EW

Ramblings on writing, crafting and life.

Ok…file this under the things no one warns you about when contemplating a hysterectomy. A thing we’ve come to term affectionately, if somewhat awe-stricken, swelly-belly. Yes. It is exactly what it sounds like. The entire belly area becomes this swollen, unnaturally hard thing. It’s similar to being in the last tri-mester. Ironic that. I found myself putting together snack plates for the short and demonic for dinner this evening, and as I turned, it rammed into the corner of the island. I stood, non-plussed for a few moments. M won’t come near the thing when it’s upon me. I think he fears I’m going to go all Alien on his ass, and explode in a pile of goo and shrieking worm-like creature.

And the hormonal fluxing….lovely. At least once a day I swear I must be going insane. Today is the three week mark, hopefully the ovaries will wake from their surgical “shock” soon and I can go back to my normal level of neuroses. A small example of this, M came in to check on me in my recovery pod (the usurped oldest daughter’s bedroom…chosen because it’s on the first floor of the house and stairs have not been my friend) and as he pulled back from the hug, I informed him rather solemnly that I no longer had a uterus. The dear boy looked pole-axed for a mo before nodding and saying yes….somewhat tentatively as if agreement might be the equivalent of pulling the emotional grenade pin. He then went on to do the man thing of trying to make it better. “this doesn’t change anything..yada yada..” I brilliantly tried to clarify this for him by asking how he’d like to have no balls, and how that would affect him. After another gobsmacked moment, he tried to choke out this was NOT quite the same thing. Sanity returned in time, and I saved him with another hug and shutting myself up.

This is proving to be a very odd process.

Good news. Yet another project off needles today. The cotton sundress for the youngest that has been looming over my head for a few months. She and the boy are both down with fevery colds, but hopefully she’ll be modeling with the hanna leggings and I can find my damned camera charger and get some shots.

Question: Is my uterine radar now utterly defunct via lack of uterus??? I’ll never find a thing if so…..

Part of the swapping process is allowing your partner to get to know you enough  that they can create a box of treasures you will adore. Knittymama has created a questionnaire to nudge us along. Here goes…

QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground?

Whole Bean

2. Fully-loaded or decaf?

Loaded..caffeine is my friend

3. Regular or flavored?

Usually regular. I love the taste of good coffee, but I will indulge in flavored on occasion too.

4. How do you drink your coffee?

Depends..usually half and half and a touch of sweetness. The better the coffee, the less I need to add.

5. Favorite coffee ever?

I have to pick one?Heh..Really good italian or french roast done up in a french press. Or Some really amazing Organic Kona I had that I’ve never been able to remember the name of….

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do?

I’m pain in the tush fussy.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?

Chocolate screams to be in first place. With the run of traditionals (biscotti, scones, etc) after.

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?

I’m adventurous with my coffee…would love to try locally roasted, or exotic tastes.

9. Yarn/fiber you love?

I’m a natural fiber ho. Alpaca is a current fave, wool, angora, cashmere, silk, etc etc….

10. Yarn/fiber you hate?

Acrylic…ugh..I can take it in small doses mixed in with natural fibers, but on its own…that ugly squeaky feeling it creates as you knit it..I shudder just thinking of it.

11. What’s on your needles?

A wool/mohair hat, the pockets for my youngest’s cotton sundress, and a double stranded seed stitch scarf. Oh…and a wool bag for felting

12. Favorite colors?

Jewel tones -rich purples, blues, greens, black, and fire tones as well. Honestly…I can love any color given the right circumstances (ie fiber/project)

13. Allergies?

ummm…Penicillin?? None that affect my knitting or coffee drinking.

14. Anything you really love, really don’t like, or just need to get off your chest?

I really love the moment you start a new project, or finish one, or find that perfect yarn for one you’ve been dying to do. It’s like a treasure hunt. I love the idea of this swap. That I’ll get to meet and know people with the same likes, and exchange a hoarde-worthy box of stuff with someone somewhere on the globe that I otherwise might not have met.

I really don’t like the so called novelty yarns. The eyelash, fur varieties. The make me jumpy for some reason. Heh.

I think that covers it for now.

Well folks, I’ve been notably absent for a few months. But one extended illness, and a surgery to cure said later – and here I am! The book still hovers in a screamingly uncompleted state. And I’ve decided that this blog can contain more than just my tales of literary woe. Why not?? It’s my blog and I’ll ramble if I want to….kind of.

So you, lucky reader, will now get to hear about more than just my book writing travails. I know you’re excited!

First off, I’ll be nattering about a long time love of mine – knitting. Fiber. I’m a crafty wench, always having felt more grounded when I’m doing something with my hands. Creation of any kind you know. But there is something particularly gratifying about the creation of an item that someone will use, or wear. I have indulged in sewing, making beaded jewelry, drawing, painting, throwing pots, and knitting, just to name a few. I love them all and tend to go in waves. The recovery period from the hysterectomy I had at the beginning of January has lent itself to knitting. And I’m in love all over again.

Knitting is such a soothing, calming activity. The slide of the yarn through your fingers, the click of the needles, the drape of the fabric I’ve created across my thighs, warm and weighty, all combine to make me ridiculously happy. And that’s not even going near the topic of stashing. And you knitters out there (and sewers and beaders and crafters of all ilk) know what I’m talking about. That blissful sense of fullness as you peer into the depths of your stash. Textures, colors all beaming at you, till you cannot help but beam back. It’s a compulsion of sorts. There can never be enough yarn in your stash, because there is always another project waiting to be cast on.

If you knit, and haven’t found it. Join Ravelry.com. It allows fiber artists of all kinds to indulge our passion. It has also afforded me the opportunity to take part in my first swap.  The Knitter’s Coffee Swap #4! Coffee and yarn. Pardon me whilst I coo and swoon a moment. The swap uses blogs as a form of communication between swappers. So you’ll be hearing lots about it in the near future no doubt.

Till then…happy reading…and go craft something! You’ll feel better for it!