Hi. I’m MacKenzie.
The Mother of Cats has been somewhat difficult to work with lately. She has been limping all around the house, and yesterday her physical therapist finally told her she needs to use crutches for the next few weeks. HER CRUTCHES KEEP GETTING IN MY WAY!!! What is up with that? She doesn’t go outside as much as she used to, and she started knitting this simple sweater with just one color of yarn instead of the Koivua sweater that I just love. There are more colors to chomp in the Koivua, and it is now so big she can’t keep me off of it while she knits. Is she working on the sweater that I can sleep on while she works? No! She is not!! She says knitting with the one color is easier to stuff into a bag to haul around with crutches. Whatever. What is up with the Mother of Cats? A little adversity and she totally folds: I’m so disappointed with her!
Today the Mother of Cats finally let me go outside while she took pictures of all of her knitting and we watered all of the outside flowers.
While I was chasing the squirrel around the yard she took these pictures of the new sweater. It is starting to look pretty good, isn’t it? It is kind of nice to sleep on…
Now it is late in the afternoon, the squirrel has left to do whatever squirrels do, and the Mother of Cats, the crutches, and I are back in the house. I just got some yummy salmon to eat and the Mother of Cats is getting ready to knit again. Hmm… that new sweater is getting pretty big now. Maybe I can sleep on part of it while she is working. I’m so handsome and the yarn really looks nice next to my fur. Maybe she will be reasonable for once and will let me do that. IF she loves me I will get a quality nap on yummy yarn.
I’m such a good boy.
Can I have some cookies now?
>^..^<
Notes from the Mother of Cats:
- The sweater is Climb Every Mountain by Heidi Kirrmaier. That yarn that MacKenzie loves is Tweed DK by Western Sky Knits, and it really is nice to work with. My Ravelry notes are here.
- How ironic is it that I’m knitting a sweater called “Climb Every Mountain” while trying to master walking with one crutch?
- The hip has become even more challenging. I met with the physical therapist yesterday who had printed out the notes from the hip specialist that I met with last month. Things are worse than I realized. I have IT band syndrome, inflamed tendons associated with my hip adductors, and then there is the severe hip bursitis. I need to rest the tendons as much as possible as I stretch the IT band and use the topical anti-inflammatory gel that we hope will get the swelling down. Since I can’t walk without limping and the adductors need a rest I’m on crutches for the next three weeks at a minimum. I’m truly a mess as I can’t use a cane (bad wrists), ice (thank you, Raynaud’s), or work in a pool (Sjogren’s, I really hate you right now), so things are challenging, but I’m really motivated since I want to stay mobile as long as possible and I’m a poor candidate for a hip replacement.
- MacKenzie is learning to stay out of the way of the crutches, but he is taking the whole thing personally. Poor thing. I have started giving him more cookies… I have NOT surrendered any of the sweaters to him.
- Koivua is waiting for the first snow fall as I rush to finish two transitional sweaters. Winter, take your time…
Finally!!
Yarn, Books & Roses 
I am so sorry that you are dealing with so much pain…….. tight and inflammed IT bands are horribly painful!
It is getting better, but yesterday the physical therapist put a reality check on my expectations. The tendonitis is going to take weeks to months to fully resolve. Good thing I knit!!
I am so very sorry……..I sent a prayer up for you this morning.
I hope you feel better soon. Crutches are evil.
The new sweater is lovely! The yarn looks so soft:)
MacKenzie: Watch out for the crutches:(
Crutches are evil! I have to admit that after 2 days it all feels better, but they sure are awkward! They yarn is great!
MacKenzie: CRUTCHES ARE EVIL!!
Oh my goodness – I’m so sorry you are having so much pain and difficulties that are making it worse! Glad that you have MacKenzie there to help you out. On another note, your new sweater is lovely, and will be great for this transitional weather period and for just light warmth inside in the winter!
The sweater will be a great transitional piece! That was kind of my thinking when I switched over to it. It is starting to get cooler here so I’m on fire to get it done.
I’m sorry to hear your hip is causing you issues, what with everything else you are dealing with. Keep your spirits up. I’m on my 2nd Heidi Kirrmaier pattern and have 3 others in my Ravelry queue, although not this one…yet.
It’s all okay. My hip is being a bad boy, but it is improving with the rest and physical therapy, and I’m sleeping much better. Heidi is new to me, but I am really loving this sweater and will pay more attention to her on Ravelry from now on.
Not sure if you are a good boy MacKenzie but you are a cute boy 🐱
Hope you are looking after your mistress because she sounds like she is in agony!
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Actually, MacKenzie can be kind of a jerk: he bites my friends and scratched my grandson! Let’s not even mention he behavior in the vet’s office!! But he is a great (but demanding) sidekick for me!
He is also a great leg warmer with a nice vibrating purr. My leg is improving and I’m getting lots of reading done.
MacKenzie – warts and all!!
Glad to hear leg is improving.
Wow, it must be a challenge working with crutches! I’m sure dear Mackenzie helps out as he can. The sweater is gorgeous!!!!
I’m getting pretty good with crutches! I wish MacKenzie was more helpful (like maybe he could make my morning latte…) but it’s all good. 🙂
MacKenzie: Crutches are evil!
I really feel for you. I recently hurt my hip too. I’ve just gotten to the point where I can sleep at night. The worst thing is having to take my laundry downstairs and out to the laundry mat. I think I may have to wash at home for a while. After reading this I know I’ll have to be careful and patient.
It gets old really fast, doesn’t it! I did laundry today and getting the basket up the stairs was a riot. I am sleeping okay now as the topical gel my internist gave me for the joint is really helping, but forget putting weight on my leg or picking my leg up… I have to lift it to get in the car.
I got the flu shot in my crutch arm last week. Another amusing tactical error…
Get better soon!!
My post is a bit late I know, but I must comment on your lovely knitting and above all on MacKenzie. I crack up every time I see the look of sheer indignation on his face. He is such a dag (tell him that word is Australian slang for funny old thing) He probably knows this already! I often wonder why some cats bite and scratch. Luckily for me, my Scottish Fold, Dawn, is the model of restraint. Your garden is a picture.
MacKenzie: I am not a DAG! I’m an exceedingly handsome CAT. Why am I getting disrespect?
MK: He is so a dag!! What a perfect word to describe him: thank you! Thank you also for the comments on the knitting and garden. I finished both sweaters in a rush this week and today the garden is under snow. I’m a little at a loss since I’m between projects so it’s time to write a blog post. 🙂