But It’s My Knitting Arm
I tell you. It’s been a rough seven, almost eight, weeks of NOT not knitting. When they told me I had a “significant” tear in my right rotator cuff, I agreed right away to a little laparoscopic surgery and six weeks in a sling. Nobody mentioned nonstop pain or not being able to use my right arm at all. Oh, the doctor said I could knit, sure. But he clearly has no idea how many muscles are involved in simply throwing a knit stitch. So this has been a mighty painful recovery.
Just last night I got up at 3 a.m. to take a pain pill. Half a hydrocodone, the “step-down” dose. I’ve been holding onto this last bottle as if it’s a life preserver, spending the time I’m not on the drug, well … thinking about the drug. The other afternoon, I fell asleep with the electronic TENS unit humming away through its four electrodes into the depths of my shoulder, while nestled up against an electric heating pad. I’m lucky I didn’t get electrocuted.
So it’s with a bit of shame and recovering alcoholic style remorse that I admit I probably brought all this pain on myself. Even last week, when I vowed to “put down” the needles until I was better … I lasted One. Day.
I’d like to say I have more to show you for all this pain, but, since my last post two weeks ago I have completed this ~ a little set of four neon-colored washcloths for a friend’s kitchen shower. Sad. Pitiful.
The pattern: Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloth
The yarn: Sugar ‘n’ Cream cotton in Hot Green, Hot Blue, Hot Pink and Hot Orange
The needles: US 7
Took one full day of around-the-clock knitting and just about did me in. But, after my One. Day. of recuperation (have you tried JUST watching TV lately???), I was back up and running, knitting these inordinately long rows for a piece I’m going to surprise you with as soon as I finish it ~ and that will be soon. Here’s a hint.
The project involves Cascade Cloud 9, Crystal Palace Kid Merino and Berroco Ultra Alpaca. I started out loosely following a pattern but soon realized I was off on my own, developing a whole new thing. Today I accepted that I was not going to be able to finish the project without another ball of the Berroco. Oh, and that my LYS had had only that one skein when I started out. Several phone calls around the country, culminating in one to Berroco HQ in Massachusetts, had me getting my LYS owner to call Berroco (while in the carpool lane to pick up her daughter from school) and order one skein to be overnighted to Savannah at a yet-to-be-determined cost.
Did I mention I was a knitting junkie?
I’ll be finishing up this lovely item this weekend and will post the pattern FREE for you here probably Monday, assuming my shoulder doesn’t go into spasms and shut down entirely.
In the meantime …
Don’t Hate Me Because My Town Is Beautiful
Two weeks ago, I started photographing the signs of early spring around town. Now we’re in full-blown azalea-land, complete with bumblebees, pollen and the continuous drone of a lawn mower somewhere nearby.
The first signs were the budding magnolia trees in the yards of the mansions a few blocks over.
Here’s a tentative February azalea display right in front of my daughter’s school. By now I’m sure the avenue is lined with millions of the bright blossoms ~ if the frost of last week didn’t kill them off.
And a couple more-confident ones today in my own yard.
Before Global Warming, such beauties saved themselves for a few months longer before appearing ~ that’s why Michael and I named our daughter April, for the most beautiful month of the year.
Here are the delicate Johnny Jump-ups my next-door neighbor has in a window box, along with the brilliant fuchsia geraniums on my front porch.
And here’s what I finally took down from the young Oklahoma Redbud in my yard. The tree put out buds this week, so I guess nobody’s coming back to the nest I’ve been watching all winter. (I added those eggs.)
I’ll have that pattern up probably Monday ~ it’s not a dog sweater! ~ and the little dog sweater neck lining tutorial on my Free Tutorials page by tomorrow (Friday).
Carry on.
My Savannah Cottage 