Hello, world

From the small sewing room.

I think doctor's have gotten wise to us. At least my surgeon. He only told me what I asked about. I guess that's a very neat tactic for getting folks to actually show up for their surgery. I knew this was going to be rough, but I expected it to be painful rough. But, that's not been it. I've had very little pain and Rob helped me manage it beautifully. Friday and Saturday, I only needed one pain pill a day and that was near the end of the day, after I'd used my mouth to talk and eat. Yesterday, no pain pills at all. Just Ibuprofen for the soreness. And, I am sore.

No, the roughness has been eating; I'm still on soft foods and liquids. I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't. I am now, tho, but it required a stop at the market for things that I can swallow without chewing. I started with a big pot of potato soup from Coloradolady's recipe. Suzanne, it was wonderful and filling and everything I needed...after I'd run it through the blender so I could drink it.

We've established that I don't sit still well. I must have quite the reputation because I found out on Thursday night that Rob had actually gone so far as to lock me out of my sewing room, lest I decide I could rotary cut.

I asked first for my knitting and he wouldn't bring it, but this afghan for Linus sits out and I walked past it and snatched it up and brought it to my place on the sofa. Bella protected and comforted me, sticking close all day. Incidentally, could not have knitted, so, thanks Rob. It was hours later before I felt together enough to count 72 patterned sock stitches on four needles. Thank God those huge jowls went away.

Friday, I made myself a stocking cap. I found the pattern in a crochet for left handers book and didn't have enough yarn in this ball to make the whole thing, but didn't let that stop me and ended up with a very warm cap. This yarn is hemp and something, I don't remember what. I've had it for about 8 years and Rob has some things made out of it and this was all that was left of a couple of very expensive skeins. I'm making myself an olive green wool coat this fall and this should go with it mahvelously.

I finished my sock and am ready to start the next one. Thanks, Pauline for the suggestion on the ribbing at the top. I must have messed up a row when I ribbed this way the first time because it rolled before. It was worth starting it 18 times. Cute, huh? And all my home made socks are very warm and comfy.

On Saturday, I made myself a pair of shorts. This is a muslin, but they're fine for wearing around the house. My next pair will marry an attempt to add a bit at the hips without adding any at the waist.

And, yesterday, I finished the feathers on West of Paris, Texas. Someone asked me how I mark my feathers, but they commented with a no reply. If I want my feathers to be fluid and varied, which is how I like them, I only draw the stem and free hand all the feathers. If I want my feathers to be very regimented, I draw three lines. One is the stem and then there's a line on each side of the stem. That's how far out my feathers should go. If I limit the feather length by keeping them inside that line, it's easy to limit their width and make them very regimented.

For this, I did not want them to be regimented.

And, I haven't figured out today's project yet. Three more days. I cut out my denim quilt yesterday and Rob layed it out and we numbered it. That's some thing new, right? I need to quilt a Linus quilt that's already pieced. But, before that, I'm going to sit out in the swing with a book and enjoy the cool part of the day. Our daytime temps have been at or above 100 most of the month and it's just miserable out there, so I go out in the morning and stay in the rest of the day. My poor gardens are dying of thirst.

Have a great Monday. Lane