Hi. I’m Hannah.
There was a huge flock of blackbirds that hung out in the backyard this week; there were so many that the CoalBear was a little worried about going outside. The days are getting colder and there are dead leaves in the catio for Mateo (AKA the CoalBear) to chase. The grasshoppers are all gone, and the squirrels are stealing food from the birdfeeder and storing it in the planters on the deck. Those squirrels are really getting out of control: one of them now barks at us from the garage roof, hanging off the rain gutter, and when that happens, we’re too scared to go outside. Bad squirrel, bad!!
It was sort of a busy week. The Mother of Cats had two appointments and left us alone for hours. Then she was busy most of the rest of the week finishing up knitting the sweater that she has been working on. I love this sweater! It is fun to sleep on, and chasing the yarn is great. The Mother of Cats, however, was not very good about sharing the sweater, and then she took it off the needles, tried it on, and then packed it away on a shelf where I can’t reach it. Why does she do these things?
Today she blocked the sweater, and it is covered up with towels so I can’t lick the wool which is one of my very favorite things to do. As soon as it comes out from under the towels, however, I will have my way with it!!!!
In the meantime, the Mother of Cats is back to working on her blanket that was packed away for months and months and months. Look at how cool this blanket will be!
So, that was kind of the whole week: abandoned for hours, knitting, and crazy animals that make going outside kind of scary. I’m going to go pester the Mother of Cats for some extra tuna and then I’m going to go take a nap.
This is Hannah, signing off.
>^..^<
Notes from the Mother of Cats:
- The sweater is La Prairie by Joji Locatelli. This was a challenging knit with lots of elements to juggle at the same time: a charted pattern, color changes of yarn, and lots and lots of bobbles!! I had to make modifications to the sleeves as I worked to conserve some of the yarn colors, and I still may need to rip back the cuffs and knit some more to make the sleeves longer; I’ll know the sleeve length better after blocking is done. This is absolutely an individualized knit.
- All my sweaters are safely put away in plastic lock-top bins. Sorry, Hannah.
- The blanket is the Nectar Blanket by Ysolda Teague. It keeps growing on me, and I’m now thinking about hunting around in lace books to look at different options for the edging. The original pattern calls for a garter stitch edging, and I keep thinking that I need some more lace… I may need more yarn, too…
- The appointments were to get my pulmonary function test done, and then a follow-up appointment with the pulmonologist. I have gained back more lung volume, and he is really happy with my progress.
- I took my little purse-sized emotional support chicken with me to the testing appointment. Then we went to the grocery store and Starbucks.
Yarn, Books & Roses 
Hannah, be happy with the tuna and leave the knitting alone – that’s my thinkin.
Marilyn ! – increased lung area ? The pulmonary person is pleased (in an alliterative kind of way) ? That’s BRILLIANT !!! You must be tickled pink ! – possibly even that beautiful rose pink of your purse-sized ESC. 🙂
The Joji jumper is just— sorry, I shall stop with the alliteration. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Whatever you have to do to it can’t possibly reduce its beauty. You’re such an admirable knitter !!!
The jewel-tone Joji jumper is just jumping with joy at being finished? 🙂 It was a dark and stormy night…;)
You guys are so literary!!
I’m chuckling with MR at the alliteration and laughing at my own alliteration litter, but not in a mean way toward either of us.
Oh, please know I understood. I’m a science girl: I once asked in all seriousness what a thesis statement was, and I also had to ask what alliteration was. I can read and write, I just don’t know all the specifics…
Hannah: but… I loves the yarn…
I was really happy with the lung result too; pulmonary rehab breathing does work!!
I blocked the Joji sweater over the weekend and it is perfect!! Now to weave in all of the ends.
Delighted to hear about the rehab exercising being successful !! – off you go and do some more. [grin]
Hooray to more lung volume! Beautiful leaves and lovely sweater. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished blanket. I’ll bet it’s going to be a stunner because it’s already starting out that way. Your ES chick matches your purse. It looked as if it were about to lay an egg. 🙂 If so, I hope you didn’t let Safeway charge you for it. 😉
I kept that chicken because it does match my purse. It is my little traveling buddy. That blanket may take a while as my wrists went into total rebellion over the weekend. Now I’m back in wrist braces bored out of my mind…
Yay for increased lung capacity! That is wonderful news.
Your Joji sweater is so pretty. Such wonderful colors.
Hannah, sick Mateo on those squirrels!
It is just amazing how the new drugs on the market have changed the game plan!! A few years ago the turn-around I’ve had with my lung disease would have been unthinkable. Yay!!
Hannah: there was a squirrel in the catio and Mateo almost got him!!!
so happy to hear about the increased lung volume! And your knitting is beautiful. Hang in there!
Hooray for your little Emotional Support Chicken – she’s so cute and matches both your purse and outfit! And of course I love the sweater – it has all the right colors.
I tried on the blocked sweater last night and it fits perfect! Once my wrist recovers a little more I’ll be able to weave in all the ends and then get some more pictures.
Oh goodness. You are so matchy matchy with your sweater, purse, and chicken. How cute! The nectar blanket is really pretty. Congrats on improving lungs.
I had on pink fingerless mitts, too! When you go for high stakes testing, it is best to wear your most cheerful colors and to take a chicken with you too!!!
So much beauty — kitties, tree, sweater, blanket, chicken! But best of all, increased lung volume. Such great news. You go, girl!
It was a good week!!
Really glad to read your lungs are behaving better. Unlike the cats lying on the knitting lol. How funny they are frightened of the squirrel. I remember when I was a kid my mum found a squirral head and tail in the shower base and our cat, Gatsby, had eaten the rest.
Maybe our squirrels are meaner? I once had a cat catch a squirrel, and it was a draw with both of them pretty damaged by the encounter.
Haha maybe, it was a grey squirrel which I believe was introduced from America and has caused issues with our native red. It was Gatsby that did it, he was the one I’ve mentioned before that used to hide under the bookcase and when you walked by would stick his leg out with claws out to rip a chunk of your leg off. He was not to be messed with and if my mum needed to take him to the vets she wore leather gauntlets to get him in the carry cage. 😂
It was a fox squirrel, and those guys are pretty darn big and pushy. It sounds like Gatsby would give one a run for its money. Hannah and Mateo, not so much. Mateo is afraid of Netflix, for example. A squirrel barking at him while hanging off the rain gutter is more than he can deal with, and Hannah is even more timid.
I always enjoy Hannah’s POV. Your sweater is beautiful–love the fade.
Thank you. I finally got it finished and will post the picture in Hannah’s next report.
Oh my goodness, Hannah! You and Mateo had a really rough week! I hope you are feeling better and getting some emotional support tuna! MoC – you sweater is beautiful, and I’m so glad you have regained some lung function! That is wonderful news!
I was soo happy with the lung function test! The drug that I am taking was approved for my condition just a few years ago (after my diagnosis) and it has been a real game changer!
That is awesome! So glad to hear it!
So happy to read about your great test results! 🧡 Your La Prairie inspired me to buy the pattern. The colors you choose are beautiful!