Yes, the back is getting better finally. I have had ups and downs in the last few weeks but I can say that I am pretty sure I will be ready to go to work on Sunday night. It has not been a happy time being out of work for a month. You hear people say, man I's like to be off work for a month. Well, if you are healthy and doing what you want, then I would agree. But if you can't do anything, and are in fear of turning or moving the wrong way and ending up with severe pain and not able to move, it is not a fun time. I still am very careful how I turn and how long I stand, but I am not afraid to bend down to reach for something or sit in any chair in the house. A month ago that was not possible. I am very thankful it is not that way now...
On the weaving front, I invested in a new to me horizontal warping reel. It allows me to wind a warp MUCH faster and with little strain to my back and very little reaching. It is a tool I will use a lot in the future.
In the forefront, I will be the weaver for a fleece to shawl competition in a few weeks. Chris, who with his partner Christian, bought my first floor loom from me, is involved with MAPACA, the mid atlantic alpaca association. This year one of their focus' is the use of the fiber. So they are having their first fleece to shawl competition and Chris asked me to be the weaver for a team he is organizing. There are 3 other women from Pa and NJ on the team as the spinners. I have spoken with them all and it seems like we will have a good team and lots of fun. When I went to meet Chris at his farm the other day to get the yarn for the warp, he gave me 2 baggies of the alpaca blanket for me to spin for sampling. I spun 68 gms of the soft, soft, soft fiber and then plyed it into 216yds of yarn. I am winding the warp (see above) and hope to dress the Harrisville tomorrow. Maybe I can get Sam to help me before he goes to sleep. Then onto sampling. I want to have 2 samples ready for everyone to see so we can decide what to do. I may try for 4 different treadlings if possible in the 2 samples. I like the idea of choice.
Well off to meet my friend Cathy. We are going to the musical Dreamgirls at the local high school tonight. As Sam has to work 11-7, this will keep the house quiet for him. Off to play for now.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
And the saga continues.
Okay, the back is better, mostly. PT has continued and I have tried to do more. Well this morning my back has reminded me that I am not totally in charge of this situation. Laying in bed, warm and comfortable, my back gives a nice twinge on the right side. Oops-that gets my attention and when it happens a little bit later under the same situation, it has my full attention. Okay, no problem getting out of bed-VERY slowly- but I am listing when I walk again. Not what I want to do. Back to bed and do all the exercises I have been taught. I can feel a definate difference, not for the better, especially when I do the hamstring stretching. I cannot pull my legs as high as I did before. I guess that means taking it really slow today, no warping.
As for crafts, I got my socks done. I need to weave in the last tail and they will be ready to wear. I finished weaving the towels for Riane. They are washed and now need pressed and hemmed, but they are done. The warp for the baby blankets is wound and ready for me to dress the loom. NOT going to happen today. Got half of the warp for the overshot table runner for Susan wound. NOT going to finish that today either.
I *may* sley the reed for the baby blankets in an a front to back warping attempt. I tried that method the first warp I wound and it was a disaster. I guess I have to give it a try again but this time I have a great DVD to guide me each step of the way. We will see what the process brings. And as for knitting, back to the February Lady Sweater for Riane. I have enough WIPs/UFOs that I don't need to start anything new.
Happy Anniversary to Riane and Denny today--1 year. May there be many, many happy more in your future together.
As for crafts, I got my socks done. I need to weave in the last tail and they will be ready to wear. I finished weaving the towels for Riane. They are washed and now need pressed and hemmed, but they are done. The warp for the baby blankets is wound and ready for me to dress the loom. NOT going to happen today. Got half of the warp for the overshot table runner for Susan wound. NOT going to finish that today either.
I *may* sley the reed for the baby blankets in an a front to back warping attempt. I tried that method the first warp I wound and it was a disaster. I guess I have to give it a try again but this time I have a great DVD to guide me each step of the way. We will see what the process brings. And as for knitting, back to the February Lady Sweater for Riane. I have enough WIPs/UFOs that I don't need to start anything new.
Happy Anniversary to Riane and Denny today--1 year. May there be many, many happy more in your future together.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Good bye February--March on...
So it has been a while since I have posted. February was not a good month for me. I continued to work on some knitting but was very active starting to do more weaving. I did a quick 2 day trip to Connecticut to pick up a 22" Harrisville loom. After getting stuck on the ice and getting unstuck, that was a calm trip home. I cleaned the loom up and wound a warp for a class I will be taking this month. I proceeded to do my sample and put the loom away. All of that was proceeding as planned.
Then on Thursday the 17th, the day dawned bright and sunny with blue skies and a gentle breeze. It felt like spring and I wanted to do something fun that day. So a trip to the mecca of weaving in the east, The Mannings, was my choice. I know it is 3 hours away, but I have driven that without issue and audible books makes time go by easily. I tried to entice a good friend to go with me but alas, she declined. So off I went, starting a little later in the day than I had planned but still within a good time frame. I arrived without problems and spent a bit of time just wandering around. I had been there several times before but now I had a little bit more experience weaving and I had a better idea what I wanted and what I was looking for. I got a chance to talk to the resident expert in weaving, Tom Knisely, and he was as always, very gracious and open in helping me figure out what I needed for the projects I wanted. So off to collect all that I wanted for the 3 projects I had in mind. Into the bag went pearle cotton for an overshot table runner for my sister Susan, into the bag went wool cones for a blanket to go over my new sofa and then onto cotton flake for towels for an exchange I organized. Of course the cotton flake was on the lowest shelf and I reached for a cone. At that point, for whatever the back gods decided was my fate, my back went into total spasm at the level of my hips. To say it was like a ton of bricks hitting me there would be an understatement. Thank heavens there was a strong wooden shelf there or otherwise I would have been on the floor. Over the next few minutes spasms continued to happen and I started feeling very frightened. No one with me, how was I going to do this? I snagged a gentleman just wandering around and asked him to take my bag and purse to the front checkout for me. Then, slowly, very carefully, I walked to the checkout. What should have taken 30 seconds took at least 5 minutes and felt like 5 hours. With much assistance, I paid for my items. The lady at the checkout was very helpful. She carried out my purchases for me and went back and got my jacket that I had dropped and was unable to pick up. She also brought me a cup of water after I go into the car. Luckily I had Ibuprofen with me and took it before the long drive home. Little did I know that the drive home would be the easiest time of the next few weeks.
A visit to the doctor the next morning, after a horrible night and morning, and more Ibuprofen and now muscle relaxers. I was totally disabled in the sense I could not do anything for myself without help. And Sam was to work that evening. Luckily he has a very understanding boss. A room at the inn was taken out of service for me to be able to stay there so Sam could be available to help me. It was a very generous gesture and much appreciated as I knew Sam was a call away and he knew he could be there for me if I needed help. All in all, that worked. The next 2 nights while he worked I stayed at home and carefully took care of myself and got thru the weekend.
Monday morning and I was antsy. I needed to get something done about this back. With much insistence, I got a referrral for PT. My first appointment was that evening. Everything was going okay. Evaluation was fine, I laid down for heat and TENS stimulation and tried to relax. THEN, trying to get off the table was almost impossible and in the end, my back was spasming much more than when I went in there. I needed a walker to get out to the car as I could not walk without support. NOT GOOD. Home and tonight a Vicodin was added to my meds for the night. The therapist was so upset he called me the next day to see how I was doing. I had an appointment that day and things went better, ho laying down, everything done with me sitting. Walking out was under my own power. It's the little things that make a difference.
Fast forward to Wednesday. Sam has to work again tonight. I am feeling a bit better and my girlfriend is gong to come over to be with me for a while tonight. Dinner--I plan to do spaghetti as it is easy and fast and I think I can handle it. Maybe do some bread with it. Get all the ingredients started and then go to the freezer for the yeast. OMG back snapped on me again and I was back to where I was on Monday. Sam worked and my friend came and brought dinner. Bad evening and night again. Note to self, DO NOT BEND OR REACH.
So PT again on Thursday and I added Saturday. I did not want to miss that length of time and back again on Monday. By this time I can now walk and dress and shower and do simple things for myself. As February leaves, I want it to take the issues of my back with it. March is a new month and as the name says, I will march on in my quest for a better back. And maybe, be able to tackle a few more projects other than sitting and walking. March on...
Then on Thursday the 17th, the day dawned bright and sunny with blue skies and a gentle breeze. It felt like spring and I wanted to do something fun that day. So a trip to the mecca of weaving in the east, The Mannings, was my choice. I know it is 3 hours away, but I have driven that without issue and audible books makes time go by easily. I tried to entice a good friend to go with me but alas, she declined. So off I went, starting a little later in the day than I had planned but still within a good time frame. I arrived without problems and spent a bit of time just wandering around. I had been there several times before but now I had a little bit more experience weaving and I had a better idea what I wanted and what I was looking for. I got a chance to talk to the resident expert in weaving, Tom Knisely, and he was as always, very gracious and open in helping me figure out what I needed for the projects I wanted. So off to collect all that I wanted for the 3 projects I had in mind. Into the bag went pearle cotton for an overshot table runner for my sister Susan, into the bag went wool cones for a blanket to go over my new sofa and then onto cotton flake for towels for an exchange I organized. Of course the cotton flake was on the lowest shelf and I reached for a cone. At that point, for whatever the back gods decided was my fate, my back went into total spasm at the level of my hips. To say it was like a ton of bricks hitting me there would be an understatement. Thank heavens there was a strong wooden shelf there or otherwise I would have been on the floor. Over the next few minutes spasms continued to happen and I started feeling very frightened. No one with me, how was I going to do this? I snagged a gentleman just wandering around and asked him to take my bag and purse to the front checkout for me. Then, slowly, very carefully, I walked to the checkout. What should have taken 30 seconds took at least 5 minutes and felt like 5 hours. With much assistance, I paid for my items. The lady at the checkout was very helpful. She carried out my purchases for me and went back and got my jacket that I had dropped and was unable to pick up. She also brought me a cup of water after I go into the car. Luckily I had Ibuprofen with me and took it before the long drive home. Little did I know that the drive home would be the easiest time of the next few weeks.
A visit to the doctor the next morning, after a horrible night and morning, and more Ibuprofen and now muscle relaxers. I was totally disabled in the sense I could not do anything for myself without help. And Sam was to work that evening. Luckily he has a very understanding boss. A room at the inn was taken out of service for me to be able to stay there so Sam could be available to help me. It was a very generous gesture and much appreciated as I knew Sam was a call away and he knew he could be there for me if I needed help. All in all, that worked. The next 2 nights while he worked I stayed at home and carefully took care of myself and got thru the weekend.
Monday morning and I was antsy. I needed to get something done about this back. With much insistence, I got a referrral for PT. My first appointment was that evening. Everything was going okay. Evaluation was fine, I laid down for heat and TENS stimulation and tried to relax. THEN, trying to get off the table was almost impossible and in the end, my back was spasming much more than when I went in there. I needed a walker to get out to the car as I could not walk without support. NOT GOOD. Home and tonight a Vicodin was added to my meds for the night. The therapist was so upset he called me the next day to see how I was doing. I had an appointment that day and things went better, ho laying down, everything done with me sitting. Walking out was under my own power. It's the little things that make a difference.
Fast forward to Wednesday. Sam has to work again tonight. I am feeling a bit better and my girlfriend is gong to come over to be with me for a while tonight. Dinner--I plan to do spaghetti as it is easy and fast and I think I can handle it. Maybe do some bread with it. Get all the ingredients started and then go to the freezer for the yeast. OMG back snapped on me again and I was back to where I was on Monday. Sam worked and my friend came and brought dinner. Bad evening and night again. Note to self, DO NOT BEND OR REACH.
So PT again on Thursday and I added Saturday. I did not want to miss that length of time and back again on Monday. By this time I can now walk and dress and shower and do simple things for myself. As February leaves, I want it to take the issues of my back with it. March is a new month and as the name says, I will march on in my quest for a better back. And maybe, be able to tackle a few more projects other than sitting and walking. March on...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)