Knittalk Secret Santa

It appears that I have success today in getting a photo to load. Photobucket has changed in how it loads pictures and was giving me trouble - both yesterday and today,but think I have it conquered! Thanks to Sharon for such a great package, and to my daughter for the carousel horse to hold it together! I am anxious for my eye sight to improve so that I can try to knit with the Zephyr - really excited!! I can see light and shadow today, so am making progress, and got a little sleep last night, so have improvement in that area to. Sleep makes the days a little more tolerable.

Groundhog, again

I am hoping for Groundhog day in reverse. Yesterday was groundhog day - and my 8th eye surgery in less than 20 mos now. So I am hoping that instead of repeating over and over, it will end with yesterday. I am just a little high on pain medication, have an eye that is swollen shut, that is weeping tears and weeping etc..so that could be my problem with loading the picture in the last post and now bloggers etc.

Will try again in a few days and see if I have better luck! It is cold, but the sun is out - always so deceiving, makes one think of warmth, but hearing the heater come on over and over reminds me that it is quite cold out. Tomorrow is only going to be a little above freezing all day - and this is fairly deep in the SE of the US - we have had a relatively cold winter this year - colder than the past couple. But at least it has been dry - very little to no snow, so life goes on as usual. About this time of the year, I do feel sorry for the people who live in the north and are slogged down in snow and ice - just to the north of us, Kentucky has really been hit hard with heavy ice. Many volunteers have gone from here to help in the restoration of power to people in KY. Chattanooga is always a sharing town - when natural disasters occur, people are always ready to go and help. Always makes one proud to hear that.

Back to bed I go - but one last little tidbit - a dear author, knitter and friend to many, has had her trials for the past six weeks. She is 3 days out of major surgery and was asking for yarn and needles to make a scarf for someone in Stanford hospital who has touched her life. Alison is doing better, and I am sure, amazing her drs with her progress. She is amazing me - but doing something which is such an "Alison" thing to do! Yeah! Go girl!

Life's funks

I have been in a general funk for December and January - didn't get into the "Christmas" spirit this year -even though I did have fun selecting boxes for my two Secret Pal gifts - hope they enjoyed them as much as I did. And I have a wonderful one to post about. Sharon of Calgary Canada sent me such a wonderful surprise. Due to my many allergies, she sent it direct from her yarn store and wowed me off of my feet! A beautiful mini-cone of Zephyr lace weight in Marine blue, with matching silk thread- perfect for knitting some bookmarks. I already had decided to get busy and knit start knitting some for those many little gifts always needed around the holiday season, to say thank you to so many people - and have heard that this silk knits up perfect, so am ready to give it a try. See what you think of the box - it has taken me several tries with my new little digital camera - ALL MINE, I don't have to share! - to get a half decent image. So the more I play with it, the better I hope to become.......there is always hope!

Well, blogger is being contrary - I can't get the picture to upload! Will keep trying - it is too great to miss.

Secret Pal 13 Question of the week

The next question is: Are you doing any Christmas knitting?

NO - have not been able to do much knitting at all for the past several months. My eyesight has not returned as I had hoped and has kept me from knitting very much. I have real difficulty in seeing sometimes. So no knitting for anyone this year - other than a hat for me that is almost finished. It was put aside for a few days for another little project that is finished.

When is a secret not a secret?

About 2 years ago, I created a yahoo email address solely for the purpose as a secret identity for Secret Pal's, Swap-bot, etc. Have used it ever since as such, thinking it was secret and showed the email address – that I thought was cute – and used as other ID's. But……………last week, I used the post to a Secret Pal on my KnitTalk list and got a surprise. When she replied to me on the post, I saw my name there, big as could be! Not the cute ID I had created or expected, but my big fat name! My current hostess in Secret Pal 13 tried to give me a hint, I see now, and I didn't catch it about my name showing. Soo, it has taken me several days to find how to change the name shown with the email address – so it is finally done! And I am sorry to all of the SP's of the past, taking away a little of the surprise!!

Here again!

I have lapses in posting - seems the cause is always the same lately - another eye surgery, and my vision is not rebounding like I had hoped. Makes knitting a little difficult. Started a cute little women's lace hat - Ravelry pattern here- have almost finished the lace edging - so the body part should go fast. But am having difficulty seeing clearly enough to do the lace part - and it is real simple.

Time to get to laundry and housework - doesn't take much vision to do that!

Secret Pal 13 Questionaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like to knit with soft, flowing handpainted/variegated yarns. Some natural yarns (wools, cotton) mixed with some acrylic ok. No box store acrylics, fun furs etc. No bling for me.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Everything from a sewn needle case, to a wine bottle cover to a plastic storage container.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? About 5 years - off and on, depending on my RA - I am still at probably the Intermediate stage.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Amazon

5. What's your favorite scent? Allergic to many scents - I like vanilla, but can tolerate candles in small doses

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? A big one, front and center! Love Chocolate, but also like many other Christmas favorites. Don't like licorice - but people probably wouldn't send it!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Don't spin - but can crochet, have dabbled in a lot of other needle crafts -

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Behind the times - only can play MP3's on my computer, like Christian gospel, Smooth jazz, classical piano,

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? Love jewel tones-favorite is fuschia, but really like purples, magenta, teal, turquoise - no pastels.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Just hubby and I - lost our Min Schnauzer last fall - I am looking for another one - husband is not!! LOL

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Scarves, hats - a lot of hats, head wraps - I have trigeminal neuralgia and an eye that is very sensitive to the cold air. No ponchos - I am fluffy and don't need more than I already have! Love stoles, shawls

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Right now I am learning to knit lace shawls so that is my favorite at the moment

13. What are you knitting right now? Dishcloths for Thanksgiving gifts, shawl, and Tudora and a hat for Christmas gifts

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Love to - I enjoy thinking about the person who would put time and energy into making something nice for me.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circulars, bamboo, but am also loving my Knitpicks

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I would love a ball winder

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Recently cleaned up my UFO stack so probably only about 2 weeks

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? Love holidays, like to decorate, Observe Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Angels

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Need some tips for my Knitpicks, currently not subscribed to any mags

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Socks are next on my list if my hands can handle the small needles

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? not yet - wear a size 9 xw

23. When is your birthday? Jan 15

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? kn1tg1rl - working on getting my personal things in - can spend hours window-shopping!