Lace Socks finished

KNITTINg

finally I've finished my lace socks in homedyed sock yarn. I think the yarn is Trekking XXL although it could be Violet Green Socrates! I cant remember. Dyed with koolAid.

I much prefer dying with acid dyes as you get better colours but I'm also going to try Cake food dyes as they come in a large range of colours adn I know whenever I've iced a cake my hands are always beautifully dyed and it wont wash out!!

here are some photos of the socks

I started some more socks. These are Bee striped socks for hubby. They're this colourway because he has a thing about honey!!

I decided to do some yarn dying last week which I havnt done for ages. I really enjoyed myself messing about. I love experimenting seeing how the various effects are going to turn out. I didnt have a plan for any psecific colours. I thought I'd see what jumped out at me. Instead of dying one half one colour and the other half another colour so it knits up striped, I threw the colours on randomly. The balck is lace weight merino from Violet Green and the other is sock yarn also from violet gree, unfortunately I cant rmember if its supersock or merino!!! The lace yarn didnt work out as well as I'd have liked. The black dye took over. I find this. I've not learnt to control black dye yet properly. still its given me the bug to carry on.

Lace weight merino

Sock weight

I got some colinette Jiterbug sockyarn. They had an offer on when they re-launched their website with 25% off. How can a girl resist!

FM

its been a very difficult few weeks with Passover. But thankfully its now over! Thank god!! I've spent alot of time in bed with no energy what so ever. I feel like a boiled lettuce leaf most of the time! The pain is there again but not as agonising since the patches. but I'm not able to do very much at the mo. still hopefully it will calm down now a bit.

Thankfully my mood is really perky which is good considering! Onwards and upwards.

I've sent my DLA appeal off. It took me 4 days to type my appeal letter out so we shall see what happens. if they actually beleive I have FM and how badly it affects my life. I wish they'd have been here on Saturday when I was so weak I couldnt get into hubby's Freelander and I couldnt get up the stairs at home. I kind of crawlde on all fours with hubby shoving me from behind! very undignified.

Making choices

FM



Its been a difficult and exhausting week and if I'd let it, I could really have got very down about all the choices I've had to make. its really hilighted just how much I cant manage any more with this blasted FM.




Its pre Passover week. always hectic in anyones schedule with all the cleaning. the premise being that as the hebrew slaves fled Egypt and didnt have time to let their bread rise , so we're not allowed to eat anything levened. I.e cakes, bread etc but also we're not allowed to own anything levened . so a great house clean begins to search for and obliterate any living crumb. I've had my cleaner doing most of it, but the kitchen is such a huge job. we've had to empty and clean every single cupboard. Now we also have to have special pots and pans that hve never touched a crumb of leavened stuff. They all had to be got out from their home 11 months of the year and the kitchen cupboards emptied and the Passover pots, pans and crockery put in their place. A mammoth task. On top of all that there was baking to do and the special passover meal a Seder ,



Phew!!! So it really hit home. Do I go swimming or clean a cupboard? Teusday I went out to lunch with my next door neighbour, then for a massage. These things are far more important to me! But it put my schedule miles behind. after that I had to do what was necessary and its absolutely floored me.



If you've ever heard of The Spoon Theory- . This was written by someone who has Lupus to try and explain to people how those of us with invisible illness's have to make choices. I.e you are given so many spoons a day, say 12, which are like units of energy, you then have to decide how to use them up in a day. I.E to get up, to get dressed, to go for a swim etc. Once you've used all 12 up for the day you've had it and have to go to bed. All I can say is I've used my 12 spoons up and more. I've spent most of the weekend in bed surfacing for half the Seder one night and I managed all of it last night. Which has spoilt things really.



The kids are off school for passover. but Josh only has one friend at home. All the others have gone to Israel for passover. That is my ambition. When I win the Lottery. to go to Israel fro Passover. no cleaning, no killing myself, just Sun, a beach and a hotel thats kosher for Passover , that does everything for you. Bliss. Trouble is it'd cost about 3 grand to do it!



I've asked hubby to take a day off if he can and take Josh out. I cant do anything with him at all.







KNITTING



I'm still knitting the lace sock. With being so exhausted I've hardly managed to do much knitting. I bought More BIg Girls Knits- Which has some lovely patterns in it. and I like the fact that my size is usually the smallest instead of the biggest!!



I've won something!!! A blogger freind Bearium picked me to win a knitted bag for her Blogiversary!! I never win anything so I'm quite chuffed.







My dear online pal Leigh has given me an award



So I'm very delighted to receive it.

Rachels Rock Debut

No photos this week knitty or otherwise! its either feast or famine!
KNITTING

1)I'm carrying on with my secret mission which is nearly finished. photos after the recipients birthday and then you'll all go, 'is that it?', not worth all the secrecy!!!
2)I'm also finishing a mate for another lone sock as part of the Angel Yarns forum Sockalong Sockathon!
3)I've managed to finally unravel the yarn from my dreadful top faux pas last summer. The yarn has been skeined and washed and is ready to be wound back into balls. But it still looks kinky to me as in not straight!-not kninky peverted!!!
I want to start some 2 at a time socks but I'm trying to finish whats on the needles first.

FM
I'm not so bad at the mo which after the last 3 weeks is good! I saw my rheumy on Wednesday expecting him to discharge me as they cant do anything fro FM really, but instead he ordered more blood tests, involving an hours wait outside the vampires door, and I've to see him in 2 months when he gets the results. He also recommended I increase the pain patch to 1o micrgrams which knocked me flat last time, but is O.K now. My body has obviously go used to the lower level .
I've been refused the higher rate mobility DLA, but been awarded the lower rate for care and mibility indefinitely. I've asked for an appeal from but am not sure whether to meddle or not now that I've got an indefinite award.
I'm as usuall frustrated as I should be cleaning the kitchen ready for Passover, but I keep having to amke choices. yesterday Josh sprang afternoon tea on me so thats where all my energy went. Today I've been swimming , the ironing is mounting up so its either ironing or cleaning out a cupboard! Strangely enough I chose to come on here
THE SHOE SAGA
LAst week I managed to get into Manchester with Rachel. she had a sweet 16th birthday ball and had borrowed a dress and wanted strappy shoes. Well we went from one end of town to the other then back again also looking at evening dresses.!! it was getting late, she was in a strop, it was all my fault we were late!! Finally, at the 11th hour,she bought some nice strappy black shoes. Got home, decided nobody was dressing up in a ball gown so wore a dress she already had! Then she took the new shoes with her in a bag and came home saying nobody had worn high heels, she hadnt worn the shoes , didnt like them and I could take them back!GRRRR its at this point that you could cheerfully strangle them isnt it!
On Saturday I went into Bury to take the shoes to another branch of the shop. When I got their they refused to take them and said I had to go into MAnchester! Atthis point I was ready to wrap the blasted shoes around Rachels neck! Anyway I phoned up the Manchester store, explained I was disabled and they promised to refund the money as soon as I could get there. On Sunday Hubby and RAchel went and took them back. All because she had to have apair of shoes no matter what!

RAchels BAnd debut
Tuesday night was Battle of the BAnds comp at RAchels school. SHe's been playing bass guitar in this band for 2 years on and off so I was looking forward to seeing her play live. On the night I was exhausted and was trying to shake off a migraine. The last thing I wanted to do was go to school and listen to 5-6 bands twanging and screeching, But I'm so glad I went. each band had to play 3-4 songs. One had to be written by themselves and one had to be a cover song.The other song was whatever. One of the judges was some rock star from a 90's group who has his own recording studio and the first prize was a day in his studio making a record.
All the bands were good in their own way. But when Rachels band came on all her year went wild!! Rachel was the only girl in the show and one of the few bassists. Alot of the kids had 2 guitars but no bass!!! They did 3 of their own songs which were very good and then finished with Kaiser Cheifs I predict a Riot. It was fab, The whole school was up singing and rocking and yelling 'Go Rachel'!!! The only thing that let them down was the lead singer. he wasnt too good. Theyd wante dRachel to sing but she was too shy but I think she regretted it later. The comments were that they had the best Rythemn section of any band but they didnt win becuase of the singing. But everybody, including the school music teachers and the judges said Rach was marvelous and should find herself a good band!! Our own SuzieQuatro!!! We were so proud of her. My neice and S-I-L came and they were crying with pride!!

Josh turns 12
On saturday he took his girlfriend to the pictures to see Son of ranbow! it was hilarious watching him bath and preen and straighten his hair and load himself up with aftershave!!! His birthday was yesterday and he's asked for extra money rather than a party. Fine by me!! he'd wanted a sleep over. No way!! we gave him £20 extra pounds which is far cheeper than a party or trip to the pictures would have cost and much less hastle!! yesterday morning he asked his grandparents to come for afternoon tea . I though it was lovely that on his birthday he wants to be surounded by his grandparents. It meant extra work for me but Rach helped. we had bagels and buns ,a choc cake and a birthday cake. All bought I hasten to add. The days of me making impromptu cakes are gone!! he got lots of money and wants a Wii or PS2 so hubby and I have decided the deal is. he brings home a daily report sheet from school every day till July and if he has excellent remarks all day everyday, at the end of the school year he can buy his Wii or whatever. We didnt really want him to have a playstation but if it means he behaves himself in school we will cave in.
Rachel bought him some new aftershave. well he gassed us out yesterday. he stunk!! In a nice way, but we couldnt breath. I think he had his Lynx on too!!! its really hilarious seeing as though you couldnt get Sam to wash at his age and we still nag him to use deodorant! he hates aftershaves!!! arnt kids funny?

Its Finished!!!

Knitting

i've finished my Stepping Stones jacket finally

here is my size 0 sylph like body modelling it!!!

I have been being very wicked again and buying yarn. so here are lots of photos.

Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere. A huge saving in the sale at Stash of Chester. Think I'm going to knit a Koolhaus hat in this if its the right yarn.

This is cash/silk lace weight from Vixx at Wildfibres Etsy. to be used of a Branching out scarf

This is pure wool for an amazing £1 per ball. from New Lanark Mill. Its for a surprise so news of it when its knitted up and the recipient has received it.

Now Some W.I.P's

V- Neck vest top in Rowan Pure wool. hopefully this one will hold its shape!!!

CATS PAW LACE Scarf. tHE CATS IT SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE ITS RUN IN A STARIGHT LINE! bUT MY CAT HAS SPLODGED ACROSS THE SCArf

And finally, I forgot I bought some Laceweight Merino Seacell from Hipknits sale. I also had a money off code so I got it for £7.

ITS EITHER FEAST OR FAMINE IN THE PHOTO DEPT! THAT WILL PROBABLY BE IT for weeks now!!!!

FIbromyalgi

Things arent too good on the FM front for a change!!! I was struggling very badly with the exhaustion and for the past 2 weeks the pain has been creeping up as well. I think I've over done it as yesterday was hell. I went to art class came home and went to bed. I felt like I had flu' My skin was and still is sore to touch, I ached and burned all over and I was just totally exhausted. I think this is a flare as over the weekend hubby did more decorating. He did behind the bookcase so it was over and done with and we wouldnt have to empty or move it again. he unusually for him, he's a perfectionist when it comes to decorating, only did the top bits that you see! Good job we're not planning on moving!! its like painting round the piano!!! I helped empty the books and china and stuff from the cabinets. Well I managed 5 trips to the kitchen and that was me done. Josh did the rest! Then Monday I spent the whole day on and off putting the books back whilst Sam filled the china cupboards . This is what did me in. I've been so sore I havnt found a place to lie in bed! My hips are murder so I find lying on my sides painful, my heels are burning and painful so lying on my back hurts! I tried my front, but then my knees and feet hurt!! And this is in a waterbed so good job it wasnt an ordinary matress! I've just rested the last 3 days. Its all I can do. No swimming, no outings on my scooter. I've just stayed in, been on the computer till my shoulders and neck fire up, knitted a bit till my hands and shoulders fire up and then given up and rested on the bed!!I still made myself get dressed in soft clothes, trackies. coz shlouching around in PJ's reminds me of when I was severely depressed and I aint going down that road ever again!!!

anyway I feel much more cheered up today. I'm sat here typing, listening to U2-my fave album of the mo is their greatest Hits 1990-2000. A mix of most of my fave tracks.

I've made contact with more FM sufferers via the Angel Yarns Forum so have been PM'ing merrily!and my dear friend Chezza whom I met via the Stitchlinks forum posted me a little pressie which arrived yesterday and cheered me up greatly. just a note book and pen from a nearby animal sanctuary, but it wouldnt have mattered if it was a pack of chewing gum. It just the thought that counts and the surprise esp when one is feeling down.

FAmily
On the home front. Sam is coming to the end of his home visit. I'm really going to miss him. he's been such a help to me whilst I've been bad. At first he drove me bonkers as he was in typical student mode, going to bed at 3am, falling out of bed at 1pm and lounging around on the computer till 4pm when he decided to get showered and dressed!! But every day hes' emptied the dishwasher for me and yesterday he went up to the local shops and post office on some errands for me which was a great help.
Hubby will miss being woken up by doors slamming at 3am!!! Sam hasnt learnt to close doors quietly yet!!!
In the house we're preparing for the most hated festival in the Jewish calender Passover. Luckily the cleaner is doing most of the cleaning. I just cant manage it any more although I did manage to wash the paintwork on the landing on Sunday. thats my whole contribution!! I've just ordered loads of minced fish to make gefilte fish and fried fish(BTW the photos on Wiki are discusting!!). Next comes the butchers! Then the rest of the Passover shopping. Its so expensive. They purposely put prices up. You have to buy the food with a special rabbinic seal saying the food is kosher for Passover and they bang the prices up coz they've got you. The food over Passover is gross! You have to eat unleavened bread so the great Rabis of old came up not with pitta bread or chappatti style BREAd. But Matzah! cardboard that doesnt fill you up and constipates you!!! Ah well these things are sent to try us. What I do know for sure is I will put weight on as its all sugar and eggs and potatos.
Right I'm off to knit