I've overpacked!

So I'm taking a few things out.  *grin*

David was surprised that I snuck in a few more knitting projects into the checked luggage.  They won't take up much space, but I am taking them out.  i don't want to be distracted with additional options. 

David has written some wonderful vows that we'll be working on making the permanent vows for the ceremony.  They are lovely!  Sums up things quite nicely about love and relationships.  I am fortunate to find "my something better." 

Do you drink tea?
Do you use tea bags? 
The M's know of a woman who collects the tags from tea bags and donate them to turn them into wheelchairs.  So, if you're a tea drinker and are willing to collect the tags, let me know.  I can send you my address to send them to me.  Give me a heads up via email.  knittingbrow (AT) gmail (d0t)com

Cheers!

And They're Off!

(actually on Monday but we're on the way to Cleveland to pick up the M's and that's where the flight leaves)

Packed.
Knitting decided and packed. I'm making up a sock pattern and think I'll be able to get at least one sock on on the flight over. Of course, I'm using size 0 needles with the Kaffe Fassett
sock yarn from Regia. I'm getting 10 sts to the inch so it's solid sock.

Just in case I need a knitting change, I have some additional sock yarn that I'll be able to knit on size 3 needles. Probably a plan sock pattern, but we'll see if there is any time.

(and I just threw in another sock pattern and yarn in my checked luggage)

Thanks for all of the supportive comments about my brother's death and my grieving.

Don't expect any blogging for the next 16 days at least.

*exhale*

Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers. I have appreciated them greatly.

I'm just home from the services and it went well overall. I mean, as well as it could be expected when the first sibling dies.

I kept myself busy at work on Monday and Tuesday at work providing back-to-back training sessions. Those ended at 4 and by 4:30 it was all catching up with me. I felt great pressure on my chest, a sure sign it all was catching up to me.

I tried working on the remembrances Monday and Tuesday night and only got a bit done on them. That writing stuff...how to structure, what I remember...all that priming the pump stuff so I can think about how things should be structured.

Wednesday viewings had lots of people attending. That was nice. We were surrounded by great pictures of John in many aspects of his life. There were some great ones that I hope to be able to get copies of for my collection.

The service went well, as did the remembrances. Of course, I got an inspiration on the way to the funeral home to change what I was doing and focus on those great pictures.

On the way home, I started to need that reminder to breathe again. The pressure welling up inside my chest. I expect this will get better over time. The holidays will be hell to get through, as will the annual boys fishing trip for 2008. I understand why people die. I have an understanding what happens after we die. But it still does not make it any easier.

I need to exhale and allow it all to become real so I can honor myself and sort through my emotions.

My brother John (1954-2007)

My Brother John 2006
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow

I received word today that my brother John died this weekend.

He is the first child of the twelve original children to pass away.

Light and love to Ellen and their two boys.

phone portraits

Let's see how annoying this can get, shall we?

England Bound

Oh my!
We leave for England in 8 days.
So.much.to.do.
I know everything will work out great.
and knitSB and I will have a nice ceremony while we're there.

If you want a post card from me, please send me your address. knittingbrow (aT) G mAil(d0t)com.

I'm working on the leaf lace pattern. It's going well.

Thanks for the Congratulations on the Class

I wanted to say thank you to those who commented about my experience teaching.

It really was a great experience. Now, what should I teach as a next class?

I wonder about how to get the pattern out from the class I thought? Should I just post it here? Sell it?

Thoughts? Do comment. I love those comments.

what a week

What is your favorite caption to this photo?

Yeee-ouch! Squeemish? Move along.

(long version)
It all started just over two weeks ago when knitSB dropped a drinking glass (simply by walking past it as it sat on the kitchen table) causing it to break, making glass and water go all over the floor.
After cleaning it up, we went along, minding our own business.
That is until the shard of glass decided to embed itself in my left foot. Ouch.
I dug at it and thought I got it all out...but, you know, there was that intuitive flash that said "nope, there's more."
After several days of soaking my foot in an epsom bath, I still woke up with the sense something was in my foot. I dug at it. I could feel it, but not get it. And then I couldn't tell if my foot hurt because of something in there or because I dug at it so long.
A call to the dr's office put me on the "emergency appointment" list for Monday. Monday came and went without a call reaching me. So I called and schedule one for today, Friday.
I arrived on time, got checked in and escorted to the room to wait for the nurse practitioner to come in to see me. The Dr was out on Friday and I'm always glad to see the Nurse Practitioners. They are way cool in my opinion!
She looked at it. Asked questions
"is it red or warm to the touch? Have you had a fever"
"No, no and yes, but related to getting a cold. "
Well, you need to keep soaking it and the glass will come out. We don't want to dig at it because you might get a nasty infection. Not good for a diabetic.
(what?!)
I'm going to England and need to walk. I want you to dig at it, get the glass out because there will be an infection (if there isn't already one, right?)
Let me check with the Dr.
(a few moments later they were back with the stuff to dig, but not without going to numb my foot first)
This might sting a bit.
(holy, f**k, ouCH!, oooh, danggGG, o.mi. OUCH!)
a bit (I said) Sorry if I cursed.
That will be the worst of it (she said, calmly)
(she squeezes and pokes at it)
Oh, there's pus. There was an infection. Let's get all this pus out.
(good idea, pus bad)
There's a foreign object. Almost got it. There we go!
(she shows me a sliver of glass about 5 millimeters long, no wonder it hurt)
I'm glad you made me dig. You're foot will be numb for about 6 hours or so.
(I got treated well, left with a prescription and an appointment for a physical to celebrate my 41st birthday)

And numb my my foot was, making it interesting to try and walk.

(short version)
got glass removed from my foot today. Better. Going to England in a week.

Successful Class!

I taught my first knitting class at my LYS yesterday. I was fortunate to have 7 good students that were interested in learning a new pattern. The pattern was put in the schedule as the scallop scarf but I changed the name to Color Wave Scarf.

Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns was a great help for the pattern design. The Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts gave great motivation for the use of color.

I'm in!

Got my Ravelry Invite this weekend!  I'm knittingbrow there as well. 

Where are you on the waiting list? 

Ah!  I'm running out of time!  I am teaching a class at my LYS for a scarf pattern that I wrote.  I'm still working on the final pattern and my lesson outline.  It will be great fun.  I used a Barbara Walker stitch pattern to create an interesting scarf pattern that lays flat.  I was inspired by the Chevron Scarf that everyone has been knitting.  I like using two colors to make a wonderful scarf.  The class is called scalloped scarf...but I want a more exciting name.  I'll post some pictures of the scarves and we'll see what you all think. 

Still knitting lace and need to get more done on it.  I don't think I'll be taking the lace to England when I go.  Socks will join me on my England trip.  21 days and counting!