life with a chronic disease and a really big yarn stash
Update: Knits, Quilts, a New Book and Cold Cats
It has been just crazy hectic here the last two weeks. I have been driving to doctor appointments, cleaning the house, running errands, and staying pretty darn busy getting stuff ready for Christmas. This week I’ve been chipping away on several Christmas makes (with lots of cat help), and while the list of things I’m making seems endless, I finally got several things done all at once in the last couple of days. Finally, some progress! Check it out.
I finished the Jujuy Shawl that I’m making for a cousin. I was told to use bright colors; this should definitely fit the bill. Ravelry notes here.I also got these Akiko mitts done while I was reading a book. These babies are made with Anzula Cricket yarn and the cashmere blend makes them feel really yummy. This is the second pair of these mitts that I’ve made. I wasn’t happy with the thumbs on the first pair so this time I moved them over onto the palm of the mitt. Ravelry notes here. Looking at the tops of the mitts they look misshapen and thumbless, but if you turn them over……there they are, tucked away on the back of the mitt. I moved the gusset over 6 stitches on these; I’m still fussing about these thumbs and may do a third pair with the thumb moved 4 stitches… This is a illness, but I prefer to call it a mitt study. 🙂I also got this table runner pieced and ready to quilt. The pattern, Waffle Time, is really fast and easy to make. I bought the fabric last year and finally got going on the stitching this month. Did I mention that I have another table runner and a quilt to get done too?See how cute these fabrics are?
I just want to say that all this crafting wasn’t easy at all since the weather turned dangerously cold for kitties this week and I couldn’t let them go out for more than a couple of minutes at a time. MacKenzie has been especially crabby about the turn of weather events. This morning when I got up it was -10 degrees F and the ground was covered in snow! Yikes! No way could the cats go out in that!
MacKenzie: Do I look annoyed? Yes! I would like to speak with whoever is in charge of the weather. This is completely unacceptable.MacKenzie: If I can’t go outside I should be able to help with the knitting, right? Yarn chomping time!! I mean, what do you expect a bored cat to do?Yellow Boy: Yarn chomping is so yesterday. I prefer to sit on the pattern and stare at the Mother of Cats until she gets me some chicken to eat. If I can’t chase bugs I should have chicken. Chicken, chicken, chicken!! Did I mention that I can stare for a LONG time?
When they aren’t yarn chomping and staring at me (sitting on the pattern, of course) the cats have insisted on sleeping on top of me. These are big cats! The little one is over 15 pounds, and MacKenzie is a whopping 18 pounds of dead cat weight.
Luckily this new book was published this week so I can read while serving as a cat bed. Oh, my goodness. This is the latest book in my most favorite series ever, The Expanse. I watched the first season of the television show made from the books last week to warm up for the release date, and as soon as the book was available in the early hours of Tuesday morning I downloaded it to my NOOK.
I really do love these books. I even blogged about them. I like the characters, the political/social situations created as people move onto other planets and into space, the science is good, the pacing of the plots is excellent, and did I mention that it is SPACE OPERA?!! Hello, Science Geek! Here’s the previous posts about these books:
This new book is the 6th in the series. I didn’t feel compelled to blog about the 5th book, but this latest book has really hooked me back into the story. All my favorite characters are back, the story is moving right along, and there has got to be a space battle coming soon.
Thank heavens it is cold out. What a wonderful excuse to stay inside to craft and read. I may get all of my Christmas makes done on time this year. The cats will get more attention. I will get my book finished lickety-split.
I weave, knit and read in Aurora, Colorado where my garden lives. I have 2 sons, a knitting daughter-in-law, a grandson and two exceptionally spoiled kittens. In 2014 I was diagnosed with a serious rare autoimmune disease called systemic sclerosis along with Sjogren's Disease and fibromyalgia.
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6 thoughts on “Update: Knits, Quilts, a New Book and Cold Cats”
Gorgeous knits! And that table runner is stunning! I too have strong opinions on where thumbs should be placed on mitts. Keep at it – 3rd times the charm. 😊
Thanks. I’m thinking of winding yarn today to start the third pair of mitts. I want that beaded pattern to stay put on top of my hand while I’m wearing the mitt. Also, there’s more bitter cold coming next week…
Oh, they are a handful! They are like dogs, but they climb on cabinets, knock things down, leave toys all over the house, and purr. Thank goodness they purr!
Yarn, Books & Roses 
Gorgeous knits! And that table runner is stunning! I too have strong opinions on where thumbs should be placed on mitts. Keep at it – 3rd times the charm. 😊
Thanks. I’m thinking of winding yarn today to start the third pair of mitts. I want that beaded pattern to stay put on top of my hand while I’m wearing the mitt. Also, there’s more bitter cold coming next week…
Beautiful knits but your cats are more than fantastic !
Oh, they are a handful! They are like dogs, but they climb on cabinets, knock things down, leave toys all over the house, and purr. Thank goodness they purr!
OMG the shawl is beautiful. Can’t wait to see next week. Yellow cat has such a pretty face. He should make ins presence known more frequently
Thanks. He is elusive, isn’t he. I had to post his picture since no one ever sees him but me. 🙂 He actually has a lot of personality…