daily living,

it’s like a York Peppermint Patty between your toes!

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17

I was playing with my new camera and caught this pile of nappers.

When I last left you, congestion was the name of my game. I know you know the feeling, stuffy head, eyes feeling a bit bulgy, an odd awareness of your inner ear. ugh!!

So there I am on Friday night in a snot induced fog, getting ready for bed. It’s early too, but the struggle for coherence has become too great and sleep is the only thing to do. The thought pops into my head that some Vicks Vapor Rub might be a very good idea. I love that stuff! I love everything about it – the smell, the glass jar, that great blue color – it’s a real nostalgia thing. As I am dabbing it under my nose, I seem to remember reading something about slathering it on your feet, covering them with socks and going to sleep. I figure why not?

I am here to say it worked! The next morning I felt 94% better – still a bit stuffed, but without all that woozy head stuff going on. I have hunted down a few sites regarding the Vicks on Feet thing ….. they all say it is for coughs, but it worked for me. Plus my feet are nice and soft now!

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7

I know I’m all for

Blogging Without Obligation

but it has been too long!!

Quickly – D#2 seems to be much improved. She is still not 100%, maybe more like 88%. The Dr. thinks it is a viral thing – lots of weird things going around here lately. Thank you for all your comments and concern! She is pretty much back to her regular schedule, just taking it easy when she feels she needs to (and sometimes when I feel she needs to).

A few of you asked what diet I was on that required a daily soak in a hot tub. Kay inspired me to give the Ultra Simple Diet a try. I also have the Ultra Metabolism book, but haven’t gotten to that yet. I just finished the first week and have to say that this program is working very well for me so far. And it does require a relaxing bath at the end of the day!! I have lost 6 pounds in the first week and an inch off my waist. The much better thing is that I feel great. In the past when I have lost weight, I don’t know if I could say that – at least not at the outset. I really feel terrific (didn’t realize that I wasn’t feeling terrific).

enough about that – I don’t want to jinx it!

how about some knitting chat? This yarn just arrived on my porch! I originally ordered it in gray but it was sadly out of stock. So I replaced it with the evergreen color. I am planning on knitting Boar the Wall Street Vest from the book Arans & Celtics: The Best of Knitter’s Magazine. Here is a Ravelry picture of the project. I have borrowed this book from my library, but am inclined to purchase a copy for my shelf. I am hoping to start a gauge swatch today and will finally have some knitting I can put on my blog since Boar never reads it.

[BWO courtesy of Down the Rabbit Hole]

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16

We were visiting college friends in PA this weekend. [yes, the Boar and I are college sweethearts. awwwww!] Anyway, these friends have a vacation home at Seven Springs which is about an hour outside of Pittsburgh. This means long car rides. Which for a knitter can be a wonderful thing. I went there with every intention of knitting a pair of these and also one of these.

The cabled fingerless mitts have been ripped —- I am having trouble getting gauge – she doesn’t say what gauge is and believe me, when a pattern is free, I am not complaining. Things were looking great, but when I got to the thumb gusset increases I began to think that my row gauge was way off. Speaking of the thumb increases, if you get a minute, read the directions for that part. I believe that she means to increase two stitches every third row for a grand total of eight stitches increased. Of course, the stitch count doesn’t quite work out if I interpret them that way, but if I increase eight stitches three times it is way off too. argh!

So when my brain got sick of trying to figure this one out, I turned to the other project I brought along. A simple cowl neck thingamagig. There are actually two patterns and I did one that it not pictured. Nothing easier than alternating rounds of stockinette stitch and garter. And it’s true — it was the perfect car ride project. Ideal knitting for hanging out with friends and drinking beer. When I got home last night I had a stroke of genius and decided to put it on a lifeline before doing the bind off. I thought I would be checking for length. Well, I looked like a goofball in it and so after a brief moment I ripped that back as well.

so there you have it — a solid 16 hours of knitting and nothing to show for it!

round and round and round they go, where they’ll stop no one knows!

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8

Thank you for all your insights regarding D#2 and her college dilemma. Since she cannot say for sure where she would like to go, she has decided to forgo the early decision application altogether. She will apply early action to those schools offering that method (it is non-binding) and use the regular application process to the others.

D#1 will be home on Friday for a long weekend. It’s fall break time! I am looking forward to seeing her. She is in her junior year and is fine tuning her major declaration. At the moment she a psych major and is considering a minor in gerontology. She went in thinking she would study education and mathematics.

I can hardly stand all of this excitement! here are some things I know for sure…

  • it is a chilly, rainy day here and therefore perfect for knitting
  • Rhinebeck is next weekend and I will be spending my time with the coolest of people!
  • I need a fresh cup of coffee :)