Buttery goodness imminent

Let's explain the day in pictures ...

I started up the pressure cooker this afternoon with the leftover chicken bones and vegetable bits from the week. Mmm ... a glorious stock.

Then started boiling some potatoes - to rice them! Tomorrow is the annual winter Lefse making event with my mother's siblings. We gather at my aunt's house to grill Lefse, which is the most fabulous thing in the world. Then we eat some. Package others in ziplock and freeze. Or, if we are feeling enormously generous, we share (which is very rare).
Store bought just don't compare to the light soft goodness of homemade. And, I admit, I'm a little judgmental of people who put anything other than butter on their Lefse. It's a personal failing. I'm trying to become open minded. But that doesn't extend to nutella. That's awful.

The afternoon is finishing with an ice bath for my hands. I only took 4 days off ice dunking. And back on the band-wagon. It does indeed work for reducing the slight ache feeling in the joints of my left fingers and the tenderness in my right wrist - but at the price of frozen hands for 1 hour after and the knowledge that the ice cold water is way less than comfortable and you have to keep doing it.
I would say the knitting calls - but actually its the bucket of water calling my name.

Be excellent to each other!

Healing the breach

A breach in the local yarn store network has occurred - Borealis Yarns is closing in December.
Each store has a vibe - created by the staff and patrons - and Borealis had a great vibe. I shall miss the store and staff immensely - not only because of the great selection of yarns carried - but because of time shared.


Update on the cupboard:
Yesterday I finished blocking another shawl. I think that brings the total to, maybe, 25? Since last year? It might be more.

Here is the latest - Bubbles and Baubles by Tori Gurbisz. Fun - fairly quick knit. The shawl itself was easy on my hands, lace on the right side and purl the wrong side. But that bubble edge - argh! A combination of CO and BO that create chains and attach to the live stitches of the edge. Took forever and was brutal on the tendonitis.

So now all knitting projects must be knit/purl-only for ease on the hands. Plus I'm still ice dipping 10 times over the course of 2 hours. I've done it twice and I've noticed less stiffness in my left fingers. I'm going to finish the 7days of ice dips, take a week off, and then dip another 7 days. 
And while icing I'm designing a sweater, finishing a shawl design, and trying to motivate myself to find a project for all the brown yarn I just bought!
Hands - cooperate for awhile, please.

Be excellent to each other!

The cupboard

A group of pandas is known as a "cupboard." A cupboard of pandas sleep with me every night.

In the form of a fleece blanket. 

That's more than my cat. He'll sleep with me when he's good and ready for some cuddles. 

But I'm digressing.

I create cakes, pies, brownies (not to share), shawls, sweaters, cards, knit patterns, piano, and yes ... Tummy scratches. 

And I just made something that will help me keep creating ... An ice bath. I have tendinitis in my right wrist and left fingers - and I type at work, knit at home, scratch the tummy. 

Today has been a good day for the hands. I didn't need my gloves (I have two kinds of compression gloves) and I didn't take any meds. I've iced, massaged, strengthened muscles, avoided my favorite activities ... And it naturally bums me out. I create. But don't cut the hands off yet. I'm ready to try this:

1. Fill your kitchen sink with cold water. Drop in a few ice packs or frozen water bottles.

2. Cover hands and arms in lotion - prevent chapped hands.

3. Dip your arms (up to elbow) in for 5 seconds only,

4. Remove and dry.

5. Repeat 10 times in one hour.

I'm currently on time number 5? I won't make it to ten this first night. And the sensation is weird. Whe pulling my hands from the water they instantly feel way colder in the air than the water and then begin to tingle as the tissue warms. 

I'm interested to see how this works. 

Be excellent to each other.