Into the Out and Over-Doing...

So I'm getting more out-and-about and of course I over-did it. 

It started Friday, after PT. It was a later session than I'm used to, but it is what it is. I was feeling pretty good and I said to Hubby, "Let's take a walk; just a short one, about half a block." The new neighbors were having a party and we figured we'd walk by and wave. Well, a half block walk is actually a block if you consider there and back. 

Saturday, we went to the Sketcher's store and I took advantage of their Before School Sale, and got 2 pairs of shoes, with the 2nd one 50% off. One of them was the step-ins, which need a little more wear before they're easier to slip into. I wanted to get shoes which I could slip into myself without Hubby having to help tie them (it's bad enough that I still can't put my own sock onto the left foot yet), and without me having to bend too much to use a shoehorn. And another pair we picked up are these purple shoes that Hubby picked out. Hey, if he's going to pick out shoes, I'm all in! I wanted colorful shoes, and he knows me well. 

The slip-in shoes are a taupe color. I can get those on by myself, but for now, he has to tie these purple ones for me - at least the left foot. I still am not supposed to turn out my hip, nor bend fully forward. I mean, I do bend to pick up something once in a while, but it's not recommended. 

I love the purple because it's a pretty ombre colorway and they're also very comfy. 

So that's what I wore to church on Sunday (this is all part of the over-doing). It was great to be back; and we're Episcopalian, so there's "pew gymnastics" (thanks, Robin Williams) - stand, sit, kneel, repeat. Sat for a while in Coffee Hour, and visited. Lots of hugs, a very warm welcome. 

Then we went to return a walker we'd borrowed, and then home. 

I woke up Monday sore as heck. But I pushed through and did some cooking. Mind you, I haven't been able to stand long enough to do more than maybe fill a water bottle. But see below for what I made. On none of these occasions (aside from PT) did I bother using my ice pack. Dumb idea, I know, but we got busy. 

Tuesday's therapy was a little rough, though I did use the ice pack again. 

The Knitting...

The sock is moving right along. I'm finished with the gusset decreases, and I'm on the first few rows of the instep. It currently measures 4" from the heel to the needles, and I'm aiming for a 7.5" foot. 

The only problem I have is that I've been hearing some bad things about the Cascade Heritage Sock yarn -- when you knit socks with it. There are rumors that it pills and doesn't wear well, which is what I was sort of worried about, because it is so soft. I probably should have frogged the first sock and done what I believe might have been a better use: made a shawlette. 

I don't know if I've shared this before, but I've been writing it on every sock pattern I have, for the SSK decreases. Normally, a K2tog looks really neat, and the SSK side looks more sloppy. There are several theories and methods to make it neater, but the one I like, and which to me sort of matches the K2tog is where I take the first stitch of the SSK knitwise, and the second stitch purlwise. 

Now I just have to remember that for the heel turns. I can't quite get them to look smooth on the SSK side. At any rate, the sides of the gussets now look really neat and I like how it feels on my foot. 

I think that I've decided to do a 4x2 rib on the Other Blue Sock, and that's what I'll be working on once this is done. 

That will make a total of 3 pairs finished (singletons + mates) for this summer, and I'll take that as a win/win. 

After that, I may start the Long Sands again or I might work on a baby sweater for the little one, before she grows out of the size kit I have! Of course, I have to see if I can do the sweater; it seems odd, since I can knit socks, and I can follow a pattern, but sometimes, it also depends on how the pattern is written. 

We shall see. It's a beautiful rose colored boucle yarn, so I think it's going to be lovely. I just have to knit it up. 

Cooking...

I spent some time in the kitchen, also walking without the cane for a bit, as long as I had a counter to grab if I felt wobbly. 

I made Lentil Potato Carrot Patties. I used green lentils, because that's what I had. I figured I could use them for lunch, and I could use a little more plant-based protein in my diet anyway. 

It felt good to get back to cooking. I subbed shallots out for the yellow onion (had those in the freezer) and used 2 medium carrots and 2 medium potatoes. 

I feel like I could've used more flour to make it more "batter"-ish. The first few cakes fell apart. 

I ended up using a scoop, because when I tried to form them by hand, everything stuck to my hands. I'm not moving fast enough to make a pattie, plop it in a frying pan, wash my hands and then flip the thing. The scoop worked well, and I gently flattened the scooped batter and made them about 1/2" thick. 

The oil was an avocado-safflower blend I had, and I should have had it get a smidge hotter. And I'd like to play with adding more herbs, like maybe some chopped parsley. 

I will admit I got frustrated at the first 3-4 cakes. I was almost going to just plop the whole thing into the pan like a ginormous potato latke but then I realized I would be unable to flip it over... So I ended up, once I got my frying groove on, putting 4 cakes in the pan at a time. They only took 3-4 minutes per side - enough to soften the shallots and carrots a bit, and the potatoes and lentils were already cooked, so they have a nice al dente feel. 

Maybe next time I'll use sweet potato instead of white potato - it's mashed in my version, so while it's a rough mash, there's the fact that the spud and the flour are the "glue" that hold this vegan dish together. I guess if I wanted to un-vegan it, I'd add an egg as a binder, which would also work. 

Or I could make a flax egg and add that for even MORE fiber. I use flax eggs for my black bean brownies. 

I tried a couple of the patties - they're best warm, after you drain the excess oil off, and yeah, I broke "vegan code," because I used ranch dressing as my "sauce." You can use whatever condiment you want; that was just handy and I was hungry. 

Looking at this, I can tell you that I'm not a professional stager of photos... you can see my essential oils bottles just lying there. Oh well. Focus on the food, kids!

If you were to make a meal of these, you'd probably want to add a green salad and maybe some fruit. 

They're going to be easy to transport once I get back to work, and I can do that for lunch with an apple and be pretty happy. 

Update on Hip...

Well, today, I did remember to use the ice pack again after PT. And today, I did a solo flight... I walked the length of the clinic back and forth without the cane. That was a little weird. I felt a bit wobbly, but I did it. He said I could take "short trips" around the house, as long as I wasn't trying to dodge the dogs. So I'll probably walk solo in the bathroom and bedroom, for now. Though I'll still have a cane handy for after I shower, for a little bit. Not that I'm unsteady - just for safety's sake. 

The PT will continue to build my muscle, regain my balance and keep me walking without the cane (at least inside). We're also going to work on stairs. Still no walking outside on uneven ground without a cane. Or actually, ANY walking around outside without a cane, for now. 

And I'm waiting on a step stool so that I can get in and out of my car on the driver's side more safely. It's just a tad too high. 

Otherwise, I'm also hoping that a good night's sleep will soon be my reward for...something. 

Random Picture...

I dug into the archives for this one, kids.... It's a church (I don't know which one, because there wasn't a sign on it) in Lugano. There were so many magnificent pieces of artwork but I thought I'd focus on the altar. 

I think that of all the places we visited in 2021, Lugano is possibly the place where I feel like I could live, if ever I was going to move out of this country. 

A friend of mine and her husband lived their dream by moving out of the US to New Zealand.  On a recent visit "home" (back here), they said the difference is palpable. Which is sad. 

While we were in Lugano, we found that it was all walkable, and seemed like they would welcome visitors whether long- or short-term. But then, maybe since it's in Switzerland, they wouldn't take us!

We in the US are at the cusp of some sort of immense shift. The climate crisis is catching up with us. We are more polarized than ever politically, our Supreme Court is a blasted mess, and there's a larger percentage of people than you'd think (though not mathematically significant if every Democrat votes in the upcoming presidential election) who would willingly install a dictator-for-life who's a criminal and a con man. If the DOJ can't put him in prison first. Which we can only hope for, at this point. Hopefully, his teflon coating is wearing thin. 

Perhaps in the next few editions of this blog, I'll go into the archives more. Who knows what kinds of pictures I'll come up with!

 

Things I'd Like to Ask my Sister...

I don't know why this hit me today. Well, yes, I do. My friend's sister's one-year anniversary of death is today, and I just saw a commercial on TV about Subaru's work with cancer patients. "When you have cancer, you want support."

Not always... My sister, sadly, retreated deeply into herself and got extremely panicked with the thought of anyone coming to see her. It was quick (while simultaneously seeming to be forever because we were shut out), and it wasn't peaceful. And we, her extended family, were distraught that we were unable to support her. 

So here's what I'd like to ask her:

• How long did you really know that you had cancer? You were an extraordinarily talented diagnostician as a nurse. You had to have a clue. 
• Why did you retreat? 
• Were you afraid we'd judge you?
• Please don't tell me you were too vain to let us "see you like that" because I don't want to believe it (though, to be honest, you had a wide streak of "vain" in you, not gonna lie!)
• Did you know back in September the year before that there was something wrong? That cough of yours...I should have pressed you more. And you said you had a "bug bite" that wouldn't heal. I should have asked about that. But I know your propensity to rip my head off if I come off as "giving advice that's not wanted."
• Would you have changed your mind if you knew how much this would rip our family up? You have siblings who remain devastated. 

And I'd like answers, though I'm not sure I will ever get them, this side of Heaven.

Which brings up a good question. My sister wasn't religious. So does that mean that if I believe in an afterlife, she doesn't and we'll never meet again? I can't quite wrap my head around that. It's something I do grapple with. 

Recipe...

I need, after the surgery, to get more veggies/fiber in my diet. That surgery really did a number on my bowels, to be honest. And I know that even though the doctors said I'm "borderline anemic," and they want me to eat more protein, I don't do well with a lot of meat in my diet. I never have; I asked my mom. I thought it was a "later in life" peculiarity, and she said that I never was one for eating a lot of meat. Nice to know. 

So I took a page from the Vegan Kid's book and I've made these "dump salads" before. Here's the latest version.

Vegan Dump Salad #4 (I have no idea which number this actually is, but let's just say it's the fourth version)

1 box Chickpea and Lentil pasta cooked per package directions

1 can of French-style green beans, drained

1 can garbanzo beans, drained

4 radishes, sliced thin and quartered (depending on the size of the radish)

2 pieces roasted red pepper, diced

4 green onions, sliced thin, white and green parts

1 can bamboo shoots, drained

Salt & pepper to taste

2 T. Penzey's Potato of Love

1 c. roasted Butternut Squash (optional)

1/2 c. slivered almonds or chopped walnuts (optional)

Balsamic Dressing (see below for recipe)

SMALL BATCH BALSAMIC DRESSING: (This is good for 2 large salads and can be refrigerated for a couple weeks)

2 T. balsamic vinegar

2 T. Dijon mustard

1 T. honey (or maple syrup if that's your preference)

1/4 t. kosher salt

6 T. olive oil

In a medium bowl, so you have some "whisking room," add everything EXCEPT the oil. Whisk to blend and make sure it's blended well. This is a small batch, so it's easier to whisk by hand. 

Add, BY TABLESPOON, the oil, mixing well after each addition of oil. 

SALAD: Drain the pasta and rinse with cool water. Dump everything into a large bowl (I use a Rubbermaid one with a cover so I can keep it in the fridge). Add about half the dressing and mix well. Let it cool for a couple hours. Upon serving, sprinkle with the nuts if you're using them. Serve with crunchy bread or crackers.

OPTIONS: I always love options. Normally, if I had them, I would add a can of corn, a handful of dried cranberries, maybe golden raisins. You can use regular pasta in any variety or shape if you want, and you can add chopped chicken if you want - shrimp would be good, too, if you're not styling this as a vegan dish. Instead of pasta, try quinoa for even more protein. Add more beans. 

Guilty Pleasure...

I really don't have many vices. OK, excessive purchase of yarn and books. But I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke or swear. Mainly I drink tea and water. I'm pretty boring. 

I have found Nutella. Yeah, I know - a gazillion grams of sugar in that stuff. But oh, my word! It's just addictive on English muffins. 

Just a random note about me, I guess. I have a sweet tooth. 

Random Picture...

Yesterday, I was "in the out." I sat outside while Hubby was putting together our little fountain. He was cussing. Apparently, the old pump motor froze up and it won't go. We have a spare one, but by the time he realized he couldn't make the old one go, he was pretty frustrated. 

I brought out my $10 solar fountain. Yeah - it's not exactly top of the line, and it needs to be replaced every year because our water is so hard and full of minerals. But it works well in our little bird bath, and it keeps the water moving. 

And we tried a "hack" I found on a gardening forum of putting 7 pennies in the bottom of the bird bath to keep algae at bay. We'll see if that works. 

The sky was beautiful. It was unseasonably cool for July in Illinois, and the birds were chirping. We sat for a while and just enjoyed the view. 

This morning, I saw a hummingbird stop briefly at my new feeders (we're pretty late in the season, but better late than never). Storms are supposed to move in later; I hope it's not a tease because we need the rain. 

Enjoy whatever today brings you! 

 

More Than I Expected...

Well. That didn't go as expected. I thought I had about 6-7" on that Long Sands Tee. Seems like I was wrong. I had most of the front done. 

I frogged it anyway.  Took me most of the afternoon. I cut out a join that I had used; untangled a bunch of knots (I have got to get better about either ending the ball at the seam or weaving in my ends, since this is in the round...), and generally picked my way through it till it was all nicely set back into the raw material that I started with. 

I was working away at my sock (more on that below), and I thought, "I have to grab that thing; I need to frog it today." Call it an irresistable impulse. I thought I knew where it was, but it took me a couple times to find it in the office - slash - junk room (#goals will be to clean that thing out once my hip is rehabbed...It's making me nuts). 

I found the bag, and sat down with "Star Trek: Enterprise" on the TV and started ripping. And ripping. And ripping. 

As you can see, that's a whack of knitting to rip out. I don't know why I thought I had less done. 

Luckily, it's linen, so it can kind of take a pounding. I unwound four balls. Four. As you can see, I have a total of seven hanks. And that dinky little ball is the "two ball cast on" technique that I have to revisit so that I can get the thing cast on in one go rather than try to estimate a couple hundred stitches and have to do it over a couple of times. I had found that on YouTube, and I really liked it. I don't know why I didn't do it this time, but I'm going to give it a go this next cast on. Since it's smaller than the size I initially knitted, it should be enough on that dinky ball. I know it's a risk; I may be in the same trouble of having to rip the thing out if it doesn't work. But again -- linen yarn can take it. 

I'm "getting a leg on" with the Petty Harbour sock. I think the reason I wanted to frog the Long Sands is just that I wanted a break from the leg of the sock. It's not like it's a forever-long leg, either, but I have to say I've been very faithful to this project, and I just needed to do something a little different. 

Ripping things apart usually does that for me. I've got a little over 3" on the leg, and it's a 5" length, so by tomorrow, I should be able to start the heel flap. 

I'm already imagining the rest of this yarn as the tops of a pair of scrappy socks. I'd have to knit those 2 at a time, just to make sure I got all my colors in a row. I need to investigate the "leftovers" bag to see what I've got there. I know it'll be colorful, if nothing else. 

I will have to wait to re-start the Long Sands; probably a month, so the yarn gets a chance to relax. So I could pick up a shawl I have sitting around; I'm not about to frog that puppy - it's about 2/3 done and it would be nice to have it ready for the holidays. I know - thinking ahead for once! 

Monarchs...

So we're trying to control our milkweed population. We really went nuts the first year and had far too many plants; they almost took over the whole wildflower bed, which wasn't my intention. Gradually, over the last few years, we've pulled them out and kind of tried to have order among chaos. This year, what with my hip and all, we really have done nothing with the garden and it's looking rather pathetic. 

A drought doesn't help, just so you know. 

Anyway, I was sitting on the porch the other day and noticed a Monarch butterfly dancing among the few milkweeds we had. 

And we always have some stragglers in the yard; Hubby tries to pull them up or mow them down - and it's a constant battle. Well, Mama Monarch decides to lay her ONE EGG on the one plant in the lawn. 

Seriously. You can see the tiny speck she laid there. Hubby is NOT amused that I want to put a cage over the plant. I have been trying to establish a Monarch garden for a while, and we just haven't had any luck. This time, of course, she picks the worst place. 

You can't mess with Mother Nature, that's for sure. 

The Hip...

I don't know if this is true for others, but over the past two days, it's like a switch has flipped. I'm walking better with the cane, my appetite is back (which is a blessing and a curse...), and most all systems are back to normal. Except my bowels (yeah, TMI) have been a bit slow to recover. 

I'm being a renegade and stopping the iron pill. Those things always give me tummy trouble, and I don't need any help there. 

The PT is amazed at the change in my gait. We start to do the hard work on Monday; I had the evaluation and it was a lot of walking up and down so he could see how I did, and some measurements were taken. 

I'm still doing some of the home PT that I was given, as well as trying to walk more each day. 

Random Picture...

Memorializing my first post-surgery meal in the hospital, it was an egg salad sandwich, small salad and tea. Now mind you, I'd been having IV fluids, and at least 2 of those large styrofoam glasses of water. 

And yet I had to gag that sandwich down. I was hungry, but I honestly thought I'd choke on it because my throat was so dry. Perhaps I should've stuck to soup...

The hospital has an interesting set-up - you can call and order your meals anytime from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. - kind of like a concierge kitchen. My favorite sandwich is egg salad, though mine is more wet than they make theirs. 

At that point, beggars couldn't be choosers, I suppose. Anyway, it was food, it was tea and I was both hungry and under-caffeinated. So it worked. 

Not Ribbed For My Pleasure...

I really hate ribbing. I mean HATE it. Those 12 rows may as well be 1200 as far as I'm concerned. 

I hate ribbing as much as I hate the 4th of July weekend. As I type, there are boomers going off. One dog is in the kitchen, relatively clueless. The other is in the bathroom, somewhat heavily medicated, and will be even more medicated in about 2 hours or so, when it really gets nuts. 

Anyone blowing off illegal fireworks (I'm in Illinois - if you're not a professional and it's down the block from me, it's illegal) needs to be fined. Not only for blatantly breaking the law, but for being a bass-pole and a dirtbag who doesn't care about their fellow neighbors. 

It's not only the pets. It's the folks with PTSD. The people with sensory disorders. The veterans. The livestock (where I'm at, there's a fair bit of livestock). Go visit any of the 4 or 5 towns which are having lovely, FREE displays of fireworks. It's safer, you don't have to worry about drunks, and you get to keep your digits. And those are over by 9:45 or 10 p.m. 

Last night it was 1:30 or so and tonight it'll be even later. I expect these shenanigans to go on all week. 

I get upset because these are the same people who complain that their water bill is going higher, their garbage bill goes up, or whatever. I have no sympathy. None. You blew your wad on pyrotechnics that you shouldn't have had, and now you have no money? Tough bananas.

And the other thing? It's always the same people. It's always the house one block over and up, and one on the end of our block. The town knows this. They choose to do nothing. 

And -- we're in a drought. Yeah, it rained the other day. Not enough. So maybe we wait till the houses catch on fire? Sounds like a solid plan. 

The Knitting...

So the detested ribbing is done and I've completed the first row of the leg. This is the second sock of the Petty Harbour pair. My hand hurts, and I have learned to stop when it gets cranky. Otherwise, I'm off knitting for a while. 

This weekend (I'm already thinking of the weekend), I think I'll go ahead and frog the Long Sands Tee. I will have had my first outpatient PT appointment on Friday, so Lord knows how sore I'll be Saturday and Sunday. 

As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to try to stay monagamous to the socks till I have the pair done. I feel like I want to finish stuff. So Long Sands is going to have to be in time-out for a bit anyway till the knitted yarn relaxes, and till I can wind up a few of the hanks that haven't been caked yet. 

That gives me time to make a mis-matched pair of the blue striped socks, since I don't think I can lay my hands on the pattern of the one sock that's finished. I may (go ahead, get ready to laugh) do a 4x2 rib on the second one. I think the first sock is something like an 8x2 rib, but I can't find the notes, so I figure if I get it "close enough," nobody's going to mind. 

And I might start a trend. Not only of fraternal twins, but of "almost" the same patterns. Who says it might not be a new thing? 

The Hip...

Things are progressing. I am FREE of the TED hose! One week post-op, I showed the nurse the marks on my left thigh, just above the knee. She was not happy, because the skin was being compromised. We didn't want to risk an infection so she determined I was very low risk for blood clots and off they came!! 

My skin is lizard-like, and I can't get around to my left foot yet, so that's been interesting. I've also started to sleep on the incision side. I checked with the PT and the nurse and they said it wasn't going to hurt. The hip is in there; it ain't goin nowhere... It's more building up your mind that it's ok. And I'm a left-side sleeper, so there's that. Even if I stay there for 3-4 minutes, my MIND says, "OK, we can move to the other side now." It's all a game. 

Physical therapy is doing well, except I'm not having fun with the hip flexor stretches. Your hip flexors are the muscles right in the crease of your hip, so if you sit down and place your thumbs at the very top of your thighs, you're close. My left side got really jacked up with the hip injury, and I was walking very bent over. Well, that's gotta be stretched out. And it's not happy about that. 

I have my last day of in-home PT on Wednesday, and then I go to outpatient. I'm off all the pain meds, and I have been "let outside" on my walker, with a companion and a gait belt. I'm also using a cane in the house.

So that using a cane thing... Wowza. I was using TWO canes pre-surgery, just so I could take the weight off the bum leg. Now, though, I have to use ONE cane to just lightly support the now "remodeled" hip, and bear more weight on the left hip. It's a real mind-trick, and has been an interesting adjustment. 

The other exercises, I can do pretty easily, thanks to some pre-hab work I did and just an overwhelming urge to get this therapy behind me. 

But that walking with a cane does have me slightly wobbly. I can tell how far my balance has been affected, and how much work I have to do. 

I have been practicing my Tadasana (Mountain Pose), just to straighten up my posture and get that balance back. 

I have a helper. We have a massage table, which has been a blessing for the PT, as it's firmer than a bed, and easy to adjust. And recently, when Hubby was helping me do the exercises, Quinn hopped up on the couch next to me to help. I have to tell you, it was a nice relaxing treat. I didn't think she had it in her. She's always been a snuggler, but this was deliberate - she  came up to where I could reach her, put a paw on the table and moved so that I didn't have to reach too far. Hubby said that I actually relaxed my leg more as I was petting her, so I guess she's hired for my in-house therapy dog for as long as it takes me to get this hip back in order. 

The Reading...

So aside from having a problem with my Kindle, which I will explain, I am reading Evelyn Waugh's "The Loved One." It's the book upon which the movie was based, and the movie is as camp as it gets. 

I'm enjoying the book, which is a skinny little thing considering how long the movie is. 

The book is enough like the movie that I can follow it. I love the skewering that Waugh gives the whole Hollywood scene, and he does it so lightly and completely. 

I was able to borrow this book from Kid #1, and I have to admit, I'm getting the vibe I had when I took "As I Lay Dying" on a plane trip... this might not be a book which you'd want to take as a travel book, but then again -- maybe you would. It would certainly start a conversation. Or stop one. 

So, the Kindle problem. I love Agatha Christie. I have a bunch of her mysteries on my Kindle and I noticed that the last 3 of them which I purchased had a problem with the downloads. It wasn't just me, because looking at the reviews/comments, this problem seems to be pretty consistent. It's as if all the "Alt" characters: *%&$^#@)>< -- all of that stuff just appears randomly in the text, making the books impossible to read. 

I complained to Amazon, which may or may not accomplish anything, but it's annoying because I paid for the books, and I cannot read the books. 

I'm not sure if it's an off-shore place which is digitizing the books. But I can tell you that when I was working in publishing, I had several projects in which I had to clean up stuff like this. 

I'm hoping that there's some resolution. But I'm not holding my breath.

The Shed...

So everyone always asks, "how much do your dogs shed?"

Here's a PART of ONE side of Raisa. 

As you can see, she is NOT amused. She is one of the few dogs I have had who doesn't like to be brushed. She grumbles, but tolerates it. 

Even Quinn is shedding more this year. 

When I'm asked, I always say, "Twice a year, six months at a time." My mom grumbles about her dog's hair (a puggle) and I just laugh. 

As long as you keep on top of it, it's not all that horrible. I did have one husky who liked to be vacuumed, which isn't all that common, I can tell you. 

So this is the "summer shed." There'll be another in the fall when their winter coats come in. Don't even try to figure it out - it's just how it works. 

Random Picture...

Talk about a throw-back. This is River. She's my first red husky. She's long across the Rainbow Bridge, and this was when we had the "perfect pack" of River, Tippi & Quinn. Quinn was so attached to River. 

She came to us just after Topaz (my black & silver husky) died, and was a boon to our then-first elkhound Gracie, who went into extreme mourning after Topaz died - so much so that my neighbor thought that BOTH dogs had passed. 

River was a retired show dog. She would have been the dog I trained to be a therapy dog if I had the job flexibility. This was after she was diagnosed with glaucoma, and before she had Cushing's Disease. 

She was definitely the queen. She had a presence; even people who were afraid of big dogs were drawn to her. I miss her.