What fresh hell is this....

My husband returned from his hospitaliztion in chi town with his back pain intact. Also intact is his inablity to tolerate pain. He has been to the chiropractor 3 times without relief. Any attempt to ameliorate his pain with deep breathining or guided imagery has failed. I fear that he will become sick from the medication because he is on so many meds for his heart. I am tired and cranky and I have been up and down the steps 10,000 times. I want my mommy.

The good news is that I got the job in the therapeutic school, now I need to find childcare. Knitting is still happening but nothing finished to post. I taught my BF how to knot during her visit, she is 1/2 way through a sophie bag. I like to start the newbies on a felting project because the washing machine erases all sorts of sins. The picture is the contents of the package I got from Germany from the Martinas Bastel & Hobbykiste swap. Very sweet note, two pairs of handmade socks that fit beautifully, candy, and shampoo for the kids that smells like the freshest rasberries ever!

I am woman...

I went outside at 6:30 am to shovel the 3 foot deep drift of ice that accumulated yesterday. I finished at 9 am. My muscles are trembling from the exertion. I feel like a hewoman or some thing when I look at what I accomplished. I even had to dig the garbage can out because it is a pickup day. I lost my mojo when it came time to shovel out a path to the mail box. Hopefully I will get it up to do that later today.

snow day

We are stuck in the house today by snow and ice. Hope we don't end up like the Donner Party. I am seriously considering leaving the kids in front of the tv and taking a nap. DH called at 2 am, 4 am and 6am to tell me that his back hurt and he didn't think the medicine was helping. It was doing something because he sounded as articulate as Paula or Anna Nicole. He is in Chicago for three weeks for work, and he got there Monday and has been to the ER twice. I hope it gets better, its hard to know how I am supposed to help from Connecticut.

I had a job interview for a full time temporary position in a therapeutic day school. The facility was great, the staff seemed at the top of the game and it would be a great experience. They are checking my references and then I need to find me a wife (or some one I can pay to schelp my kids around).

As for knitting, I have completed a pair of mittens that don't fit me (my bad), two dishcloths based on the EZ square baby blanket, a baby hat and I have a pair of socks OTN. They are Anne by Schaefer in the most gorgeous color way (browns, tans and dark blueish grays). They get the record for the most stops and starts for any one sock. I started to do the wader sock from Magknits, but the colors made it impossible to see the pattern so I frogged. Then decided to try a jaywalker but did not love it. I hope I will love what I am doing now because I don't think the yarn can survive another frogging. I am using a pattern from Sensational Socks. I will post some pics later. I was son incompetent last night that I couldn't make the pattern work and ripped it out several times only to realize that I had omitted two stiches. It was user error. I almost never screw up charts, I don't know what went wrong.

the lap of luxury

Today is my birthday and I was treated to breakfast is bed served by Dh and the kids. It would have been better if I had not been awake for an hour, and if I was not fully dressed. Oh and if George hadn't had a poopy diaper. But it was lovely. The cards were great fun, and George's commeny on the card that featured a woman drinking wine out of a gallon sized wine glass was "Its you mommy". Nothing beats the wit and wisdom of a three year old.

DH picked out a beautiful necklace which even matched the clothes I was wearing. He immediately said you can return it like you do everything, as I was putting on. Its a keeper. Other goodies for my bday are a gift subscription to Interweave Knits from my sister (go KK) and three knitting books from amazon (More Sesational Socks, IK Favorite Socks and the IK Lace Book). All are not yet out but will be soon - thank you Jane!

today is your birthday

So here it is 2-8 , my birthday! 44. WTF???? I don't know if this counts as middle aged because its hard to know how long you'll live. BUt is feels old and obsolete. However, I did score some knitting related bday prezzies- including my renewal for IK Knits, the new IK sock book, the IK lace book and more sensational socks. WHOO! So is 44 the new 34?

socks & mitts

This is the ribbing for themittens done in Lorna's Laces and Kidsilk Haze. The color is dead on for a change, and the finished mitten is so light and soft.

The close up better shows the color and pattern of my anastacia socks. The fulls shot is pretty dark. The socks look a little baggy because my foot model (aka my 10 year old DD) is two sizes smaller than the recipient.

January sock count

I met my goal to complete three pairs of socks a month, or at least I did it last month. I have started February knitting with the mittens that I received from my swap partner for Knit Mitten Kit Swap. They are gorgeous, and they are turning out to be a fast knit. One down, one to go. I think I will knit and i-cord connection for them so I don't lose them. I finished the socks to send to Germany and mailed the package yesterday. I will post the photo soon. For the purpose of my personal sock challenge I have decided that mittens count as sock. My S & B Group agreed to my loose interpretation of facts. I will have to knit fast because February is a short month.

My dear friend is coming to visit with her son during the kids February break. I can't wait to see her. She is having a tough time, so my plan is to ply her with sweets and wine. Maybe a trip to New York. But my real plan is to teach her to knit! Her son is deep into the Harry Potter books and I think she needs to make him a Weasley! Why does it make me feel like a back alley pusher when I teach someone to knit?