Thursday, May 21, 2009

More blooms

This is by far the largest bloom yet on my epies. It's Sonoma Sunshine and it's between 12 and 13 inches across. I've been told it has a lovely scent also, but with the sinus issues I've been dealing with I couldn't smell it. This was the only bud on it but I'm hoping next year to have multiple blooms.

Sadly, I've passed on this sinus, bronchial stuff to my dear hubby. He gets over things quickly as a general rule so I hope he follows the rule this time. The same doesn't hold true for me as I often take 4 to 6 weeks to work through something like this. Right now we're both snuffling, coughing and miserable.

This is another bloom from yesterday. It is Orient Express and is the first of four buds to bloom. It is a nearly 10 inch bloom. Both blooms are still open and sure brighten a persons day.
As for knitting there has still been no knitting happening here. I have been fondling yarn as I've been trying to decide which sock yarns to use for an upcoming knit-a-long. We'll be making a toddler sock, which I hope will be the first of a pair for my 19 mo. old granddaughter, Brodie.
I'm hoping to be able to maintain enough concentration tomorrow to do some knitting. I've got plenty of works in progress that I could be working on. Socks would be the first thing I'd work on, but there's also a scarf I enjoy working on too. Here's to knitting tomorrow . . .

Monday, May 18, 2009

More blooms

Last week brought two more blooms on my epies. Amber Queen opened on the 12th with a small 4 inch bell shaped bloom that can best be described as a coral/rose color.


On Thursday I awoke with severe nasal and head congestion. It was a day that took all the energy my body could muster just to get out of bed and make it to the living room.


On Friday I awoke to a gorgeous 6 inch pale pink bloom on Elise. The congestion was bad enough that I couldn't even guess if it has a scent.
On Saturday I ended up at the clinic at Kaiser because the congestion was moving to my chest. One antibiotic prescription later I'm still fighting the congestion (bacterial bronchial and sinus infection) as well as the side effects of the antibiotic. Nothing tastes good, and I just want to lay around and do nothing.
A coughing fit took care of breakfast, and then taking pills on an empty stomach really did me in later. I managed to eat a baked potato and a small piece of meatloaf for dinner but the side effects of the antibiotic took care of that.
Knitting . . . nope, I'm not, I simply can't concentrate enough to do it. If perseverance were a priority I could probably manage something simple but I simply don't feel like it.

Friday, May 08, 2009

Good news, bad news . . .

The good news is . . . it's a girl. The new grandbaby due in September will be our 9th grandchild, and 6th granddaughter. We're excited of course, and I'll begin knitting for her soon.

The bad news is . . . another family member has been laid off work. Our youngest daughter learned today that her job has come to an end, along with the jobs of several of her workmates. She welcomes the opportunity to seek a new field of work, hopefully something of a more artistic nature. She's been doing communications work for about a decade now, and while it has paid well, she's a very artistic person and it hasn't been her dream job by any means.

I picked up this jar in Southern California recently and love the look of it filled with left overs of sock yarn. I haven't had time to clean up the very rusty lid yet. The jar is about a 3 gallon size. I'd seen an even larger one some time back at an antique sale and later regretted not buying it, so finding this one was a stroke of luck.

Hubby is now up to full dosage on his meds for Parkinson's with no side effects other than he seems more tired. Fortunately he hasn't had any nausea that many suffer with from the medicine.

Our recent trip to Disneyland was a very relaxing one. We met friends there and spent lots of time visiting with them and people watching. Dale had a sore foot and didn't feel like doing a lot of walking and I developed a blister on the bottom of my big toe so we were quite the pair of limp alongs! Two of our daughters joined us there on Sunday and hung out with us. They spoiled me by buying a teacup, saucer and spoon set that I was eyeing fondly.

Today I received a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from my oldest son and his family for Mother's Day. It's a mixed bouquet of Lillies, roses, stock, daisy poms, bupleurum, and salal. There is also a beautiful locket attached to the vase by a ribbon. Tomorrow hubby is treating me to lunch at Claim Jumper, or another restaurant of my choice (we'll skip the crowds expected on Sunday).

I've finally finished the increases on the toes of my Poem Sock socks. This yarn is so soft . . . I can barely wait to finish them and put them on my feet. The ride to Sacramento will be some quality knitting time.

Happy Mothers Day to all my friends and family out there! May your day be filled with love, family, and everything that makes you happy.