IntrinsicTina

I knit up another baby hat, this time for a baby girl. I neglected to photograph the little delight as I was much too excited to give it to the recipient, our favorite nursing assistant at my mother-in-law's nursing home. She was so excited to receive it and immediately showed me some of her crochet projects. She does beautiful crochet work. Every time I run into an avid crocheter, I get all interested in picking back up the hook. She inspired me but I'm trying to stay focused on the knitting at hand. Don't you know that I have another one of the hats to knit for another baby girl for another friend? I do. And if I don't get over-excited about giving it away, I'll aim for another photo and post it here for your viewing pleasure. It is tried and true Cascade 220 Superwash in light pink and dark brown stripes, worsted weight for sure.

What a day! A friend of mine is planning her husband's birthday, sends him off to ride motorcycles with his buddies, by the afternoon, she gets the news that he was killed in a tragic accident on the highway. I'm just blown away by how quickly life can change (for all of us). It put me mindful of petty disagreements and strife my husband and I have been dealing with. I was still nursing some spite from seemingly thoughtless remarks. Right away I resolved to let it go and re-focus on what is important....our love for each other and the celebration of it. My husband noted my attitude change immediately upon his arrival from work and seemed to "get it" when I told him of the loss of our mutual friend. We lovingly reconnected over the weekend and spoke often of our recently departed friend. I am so sorry for her loss, their loss, our loss. And at the same time, I am so very grateful for another day of life on this earth with my loved one, my Rodney, nobod...

A young member of our extended family is going to be a father shortly. We (my husband and I) only learned this as of late. Realizing that this young couple are very young and not exactly flush with cash, we are setting out to provide them with a few items to welcome the new baby. Clothing, some purchased and a few handknits for a baby boy, ought to be well received. So far I've managed to knit a couple of baby blankets (one using the "dishcloth" pattern) and to design and knit a hat for a newborn. I like the idea of stripes rather than the typical solid baby blue for boys . I hope to knit a few more items in the near future a couple of sizes larger. We aren't looking to compete with Grandma and Grandpa, just want to do our part to welcome a new life to the family. We hope this will help...

The sun rose exposing a clear, sunny day although my approach to the Washington coastline blurred the sunlight. By the time my Subaru turned through the narrow stone walls, proclaiming "Welcome to Ocean Shores", it was clear that this day at the ocean would be shrouded in cloud-diffused light. The light ocean breeze brought salt-infused air to my nostrils, that I willingly breathed deeply into my lungs. Weather-bleached saltbox houses, sea grasses, dunes, and squealing gulls are the standard in this beach community. During the week I am struck by the lack of thronging tourists. The worst of the tourists are us. Driving along the coastline, looking for public beach access in search of photogenic vantage points. We were rewarded. The discovery of the day had to be the new and picturesque New England-style community, Seabrook, just south of Pacific Beach. It was a treasure trove of photographic opportunity and we (my mother and I) meandered, stopping at will to take...

The verdict is in (as far as I'm concerned) it is possible to experience relief for "fallen arches" by going to a massage therapist who specializes in plantar fasciitis. I've been dealing with foot pain for eight months solid. I've avoided the gym at all costs so as not to inflame my condition. (Yeah, I tried to power through it.) And then I tried to baby it by avoiding all stretching and flexing in an effort to allow it to "heal". I've had 2 (count it...1 and 2) visits and have experienced a 95% reduction in pain symptoms. I feel like in another visit or 2, I may be 100% pain free and "free to roam about the country" in a manner I have been quite accustomed to. I hope never to take my health for granted again. It is wonderful to be getting "fixed". First, knocking out the vitamin D deficiency-induced depression and now...Good-bye plantar fasciitis. Life is good indeed.

Sounds erotic, doesn't it? Touch Me is actually a yarn made by Muench. It is the softest and silkiest (and one of the spendiest) yarns in my stash. It is a chenille that tends to "worm" but I love it all the same. My first project with this spendy fiber was a red and purple crocheted scarf that is perfect for the discriminating 'red hatter'. The yarn was actually a birthday gift from my father and mother and they had bought two balls of the stuff at about $15 per ball. I added a third ball to complete my project. Again I bought this "splurge" for a friend going through chemotherapy for breast cancer. I knitted up a delicious hat in a deep burgundy but alas! I never saw it grace her head even after she lost her hair. I pondered asking point blank if she didn't care for it because I would have loved to wear it. I did no such thing. Between the last two Local Yarn Store tours (a.k.a LYS tours) in the Seattle area I bought another two balls in ...

Today was the day of my annual physical. I have been tortured by depression and racked with guilt. I finally marched into my doctor and laid it all out to her - all of the ugliness of emotion. She ran all of the tests and wouldn't you know...my depression has a root cause. It was physical. I had a pretty serious vitamin D deficiency. Good Lord! I had heard that people in the Pacific Northwest were likely candidates but could I really have it? I thought not. Boy, was I ever wrong. This has been one of the coldest springs on record for this area and my house is shaded on two sides by tall trees. I'm growing a lawn of moss on my rooftop for goodness sake! Heck yes I could have it! I'm starting a routine of taking 8,000 IU of vitamin D3 each day and what a turnaround my mood has taken. My feelings of worthlessness and self-pity are disappearing. I don't seem to have to keep "winding myself up" like they talk about on the TV commercials touting drug th...

About a dozen years ago, I received a box of beautifully hand-crocheted pastel granny squares partially pieced together by my husband's ex-mother-in-law's mother. This box languished in the depths of my closet until about a few months ago when I decided it was more likely to receive my attention if I brought it forth to the light of day. I looked at it each week until one day - enthusiasm struck. I was going to finish this WIP even if it did belong to someone else. Initially, I thought to give it to a young expectant couple in my husband's family but as I held this project in my hands, I imagined a different scenario. I felt that Marie would want a member of her family to receive this precious gift. I became enamored of the idea that one new unsuspecting member of Marie's family which she would never meet, could be swaddled and comforted in her creation and by extension, perhaps even in her arms. I imagined that one day perhaps someone could finish one of my WIP...

I'm sittin' there mindin' my own business, sewing together a crocheted baby blanket when I am accosted by none other than, Frankie. Frankie is the mascot at Madeline's nursing home. What a pistol!