ANNIVERSARY JOYS

We had a lovely lunch at Corky Bell's on the St Johns River; 

 the weather couldn't have been better!

After lunch, we popped over to see Matthew and Will

 and Maverick, too! 

 (And I learned that puppies love balls-even ones made of yarn!  I stepped away from my knitting for just a minute and he had not only stolen my knitting, he enjoyed a good gnaw on my wooden needles that are now in need of a good sanding!)

And we even enjoyed a gorgeous sunset on the way home!

 

FAITHFUL FELINE

She can still get all kitten-ish when I play with yarn!  I have a left front and a back done so far for the cursed cardigan and needed to rip out some more of an old attempt to start the other front.  It's going well.

Today is our 49th anniversary;  we have a luncheon date!

 

SOME YARN

 250 yards of DK yarn from Blue faced Leicester wool. 

 It is so relaxing to spin wool;  I have some superwash roving that I need to dye so I can spin some more.  

That will give me something to do!

I go for another iron infusion this afternoon;

how's that for filling my schedule!

SOME PIECING!

I cut quite a few pieces to make a bunch of blocks for the new quilt.  I don't have them all cut but a good beginning is started.

And I was even able to make four blocks before I ran out of gas!  It felt so good to be creative in the studio for a change! 

 (The block on the bottom right has been corrected already, btw! )

 

MORE DOWN THAN UP STILL

I bought some similar but not exact BFL to go with the last 4 ounces I bought.  I have the roving split up and started spinning it.

I have 2 ounces spun up on one bobbin and almost done with the second so I can start plying the yarn today.

So far there has been no more ripping out of this yarn--I might have the right formula this time but it is early days yet! lol  This is only 12 of the 14" needed for the back before the armpit decrease.

I am feeling okay but the energy I feel comes only in spurts and doesn't have any staying power yet.  I am hoping it will just keep getting better!

 

A NEW ROUTINE

My Dad's Heliopsis is blooming again!!! 

 It's already taller than I am so it is a fast grower since the frost this winter knocked it down to nothing!

The iron infusion was very interesting on Monday, all went well without any adverse reactions except that headache continued to grow in intensity so that I was in bed with the curtains closed! That night was a misery so I was a wreck by morning.

So I did a little bit of painting later in the day

just to remind me I was still able.

The headache lasted all day Tuesday and I didn't do much more than add a few layers to this painting.

I did sleep well Tuesday night and felt much better in the morning and even felt that spark that is me which I haven't sensed for these long months.  I went for another infusion Wednesday afternoon and told them the headache was a strong one and they said they knew what to do!  It worked!  After they infect the iron into the IV over 5 minutes, they hook me up to a saline solution for 30 minutes.  They used a larger dose of the saline for a bit longer and it worked!  I did get a headache but a much milder one!  I just might be getting excited!  I don't go again until Monday so I am hoping I can ENJOY the next few days!!!

 

A NEW WEEK

I know you won't believe it but I am trying my last incantation of this coral yarn!!!!  I just could not figure out what that last pattern was talking about.  I must admit, my cognitive skills are impaired for now.  Then I remembered this book of DIY patterns

 and I chose a classic, basic pattern.  I can do it!

I will let you know in a week,

if I can keep my good expectations in line!

This is the last amaryllis in my yard...I sure do love

 the big, beautiful flowers!

I did my first infusion of iron yesterday, finally!  The insurance company couldn't put up any more road blocks when the blood work showed my iron levels are in the severe anemic category!  

So there!  I am glad to say I didn't have any adverse reactions while getting the IV and other than a headache, which I am well acquainted with, I did fine!  It's exciting to think that in a month, I might be back to my old self and can shut the door 

on the last 9 months of adverse health!!!

(The doctor is attributing this inability to absorb iron to the Septic Shock from my gangrenous appendix back in Sept 2024!)

 

A PLEASURE OF COMPANY

After a very frustrating week dancing to the calls of the insurance company, Mary talked me into a few hours of  Quilt Shop Hopping and no thoughts of anything medical!  We went to three shops and stopped for lunch.  I bought a few items.

What a treasure a good friend is--

laughter, tears and understanding!!!  

 

IT'S ME AGAIN

Something to cheer me up;  I bought two new African Violets

for my kitchen windowsill.  And I do love the pop of color in here!

Another pop of color are these--my green beans are ripening 

and we even had enough to pick for supper!

And who's counting but the cardigan has again been ripped out and is in its fourth rendering.  So far, it's good! lol  I am taking it while I go for blood work today. No, I have not had the iron infusion yet.  The insurance company keeps thinking of reasons to postpone it.  Why you ask?  Because they can and do! The doctor requested this back in February when the blood work was originally done but they took this long and now bloodwork is out of date!  No kidding!

 

LOOKING OVER THE FENCE

 The main part of the table runner is sewn together now; I am contemplating adding a border but the exact design hasn't come to me yet!  Isn't it a fun take on a rail fence design?!

I will work on it this morning but this afternoon I am doing something I've never done before; going to the cancer center for an iron infusion--not for cancer, it's just they are the only infusion center in my area!  I have been diagnosed with anemia and the iron is low enough to require a boost by IV.  I go today and again next week and then in 4 weeks we will check my labs to see if I need another course.  The plan is to help my body to remember how to utilize iron again.  This is another result of the Septic Shock 8 months ago.  Talk about the gift that keeps on giving....

At least the doctors have high hopes this will resolve the tachycardia and breathlessness I have, if I walk just a little!  

It will be nice not to feel like a 95 yo again!

ON THE FENCE

Sewing the pieces together now after I matched up the 2 x 2's.  For a change, I didn't do any planning so I don't know if I have enough blocks to make a runner or not but I have plenty of fabric to cut a bunch more if I need to.  

 It has been enjoyable to just cut and sew!  

I am using this general layout but only doing three blocks in a row for the table runner. It has as many different layouts as the common rail fence quilts!

 

ANOTHER RUNNER

I was able to cut some fabric from the Fat Quarter Club I get from my local quilt shop.  You know the drill, sew pieces together, cut them again and then sew those pieces together--

delightful lunacy! lol

 

I also managed to get a shot of the late amaryllis cluster before the T-storm hit last night!  

No doctors appointments today, for a change, so I will do some work on that table runner and enjoy a sleep in!

SEA TURTLE SIGHTING!

I was able to finally bring the sea turtle quilt to completion!  The binding and label were finished and then I even popped it into the washer/dryer.  What a good feeling to have it gift ready!

 

YARN PROJECTS

I am working down the body of the cardigan, it is boring but it is progressing.  I am about half the length I need to achieve.  I will be taking it with me to a new doctor's appointment today.

  I am hoping to learn some helpful insight today to explain the type of anemia I have and what to do about it.

I did wash and dry the wool I spun last week. Just like the magic of blocking a shawl, it is wonderful to see how washing/drying makes the yarn bloom and the plies to merge--delightful results! 

 I like it so much, I ordered another 4 ounces o

f the same lot to make another skein!

 

AND THERE IS YARN

I have been 'busy' plying the spun singles 

and wound them off the bobbin.

And now I have 225 yards of DK yarn from Blue Faced Leicester wool;  very soft and prettily colored.  No, I have no idea what I am going to knit from it yet but hope to find something to spark my interest soon!

Here is a bonus photo--A deliciously aromatic rose that was from Bill's Mom's house, she planted down here in 1979 and in 2019, Bill planted near the pond out back where it has more moisture.  It is thriving despite some loving attention from the deer and a few floods!  

 

A FINISHED OBJECT!

The tulip runner is completely completed! 

 That feels good, let me tell you!  

I might take long to make a 'quick' project 

but at least I am beginning to' make' again!

Today, I am meeting my friend, Mary, for a quilt show

 at our local quilt shop!  

 

A STEP BACK

We finally had the burial service for my grandson, Ethan.  It would've been so much more respectful to do this right after his death, instead it was like ripping off the scab to our heart's wound. 

The other day, I did finish the quilting for the tulips table runner

and today I will trim and bind it!

 

TWO THINGS-NO FOOLING!

In the morning yesterday, I drew the cross hatching with an erasable pen on the table runner and then had fun using the faux hand stitching on my domestic sewing machine to do the quilting! 

 I couldn't do all of the stitching

 but I'm ready to do some more today!

And in the afternoon, I spun 2 ounces of the wool! 

 It was so relaxing the spin again!

 

SOME SPINNING THERAPY

I've been inspired by Deb's recent spinning adventures 

so I ordered some BFL wool from Greenwood to spin!

I am ready to add something new that 

I can do and still rest in bed!

 

SPRING IS MOVING THROUGH THE YARD!

The Fringe tree is a little late this year 

but it has been very dry so it will not be in bloom long! 

This type of tree is called hysteranthous in that it flowers before the leaves form. (Like dogwood trees and redbud trees!)                    

This bloom is big-10-12"!  And they smell delicious!

This is the last azalea bush in bloom.  Usually the whole side of the driveway is in bloom but this year the bushes all took turns!  Again, the lack of rain shortens our time to enjoy their color!

The clumps of amaryllis are still showing off--just impressive!

The delicate miniature wave petunias are adding a beautiful pop of color to match their big pot!

And a little more painting is happening!