But before that - I got pictures of Lexi in the Halloween costume yesterday. (That"s Sara in the background).The foot of the sock has collapsed a bit, but you can see the variety of yarn and patterns I used in knitting the thing. Now it goes into storage - but I don't know if it will ever be used again.
I also got a picture of Lexi doing a trick Mother said her father could do - putting both feet behind her head. I was amazed since the beginning of her gymnastics classes by how flat she could go when sitting on the floor with her legs open and leaning forward. That's part of their limbering-up exercises at the beginning of each class. This trick makes use of that ability.I used to be pretty limber, but this was waaaay out of my range of abilities.
Now for Thanksgiving. Sara cooked a ham, dressing, green bean casserole and a couple of other things here. Alyssa and Lexi made twice-baked potatoes and a couple of pies at home and brought them here (they did the second baking of the potatoes here.) Reggie and his daughter Kyra came as well, after going to two other Thanksgiving meals. Trevor was working, so he didn't make it. There are left-overs in my refrigerator, as well as in Alyssa's and Reggie's.
While I had three twenty-somethings here, I had them do a few things I can't do myself, like take down the porch swing for the winter (I've lashed it to the post the last two years), straighten the skirt on my bed, and hem the costume I'll wear for the Walk through Bethlehem next week. Young people come in handy sometimes. I've always been pretty independent, but I'm learning to ask for help.
Yesterday, my sister and brother-in-law from Florida visited me. It was a very short visit, but they had been away from home for a week and wanted to get back to warm weather. They had even gotten to see snow in Louisville yesterday morning. (Sara said we had a little of the white stuff during the night, but it was all gone by the time I got up and the day was bright and sunny - but cold.) Mac said he liked snow when he was growing up in Stanford KY, but not now.
My brother was the one this time who reminded me that I hadn't written anything here for a long time.
I'm still waiting for a picture of the sock Halloween costume. Alyssa emailed one to me, but it was too dark to see. She said she has others, as well, but I haven't seen them yet. I brought the costume home with me a few days ago, because I want to take it to the knitting group. Next time Lexi is here, I'll have her put it on and take a couple of pictures.
Last night, Lexi was in a 'fashion show' to raise money for the cheerleading group to go to the national competition in Chicago in January. She didn't win anything, even though her grandfather was one of the judges.
That's her mother with her in the second picture. People are already asking if they're sisters. I've told Lexi that will happen more and more often as she gets older.
It seems strange not to have medical appointments every week. The only ones so far this month were on the eleventh - first with the oral surgeon and then at the cancer group to have my port flushed. If the port is not flushed every four to six weeks, I start to be aware that it's there. It doesn't hurt exactly, but I do feel it.
Dr Heine said that there is still a small amount of bone visible, but that my mouth is healing well. I'm still on Augmentin and using the antimicrobial mouthwash, and I go back to him this Wednesday.
I'll see Dr Winkler (oncologist) on December 8, and also have my port flushed again.
December 1-5 will be the Walk through Bethlehem at the Mayfield Nazarene Church. I'll be participating again this year as the weaver. When one of the organizers (who just got elected mayor of Mayfield) emailed to ask if November 29 or 30 would be OK for her to come and get the loom, she also asked if I have more of the small samples for barter. I only had a few, but I'm working on making more. I'm using three different small looms - a 2-inch Weave-it loom (here on top of squares I've made with it), a Structo loom and a BonHop loom (here with the strip of fabric I've made so far. I have warped the BonHop again and started on another strip. On both the BonHop and the Structo, the warp is cotton and I'm using wool for the weft. I will wash these strips in hot, soapy water with much agitation and some old jeans for them to rub against. That should cause them to full (felt), after which I can cut them into squares which will not unravel.
I'm looking forward to this event - just hope I don't freeze. I like the fact that the church does this as a ministry, not a fund-raiser. They accept donations, of course, but they do not charge admission or sell the coffee, hot chocolate, hot cider and cookies they offer inside afterwards.
I had not entered anything for the annual juried show at the Mayfield Art Guild for several years, but decided this year to see if my shawl that I had put into the county fair would be accepted. Not only was it accepted, but it won a merit award sponsored by Mayfield Tourism. I'm very pleased. The shawl has now won $53 for me. I hope to enter it in the state fair next year.
I was feeling OK when I was at the Art Guild reception yesterday afternoon, but shortly after I got home, I started feeling terrible - achy, cold, sore throat, stuffy nose, etc. I went to bed about 5 pm, and didn't even feel like reading as I usually do. I left the light on all night, and didn't get up until about 9 am, except to go to the bathroom a dozen times. I'm glad there's nothing I need to do today.
