Rain, rain go away

I am trying to wash the bedding and throws just in case (Ha Ha) I get called into hospital tomorrow but the rain is immanent and all of my washing is out there on the line. Don't you just love the British Summer. Buster is, of course, unimpressed with my cleaning efforts and just wants to play ball as you can see. He tried to give me two rather squashed squeaky balls while I was hanging out the washing.I think he knows something is happening as he has become very clingy these last couple of days. Wherever I am he is about 2" away from my feet. I have started him on some Glucosamene tablets to see if it will help his stiff joints but it is a constant battle trying to hide them in his food. Guess who always finds the bits and spits them out? I think my son is coming to get him tonight and if so then I need to give my suite a really good hoover before it goes to it's new home. I do it most days but the dog hair still clings to the velvety fabric and I would hate someone to think I am a dirty so and so who doesn't clean properly.

My crochet hasn't grown much as you can see as I have been doing other things instead of my crochet. I haven't gone wrong once with this garment so I am finally getting the hang of Doris and her shaping. I doubt if it will be finished before I go into hospital provided I do get the call tomorrow. The project is a bit large to take in with me so I will just stick with the sock knitting as planned. I might get a few rows done before my op. I can't bear to sit and do nothing. I was hoping that my Interweave crochet mags would have arrived before I went in but no sign of them today. I have e mailed Pavi Yarns to see if they are on their way but have not, as yet, had a reply.**** (See below) I wanted to browse them when I couldn't do any knit or crochet. I am always a very nervous Internet orderer and have only just started to do this. I worry all the time about using my cards etc. I think there are so many warnings about Internet fraud that it does make you very wary about parting with information. Maybe it's an age group thing or maybe it is me who has a suspicious mind. I would rather go into a shop and buy things that I can see but these days wool shops are rarer than hen's teeth.

I have added 2 more links to my blog. Charlie Chuckles and ArtYarn. These are two of the ladies from the Kings Arms Knitters. I hope that you do follow my favourite links to blogs from time to time as if not then you will be missing some interesting blog posts. I do love to read blogs. I find out lots of things from other peoples blogs and follow their links onto blogs that I otherwise would probably never read. The trouble with blogs and Ravelry is that I read too much and crochet too little some days. I haven't quite mastered the art of crocheting and blogging at the same time yet.

I am off to walk Buster now and then back to the cleaning. My back will be well and truly knackered if I do go in tomorrow but it has to be done. I don't want to come home to hairy carpets and a muddy paw printed kitchen floor.

Oh my neighbour Julie went to Christies yesterday and is having another op to remove the offending lump in her pancreas, that was left behind from the previous operations, and refused to respond to the chemo and has been re-asssured that she is not having any more chemo. I do hope that all goes well with her. She was positively upbeat about the consultation yesterday and feels happier about everything now that her questions have been answered. Her consultant seems to be fairly confident about it all so I pray that his diagnosis is correct. Her eyebrows have returned and some of her hair so that is helping with her confidence. Yesterday she was laughing out loud when we walked the dogs and it was so good to hear that sound which has been missing for so long.

****I am editing to say that Pavi have replied to my e mail and my magazines are in the post - Yeah! I hope that they arrive in tomorrow's mail. I love new magazines.

My Interweave crochet mags have arrived

My Interweave crochet magazines have arrived today from Pavi yarns. I have only browsed the pictures so far and not inhaled, pawed and slobbered over any instructions as yet. Interweave seems to like motifs and there are an awful lot of projects containing them in each book. I am not a lover of motif crocheting. It's not the crocheting I don't like it's all the joining together especially the granny squares with multi colours! There are quite a few projects per book that I like so I think it was money well spent. I just hope that my niece's eyes don't spy something in motifs that she likes! There is an article by Carole Ventura on Tapestry Crochet plus an article in each by Doris Chan covering shaping crochet garments. I don't think that she covers the thing that I struggle with the most which is the way she writes down her raglan shapings. I have read other peoples comments on Ravelry who have struggled but some write that it was the easiest garment they had made. I suppose it is all to do with the way we read her instructions and whether they make sense to us or not as in my case. The jumper on the front cover is one of Doris's wouldn't you just know it. My head will be spinning once again. The mags are full of adverts for lovely garments but as it is a US magazine it is a lot harder to send for them by post etc. I am still very much a novice at buying from the net. I surprised myself with ordering from Pavi. I have only ever ordered from Amazon before. I am OK if it is straightforward and I know that I can trust the site (ie someone has used it and recommended it) and it tells me in pounds and not just dollars.

I did a bit more on my secret project last night. I have to keep my mind occupied as at the moment it is alternating between utmost despair and homicidal tendencies towards certain members of staff at Salford Royal Hospital. I have an appointment with my GP on Wednesday to try and sort my feelings out. I keep bursting into floods of tears when I am not even thinking about what has happened. I would also like a re-check on my urinary infection to make sure that it has gone altogether and not still lurking unknown in my bladder to rule me out of the next operation date. I am very prone to these kind of infections. I do try to drink enough water but I am guilty of not drinking enough which doesn't help.I am also experiencing shoulder and neck pain which is making my arms and fingers tingle. I thought it was my carpal tunnel syndrome from my left hand but now I am not so sure as I never had pain and burning sensations in my neck and upper back when it was my right hand. Whatever next. I am falling apart bit by bit!

Today I am doing some cleaning which will more than likely result in strong back pain tomorrow. It has to be done though. Buster sleeps with me (you try persuading him that his place is not next to me on the bed) and so I have mohair bedding despite putting a throw over everything. I have to keep changing and washing it. If I was ever lucky enough to pull a guy and get to the bedroom bit then he would finish up looking like a Yeti if he got a bit sweaty!

I have the same problem with the sofa and chairs in the lounge. I have tried buying him different kinds of dog beds but they are a waste of money as he still sleeps on the furniture. I tried in the beginning to make him lie on the floor but it was like emptying the bath with a teaspoon so now I have given in and let him do exactly what he wants. Again I have throws to wash a few times a week. I will wear out my washer soon. I think I buy the same amount of washing powder that a family of 4 would use.

Buster keeps watching me and trying to comfort me when I am upset. This is the face I got today when I was telling him mum wasn't in the mood for taking him out just yet.

off to peg out the washing. Anyone got a spare line? My 3 are full already. Hope something has dried and then I can peg out more.