Spring Garden

Now is a peak time for gardens in the low-desert gardening. especially the Phoenix area. We've been picking radishes and carrots for a couple of weeks. Tomato and pepper transplants are continuing to grow as are the Sunflowers and watermelon from seeds. It looks great. My only concern now is that the average daily temperature is starting to hit 100 degrees. I am hopeful that we will get some tomatoes before it gets too hot.

the entry about a friend , nothing about knitting

I went to visit a friend tonight. She has been in pain for years and never have been able to find relief or a Doctor that has been able to diagnose a definite illness. She has been told to lose weight, exercise more, and just deal with the pain.

In the last few months she started to lose her balance, experience numbness down her left leg. She found a Doctor that listened and she was able to get into a neurologist. She is being tested for Multiple Sclerosis, the Doctor is 90% sure that's what it is , but more test need to be done for a definite diagnosis.

I love my friend, and will be there for her as much as she and her family will let me. I just wish it wasn't her being the one diagnosed with a degenerative disease. After leaving her home tonight, I thought of another friend, of my mom and my nephew, people whose' bodies have failed before they were "supposed to". People who despite adversity and trials have carried on and done their best to live live as well as they could. I know no mater what I do for them it can't make up for the examples they are to me.

I've tried to be there to help when they've needed a smile, encouragement, a trip to the doctor's office, even a silly stupid joke now and then. I know I can't take away the pain, and I can't take her place. I just wish I could.

My friend is okay with the diagnosis, a little discouraged that the first round of treatments didn't show a huge improvement in her life . I am grateful that after so many years of suffering and going to doctors that there is an answer and a treatments for her. I am glad she is still here and is my friend.

Spring Flowers

For the short period of time that we actually have "spring-like" weather (its supposed to be in the 90's today). I really enjoy the fact that I can have flowers in my flowerbeds year round.

Here is what started blooming yesterday.

Because Bams' did...

...i will too.
I just finished reading the blog of a Ravelry friend BammerKT, she is funny and a wicked good spinner and knitter. In her latest post she admitted she hadn't posted a lot lately. Yet there she did. I haven't posted much of anything lately, mostly because of time, I'm tired and forming a complete thought is nearly imporssible let alon writing down a good paragraph with pictures. Because Bam's will take the time to post something. I should be able to do it too.

On the needles :

• Autumn Shawl- Entrelac Shawl in Jojoland Rythmn for this I have figured out how to knit backwards.
  





• Cluaranach scarf -Anne Hanson Pattern
  



• Super secret baby project for a friend
  

Spring break ended last week. This is the kids first full week of school. We had a great break just relaxing and getting things done around the house. We did take a trip to the Zoo. Because it was just me tand the three younger kids, we went in the afternoon and stayed until closing time. It was FUN. The kids rode a camel and pet the stingrays.

Saying good-bye to Winter

Okay full disclosure I haven't really had to experience "real" winter weather for an extended period of time since we moved the family to Arizona 16 years ago. If we are lucky it might rain alot during February but this winter I didn't have to put on anything heavier than my well worn acrylic sweater from Target...until the Chirstmas trip to Utah but that was only a weeks worth of coat wearing.

I joined the "Say Goodbye to Winter Swap" hosted by the High Fiber Diet Podcast. I had drawn Lorrieu for my partner and had a great time picking out some fibery treats for her.

My upstream partner was Kim from GA. She spoiled me greatly :

Thank You notes
seasonal pens One with a cute bunny on top
Sticky notes!!!!
Project bag with springy flowers all over it from MessieCraftie
yummy salty snacks my favorite, along with a well sealed bag of Hershey Kisses…yeah!!! they didn’t melt.
mmmmmMalabrigo Sock yarn in the Caribeno colorway
Newton’s Yarn Country Happy Feet Print

it was a lovely treat and wonderful way to celebrate the first day of Spring. BammerKT mentioned on the podcast how suprised she was that the swap had brought members of the Ravelry group together. I think its great it gave us a chance to get to know each other, do some cyber sluething, and help each other with clues, It was fun to joke and tease each other too. I believe when you try to do something kind for another person , without expecting anything back from that person friendships even cyber-friendships , can be built.

I'm sure I'll think of something better to say later.

Happy Spring!

Happy Patrick's day

Outake of the conversation I had last night with my 5yo daughter Banana Girl
BG: "Mom?"
me : yes Banana?
BG: "Can I wear my Sponge Bob shirt tomorrow?"
me: It isn't green, why do you want to wear Sponge Bob?
BG: "Well I love it and Sponge Bob's best friend is Patrick and tomorrow is Patrick's day."

Most of my life when the subeject of ST. Patricks day has come up I envisioned Leprechauns, Shamrocks, and people dressed in clothes the color green. After talking to my darling daughter last night all I can think about is that silly, big , pink starfish.

Knitters Unite.

I'm a huge fan of NPR. One of my favorite shows is "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me" Its one of the few things that can truly make me laugh even when I am in my darkest moods.

Two weekends a go panelist Mo Rocca made a statement regarding his "hate" of handmade sweaters an that they were itchy. After being flooded with e-mails from the knitting world and Ravelry.com. Mo issued an apology.

Go to the show's rundown page, scroll down to Panel Round Two and click on that. In true WWDTM fashion it was hilarious. Poor Mo, its not nice to upset people who carry around the pointy sticks