Shock of my life....

Guess I should not be shocked, I have had PKD all my life. But when my kidney doctor put me in the hospital two weeks ago, I was not expecting it. My kidneys had finally failed. They had been holding at 23 to 13% kidney function for years....12 at least. In less than a year, they went to less than 7%. So all my leg cramps and itchy skin had a reason. I had three dialysis treatments in the hospital, now I am at the clinic three days a week, 4hrs each time. Really, almost 5hrs...the hookup and take down time is a bit of time too.

All this is not bad news, as I have knit more that I ever have before. Fastest I have ever finished a finger weight shawl...10 days. Now to start on a new project. And by the way, the itchy skin is gone and rare to have leg cramps now.

Dialysis and the new way to eat is keeping me healthy. I miss potatoes, but having lots of protein now. I will keep positive about this. (The best thing is Mark finding new ways to cook things and keep things tasty.)

Getting old....but still going

My mind is still sharp and I do alot, but this body is almost 61 and getting tired. Takes me longer to get up and down now. The good news is that I can sit and knit and the only bad thing about that is falling asleep in the middle of knitting... 

Bethy and I went to Stitches South again this year. It was smaller than last year, but still had a grand time. Got some great yarns and neat ideas. Learned how to dye with Koolaid...how cool. Stayed at the hotel right across the street, so only drove to go eat.

On a sad note, my son's pug, Meko passed this year. He and my pug were littermates and 16 years old. Milo is still around, but we are all really missing Meko. We are down to 5 pugs again without Meko. He passed in his sleep curled in a little ball...so sweet.

Stitches South

Attention all knitters!!!! If you ever get the chance to go to a Stitches Expo...go. The classes, the people, the shopping....WOW.  So many ideas from such crafty people. Where to start? We (me, my daughter and son's girlfriend) got to the hotel near Stitches. We unloaded all our "stuff" then went to the Expo. So many people. The classes we took gave us some new insight and new skills. The shopping gave us YARN and PATTERNS (like we really needed more). And ideas. My brain is still on overdrive. We were there for 3 days and 2 nights, but wished it could have been longer. When we got home, we all jumped into new knitting projects. There is just not enough time in the day to knit, esp. with all the new stuff bouncing in our brains. So, I repeat, if you ever get a chance to go to a Stitches Expo....go!!! So much eye candy, your brain will pop.

Knitting away

Why is it, when you have an idea to knit something...it becomes so much work? I wanted a simple shawl. I have done the rectangle ones, but wanted the triangle ones. I saw the stitch I liked in one, the design in another, and the ruffle in another. After much planning, I got the pattern workable. I did not want to buy yarn for this, so looked to my stash (also called "Moms basement store" by my daughter). I did not want an obvious stripe, but not a solid either. I found some Noro Cash Island. (in a teal with rose and grays...) I started knitting, and frogged, started again and again had to frog. I think I did this about 5 times before I got the look I wanted. I am on my 4th skein of yarn and it is coming together nicely. (yes, a picture will be here soon.) With the "borrowing" of so many ideas, does this make it my pattern?

I still have 2 otheer shawls in wip, and two hats on needles. When I was talking to my daughter the other night, she gave me another idea for a hat project. Good thing I have stash to pull from and needles waiting for use. If I live long enough, will I ever use up all the yarn I have? Not if I keep buying more. But I am being good. (Not buying until Stitches South in April. Bethany gave me the best Christmas gift ever...two classes and over night stay at Stitches South this year. I can[t wait!!! It will be me, Bethany and Marie..sons girlfriend...What a party it will be....knitting away.)

A bike my size

This was last year. I found a bike my size. The color is wrong, so I had to say no.

This is the top of Brasstown Bald, the highest point in Ga. A pic of me at one of the lookouts at Brasstown Bald. And just a weird pic that I took while riding up the Mtn.

This is called Jameson Weed...Named after Jamestown VA. It seems the colonist got "high" off this plant. It only blooms at night. It dies back in the cold, but come warm weather, it blooms again. And it spreads. This is the plant on one side of the driveway. We have 2 other plants that we never planted on the other side of the drive. It likes the rain. This is the most flowers we have ever had....at least 4+ every night on each plant.