Update to today

I about drove myself crazy trying to hold on until Steve could join me (and G) in North Carolina. Nothing worked out right for him to be able to come. He had a stroke on December 23rd and no one found him until I finally called the police to go by the house. They called me back to let me know he'd been taken to the hospital. I called his brother to let him know and packed quick, taking off for there in an hour! He didn't die in spite of the doctor's predictions.

After the stroke, he and I were stranded in GA for a full month. He was only home in NC for a week before I took him to the hospital again. He stayed for 3 days, and was then moved to Rehab for another month.

We've been home for 7 weeks and he's gone through as much out-patient rehab as Medicaid will pay for. It's been hard, but he's improving a bit each week. He's walking and talking and his mind is good. He's right-side weak but healed enough he can get into the shower and to the bathroom on his own, dress on his own, and feed himself.

My sister died in February from the cancer we thought she'd been healed from. It's been a hard few months. We have a tiny baby yet to see through to the end of her life - my sister's grand daughter. She was shaken by a parent and is brain dead. She's on life support and both parents are in jail. My heart aches for all the trials.

I can finally move back into my daily routines. I've knitted one sock. It's been slow going, but we are about through the tunnel. At least I can sit from time to time and go to church. 

August's projects

I'm settling into my new routine. Dailies are important to me :) Get up early, shower, make the bed, let the dogs out. Turn on coffee water, water the garden, make breakfast, start laundry, plan dinner. KNIT. I love my new home!

living life in North Carolina!

Remember when I said I wanted to move to North Carolina? We did it! I used the back disability money and paid cash for a house. I am in love with this old house. It's a tudor brick ranch with a huge attic and a big bricked in basement. It was mostly restored aside from the painting (walls are primed) and a bit of the old electrical sockets need converting to 3-prongs. We are still tweaking. The fence needs finishing, but it's perfect! Everything is big enough and yet close enough that I can care for it. That makes me happy to be able to do my own work again. I've taken the library for my craft room. Steve has the attic and calls it his man-cave. Geoffrey has a really big room, and there is even a room for the cats. We have a wonderful living space - a formal living room, a family room, dining room and 2 huge bedrooms - kitchen with pantry and laundry connected. There's an outside room for tools and the cats.

I've been here with G and the dogs for a week and a half and the container garden is up and doing well, I have registered to vote, gotten my driver's lisence, a library card, and gone to a drumming circle. I feel pretty good about the week. I have no tv and have started knitting again.

Yesterday I mopped the floors. Today I have clothes to fold and toilets to cleanser. I need to make a trip to Walmart for dog food. That reminds me, I need to make a list :) G's gonna pick up the yard waste from my gardening, and shovel the dog's poop from around the yard so we can bury it. The yard's small and it will make walking them easier for sure.

As warm as it's been, we've been able to keep the ac at 78. I'm praying the utilities, which are all on one bill, will be manageable. I need to set up a household budget and know what my food budget can be. I have to make it on my disability and Steve has to make it on his income in GA until he can come. We are now broke. We set the money for the house and ran out just a titch shy of seeing everything completed. Steve has to have enough to rent a van one more time and bring his stuff and a bit of small furniture. Then he'll have to load the Jimmy a time or two. Once with tv and remnants, and then the last trip he'll bring the outside cats. I may have to ask for help to get the van rented from my daughter. Sigh. Mainly because we won't the amount needed for the minimum in the account to use the bank card. we'll have what is needed to rent it, but they only accept a debit card if you have 500 in the account. Such a juggle. We'll see what happens. I have faith this will all work out.

Other than that, I'm just about ready to move back to posting all my knitting stuff. I think I'll rejoin the Harry Potter knitting group because I'm much more active with friends. So that's my news ...

put your desires out into the Universe, and watch them come to life!

OH! That's not all the news!!!!! Very important news from INDIANA... My sister's cancer is 100% GONE. Stage 4 colon cancer spread throughout her body is gone 17 months after diagnosis. Chemo may work, but I believe, and so does she, that it was the PRAYER that has done the job!

Pivotal day

I haven't been a good blogger this past year.

Today is my disability hearing. I'm not sure what will happen, but if it goes in my favor, the long stretch of being unable to take care of ourselves, will be over. We have plans to move to NC and buy a house. With no monthly payment, we will be ok.

It's been so hard for so long.

I am so glad I have trouble remembering things because it lets me start over every day. When I hurt, I picture my morning as a painter framing the skies and day in PINK. The greater the pain, the more intense my colors. It helps.

Thank the goddess I can still knit.

Slytherin!

Why does that excite me? Maybe this will be my "place" in the HPKCHC group. I kinda think so already!

I've frogged a pink sock - not crazy about the yarn, and started a different sock with absolutely wonderful yarn i traded with a friend.

I have a route to throw in the morning (money) and the new season of Doctor Who has started. Aside from intense pain when I get up and walk, things are really good today!

sock pattern

HPKCHC is sorting again. I love the group and will stay as long as they have me. I can't buy the yarn for the big projects so no graduating I guess. Oh well lol

So here is my sock pattern preference for my records... using size 2 needles - a moccasin band toe worked till 56 stitches (2 inches), plain foot worked for 5 inches, gusset (ends up being 3 inches) with a turned heel, 2" of plain ankle stitches, then ribbing up with a Jenny's surprisingly stretchy bind off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abBhe-JYmgI&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

I remember

When I was young and learned to knit and when my babes were small; I'd sit on the floor. Now, at 54, if I get down low, I can't get back up. I don't have a comfy place. Silly thoughts really for someone who wears two pair of glasses and owns 4 that she uses! One pair is always on my head, another magnifies my stitching. I have trifocals that need a new perscription, a pair for seeing the computer screen for reading, and one so I can see faces across the table. Ah the tribulations of aging. And still, I knit. My fingers know my craft. It gives me peace.

We adopted another dog this week giving us three. They all should live 12-15 yrs and I figure this is my last go round with pets. My heart needs them. Little Scotty is a stinker dog as I've always called them. 26 lbs, shaggy, long hair, short legs - terrier mix. Jackie is a 35 lb terrier mix with coarse, shaggy coat. And Rory, my 85 lb Black Mouth Cur that we shouldn't have - a hunting dog loving 2 old farts who can't run with him. He stays inside and is an overgrown wiggle butt. And his bark - deep, braying like he's treeing a huge prey when he's simply swatting paws with one of the cats. lol These are my babies now.

My youngest son has started his Senior year of High School. I told him yesterday he has always cheated us out of all the things parents stress about like pictures and yearbooks because he deems them unimportant. He grinned at me and told me he needs colored pencils. Mrs ____ likes colored homework. Yes he's growing up...but he still needs prompting for baths and chores and doesn't tie his shoes or drive. He is an animal whisperer though. He always has been. He likes the new dog.

My youngest daughter wants to go to college at 23 yrs old. She needs my tax returns which we haven't filed for the last 2 years. Sweet girl. she's growing up so well. Kai is living hard but okay by her own standards. We get along and I don't critisize her. She's precious to me, too. My middle child has decided to live her life without me as has my oldest son. They are together and close to the others, so I let that go - I can't be someone else to please them. And finishing my backwards trek, my oldest is a brilliant, awesome mother of two boys. she makes my heart sing. They all do; but she has grown kind and loving and unselfish. She's the kind of woman I always wanted to be.

I don't know why not being able to get off the floor this morning made me pensive. So many around me to love on makes me teary with sweet thoughts. One day, hubby and I want to move to North Carolina and simplify things. We do want that acre of land and some sunshine for our garden before we are too old to enjoy it.

And since I last posted there have been SOCKS and hats, a blanket and silliness!

update

Well, since last I posted, I've kept busy. Still no job, but there is a new grandson :) Lex Gregory - a beautiful little red head! The fleas have moved in and Summer has gotten hot. Walking is hard. Whatever I suffer from hits my back hard and my shoulders and nck and hands...I try to see my pain as colors so each day I can paint my world in positives. It's hard but it helps. And my knitting helps... and the grandbabies.