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Monday, September 1, 2008

Baby Suprise Jacket #1

I say #1 because I have started #2 yesterday. I first cast on 8/3/08. Then life got in the way.
My supervisor left that Sunday for two weeks in Beijing. That 1st Monday my sister and I got in touch with our mother age 79. She was put under observation for two days and sent home. It was time to move her up to NY to live with my sister. M came and picked her and her old cat Jingles up on 8/9 and drove right back to NY. She has been seen by my M's doctor. Basically, she is in good health. She had been diagnosed two years ago with mini strokes which cause short time memory loss. It may be short term but depending on who she is talking too she has not forgotten a damn thing. A friend in her small town J who was helping her was called by mom last week. mom wanted to let J know where she was. She was kidnapped by her daughter and nephew. They came down, threw in some clothes and put her and cat in the car. J reminded her that after the doctors said she could no longer live on her own she would move to NY. She agreed to a two week vacation. This has been the plan for two years but M & I agreed to let her on her own with a wait & see. Well, the waiting is over. other than be obsessed by her pills or lack of them she is doing well. I was more worried about M but she said she has been doing alright. The hateful outbursts are less and they are adjusting to a schedule. It is now the time for us baby boomers to take care of our parents. With my mom, I think she is tired. Tired of living, tired of all things electronic, fed up with the state of the world. She is content to stay in bed all day. No matter what M tries to do to get her active it is just not the right time of day, or the right day. Very frustrating. She now has M & P to wait on her and is eating regularly. She is weak from staying in bed so she now has a walker, toilet seat riser and shower chair. M borrowed a wheel chair with the intent to drive to Jones Beach but mom said no not now, later. Whatever. She is mad that J, M, P & myself all work. to quote "you all f*cken work! Now we wait for her to make the final decisions to sell her car, sort though the house, stage it to sell yada, yada. If you have not been up this road yet your turn will come.
Back to BSJ. I had the DVD, enlarged the written pattern included so I could read it. I also went to Knit Wiki & Ravelry to find out all I could. Bottom line, I thought too much. Had too many different charts to follow. Put into the mix working for two and mom, I could not wrap my head around it. So last week I finally picked it up and worked this Saturday and Sunday and finished it.
Above: just added the 9 sts for cuff increase
Above: BSJ Row 45 90 stitches, knit 3 row even
I cut the yarn to knit the 90 stitches, got this hint fro KnitWiki. I put the 34 stitches on a holder (a length of yarn) while I knitted up the 90 stitches for 10 ridges.
once the 10 ridges were knit I put the 34 stitches back on the needle at either end and joined the yarn and started at the beginning, K34 PU the 10 sts, K90, PU 10, K34
need to pick out buttons, I am going to give this to a girl so I am going to look for retro looking buttons.
Now that I know how one of these knits up I can better place my color changes.
Specs:
1 skein of Laines Du Nord-Giunco- green & 1/3 skein of Lions Brand Baby Soft-Baby White Pompadour
Needles: Susan Bates Quicksilver Size 6 US, 4mm, 24" circular

When I last posted I told you about two movies. Wool 100%, I really enjoyed it. Part fairy tale, funky graphics, not much dialog to read sub titles. I loved the way it was shot and edited and a bittersweet story. The other was Lars and the Real Girl. Another quirky story but so sweet and great characters. I totally recommend them both. The other movie was The Bank Job but only the coming attractions would play. This is the 2nd movie I got from n*etflix that would not play on my DVD. The other was 3:10 to Yuma.
Today is my last day before returning to work and in celebration of Labor Day I am doing all the labor around the house. Dishes are washing, one load of laundry in the dryer. 1 waiting. Need to vacuum & polish the floors. Not suppose to use water on the bamboo floors but I do cheat with Sw*iffer Wet pads. Now back to work. Next time BSJ #2

8 comments:

Anita said...

Sorry to hear that things with your mom are tough at the moment, that sucks. :( Getting older sucks!

Cute sweater!!

Bubblesknits said...

I hope things get better with your mom. My MIL is going through that with her mom and dad. Most days she just wants to beat her head against the wall.

The BSJ looks great! It's so neat how they knit up.

SissySees said...

BSJ looks great!

I'm sorry about your mother. It's truly a labor of love some days, isn't it?

Denise said...

Good luck with your mum - can really really relate to those sorts of problems... (FIL aged 86, with severe Aspergers and dementia and diabetes, still lives alone, won't even discuss a nursing home, we're his only family in the area etc etc. Sigh).

The BSJ looks wonderful - I must have a go at knitting one of these sometime soon!

Lynn said...

What a great sweater! You are doing a really nice job!

and as far as your mom {{{hugs}}}}

leah said...

The sweater is adorable! I've bought the pattern and am just waiting to hear who is having the next baby to cast on!

Alaina said...

{{{hugs}}}

I have spent the summer "nursing" my 88 year old Grandma...I tell you...I would rather have a room ul of teenagers who hate Algebra...than a crabby 88 year old who doesn't want to do something!!!

I appreciate your pain...I am so there.

Naked...that's what Gramma likes...need I say more....lol

Robin said...

Love the BSJ. I want to do one, too. I feel for you about your mom. There's a reason we grow up and leave home. I dread getting old and having to depend on others for my care.