Depression

I usually try to be uplifting. But situational depression is attacking. Cold, windy weather,

Treadmill broken waiting for companies to do their part in replacing or fixing this unit.

Probably the biggest weight is my poor dog as she goes downhill. Nothing we can do. It’s part of life.

And my therapy is knitting. Unfortunately I’ve spent today making and tinking two heels. A whole day just to get back where I started.

Something I learned in real therapy is to look for the good of the day. Okay. I got my resistance bands in the mail. I plan to try them out tomorrow.

I did get a bit of editing done. I just wonder how much my mental state affects my writing and knitting. Maybe I should take a couple days off and knit hats and color. Then it might be more soothing to my spirit.

What do you do when life sucks and you want to cheer up?

Just Jot It January,

The prompt word for January 22nd is “seasonal.” Thanks go to Kaye for the wonderful prompt!

Please be sure to check out Kaye’s blog here!

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/22/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-22nd-2023/ It’s fun!

Linda spoke of how her writing was seasonal. NaNoWriMo, CampNaNo and Just Jot It January becomes her writing time. Me, too. It seems those programs help motivate me properly. I haven’t won every time. And sometimes, like last month as I tried another goal, I made no progress at all. But often I make the 50k. Even on the camps. That would probably not surprise my teachers. Most of my report cards had comments like, ‘Darlene talks too much in class.’

This year I’ve over-goaled my life with all the gifts I’m trying to make and so writing has fallen by the wayside.

And I still have to podcast and start reading aloud my books, starting with my memoirs. The area in my house I planned on using, suddenly has Diamond Paintings.

My recorder playing, piano and voice practice have fallen off.

There are only 24 hours in a day. Still!!! I stay up reading until 3 or 4. With my old dog waking me often, sleep also seems seasonal. Heat and smoke and bugs of summer, icy cold and snow of winter affects everything in our house. Where we hang out, how we sleep, either covered up over my head with warmth or sheet to keep bugs off. And all this affects energy and pain levels, ya know?

Maybe I need to organize my day better and my week to include everything I want to do.

Thank goodness for the treadmill. It still gets used most days of the week.

How does anyone get anything done with a job? I did do NaNo. But the rest of this, writing, knitting, especially learning new stitches, artwork, music, etc. Little got done. Too tired. Housework. Phew!

Seasons of our lives are as influential as the weather. Whew!

Just Jot It January, Complaint

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 19th 2023, is “complaint.” Use the word “complaint” any way you’d like. Have fun!

The prompt is brought to us by John. Thank you, John! Please be sure to visit John’s blog .

I have a few complaints. I’m still working on Christmas gifts. There has been so many mistakes, tinking back or like today, total frogging due to the learning curve. I’m trying to learn to knit Toe-up, Two At A Time socks on long cable needles. Here’s what I had finished up to before the frog. Nearly to the heel.

But the increase stitches went too far making the socks too large across.

Hey boyfriend’s socks

On their fourth attempt, are looking comfy. No complaints here, except it feels it is taking forever.

Valentine’s day may be the new Christmas. By the way, I have 4 other pairs of socks in progress. Maybe I’ll share them tomorrow.

Just Jot It January, Endurance

This post is brought to you by Linda G. Hill, Just Jot it January, and Destiny! Please be sure to check out her blog.

For Just Jot it January, click the following link to see how you, too, can join in! https://lindaghill.com/2023/01/09/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-9th-2023/ It’s fun!

Occasionally I share projects I’m working on, or have finished. This picture goes with the posts.

Why? Because despite me, ADD, arthritis, and other obstacles, things get done. And I feel glad. Endurance is a similar word. Hands hurting is something to be endured, even if the hobby is enjoyable. So here’s my latest batch of projects in various stages of completeness.

Done! This is a small adult. I love working with the magical Fair
Isle yarn from Willows.

And I love the pattern featured below with ChiaoGoo red-lace circulars size 6 needle.

The dragon is coming along. About 1/3 finished. Lots of eye blurring black.

I’ve been working on these for quite a while. The HiyaHiya Fliers and ChiaoGoos are tiny and hurt if I spend too much time on them but, progress!

These are nearing the cuff stage so may be finished soon.

These are at cuffs now, so finished product may happen before long.

Started another hat. This is the pattern. The Fair Isle yarn from Willow is so soft!

Endurance of lack of Internet or streaming services is the hardest part of all of this. I need the distraction. And the chance to work on the web, especially GoodReads and the reviews I need to write. This is endurance. We may be up and running tomorrow when our local Internet fixer will come by. 🤞

Yarnie Birthday!

What a fun birthday I’ve had. I got to chat and talk with folks I love. I got to birthday shop at my favorite yarn shop, Willows, and talk knitting. All in all, I feel fortunate for all the love around me.

Happy birthday to my way younger twin. You know who you are ❤️

Now back to 9-1-1 (we are addicted to this show) have you watched it? Oh, and knitting.

And C.

Review: Faerie Knitting: 14 Tales of Love and Magic by Alice Hoffman

Faerie Knitting: 14 Tales of Love and Magic by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a delightful bedtime book! Especially the Audible version with January LaVoy narrating. The stories are short enough to do one a night. Normally, I don’t like short stories. But after reading Braiding the Sweetgrass, this felt similar enough not to feel a shock but an excellent way to hear stories of love.

AND the book comes with knitting patterns—even the Audible. I picked up the PDFs and printed them to my knitting folders. I can’t wait to try some of these. Although, I think a few are way beyond my abilities. But the way knitting is woven into the stories is captivating. I’m sorry to be finished with the reading.

If you are unaware of Alice Hoffman, she is the author of Practical Magic, among many others. She writes with the pen of a poet. This particular book is co-authored with her sister. What fun that must have been.

View all my reviews

Things Learned

Just 7 inches from the toes. I’m so excited to have learned to divide for the heel, then turn heel, then I shaped the gusset and now it’s stockinette (straight knitting) until the toes. Wah hoo! And I’m ready with yarn and more Double pointed needles for the fiancés socks.

My bathroom is nearly done. I’ll probably have to shower at least once in the guys’ restroom. Ugh! I’ve hated being so scattered, my stuff is everywhere and I had to schlep between my room and their restroom work bags of stuff.

And our poor kitty, Teddy has been having troubles, teeth and blood sugars so my husband has taken the trip through the mountains to the vet to take care of him.

Not to mention, Kali is still getting older and having a hard time with all of it. So lack of sleep is playing hard against ambition.

So I’m trying to be kind to myself for being about a day behind on NaNoWriMo, Reflexion about the Pensées family. So the word count

I need to spend a couple days catching up.

Making Monday

Started Monday with this gorgeous scene.

Hard to see but it was blustery for a while.

Kali still lives playing in the snow. All her footprints from running up and down the steps and driveway. As old and feeble as she seems, some things still seem to make her happy.

We’re currently at 27.

Cold nights ahead

Almost done. Maybe by the weekend?

Flexee fine-gauge loom socks nearly ready for the white heel. Very soft wool.

Double pointed needles. First time. Needed lessons for heel. Got the first part done. Hope I can get over for my lesson tomorrow to finish the heels. Then I’ll probably need help with the toes. I hope to get more of this yarn to make a smaller pair.

Bamboo yarn on CinDWood sock looms. Heading for the leg, then cuff.

My experimental HiyaHiya Fliers sock. These are so thin I can only do a row or two before my hands tire.

Time to get busy. I should have 11,669. And I still need to do Duolingo for the day.

Finishing Friday

As I promised the finished hat, now in the charity bag.

ChiaoGoo circular needles made this easy.

Heels are happening now.

Kali is helping me pose the picture but I couldn’t reach the other sock due to the puppers. In fact, the CinDWood fine-gauge loom has half the heel done.

Shoot. I can’t show you the other double pointed needle socks that are also at heel stage. I need my tutoring session to learn how to ‘turn a heel’.

Okay Word Count calls. Currently at 5,441 so I still need lots more before bedtime. See ya tomorrow!

Stream of Consciousness Saturday, Happy Place

Per Linda:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “happy place.” Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of “happy place.” Have fun!

In my heart of hearts, this is my happy place:

Since that is far, far away and impossible to get to, this is my happy place:

It keeps me out of trouble and gives me peace.