Thursday, January 31, 2013

13

I do so love the month of January. The calendar's way of allowing us a mulligan. And I have been taking advantage of every opportunity for a do-over.

I have taken over the front bedroom for my office...and eventually for my crafting/sewing room, while still preserving it as a guest room. Mr. T moved my desk...once again...from the Morning Room, where it was convenient but obtrusive. It will take me a few more weeks to get my "new" room set up the way I want it to be...no matter, I'm on the right track with this move.

Additionally, I've rearranged the furniture in the great room...once again...and I think this way might just be what the dr. ordered. This room is large...and octagonally-shaped...and nearly impossible to arrange furniture with the way the doors, windows, wet bar, fireplace, and outlets are placed. Ah well, gotta love a challenge, right?

[Of course, you may recall that we aren't supposed to be rearranging anything, since we have a blind dog in residence. It took Elmo two whole days to get comfortable having the sofa in a different spot...and then, get comfy he did!]

Most importantly, I have finally taken control of my knitting, starting first with taking count of all my projects in process. Final tally: 13. Thirteen. Good grief! I have never, ever claimed to be a monogamous knitter. And frankly, I'm afraid I don't really understand how a knitter can only have one project going at a time. Each project requires different levels of concentration. There are projects you can knit while watching tv or a concert; there are projects that require all of your focus...so you risk having to frog if you attempt to knit while distracted; and there are projects with both elements. Hence, the need to have different projects to pick up at different times.

But thirteen Unfinished Objects? I realized that I was developing a terrible habit of starting a project because of the thrill of the Start. My friend JS recently sent me the following on Facebook...see if you recognize moi...or possibly vous...



So, now I want all of my kniticipation to come from the finish of my projects. So far, I've experienced the thrill of the Finish with a baby outfit for Lily and with my Shawl-Collared Cowl. And I'm on the brink of finishing my Basil Leaf Vest, which has been on my needles since 2011. I worked on this vest while Momma was at Hospice Home, and then I put it aside. Couldn't knit another stitch on it.

All my angst subsided when I took inventory of my UFOs. This was one I wanted to complete...for me. And it no longer seemed to be able to cause me sadness or painful memories, other than by being unfinished.

It's on the blocking board now...I'll publish pix of the Finished Object soon. Promise!

And then the count will be down to a manageable 10. Which if you are binary instead of base 10, is only 2, right?

Right!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

A Fun Saturday...For One...

The third Saturday in January...snow on the ground is melting, daffodils are starting to bloom 2 months early...must be time for the Annual Seed Savers Swap in Old Salem!


Sponsored by Slow Foods Piedmont and the NC Extension Master Gardeners of Forsyth County, this is quickly becoming a good draw for area home gardeners...and anyone who is interested in saving and sharing heritage seeds. We went last year and had such a good time that I eagerly noted the date on my 2013 calendar. I even made my Mount Carmel Pasta Salad (with broccoli from our garden...:-) to take as our contribution to the Pot Luck Lunch.

Alas, there would be no "we" this year, as Mr. T is recovering from an odd occurrence on Thursday. Well, getting a tooth pulled isn't all that odd, although at our age it is usually preceded by and followed by a good deal of pain. The odd thing was WHY he had to go through this in the first place.

He's been experiencing increasing pain in/under a crowned molar. It got so bad that he cut his travel workweek short and came home Wednesday evening...scaring me silly when he came through the back door a day earlier than expected.

He started Thursday off at the dentist's office, bright and early at 8:00, with a throbbing tooth and swollen jaw. She sent T to an endodontist in Greensboro, giving T the impression he could give T some relief and fix the problem that day.

The problem? The X-ray his dentist took showed at least 3 metal "filings," (not fillings), the kind endodontists use when performing a root canal, were UNDER the root of that tooth! What?! So many questions...where to begin? My main one was "...and no one has noticed this on an X-ray in all these years?" (It's been so long since T had the root canal and crown, that he doesn't even remember how long...)

Anyway, Mr. T called me as he was headed back to High Point to see an Oral Surgeon, recommended by Dr. Endodontist. And T was not a happy camper about that visit he'd just had...excuse me, that "consultation" he'd had, and paid $100 to hear there wasn't anything Dr. Endodontist could do...and certainly not today.

(Before T had to deal with yet another overly-impressed-with-himself out-of-network provider and pay to hear "come back next week...," I was able to find an in-network Oral Surgeon in Greensboro, one without all that haughty attitude and one who could do what needed to be done...that afternoon. Ah, the power of dental insurance.)

And what needed to be done? The Dr. had to pull that tooth. And, he gave Mr. T a scrip for antibiotics...which the other two should have done, in the very least. He also gave T some pain pills...and said the third day (today) would likely be the worst day. Dr. was right on all counts.

So, today it was just me and my basket of heirloom Nanking Green cotton to contribute to the seed exchange (you may recall that I got my original cotton seeds here last year)...and that bowl of pasta salad to contribute to the pot luck lunch table...that headed West to Winston-Salem.



By the time I arrived at the Single Brothers Workshop in Old Salem, the Swap was well-underway, and the pot-luck table looked like a swarm of locusts had attacked. Before I could get a serving spoon in my pasta salad, there were 2 people at my elbows, wanting to see what I had brought to share.

Since so many had congregated to the lunch side, that left a much smaller crowd to deal with in the seed swap side of the building. I was able to get heirloom seeds of tomatoes, watermelons, beans, peas, herbs, okra, and "soup" celery...whatever that is...many of which are from the Single Brothers Gardens in Old Salem. Hurrah!

And my little basket of cotton? It drew quite an interested crowd, including a reporter from a neighborhood paper who interviewed me and took my picture! Now, she said she'd taken well over 200 pictures that morning, so I have low expectations of seeing anything in print...but you never know...

By the time I gathered up my stuff to leave, I realized how very hungry I was...and that I was just a few blocks from our fav BBQ place in the Piedmont: Bib's Downtown. Called Mr. T to see if he thought he could manage 'cue...and he thought he'd certainly like to give it a try. Next stop: downtown Winston...



Before I could get home with the pig, though, I had to take a little detour...to Knit One Smock Too, a fav yarn shop that also has quilting and smocking supplies...to see about some buttons...and some sheep...and maybe a couple of alpaca. Tee hee.

Once home, we both devoured our sandwiches...closest thing to Memphis-style pulled pork barbecue we have found in this vast ocean of BBQ soup...which is what NC-style chopped pork, drowning in sauce tastes like to us. And don't get me started on Lexington-style red slaw...gross! Bib's gives you a choice between white slaw and red...but only because they feel they have to, being in NC. Dogs got the hush puppies. What's up with that? Where I'm from, hush puppies go with fish...not 'cue. Oh well, different strokes, right?

Inspired by looking through my bag of seed packets, Mr. T and I...accompanied by Duche$$ and Elmo...took a tour of the Kitchen Garden, which still has pockets of snow from Thursday night's fall. Believe it or not, the broccoli is still standing...still green...and still producing!



I love gardening, don't you?

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Two Birds...One Photo

Just finished weaving in (remember: I hate weaving in the yarn tails...:-) and sewing on the buttons. My Shawl-Collared Cowl* is done! Whatcha think?!


Thought I'd share a photo or two with you...and then I realized that I've neglected taking Documentation Photos to show my progress with Bell's Palsy. Why? Because all I had to say about it at this point was "infinitesimal improvement." Hard to say...hard to show.

But, here I am at the beginning of Week 30...in Month 7, and I guess I should record my thoughts...and share them with you, since you've been along for this roller-coaster ride, too. I still am captive to the facial paralysis that is Bell's, on the left side of my face, but it has receded all the way from TERRIFYING to MERELY ANNOYING. When I'm tired, my speech is challenged, and I do slur words with P, B, F, and S...the Faulty Four, as always. But, I have "graduated" from twice-weekly Speech Therapy to the DIY version. My recent bout with the flu did set me back a bit, but I'm returning to a regular routine now. And, I think it shows.

I felt confident enough in my improved speaking ability as well as my appearance to volunteer to do a Master Gardener presentation last week...and it went well. I knew I still had Bell's...but I don't think anyone else was aware...except possibly the other EMGV, who knew what I sounded like "before."

Anyway, I put on my new cowl this morning and snapped some shots...documenting both my improvement as well as my "achievement."

So here they are: Smile! and Big Smile!!...which were easy to do in my newest Finished Object!!!




*Pattern for the Shawl-Collared Cowl purchased from Never Not Knitting: http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/2010/08/shawl-collared-cowl.html?m=1


Monday, January 14, 2013

Starting Off A Little Slowly

January is half over...and I haven't shared the pics of the beautiful quilt Missy M made us for Christmas. I feel like this year is flying by...but I'm trudging through quick sand. Sigh. Oh well, better late than never, right?






Isn't that quilt just beautiful? Aren't those colors gorgeous? Aren't we the luckiest parents in the Universe?!

OK. Back to Earth. I've got one thing to say about getting the flu, when you have already taken a flu shot. If the flu shot fails to provide the protection you thought it would, do NOT buy it when told that "your case of flu may be milder." Nope. Couldn't prove that by me. It has been 4 weeks since I started with the aches, cough, and fever of Type A influenza...and I'm just now starting to feel that I'm on the right road to recovery.

I had a couple of false "stops" along the way...thinking I was finally, finally feeling better...only to start running fever again. And my cough just lingered...nothing seemed to get rid of it. Still, late last week, I was scheduled to give the Master Gardener "Creating a Butterfly Garden" presentation to a local garden club...my first gig since about this time last year. I had accepted the assignment back around Thanksgiving, when I was so thrilled with my progress in my Speech Therapy and my battle with Bell's Palsy...and wanting to get my life back on track. Getting the flu in mid-December was not a part of my plan.

As late as Monday, I worried that I might not be up to the task. But, I had made the commitment, and I intended to keep it. Then...

Duche$$ got sick. Big time. I had very little sleep over the next 3 days, having to be up all-hours with her. I won't say it...I will not say it...oh well, we are all thinking it: what next?

Miraculously, I was able to keep my commitment...and all went well. Duche$$ perked back up, and my cough and fever both died back down. Hooray! We both are still improving, with me faring better than she.

While recovering from the flu, I was able to finish my first knitting project of the year...to be honest, the first in a while. I did make several scarves on my triangle loom (remember, I took that class in Asheville, back in October?). But, I haven't been knitting much. I know, I know...just doesn't seem quite right, does it?

Three skeins of yarn let me know they wanted to party together in a Mardi Gras scarf...which looked like it would bring a smile to friend JA's face. And, happily, this simple project seems to have unlocked my need to have the needles clicking.

This weekend, I finished this Shawl-Collared Cowl, which is now on the blocking pad. I'll sew the buttons in place tomorrow and call it complete. Check off Project #2 for 2013!



At this rate, I may get my life back on track...hopefully, before we change calendars again!









Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy 2013!

Happy New Year to all! We are starting this New Year off right...how about you?


It is said you will enjoy a good year ahead, based on what you eat on January 1st. Here are the Good Luck foods we try to include...and why:


  1. Pork is eaten in the American South to promote prosperity in the coming year. Why? It is said that pigs are "fat and happy," and that they root for their food, continuously moving forward, making progress. Unlike chickens and other fowl...who scratch the earth and move backward when searching for food.
  2. Round fruits (apples, oranges, grapes, cherries, etc.) are considered lucky due to their round shapes...reminiscent of coins...and their sweetness. Many cultures say to eat 12 of a particular fruit...and if the 4th one is very sweet, say, then the corresponding month (April) will be a particularly sweet month in the coming year.
  3. Black-eyed peas are another Southern good luck food, due to their resemblance to pennies...and their abundance in gardens. When combined with onions, carrots, peppers, celery, etc., then cooked with pork (usually salt-pork) and served over rice, the dish is called Hopping John.
  4. Greens (collards, turnip, or some combination) are considered lucky due to their appearance: green like US money. Other cultures considered cabbage (and kraut) the green to eat. We'll have both...for good measure.
  5. Cornbread, with its gold color, represents money, too.


Menu here at Casa 3917 today includes: brown sugar-braised pork chops with apples and carrots; Hopping John; broccoli; collards and turnip greens (all three from the garden...pictured) for me/cabbage slaw for Mr. T...who won't touch "greens;" cornbread (pictured below...made with stone-ground yellow corn meal from the fabulous Old Mill at Guilford near Oak Ridge, NC); and cherry pie. Think we covered enough bases?

Doing all we can to ensure a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2013!




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