Just a late night quickie

DH's mother has been in the hospital for the better part of 2 months. Tomorrow she is being released to go home, with Hospice care.

Blogging may be a bit slim for a week or three.

This sucks. And not well.

Ethical question

I have two sweaters that were given to my in a previous lifetime (read here: ex-husband). They are both very nice, hand-spun and hand knit from Equador. They were gifts from the ex's sister and BIL. The yarn is a bulky weight, kind of like Lopi.

They don't fit anyone in the house. Here is my dilemma.

Should I:
A: Give them away
B: Put them up for sale on E-Bay
C: Rip them apart and use the yarn for something else entirely?

BTW: If I could have kept the in-laws and just gotten rid of the ex, I would have done so in a heartbeat.

Young Love

Aw, ain't they sweet? My niece Leigh and her boyfriend Grant made a point of stopping by the house on their way to prom. This is the size 10-wacked-into-a-size 5 E-bay dress. See, black overlay. She had her hair done in finger-waves, and it looked so retro. And Grant's tie matched the dress, and he had no help ordering it. I still haven't found out what the prom-queen's reaction was, though I did witness her father's reaction. One of utter shock and amazement. All he said for about 10 minutes was "Wow." I think if there hadn't been so many of us around he would have cried. Patrick wouldn't even go near her, because it didn't look like "Sissy." Sean wasn't impressed, and went back into the house after the first minute and a half.

Vince's mom is doing better, considering they have drained over 20 pound of fluid off of her body since Friday morning. That's about 2 and a half gallons. She was a human water balloon. They have her breathing a bit better, and are at least keeping her O2 levels up where they are supposed to be. I started knitting her a pair of footies that will stretch over her leg wrappings. I hope she gets some use out of them.

Time for bed kids. Tomorrow is another day at the office.

Roller Coaster Ride

Let me off, I'm gonna puke.

The past few weeks have been a big series of ups and downs. DH's mom was moved to a nursing home today. She's been the hospital for the past month, not getting any better, because the doctors don't see past her weight. She has several different auto-immune disorders which are all pretty much attacking her at once. Lupus, Sjogren's, Raynaud's, NASH, CREST, lymphedema. She's all messed up. We are hoping and praying that this nursing home will help her get better.

On the education front: We were told last week that Sean was going to have to attend full day kindergarten because the wrap-around daycare didn't have high enough enrollment to continue. I got a call today that the school district will not be offering full day kindergarten, but are bringing back the wrap-around care. G'uh!

Needless to say, there has been a lack of knitting and meditation around here. I must go become one with my yarn again.

Secret Pal 8 questionaire

Woo Hoo!!! I signed up again! I had so much fun the last time being spoiled, and right now I need it.

Here are your SP8 questions and answers.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love to knit with wool, cotton, and linen. The natural fiber blends are good too (wool/silk, cotton/linen, etc.). I’m not fond of acrylic, but it does have it’s purpose in life, especially when you have kids.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Currently, they are all over the place: in baskets, in cases, in vases, in yarn…. You mean I’m supposed to keep them together?

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit when I was 7, but have been knitting pretty steadily for the past 25 (holy crap) years. I’m advanced with cables, intermediate with color, and a beginner with lace.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, but I can probably put one together really quick.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I love vanilla and patchouli.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
What knitter doesn’t? Milk chocolate and caramel top the list.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am a beginner spinner, but I do enjoy it. I also sew, do scrapbooking, and am active in historic re-enactment (specifically medieval).

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Yes, my computer does play mp3s. I like about anything except rap. I especially like The Chieftains, Ashley MacIssac, and show-tunes that I can sing to.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
My favorite color is yellow. I like brilliant jewel-tones, especially blues and purples. I like true red. I’m not real fond of orange.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I’m married, with a 5 1/5 year old son who will start kindergarten in the fall. We have a beta fish named Michael. I’d love to have a cat and an angora rabbit, but DH says NO!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to everything but ponchos. Friends don’t let friends wear ponchos. I will wear a shawl.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Currently socks, especially with the self-striping yarns, though, I have to be careful to make sure I’ll have enough yarn for my big feet.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A scarf, and about 3 pairs of socks. I started the Eris sweater, but had to rip it out because of miscounted stitches.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
You bet! Handmade to me means that the person took the time to think about the gift and the person involved.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the application. I’ve got a few of all of them.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, but they are hand-me-downs from my mom. I’d really love a new one of each.

17. How did you learn to knit?
My maternal grandmother taught me at 7, Mom gave me the refresher in high school.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
Don’t ask. Probably about 10 years. It’s on small needles.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Beltane.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Dust bunnies? I used to collect carousel horses, but I don’t have the room anymore, so they are in storage. I do have an Italian charm bracelet that I love.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I can’t think of any books right now. I don’t have any subscriptions, but I’d love to have one to “Piecework.” My mom gets a bunch of knitting 'zines, so I usually raid her stash.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
The follow-through to finish projects.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
See number 12. I wear a size 12 narrow shoe.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
November 30. Anniversary is September 26.