PHEW IT'S OVER

It was just a horrible horrible experience. The three previous ones were nothing like yesterdays. There is nothing else I can say about yesterday's two gastroscopes. I was told I would be given 100 versed and 5 of fentanyl but ended up with 8 of fentanyl. It wasn't enough. I gagged and choked at the end of it and that is when they must have given me the other 3 of fentanyl as I don't remember being taken to the 6th floor to recover in the day surgery area. The NFA waiting and after surgery room was taken over by EMERG the hospital was so busy. Apparently there were 23 people in EMERG waiting for beds. After changing into a gown I waited in a hallway on a stretcher until it my turn for the procedure. Since there were three people ahead of me I knit. I knit on my Harvest Sock. When I felt it got closer to my time I put my knitting away and read until they took me into the room. I was reading Kris Radish's Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral and it is wonderful and I have finished it. I know my eye was really sore on Tuesday but after the procedure on Wednesday my left eye is totally red and especially under the lower eyelid. I can only think maybe all that gagging and choking caused a sub conjunctivital hemorrhage. Anyway, I was not a happy camper. Three biopsies were taken. One from my stomach and two from my duodenum. Now I have to wait for the results of the biopsies. I always get a copy of the pathology report. I like having copies. You never know if there is a time you have a new doctor you then have copies that can be photocopied for your file and not have to send for anything.

I am still waiting for three packages to arrive. My Crochetaholic February swap, my Knitters Scavenger Hunt Swap and my Hand Dyed Yarn Swap 3 package. I am not sure what the hold up as the packages were mailed Feb 28, March 7 and March 17.

I have been using my Lush products I received from Lisa my SP11 partner that she sent me for my birthday. I still have a little of the bath gel left but lots of powder as it lasts longer. It is so nice that while at the mall I went into Lush to check things out. First I went in and looked around smelling a few items. The second time I went back was to see which scent it was that I seemed to like from my first visit. I ended up spilling the jar next to the one I liked all over the floor, my boots and my tote bag. The staff were very nice in helping clean not only the floor up but my boots and my tote also. BUT then I figured which scent I liked. It was the Karma Line (patchouli and a orange citrus) that I fell in love with. It sends bubbles up in my nose all the way to my soul. It is very earthy. I went back a couple days ago to purchase something. The hand/body cream is wonderful but I thought it was a bit greasy. The clerk told me I needed to use the sea salt to slough the dead skin on my hand first. So I tried the sea salt scrub in a small spot on the back of my hand and washed it off at the sink before applying more hand/body lotion. What a difference it made. Only the cream is $25 and the sea scrub is $30. I checked out the body powder and it was about $10 or $11. I really liked the perfume spray but it was $42. I settled for the solid perfume. I hope I can afford some more of the Karma products. The perfume spray really lasts as does the cream. What in the world am I doing buying Lush products when I sell Avon? My Avon body powder/talc costs no more than $1.99 retail when I order it at the sale price and that isn't even my cost. BUT I fell in love with Lush's Karma.

HMM I was looking at some old photos of Solara at her first birthday pary taken in March 2007 party and remembered she hasn't had one for her second birthday b/c I was at HT. Maybe I need to start making some plans for one for her soon. Here are some photos of her at her party last year. These first two she is wearing her party hat.

Here is Solara tasting her ice-cream birthday cake, her mom's favorite.
Here she is with a little cake on her nose.

ONE DAY AWAY

My stomach is doing somersaults and my nerves are frayed as it is only a day away now. For what you ask? Until I have my two gastroscopes. I have two, one scope which goes into my stomach and the other scope to check my ampula of vater (pancreas). It takes so much to snow me I am always so worried I won't get enough. Not that I want to wish my life away but at this time on Wednesday it will a done deal until next year about this same time. The only prep for it is that I can't eat after midnight Tuesday. I can have clear liquids until 8AM Wednesday morning. So wish me luck because if the schedule isn't delayed by noon the test will be over. Then I may need a sleep at home but in the evening I hope to go out with a couple of friends. I know I will sleep good on Wednesday evening.

It is hard to believe it is spring and Easter was yesterday. I saw snow coming down from the sky this afternoon. It was not an in your Easter bonnet kind of day yersterday. I had heard that Easter won't again come this early for another 100 years. So I am glad I did get to experience it. I do try to have some of those once in a life time experiences if they are not too dangerous or illegal.

Despite my nerves, the early Easter, the snowy day today I have been busy knitting not cleaning BUT knitting. I have completed the main part of my special project and also an just about finished with a birthday present that unfortunately will arrive a few days past the birthday. Would you believe I ran out of yarn and will have to get some more tomorrow.

It seems there are several gals that have received their monkey pals in the Monkey Swap already and I am one of them. I am busy deciding on the color and the yarn to make the socks in for my pal but also on the yarn to send. I already have purchased the Cookie A pattern I will send and a few monkey items. There are a couple more monkey items I am on the lookout for. I only hope my partner will be pleased with her package. I always worry that my partner won't like it or says she does but actually she doesn't. I try very hard to be a good swap partner. I will just continue doing what I always do until I hear otherwise.

I will soon be receiving my Spring Fling Coffee and Yarn Swap partner. For that we need to make our partner something "spring". So if you readers out there have any idea don't be shy about letting me know what would be good to make and send.

AND I continue to put photos in my ravelry stash and project pages. I am also still delivering C#6 Avon orders and C#7 Avon brochures. I had hoped to have it completed by now but there are so many people who are not home when they say they will be and then there are those who went away for the holiday weekend and I couldn't get in touch with that I am stuck delivering again tomorrow and Thursday before I put the Avon money in the bank. If only the weather were nice it wouldn't be so bad.

AND for Solara's friends who are wondering where she is, she is on the hard bathroom toilet seat where she spends most of her time it seems.

SPRING FLING AND COFFEE AND YARN SWAP

Spring Fling and Coffee and Yarn Swap

The Questionnaire

Here it is! A little longer than usual, but given that there's a hand-made item requirement this time around and that it should be designed to cheer up your pal and welcome Spring, having a bit more info is helpful!!Remember, your questionnaires will need to be posted no later than March 25Th! That's the day sign ups close!

Coffee

1. What is your preference? Whole beans or ground?
I have a grinder so whole bean would be great.

2. What kind of coffees do you enjoy? A rich, bold roast; a light, fresh one, or something in between? Loaded or non?
I full blend coffee and full of caffeine HMMM YUMMY!!!

3. If you were headed out right now to buy some coffee for the house, what would you be picking up?
I just had some Second Cup and it was delicious so I would be getting that a #3 blend but maybe some Starbucks. Then again I also like Tim Horton's. Now if I saw a flavored one that interested me I might get that.

4. Do you drink for caffeine, pleasure, or both?
BOTH

5. Do you enjoy flavored coffees? How about add-ins or flavored creamers?
YES YES ans YES only I don't like licorice or Irish Cream flavors. I even enjoyed the flavored Splenda I received in a swap I can't purchase here.

6. A large, lovely mug or a small, dainty cup?
A large mug for me.

7. Describe your perfect cup - not JUST the coffee, but how you'd enjoy it!
I love my coffee with sweet treats.
Lately in the morning I have a biscotti or two or three with my coffee. Oh I am so bad. BUT how I would love to be enjoying my coffee on my deck or patio in a home of my own overlooking my well tended but messy garden growing lots of flowers and veggies. Alas, I live in an apt so I have it on my couch watching TV.

8. You're sitting down to enjoy a nice cup in the local coffee shop, knitting bag in hand, iPod all tuned up - or maybe you're there with a few friends for knit night! What treat do you pick up to enjoy with your coffee? A sweet, rich brownie, or something more healthy? How about a salty treat? What goes best with that great cup and company?
Decadently sweet and rich of course. I have to admit I do enjoy Starbucks chocolate and caramel coated pretzels.

Yarn

1. Do you knit or crochet?
I can do both but am mainly a knitter.

2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with?
I work with most anything as it depends on what I am knitting. BUT I do love soft squishy yarns, sock, lace weight yarns, and those natural alpaca, and cashmere yarns.

3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now?
A bag, several pair of socks, a few shawls and some projects that are secret.

4. What are your favorite colors in yarns?
PINK PINK and more PINK. I also like blues, reds, purple, some greens, black, white and variegated colors.

What about those that you'd never find in your stash?
Orange, yellow and probably lime green but sometimes you have to knit something for someone else. I do have some orange Jojoland sock merino yarn I received in a swap. YOU WILL NEVER FIND PENTEX IN MY STASH as it is only good for scrubbies or slippers to soften your feet over the next 20 years since it never wears out. I am not sure if I care for neon colors. I like cool colors the best.


5. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using? Any you just detest?
I love my bamboo DPNs and would love one day to get a couple of sets of the Knit Picks Harmony DPN needles as I tend to knit two socks at the same time on the DPNs. I also like the Bryspun DPNs I have. Sometimes it is necessary to use metal DPNs so it is good to have some of those. I also love my Denise needles. A second set of those would be great to have also. I don't know much about crochet hooks.

6. Are there any particular notions you absolute do NOT need? Some of us swap a lot - are you sure that you have enough tape measures to last your lifetime? Enough stitch markers to mark every stitch of a 10 foot wide afghan?
Notions tend to disappear into a black hole in my apt along with knitting needles. I could use another chibi as I only have two (LOL). A pink one, of course. HEE HEE I don't think a knitter can ever have enough stitch markers since so many sizes are needed. For one of my recent projects I needed those tiny round plastic stitch markers as the nice ones kept getting caught in the yarn. I went through several packages and I continually dropped them and lost them in the black hole in my apt. I believe every knitter at least me anyway should have a notion bag with every knitting project in every bag filled with all the needed items for a project so you don't have to take from one bag to another and then loose them in that black hole while transferring them to the current knitting project.

7. You walk into the yarn shop and have exactly and only enough money to purchase 2 skeins of yarn in their 2 for 20 special they have going. The choices are a soft, thick cotton/viscose blend in your favorite colors, slightly variegated, a beautiful sock yarn that's just squishy and springy in your hands, a soft, worsted weight wool like Malabrigo, and a lovely bamboo blend with colors to just die for. Which do you walk out the door with?
Is this some kind of trick question. Only pick one item. Can't I choose all of the above and multiply that so I can get various color ways. Can I put the rest on my VISA or how about if I ask if I can work for some of the yarn in a barter. I could sort, touch the yarn and tell it how nice it is in turn to get a few extra skeins. BUT I guess if I have to choose it would be the squishy and springy sock yarn as I am a sucker for sock yarn.

Spring

1. We're starting sign-ups on the first day of Spring - is it already truly Spring-like where you are?
It is trying but there is a lot of dirty mountains of snow and cold and icy puddles of water. The temperatures are still very low and with the wind gloves are needed yet. Every time we get a "nice" day we get several cold ones after. Old Man Winter just doesn't want to let go yet. There aren't any buds on the trees either.

2. What's your favorite spring flower? Do you have one?
I like daffodils as when they appear popping up throught the ice and dirt it means that spring is here or will be here soon. I also like Lilly of the Valley since they smell so nice. I think I remember them being spring flowers. Tulips are nice also. A pretty arrangement of all these flowers on my coffee table would be wonderful. I certainly know Solara would love them also and enjoy a little nibble here and there if they were on the table.

3. What do you most look forward to about springtime?
No more scarves, gloves, jackets, or boots. Wearing my sandals and open shoes, shorts and carpi pants. The smell of the flowers, the new leaves on the trees and the green grass.

4. They've predicted a gorgeous day tomorrow - Sunny and about 65 with a nice breeze - how do you spend your day?
I would love to spend it on my deck or patio knitting or in my garden if I had one but alas I don't so it would be knitting the park while there are no mosquitoes or bugs or inside with the window open knitting and the breeze blowing into my apartment.

5. The day after, it's going to be cooler and pouring down rain - does that impact your mood? How do you spend that day? What helps cheer you up?
I might be a little sad especially with the previous day being so glorious but I would just curl up on my couch and knit some more while watching TV or listening to some music or play on the computer if there is was no thundering and lightening. If it is thundering and lightening I would be under the covers. Receiving a package would be a wonderful way to cheer me up. I guess a visit from a friend would work also if there was no package.

Odds n Ends

1. Do you collect anything BESIDES yarn and needles?
I collect angels, cats, fairies, patterns, tassels, buttons especially old ones, cookbooks, cobalt blue items and for some reason people keep giving me teddy bears so I have a ton of them I don't know how to display or what to do with anymore.

2. Are you allergic to anything?
Wasps but I doubt anyone is going to send me those. I can't handle cigarette or cigar smoke anymore. I absolutely abhor black licorice. Apparently it is an acquired taste which I never acquired.

3. Do you have pets?
YES Solara my feline furchild who was two earlier this month of March. She helps me put love into all I knit.

4. Is this your first swap, or are you an old pro? What are the last 2 swaps you participated in?
I am an old pro. I was in the Knitters Scavenger Hunt Swap, Debs Crochetaholic February Swap and Whoduknit Mystery Ball swap. I was also in the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap. I am now in the Sockamaniac Surprise Sock Swap and Monkey Swap 4 which is a closed swap only for those who participated previously and played nice.

5. List 3 of your favorite blogs - craft related or not - and tell us why you love them.
Maybe I can do this later. This is a hard one to answer.

MONKEY SWAP FOUR QUESTIONNAIRE

Monkey Sock Swap Four Questionnaire

The Measurements

Shoe size: 8- 8 1/2
Foot length in inches: 9 1/4" - 9 1/2" (my big toe is much longer than the rest of my toes.

Circumference:
toe knuckles - 8 3/4"
around the center of the foot - 9"
ankle - 9 1/4"

Yarn Preferences

NOT ACRYLIC PLEASE I like super wash wool and super wash wool with nylon, cashmere, and cotton. I haven't knit or worn a bamboo sock yet so I would gladly try that also.

What are your favorite colors?
PINK, red, blue, purple, black, white, some greens and grey would be okay also.

What color clashes with your wardrobe?
Orange and yellow as I would have nothing to wear them with.

Do you prefer solids or variegated yarns?
EITHER

What are your favorite brand sock yarns?
Gosh there are so many.

Is there a new sock yarn you really would like to try?
Collinette Jitterbug, and some of the indie dyers but I am sure I will love whatever is sent my way. I only ask that please send me a label with the yarn so I know what it is and how to care for it.

Cookie A. Patterns

List the patterns you do not have but would like to receive:
I would like Red Thread, or Marilinda. Those are the new 2008 patterns. I have a black and white copy of Thelonious which I received in the last monkey swap (BUT I have printed out a color copy of the actual sock), Flicker and the ones from Knitty.com.

Allergies
Do you have any allergies that your pal needs to know about? (animals, fiber, sensitivity to smoke etc.) I am allergic to wasps but I doubt anyone will be sending me them. I absolutely abhor black licorice. I hear it is an acquired taste, one that I don't have. AND please nothing with cigarette or cigar smoke smell.

Will you knitting be exposed to animals?
YES I have a cat who checks everything out and helps put love into what I knit .

Will you knitting be exposed to cigarette smoke?
NO

Shipping

What country do you live in?
Canada

I FINISHED MY HILLTOP STUDY

I finally finished my Hilltop study. It started on February 14 in the afternoon with one visit. Then we had two visits a day including Saturdays and Sundays until Wednesday March 12. My appt were at 9:20AM and 6:20PM. On Thursday March 13 we began our once a day visits in the late afternoon an hour and a half earlier than our previous afternoon/evening appts which went until the last day Monday March 17. Mine was for 4:50PM. It was a long study and a major commitment but the pay was excellent. Mine is put away for my co-op fee. I did call them and found out I am still #5. Yes there are four ahead of me yet and I will have been on the list four years as of April 1. The first three have been on the list since June 2003 and the fourth since Feb 2004. Then there is moi!! Maybe when they call the people ahead of me they will have found another place, had babies so the two bedroom is too small for them or even moved away. Then they will call me and the packing will begin. Wish me luck. I really need to get out of the apt. It has gone downhill so much since I moved here in 1994. AND it is time for a new place also.

Here is Solara sitting where she shouldn't but she likes to check everything out.

PROJECTS PACKAGES AND PRESCRIPTIONS

I started this post a long while ago so I deleted it with the old date and have started it new with a new date as that is the only way I know how to do it. Thank-goodness I hadn't put any photos in yet.

A funny to start the post which will fill the prescription part of the title.

NEW DRUGS FOR WOMEN DAMNITOL
Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours.

EMPTYNESTROGEN
Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out!

ST. MOMMA'S WORT
Plant extract that treats mom's depression by rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to two days.

PEPTOBIMBO
Liquid silicone drink for single women. Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and prevents conception.

DUMBEROL
When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.

FLIPITOR
Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.

MENICILLIN
Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such lethal lines as, 'You make me want to be a better person.

BUYAGRA
Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping. Increases potency, duration, and credit limit of spending spree.

JACKASSPIRIN
Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat.

ANTI-TALKSIDENT
A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators.

NAGAMENT
When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same irritation level as nagging him, without opening your mouth.

As for Packages I have Knitting Goodness to report.

I received two packages recently which I haven't posted about. I received my addictedtoknitdishcloth group coffee swap. In this swap we were to send a cloth with a coffee them and coffee. We could send any other goodies we wanted also. This is what I received from my partner Michelle.
The photo shows one package of Second Cup coffee which is because I had already finished the other one I received and now the one in the photo is all gone also. BOO HOO!!!. As you can see I also received a love dish towel and dishcloth with the same yarn. AND a tan colored dishcloth and scrubby. I didn't want to say anything until after Michelle received my package but we made each other the same cloth in the same color yarn. How neat is that. We each sent each other a scrubby also but different ones. For mine I crocheted around a steel scrubby using the tan cotton yarn I made her coffee cloth with.

I also received another birthday gift. The first one never arrived and a second one was sent. As you can see I received a loomed hat and a loomed scarf, a skein of yarn (Elite Cotton), a card and a bag of Hershey's chocolate. HMMM YUM!! The scarf and the skein of yarn are not as blue as the picture.For the topic Project well that can be divided into knitting and other.

Knitting Projects

I have finished my project for the whoduknit book Birthright by Nora Roberts that was read in February. I made DNA.
I didn't stuff it very stiffly and so I can give it away as a baby gift. I put a photo of it on ravelry. The pattern is free online. AND I WON the whoduknit prize along with another gal in the group who knit the cutest dinosaur sweater for a teddy bear. What did we win? We won a pattern to make a heart illusion scarf and the yarn to make it. WHOOO HOO

I have finished the main part of my special project. I can't say what it is yet in case the recipient reads my blog. BUT once it has been sent and received I will post a photo here on my blog and in my projects in ravelry.

I am working on a birthday gift and can't say more than that except it will probably be received late. I just couldn't decide what I wanted to make as my hand knit item. I can't count how many times I started and stopped because I wasn't happy with what I was making. I certainly hope I like what I am doing now when it is finished.

AND I hope to get back to my Harvest Socks, the top knit with the blue silk from Elann and design my first pair of socks.

As for projects not quite knitting I am putting in photos of my stash and projects into ravelry. It is slow going but I am doing it.

AND for projects NOT knitting related I am filling in the blanks on my income tax form and delivering Avon and Avon brochures which is never ending now that the campaigns are every two weeks.

OH WOW Blogger spell check is now working again. I wonder if the edit page is also working again.

Now for all of you needing a Solara fix yes that is you Janice here she is being silly again and showing her white belly.

TUESDAY NIGHT KNITTING AT MONA'S

This evening after Hilltop I took the #10 bus to Mona's which I can also take home instead of the #11 home but instead of going home I went to Woseley Wardrobe and knit with the gals there for something different to do. While I was there I worked on my special project. It is very close to being finished.

It was fun and I checked out all the new yarns Mona has recently received including cashmere sock yarn Crystal Palace maizy and panda cotton sock yarns, other new sock yarns, recycled sari silk, Fiddle Sticks yarn and Hand Maiden yarns. Her new shipment of Baby Merino and her order of Noro sock yarn is not in yet. AND for those waiting to read what I purchased, I didn't buy anything this evening. I have no money and have to pay bills. SO BOO HOO!!!!!

BUT this past Friday when my friend Genie came by she brought an unbelievably large cone of a boucle yarn she got at the Sally Anne for all of $2.99 Here is just a strand of it. I am sorry it is a bit blurry. I am going to have to learn how to use the close up on my camera better. Genie mainly crochets and feels there is enough for each of us to do a shawl. A crochet one for her and a knit one for me. LOL Do you see the amount of yarn on that cone????

This afternoon was interesting as I got to ride on the new tandem or articulated bus. We will be getting them next year I heard the bus driver tell someone. I could have sworn I saw someone sneak in the back door. Anyway, I stole this photo from noricum's blog. She took it when she rode it in January. I found it seemed wider and more comfortable but then it was an off time and hardly any people were on it. We need them on my route.
AND Solara had another meeting with her new friend. She is very interested in getting to know this kitty more so than this kitty is interested in knowing her. The kitty isn't as big as Solara who weighs in at 12.6 lb.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOLARA

Yes it is my feline furchild Solara's birthday. Today she is two years old. She should have had her party this weekend but with Hilltop and all I had to change it to later this month when I have finished my visits at Hilltop. Does she looks like she even cares I had to delay it? HMMMMM........when did I order these two books??? I obviously ordered this from the Crafters Book Club as it seems to be buy one and get one free and NOT the special of the brochure. I just can't remember ordering them or mailing the form in to get them as you need to mail a special form to get this special when it is offered. LOL Even with the cost of the postage they still came out cheaper than if I purchased them from the bookstore. I usually only order from the catalogs when there is a really good deal as buy one get one FREE or it is something I MUST have. I still think Knit Picks books are cheaper especially now with the dollar the way it is. I am hoping that this year again they will put their books on sale discounted further than they already are. How wonderful it was last year when they were further reduced beyond their regular reduced price.

AND even though it is Solara's birthday the postman delivered "me" a large box today which contained this. Now you are asking what is it? It is my mystery skein. The idea is to wrap goodies inside the yarn for a one skein project. Of course, you send the patten to go with the yarn. Here is the pattern for the yarn I received. I received a lot of goodies inside that skein of yarn including all kinds of knitting accessories: tapestry needle threaders, point protectors shaped like socks, double ended stitch holders, a boyle stitch per inch guide along with needle sizer, a yarn cutter, yarn needles, editible treats including tea, instant energizer tangerine drink mix, delicious dark chocolate the elixir of life (no honest that is what the label says), and beauty treats which included a nail file, essence of purity white tea lavender soap and yummy anit-bacterial moisturizing coconut lime verbena hand cream from Bath and Body Works. All this was wrapped in the pink yarn. We were also required to send a mystery book in our swap package as this is a whoduknit group. I received Carl Hiaasen's Skinny Dip. AND since my partner lives in Oregon she also sent me two very thick local magazines.

On the pattern she wrote me a note which said, Dear Penny, Hope you have fun with this! You probably already know who I am , so i am giving NO Hints......... Picked the pink to go with your hair. (cute eh?). The name on the package is only whoduknit but since she had to list the address I want to thank-you Stephanie for the lovely package. You never wrote about it on your blog. BUT then I usually don't either so know one can figure out who I am. BTW I love everything and the chocolate is yummy. Tomorrow morning I am going to try one of the tangerine drinks. I hope if I am your secret pal in a swap, you like what I send you as much as I love the goodies you have treated me to in the two swaps you were my secret partner. Stephanie was also my whoduknit Trick and Treat secret swap partner.

Again it has been cold in my apt. I don't want to even mention the lack of an overhead light in the LR having me live in darkness this past Saturday and Sunday since I don't have working lamps. So Solara had the right idea. She says can you find me?