YOP: Week 42

     I actually have a crafting update this week.  I started a pair of fingerless mitts last Sunday.  I have made some progress on them and took a picture.

Pattern is Timeline Mitts and its free.  I'm using more Malabrigo Sock leftovers.  These are the five colors I used in both my Get a Shift On! shawls, so they'll match both.  Although I haven't decided yet if I'm keeping the second one for myself.  There isn't really enough contrast with the Abril, Anniversario and the Eggplant main color.  The other two colors; Solis and Indiecita contrast well.  I'm still really liking how these are coming out.  Because its all sock weight these are going to take me a while but that's okay.  

    I've been posting book reviews as I finish the books.  I finished A Soul to Keep and I'm nearly finished with Guarded Treasure.  My review of A Soul to Keep is here.  I'm not sure what I'll start next.  I've been jumping around my TBR impulsively which is working for me right now, so I'll likely continue that strategy.  

    I've been out of work since Thursday.  Hand, Foot and Mouth has swept though the family starting with our son.  Typically adults don't catch it, but it took out both my husband and myself.  I think my husband had it worse but it still has been very unpleasant for me.  The joint pain and stiffness has been off the charts.  I can only imagine that this is what degenerative arthritis must feel like.  The very little knitting that I did today has aggravated every bone in both my hands.  My knees, hips and feet have been so sore I've barely moved from the couch since Thursday.  Even holding my phone to read from my Kindle app was painful.  I'm hoping this subsides very soon as I plan to go back to work Tuesday.  I was able to drag myself outside briefly to cut down the remaining plants in the garden and dispose of them.  I also picked the carrots and then made Carrot and Butternut Squash soup.  I added ginger and I either added too much or the white heirloom carrots made it too strong.  When we tried the white carrots earlier this year the white ones were bitter and didn't really have a carroty flavor.  I only kept the four largest ones we picked and tossed the rest.  My taste and smell are both still off.  The soup smelled terrible but tasted good.  It's not something I'd want to eat on a regular basis, so I'm saving the rest for when I'm sick.

The carrots

Growing the heirloom blend of carrots was fun.  I have more of these seeds so we'll try these again next year.

That's all I got done this week.  I was hoping to maybe do a little sewing, but with my hands in this much pain, I don't think I'll get to it.  I nearly forgot, two weeks ago now we did a thing:  Meet Beans, the newest addition to our crazy brood.

Both my husband and I have been wanting an orange tabby for a while.  He sort of dropped in our laps so I said yes before I even got to meet him.  We had to treat him for an upper respiratory infection and eye infection but he's doing well now.  He's already doubled his weight; is very very affectionate and purrs the loudest of any cat I've known.  The other cats are all doing really well with him.  He and Taco play together and even Nyx and Jangles are playing with him a little too.  That's it for me this week.  Happy crafting.

-Q