06 September 2017

In Which I Am Feeling Unstable

Hello there!  I hope all of you in the U.S. had a good Labor Day weekend.  Ours was for the most part uneventful, but the highlights were my successful crockpot dinner of minestrone on Saturday, and our trip to Nockamixon State Park for the day on Monday.  Most of the weekend was rainy, but Monday was one of those perfect days, and we had a great time hiking around, and then ending the day at the pool.

On Saturday, I finished the first of my pair of socks using the Solar pattern.  It took me a while, with my arthritis flareup, but I'm really pleased with how the first one turned out.  Here you will see one of my assistants checking for mistakes ...


I have yet to cast on the second sock, mostly because my arthritis is acting up again due to too much knitting over the weekend.  No one's fault but my own.

Rest assured, the other assistants also were busy.


I am currently having one of those weeks/times when you are fine, nothing much is going on, but you are unable to really concentrate on much of anything for any length of time.  I started a book, and I know I'm gonna like it, but I put it aside until I *must* read.  Right now my reading consists of looking at magazines and being able to handle the short articles.  My knitting is currently non-existent, between the discomfort and my lack of interest/concentration.  I'm trying to just ride it all out, but I'm feeling really out of it, and am with it enough to have it be annoying!

I did manage to revisit my Scattered Wishes shawl over the weekend, and make progress on the lace border past where I had to rip out and start over, so that was a good feeling.  (Until I realized that I'd done myself no favors by doing that much knitting.  Sometimes it's like I'll never learn.  Eejit.)  It's looking nice, but I didn't take any photos because at this point the stitches are so shmushed onto the needle, you can't really tell quite what it is supposed to be.  :-)

Summer Book Bingo 2017 ended and I didn't even have a single bingo.  Such is life.  I enjoyed it for the most part, but I'm not sure I'll do it again, at least not at this point.  I'm glad I branched out in some of my reading, but I guess the whole thing just didn't "click" for me.  Which is fine - some things I glom onto, and others, not so much.

This coming weekend is the New Jersey Sheep and Fiber Festival.  We went a couple of years ago, and it was a lot of  fun.  It's quite small, but perfect for spending a good portion of a day.  I'm not sure if we'll be able to go this weekend or not, but if you are nearby, it's worth a visit.  And yesterday I found out about the existence of the Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival; I was not aware of this event before, so maybe we can check that out.  It would not be that far from us, and at that point in September would probably be a lovely drive.

And that's it for now.  What are you up to?  Any fiber events coming your way anytime soon?

13 comments:

Bonny said...

I'm sorry you've temporarily lost your ability to focus. I can sympathize as I've got bouts of it myself. The causes are varied for me, but external events (read: Mr. Trump) have been the biggest reason I have concentration issues. I have no answers, but hope things improve for you. On a cheerier note, I'm thinking about whether I can fit in a visit to NJ Sheep this weekend; maybe I'll see you there!

Unknown said...

Kitty Assistance is of Paramount Importance when knitting!

Wanderingcatstudio said...

Sock looks lovely - sorry about the arthritis. Chronic pain sucks

No fibre festivals here until October. I'm not sure we'll go - over the last couple of years they've gotten so popular that they are packed - great for the craft, but I hate fighting the crowds.

Vera said...

Hi Bridget! Your Solar sock looks great...sorry to hear your arthritis is acting up again I know that is no fun. I've been having issues with my fingers cramping and I know that is arthritis.

I am sort of the same way you are - finding it hard to get into any books enthusiastically; never got a Bingo (which is fine with me too); and I have two different socks and one shawl on the needles...I keep floating from one to the other to the next and don't feel like I get all that much accomplished.

Thanks for the link to the Lehigh Valley Fiber Festival. I had not heard about that one. Not sure I'll get there as that is Fletcher's birthday weekend and I imagine he would rather do something else...but we will see. It looks like an interesting location with hiking available, etc. So maybe...

Some year I'd like to get to the New Jersey Sheep and Fiber festival, but we have tentative plans for this weekend (my birthday weekend!!).

Hoping your flare-up goes away quickly.

Tired Teacher said...

The Fiber Guild is taking a day trip to Mountain Meadow Woolen Mill on the 16th. I'm looking forward to seeinthe process and snapping LOTS of photos to share.

When the doldrums hit, it's best to just slog through until the smog clears. I hope that is soon for you.

Kym said...

I go through periods of . . . meandering . . . myself, when nothing seems to quite click. I usually find it helps if I can just keep myself MOVING -- even if it's just a little thing here or there. Hope it passes quickly for you -- and that you're back to your "normal," active self soon. XOXO

Araignee said...

Oh, poor you. I have been having monster headaches for the past weeks probably from allergies so I feel your pain. My mojo has faded away to nothing also . Until that first frost I am going to be pretty grouchy. Feel better!!!

Anonymous said...

Hope you are feeling better soon.

I was thinking about heading up to the Georgia Fiber Festival in Columbia, GA this weekend, but considering the storm . . . decided to not risk the traffic of Florida evacuees heading that way.

I also didn't feel comfortable leaving Giroux at home alone.

Oh well...maybe NEXT year.

Nance said...

MARMIES! Nothing is better than a bundle of cuddly orange cats.

Your sock looks terrific. I'm sure the Inspector feels the same.

I've been Fragmented And Frustrated for months now. It's horribly irritating, and all I do is go from one thing to the next, hoping to get myself straightened out. (How is your Vitamin D?!?) Sometimes I wish I were like a computer: turn off, wait a few minutes, turn me back on again. Or just reinstall my Operating System. You know?

karen said...

I was at a fiber festival where I spent yarn and had fun with my sister. lovely socks!

elns said...

I seem to be the queen of one sock completed, wait a long time, don't do anything. You speak to my almost agitated state of distraction. But me too, I'm ok, just some focusing issues I suppose.

I love the pile/puddle? of ginger cats. Swoon.

Judy S. said...

Love that solar sock and the shawl, too; now to look for the patterns.... You are the one who got me into book bingo and I didn't finish either. However, it was a great way to find some books outside the usual choices. Hope by now you're feeling more like your usual self. Hugs!

Judy S. said...

Hope your hands quit hurting real soon! Love that shawl; where did you find the pattern? Good luck with the lace; you can do it! Your orange kitties are SO cute!