Tomorrow I drive down to Milwaukee to catch a flight to Indianapolis, where I will stay with my 16-year-old grandson for about 10 days. It’s such a big deal because I can’t carry any luggage yet – hand is still too sore and weak for that much weight. I am also wondering what I will do while I am there, as grandson will be in school during the day. My son tells me there is a new yarn store in their town, so that will take care of about half a day. Then what will I do.

On another front I am anxiously awaiting the delivery of a new Erlbacher Gearhart sock knitting machine. I have hankered after one for years, but the only machines that were available were antiques. You bought them on ebay or from folks who bought and reconditioned them, but you never really knew if you were getting all the parts until it arrived. Now there is a company in Missouri making NEW antique knitting machines. I ordered mine shortly after Christmas and they said there was a 6-8week wait. That means – anytime now. Can’t wait!

 

The weather person says a winter storm is moving in tonight, and it has been gray all day. Temps are in the 20s, so that’s not so bad, but drizzle/freezing rain over night will make the morning drive difficult.

AJ installed the new light fixture and finished painting the walls in the kitchen. Then I did my vacuum thing, so we are looking better in that regard. The television news is all about the death of Joe Paterno and the outcome of the SC primary, and I am feeling at loose ends. Yes – I can knit, but I had wanted to add borders to a wall hanging I am making of Oregon’s Multnomah Falls and just discovered the I cannot use a rotary cutter. It requires too much downward force from a hand that just had surgery 3 days ago – so – here I am, telling my tale of woe.

AJ took Jessie to the park. She is a three-year-old Springadore – at least that’s what we call her. She came from a litter of pure bred Springer Spaniels on a farm East of here, but her father was a black lab from the farm down the road. Therefore, she has black fur, slightly wavy, that shines a bit brown when the sun hits it. We got Jessie when we moved to Green Bay. I was alone all day and missed having someone to talk to, so Jessie became my best friend. She’s very smart, loves romps in the park, makes up her own hide-the-ball-in-the-snow game, and then delights in digging it out.

Finished – surgery and all. What a relief!

I’m typing with both hands. This carpal tunnel stuff is a piece of cake. Very little swelling, very little pain, and I’m thinking of trying to knit in a bit.

I’m pretty lucky. My mother taught me to knit European or English style (right hand yarn thrown) when I was little, but when I came home from college once, I noticed that she was holding the yarn in her left hand and going really fast. She then taught me Continental, and now I can do both. I don’t think I could do Continental at this moment – might put too much stress on my wrist, but I’m going to give throwing the yarn a try. I think it will work.

The idleness is driving me crazy! You can play just so many games (I know; I’m Facebook games addicted) and your brain starts to rot.

Sock Yarn selection at Monterey Yarns

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My cousin came by and took me to lunch today. That’s another reason I am lucky. We moved to Green Bay from the Chicago area about 8 years ago, but I already had a cousin here, and she made the move a lot easier for me. So we went out to lunch and then to Monterey Yarn afterwards. I teach at Monterey, and it was fun to descend upon the store with my cousin. I don’t think we have been there together.

The snow is starting again, and i feel like hunkering down with a good ball of yarn. I’ll let you know if I can get away with it or not

Given that I can’t knit or quilt for the next few weeks, I am looking at how to spend my time in a more efficient way. In the evenings I usually sit with my husband and he watches TV while I listen to it and knit. That won’t be an option for the foreseeable future. Sitting and doing nothing drives me crazy. I was raised to produce, produce, produce – perfectly if at all possible. So … what’s a girl to do?

Reading: I have several books I would like to read, and today I downloaded The Great Gatsby – a book I haven’t read in decades. I also signed up for an e-book program in which you read the entire Bible in one year. Of course, I am already behind, but now I will have the opportunity to get caught up.

Housework: Need I say more? Pick one task and do it, however slowly. I can vacuum with my left hand.