New FO!

I finished Jared Flood's Turn-A-Square Hat for Harold. He likes it and I'll make it again but I'll make it shorter before I start the decreases. It only took a couple of evenings so it's a real quick knit. It's made from Galway by Plymouth. It's from the stash and I originally bought it to make him a double knit hat. I'm going to make him a cowl from the gray, so I'll have to buy more yarn for the double knit hat as I don't have anything else in the stash that he'll wear.



Judith Scott-Hammerquist collects sweaters for an orphanage in China every year. I've got two started. One is hand knit and only needs the collar. The other one is machine knit but it's probably not going to get finished.

The docs have finally decided what going on with my wrists and arms. I have one injury that's manifesting itself in two places. The pinched nerve in the neck is affecting everything else. My upper arms, forearms and wrists. There's also a pinched nerve in the right elbow. The hand doc thinks once the neck and elbow are cleared up, the wrists will resolve themselves.

The neurologist has three options for treatment. Physical therapy (PT), cortisone shots in my neck and surgery. We're starting with Physical Therapy. If that doesn't work, we'll move to the shots and finally surgery. Today was my 10th PT visit and while I can't say that I see a lot of improvement, I'm not any worse. The neurologist thinks this has been going on for about 3 years and the work last summer just pushed me over the edge. In fact his exact words were, "your neck is a mess.' I wish I'd thought to ask him if that was an official diagnosis!

Up until last week I continued hand knitting, but on Wednesday, I decided I'd work on the machine. What was I thinking!!! I didn't listen to my body and worked at an awkward angle and didn't quit when my body said STOP! And as a result I paid for it. The PT says stop for a while.

No one has any idea how long it's going to take to get this all worked out, so I'm going to learn to be patient. It should be noted that I never pray for patience. It's not something God gives you, but He puts you in situations so you can learn patience.

I have plenty to do. I'm facilitating two Bible Studies. One is weekly, the other one is March 12th and I have a lot to do for both of those. I'm going to put the rest of my stash in Ravelry and marry up some yarn with patterns.

The real downside is that there is the 3rd Annual Chesapeake Fiber Arts Retreat Needlework Conference in Piney Point, Maryland, April 1-2. Final registration is due March 18th and all fees are non-refundable. This is another case of my having to have been under a rock. It's extremely reasonable, includes room and most meals and it's the 3rd one!

I had hoped to go to SOAR, but registration begins next month and classes fill fast. Once again fees are on-refundable. I wasn't going to make hotel reservations until later, but the registration fees are more than I want to lose.

The International Old Lacers will have their annual conference here July 31 - August 6 in Bethesda. I've got time to register for this one. I can at least go to the marketplace and hopefully a couple of the tours.

I hope I don't sound as if I'm complaining, I'm not. I'm tired of being in pain and will be compliant. Anything I don't get to do this year, will wait. I've plenty to do and anything I can't do, Harold can!


TTYL,

Melodye