New kids

First up for Fall

Soft Caramels Scarflette!

More to follow this weekend. Stay tuned.

Weekend teasers

Here's what I'll be sure to post photos of over the LONG weekend (yay!):

• TONS of new items and designs for Phydeaux Designs, including new knit jewelry (VERY excited about this -- I hope the final product works as envisioned!)!
• A photo of my freshly broken toe, which I didn't realize was broken until I got home from work today (after hobbling around all day long, wondering why my toe hurt so badly)!
• A hopefully successful hunt for a no longer being produced yarn that I must have or die!
• A new recipe I'm salivating to try!
• Kitties (duh)!!!

Yeah, big old black and blue sausage toe. Couldn't believe it. Particularly can't believe I walked on it all day (though it was getting very difficult to walk near the end of the day). Elevating, ice, soaks. And tylenol. Sleeping will be a challenge.

OH, and massive massive speed knitting (and new designs) in prep for 2.5 holiday fairs, including Bazaar Bizarre (long story, that's the 0.5 day) in San Francisco on 11/30! I'm very excited about this, though now worrying about how fast I can knit! I'll be there after 1:30 -- if you're there, please say hi!

Life is delicious!

First new diet tip: legumes go with nearly everything!

The one thing I remember from my "diabetes for newbies" class is that meals with 5 or more grams of fiber can have more carbs in that meal (YAY). And legumes are a danged good source of fiber! (I need to find my materials, though, so I know how many carbs!)

So, stocked up on canned (low sodium, thank you) and dried beans this weekend (Whole Foods came through for me in a big way), in addition to mounds of fresh and local veggies (Heather would be so proud).

I'm not so organized yet that I'm counting carbs, but I am adding fiber and healthy proteins to meals. Particularly my personal fave: killer salads!

Last night was arugula with avocado, sliced almonds, chicken, green onion, parsley, splash of meyer lemon olive oil + squeezed half a lemon over it. But didn't get the beans in. I was looking for snacks not too long after, but I am also pleased to report that my blood sugar was great!

Tonight was herbed greens + arugula, avo, sliced almonds, chicken, green onion, parsley, black beans (delish), feta cheese, meyer lemon oo (mloo for the Rachael Ray fans out there), and squeezed a whole lime over it (OH MY GOSH, love love love lime!). I'm definitely feeling more satisfied, but not overstuffed/grossed out. My blood sugar was NOT great this morning (which got me to reading my cereal boxes ... didn't realize there was so much sugar in there!!!), so here's hopes for tonight's.

I love making salads, and folks usually really enjoy my salads. Even Molly! She is an arugula-head ... don't ask me, she takes after her mother, I guess. :D

Had some challenges yesterday with the danged glucometer. I finally found a better way to get that blood drop to come up, resulting in one stick, versus multiples (yeah, I was thinking about taking a stake to that little machine's heart yesterday). Today was gravy -- had my routine down and hardly even thought about it. Yay -- that's exactly what I needed. 'Specially since I'm actually feeling incredibly crummy and stayed home today -- very very tired with very low energy. I'm sure the lupus and the new kid are feeding off each other, and am hoping that as I get my blood sugar under control, the old kid (lupus) will simmer back down. But I also need to see my rheumatologist and make sure this newest development doesn't change my current treatment. OY. Too much doctors!

On another note, I got some good work done today from a prone position on the sofa, and hope you'll see the fruits of my not very energetic labor soon at the shop!

Finger stickin' good

I now have the distinction of being one of the many many denizons of our planet with type II diabetes.

I wish I could say I was proud of myself.

But I am very very thankful to be living in times such as these where I have a controllable disease that will also very likely be cured with diet and exercise.

But in the meantime, I wasn't that shocked to find that my hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) increased by at least one point, meaning, somewhat simplistically, that my average blood glucose for the last three months was greater than 180 mg/dL (normal is 90-100). This actually explains a LOT. That horrible insomnia last week. Itchy, crawly, tingly skin. A bruise that wasn't healing. Super thirsty. Major crankiness. Exhaustion. I should have known better, but couldn't think beyond my work stress to think about diabetes.

So I'm now the owner of a glucometer and a prescription (oral) of new meds. I was terrified, quite frankly, of having to stick my fingers twice a day without fail, let alone once in my entire life.

So I spent nearly an hour tonight learning the ins and outs of my new BFF, and finally, starting at the very shallowest setting (1), did it (after about a gazilion aborted attempts). Didn't even feel it! But also raised less than the tiniest nanodrop of blood. Dang. Tried level 2, and yeah, it hurt a teeny bit, but it was PERFECT. The very perfect amount of blood.

So I'm no longer terrified. I have to stick with this. I have to change my lifestyle, diet and exercise. Keeping my feet attached to my body is important to me. And increasing my risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and a host of other issues is just plain dumb. As I learn new tips and tricks for healthier living, I'll share with all of you.

First tip. Sleep. G'night!

Wednesday??? For real???

How did that happen already???

Work, knit, sleep, roll out of bed, repeat. I guess that's how that happened already!

New scarf listed tonight -- machine washable!!! For the guys (or gals) who want to be warm, but handwashing just isn't practical (like my Pop, farmer of organic eggs and free range chickens).

Now off for some of that knitting action before the sleeping action.

Join the mailing list!

Brand new, in preparation for Fall and the Holidays, a Phydeaux Designs monthly newsletter, which will have a special sale ONLY for newsletter subscribers!

You can subscribe on the top right of this page, and you'll be asked to confirm your subscription (to avoid evil spambots).

First one will go out in September!

If there were a sleeping marathon at the Olympics, Molly would have it wrapped up

On a roll

OK, coming this weekend to Phydeaux Designs!

• Three beautiful scarves knit from KittyGrrlz's incredible art yarn!
• One incredible and very unique scarf that will stand out in any crowd!
• The first in a new scarf line specifically made with my Dad in mind: the farmers and ranchers who get up long before dawn with a need to keep snug, but an equal need for a sturdy scarf that can go in the washer and dryer!
• A handful of pretty, funky and cool wrist cuffs/warmers!
• And if I keep on this roll, another two scarves knit from handspun/dyed gorgeousness!

Fall's coming! Gotta get ready!

Happiness again

Boy, I'm over my pity party. Today. Today, I'm over my pity party. I'm planning to be over it tomorrow and the weekend, and even next week. But hate to make promises I can't keep.

So some new things that make me happy:

1. New Fall TV season (though I don't really know what's on yet)!
2. Fall!!! Crisp evening air, leaves in the breeze, yummy red delicious apples, pumpkin anything, and scarves, lots and lots of scarves!!!
3. Molly and Fiona.
4. Savor's Summer Rhubarb Soap (hurry up and check it out -- might go away come Fall!!!).
5. My new beloved Combat Bracelet (leavesofglass is awesome!).
   
6. The new Fall collection at Eddie Bauer (super cute denim, trousers, and denim trousers, thank goodness, 'cuz pants this Spring and Summer I was not liking so much).
   
7. My newest handspun wool from knottynaomi at Etsy!
8. Tiger, Allie, Penny, Meeps, my little fuzzy godkids.
9. Sleeping in.
10. Saturday mornings. Delicious.
    

too weak to lift the camera

Wow, how sad is that??? I'm just dawg tired. All energies focused on year end fiscal close, kitties, and knitting. And ice cream. August doesn't help -- so hot -- ice cream is a must.

I have lots of nifty new things knitted up. They're either blocked and waiting for me to work up the gumption to take photos, or in queue for blocking, or blocked and waiting for buttons. Remember ... dawg tired. I'm in the midst of knitting more nifty new things.

Good thing! Interest in knitware is picking up, despite it being 10 gazillion degrees inside my house. I'm so excited (despite dawg tiredness) for Fall -- can't wait to see how my little shop works when it's not 10 gazillion degrees inside (that's Fahrenheit, by the way).

I'm hoping for a real life vacation, not a pseudo vacation in which I do a lot of work without sleep, in the near future. I was planning for a two week vacation in October (during which I would be knitting without sleep, but that's fun, not work, and would interspersed with these urban myths I keep hearing about, something about buying new clothes in an odd place called a mall, and going to these weird places called restaurants to eat a nice dinner that doesn't come out of a box and a microwave).

Apparently, dawg tiredness doesn't extend to my sarcasm muscles.

Wish I were in Beijing tonight

I've been watching the Olympics since I can remember. My first very clear olympic memories are of Olga Korbut in 1972. I was a huge gymnastics fan (and the tallest kid in my grade, that was probably 2nd grade, so despite my desire to be the next Olga, gymnastics weren't going to be my calling after all). I'll never forget the '76 Olympics, with Dwight Stones in the high jump (I had such a crush on him), Bruce Jenner in the decathlon (say what you will, he was incredible pre-bad disco movies!), and ... of course ... Nadia Comaneci and her perfect performance in gymnastics.

I've missed the odd Olympics thanks to college, grad school, work, lack of TV, etc. But I'm so glad to be watching the opening ceremonies this evening, realizing that I've been watching this for very nearly 40 years (I'm sure I watched the 68 games -- Dad loves sports so would have watched it)!

I'm always hopeful that the games will be about the celebration of the very best that humans can achieve physically. So many times it tragically hasn't been the case. Take Germany in 1972 for instance, which I only understood at the time that something bad was happening -- took many years for me to fully undesrstand and I still don't). Or steroid use. Or sabotage. Or the bombing in Atlanta in 1996.

I watched the opening ceremonies this evening and, just as has been the case for years, choked up on a regular basis, thinking of how these athletes families are so incredibly proud right now. Their hometown. Their coworkers. This is something they will never forget. They'll tell the story to their great great grandchildren gathered on their laps for the 20th time when those kids beg, "tell us again, Grandma, what was it like?" Wide eyed. Glowing. And that 90+ year old person will shuck off 60+ years as they tell their story again.

Of course, the Olympics are full of "awww" moments. That darling little boy walking alongside Yao Ming -- could they have created a better, more photographable moment?

This is one of those events that I wish I could experience in person. And I hate crowds. Really despise crowds. But just once, one time, I'd love to be one of those persons waving my sparkling lattern and clapping and cheering for even the tiniest of countries as each athlete gets their moment of wonder as they represent their countries as a group before going off to competition.

But for this time around, I'll enjoy being a couch spectator, getting my snacks from my kitchen, enjoying the show on my plasma TV, while working on my own Olympic event of knitting madly for Fall and the holidays.

Back to work

Musings from a much needed break

I'm enjoying my last 1.5 days of vacation in my living room (or back yard or kitchen or bedroom or whathaveyou).

The key word there is "enjoying."

Because I did not enjoy in any way, shape or form, my first three or four days of vacation. The first two days were spent on ... work. Hmmm. Kinda messes with the whole concept of vacation ...

That set off a whole chain of events:

1. I was off schedule for the eleventy billion items I had planned for my shop.
2. I was seriously cranky and didn't particularly want to go anywhere after that (like the mall or to the movies).
3. I avoided talking with anyone, because I didn't particularly want to infect them with my black mood (sorry, Mom, Kris, and gentle readers!).
4. My sleep patterns were completely thrown off after literally working the first two days (except for a few hours sleep when I fell asleep at my keyboard). They're still off. I'm taking Benadryl tonight in hopes to retrain myself!
5. My poor cats weren't feeling the love -- they're so sensitive to our moods! Resulting in their acting up. I have a few broken items and a shredded curtain to show for it.
6. Watching WAY too much daytime TV because I didn't really feel like going anywhere/doingn anything. And I HATE daytime TV!

I couldn't have said these things out loud yesterday, so this is a good sign. Knowing myself is so crucially important to me! All I knew through yesterday morning was that I was angry and felt helpless, though I hate letting myself be a victim.

Today I woke up and thought, "what the heck???"

So no more victim. Working on the anger, but already much much better (evidenced by the two totally relaxed furballs who are smiling in their sleep as I type). So I didn't knit 100 scarves. So I didn't redo my back yard. So I didn't paint a room. So I didn't get my house clean (though I'm cleaning today/tomorrow). The world hasn't ended. Gas prices are still high. Chocolate still tastes good. And I did knit three lovely scarves (pix later), two wrist cuffs (same), and more to be follow!

Aren't you glad I stayed away from my blog? This post has a happy ending.