Ripping without Frustration

My crochet work took on a different level of meditation this past week when I cast on a wrap of Rowan Chunky Print yarn while in the waiting area of the University of Washington surgery center. I used the largest hook in my possession and a Japanese pattern to divert my attention from what was impending. A couple of weeks earlier, on the day that my computer died, my radiologist called and said that the stereotactic biopsy showed an atypical condition that required that it be explored further through surgery. The entire questionable area was to be removed along with its margins. This news came as such a surprise since I had thought a few days earlier that I was told that both of my biopsies (I had a sonogram guided one too) were benign, but in fact I was only informed about the sonogram one. So right when I really needed to research as much as I could my computer would not respond. Thankfully I had bought a computer for my daughter, which I'm using now. I was told to schedule the surgery and asked which doctor I wanted to see. I had no idea. Fortunately they scheduled me with the director of the Women's Health Center at the SCCA. I am still shocked at my luck in slipping into the best care in the region. Last summer we went to a great informational presentation from various researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center about their latest research. The researcher for breast cancer mentioned that she would highly recommend having routine mammograms at the SCCA since they have the best diagnostics in the region. I didn't know that you could go there for routine mammograms but I did know their reputation for excellence. So I went there for my regular mammo and they found a mass and increased calcifications from previous mammos and recommended the two types of biopsies. Those were not too much fun. I've tried to learn as much as possible to be an informed patient. Okay, so back to the waiting area before surgery... earlier that morning I had my wire localization and mentioned that I was allergic to adhesives yet they taped me up anyway and said that the tape wouldn't be on for very long before my surgery. But when I arrived at UWMC they said that my surgery was not at 10:30 as originally scheduled but at 2:00 pm. As I settled in with the thought of hours in the waiting area my chest began to burn and itch and I became very hot for the state of inflammation from the tape. To try to enter into a calming state I worked on my crochet and made great progress over the hours in that spot. But just as I was about to rip off my shirt and tape right then and there in the waiting area I was called back to the pre-surgery area and asked to have the tape removed immediately. It's not great to be in a state of agitation before surgery. But my crochet came to my rescue after the tape was removed and helped to calm me with chains and double crochet stitches. It didn't matter whatsoever that I would discover errors in my pattern and I would have to rip back to redo because I had lots of time to waste away. I only had one ball of yarn and I made the most of it, ripping and redoing many times without frustration. Ordinarily I would be mad at myself for making mistakes and having to correct them, but not that day. I welcomed the mistakes and the opportunity to create more stitches with the limited yarn that I brought with me. A nurse asked if I were crocheting for a last minute gift or to divert my mind away from surgery. Yes, I was selfish and was doing it solely for my own needs. Ultimately I ran out of yarn and had to stop, but by that time it was close to surgery time, fortunately. So now I'm just trying to work off the effects of anesthesia. I was told by a nurse that at my age it could take up to a week to wear off. And I'm waiting. Waiting for the pathology report. I know it will be good news so I'm not too stressed out. But I have to acknowledge that sense of fright that mingles amongst the thoughts. I'm just glad that the surgery is over. My crochet wrap turned out beautifully even though I had to modify the pattern since I ran out of yarn. I used a large mother of pearl button for the closure that is the perfect color to go with the yarn. I can't post photos since my computer is dead and my daughter wouldn't appreciate me uploading photos onto her computer. More on this drama later.

Finished

Fall color scarf
Koigu yarn

New on the Needles

Baktus scarf
Koigu Painters Palette Premium Merino yarn

着・春夏

This is my first Japanese sweater pattern :

Bolero（ボレロ） by Yumiko Kawaji (川路 ゆみこ)
It only took me a month to make.
The yarn is Louet Euroflax fine/sport, a lovely linen.

着・春夏 = spring + summer wear

Ripe at Last!

This is the first year of abundant large fruit on the 20th Century Asian pear tree. The tree and it's neighbor, a Liberty apple, are the grateful recipients of plenty of summer water thanks to the dahlias planted in front of them this year, and so their fruit is spectacular. I've been trying the pears for weeks now, but they have been crisp and juicy but very bland on the taste. Not Today! I bit into a large golden beauty and at last the sweetness of summer jumped onto my taste buds. This has to be one of the most luxurious of the home grown fruits. The texture is so happy between the teeth. Both fruit trees are loaded with fruit and I'm surprised the branches haven't broken under the weight of it all. I'll have to go take some photos of this glory of late summer. Thank you trees for your offerings! Fresh fruit from the back yard. Life is good!

froggie

There have been lots of sweet little tree frogs enjoying my flower garden this year.
I talk to them while I'm watering.
The other day I found a large snake in the highest reaches of the dahlias and wondered if he had been feasting on these little guys.
A very large rat was seen eating our blueberries last week, which has probably happened lots of times before, but I had never seen it, and it just made me feel so deflated about enjoying berries straight from the garden. They better stay away from my vegetables! Fortunately our cat has been putting a dent in the mousie population around here lately. It makes me wonder if I should get more cats!

Best in Show

Rembrandt

My itsy bitsy dahlia Rembrandt, which measures a wee 1" across, was named Best in Show for Novice, in our county's annual dahlia show last weekend. I visit this show every year since I'm always at the Fairgrounds anyway for some 4-H activity or another, but this year I decided to enter the show for the first time. I won lots of section championships (for peony, anemone,Rembrandt ball, + collarette types of dahlias) for novice submissions. Novice is characterized as someone who has not exhibited before and does not sell their dahlias. I was cajoled into clerking at the show, which turned out to be fun and quite educational. Plant people are so nice and fun to be around. The surprising thing was that when I picked up my ribbons the next day I was awarded prize money! Delightfully it was enough for my yearly manure delivery, which I use primarily for my dahlias.Purple Queen Beans are coming on strong now. We will be eating them every day for quite some time, only to be sick and tired of them by the time they stop producing. This is a fantastic year for basil, it's so lush and vigorous. Last night I made pesto . There are a few tomatoes but I'm waiting for some significant ripening. I tried a new cucumber this year and I won't be going back to growing lemon cukes again after the sweet juicy crunch of the latest variety. It's fantastic!The Morning Glory has topped out it's support and is searching for something to grab onto. If someone stands nearby I fear they will be entwined in no time. That thing must grow a foot a day.

Bracelet

Daiso cotton thread yarn
Pattern from a new Japanese crochet book that I just love!
There will be many more projects produced from that book.

New Crochet

pincushion

Last week I started teaching a crochet class at our local yarn store.

This week I teach the class how to read Japanese crochet charts.
Hopefully my students will become as inspired
as I am by the gorgeous designs coming out of Japan.
The above photos are my latest crochet projects.

neck

here's this week's collage made from the following assigned images:collage images from "Collage Play with Crowabout" flickr group

nest

I was asked to join a collage group and this is my first collage using elements from the given images plus my own stuff, all manipulated in Photoshop. This should be fun to create new pieces each week.

Happy Mother's Day

I am in love with our local bakery.
Everything they make it delicious, delightful and gorgeous.
When I stopped in last Sunday and found these carrot cupcakes I could not resist.
I have taken photos each time I buy a decorated cookie there
since they are just exquisite and charming.
I should write a letter to the editor of the paper thanking the bakery
for bringing such simple joy into my life.
When have you ever read a letter to the editor about the
great products that bakers produce day in and day out?
Thanks Blackbird Bakery!

Happy Anniversary!

I followed the directions yet my anniversary cake did not turn out nearly as beautiful as the photo featured in the Sunset Magazine article. I will never make this cake again. The cake rose up and then imploded like a caldera. The meringue was far more than needed. The sugar content was extreme and it made all of us go on a sugar rush that lasted for hours. I feel horrible today from that cake. I'm going to throw out the rest of that cake that is currently resting unaware in the refrigerator. And the worst part was that it took a very long time to make and created much cleanup from all the stages of manufacturing.
On to a more cheerful story....

While working in the garden yesterday I discovered this robin's nest. I ran inside to get my camera and when I held my camera over the nest one of the chicks sprouted up instantly wanting me to feed him. My daughter later told me the biological term for that response but I've already forgotten it. That orange throat was amazing! Such a beautiful nest neatly crafted of moss, twigs and grass. Young life is so extraordinary! Best of luck birdies in your new life.

New

Here are a couple of projects I have finished lately.

I need to find a source for more colors of cotton lace thread, especially in subtle colors.
I used DMC Pearl Cotton for the edging of the potholder
and won't be using that again for crochet.
It isn't dense enough for crochet and starts to fuzz while crocheting.

Hook Case

I'm very happy with how my crochet hook case turned out.
It's great to have my hooks so organized now.

Octomom

As the 4-H rabbit leader I receive calls from lots of folks regarding rabbits. Yesterday a call came from a family that had found a couple of rabbits that were sitting at the edge of one of the busiest roads on the island. They went right up to the rabbits and were able to pick them up and bring them home. We were summoned to assess them and when we arrived we found a couple of very sweet cross-breed rabbits that were totally calm. It seemed that the doe was the mother of the younger buck. He would nuzzle up to her and she seemed protective of him. They seemed in good health. This morning I received a call from the family about the doe going crazy overnight and breathing heavily. I suggested putting a nest box in the cage along with newspaper and hay. The family was gone through most of the day and came home to the doe and eight kits. She had plucked her fur to make a nest in the newspaper, which is amazing that she hadn't plucked herself days sooner before kindling her kits. We went over to check out the kits and all were healthy and the mother was in good shape too. Kits are born fur-less and with their eyes shut. There were black ones and white ones with all sorts of markings similar to English Spot rabbits. They will be oh so cute as they get their fur. More later.

Goodbye Old Friend

Tomorrow will be the last publication of the venerable Seattle Post Intelligencer. The morning ritual of reading the paper with breakfast will never be the same. Why didn't the paper ask their readership if they would fork over another few bucks a month to keep the paper printing? Perhaps that wouldn't have been enough to save it. A newspaper is something so elemental to one's life that you take it for granted that it will keep cranking out day after day, year after year. What happens to society when newspapers disappear? Where will the oversight come from of political corruption, business and fashion trends, medical breakthroughs along with cooking recipes and gardening advice. Will Betty the Blogger become the only, unreliable, source of social information? The importance of newspapers is even written into the Constitution. I'm just so upset that newspapers are folding across the country. I've heard that the San Francisco Chronicle is also on the chopping block. These papers are such an integral part of place making. They speak of the issues that define a place. In the constant spiral of bad news the loss of newspapers has to be the greatest threat to the integrity of our country. Where's the bailout of the newspaper industry? I would be far happier to have taxpayer dollars going there than to pad AIG's executives' bonuses! What a world turned upside down! Reward the idiots that create massive debt and ignore the valid needs of the nation. Have you seen the 1976 film "Network" lately? Watch it. It is very relevant and timely. Pete Finch's character Howard Beale is one of the most memorable in all of film.

When the world is so oppressively convoluted I retreat to my little sanctuary and sew. Pictured above is a corner of that world.

In the Garage

It has been too cold for the bunnies to be outside for the past few days (nights rather), so they are in the garage where it is much warmer than the arctic freeze outside. There are windows in there so they get some nice light. It's much easier to feed them in the garage instead of slogging through the tundra to get to the hutch corral. I have lilies to plant but the ground is frozen solid. This has been one relentless winter. But I do very much enjoy the sunshine we're having. The sight of the low morning light illuminating the iridescent feathers of a pheasant yesterday was a moment that I just wanted to park in my brain forever. It was spectacular. As the pheasant moved about, pecking away at the ground right at my back door, shiny brown feathers would magically transform into mauve, aubergine and orange.
I've been copicing my pussywillow, next up is the eucalypt to keep the juvenile foliage going strong. I think the crocus are a bit late this year, likely because of all the cold weather we have had. The stripey purpley ones are my favorite. The solid purple ones have taken over my garden.

New Crochet

bracelet
using Daiso Cotton Lace Thread #40
The bead end was fun to make

bowl
Optima cotton thread #10
This will hold my tiny crochet projects that are in progress

What a Beauty!

It's a startlingly gorgeous morning. Snow, sunshine, visibility to the Olympics, new flowers, pheasants and bunnies. The cherry tree is just starting to bud out. The hamamellis is at its peak, crocus are bursting and narcissus are sprouting. Spring is on the way despite winter's grip on the temperature and white precipitation. Oh my oh my it is just gorgeous out there! It's a day to say, thank you for being alive!

Necklace

My latest crochet.
Cotton lace thread #40 Daiso.
I used my great grandmother's hook.
It is a lovely decorative steel hook.
I wish I had more of them.

NW Flower + Garden Show

I love the pattern + patchwork quilt quality to their display!

Ah the texture of California!

Wow! What a trough!

I loved these succulent balls hanging around the shop.
They had upside down succulent pyramids too (see below).

This year marks the last for the garden show in Seattle. It has been the biggest garden show on the west coast. Rats! No more browsing the delicious lily and dahlia shops. No more garden show great deals from Lee Valley. No more chit chatting with the experts. What a shame to end this rite of spring. Shown above is my favorite spot at this year's show. It's the Smith + Hawken shop booth. It wasn't even a garden display but it was far more inspiring than the mediocre grand displays that get all the attention.
Long ago I quit my job from a sexist bullying landscape architect's office to study for my landscape architecture exam. During that time I worked at Smith + Hawken in their original Mill Valley store, before they sold out to a corporation, and Paul Hawken's office overlooked the nursery from across the street. He didn't like it that I wore my Ville du Sole (oh I miss that store!) French hat while working in the nursery. He sent word to the store to have me remove my lovely hat and wear a Smith + Hawken straw hat instead. Too many customers were asking where I had bought my lovely French hat, and he was getting miffed.
That was a lovely summer. The plants were propagated in part and selected by the great plantswoman Sarah Hammond. The planting displays were exceptional! She said that they had never had another employee in the nursery that could sell as many plants as me before. It was my unbridled enthusiasm that roped in the buyers. After studying at Oxford, a few years earlier, and writing my research paper on Folly Farm, a Gertrude Jeykyll garden, I was fully engulfed in the English perennial border mania that was rising at that time. It was dreamy working regular business hours in a lovely inspiring place. That store is no more. The corporate takeover wiped out that little haven for garden aficionados. Sarah gave me a gorgeous Deutzia 'Goldsal Pink' when my son was born. She had brought back the plant from England and propagated it in her Bolinas nursery. I still have that plant growing in my garden and swoon when it blooms. By the way, I passed the five day landscape architecture license exam that summer, quit my job at Smith + Hawken, and went to work in another architecture + urban planning firm in the city. Yes, I made more money as a professional, but working at Smith + Hawken was more enjoyable by far.