This is the book, Unearthed; The Landscapes of Hargreaves Associates by Karen M’Closkey. It’s an academic book about the landscape architecture of the Hargreaves Associates, who designed the London 2012 Olympics among other things. Because it’s an academic book I didn’t get any money, but I did get a free copy and my photos in print.

See? The Hargreaves Associates designed Louisville’s Waterfront Park. These are two photos I took of the park before and after a flood. Believe it or not, the before picture is the flood – the after picture is how the park looked a couple of weeks later after the water receded.

And oh, hey, there’s my name! I’m officially a published photographer. I’m cracking up at this, because I’m absolutely an amateur, and I just happened to post a couple of photos on Flickr that the author found and asked to include in the book. So crazy. I’ve known about this for a little over a year, but didn’t want to mention it if it fell through. The book arrived on my doorstep this weekend – what a nice surprise!

Tweet

This weekend, I pulled out my loom and started another simple woven scarf:

The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Debra Anna. It reminds me of an autumn sunset – pinks and oranges and greens and purples and blues.

I made quite a bit of progress, weaving along and watching the Lizzie Bennet Diaries on YouTube.

After a while, I decided to take a break and let my assistant take over:

That lasted until she decided the scarf would make a good scratching/biting toy. It’s hard to find good help these days.

Tweet

Case in point: I have three project bags filled with Works In Progress (WIPs):

What’s inside? Let’s take a look!

Project #1 is the Circular Stranded Baby Surprise Jacket I wrote about in my previous post.

Knit in Cascade 220, colors Rouge and White. I’m all done with the knitting, which was a lot of fun.

Right now, it resembles a strange blob, but it’s only because I haven’t had the gumption to cut the steeks and do the finishing. But I will… someday.

WIP #2 is a shawl - “Imagine When” by Joji Locatelli (Ravelry Link)

It’s knit in Tosh Sock, colorway Midnight Rendezvous. I”m about halfway finished. I’d be further along, but I was distracted by…

WIP #3 - “Juego,” a mystery shawl by Laura Nelkin (Ravelry Link)

I’m about halfway through Clue #2, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Yarns are Dream in Color Smooshy in Beach Fog and Deep Seaflower. I’m loving this combination!

So what are you working on these days?

Tweet

A little over a week ago, Franklin at The Panopticon tweeted about a new pattern from Schoolhouse Press. Cully Swansen had adapted his grandmother’s (namely, knitting legend Elizabeth Zimmermann’s) Baby Surprise Jacket, making it circular and adding stranded colorwork. Here’s the link for the pattern page - isn’t it amazing?

For those who don’t know what the Baby Surprise Jacket is – it’s a knitting pattern that basically has you knit a weird blob of fabric, then a couple of quick folds and short seams gives you a jacket that looks like this:

I knit one a couple of years ago – here’s the post about it.

Seeing the new pattern with stranded colorwork really spoke to me. I love learning a new technique. I love creating something that’s a little challenging and difficult. Plus, it’s a baby jacket, so while the gratification wouldn’t be instant, it would be close at hand. So I ordered the pattern. Then I ordered some yarn. Then I waited for them both to arrive.

By the time they both got here, I was ready. I felt rested enough that I could focus on a pattern and have the urge to knit it well. After weeks and weeks of feeling unfocused and fuzzy and just plain awful, this felt amazing. I chose happy colors (Cascade 220 in Rouge Red and White), and got started. Then I realized I’d chosen the wrong sized needles, so I got started again.

Here’s where I am today:

Seven rows in, and it’s looking pretty good!

Shaping! With colorwork! This is fun.

This is the first pattern I’ve ever made that has steek stitches. I’m beyond thrilled about this.

I expect this will take me a few weeks to finish, even if it is just a baby jacket. But I’m fine with that. It just feels good to have some wool in my hands again.

Tweet

I cannot thank you all enough for the support you have given me after my announcement. I am humbled by all the well wishes from friends near and far. I’ve read every single email, card, message, post, comment, and tweet. I wish I had the energy to respond to them all individually. Please know that I appreciate each and every one, and wish I could hug you all.

I don’t have much new news to tell, but continue to see improvements every day. I’m still tired, still queasy sometimes, but it’s much better than it was. I’m back at work, and able to work from home via laptop a couple of days a week, which is fantastic. All in all, I’m feeling very positive. I just wanted to put this out there so you all know that I appreciate your kind words and thoughts, and know that I’m thinking of all of you, too. xoxo

Tweet

I’ve been putting off writing this post, but it’s time.

As you might recall, I’ve been having a lot of stomach problems recently. It got to the point that my stomach was so bloated that I looked pregnant, it just didn’t look normal for someone my size.

Based on my symptoms, my physician figured it was my gallbladder, and after a few tests, it was determined that I had a nonfunctioning gallbladder, and I went in for gallbladder surgery on February 19th.

Here’s where everything goes sideways.

As it turns out, the doctor performing the surgery discovered tumors in my abdomen. He took the opportunity to run a biopsy while I was in the surgery, and determined that the tumors were cancerous.

I went to sleep thinking I was having my gallbladder removed, and woke up with cancer. It was quite a day.

From there it was tests and waiting to find out the exact diagnosis. Friday morning (the 22nd) was the meeting with the oncologist, where I received the diagnosis of GIST: gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Mine are inoperable, but there’s hope, in the form of a very specific medicine developed in just the past 15 years or so. My oncologist is cautiously optimistic – he’s former military, so I don’t think it would be possible for him to blow rainbows, so when he says the chances are good, I believe him.

And that’s what’s been happening with me for the past two weeks. I have good days and bad days, but overall I feel better than I did two weeks ago. I’ve gone from not being able to eat much at all (mmmm, Ensure!) to keeping down three small meals a day. I’m fatigued, and the medicine makes me very nauseous, but I’ll take some discomfort if it means the medicine is working. I’m actually going back to work tomorrow, which I’m looking forward to – routine! Getting out of my own head for a while!

So that’s where I am now. I have cancer. It’s being treated. This is all very new and very scary, but my family has been amazing. My parents flew up from Florida and spent a week here, which was hugely comforting. Ben (Mr. Martini) has been a rock star, dealing with insurance companies and making appointments and contacting people when I just didn’t have it in me.

I’m not sure how to end this post. This is something I’ve never done before. I just wanted to put it out there, just to let you all know what’s happening. I suspect I’ll have a lot more to say in the upcoming weeks/months. Stay tuned. xoxo

Tweet

Background: My Mystery Stomach Ailment has been diagnosed as a non-functioning gallbladder, which will be removed next week. Surgery was delayed a week due to my catching a beastly chest cold.

Me: (Coughing – again) Man, this is day seven of this cough. I hope it stops soon.

Him: You really do sound a lot better than you did.

Me: One thing I will say is that while the cold was at its worst, I forgot about my stomach for a few days. But it’s back to being crabby.

Him: I know you’ll feel so much better after this surgery.

Me: I hope so.

Him: I wonder if they’ll let you keep your gallbladder afterwards.

Me: I hope not! Gross!

Him: I’d kind of like to see it. Do you think they’d let me?

Me: Ew!

Him: No, really. I’ve never seen a gallbladder before, and I bet yours is really extra gross since it basically broke down and stopped working.

Me: *shakes head*

Him: What can I say, sweetie, I love every part of you.

Me: Awwww!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tweet

Today I get to talk about the latest BlogHer Book Club book, Here I Go Again by Jen Lancaster. I remember reading Jen’s blog years ago when I lived in Chicago, and read her first few memoirs (my favorite has to be her first one, Bitter is the New Black). Here I Go Again is a novel (her second, I missed the first one) so I was curious to see how she would do with fiction vs. memoir.

I have to say, I really enjoyed it. The plot focuses on Lissy Ryder, the ultimate Mean Girl in high school. Perfect hair, perfect clothes, cheerleader, the perfect Plastic that tortured everyone around her that wasn’t good enough (read: the entire school). Now it’s 20 years later, and things aren’t exactly as fabulous as Lissy always assumed they’d be. Maybe her years of Mean Girl-ness caused her current situation. But it’s not like she can change the past. Or can she?

At first I worried that Lissy would be too hard to root for. Because really and truly, she starts the book as a horrible human being. Luckily, Lancaster manages to steer Lissy’s changes expertly, so you can see that while she’s trying her hardest, she still doesn’t get it right all the time. If she did, she wouldn’t be Lissy.

A quick read that I couldn’t put down, I’d say Here I Go Again would be perfect beach reading if it weren’t January. So instead I’ll say it’s a great book to snuggle up with on the couch under a lap blanket with a glass of wine.

But that’s just my opinion. If you want to read more about Here I Go Again, check out the BlogHer Book Club site for more discussions about this book and others.

This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.

Tweet

I’m stitching the January block of the Woodland sampler.

I’m knitting a hat for Mr. Martini.

I’m taking more photographs.

So even though it may be quiet on the site, things are still happening behind the scenes. A lot happens during this in-between time.

Are you making anything interesting right now?

Tweet

All items in my main Etsy shop, Sweeter Lemon, are on sale for 50% off with the coupon code NEWYEAR50.

That’s right! Everything is 50% off! That means you can get six-piece button pushpin set for $3!

Retro Rose Button Pushpins – Set of 6 at sweeterlemon.etsy.com

Or a twelve-piece button pushpin set for just $6!

Bloom & Grow Button Pushpins – Set of 12 at sweeterlemon.etsy.com

Even the project pouches are 50% off – what a deal!

Owls & Argyle Project Bag at sweeterlemon.etsy.com

Don’t miss out! Once these items are gone, they’re gone for good. Be sure to use the coupon code NEWYEAR50 to get your discount! Use the code to get 50% off of your entire product order (but not shipping costs). Instructions for using Etsy coupon codes are here.

Thanks folks! If you have any questions, please let me know. Happy New Year, and Happy Shopping!

Tweet