Thursday, May 17, 2018


I’m sorry – I didn’t get those kitchen pictures taken. I’ve had rather a sluggish day, after all of yesterday’s expenditure of energy.

My jar of fermenting chillies has got a few bubbles in it, but nothing that could be called effervescence. However, there is a little necklace of bubbles along the top of the brine, and the brine itself has become a bit cloudy. Contrary to intuition, that is said to be a good sign.

I’ll leave it for five days to a week and then go ahead and make my hot sauce.

I have reached the centre of the first Fair Isle stripe on Alexander’s Calcutta Cup vest, 2nd attempt. I am mildly worried at how slow progress is. When my husband was alive and I had many more duties and responsibilities, I seemed to get much more knitting done – “on and on and on”, as he said. Now, even if I do go back and watch some television after writing to you, my hands often sink idly into my lap.

The new IK turned up today. Excitement was but brief. This is the issue based on the American southwest – nul points, as we say in the European Song Contest, at least as far as I am concerned.

8 comments:

  1. I imagine you spent more time keeping him company, maybe watching things that weren't your first choice, so knitting was what made it all more pleasant. I find that sometimes on my own watching I set the knitting down. I'm not sure what that's about.

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  2. And I felt as you did about the new IK. Disappointed.

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  3. I think that high energy days followed by low energy days are the natural order of recovery for infections like yours. Enjoy the good days I’m sure there will be more of them in the future.

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  4. It may be that a complicated Fair Isle project isn't called for right now. Maybe something that is a tad more mindless or something more exciting to keep your interest is what is required.

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  5. I agree with Janet J. I don't know if it was the flu or something else, but it was a fierce infection that had everybody this winter. You might try napping in the afternoon to give you strength in the early evening. That works for me. Only take pictures when you're up to it or it seems like fun. I've enjoyed the pictures of the kimchi and the hot sauce. Remember to take good care of yourself and knit when you have the energy. Above all get well. pgnitter

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  6. I know what you mean, Jean. I tried very very very very hard to get excited about the new IK, since I was in the market for a new summer project. But nothing leapt off the pages at me. Even after several times through. Disappointing.

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  7. I agree with Janet and Jane. I've been ignoring a complex project that I just couldn't find the energy for. The solution I found was to start something mindless and intersperse that project with the complex one. It seems to increase the enjoyment of the complex project if I'm not forcing myself to knit.

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  8. I'm going through something similar, Jean - with my Carbeth - contrary to "banging out a Carbeth" as the Mason-Dixon Knitting ladies would say, I've been "slogging through a Truckbeth." I am determined to get back to work on those sleeves and will do if the hat and shawl I'm working on don't beckon too alluringly....

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