Tink, Tink, Tink...

Well. That WAS going well... Till it wasn't. 

I was zipping along on the February Lady Sweater. It's a 4-row, 7-stitch variation on Elizabeth Zimmerman's Gull Lace pattern, and somehow, somewhere, I ended up screwing something up on the last Row 1 pattern. I was off one stitch. 

So, for some reason (I'm going with "I was tired.") I thought I didn't need to fix it, and that I could fudge it on Row 3 (which is the next pattern row - rows 2 & 4 are purl rows). Went ahead and knitted row 2, knitted row 3....annnnnnnnnd - I'm like 3 or 4 stitches off. In lace, this is massively off. Tremendously off. Incredibly off. 

Un-fudgeably off. 

The photos here don't show the screw-up. I've been busy (read on) and I didn't take a picture of the mess-up because I can't see it. I could "feel" it, but till I tink. And tink. And tink.... I won't be able to actually see what I screwed up. 

For the non-knitters, "tink" is, aside from the word "knit" backwards, the universal knitting term for "frog." "Frog is the slang for "ripping back" - think about it. 

What sound does a frog make? "Ribbit, ribbit." So, knitters who were probably sleep-deprived and on a knitting deadline that was non-negotiable (babies and Christmas are the two biggies - weddings come in a very close third...) coined the term "frog" -- as if to say, "Rip-it, rip-it."

You get your fun where you make it. Tinking is a pain. Tinking LACE? Even bigger pain. This is where I usually screw it up even more by dropping a stitch. 

OK, now I have to spit and turn around 3 times, so I don't jinx myself. 

I took these pictures to show my friend "D." She's the one who gave me the yarn. And she's not feeling well. Even though she's pulled back from knitting and prefers quilting (sorry, but shoot me now...), she still is an expert knitter and I value her opinion. 

She was cheered up at the notion that the yarn was being used and was happy that I chose this pattern. 

Well, we'll see how this goes as I tink it and fix it. 

Food...

Still on the "orthodontic diet," and finding different things to eat. I've been able to eat grilled cheese sandwiches, as long as I cut them into a zillion bitsy pieces. I have no idea why this is such a problem, but it is. It's annoying. 


Tonight, for some reason, the braces are really bothering my mouth. I may have to break out the orthodontic wax for overnight. 

I had read some ways to change things up, and one of them was to use mayo instead of butter on a grilled cheese. I thought, oh, I don't think so... 

It doesn't cut the fat. C'mon - it's a grilled cheese. You need "real" cheese, and you need bread, and butter. 

Or mayo. Seriously. It's got to be real mayo, not the low-fat or (God forbid) "miracle" mess.

What it does is spread more easily than butter, and it has the ability to brown more evenly and make a more crisp grilled cheese. 

And it does. It's delicious. Try it. I mean it. Even cut into baby-sized bites, it's amazing. 

Baking...

So who knew that there was COCONUT sweetened condensed milk? I had to make some cookies and the recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. It also uses Young Living Essential Oils - from their "Vitality" line. 

I have to futz with the recipe because it didn't turn out like the pictures. The cookies were flatter, rather than round and "truffle" looking. I think it's that there isn't enough coconut. 

Once it's perfected, I'll share, but let me experiment first. I ended up baking the cookies for a workshop I did, called "Essential Oils for Dogs," and my friend and mentor, G, loved the flat ones. 

They were delicious. Just not pretty. Pretty counts in baking. 

I've used the essential oils in cooking and baking for the past few months. They really add a pop of flavor. I use orange or tangerine in my green smoothies. I use the dill or basil in marinades or salad dressings. Since the oils are 100% therapeutic-grade and we have our Seed-to-Seal process (the best in the industry), I'm sure that what I'm ingesting is not going to hurt me. 

Curious? Let me know. 

New Job...

The new job is going well. While I miss the people at the old job, I enjoy the creativity I'm able to enlist in the new job. I'm writing a lot more, and I'm working on some exciting projects. 

Now I will tell you - the commute is annoying! There are really only three definite ways to get there. There's a lot of truck traffic. And every time someone sneezes on one of the interstates around here? It's like everyone has to stop and think about it. 

I've researched, and unless I want to go through neighborhoods, I kind of have to take one of the 3 main ways - so I try to leave at the same time every day and not press my luck with the crazy drivers!

I'm used to the part-time schedule, and I'm able to spend more time working with projects I didn't have time for before - working on some special workshops for the studio and increasing my private student base.

It was a good move. 

Random Picture...

I haven't really taken many pictures lately. But here's one of Tippi - she's always my favorite model. She loves to pose. Doesn't necessarily love the hats, but loves to make people smile. 


She just had some dental work done. I'd have to say that teeth are an issue. She gets dental chews and eats dry kibble...and still. Tooth problems. 

They extracted two teeth which were broken. We caught it before they were infected, thankfully - and somehow, it never dimmed her appetite!

As long as they were there, they cleaned her teeth too. She's got several weeks to recuperate - gums are still a tad tender, and so I don't want to push things. No chews for another 10 days or so. She's not impressed and is quite put out when the other girls get THEIR chews and she's left with...squat. 

For now, her teeth are sparkly-clean. As soon as she's ready, I'll be back to brushing her teeth and hopefully that gorgeous smile will be around for quite some time.

...And a Drumroll, Please...

...because I have news. 

So, from the last post, I know you can figure something was up. And it is. I'm moving to a new challenge. I'm going to be the Operations Manager for a chiropractic firm. It's part-time, and I can work on the yoga studio and my Young Living Essential Oils business too. 

I've never worked in the medical field before - but I've done a lot of other things. My "liberal arts" background comes into play here, for sure! I'll also be working on the social media aspect of the practice, blogging, working on connecting and expanding the practice. Once I get settled, I'll know more. He's willing to take me on, and we'll see how this goes. 

I start May 15. I'm envisioning my future as a path that I can forge. I have the tools, and I have the impetus to do this. I need to make the changes for myself, for my family. 

Knitting...

The layette is coming along. Apparently, according to my mom, the theme is "rubber duckies" and thankfully, I was able to find a card with a big ol' ducky on it!

The sweater turned out nicely, even though I had to do a little fiddling with the yarn because of the difference in weight. It's a slight difference, but enough to throw things off. 

The booties are done, and the hat is coming along. I think I'll finish by the end of the weekend. 

What I was thinking was, since I have extra of the other yarn used for other projects, I could throw together a couple more pairs of booties. Because the pattern literally takes an hour per bootie if I concentrate, I can toss together at least 2 pairs more, and have a bit of a "wardrobe" of booties for the new little one. I have the pumpkin orange and the black-and-white, and they're both Cascade superwash wool. That's what I'm going back to using. Even if it's a little more pricey - for this kind of thing, I'd rather stick with a yarn that's reliable and works well with the whole project. 

I will still use the Encore Worsted for the afghans, and I'll use the 8-hour afghan patterns. Are they as gorgeous as my granny's? Not really. I mean, they're not intricate - they don't call 'em "8-hour afghans" because of the complex patterns! But they're nice, the yarn is durable enough, and I can get it locally. 

I'm not sure how to finish the hat. Of course, since we don't know the gender, I'm staying away from anything "obvious." 

So -- a flat top, just a regular swirly decrease? Or an I-cord with a knot in it? Or, since I finish with 9 stitches, do I do TWO I-cords, so that I can EITHER tie them in a bow, OR knot them?

Hmmmmmmmm. 

I'll tell you one thing I'm not jazzed about, and I'm glad it's only on the hat, where it can kind of hide.... THIS... 

That little off-color brown bloopie thing has occurred in the rolled brim (where you can't see it) and here along the side. Dang. I'm not happy. It's in the yarn. And of course, far enough along where I don't want to frog it, cut it and piece it together. And I noticed a few other bits of the yarn that have this same problem. I'll take a photo of the finished project and email Universal Yarns. They need to watch this kind of stuff, and I'm not necessarily being a Grumpy Gail, but this is a baby gift. I don't want it to look like I've splashed tea on the hat!

I thought I took pictures of the booties. But I suppose I'll have to unwrap them and do that again.

At the Doctor's Office...

Recently, I had to go in for a physical. I needed a refill of a medication and they wouldn't do it till I saw a doctor. It's not like it was forever, but it had been two years. 

My doctor is thrilled at my "orthodontic diet" and weight loss. I'm hoping I can keep it off after my teeth are fixed! I think I'm down around 25 lbs., and it fluctuates a few pounds here and there. 

Anyway, this sign was right next to the scale. I love this sign. Absolutely adore it. 

Read it. Share it. Embrace it. 

Yes, I just talked about weight, and in the correct context, weight does need to be discussed. But only within the realm of "what makes you healthy" and "what keeps your life long and full." Not "how skinny can I get?" Or "I'm sooooooooo fat!" 

Our lives are full of possibility and potential. We need to live our lives according to our true selves and not try to make ourselves into something - or someone - we're not. 

My Big Move is an attempt to do that. I want to move my life more toward what I need to do to not only contribute, but feel balanced. Hubby is a long-range planner, and I am too - to a certain extent. He worries that we need to be financially "safe" - and that's not a bad thing. 

But - I kept thinking, "What am I doing to myself?" With the A-fib, even though it's fixed, it can come back. And my doc is trying to get me off my migraine Rx - which my cardiologist thinks is part of the issue with the tachycardia. I want to get my heart rate consistently under what it is now... which is pretty much usually in the high 90s, even while resting, AND on enough beta blocker to (according to my doc) put a large man to sleep. 

And still, my heart beats well into the high 90s. I want to live a long, full, wonderful life. And remaking my relationship with work and life balance is the first step to that. What's the sense in saving for a "safe" retirement if I'm not healthy enough to enjoy it?

Spring Has Sprung...

Even though we're going on Week Two of "Yoga In the Garden" actually in the studio (thanks, Mother Nature), you can't keep a good plant down. This is my nearly-30-year-old bleeding heart. 

As you can see, it's taken over the northwest corner of my front porch, and it just keeps on coming back. 

I was able to split the Prairie Blazing Star for my friend C -- and now, since she's in the U.P. -- she has to have weather that's slightly warmer than the "late winter" they're currently experiencing in order to plant that. It looks like the Icelandic Poppy is coming back yet again, yay! And the lilacs are lovely. I did lose a Bee Balm, and I'm not sure if anything will grow on the "north" side of the lilacs. 

We're not sure what we're going to do with the veggie garden, and we aren't sure which (if any) herbs we'll plant. But we have time, since the weather is still a little funky.

Random Picture...

Tippi was a little down at her last therapy visit. I'm going to have to work with her in the next several months. Not only are we going to work on getting her to go up a ramp to get into the truck, but she and I are going to be doing some "walkies" to get her to try to trim down. Her food intake is right where it should be, and treats (at least from ME!!) are limited. But she's chunking up and I know her hips are bothering her. 

Yes, she's 9 now, but she's always had trouble with her weight and as she gets older and wants to slow down, we need to keep her moving. 

We're going to our last therapy visits for the semester next week, so we shall see how she gets on with it. 

Holy Moley!!! Time Flies...

Sooooooooooooooooooooo - I have not fallen off the face of the earth. What happened was that I got a job. 

I'm back in the legal field. That being said, I am suited to this sort of work, by inclination as well as talent. I enjoy detail work and I like things organized. (Don't laugh - you haven't seen my house; if you did, you'd think I was nuts!)

Between this full-time job and teaching, life will be hectic. That's the way it rolls sometimes. 

Tippi, TDI...

Lucky for me, Tippi and I are still involved in therapy work. We moved locations and times; we're still at the University. In a way, it's kind of like sticking a pin in the balloon of those who laid me off...but she does love the work, so we're now in the library. 

We're working an evening shift, so the library is a much better spot. This picture is with a couple members of the volleyball team. She's such a ham for the boys!!

So we're still on the first and third Tuesdays, and we do our thing with the same pizzazz that she usually exhibits. She gets an elevator ride this time, which is always interesting. 

Knitting...

It would be nice to show you a completed pair of socks. The good news is that I'm finally at the toe. This is Opal's version of "watermelon." And yeah, I know it's almost November. But I needed a break from the "Bowties are Cool" sock, because it's depressing me that the pair will be tighter than I like them. 

I just did plain vanilla with a Doris heel. It's going to work just fine. Standard toe, not a star toe this time. 

I like this, but it's not "watermelon" in my own wild imagination. The yellow is actually an odd shade of greenish-yellow, and it's just a little too impressionist for me. But it's Opal and it'll make a great pair of socks. 

I've totally blown the Pair-a-Month KAL. What was I thinking? Oh yeah - that whether or not I actually DID a pair a month, at this time of year, I'd likely have a few more pairs of socks. 

I've got ONE whole pair. And two singles. 

I'm hoping to get into a rhythm where I can do a few rows almost every evening. That hasn't happened yet. It'll come. I keep telling myself that. 

In the meantime, my favorite yarn shop, Le Mouton Rouge Knittery, has MOVED! 

Yes, Kelly up and took the shop to Bloomington - 2 hours away from me. So we have St. Charles, which is easily almost 2 hours in one direction, and we have Bloomington. What a pain in the needles. 

But I can see her reasoning. Morris is very nice, but Bloomington has a better market for her. More people. Bigger spenders. More space, with a better bang for your buck. 

So when I was last in Bloomington, I stopped by. Of course. And I bought some sock yarn. Of course. And I'm probably going back - to get some MadTosh for shawls. Not socks. Of course.

Tonight, before we go to the concert (see below), I'll likely get a row or two in, unless I'm distracted by mail or something. But I'll give it a shot. I want to start the other sock. 

Baking...

Here and there I still get a little baking in. 

Today, I finished cupcakes for a little girl who was born on Halloween. These were half vanilla and half chocolate, with chocolate faces. Hubby wanted to know why they were all different. I told him they all had different expressions because they had different personalities! 

I could never do "standard" all the time. I don't think that, aside from knitting, anything I do is "standard." Particularly in frosting. I like doing things that don't look like they came from a factory. 

That being said, I would NOT want to be the parents of these kids. Each of these ghosts have at least 2" of buttercream frosting on them. Talk about a sugar buzz...

I don't know if I'll do more cakes. We'll have to see. I may do more cupcakes for my friend for her other grandkid's birthday. 

Speaking of cake: I saw this in the grocery store. It's wrong. It's sooooooo wrong on so many levels. Red Velvet is a classic. Don't mess with a classic. Ever. 

Of course I had to text Kid #2 and ask him if he wanted this for his birthday. He said he was looked at my text and promptly wanted to hurl. 

Blue Velvet? Shoes? Really? Who thought that this was a good idea? Who buys this stuff? 

I will not be buying this. I will be sticking with the classic RED velvet. 

Coloring Fun...

I've discovered coloring. I did this one, a freebie off the web, before I went to bed. It is certainly very relaxing. We're actually going to do a coloring/ meditation class at the yoga studio. You can see all the books in the bookstores, and I'm pretty sure that stock in colored pencils and markers will be rising. I can see these for Christmas gifts. 

Scoff if you will, but it really is nice. You can go wild or you can "make a theme." They're everything from simple, which is the one I chose for right before bedtime, to complex florals and paisley designs. 

It's a nice activity for when you want to mull something over. I noticed right away that my breathing slowed, my concentration sharpened, and I could focus. The only problem I had was that I needed to take my glasses off for the very tight spots. So I'm not sure I'd do the intricate designs. But I might try them. We'll see. 

Random Picture...

This was outside on the feeder a few weeks ago. The wacky weather has confused everyone - from the trees that don't know when to change to the birds that aren't sure what season it is. 

My garden is almost done. My flower garden looks like death warmed over. I have only minimal Halloween decorations this year. I've been frantically busy. Oh, and I'm editing a book for someone. So I'm behind on a lot of things. 

But this little girl brightened my day immensely. She reminded me to sit still every once in a while. And breathe. 

What's been going on in your world? I've missed you all!