Am I Getting Old?

Not that the alternative is better. I've had a few things go missing recently, and I wonder if I'm losing my mind. I keep losing the Bluetooth earpiece for my phone. It is small and black. I misplaced the drawer money at work. It gets put in a small flat bag at the end of the day. I slipped in my computer case, and it fell into a pocket. Found it s few days later. Lost the Bluetooth again, found it again. I do have another one, because this has happened before. I leave it in a pocket and forget that I wore the garment when looking. It has only gone in the wash once. I had to replace it,because they are not designed to swim. Usually I plug it in at night along with my phone. That limits where it might be hiding.

This train of thought was triggered by my latest lost and found. I have been planning for over a week to make overnight apple butter. I checked the recipe and made sure to have all the ingredients. Then I lost the recipe. I thought it was on my iPad with my other electronic recipes, but couldn't find it. I was looking under the wrong name and the recipe collection has no index, to say nothing of an apple butter category. All's well now. I should put it together tomorrow night, because I'll have tie, in the morning to strain and package it.

What have I been doing besides knitting? Of course I've been knitting. A lot of what I have finished is Christmas gifts for family who read the blog and follow Facebook. What I've been doing is training my new dog and walking miles with him for exercise. I'm slowing down now that it's dark after work. He's a rescue dog. I have spent many dollars on him for shots neutering and training, which limits spending elsewhere. I have picked up another dry cleaner to do alterations for, so that will help pay back my savings account. 

Bo is about one year old and is the most loving dog, sometimes too much so. He's quiet and well trained enough to go to work with my on my days off if I need to work extra to meet deadlines.

Frustration

Last night was knitting night at the Bottle House. About 20 knitters showed up. I was working on my last Christmas stocking for my customer. The first problem was that I started knitting the foot with green yarn instead of red. Okay retreat and try again. They I noticed that I had embroidered the date upside down.  What should have been '89 was 68,. It took a long time to undo the embroidery and restitch. I almost got it correct., but tonight I noticed that not only was the 9 too narrow, my friend noticed that it was not placed correctly. Try again! I did finally finish the stocking and used the new pompom makers I picked up earlier in the day. They are Clover brand and I think I like them, I still need a photo of all the stockings, but will do it in daylight.

My local library yielded  a disc of Paul Hindmith Kammermusick, I heard No. 1(for small orchestra) Saturday night and loved it., so I put in a reserve for the disc. I put the whole 2 discs on my iPhone. I own Berlioz Symphonie Fatastique and will put that on the phone also.


I spent a couple of hours at work today (on my day off), doing things like gluing the hem on a pair of leather pants. I had to buy more glue, which is why I also bought the pompom makers. It's been a long time since I had so much work at once. I guess the famine is over.

Moving On

I feel like a lump in the middle of a whirlwind. So much has happened and so much is happening. I'm somewhat numb, while things whirl around me.

This last week was a little hectic. Saturday I worked and had nothing scheduled in the evening except peace and quiet. Sunday morning I had breakfast with our son and his wife's family at the Gunny Hall. Then I went to the gym and came home and baked cornbread for a neighborhood chili cook off. Monday was work and DSon came over to look at wine making supplies. His father in law has a friend who is interested. Also on Mondya morning, my cell phone jumped out of my pocket into the toilet. It drowned. Phone calls to DD Julie, whose plan I am now on resulted, ultimately in a new phone. Tuesday was gym time again, then off to the phone store to get a new iPhone, a big upgrade from what I had! Then I had to get DH's car title changed to my name so I could give it to DGS Craig. He needs to get the title in his name and then I will take the car off my insurance. He's been driving it for about 3 weeks now, since before DH died. Wednesday was a calm day, just work. Thursday was gym and then to the bank to add a signature to my business account now that I had all the paperwork. We tried to add e-mail to my new phone, and messed up my e-mail account. That took a while to straighten out. It's still not on my phone, we plan to try gmail and forward all other mail to that, knowing that gmail will work on the phone. Thursday night, a huge amount of wine making supplies left the house. The wine bottles are on the front porch and will be recycled. The large jugs were sold. I went to the knitting group at my LYS, DSon handled the wine stuff. Whew!


DD Jan is still working on patching walls and painting, causing movement of things that belong in the various rooms. She finished one small, but important room. The furniture from that room was blocking movement in the hall, so other rooms couldn't be put together. My knitting books are slowly being put back on shelves. There are new shelves for the magazines. I've had to move DH's clothes out of his closet in order to patch and paint it. They have left the house and may fit some of the men in the family. Mostly they will be donated to charity.

Today the computers are to be moved from the basement where the family room used to be. They will go in an upstairs bedroom. Eventually, one computer will be eliminated since there is only one of me.

DD Julie is the family finance expert, and has been making phone calls to various people on my behalf. Everyone in the family is rethinking insurance coverage, car, house, health etc. What worked before may not be the best for my future.

Knitting continues, mostly on my tree bark sweater. I have a couple of small projects also, including 2 pairs of socks, and something I'm calling a nose warmer for an elephant.

The weather is getting colder. At early morning dog walk time, it was 37 degrees, and there are lots of leaves on the ground. High temps are in the 50's. Tonight I think I will be home alone. Tomorrow I'll go to DSon's for breakfast, go to the gym and come home to make soup. I have 2 varieties planned. Chop, chop, stir, stir, and knit while it cooks.

Rhetorical question

Why do people wait until the last minute? Maybe this week is Miracle Week, not just Holy Week.

Spring holidays started with the Jewish holidays starting Friday night. Phone call #1 can you hem some pants by tonight? Yes. They come in with 6 months worth of mending and want it all tonight. I did it and collected the money.

Phone call #2 can you hem some pants by Monday? Yes, I work on Saturday. Mother comes in with son (cooperative) and daughter (in meltdown stage). Son leaves winter jacket and I have no phone # where they are staying. They are in town from Miami. They'll get the jacket back with the pants Monday. Mom may not know where he left the jacket, and many Jewish people do not use telephones on the Sabbath.

Today, another one. Three pairs of pants for Monday. Adult son in town for holidays. I was the first stop after dropping the suitcase.

Easter is next week. I'm bracing myself. Did I say I have an alterations shop?

Major knitting has been my gray sweater. I should take another photo of it. This is easy knitting, a four row pattern with three rows being knit 3, purl 3. My green socks have a pattern which requires chart watching, so not so easy.

What should I start next? I have a shawl charted. I have ideas for a magazine submission. Maybe I'll do that one tomorrow. There's also some bookwork/bill paying.

I'm tired!

Saturday night 10:26 PM
I really don't feel like knitting my first priority socks, the blue Luci's Diamonds. They need to be finished before next Sunday, so I keep on knitting them. I think I'll feel better when I finish the leg. This is sock #2 after all. The leg is 3/4 done, so I'll be heel knitting tomorrow.

I put in a full day at work, as usual on Saturday. I work from 10:00 - 5:00 on Saturdays. The big project of the day is a ministerial robe. I've never made one before, but I have two samples. One is the correct size and one is the desired color. The body of the robe is done. It's white poly gabardine and somewhat translucent. I've underlined it with white lining. The robe is attached to the yoke. the next step is the sleeves. I'll get some photos Monday.

I haven't sewn the side seams yet. I have to check the sample robe to see if I sew them before or after putting in the sleeves. Before sewing the sleeves, I have to do the velvet bands. I have velveteen which needs to be sewn to a foundation of cotton duck. This gets sewn to the full outer sleeve before assembly. This will make more sense when I take pictures, but under the really full sleeve is a more normal one.

The lack of cotton duck required a frustrating trip to JoAnn's. I found the duck easily enough, but I was about 8th in line at the cutting counter. The checkout line was worse. They did have enough workers to clear the line quickly. Finally at the checkout and the register wouldn't take my tax exempt number. It seems that database was down. I finally had to pay the tax and get it refunded on next visit.

Finally, I could go home, walk the dog, and have a quick dinner of chili from the freezer (thawed earlier in the day). I love winter meals that make enough for at least one freezer meal. Tomorrow I'm making beef soup with lentils.

It's definely Fall

The leaves are changing and falling, as well as the acorns falling, although they've slowed down. The neglected garden has a few interesting plants, not what I chose, but interesting.

The soup pot is in use again. Today I made one of my favorites Pumpkin soup by LynnH. Pumpkin, applesauce and peanut butter. Quick and yummy.

Speaking of interesting, a customer called my dressmaking shop and asked if i could shrink a dress for her sister. It seems the sister had undergone weight loss surgery, loved the dress and couldn't wear it any more.

There's always a problem when shrinking dresses because you can't shrink the neckline. This dress was basically strapless, with a halter tie at the neck. The bodice was pieced and darted strangely, but I had enough fabric to work with and the design lent itself to downsizing.

I keep forgetting that I have an old camera at work, so no before picture. I removed the bodice from the skirt and took out 12 inches, some on either side of the front ruffle and the rest at the sides and back. The ruffle piece was kept ans is and regathered to fit the new size. Four inches were removed from the waist (she must still have a tummy).The skirt was shortened 4 inches from the top, so I had to move the pockets. I hope it fits, but it matches the measurements I was given.

I made some purple socks for granddaughter AE. She's a short adult with a size 2 shoe. She loves the socks. I love them too and want to sell the pattern, so only a sneak peek.


The white vest is quite old (1996), but I love it and wear it often. I designed it and dug it our of my archives to put for sale on Ravelry. A web site where I can sell patterns is still on my to do list. I called it ZigZag Vest. It knit from worsted weight cotton. I needed new photos for the pattern.

There are more grandchildren socks in the works. Black socks for a July birthday grandson. I sent an IOU in his card.

I also have a pair for a granddaughter with an Oct. birthday. I'll see her Nov. 1, so not much time. Knit faster! I dream about quitting work, but I own the business and I'd have to bring too much stuff home. I have no place here to put it right now. Guess I'll keep juggling sewing and knitting for a while longer.

Busy day off

I started the day by donating 4 boxes of fabric to my college. It will be used by the fashion students. I had, and still have too much fabric that I don't see myself ever using. There are some great pieces, but my lifestyle has changed. I don't wear wool skirts any more, for example. It's usually slacks in the winter. Here are a couple of campus pictures. To the right is the student center. The other picture is the lake in the center of campus.


I rarely talk about my day job. Thursdays I'm not in my shop. One of the things I do is go to a retirement home to meet with residents who need alterations and repairs. I charge the same same as if they came to the shop, but I give them the service of coming to where they are, and delivering the items back the next week. I do the work at the shop.I work for two different buildings, of the same retirement community.
Today I took my camera.

Across the street from today's stop is a Cleveland landmark, known as the Church of the Holy Oil Can. That's not it official name, but you can see why it got the name. I used to see the steeple from my Grandmother's apartment. She lived in an apartment house on the edge of a hill, looking over a cemetary. The church was visible from her bedroom window. The cemetary was always beautiful looking.

Today's stop was Judson Manor, housed in a 1920's hotel which is a National Landmark. I just took a picture of the main entrance. I should do this again and take pictures of the inside lobby. I have not seen any of the apartments.

I went from there to my LYS to drop off some patterns I had printed. I was supposed to meet with the yarn company owner, but he was off schedule. I like this job! I get paid for designing and knitting a garment, then I get paid for the follow-on pattern sales.

Lunch was next. I picked up corned beef sandwiches from Mr. Brisket. The best we've had in a long time.

Then off to our son's house to pick up the grill from Sunday's party. Spent time for coffee and talk.

Sock knitting progresses. The next birthday sock is almost finished. I tried a different decrease method. Cat Bordhi says that you can place the decreases anwhere, so I tried the top of the foot. I've even written the pattern already. I'll start its mate tonight.