Well, it's over. I have lots of observances but have taken some pain medication and probably wouldn't be coherent. For now, I'll just say that everything went well and I am home. For some reason I'm surprised at the pain. Traditional pain meds make me sick so I am taking tylenol with codeine. It works ok.

Here is the "too distracted to concentrate on the day before surgery sock" I worked on yesterday. It's Sockotta (cotton, wool and nylon) and had enough pattern to keep me amused. I really like it and at 9 dollars a ball, a bargain as far as sock yarns go. I have given it a short row heel, my first without a pattern. It even looks pretty decent. This will be good for me for the next few days until I don't need the pain meds.

Thanks so much for all the good wishes. I appreciated all the good wishes. Now, I think I will go back to sleep. I'm not sure I have a choice.

6 AM Monday morning. That's my scheduled surgery time. I'm glad it's scheduled early in the day. I don't think I could sit around and wait. The operation is supposed to take about 2 hours so with the two hours or so in the recovery room, if all goes well, we could be home by lunch time. That's what I'm hoping for anyway. I could be optimistic here.

Peter Kevin took me to the lys that sells spinning wheels and accessories today to look for a book and some friendly advice. The owner is awfully nice and gave me some advice on which book to buy. She also told me if I bring the wheel up there she will sit with me and help me get started. The book is called The Alden Amos Big Book of Handspinning. It looks like a textbook but reads friendly. I have already found out things that I was doing wrong and using his direction, I've gotten the wheel to work. Of course, the yarn is, um, not pretty. I'm not sure we can even call it yarn. But, I look forward to improving. The interesting thing is the way this hobby of mine intersects with Peter Kevin's wood working. He has already made me a piece to replace a weak one on the wheel and is now planning to make a wheel. He was all over the wheels in the store and is working out the details in his head. It is so cool to watch his mind work as he tries to figure this out. Saraspunda squeaks a little as she spins and he wants to oil the part but I like the squeak. It's like the squeak of my favorite rocking chair. Comforting and comfortable.

He also suggested we go to Maryland Sheep and Wool festival! His idea. I may have unwittingly created a monster. Now I have to research it and see if I'll be able to do it. I don't know how I'll feel after the surgery so we'll see.

I hope this weekend is a good one for you all.

Kate sent me a photo at work today. A package had arrived. From New Zealand. Saraspunda! I left work as quickly as I safely could. I was surprised because the NZ track and trace link said the package was still being "cleared". We figured they were searching it for weapons of mass destruction or some such.

This is what was in the box. Lots of pieces and bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts. We quickly unpacked the lot and were trying to figure out which piece went where (the directions were a bit sketchy) when Peter Kevin rode up on his bike and rescued us. He is really good at putting things together. He and Kate figured the whole thing out and Voila! There she was. After much poking and prodding we figured out where some pieces were in wrong and then PK glued on the legs. We stopped long enough to eat some sandwiches for dinner and then pulled out some roving we just happened to have lying around.

Because the wheel is not new, there are some adjustments we'll need to make but it seems to work. We played with some wool for a while but I have a nasty sinus headache and concentrating on what I was doing was too hard for now. Kate will play tomorrow while I am at work. And then I will come home and play some more. I look forward to a really steep learning curve here.

I finished one of the Annetrelac socks. I'm not sure how I feel about them. Elanor really likes them so they may be a birthday gift for her in September. Or maybe I'll just give them to her now. I'm not good with the whole "make gifts ahead of time and wait to give them" thing. I like the colors in the yarn but I'm not sure how I feel about the design. The sock has a stitch count of 72 for the cast on. That is whittled down to 48 for the cuff and then the other stitches are picked up for the foot. 72 stitches for the foot seemed too many so I decreased across the top of the foot as well as at the gusset until I was down to 66. Only 6 stitches but it made a difference.

Tomorrow I call the hospital and find out what time my "procedure" is scheduled for on Monday. I'm hoping it's early in the morning so we can get it over with. I have grocery shopping and laundry to do this weekend and I am treating myself to a haircut tomorrow afternoon and a mani/pedi appointment. I want to look lovely while I recuperate!

A quick update as I wait to leave for the hospital for some "pre-admission testing". I'm having an EKG today because I am "over 50". I guess they're afraid I'll expire on the table. Tomorrow I'm having an ultrasound at 7:30 am. And then I'll be all set. The insurance company has approved my "procedure" so it's a go on Monday morning unless the EKG says otherwise.

I love/hate the tracking feature when you're waiting for a package. I keep checking. Saraspunda left NZ at 7:24 am their time and is on her way to the states!! It's almost as exciting as waiting for a long loved relative to fly in.

Time to go get hooked up to the machines. Have a good Tuesday!

Don't you love these things? I wish I were all the good things it says!

You Are An INFJ
The Protector

You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.
Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.
You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.
You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them.

In love, you truly see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow.
You enjoy relationships as long as they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation.

At work, you stay motivated and happy... as long as you are working toward a dream you support.
You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

How you see yourself: Hardworking, ethical, and helpful

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, weak, and unstable

What's" Your Personality Type?

Today was the day Kate, Em and I went to be photographed for Franklin's book. In typical Wood fashion, it was an adventure. Kate and I left the house at 8:30 and headed for the Commodore Barry Bridge into Pennsylvania.

This crosses the Delaware River. We were heading to Wool Gathering in Kennet Square. This is a quaint, small town. All of the streets are one way and very small. We found the store right off and then went to find some parking. This is the front of the store with some knitters outside doing their thing.We found public parking lots but they were closed off. Something about a Spanish film crew being in town for the weekend. We used all of our parking karma and found a spot right out front. We were amazed and almost kept going because how could an open spot be there right out in front? We chalked it up to clean living and got out. Emily was stuck in traffic and told us to go ahead and sign in. I was number 49 and Kate was number 50. We found chairs and sat outside in the beautiful, perfect spring sunshine and took out our knitting. After about 45 minutes (and several phone calls) Em arrived and signed in. She was 65. Here we are sitting outside squinting into the sun. The time seemed to fly by and before I knew it, it was my turn.

Franklin is as nice in person as he is on his blog. And he's shorter than I imagined. He's probably not taller than I am. He introduced himself and handed me the famous scarf to work my row. I was nervous about posing but he said, let's just have a conversation and I'll take some photos. And it was quickly over. I watched as Kate got her photo taken and then we waited and chatted with other knitters until it was time for Em to get her photo taken. We all made some purchases. Well, we had to support the yarn store that sponsored the event, right? That's only fair. And then we went next door to a cafe and had some lunch.

After lunch we headed home. While it only took an hour or so to get there, it took a little longer to get home. We took the "scenic route" and wound our way through rural Pennsylvania and even into Delaware. We saw some of the most beautiful houses and land! After asking directions twice, we finally found Rte. 95 North and were home safely.

It was an absolutely lovely day. The store was small but the selection was good. I got some cotton sock yarn for the coming warm months. I've never used cotton sock yarn so this will be interesting. But the best part of all is that I got to spend it with my girls. And I didn't have to worry about Peter Kevin because he went to a "tool swap" up in Trenton. He's sitting around with his galoots (people who use hand tools) and talking tool stuff. I'm glad he went. Sometimes I think there is too much estrogen in his life and he needs a shot of testosterone.

I hope you are all having some of this beautiful weather this weekend.

First off, I want to announce the winner of the Blogiversary Contest. Here is the appropriate knitted container to put all of the names into: (i.e., the sock monkey hat I made for Kate).

Here are the names all neatly written on pieces of paper and put into the hat. And here is the name that Kate pulled out of the hat: So, Amy Lane, if you email me your address, I will send a prize package your way! And thank you all for taking the time to think about what you have learned about yourself from blogging. I think the most interesting thing is that we all learn that we are not alone and there is always someone who understands and empathizes no matter how stupid/dumb/awkward we think we are!

I met with the surgeon today. He came into the room and looking over my paperwork, commented that I had had an appendectomy in 1972. "Good year 1972. That's when I was born". I wanted to poke him with the knitting needles. I said, "Yea, well I was in 8th grade then". The good news is that I got an appointment for April 28th to have the gall bladder taken out. I have to get an EKG (because I am over 50) and another ultrasound next week and then some blood drawn. I made appointments for all of this and hopefully the surgery will be laprascopic and I will heal easily. It's a little nerve wracking to sign a piece of paper that essentially says "I give you permission to cut me to pieces if necessary in the course of this surgery". I can't wait for this to be done. The pain is almost constant and even if it's not excrutiating, it is not fun to always feel pain. If they had told me I had to wait, I would have cried right there in the office.

The biopsy results were negative for cancer. It's just cystic tissue and is best left alone. Phew. That was a huge relief. I appreciated all the support I felt while it was being performed. Maybe you all could come with me for the gall bladder operation, too?

In the meantime, I started the Annetrelac Sock. I thought the color block yarn that Roxanne dyed would knit up differently. The entrelac is easy enough once the concept got through my thick skull. The colors don't look like what I envisioned but I still like it. In fact, I like it better than some of the striping yarns. I don't think it was made for entrelac but I am enjoying it so much that I will keep going. I like the texture of the knit.

Oh, and I almost forgot. This is the weekend that Franklin is coming! Kate and Em and I are going to Wool Gathering in Kennet Square, PA to be photographed for the 1,000 knitters project. We are very excited!!! I will try to contain my excitement enough to take some photos.

And Saraspunda is on her way from New Zealand. She should be here in time for me to play with her while I recuperate from the surgery. It's all about the timing, folks.

Isn't this a beautiful spinning wheel? I think so. She's mine. Well, she will be when paypal releases my funds and puts them into Kate's account and she pays the ebay seller. I call her Saraspunda and she's still in New Zealand.

My family has heard me contemplate a spinning wheel for a long time now. I didn't want to spend a lot of money and discover I hated spinning and then be left with an expensive tchachka. So, at Peter Kevin's urging, (he's such an enabler), I searched ebay and found this one for 99 dollars. It's used but I am ok with that. It's being sold by a person who reconditions used wheels and helps them find new homes. I am so excited. I transferred the funds but because it was after 5 on Friday, the transaction will not go through until Monday. Sigh.

Through this process I have learned that the ebay style of bidding for things is definitely not for me. When we saw the wheel on Thursday night and placed our bid, there was another bidder. We placed a slightly higher bid and when I went to bed, I was the high bidder. Oh the horror when I got to work and discovered that a**a had out bid me! I woke Kate up and demanded that she place a bid immediately! She explained that it was better to wait until the end of the bidding time (6 pm). I told her to do what she thought best as she has experience doing this and I don't. "I trust you" I said. And then I went bananas all day wondering if somewhere a**a was contemplating her next move. When I got home from work, Kate placed a bid just to see what happened. A**a bid again. She had auto-bid enabled. Kate explained the process and told me not to worry but to prepare myself in case we lost. LOST!! We could lose?! I was so worried. I had carried the picture of the wheel in my head all day and even given it a name and now I could LOSE? I went and got a manicure. When I came back, Kate was taking the final steps to insure that I (we) would win and have a spinning wheel. At 6 pm the screen informed us we had won. Whew. I was a mess. This bidding thing is not for the faint hearted.

The wheel comes with all the parts and some roving to start with and a book. I bought a book with lots of photos and can hardly wait. I am prepared for a steep learning curve but I firmly believe I can learn anything I put my mind to, except geometry.

I finished the MacGreggor's garden socks and gave them to my Aunt Joan for her birthday today. She seemed to like them but it's her first pair of handknit socks and she has no idea how good they'll feel. We took her to her daughter, my cousin's house today for cake and ice cream.

I have cast on for the Annetrelac socks in IK's holiday knits. I got the ribbing done and the first row of triangles. I can purl backwards so this made the first row easier. However I am having a terrible time with the first row of squares. The directions don't make sense. I have been searching online for some better instructions, preferably with photos.

Tomorrow I should be able to find out the biopsy results. Strangely, I am not as worried about the results as I was about the biopsy. Wednesday I meet with the surgeon to discuss the gall bladder. It's been hard to make any plans because I don't know when the surgery will happen and how long I will have to be resting. I know it's not nearly as bad as it used to be but it's still considered major surgery. I can't wait for Wed.

Peter Kevin is making some sock blockers. He wanted to contribute something to the prize for the blogiversary. He's so cute. And no, you can't have him, he's mine.

Talk to you all soon. Happy Sunday.

The taxes are done! Yay! I had a great sense of satisfaction hitting that "submit" button. (I have visions of my tax forms going out into space!) And I think we are even getting some back this year. I'm not really sure because after all these years of doing the taxes, I am still afraid I am doing something wrong. So, I hold my breath and tell the IRS what I think they owe me and they tell me what they really owe me. And we all know who wins that disagreement. At least I don't think we owe them but they'll let me know.... I thought I was late this year but when I looked at last year's printout, I saw that I waited until the 12th. So, I'm ahead of myself!

Thank you everyone who sent hugs and strength for the biopsy. As I sat there waiting for the doctor I thought of you all in the room and it made me laugh. I was feeling nervous and it made things a little better.

And sometime this month, my blog is one year old. When I started last April I wasn't sure what I had to say that anyone could possibly be interested in. What I learned was that it isn't the exciting parts of our lives that make for good reading. It's the quiet, everyday observances and laughs and tears that make for connections. Reading and writing blogs on "these here internets" lets me see into other people's lives and lets me share a part of my world, too. I want to celebrate that somehow. Perhaps a contest. I know. Leave a comment and tell me what you have learned about yourself while blogging. I'll take comments up until April 15th (tax day!!) and then pick randomly. What's the prize, you ask? I'm not sure but I'll put together a box of local goodies.

Hump day! Yay for Wednesday.

Well, it's done. It was really quick and weirdly painful. (I took 800 mg ibuprofen, tylenol with codeine and .25 mg of xanax so I was ready!) The doctor and I talked about exactly what was going to happen and she told me when it would be "hard". It was more like cramps than pain but what are cramps but pain? The results should be back in a week. That will give me some idea what I will need to do (if anything) before I meet the surgeon to talk about the gall bladder. The gall bladder has to come out. It wakes me up at night and there is no rhyme or reason for the attacks. I would avoid certain foods if I could identify what they were.

But enough of that. I am crampy but I can deal with it. Kate is making dinner and I am going to share some signs of spring that we are seeing around here. First, we have some hyacinths. These were all given to me as gifts at one time or another and we planted them out front. They take a few years to become large flowers and this year they have put on a spectacular show. Then we have some grape hyacinths. They are so darn cute and they spread all over the place. The mums are starting to make their presence known. They are only little green shoots now but they will be bright, colorful bushes in August and September. And because Bells asked, here is a close up of the red shoots on the maple tree. It is so odd because the leaves will be green. Spring is the most hopeful season of the year. It seems like it's full of possibilities.

In keeping with the colorful theme. Here is April's Artwalk Sock Yarn. It's called Flora on the Sand and is taken from a painting by Paul Klee of the same name. Roxanne dyed the yarn to knit up in blocks of color rather than stripes. It will be fun to find a pattern for it. I was thinking it would look nice in entrelac. I have never knitted anything in entrelac but when has that stopped me? I saw a pattern online a few weeks ago and now I am going to hunt it down. Edited to add: I found the pattern in IK's holiday knits. The Annetrelac socks may do the trick.

Today's Buddhist inspiration is

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

~Jack Kornfield

I think it's a good reminder that we all need to have some compassion for ourselves as we go through our days. So, give yourself a break and cut yourself some slack. You're pretty darn terrific just the way you are!

Here it is Saturday morning and I am indulging in a bit of vanity. Hello, my name is Donna Lee and it's been three weeks since my last dye job. I have no intention at this time of stopping. I like it when people are surprised that I am 50. I am not ready for all the grey that is lurking under the L'Oreal Dark Auburn (no. 4R). Someday, but not today. So, while I sit here engulfed in lovely chemical smells, (aren't you glad we don't have "smell-o-vision"?), I'll show you Peter Kevin's Spey Valley socks.

Those are his feet perched on the messy computer desk. The socks came out great. He wore them to work yesterday and reminded me not to put them in the washer today when I do the laundry. Like I'd forget. They used much less yarn than I expected. It is thick and warm and he probably won't wear them much this year although he doesn't wear thin dress socks. He likes thick ones. It was an easy pattern and I would use it again.

I am now working to finish the MacGreggor socks for Em and the Go with the flow socks for me. Kate and I were in the local craft store and we noticed that they are now stocking Lion Brand Fisherman's wool in two colors. I wanted to make PK a cabled sweater and the soft brown that they carry is perfect. Now I have to find a pattern that is not too fussy. I'd like it to be a Christmas gift but that would be hard since he is always around while I'm knitting. Maybe it could become my train knitting. Kate and I would like to make lace shawls for my aunts for Christmas. I guess I need to get started or these things will never happen.

We are getting a reprieve in the clouds for the moment. The sun is out and I can see the red buds on the maple out my bedroom window. Soon that tree will be covered in helicopters and so will every surface around. Nature is remarkably creative in her endless desire to propagate a species. Peter Kevin is outside getting ready to rake the dead leaves and turn over garden soil. I can taste the tomatoes already!

Well, after 13 days I finally got to talk to the gyn. I left messages every day and I am sure they were sick to death of me. Last night she and I finally connected and I got some answers. It seems that I have some small cysts on both ovaries but I'm not supposed to worry about them and they will probably go away. What I do need to worry about is the "something" that seems to be taking up space inside my uterus. She's not sure whether it's a thickening of the lining or a polyp or something else. So, we are going to do a biopsy on Monday afternoon. Oh goodie. Another gynocological procedure without anaesthetic. They will pry the cervix open (ouch) and take a piece of whatever is in there to look at it. She told me to take 800 mg of ibuprofen beforehand to help with the intense cramping this will cause. "It will hurt a lot for 15 seconds or so and then be really bad cramps for a while". Makes you all want to run right out and have it done, right? The good thing is that it explains why I have been experiencing cramps all the time. My uterus is trying to get rid of whatever is in there.

In other news, nothing much is happening knitting wise. I have been feeling very tired at night. I think it's because of the stress of the upcoming procedures. I am steadily working on the second McGreggor's garden sock so I can gift them to Emily and I am almost done the Spey valley socks for Peter Kevin. That training class gave me lots of time for plain brown sock knitting.

The lovely spring flowers are spewing lovely spring pollen into the air which my sinuses just love. I feel like there is a brick on my head. I'd give almost anything for a sudafed. The trees are so beautiful with their flowers. It always amazes me that one day they're naked and the next, they are clothed in beautiful greeness. Except for the pollen thing, I love spring.

Well, meeting time. Gotta love meetings where nothing is said and nothing is done. Time wasters.

A letter for my daughter.

My dearest Emily Jane,

22 years ago from now (at 1:30 pm) Dad was bringing you and I home from the hospital. You were only 12 hours old and I felt fine so they sent us home. I was amazed at how wide open your eyes were as you seemed to look all around you. Elanor was waiting at home and she just loved having you there (until you got old enough to mess with her and her things!). You were a loving, sweet tempered child who didn't want to nap in the day but didn't want to sleep through the night until you were almost two. I figured you were waking up because you needed something so I got up. Every Night. Eventually, you settled down and slept. I was grateful.

You didn't babble like most babies. You just watched the world with those big ,blue eyes. In fact, you didn't make much noise until you were about 18 months old when you talked in mini sentences. "Nurse me mommy" being your favorite. Even then you couldn't get enough milk.

When you learned to walk and move around, there was no stopping you. You scooted around the floor first in the walker and then on your own two feet. Always toward the door. I think you have had your face pressed against the glass since you were born. Always wanting to go. Somewhere, anywhere.

Straight A's through school. I was worried that your type A personality would not handle the B when it came as it surely would someday. And when it did, you wanted to know Why? How to tell you that it was ok not to be perfect when you pushed yourself so hard? I never had to push you because you were always so hard on yourself.

And then you moved out. And now you are on your own, living your life. I have so much admiration for your strength and determination and courage and creativity. You are so lovely and kind and you have such a good heart.

It makes my heart full to bursting with pride to think of you and how wonderful you are. It floors me that you are my daughter.

I love you so very much, Emmy Jane.

Happy, Happy Birthday.

Love,
Mom