2010-How Nice to Meet You.....

So-3 months without blogging........ where to begin. I survived the cough/virus that laid me low in October. I did eventually get to have my root canal (in late November from memory), but my endodontist had the sad news that he would be unable to complete it permanently. This has resulted in an appointment with an oral surgeon, and now surgery (with general anaesthetic-thank goodness) to remove the offending tooth, the wisdom tooth that is lurking behind it (it is not currently causing any problems but would when the molar is removed), and also any repairs to my sinus wall that is required as the wisdom tooth is right next to it. This is all in my top jaw which apparently is better-less nerves lurking there apparently. I will be happy to have it sorted once and for all-it's recently started to ache again. All this excitement will be happening on Feb 19th-hopefully I will be up and about fairly quickly afterwards. Enough of the health details-we are all healthy otherwise.

So-let's see what else has happened. There was the usual end of year school/work/other get-togethers. December started with the end of school, continued with Christmas preparations (we had my mum, dad & sister staying with us and my brother & his family also joining us for lunch), and finished with Jamboree preparations and packing. Luke had a great time at Jamboree (away 14 days total) near Sydney. I'll see if I can track down a photo or two. Caitlin got to have a week trip with Ron's parents in Melbourne. It was extremely hot that week, but they still had a great time. Again, I will have to track down some photos. While Caitlin was away, Ron and I had our own trip over to western Victoria. We stayed at Dunkeld which is just south of the Grampians. We had a lovely time and would love to go back in autumn again. The rest of January was taken up with school preparations as both kids went back to school on January 27.

Craft wise......I have finished off two pairs of socks (both were WIPs) and started another pair I think the pattern is called Charade-free pattern on Ravelry-knit with Bendigo Miami which is a wool/cotton/nylon blend-ideal for summer knitting)-they were my travelling knitting on our holiday when it was cool enough to knit.



I've also knit two lace (nothing too complicated) scarves-one for my mum and one for my sister for their birthdays. I need to make myself one before winter. I don't have photos of these-I forgot to take some. Before Christmas I knit up two mini stockings for Caitlin's teacher and student support officer. These were very quick to make-I shall remember them for next Christmas. The pattern is somewhere on Ravelry. They are knit flat and them seamed. I used Heirloom Baby 4 ply.



For the Embroiderers Group Christmas swap I whipped up a Christmas ornament (a Mill Hill kit). I love these as there is minimum finishing required. Self adhesive felt on the back after trimming and you are done.



I've got a few other things on the go, but I'll go into them in another post. I'm going to knit and keep cool.

Blogtoberfest Day 29-No Inspirational Title Available

Look, a knitting picture! It's my sock progress, or lack thereof. I've picked it up this evening for a while, but it hasn't seen much action in the last few days. It's knit using Bendigo Harmony (or actually Heirloom Breeze-which is exactly the same thing) which is an 8 ply wool/cotton/Lycra blend.

I had another ordinary night-my throat and muscles are getting pretty sore now at times which isn't helping. I had another quiet day at home (no socialising or crafting for me) and I think I am getting better slowly, but it's very frustrating. Still, I got to have some reading time. I will play tomorrow by ear (or chest?) but I don't have to go out-Caitlin does have a Brownie "disco" but that is later so Ron can take her if need be. I'm hoping to feel well enough to watch Caitlin play softball on Saturday, but again Ron can go solo if necessary.

I am going to knit for a while longer (luckily I am up to the foot where I can knit around and around with no brain power required) before some medicine and another try at some proper sleep. Only two more posts to go in Blogtoberfest!

Exciting Life & Times

Today's wrap up:

• got kids (both-yay!) off to school
• rang dentist to change root canal appointment to next Wednesday
  
• had nap-still poorly, but improving slowly
• revived, lunched, washed clothes
• knit on sock-turned heel, picked up gusset stitches, am now well onto foot, but still no pictures-while listening to podcasts/audiobooks
• did emergency food run to IGA
  
• swept floors and cooked tea
• ate tea and did dishes (Ron to school council meeting)
• watched Top Gear and then Ashes to Ashes while unpicking unsuccessful green choices on stitching, and then a little on Christmas Ornament
• read blogs & emails
• bedtime

Tomorrow's possible agenda

• proper food shopping in morning
• if feeling poorly/unmotivated this could be done in afternoon
• Ron to go to Caitlin's matinee performance of school play at lunchtime-he'll then work from home in pm so he can go to softball practice
• will need early dinner as evening performance is at 6.30 until 7.45-Luke and I will go to this one
• maybe even take a photo of something, somewhere for the blog
  

Cough, cough

That's as good as the sound effects get on this blog. This post is a bit late, but having naps when unwell puts my body clock out, somewhat. (I figure that it's still Saturday night) Can I just say that the coughing is getting old very quickly. Fingers crossed it clears up soon, otherwise the root canal will have to be delayed. Other news:Caitlin's softball team drew-she did well apparently and got a couple of runs, no-one else is sick and Caitlin seems just about totally well (finally), I finished the heel flap on my sock, and I think (third time lucky) that I have found a green thread that I am happy with for my stitching. That's all for now-here's hoping I get a decent night's sleep.

I Didn't Post Yesterday Because....

......I was sick. I suppose it was on the cards, but I'm not thrilled. Caitlin didn't go to school Thursday or today. She is on the mend, but they had a four hour hike today, and we figured that would have been too much after being sick since last Saturday. Hopefully, she will be well enough for softball tomorrow morning. I'm still not feeling great-sore throat, ears, head, and a....well.......productive cough. I'm hoping it clears up quickly-mainly, before next Tuesday (aka "D" Day-Dentist Day) as my tooth still hurts and I want to get the root canal over with.

On a brighter note, I started my second sock, and am up to knitting the heel flap. This weekend is hopefully fairly quiet, with only Caitlin's softball (if she's well enough), and Luke has a scout thing on Saturday.

Well, that's it for today-I'll just finish watching the James Bond movie and then head to bed.

Back to the Doctor

Well, it was option 2, with a night of little sleep thrown in. After I went to bed, tried to get to sleep, gave up and took dome Panadol, went back to bed and got an hour's sleep.........Caitlin woke me at around 1am with very nasty ear pain. Some Panadol and time later with no improvement, and a very upset girl, I rang the 24hr medical helpline to check what I should be doing. Giving her some ibuprofen and a hot pack seemed to help enough that she (& I) could get to sleep-after 3am. I got up to make sure Luke was up and moving before heading back to bed while Caitlin was still sleeping. Fast forward to a doctors appointment at 3pm, and we have ear infections, so antibiotics are picked up. We will see how she is in the morning before deciding on school or not. Let's hope for a better night tonight.

Ron is hopefully home by 3pm tomorrow-I still have shopping, library and Spotlight on my to-do list.

On other news-I finished a sock. Given that it is an 8 ply, ankle sock that needed only the toe shaping & grafting to do, this may actually not be such a huge achievement, but it's still done. Casting on second sock tomorrow. I might even take a picture of the finished sock. The action never ends around here.......

Another Plan

My stitching plan seems to be working fairly well, although I didn't get as much done during the school holidays. I made a new start yesterday-not the one with the fabric problems. I'll take a photo when I've got a bit more progress. I'm currently stitching with two shades of green, and I'm not sure that there's enough contrast. I'll do a bit more before I decide if it's OK or not.

The other plan I am referring to would be, of course, a plan for my knitting. Now this is not as detailed a plan. I tend to have several projects on the needles, as some need more concentration, and some are better for travel or times when concentration isn't possible. Now that summer is (allegedly) here or arriving soon, the heat is another thing to take into account. Items like blankets and woolly jumpers and cardigans are no fun to knit in the heat, even in front of the air conditioner. An ideal knitting project for the heat is socks. They can be as simple or complicated as you like. I've decided to participate in the Southern Summer of Socks. I have two pairs of socks already on the needles that I want to finish (both have practically one sock finished) and then I would like to knit another two pairs. So that's the plan-I will also work on other WIPs that aren't socks.

Further news on the Dalek washcloth-Caitlin received a thank you note from her friend at Brownies tonight, as well as a photo of her with the cloth. Her mum told me she just loves it-she's a 7yo Dalek fan!

I think a hot chocolate is in order before I head to bed in preparation for a fresh morning watching the summer sport of softball (with my coat, scarf & fingerless mitts).

A comment on my Blogtoberfest effore so far: I haven't missed a day (except for the scheduled post that didn't work, and that was totally not my fault). So far, so good.