Home from Hospital!!! Surgery was a SUCCESS!!!

Whew, I will be the first to admit that surgery was a bit of an ordeal, but it's over now and PRAISE GOD, I'm home!!!!
I have a few photos...don't look if you have queasy stomach...there's a pic of me with NO MAKE UP!
Okay, here we have the bandage over the incision where the hip surgery was done & drainage tube from incision: I'm afraid that during surgery my blood pressure bottomed out & they had to quickly stick an IV in my jugular....FREAKY!! Obviously my blood pressure is now fine, thank God!
Amazingly, I came home Friday (the last time I had a similar surgery I was in hospital for 10-14 days!) & am doing well! Physical therapy began yesterday & therapist said I was doing well!! I'm very encouraged! I'm brave, as you can see...pics of me with no make up...like I said...BRAVE! Of course, I added cartoon glasses, but I still look like I'm 97 or so and have the lovely "I'm IN PAIN!" and "post anesthetic" glow...as is painfully obvious! Sorry, but I'm being real! For the record, my neck isn't that wrinkly, the tape used to keep that freaky IV in place had some sort of industrial type glue that bunched my neck & part of my face together for a few days..yuck!  (FYI, pic that was posted of me with no makeup while under influence of post anesthetic & pain drug delirium has been removed!!!) Oh yeah, I've had my hair in braids for weeks now...I wasn't able to get a hair cut (trim) prior to surgery &; it's much too long to have left to tangle .... now I realize it was a good thing because I think I might have lost a portion of the hair on the left side of my head had it gotten stuck in that industrial type glue in the tape on the jugular IV!!!!
OH WOW, I looked at that pic of me again...make that 197 that I look...and I must admit, I feel as haggard as I look at this juncture in time. LOL, what can I say?! Side effects of bone surgeries!!


NOW...for some fun, knitty type news! There's a new yarn store app for those of you who have an iPhone, iTouch, or iPad & it's my understanding that it's going to be available for other types of smart phones soon, too. I adore it! I don't know about the rest of you, but I always, always search for LYS in the town of my vacation and/or day trip excursions, as well as shops en route to the destination! Well, this app solves the problem...no need to search, it's all there in Yarn Store GPS AND it's only $2.99!!! I LOVE, LOVE it and HIGHLY recommend it! Run, run, run to itunes App Store & get it!!! You're gonna love it, promise! OH, and if you know of shops that aren't shown on the app simple let Jonelle of SWTC know!

New Computer AND Countdown to Surgery...

I finished two projects for the Lace Wonders book and have a few more projects in mind. I'm not sure what I'll design/knit next, depends entirely upon the mail...if my yarn arrives I'll then decide!
My sweet husband's gift arrived 2 days ago, my new Gateway laptop, it's such fun! I now realize exactly how outdated my 2 year old HP was! Technology is fast, isn't it?!

Next week, Jan. 11 to be exact, is the big day...my 6th hip surgery, 3rd revision on this hip...I'm told it's the last, for some reason I believe it this time (LOL, as the # of surgeries proclaim, I've been told I was having "the last" surgery more than once!). but, alas, I'm a believer, and am looking forward to it because the new pain that has surfaced as Spike began to truly show herself as she was wearing out over the past several months will theorectically be alleviated! So, much as I'm trying to revive my blog, I may be down for a bit due to surgery and recovery....or it may be a surgical walk in the park, as I'm expecting!
Now, I'm off to contemplate the next knit design and continue my "Mad Men" marathon...have a great weekend!

It's a COLD day!!

Hello Knitty People!
I will continue to post, hoping that my dereliction of my blog for so long is soon a forgiven and forgotten thing and soon friends and followers will return
It is very cold  here in the Southeastern U.S., very unusual for us to have temps in the 20's, which makes me feel for you guys who are in very cold climates!! STAY WARM! It is good weather for knitting, though, isn't it?! LOL, of course, all weather is good for knitting in my book!
I finished my shawl and must take some photos but because I'm in bed virtually all of the time as I await my surgery next week I've not had the opportunity to take pictures of the shawl. It did turn out quite lovely, if I do say so myself! As anyone who knows me knows...my fave yarn company is SWTC & their Therapi yarn did not disappoint with this shawl! I used 10 (yes, 10!) skeins and made a huge shawl, I LOVE IT, I can wrap it around me! Especially great in this cold weather (LOL, if I were getting out any!).
I've finished one project that I'm submitting for consideration in the upcoming 101 Lace Wonders book and 1/2 completed the 2nd one! I'm quite excited, SWTC has graciously supplied the yarn for the projects....like I've said, SWTC is my favorite yarn company, not simply because their yarns are spectacular, but the people are, too! I'm off to knit...
Ahhh, my girls are staying wrapped up too...as you can see by the look on Sally's face, they aren't fond of cold weather, LOL!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY 2012 Knitty People!
I want to wish you all a very happy and blessed 2012! LOL, I say "you all" as if I have a huge following on my personal blog as I did in the past, but alas I hang my head as I say that I do not. I have been terribly remiss with my blog for the past few years, as those of you (if there's anyone reading these days) who have known me since I began this blog know. One of my resolutions, my "cyber" resolution is to blog as I should .... yes, I know I've said it in the past, but I DO MEAN IT, truly I do! LOL, I feel like the the boy who cried wolf as I'm typing this! As I've been typing I decided to ask...what are your 2012 knitty resolutions?! I have a few:   1. I want to try to design, knit and submit 5 designs for the upcoming 101 Lace Wonders One Skein book for which I was invited to design (I'M SO HONORED and HAPPY!!!) . BUT, the submission deadline is Jan. 31 AND my surgery is Jan. 11! This could present a challenge, LOL! But, I'm happy to say that I will have the 1st design completed this morning, but I must type the pattern before going to the next design! 2. I have a LONG (extremely) "to knit" list that gets longer by the year, LOL...do you have one, too?! I resolve to try to knit at least six items from the list in 2012. 3. Before I add to my "to knit" list I want to knit several things for my new baby great-nephew(after I've completed the designs for Lace Wonders) who will grace us with his presence this spring. Gotta LOVE knitting for babies, I certainly do! I'm so EXCITED, a new baby in the family! 4. Number 4 reiterates #2 because I could continue to list knitty resolutions, but they are all a part of my "to knit" list! 5. I'm going to re-introduce Chef Knitty to the blog world....that is, if he's up to it! He's getting older and has continued to travel the knitty world so he's often not home. He may want to spend his "home" time in a leisurely manner. If he reappears on the blog it will then be known that he's happy to share his knittiness.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Saturday, it's almost Christmas!

Happy Holidays everyone!

My girls and I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

 

So, how are you knitting this year?! I've not been knitting a whole lot this year...but that that I usually knit is something for someone else but....a few nights ago I decided to cast on something for me (and right before Christmas with NO Christmas knitting done!). I had 10 skeins of SWTC's beautiful Therapi, it's a make up of fine wool, silk and jadeite...an actual jewel, such fun! I'm knitting a heavy type of lace shawl for cool weather with this gorgeous yarn. One of my very fave patterns, Evelyn Clark's Flower Basket Shawl, I've knit a few of these, but never one for me so I know it's a fun, fast knit. I hope to be done by Sunday so that I can knit a few stocking stuffers for my daughter's stocking. She may be 26, but she'll always be my baby and will always have a stocking! I'll post pics after Christmas!

Speaking of "after Christmas," I'm having my 6th hip surgery, which will be my 3rd hip revision (revising/redoing a previous hip revision, 3rd time it's been done). I have said a thousand times if once that I'd NEVER have another hip replacement, but alas, when the pain reaches a certain level there's nothing that can be done but the surgery... But, that's not too bad because MANY improvements have been done. For example, rather than an 18 inch incision along the outside of my femur there will be a 4 inch incision on the top of it, right @ the pelvis and the surgery is way less invasive (invasive it is, but not nearly so much). Have a look at an animation of the surgery.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Stay tuned...2012 will be a wonderful knitting year! I know of one new book in the works, another 101 Skeins Wonders book, this one will be about lace knitting! FUN FUN FUN!!!

Happy Holidays!

Hey Knitty (and other) People!
First of all, I would like to ask you to please, please check out (AND FOLLOW!) my daughter's make-up and photography site on youtube! It's a lot of fun, especially if you want to learn about different make-up techniques. She's very informative and fun...check her out at Frankly Scarlett Faced on youttube: (click the pic!)
I hope that you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving (if in the U.S.) and are ready to continue your holiday festivities with a glorious Christmas! 
The time has come (rather quickly!) to decide if I'm going to knit any for Christmas this year! I think that I will knit a few little stocking stuffers, you know, quick knits...which are, of course, among the faves! My daughter, like me, loves to use fingerless mitts when it starts to get cool and wears them on into cold weather. I love fingerless mitts, they keep the hands warm while allowing me to use my fingers...I'm useless with a full pair of gloves! So, I think I'm going to knit at least one pair for her stocking, a lacy pair. Now I must decide if I'm going to design a pair or look for a pattern...the timeline (which is rapidly getting much shorter!) will be key in my decision process!
A friend on facebook shared the idea of knitting a coffee cozy which is an excellent idea...I do believe I'll knit a small one, or perhaps the Posy Cosy  that was designed for Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders or maybe I'll do a simple cable pattern for the cozy! Hmmm....we shall see how the knitting goes...
So, what's up with you guys?! I know, I know, I've virtually disappeared from the blog world and into the Facebook world, but I'm truly working on a comeback...

Little Bit o' Knittin'

I'm afraid that with the onset of Facebook I've seriously neglected blogging....no excuses, simple fact.
But I do have a thing or two to blog about. Firstly, as many know, we lost our beloved Moshi several months ago. After a 17 year life of leisure our beautiful big white cat died from cancer. The last month of his life it was obvious he didn't feel well, other than that period of time, he was in wonderful health. Needless to say, he is deeply missed :(

We have now adopted our daughter's hairless sphynx, Liza Minelli!  She is a hoot! Our daughter was transferred out of town with her job. She works far too much and Liza spent most of her time alone. Alas, as much as Shannon loves her kitty she asked if we would take her so that Liza would have someone with her all day. She is a wonderful addition to the family! She and Sally love one another! 

Of course I've been knitting! And I'm fortunate and honored to have designed for SWTC's latest book, Socks a la Carte Colorwork, found on Amazon if you're interested!
Basically, it's been a good year around here!
Onward to the knitting....a few pictures of some of the knitting I've done this month, including a Girasole afghan for my sister, a Girasole shawl for me, a shawl for a friend, a Hemlock ring afghan for a friend and I'm working on a lap throw for our ladies group at church!

  

 

I think that's enough photos for now! I'm off to knit the lap throw for our ladies group...have a good evening everyone!

A Bit of Knitting

Just a bit of knitting that I've neglected to post....

New Designs Up!

OMGoodness, I'm ashamed to post to my blog....I've left you on the roadside, poor blog....please forgive me! And let's hope that I'll one day take care of you as I should!

Okay, with that said...a quick note:
2 new designs are available and are linked on the sidebar. "New Hope Scarf"
AND "Shannon's Slippers" (which I LOVE!)

Now...if only I actually make the time to update the photos of my FO's for this year I'll have something new to post....wonder how long this will take?! Again, sorry blog...I've been very neglectful (Facebook seems to have sucked the internet life away from you!) and hope to rectify this problem (again, how many times have I posted this?!).
God bless and happy knitting everyone!!

Uh OH...Sally got in TROUBLE again!!!

Here's how the last few days have gone....
1st of all, this freakishly cold Southern weather is really causing an increase in my pain level. AND yesterday (Mon.) there were problems @ the pharmacy with nuttin but rudeness (Lonnie fixed everything, of course).
Then today (Tues)...
Okay, if you still read my blog...you know that Sally is our mini doxie:

And you might remember her copperhead experience last July!
Well, Tues. morning around 6 she goes out for her morning ...well, potty, etc.
When she came back in & Lonnie picked her up she began to wimper...something she never does! We quickly discovered a bruise in her mouth! On the right side...FYI, the copperhead bite was on the left side!
Sally wanted to do NADDA...nothing, not a thing...didn't even have the least bit of interest in her favorite thing - food! That sent up the "Something is very hinky smoke signals!"
Since I'm having such trouble with Spike (what we now affectionately call the spike in my leg and hip...I mean 3rd hip replacement!) I'm in bed...well, Sally layed down @ the bottom of the bed & didn't move! Only lifted her ear @ bit when I called her. You must understand...all of this is VERY unusual! Look at her...she just looks so miserable!! And she's on the electric blanket, wrapped up in my new Wizard of Oz throw with an ice pack on the swelling on her mouth!
I watched her for a bit...when one of Lonnie's employees arrived he came directly home and off to the vet we headed! Needless to say, she's scared (face it, she's not had the best experiences @ the vet!) and so NOT happy (as you can see, neither she nor Lonnie were in photogenic moods! can you blame them?!)  The vet nurse examined her 1st, she had a temp on high side of norm and swollen mouth. The vet then came in & examined her. We all deduced that when she was out in the morning that she encountered some type of creature that wasn't happy to see her! PRAISE GOD it wasn't poisonous....but very painful, the inside of her mouth is bruised and swollen inside and out. The doc gave her an injection of steroids...OUCH! She told us that she didn't find any puncture marks, but we assume a squirrel of something got her when she happened upon it while it was dark and cold. Thankfully the vet saw no signs of a venomous attack. BUT, she did tell us that it's a very painful injury. She sent Sally home with oral steroids for a few days (LOL, I had to pick mine up from our pharmacy on the way home...hope we both don't have "roid rage!") and said she should improve. And, of course, to call/come see her right away if needed.
And there she is...didn't even want her sweater/dress removed...she just wanted back in bed with Mama (that would be me!).
 Doxies....love 'em so, but I'll tell ya this...they don't back down from anybody or anything!
Praying my 4 legged baby is better very soon!
Oh...almost forgot! Knitting a pair of socks for Lonnie and have a list of accessories to knit for my kids to help keep them warm during this COLD winter....STAY WARM, everyone & God Bless!

Christmas Holidays 2010 - What a BLAST!!!

We were so fortunate....had one of the greatest Christmases in years! What a blessing! Our daughter, Shannon, who moved out of town a few months ago AND our son, Adam and his lovely wife, April were home from Kansas! GLORIOUS! If our middle daughter, Amy and her family had made it it would have been perfection! But, with that said, 2 outta 3 kids is great!
Allow me to show you some of our family fun!
A few pix on Christmas day:
 Shannon with Uncle Mike!
 Some family members unwrapping & enjoying gifts.
 My Honey Buns, aka "Music Man" - Lonnie!
 My sister, Shannon and Uncle Mike
My beautiful sister with the pretty gifts from Shannon (sis didn't want to unwrap them because they were wrapped so nicely!)
 Daughter in law April and our son, Adam - gorgeous, aren't they?! LOL, it's a family thing!!

We, of course went to church the day after Christmas. Shannon had to return home after church. We then explored a bit with Adam and April while they were here:
LOL, Adam with Santa on River Street!
 My boys, Adam and Lonnie - good looking pair!
 Lonnie, April and Adam by a cool grave in Bonaventure Cemetery (yep, I've always loved to explore cemeteries...especially around here!)
 Gracie's grave in Bonaventure Cemetery - this girl died in the 17 or 1800s; her likeness has been on her grave since her death, I believe. Well, when I was 17 yrs old I'd ridden my bike to the cemetery with some friends. AND, it looked like Gracie's statue was looking @ me, following me with her eyes! I jumped on my bike, took off like lightning and wrecked on Bonaventure Rd, got 17 sts in my leg! To this day, "Gracie" freaks me out and follows me with her eyes...of course it's because it's a fabulous sculpture, but still freaky.....just sayin'!
 Another very beautiful grave in Bonaventure Cemetery
April is kickin' it with Santa on River Street!!
 Adam thru an O
 Adam, Shannon & April by one of the Christmas trees @ church 12-26-2010
 Me with my "boys"....Adam and my honey, Lonnie!
 Adam and April - so much in love!!

Hope you all have a wonderful 2011
God Bless you all!!!