So, even though I was all optimistic about posting regularly way back at the beginning of the year, I fell down dramatically. Do not ask how it is possible that it is already a third of the way through April.
In March I managed to step into a pothole in the parking lot. I swear the hole was deep enough for a goldfish to survive in. In any event, I learned from the previous experience that a trip to the emergency room was a good idea. No broken bones, and the doctor (intern) was impressed that I owned an air cast. It is 5 weeks since the fall. The ankle is still tender and weak, but I have started not wearing the cast in the mornings at home.
While wearing the air cast, I feel I am channelling my Mother. She wore a brace on one leg as a result of having polio in her youth ... climbing up and down the stairs reminds me SO much of my mother. Also walking across the house. She has been gone 20 years this month, and I am really feeling the loss this year.
Other random thoughts ... since I finished that beautiful sweater in my last post, I KNOW I have accomplished several finished projects. For the life of me, I struggle to remember what they are. I know there was a pretty lace scarf because it was a class sample. I have finished two pair of socks, knit two at a time, for my daughter and her husband (which finishes up Christmas 2022). Now that it is April, I can safely say that I have finished one -- ONE -- pair of socks for Christmas 2023. Several months behind in other words.
We are teaching a crochet class at the store -- a dishcloth, hand towel and scrubby. The dishcloth was tunisian crochet (also known as afghan stitch), with some single crochet around the edges. Being left-handed, my rows work backwards to almost everyone else. We didn't have any lefties in the class this time around ... The hand towel uses tunisian simple stitch, a bobble stitch, and a reverse stitch. I have managed to master all three of those. The scrubby will use yet another type of stitch, and I am looking forward to that.
April 10, was officially "ice out" for our side of the lake. It was a beautiful day -- sunny and warm. Makes me itch to get this accursed cast off and be able to take walks. Swimming and canoeing will come soon. And sailing. I am so looking forward to sailing.
For Easter dinner, Doug and I were child-free. I made scalloped potatoes, from scratch, with lots of cheddar cheese. The dish turned out fabulously -- Doug doesn't recall that I had ever made this before. He definitely says I should make this again. We also had ham, with roasted brussel sprouts in balsamic vinegar/olive oil/maple syrup. The veggies and potatoes didn't exactly match in terms of flavours, but brussel sprouts were the only veggie on hand. Sadly, no children visiting meant that the traditional Easter Bunny Cake did not get made, nor was there any decorated eggs or chocolate bunnies. Oh well. Probably better for the healthy eating goal to not have them.
During my absence from the Blog, we also traveled to Michigan in February. My middle child brought his girlfriend and her son up from Arizona, in hopes of showing them a Michigan winter. We had freezing rain ... and as usual, flying was an interesting experience. They were supposed to land in Kalamazoo, but the weather made it impossible. He ended up flying into Grand Rapids, which was a bit of our route, but easy enough to accomplish. Their plane landed just as we drove into the airport. Even with the freezing rain, we got sleds and went sledding down the hill at my father's house. Neither the girlfriend or son had done this before, so it was exciting for them. And on Saturday morning, there was JUST enough snow to make a little snowman. Tiniest snowman you have ever seen -- maybe 18 inches high -- but he had a hat, scarf, eyes, mouth, carrot nose, corn cob pipe and buttons on his chest. It was absolutely adorable.
A customer came into the store a while back, looking for an easy-to-understand-and-execute sock pattern. The one she had was confusing, and she flung it at us. I glanced at it, agreed that it was confusing, and helped her find one she could understand. Then I held onto the pattern, because I was curious and wanted to see how it worked. I am now knitting a pair of socks, using that oh-so-confusing pattern. And it IS confusing. I have almost finished the heel turn and then it's a straight cruise to the cuff. You will see pictures and more details next time I post.
And I WILL post again! Happy knitting.
