Just like old times

I can roll through the kitchen & dining rooms from either doorway. I'm going to try restraining the damaged cabinet drawer fronts and doors, if we ever have a few days without storms. Pretty sure I can handle it. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ I've been a bit puny lately, having chills most afternoons. Maybe the anemia? Just to gather data, I thought I should take my temp the next time the chills set in. As usual, there was a small problem: the battery in the thermometer had died. Thank goodness I have a thoughtful caregiver; she got another thermometer from her closet. And yes indeed, I was feverish. So..call primary care physician? Or one of the specialists I see? Or just go to a clinic, maybe get a Covid test. The last thing I'd do would be a visit to the ER, welcome to Covidland. For those of us Stephen King fans. there's a scary echo of Captain Trips in our daily lives. ☆☆☆☆▪︎▪︎ Despite puniness, I did knit a few rows on the chair cover. Not that it is fantastic. being 100% garter stitch in scrap yarns. I feel better having made about 6 rows & changed color.

Huzzah!!

Back in January, the Plaidman accidently destroyed our built-in oven. It was a mess, and had to be replaced. Measurements were taken, but failed to account for overhanging lips of the countertop. We spent almost 1K on a very nifty oven. that can even connect with our WiFi. but which could not be pushed back against the wall. This elephant sat in the middle of the kitchen. cutting off my access from the living room to the kitchen, until today! We had a handyman come in, cut the countertop as needed, move one small stack of drawers. and Voila! push the oven into the enlarged space between the counters. I'm thrilled. A side bonus was that Disco & Plaidman worked to get everything off the counters & run through the dishwasher--no dirty dishes in sight. Plaidman & I first swept, then mopped the kitchen & dining room tile floors. Next mission: get the fridge cleaned. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆£☆☆ Last week I had an issue (AGAIN!) with getting my med refilled, but managed to get an actual person on the phone & got it sorted. That came today; so did a book from Thriftbooks; and a yarn order from Darn Good Yarn. It feels like Christmas in August.

GET GOING

The last time Disco had her eyes examined, she bought the ugliest frames in the shop.  They were the cheapest, made of horrible black plastic, and they never fit!  How in the world did the optician let her leave the store in kid-sized frames?  I don't donate my frames or throw the away, figuring I can have prescription sunglass lenses in them.  I went through some storage, and found a half metal frame from several years ago, in good shape and with a medium red-brown color applied.  Perfect for our favorite ginger!  And they fit her well!  So, she can apply her insurance $ to the lenses (Mom & Dad will pay the rest), and let the eye care store put 'em into the recycled frames.  And today is the day for her exam.

*** *** ***

I'm at the second of three row 11 of the second of three 12 row repeats for the body of the Clingman's Watch Cap. 14 rows more, then start the decreases of the crown.  What to knit next?  I have the lighter yarn for the Deeds shawl, not wound into a cake yet, but the pattern is ready.   I have the solid color ribbon yarn plus two variegated spun yarns for another shawl, which may or not be based on Fated (in Ravelry).  I've got some lovely HW City Tweed that needs to be a new hat for the Plaidman.   And some weeks back, I could not resist an untwisted acrylic/cotton mix that is a puzzlement. If the sun would ever come out again, I could get some pictures.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆▪

Ok, turns out using my old frames was actually going to be more expensive than getting new frames.  I know you're going, "Wha-a-at??".  I'll explain.  Disco's insurance has no vision coverage, as in nothing towards the frame or lenses.  Which would not be a problem, except that each part of what she wanted would be charged at a la care prices, unless she bought a bundle of services.  Bundled exam was a lot less than unbundled, they had bargain frames available for the bundled service, and bundled lenses were also discounted.  The difference would come to about $200.00.  BUT she chose lighter & prettier frames that actually fit her head (not kid sized), and are a lot more likely to stay on her face when she moves her head.  This is kinda important when driving, or even just walking. The exam she had was for prescription correction, but they did note some increased eye pressure, and some thinning of her cornea.  She'll need a follow up exam, tentatively scheduled for December.  I think a physical exam may be in order, too.  Eye issues could be thyroid related.

total(ly glacial) recall

One of Disco's birthday gifts was to be driving lessons, from a professional instructor.  When we contacted him in May, he was still booked up with classes in the local high schools.  We are to contact him this month for her private lessons.  She will need better glasses, as the ones she got fall off her face constantly.  I gave her a pair of my old half-framed glasses, so we only need to cover the exam & lenses.  We're getting a little bit back from the IRS, nowhere near what we'll need for lessons & lenses, but it will be applied.

○●○●○●○●

Disco has an appointment with the eye doctor.  Today I'll ask her to locate the glasses I gave her.  Next order of business: setting up her driving lessons.  I asked the Plaidman to reach the driving school; after 4 attempts today he decided to try again tomorrow.  

■□■□■□■□

I've knit through the 12th row of the hat body, now to do that twice more.  Hurrah.

I'm educated

I was a bit disappointed in the very loose stitches resulting from the P1B instruction in the Clingman's Watch Cap.  So I frogged it back to the brim, an operation that evoked dread, but worked well. Since then I've worked 10 rows of the stitch pattern, and guess what!?  That looseness is necessary to create the diagonals in the design.  The lesson here:   Follow the recipe!  Today's plan is to work the recipe without overthinking.

 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I called the patient assist for my medicine, but they're not accepting the prescription # on what I thought was the first shipment of this year.  But that # did not meet their specs.  I have tossed the areas where I keep records, thinking I had received at least one shipment.  No luck finding a label.  I got in touch with the Dr R, and he's going to issue a new prescription.  That should take care of this issue.

 

B

That worked.

Usually when I try to put a lifeline in place prior to frogging just part of a project, I can't put the line into the same row the whole length of the row.  I tried with the Clingman's Dome Watch cap, as the first four pattern rows had some very loose stitches.  But the stitches on the line were in different rows, as usual.  Nothing for it but to start pulling out the life line & continue frogging....then it occurred to me that the ribbing was unraveling in nice rows.  I grabbed a tapestry needle & contrast yarn, and very carefully began popping those stitches on the life line.  I got all of  'em!   Then I put 1/3 onto a size 3 DPN, and started working the ribbing pattern off that needlr onto ythe size 6 called for in the design.  Did that twice more, putting in stitch markers, and had all on the size 6 needle.  And I have only two more rows of the ribbed brim  before starting the pattern stitches.  Piece of cake!  And I am knitting, instead of just thinking of knitting.  MOJO return acheived.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

So, I've been looking at shawl patterns that use a couple different types of yarn, generally as stripes.  I'm kinda taken with Fated, which is in Ravelry.  I want to use some/most of the Berroco Glace 2591 with other man made fibers.  Once I get the hat done, I will move on with either the Deeds shawl or Fated.

a little sloppy

I got 4 rows into the texture stitches of the CLINGMAN'S DOME HAT, &  saw some really loose stitches.  I'm  done frogging those rows & will pick them up again, as soon as I feel up to the frustration of not getting all the stitches on the lifeline.

receipt

I need to get a receipt here so I can use it elsewhere.

Riverine dreams

I don't know what triggered it, but I've been carrying an ear worm for the past 3 days.  It is Billy Joel 's River of Dreams.  So I pulled it up in You Tube, and I listen to it several times daily.  I can't decide if I want it as part of my memorial service.  So far, I've picked I'll Fly Away and Will the Circle Be Unbroken as musical selections for that day.  I'm not  super keen on church music.  

mail call

5-9-21 ETA:  The ribbed brim of the Clingman's Dome Cap is now 3.25", needing only .75" before I start the texture pattern.

* * * *

5/2/21

Got a phone call from someone with a strong Indian or Pakistani accent, saying he was calling from UPS.  He asked (I think) if I had received a box of cards (?).  I just could not figure out what he said; we have a lot of scam calls from people who sound like this fella.  Sometimes they try to ship unordered back or knee braces to us, so I got rude with this guy and hung up. Half an hour later the door bell sounds, Plaidman goes out to find a big box on the porch.  No return address.  Looks suspicious.  Plaidman opens it, lots of brown wrapping paper, and one very special item:

A copy of the 3rd Army WWII campaign map.  One of the troops in Big Tom's unit made several for the unit, this one was Tom's.  Good ol' Brother Mike must have found it while cleaning house.  We are jist thrilled to have it!  Now to see about conserving it & finding a framer, which I'd like to have done by the Plaidman's birthday.

^*^*^*^*

In knitting news, the Mountain Hiker hat was finished 4/30, and it fits every head in the house except the cat's.  Also on Friday, I restarted the Clingman's Dome hat; I hope I've read the pattern and the instruction to purl below  will not throw a spanner in the works.  This one is two solid colors, so the stitch definition  should be better.  

can you spell relief

I went to a periodontist weeks ago, for relief of jaw problems associated with cancer treatment.  The doctor found some necrosis around the back molar, which has been a long-standing issue.  He proposed treating it with laser ablation, so I saw him today for that.  Of course, I had to take 3 numbing injections into a very sore area!  I squealed like a stuck pig; oral injections are not high on my list of fun things to do.  When my jaw was numb enough (just!), some probing with a sharp pick located a loose piece of necrotic bone.  Dr. West pulled it out (OUCH) and used the laser to tidy up the back of the molar (more OUCH).  I'll return in about a week to make sure it heals well.  Let's hope this works, at least for awhile.  The doctor said this condition could recur, and will be managed rather than cured.  Terrific, add it to the cancer, the degenerated discs, the arthritis, etc.  

▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

I'm working the crown decreases of the Hiker hat.  I'll try to get a photo tomorrow.

Estates

The state where Brother & his late wife resided is not a community property state.  Even if it were, the wife owned that house before she married Brother, so it wasn't aquired during their marriage.  Her kids are not fond of Brother, and they have been anxious to acquire their Mama's estate.  And I don't know why I'm so concerned for Bro's future; he's a smart guy & has likely made arrangements himself.

•••• ○○○○○ ••••••

The charity hat measures 7" from the cast on.  Plaidman tried it on and says there's no way it could fall or be blown off.  The next one will have K2, P2 ribbing, for a softer stretch.  And maybe a solid color, too!

RIP

Plaidman's sister just called, to let us know Plaidman's SIL passed away last night.  SIL was not super close to P-man's family, but Brother D loved her very much.  Her kids from 1st marriage will inherit most of her estate, possibly including the house.  Brother is a bit old to be house hunting & moving, so I hope her kids will give him plenty of time to move, or maybe just let him rent the place for a while.  The neighborhood is not the best, it would likely be in their interest to have someone in the house.  Whatever they choose, poor Brother is already abused, because the state limits funeral attendance to 10.  Her family numbers well over 10, so Brother will be all alone at his wife's funeral, no one from his family at all.

just goofin'

Two days ago I felt like two or three days of work would finish this hat.  So I failed to work on it at all for the past two days.  In my defense, we all hied away to the IHOP yesterday, ate like there would be no tomorrow, then went home & napped until the dinner hour.  Can't get much done when food coma strikes. That was not my only problem.  I'll be seeing the periodontist (not nearly soon enough) late this month, for the sequela  of the parotiditis of 2019.  My jaws hurt, I get a big headache, and the only thing that gives any relief is a heating pad applied to the jaws & temple, left side.  I found a way to secure it there without having to keep my hand on it, so got some rest.

^^^^^^^^^

I measured, and have knit 6" from the cast on of the charity hat.  After making the brim 4" deep, I figure it needs 3 or 3.5" more knit in pattern before the crown decreases.  Gotta work on it more.  But not tonite!

Out, out!

I started watching Life Below Zero last night, but only got a couple minutes into it before realizing I'd seen two days ago.

Back to the channel guide, I see Epix has its own. So I found my current fave, Brittania, and watched two more episodes.  Now, I had tried to get the show on Monday, but kept getting a message about the HD definition on our cable box, which I couldn't resolve.  Now I know the trick is to get to the Epix channel, and find the show from there.  

÷÷÷÷÷=====

I didn't get much knitting done, as the show requires some concentration to follow the dialog with English accents and the doggamned whispering that composes half the dialog.  Why, oh why must the whispers compete with the dramatic music?!?  

working on it

Four inches of ribbing seems excessive, unless one plans to wear it folded.  For the Mountain Hiker hat, the pattern calls for 1.5" of ribbing on the adult medium size.  I guess that would be OK for a beanie, but I want it slouchy and more like a watch cap.  The 4" of ribbing are done, and I'm working on the texture pattern; there are about 12 rows done.  More tomorrow,  too tired to type anyway.

◇◇◇◇◇◇

Getting ready to pick up the hat again, just need something on the TV that doesn't require following a plot line, like Secrets of the Zoo or Life Below Zero.  Turned on the tube, it's already tuned to Zero, so that'll do.

Plumber here..sort of

He took a look at the disposal, and left to fetch a new one.  I am watching Plaidman prepare some Ramen noodles for my lunch.  Not sure if I'll nap or knit after lunch.

¤¤¤¤¤¤

After lunch, I read the paper.  Sis makes fun of me reading the  newspapers, so does SIL.  However, SIL has said she wishes they had a newspaper so she could get coupons.  Apparently the household lacks Internet access too.  Kind of a shame, she probably gets all her news from FOX.

The pit yawns

Last night Disco called my attention to the wet floor of the undersink cabinet in the kitchen.  The Plaidman had already retired for the night, so I left him a note about it - he's always the first up & in the kitchen.  So, it's lunch time, and his quick check seems to pin the trouble to a leaking disposal.  For once, he's gone ahead & called a plumber without waiting for me to ask him 5 times to do so.  We can expect to see the plumber in two days.  Which is hella better than the wait for the handyman that was supposed to help us fit our new oven & range into it's place.  Said oven is still sitting in the door to the kitchen, not a problem for my housemates, but my chair won't fit thru.  I haven't been able to go through that doorway since January 30th.  I just reminded Plaidman of that, and of the fact that we have stimulus money on hand.  Perhaps he'll contact someone who can get that job done.  Not holding my breath.

***********

Disco went on expedition into the craft storage room, and came out with the Bare Gloss yarn I got a couple of years ago.  I could not recall if it was fingering or lace weight.   It is lace weight; it could be double stranded for the Deeds shawl, but I'm not sure I'd have enough left for the Aeolian shawl that my heart really wants.  Right now the Deeds shawl will hibernate.  Another project that calls to me, the Willow China Cowl, will have to wait.  We have the home repairs to pay for, plus some periodontal work that will set us back a bit, before I can justify spending more money on yarn.  S'okay, I have lots of yarn & can surely find patterns that will suit.  I have a charity hat project that got frogged & restarted in a different pattern, I can carry on with that.  Just now, I'll see if I can get lunch served before Plaidman runs to the store!

Not fishing

It's called fishing, not catching.  I have been fishing through the On Demand on our service, for a show we started watching last fall.  I am delighted to say I found it!  We here at Chez Plaid are completely underwhelmed by sitcoms and the mostly - scripted "reality" shows.  We do watch police drama series, even the ones in syndication.  But it's really nice to see something new (at least to us) that isn't directed at the lowest common denominator, with a canned laugh track.  So now we have several series available: 30 Coins, Banshee (how did we miss the first 3 seasons?), Debris, and  Britannia.  If Animal Planet or Nat Geo or SCI channels don't interest us, we can dial up a drama.  Whew, that's a relief.

~~~~~~~~~

So how's the shawl coming along?  Well enough, considering I work on it every other day, and only for a couple hours at a time.

I'm using the Cranberry  (1st photo), Winter Night (3rd pic), and Plume (4th pic).  The 2nd pic is of River Rock, looks darker here than IRL, so did not quite suit.  I have a good quantity of the Gloss fingering, and have an idea to use the River Rock in another pattern, but will need some white as well.  It's cool, I have Knit Picks on speed dial.

Done deal

The Plaid Patrol is officially fully vaccinated against the SARS-COVID virus.  We celebrated by having dinner at the China Pan!  We hadn't been there in almost a year, so it was a happy visit.  

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I started the MKAL (at last), and was doing ok, until I tried knitting on it while "resting" between the clinic visit & the supper at the Pan.  After supper, I had to tink out four rows where I had repeated a wrong side row many times....Sigh.  But I am back on track now, and may finish a section this evening.  Disco has gotten the craft bug; she got herself a pile of variegated yarn while we were at WalMart.  I got a ball of Shawl in a Ball, her choice of color, to make a shawl fade for her.  I'll look at the pattern & see if I can throw in some lace along the bottom.