Carpe Diem

We are trying to live life after cancer by changing a few things in our lives. We have learned that nothing is certain and we should seize each day. We have decided to live more and work less, spend time with the people we love, do some of the things we always wanted to do, and adopt a dog!

 

This little beauty is Samantha (Sami) a cocker spaniel mix who was due to be euthanized in a city shelter. Operation Kindness rescued her, and my good friend Erin is fostering her.  This little girl is a 10 month old who had severe demodex mange (the reason she was on the EU list) and weighs about half of what she should.  Thank heaven for our wonderful Erin, the dog whisperer. She and her husband have been nursing Sami back to health, socializing her with people and dogs, and giving her the most tender loving care and nourishment.

 

The first photo is when she was rescued (Feb 1), and the second was yesterday. What a difference a few weeks makes with proper medications, food and love.

Sami will come to live with us in a few weeks, after all her treatment is done and she is spayed. If you are thinking about a pet, please look at the shelters in your area; there are wonderful dogs and cats needing your love and care. Save one today.

 

Have a fabulous weekend, my friends!

Samantha

She's currently in foster care but will be with us in March. 

 

May I introduce Samantha (Sami for short).

A few caps for my guy

Thanks so much for your kind comments. Here's to a wonderful 2013 for us all!

When we first learned of Jim's diagnosis and treatment involving chemo, our first thought was that he would lose his hair and be cold. We found out that not all chemo has that side effect and sure enough, Jim kept his hair.  But I did knit him 2 caps to keep his head warm because even though he had hair, he felt cold; very cold much of the time.

The Cousteau Cap and the Cashmere Ribbed Cap. (I had to link to Ravelry since I can't seem to upload the photos. Grrr, Blogger!)

Both knit in the very washable Caron Simply Soft.

More soon....

Happy New Year!!!

Here's to a Happy, Prosperous and most of all Healthy New Year!!

Knitting:

My Blue Tunic is the modified  Lacey Tunic.  I took away the cowl neck and made a scoop using seed stitch. The yarn is Sublime Yarns Soya Cotton DK and I knit it on #4.

You can read more on Ravelry if you like.

Catch you soon - have a safe holiday.

A very long year

This year has been the longest of our lives. My beloved husband was diagnosed with Stage IV colorectal cancer with metastasis in the liver. He has been in the battle of a lifetime. 

 

Thankfully, he is now cancer free and feeling well. We have a page on CaringBridge dot org if you want to read of our year. Our page is Jimhiggins and you will have to enter your email and make a password.

As you can imagine, my knitting has been very slow this year but I will post my projects soon.

 

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year!

The Love of My Life

At my goal

I reached my goal on July 7, but didn't think about posting. So better late than never :-)

I have also been going to Power Barre classes - a combination of ballet barre, cardio, and Pilates. It is physically demanding, but I feel great!

Jan 30, 2011 Before

Aug 31, 2011 After - 18 lbs. less

FO Lacy Tank

The lacy tank. Great little knit, hate the yarn. I wore this for about 2 hours before I had to take it off - it had stretched beyond wear. Grrrr!

WIPs

Currently there are 2 WIPS - the Fiori di Sole




and Lacy Summer Tank

I spent an amazing week at Wildacres Retreat with dear friends attending the John Mack Oboe Camp. If you remember, Mr. Mack was my teacher, mentor and friend who passed away in 2006. It was only this year that I could find it in my heart to return. The camp is now taught by prominent students of Mr. Mack's. It was a bittersweet week, some great times and some disappointments. I'm not sure I will go back again but haven't ruled it out.

Lucky Girl

25 years ago, I married my best friend.

FO: Light as Air

Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig is such a fun little wear. Not so fun to knit - miles of stockinette with tiny yarn, but a great design. I love versatility of this little cardi!

Some knitters have done some shaping - maybe I will on the next one.

Details: Yarn is Silky Alpaca Lace and I knit it on KP #4 for the body and sleeves, #3 for the ribbing.

Thanks for stopping in and taking a look :-) Happy knitting to you ~

Progress

Jan 30 - I was sick and tired of feeling big and frumpy so I joined Weight Watchers Online. Here is the beginning of the journey:

Ap 11 -

So this is 11 lbs. later. I am happy with the progress but have more to go :-)

FO: Sunrise Circle Jacket

I started this intriguing project in December, using the yarn I reclaimed from a frogged project.

The yarn is KnitPicks City Tweed HV and the needles were #4 Options (yes, I knit loosely). I LOVE this jacket and wish it was going to be colder here a bit longer so I could wear it more this season. But it will be ready for next winter :-)

The next project (I already started) is Hannah Fettig's Featherweight Cardigan.
And am using Silky Alpaca Lace in the very colors you see!
Happy knitting, my friends -

FO: Falling Water

I have loved this pattern since I first saw it. But as I didn't realize until I started that is is virtually the same as River Rapids Socks (see August 7 blog entry)! And silly me, I knit both in purple.

I used #5 Options for a nice airy lace. The yarn is Linie Supersocke Silk. It became very fuzzy as I knit although it felt nice. The fabric drapes nicely but when I soaked it in Eucalan, it ran like mad!! The deep purple faded quite a bit. I won't use this yarn again. Too bad because it feels very nice.

Til next time - Happy knitting!

December dizzies

Thanksgiving was quiet for us. We went to The Old Warsaw for a nice dinner. While the food was excellent, we were disappointed in the service. When we had to request bread (all the other tables had it) and ask for water refills, they lost me. I really think our waiter wrote us off because we didn't order drinks.

The next three days were tied up with Nutcrackers. We have played all 20 productions with this company - they keep getting better and better. What an honor and thrill to be associated with them :-)

This was a positive note in a fall filled with disappointing orchestra news.

The Richardson Symphony, a group with whom I have played for 20 years decided to no longer bargain with the local chapter of the AF of M. It is an unfortunate turn of a professional orchestra into one made up of amateurs who call themselves professional but do not sound so. A colleague attended the first concert and said how tedious it was - while the strings played pretty well, the winds and brass played with no conviction and had intonation problems. I have mixed feelings - on one hand, I want to the orchestra to continue since it has been in existence for 49 years and is in my home town. On the other hand, we professionals were treated poorly and thrown away with no consideration for our loyalty and abilities. So I hope they sound horrible and fold. Unfortunately, the untrained listener can hardly tell the difference.

It is situations such as this that make me feel like when I stop playing professionally it will be a relief. I am usually a positive person, but this situation has really been eating me up.

On to knitting news---- I have finished two pair of Fiber Trend Felted Clogs for Christmas gifts for my cousin and his partner. And one pair for me too :-)

FO: Tea Leaves

I finished Tea Leaves last week and have worn it a few times already. This was a wonderfully well-written pattern and quite easy to knit.

The yarn is City Tweed DK from KnitPicks. Beautiful to knit with, blocked beautifully as well....

Next week is our annual Nutcracker weekend. The production is quite lovely - beautiful choreography, gorgeous costumes and sets and a full orchestra providing the music for the dancers. Come one, come all! You will enjoy it, I promise :-)

Frog Pond!

So I knit this nice little cardi in this lovely yarn last year for Rhinebeck. And I wore it - however, it was not a successful project. So I saw this and knew the lovely yarn would be perfect. So I deconstructed the nice little cardi

Frogged it, skeined it

Soaked it and now it is drying

We'll see how it relaxes and find out it it wants to turn into the circle cardigan ....

Stay tuned

FO: more baby sweaters

I love knitting baby sweaters, but have had about enough for now. I think these make nos. 5 and 6. This pattern is Lacey Baby Girl Sweater knit in Baby Bee Hushaby Solid.

The pattern is well written though the sleeves are knit before finishing the body. I knit the body first, then picked up the stitches on DPNs for the sleeves.



The yarn is from Hobby Lobby - very much like Lion Brand Cotton Ease. It is a little splitty, but generally nice to work with. And it washed very well. Overall these were nice to knit.

FO: Baby Edwin's Sweater

Edwin's sweater knit in the old Cotton Ease for my friend's newborn. It is actually larger than newborn due to the worsted weight, but since they live in Indiana, I figured this is something he will wear all winter.


I am also working on (2) Lacey Girl sweaters for my friend who has twin granddaughters. Pics soon...

As soon as all this baby knitting is done, it is on to Tea Leaves for me, knit in City Tweed DK.

Have a fabulous fall week-

FO: Tiny Tea Leaves

Tiny Tea Leaves by Madelinetosh

Knit with the (nice) discontinued Sirdar Breeze. My former student's daughter is 3 yrs old and is about to have a brand new baby brother. I thought she might like something special for herself.

Love the ruching!!

Love it so much, I bought the adult version to knit one for me!

I think I'll knit Baby Sophisticate for the new baby boy. I have a little of the old Cotton Ease in a medium blue wanting to be knit into this.

I'll post as soon as it is finished. It might take a while as school is in session and the University starts tomorrow. My schedule is too full right now... we'll see how I manage.

Til next time .... happy knitting :-)