Thursday Musings

My swift is broken, I guess it did not survive the move, the slats are cracked.  I have so many skeins of hanked yarn that I am going to have to invest in a new one. For now I will be using balled yarn until I can do so.

One of the blogs I follow has been dormant for 9 days----this is highly unusual and I truly hope everything is okay.

The Check Engine light on my car is lit.  This happened about 6 weeks ago but went out the next time I got gas, I hope that is all it is this time too---I took the car out and didn't notice any performance problems but am still concerned since we have a big trip Saturday for Maisie's baptism.

For Christmas I knit granddaughter Columbia a shrug, she is off to college in the fall and I thought it might be nice to have a little something to keep her shoulders warm while she is studying in her dorm room.  The box arrived yesterday and they had to call to find out how you put it on.  I had made one years ago for author Bertrice Small's daughter-in-law when she had a baby, and Bertrice herself contacted me with the same question

.  It's funny how it is something that knitters know but the receivers wind up bewildered by.  Columbia is a rather small girl so I sort of guessed on her foot size for some slippers I bought her, well turns out they are too small but she swears they will stretch and won't let me return them. Her birthday is later this month so I have to come up with another gift for her too, I did give her an Alex and Ani bracelet so maybe another one of them so that she can start layering them,

I went to bed uncharacteristically early last night, but I think I am still fighting the remnants of the flu--I wound up sleeping about 10 hours although Tom was up often and I wake up every time he does.  He is not a quiet person in the night!.

KNIT ON!

Better Late then Never

Christmas is happening very late here at the Yaskovic home.  The last couple of days have seen the arrival of boxes filled with gifts from Debb, Chad, and Columbia.
Tom is the proud owner of a new CD system, socks, hats, a pocket tool, kitchen utensils and lots of candy.  I got some yarn, knitting needles, notions, cookies and candy, tea and an Alex and Ani bracelet.  We are very blessed.
Todays treasure is a gift box of Wolfermans breads and english muffins from my sister Christine,  I haven't had this in years although I did send some as gifts this year myself. 

Carole posted today about 3 hobbies, one that makes her money, one that is physical and one that is creative.  I have a bit of an overlap===knitting does occasionally make me money especially right around the holidays, and it is my true creative outlet  and the physical--I love to swim, I don't get nearly enough chances too but if the opportunity presented itself I would swim everyday and did when we had a pool.(well as long as the weather allowed)  We used to go to a local hotel just to swim in the winter but now it is inundated in children so we don't get the chance.
All the boxes are unpacked, things that have been missing for 2 1/2 months have no found new homes, and all the family photos are back.  Even my stuffed pal Clarence has returned. He did not appreciate being boxed all of that time.
Today was also my first trip to the diner alone, I did plan a few more stops but the diner was more then enough, so I will attempt the other chores tomorrow!!!

KNIT ON!!

How to cope with winter!

still progressing on my shawl, was given a stocking stuffer gift of a couple  skeins of Lily's Sugar and Cream cotton and I have been trying to think what to do with it, I may look into a table runner for my coffee table, I just don't want to do dishcloths or baby bibs.
I am feeling a bit under the weather today, but have had a lot of stress the last 4 days,  Tom;s boss is being a jerk because he can't work this Saturday.
Saturday is Miss Maisie's big day, Debb is flying in Friday to actually meet her niece for the first time and Saturday is the christening which their will be too many people at.  I get very very nervous around people so my anxiety is full swing. I am basically a very insecure person.  My son and his family will be there which is wonderful since I have not seen any of my grandkids since Christmas last year,

I found out this weekend that my sister made the Christening Dress, I am sure it is absolutely lovely. My children's christening gown was made by my then best friend who is Debb's godmother, but Maisie is too big to fit in it. So now they will have their own tradition  Christine will not be at the event as she and her husband, daughter and son-in law are going to California that day.
The theme of today's meme is 10 ways to deal or cope with Winter.  Personally I think Winter gets a bad rap, I may be menopausal and all but I love the colder temps. I don't like the ice and snow but so far this year that has not been a big problem

1. Lots of hot tea----I do enjoy about 3 cups a day, now they are huge cups holding about 18 ounces of water.  Right now my favorite is Harney & Son's Holiday Tea

1. Reading----I have rediscovered my love for reading--and am enjoying new to me authors, I read for escapism, not to educate myself or feel literary  I almost always read some kind of romance maybe romance/mystery.  Some new authors I am enjoying are Hope Ramsey, Sheila Roberts, and Brenda Novak.

1. Knitting----No matter what the season I love my knitting and occasional crochet projects. 

1. Soup---love it, and would be happy to have it every day, this past weekend Tom made a vegetable chowder that was to die for. 

1. My fur throw----oh its fake, and Tom just got it for me for Christmas but its cozy and indulgent.

1. Browse my favorite shopping spots, whether its for books or yarn, I don't even have to buy I just love to look and dream

1. Play my online games---Mahjong Trails and Solitaire Blitz 

1. We are still unpacking boxes from the move so that will keep me busy this winter, I need to find some of my decorative items and my pictures of my family.  Also Tom got a new CD player  for Christmas from Debb and Chad and now we have to find the CDs we had packed away because we didn't have a player.

1. Eat chocolate---a little piece every now and then, dark is my favorite, the kids sent me sno-caps and some ghiradelli for Christmas-yum

1. Light Candles===Tom hates this one, but I love the scent of candles burning and sneak them in whenever I can. 

How do you cope with winter?
Knit ON!!!

Happy 12th Day of the New Year

I received a comment yesterday from Marilyn (Skipper) which made me realize not everyone who reads my blog also reads me on Facebook.  So for those of you who have wondered why I have not posted in almost a month----I have been sick, really sick.  As in almost met the maker sick with the flu---and I had a flu shot.   I got such a strange variation of the illness that my blood pressure dropped to super dangerous levels. I was too sick to move let alone actually leave the apartment to go to the doctors and he told me via phone to stay out of the hospital or I would just get sicker.  We were supposed to go to Alabama for Christmas ---that never happened.
Tom had an entire week off taking care of a sick old woman, he literally had to help me walk to the bathroom and back which was the only outing I was allowed.  I spent two solid weeks in bed and the last week on the recliner.  Of course Tom went back to work right after Christmas so I did venture as far as the kitchen once in awhile.
There are many worst parts about being so sick over the holidays but one of the top ten for me was I couldn't even knit.  Two entire weeks went by before I even picked up the knitting needles.  On the way down South back I was going to knit newborn hats for the local hospital.  My one little word for 2015 is charitable and I wanted to start by supporting the Stitches from the Heart group with my contribution of hats.  Since  I have been improving I have knitted six and I started my first shawl of 2015----its What the Water Gave Me  designed  by Caitlin French,
I am knitting it in a brown Elann merino and Lang Mille Colore in a brown/grey varigate.   My knitting has definitely slowed down though for the first time ever I don't feel compelled to rush.
Tom too managed to get the bug but in true flu fashion he was over and done with it in 4 days and they were during the time he was home.
We still have not seen any of our children for the holidays, I still have stacks of gaily wrapped presents everywhere. We will see Rob and his crew this Saturday at Maisie Ann's christening, so Jeannie and John will get there gifts too.  We mailed Debb, Chad and Columbia theirs on Saturday.
I will try to be back often, I think of topics all of the time but then actually sitting and posting is a whole different story.

KNIT ON!

ToT

Ten on Tuesday:

this weeks topic is 10 things you would write in a Christmas letter if you were sending out a Christmas letter,

1. we moved---a big event for sure, but finally no steps---yet ironically even more leg cramps now then before,
2. our wonderful granddaughter Maisie came into our lives. She spreads sunshine and light everywhere and Tom and I are totally besotted,We are so grateful to Jeanne and John for this blessing. 
3. Unfortuneately both of us have experienced a lot more health issues with Tom making 4 trips to the ER,  Thank god Medicaid kicked in this year or we'd be in huge trouble.
4. Work has been a lot steadier
5. the Van and the Car are paid off---that is huge
6. we will be traveling for Christmas--a first for either one of us. 
7.  Debb moved in with Chad and Columbia, and found a new job. 
8. Rob's kids are growing like weeds---although I haven't seen them in almost a year. 
9. Ria  and I still get together and knit as often as we can. 
10. I was asked to be a part of an international charity involved with knitting baby items. 

so that is what I would have said for public view. 

KNIT ON!!!

some knitting---

i won't say what is for who in case someone stumbles on this post but I will show pictures of some of the gifts that I have been making this season.

most of these are for the diner, the mitts are for me and the toys for some kids that I am not related to but love to death,

Right now its a very lazy sunday---Tom has been (thank God) working 6 days a week and he is napping on the couch, Christmas Vacation is on the TV.  The tree is lit and beef stew is simmering in the kitchen.  His health has been precarious at best, and now to complicate things the "Baker's cyst" that has been on his back for over 40 years has decided to start leaking. My own health leaves nothing to be desired, as I am plagued with leg and torso cramps. I am also having troubles with tremors, and feeling icy cold from the waist down and sweating from the waist up.  We really don't like our new doctor and are hoping that the insurance company can find us a new one.

This time next week we will be getting ready to head to our daughter's in Alabama for the holiday. We will be with the oldest Granddaughter Columbia for Christmas, and I don't know when we will see all the others.  On the 28th it will be one whole year since I have seen Rob's 4 and I am very heart broken over that.

Still learning the ins and outs of my lap-top so bear with me as posts are few and far between.  I have so much to say but sometimes this thing just doesn't cooperate!!!

KNIT ON!!!

our decorations

KNIT ON!