I just realized that my KnitMeter says "I haven't knit any this year".

Nooooooo!   I HAVE, honestly!  I just haven't updated my KnitMeter.

Between my moving into a larger apartment and helping Mom get moved in, we've been too busy to do lots of things we normally do on a regular basis.  My knitting even fell far behind, but I had to starting making time for it.  I'd forgotten how much knitting helps the arthritis in my hands until I began slacking off my knitting.

We're still working on getting Mom's house all cleared out and unpacking done at the apartment, so I'm not knitting nearly as much as usual.  But eventually all the cardboard boxes will be gone and the closets will all be neatly reorganized, and I can get back to the soothing clicking of knitting needles on a more regular basis.

In the meantime, I'll work on updating my KnitMeter so that it doesn't look quite so startling!!

Life Goes On

It's no exaggeration to say that there have been many changes in my life in the past couple of months.  After Daddy passed away, Mom decided that she didn't want the responsibility of keeping the house (not to mention the yard work that would be involved) and that she wanted to sell it and get herself a small apartment.

I told her that I thought it was a great idea, and we began watching ads for an apartment near me (for convenience's sake, since Mom doesn't drive).  One Sunday morning, she said that she had a proposition for me.  She wondered if I'd be interested in moving from my two-bedroom unit to a three-bedroom unit and sharing it with her.

Once again, a great idea.  Unbelievably, a three-bedroom unit came available very quickly, and I hurriedly decluttered, donated, packed and moved into it.  It was a long, difficult task; I learned that I could get sore in places I'd forgotten I HAD!

But I'm moved in now.  Unpacking is still happening, but I'm moved in.  Next we'll get Mom packed, sell the house, and get her moved in.

So, as you can imagine, I haven't had time to do much knitting in the past few weeks.  As a result, my hands became very stiff and sore.  I took last Saturday and did nothing but lay on the couch, watch TV, and knit dishcloths.  Dishcloths are very relaxing.  It did me a world of good; my hands loosened up, and my mind settled considerably.

Word to the wise:  No matter how busy your life becomes, make time for a bit o' knitting.  It's good for you!  :-)

World-Changing Events....At Least In My World

Where do I begin?  I guess the best place is with the reason I've been away so long.  On December 14, 2013, my Dad, age 80, succumbed to an aggressive case of lymphoma.

He'd been unwell for over a year due to degenerative disc issues and rheumatoid arthritis.  Anemia caused him to be hospitalized for a few days in November, followed by three weeks in rehab to try to build his strength.  But we didn't learn until the evening of December 12 that he was truly ill.  Two days later he was gone.

So, I'm healing....knitting helped me through long hours in the hospital and rehab center.  It steadied my nerves as we made final arrangements.  It centered my thoughts during late-night discussions with my Mom about nearly everything imaginable.

It provided stability during the most unstable period of my life.

Did knitting make everything all better?  Of course not.  But it provided a valuable source of calm in my decidedly unsettled world.