Captain Hook

More yarny fun!

I made a short sleeved white cardigan for my mom.

"Romantic Bolero" by Doris Chan for Lion Brand Yarns

Gym-boree

I’ve considered taking yoga classes for ages.  Yoga could alleviate my back pain and improve my posture.  Yoga may increase my strength and flexibility.  Yoga might lower my blood pressure and stress level.  So, I’ve thought about it and thought about it – but not actually DONE it.

I have two friends that teach yoga, and numerous other friends that practice yoga.  One friend takes yoga at her gym, a gym very close to my house.  I mean, VERY close to my house – it’s on the next block and I pass it each day walking to and from the train stop.

Gentle giant goes to the bridge

As I’d posted previously, Studley was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago.  I opted not to pursue IV chemotherapy or immunotherapy (vaccination therapy).  While they might have slowed the progress of the cancer, it would have meant a lot of unhappy car trips for my little man.  He’d been losing weight drastically since January, so I wasn’t optimistic any treatment would buy him much time.  We did put him on oral prednisolone (steroids) to hopefully reduce the swelling in his lymph nodes, increase his appetite and make him more comfortable.

For two weeks, the steroids helped – he was eating more and seemingly feeling better.  Due to the weight loss, he was even able to do things like hop up to the back of the couch – something he hadn’t been able to do previously.  However, the past week he started to deteriorate again.  He lost 6 ounces.  He vomited violently on Sunday.  I felt we should spend one last, really nice, weekend together, and then ask the vet to help him move on.  Maybe this was a selfless act on my part, wanting him to move on BEFORE he was suffering and unhappy – while he was still having relatively good days filled with sunshine and fresh air in our outdoor window encosure.  Perhaps it was selfish, wanting to spare myself the agony of watching my little man die.  Maybe it was both.  I’m not sure.

Studley, his last weekend

Suicide mission

I recently finished another crochet project, シルクの半袖セーター, or 29-210-12 Silk Short-sleeve Sweater, by Pierrot (Gosyo Co., Ltd).  I’ve never attempted a pattern written in Japanese.  They say you don’t need to speak or read Japanese to attempt it, the patterns are mostly charted with standard crochet symbols.  However, I’ve never even attempted a charted pattern.  However, I figured this was a great chance to try given I’d have the help of a “crochet along” (CAL) group on Ravelry.

My “Japanese short-sleeve sweater” was not going to be silk but a lovely purple synthetic.  I referred to books on charted crochet.  I researched standard crochet symbols and Japanese words such as “sleeve”, “front”, “back”, “rows”, “stitches”, etc. I was determined and optimistic. I devoted an entire weekend to my yarn and my hook.  The upper bodice stitch pattern is a difficult one involving a “puff” stitch. After several days of nearly non-stop crocheting, I had the upper bodice complete! I seamed the sides and shoulders, wove in the ends of my yarn, and admired my work.  I then went to put it on and realized… it won’t fit over my head!  The neckhole is simply too small for my head to fit through!  Normally I could rectify this by pulling out a few rows of crochet, except in this case I had done such a great job of weaving in ends, I could not get them out.  Try as I might, I could not get my seams unseamed.  Argh!

Japanese short-sleeve sweater, attempt #1

Macaroni necklaces and pop-tab bracelets

Okay, I’m not REALLY making necklaces of macaroni or bracelets from pop-tabs.. but my crocheted jewelry efforts aren’t much better. But I just keep trying, stubborn girl that I am.

I do think (hope) I’m improving!  My latest creations:

Granite and jasper necklace

Stormy weather

Studley has been losing weight since January.  I admit, at first I was pleased.  He was overweight at 19.5 pounds and needed to drop several pounds.  He’s a big cat, but he doesn’t need to be THAT big.

Studley

Meet the parents

I drove back to Greeley over the holiday weekend to spend time with family.  My boyfriend was kind enough to go with me, to keep me company on the ten hour drive each way.  This was the first time Kirk met any of my family.  He seems to have survived with minimal post-traumatic stress disorder.  In fact, I think he fared better than I did.

Crochet jewelry etc

I’ve been trying my hand at crocheted jewelry.  I have quite a stock of beads left over from making in-line links, and want to put them to good use.  Of course, it’s never that simple.  I had to buy thread… and beading needles… and more beads… and closures… etc, etc, etc, until I’d spent WAY more money than I had any business doing!

Most of my attempts were horrific… but I saved a few in case they were wearable.

My "silver foil rose" necklace

It looks a little better twisted

The color purple… and teal and brown and…

Yes, I’m still crocheting like mad! Over the holiday weekend, I finished my Abalone Shell (by Kira Dulaney, published in Interweave Crochet, Spring 2010). I had bought this yarn at a great price quite a while back. It was space-dyed, and I wasn’t sure what I’d do with it… and when I saw this pattern, I just KNEW the yarn was meant for it.  My friend Larina had rolled the yarn into balls for me.  I made some decreases after the bust on the shell, which actually made it gap a bit funny on the sides, but I still love it!

Original hank of yarn purchased

Web of lies

Unfortunately, I’ve been having trouble with my Internet connection – AGAIN.  I’ve contacted my new 4G provider, and their customer service representatives have been exceedingly polite and helpful – but unable to resolve the issue.  They suspected the tower needed servicing, and had it scheduled for end of August.

Sadly, the problem was getting worse, not better.  I finally broke down and checked into my other option – cable Internet.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the idea of cable Internet, phone and TV.  Cable Internet is super fast and cable TV obviously vastly expands your viewing options.  There’s just one issue with cable – Greeley Center Cable doesn’t service Chicago.  I have ONE provider option – the EVIL HORRIBLE MONOPOLY cable company of Chicago.