Thursday, January 2, 2014

Slow Start

I haven't hit the ground running as I had hoped to do this morning.  Feeling a little shakey and beat-up has me moving very slowly so far.  I blame it all on my day of total relaxation yesterday.  It must have been too much of a shock to my body.

Actually, I think I've been fighting some kind of a low-grade bug for (what seems like) several weeks now.  Either my immune system is strong enough to be keeping it from taking me down or I have a very weak bug that isn't tough enough to lay me flat.

The symptoms are in my head (no, no, I'm not a hypochondriac . . . the ailments are truly in my head).  Been having bad headaches on and off and I have what feels like a plug in each ear that makes my noggin feel super-stuffy.  I keep checking in the mirror to see if my eyes really are as crossed as they feel.  So I thought spending the day in "my nest" on the couch yesterday would be a good idea.

I read and knitted and read and knitted.  Tried to watch a couple of DVDs but nothing held my interest.  I may have stressed myself a wee bit by the knitting.


Am making a pair of socks and using a new pattern.  The first time I tried to turn the heel, I misread the directions and was well on my way to knitting 52 rows (on row 48, for heaven's sake) before I realized it should have been only 26.  Duh.  Ripped that out and started again.  This time I couldn't get the decrease under the heel to look right and discovered I was working on only 20 stitches rather than the 30 required.  Ripped that out and started again.  I finally quit last night when daughter stopped by on her way home to kindly give me a full head, face and neck massage.  (Bless her kind heart and hot, little hands.)  Said massage was wonderful and may be the cause of me feeling pole-axed this morning.  I'm thinking she got my lymph flowing and all kinds of garbage is working its way out of my bod.  Which is a good thing.

Anyway, don't cry for me, Argentina dear readers.  I have no real problems and as soon as I finish the last half of my latte, I may feel tough enough to start the task of taking down the holiday decorations.

It's br-r-r-r cold again today but tomorrow it's supposed to warm up to a high of 14° which will truly feel balmy after what we've been having.  Also 70% chance of snow for Friday with a possible five to six inches predicted.

We've been staying warm and cozy but, oh my, have we been feeding a lot of wood into the stoves.  Which also makes a lot of ashes which means cleaning them out of the living room stove should be my first task when I'm ready to move.  We've kept from putting anymore wood in there this morning so I can let the coals from the overnight fire burn out so I can clean out the ashes without so much of a mess.

My start to the day is getting even slower as I sit here typing.  Methinks the sensible thing would be to pull on my big girl panties, get up and do what needs to be done.  After all, it's already the second day of January and I don't want the New Year to get away from me!

22 comments:

2 Tramps said...

The socks look just beautiful! You are so darned talented!

I have had a bug like you for the past week - not fun to feel sort of halfway. And I need to clean the ashes out of our woodstove today, too. Thanks for reminding me! Feel better soon, dear Mama Pea!

Mama Pea said...

2 Tramps - Thank you, dear lady! I'm already feeling better (maybe because the yucky ash job is done?) and will keep doing what I can do to get this bug gone, gone, gone. Now you be sure to do the same!

odiie said...

What a beautiful sock! I wish I was a better knitter-that looks way beyond my ability.
Enjoy the balmy weather tomorrow.

Carolyn said...

Big Girl Panties? Methinks you need to put on some Big Girl long undies, sweatpants, wool socks, pack boots and a Carhart.

Sparkless said...

That wool makes an amazing colored sock! I hope you get to finish them. Sorry to hear a bug is bugging you. I hope you feel better soon.
Now if I could just get half as much done in a day that you get done when you're sick I'd be happy. Right now it's 11am and I haven't done a dang thing yet. I better be off.

Tombstone Livestock said...

With all that ice and snow be careful hitting the ground running ..... wish I could send you some sunshine in exchange for some of your snow, it would melt and be much needed water by the time it arrives here. Sorry to hear you are not feeling up to par. Take care, can't wait to see your socks finished. I am making some fingerless mittens and for the life of me cannot (even looking at diagram) can I bind it off? I know I have done it before on 2 scarfs .... oh well will have to find a knitter at group to bail me out.

Mama Pea said...

odiie - The "self-patterning" yarn does all the purdy work. If it would only turn a heel . . .

Mama Pea said...

Carolyn - Oh yeah, I've got all those on, too. ;o}

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - I've gotta admit I'm having a little trouble letting go of the push, push, push everyday and letting myself take time to go at a more leisurely pace and not feel, at the end of the day, that I "didn't get anything done." I may need therapy to work through this phase. (Is your office open?)

Mama Pea said...

Tombstone Livestock - Okay, you made me laugh with your first comment. (So, so true!)

Hand your fingerless mittens over . . . I can bind 'em off for ya. If you don't want a heel put in them, that is.

tpals said...

Filled with awe at anyone brave enough to tackle socks! And sympathy from someone else battling recurring weakness.

Mama Pea said...

tpals - Socks really aren't that hard. It's just that working the heel tends to vary from pattern to pattern and this is a completely new one for me. (Plus, I obviously can't read!)

I can totally sympathize with you battling a health problem. I went through a doozy for a ten-year period and it was ever so hard to handle. Feeling crummy makes it very difficult to keep going both physically and mentally. Saying a little prayer for you. :o}

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

Nice looking sock, sorry to hear you had it the wrong direction :-)
Stay warm and get well soon!!!

Tami said...

Tell CM she needs to stop by for daily massages. After all YOU did carry her around for 9 months. I'd play that card if I were you.

Are knitted Big Girl Panties on the horizion?

Katidids said...

EEEK! Not much frustrates me than needing to tink back the knitting. Be careful of that bug, I felt the same in October and it took nearly a month to kick it all the way. It just hung on and drained energy. Sounds like some nest time and keeping toasty warm is the ticket with mega doses of vitamin C.. Those socks look like they will be really fun!.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

The socks look great! Glad you are staying warm.

Kelly said...

The sock is amazing! Your so talented! Stay warm and feel better soon :)

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - I'm feeling much, much better today, thank you very much! Still have the plugged ear thing but have drops for that and hope it will be all gone soon.

Mama Pea said...

Tami - If I were rich (I mean reeeeally rich) I would have a massage almost every day. So relaxing and I sincerely believe it is very beneficial for keeping everything flowing in the body.

You're too young to remember (I only remember hearing about them), but before rubber pants for babies (over their cloth diapers) they used to knit what they called "soakers" out of yarn to help contain the moisture. Ish, that must have been messy!

Mama Pea said...

Katidids - Nope, I'm not gonna ALLOW this bug to hang on much longer. I shall WILL it away. (Ha! If only.) I'm getting close to doing the toe on the first sock so I may have something to show soon.

Mama Pea said...

Kristina - Thanks! :o}

Mama Pea said...

Thanks, Kelly. Isn't that just the coolest yarn?? So much fun to knit because you're always eager to see the next color and pattern.