Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Colin, the sumo wrestler, was gone yesterday. Completely gone, including his bed. That corner of the room was empty. My husband says he walked out (as opposed to being wheeled). The other two men, John and Robert, have been the same ones all along. Both seem worse off than my husband, who continues to improve.

He rightly points out, however, that his release isn't up to me. I'm sure they won't let him linger a moment more than is necessary in an acute-type medical ward. I will try to talk to a dr today. I need to discuss the catheter, and "transfers" -- i.e., how he is at getting in and out of bed.

I got down to the post office yesterday and gathered in the Chicken Shop chilli sauce. Hellie says not to use it as a marinade, which weakens it somehow. Just slosh it on. So I will absent myself from Nigella for a moment and roast/bake a couple of chicken legs for one of today's meals.

Knitting

Here is the sleeveless vest. You can't really appreciate my sloped shoulders, but they went well. Madtosh DK, as I must often have said before, stands up for itself well and is easily recovered after a frogging. Not a single stitch had to be laddered up from the row below.


The size looks good. That doesn't prove a thing, but it's better than not looking good, as I'm sure you'll agree. I'll join the shoulders and have my husband try it on before I add the ribbing. Last time I had to re-do it right down to the armholes because the shoulders were too wide.

I then started the first of the eight Dunfallandy triangles, as hoped. It doesn't get any easier.

On Monday evening I watched a television program about the three northernmost British isles: Yell, Fetlar, and Unst. It was disappointing, although wonderful to see pictures of that magical treeless landscape. There was the briefest of moments when they showed an old film of women knitting, at absolutely unbelievable speed. Could it have been speeded up? I don't think so.

But the account of Unst didn't even mention lace, and the pictures of Muckle Flugga somehow missed the point. (I am sure I have told you that Kristie and her cousin Kath are lighthouse buffs, and that after we had been to the Unst Heritage Centre to be shewn the lace, they wanted to go on a bit for a glimpse of Muckle Flugga, so on we went. We saw it. It was an electric moment. The television program managed to make it look like any-old-lighthouse.)


I continue to think about Zealana Rimu and about hat patterns. I enjoyed your comments about NZ. And I agree, Barbara, that that tag about the possum was most tactfully written! It is interesting that both you and Pom Pom testify to how expensive possum is even in NZ itself. Could it not be farmed, like silver foxes here in the old days?

10 comments:

  1. The vest looks very fine, warm and a handsome color.
    The possum in New Zealand aren't pointy-faced and white like the possum here.
    Everything in New Zealand seemed expensive to me.
    Speaking of foxes, we had a graceful red fox visit our front garden a few days ago and I snapped a quick photo of her. Gorgeous.
    I hope things get sorted with the catheter. That can be tricky.

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  2. The trouble with farming non-natives is that the litlle blighters will get out so it kind of spoils the point. That is why we have wild mink in this country - cutting swathes through such welcome natives as bank and water voles, and lots of nice waterfowl. All because the mink farmers were too laid back with their security, and because certain of the animalrights fraternity thought they should be set free to live a happy life.

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    1. Jeanfromcornwall touches on what I am prompted to share: when I was in NZ it was impressed on me that the possum is an invasive species from Australia. Like the mink, they were farmed for the fur, when the market fell off for fur the animals did not escape, but were freed. With no natural predator they overran NZ. I believe there is a bounty on them.

      I've had trouble with commenting lately, my iPad wants me to compose elsewhere and paste it in the little box, so fiddly. Anyway, I'm so glad now that your husband is doing better again, and I think his new vest looks wonderful! Knit on!

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  3. I always learn so much from this blog and your followers. The history of the possum in NZ, for example. I'll have to look at that Rimu again when next in the shop!

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  4. skeindalous2:39 PM

    I have just begun a new hat using the pattern Greystone by Melissa Thomson. Small cables and either a slouchy look or a beanie. Enjoying it very much. Done for myself in some stashed Malabrigo!

    Always love to hear the hat suggestions of others.

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  5. Re Muckle Flugga. My husband and I have very vivid memories of walking across moorland to the headland, hoping to see gannets and puffins. There was fog, but we saw puffins very close to. But then we got absolutely drenched on the way back across the moorland. I've never been so wet.

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    1. I don't remember moorland. Kristie and Kath and I had to trespass slightly on a deserted RAF station still decorated with signs warning that we would be shot if we advanced another step. It worried them,I think, more than it did me.

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  6. We have a neighbor with lots of chickens and the possums get into his chicken house. He being a rather kindly sort of older gentleman, live traps them and drops them off miles away to bother others. Upon telling a Fish and Game person about doing this, he was informed that it is illegal to transport them as they are a non-native species and should be killed instead. Who knew? I wonder where they came from?.

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  7. Apparently there is a difference between an Australian possum and North American opossums. The North American variety are supposed to be located east of the Rocky Mountains and were introduced to the Pacific Coast during the Great Depression for food. Who knew?

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  8. Like Mary Lou, I learn so much from reading your wonderful prose, Jean, and from the comments as well.

    I have never heard of possum yarn for knitting...where have I been?

    I am pleased to hear that your husband is improving and may be home again soon, but as you say there is much to be sorted in caring for him. Please take care of yourself.

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