood thinner.  I suspected this might happen.  They are tentatively saying it could happen on Friday, however he has not been added to the surgery schedule.

So we wait, while he soaks up some more IV medication and waits for his blood to thicken.

Teenager has not been throttled yet, although I have considered slipping some chill pills in her food.  But the truth is if I had any chill pills, I would be hogging them all for myself.

Your prayers and good thoughts are so much appreciated, as well as your comments regarding teenagers - both from being one and raising them.  I no longer have to ask where grey hair comes from.  I thought raising a teen-aged son was hard, but that was a walk in the park compared to raising a girl.  Yikes.  Nobody said I would need riot gear and tear gas.

Here We Go Again

Prayers needed.

DH in hospital to have surgery on other foot - possibly today.  He will lose at least one toe.

Teenager hates me, wishes I would die.

I need prayer for a new, undisclosed ailment (aside from the above pain in the butt.)

Whine over.

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.

Even MORE Knitting

Wow...another FO.  It feels good to be knitting again.

PATTERN:  Bubble Wrap Cap

DESIGNER:   Lark Meadows

YARN:  Plymouth Outback Wool - color #909

Needles:  Clover bamboo circular size 6 US (using one 16 inch until crown shaping, then using two circulars for decreases.)

I know it is difficult to see the bubble wrap pattern in my picture, but this is a really cute hat.  It is also quite stretchy, which would make it a good choice for someone with unknown head size.  This is a second hat for the granddaughter's birthday.  Kiddo wants one of these as well.

Okay, who has come in and replaced MY Kiddo with one who wants me to knit her things?  Hmmmm?  Oh wait, she doesn't mind me knitting her handknits...it's the wearing of them she minds.

Speaking of Kiddo, here she is doing a self portrait with my camera...

Those braces come off in a couple of months.  Then the praying starts.  You know, where you pray she doesn't leave her retainer on her lunch tray and throw it away.

Here's a gratuitous puppy pic...

They are huddled up together with Daddy on the love seat.  All the puppies are equal opportunity snugglers.  Anyone who sits on the love seat gets puppies, whether they want them or not.

Notice Remy is all curled up in a tiny ball.  He and Sachi went to the doggy spa this week and got their hair cut.  Remy is doing an imitation of a chilly dog - heh.  Notice also Sachi is wearing a new sweater.  A new sweater NOT knit by me.  Daddy felt sorry for her cold little self and bought her the sweater at Wal*Mart.  Yes, Winston, I know - I should be knitting you all sweaters.

Last night Sachi had two of these HUGE dog biscuits like the one on top.  She is used to getting half of a small puppy biscuit like the one at the bottom.

She came to me whining with two of those big dog biscuits in her tiny mouth.  First she hid them under my computer chair.  Then she decided that was not a safe place, and she begged to be picked up with them.

Once on my chest, she dropped the biscuits and tried to push my shirt over the top of them with her nose to hide them.  It was hilarious!

Remy is learning to sit for treats.   The old dog, Molly, sits immediately when she sees or hears treat - heh.  Sachi dances for hers.  I give the command up, and then she twirls around.  Now she can twirl twice without stopping.  Winston gets treats because he is so cute.  Actually he is the most verbal dog, and we are working on saying "Mama."  I taught a Pomeranian and a Scottish Terrier to say "Mama" very plainly.  I have high hopes for Winston.

****Short Health Update****

I'm better - woohoo!  The nerve pain has been greatly reduced by some meds.  After 7 months of nerve pain hell, the pain that is left is mostly tolerable.  Unfortunately the meds cause some horrendous side effects, but we won't speak of those now. 

I also managed to walk 8 steps...I sat...and walked 8 steps back.  Oh yes I did!  I have been able to do it on more than one occasion.  We tried 15 steps, and I did okay getting there - coming back was a problem.  I guess I am not quite ready for Rachael's 100 Miles by April 1st...but I'm excited nonetheless.  Although I don't mind being in a wheelchair for the most part, it is still very handy (leggy?? footy??) to be able to walk a few steps.  The hubster is doing well too, and is rid of his staph infection.  Wahoo!

Knitting - Woo Hoo!

Knitting.  I know, the surprise must just be killing y'all!  I had more fun knitting Amy's Fake Isle Hat, than anything I have knitted in quite awhile.  I knew as soon as I saw this pattern, I wanted to knit it. 

What little knitting time I have had the past couple of months has gone to knitting my sister's socks of doom, Christmas socks.  No they aren't quite finished.  Yes, I am aware that Christmas has come and gone.  Ask me when I might consider knitting another pair of socks in BLACK any time soon.  Before my eyes glaze over, I hear terms like "hell" and "freezing over" circling in my brain.

I can no longer get to my yarn room, because of my handicap inaccessible house.  I know!  The horror!  Thankfully I participated in a little thing called Flash Your Stash back last year, and those pictures of each cubby, drawer etc. have become my life savers.  They have allowed me to direct non-knitters like my family and caregiver attendants to my yarn room to retrieve specific yarn.

There is lots of Kureyon to choose from in my yarn room.  M went in and came out with Kureyon #95.  This was funny, because I believe it is the same as what Amy used in her pattern.  That was fine with me, because I wanted it to be one of the brighter colorways.

Pattern Specs: 

Pattern:  Magknits, Fake Isle Hat (free pattern)

Designer:  Amy King

Yarn:  Kureyon #95 from stash, and Knit Picks, Wool of the Andes in coal

Needles:  Bamboo circular, size 6.

Modifications - none.  It's perfect as it is.  I know my granddaughter will love it.  She Who Refuses to Wear Handknits - Kiddo has requested one just like it.  Once my heart palpitations cease from the shock; I'll make her one.  Warning - this is one of those patterns you won't be able to make just one.  My mind is already thinking of solid yarn combinations, too.  Amy's use of Kureyon though is sheer genius.

Twenty-Two Years and Counting!

Anniversary Roses A closeup of one of these amazing roses.

What a wonderful anniversary we had.  Because I am unable to get out of the house to celebrate, my step-daughter brought in a feast from Olive G*rden (one of our favorites) for just the two of us.  My DH remarked that it was just like being there.  I said "Even better, because I'm in comfortable clothes, braless and barefoot."  (Okay, now you can deal with that disturbing visual all night - teehee.  Return to the roses for better inspiration.)

Thus begins our days of celebrations.  Tomorrow is Kiddo's 14th birthday...then Christmas Eve with music, carol singing and opening of one gift...then Christmas Day with all of its festivity. family, food, and remembrance of THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

And if you're still knitting, may your needles be especially speedy.  As you can see...I could use some speedy knitting thoughts coming my way.  That is one sister sock completed, and one barely begun.  They're black.  They're a bit boring, once past the patterned leg, which you can't see.  They are what she wanted.  Knitting elves are welcome to come in at night and knit to their little heart's content.

May your holidays be blessed with love...

First Day of School

I can't believe it is already the first day of school!  It seems Kiddo was just starting Summer break.

As a tradition here at I Hide Yarn, we like to show comparision pictures of the Kiddo as she gets ready for school this morning compared to last year's photo.  Although there have been some changes, I don't think they are as remarkable as last year.

Miss Thing is starting 8th grade today.  Doesn't it feel a little odd when your children get to the grade level that you can remember well?

She has also been nominated to travel with a select group of students to several European countries (England, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands) for 20 days.  We are waiting on more information, but at the moment - everything motherly inside me is screaming NOOOOOOooooooooo!

On the left Aug 05...and on the right Aug 06...one major difference she was not out in the pool every day this summer...I think my lighting/flash washed out the colors some or made them a bit "day-glow" - sorry.

Random Tuesday

This will be a bit of a random post, with various information.

We had our first puppy/knitting casualty this week.  The boys were playing in the other room, and they brought me this...

It seems they decided to get in the chair and retrieve my crochet hook off the side table.  They brought it to me proudly, after demolishing the hook portion.

Most of the past week or so has been filled with scouring the Internet, and then sending the girls out on a shopping expedition to keep Kiddo from dorkdom.  You know you must have just the right clothes...just the right shoes...just the right hair...or no one will talk to you at school.  Not only will you have no friends, you will be assigned a locker without a lock housed in a dark hallway.  Your lunch hour will be spent with you strung up in the lunchroom, while everyone throws their unwanted food and beverage at you.  At least to here her tell it, it would be that bad and worse.

So a shopping we did go...SHOES....

Vans

Birkenstocks

We even found a t-shirt with Kiddo's favorite buzz word on it...

The girls shopped and shopped and shopped some more.  They found blue jeans and more t-shirts, and capris.  Turns out we have rolled back the clock to the 80's again.  Kiddo's favorite back-to-school outfit is a long hooded shirt that comes down past her hips, underneath goes a cami, then a tiny flip skirt, and underneath it all goes LEGGINGS!  OMG - it's shades of Madonna and Jennifer Beals.  I figure Kiddo will be asking me to knit her some leg warmers any day.

Then there was the hair.  We had to find a new braider, then work out a time to get it done which took awhile.  Turns out she is a college student who will be going to school a couple of hundred miles away with no car.  I have a feeling we will be going to get her and giving her free trips home to get hair braided.

Turns out I am not the only mother with teenager hair woes.  Go read Leahpeah's entry - it's hilarious.

It turned out the new hair caused quite a stir around these parts.  First Remy was checking it out.  He moved too quickly for me to get a picture of him nose-deep in the braids checking them out.

Next Winston came up to take a little sniff...

Winston:  Who is this enchantress?

Winston:  Do you taste as good as you look?

Winston:  C'mon baby, give me a little sugar...

Winston: Quit playing hard to get, and give Winston a big kiss!

Winston: Ohhh yeahhh, pucker up cutie!

As you can see, Winston is unrelenting when he wants a smooch.

Now on to the next order of business...do not let this innocent face fool you...

That only LOOKS like Sachi - it is in fact a little SHE DEVIL.  At 9 weeks and 1 lb 7 oz, she pretty much terrorizes the entire household.  She is as fast as lightning and nips at anything that comes close.  She loves to grip my hand with her teeth, and then try to shake it like a ragdoll.  Thankfully she also appears to be part bird...

We have discovered if we drape a light-weight towel over the front of her dog crate, she gets vewy vewy quiet and goes to sleep.  This is great, because she will sleep all night from about 10:00 p.m. until around 6:00 a.m.

One last thing...you have to go see this site on bad, bad baby names.  It's not just the names that are hilarious - it's the commentary.