RL things I've been up to

[madeleone]

Things I've been up to:

Mostly laying low, staying in, and keeping warm, what with all the cold weather and snow we've been having here.

But Mr. Madeleone and I did venture out last week to receive our first Covid vaccination, we had made an appointment in advance. I must say I was quite impressed with the efficiency of their set-up. The clinic was set up by Meijer (a large super-store chain here in the midwest, for those that might not know who that is) and they teamed up with SVSU, our local university. So there was signage set up directing us to the correct building and parking lot, with campus security and student volunteers directing everyone where to go. They even brought forms right to our car to fill out so we were all set to go when we got inside. There were no long lines or waits as I had read of in some places. Everything ran like clockwork: we checked in, verified our appt. time, got sent to a booth to turn in insurance info and got a preprinted info pack, then sent to a booth to get the vaccine, then to a waiting area to wait our 15 minutes to make sure there was no reaction, and then we were done. In and out in less than half an hour, and our appointment for the second shot is already set up for next month. We will feel more secure once we've gotten both shots as hubby especially has serious medical issues that put him at a very high risk.

Aside from that little field trip and going out to grocery shop every 2 - 3 weeks I've been doing a lot of reading. (a LOT of reading). Some fanfic, but mostly O-fic (I'm a romance junkie - any kind  of romance: historical, contemporary, romantic-suspence/mystery, paranormal, sci-fi, time travel,, whatever if there's a guy and a girl some conflict, some UST, a resolution, hopefully a bit of smut and a happy ending I'm all good!). Also binging on Netflix, CBS all access, and Hulu. Surprisingly, considering my reading preferences, I watch mainly crime drama type shows, I'm working my way through all the seasons of CSI right now, having already finished White Collar, Criminal minds, NCIS, Bones, and a few others. Kind of a weird contrast between my reading and viewing preferences. LOL!

And last, but surely not least I'm doing a ton of knitting. Over the past couple years I got hooked on knitting socks (as some of you already know.  ;-) But recently I've decided to try some more challenging patterns. I've always wanted to do something with a fancy Aran cable type pattern so I got a couple books with patterns and gave it a go.

My first project turned out well, if you don't look too closely (there are a lot of mistakes but I decided since it was for me I'd just consider it a learning experience. It's a long shawl, or maybe the correct term is a stole or a wrap. It reminds me of what the ladies wore in the old westerns, it's kind of a wide long scarf that you wrap around your sholders and it drapes over your arms. I love the color, although I don't think it pics do it justice. It's called Merlot Heather and it's a dark brown with reddish highlights. Ignore the mess in my guest room, but here it is stretched out on the bed being blocked.


And here is a closer view of the pattern:



And since I finished that I've started another that's more of a poncho that I think I'm going to give one of my daughters. It still has a long way to go, but I think the pattern is turning out nicely.


Here's what it should look like when it's done. (fingers crossed that it actually does).



So that what I've been up to, not getting any fan-fic written but at least I'm doing somthing creative.

Comments

[themightyflynn]

Wow, that's so pretty!

[madeleone]

Thanks so much!

BTW, Happy birthday to you!

[themightyflynn]

Thanks! :D

[shadowycat.livejournal.com]

From what I hear and read, some places are doing a really good, efficient job of vaccinating and others, not so much. I'm glad to hear your vaccination experience went well!

You do lovely work! Your shawl/wrap looks really beautiful! :D

[madeleone]

Yeah, I was happy it wasn't a big hassle.

Thanks for the compliment. I'm having fun and am happy with the results.

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

Wow wow wow! Your knitting looks gorgeous!! I am hopeless with anything textile-related, so this is like the best kind of magic to me.

And YAY for getting your first vaccines! It's such a relief that you're both able to have some protection.

I have also been doing comfort reading, though mostly re-reads of old favorites. It definitely helps! <3

[madeleone]

Thanks! I've knitted and crocheted for years, off and on, but never anything this complex. It's actually fun, and I feel quite accomplished. And it does feel a bit like magic to take a tremendously long strand of yarn and end up with something so lovely. ;-)

Yeah, hubby was really anxious to get the vaccine so we jumped at the first chance.

And I totally get the idea of comfort reads, especially re-reads of old faves. Years ago a co-worker reacted with surprise when I mentioned I was re-reading a favorite book. She asked me, "Why on earth would you re-read a book you've already read when there are so many books out there waiting to be read?" I in turn asked her if she never watched re-runs of her favorite shows or movies, which she admitted she did but for some reason she thought re-reading a book was different. LOL!

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

That's just beautiful

[madeleone]

Thank you. I'm having fun with it.

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

This shawl is a gorgeous piece. I'll be your daughter will love the poncho, too. Many years ago my mother made one similar to your poncho for my baby sister. If memory serves, it was a dark forest green with square sections that ran in a pattern that seemed to rotate about a point. I never achieved that level of talent, but I did knit toboggans to keep one's head warm. LOL.

I don't go out much because of the pandemic, but I do use masks when I go to Publics and CVS. I usually try to go only once a month, but I will get my first vaccination on Thursday. YAY!

Stay well and healthy and I'll do the same.🤗

[madeleone]

Thanks Beffey, I'm pleased with it although being my first attempt at a pattern so complex the there are a lot of mistakes and I see every one when I look at it. Still I'm quite happy with it anyway. I'm going to try to make both my daughters and my daughter-in-law something like this, either a shawl or wrap of some kind. (I'm not ready to tackle something like a sweater, with sleeves that have to be attached separately but maybe one day I'll be confident enough to try that too.) Your sister's poncho sounds gorgeous, I love green, the next thing I make for myself is going to be green. :)

Yeah, same here with precautions, I only go out for essentials: groceries and such. I'll feel better when we've had both shots. We did go camping last summer and are planning some trips like that for this year, but we tend to go to rustic campgrounds where there aren't normally hoards of people. But the winter has seemed especially long being cooped up inside.

You stay healthy and safe too!

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Very pretty; I love the color!

[madeleone]

Thanks, I fell in love with the color too. And like I said, the pictures really don't show how beautiful it is, it's very dark and rich.

[hbartthe2nd.livejournal.com]

That is beautiful! I considered learning to knit at the start of the pandemic, but I do best learning from a person (which is out these days) and if I’m doing a project and it doesn’t go right, I will just quit. So, I never got started, but posts like these make me want to reconsider.

Also you probably already know this but the second shot will knock you on your ass. Pfizer seems to be less brutal than Moderna, but either way, don’t plan any activities for a day and a half following your injection. I’ve only met a scant few people who didn’t feel poorly. Best of luck! I’m glad you will be protected against this nasty thing.

[madeleone]

Thank you. As I told Mundungus42, I have knitted and crocheted for years, off and on, but never attempted anything this complex before. It's challenging and I'm having fun trying new stuff.

Although I'm self taught years ago with do it yourself books, it probably is easier to learn with someone to show you how. I found crocheting easier to learn, but I really like the end results of things made by knitting better. (And Youtube is wonderful when I run across and technique or method that I'm not familiar with--Don't know how I survived without it years ago).

Oh we got the Moderna and had little problems with the first shot: a sore shoulder, I had a mild headache and mild joint aches (but I have arthritis anyway so hard to tell) and hubby felt tired. But I've heard that with the second the side effects are often worse so we'll be prepared.

[christev.livejournal.com]

So glad you and hubs were able to get your first shot! Last I talked with my doc, I'm probably waiting about a month for mine, but I don't get out much, so I don't have big exposure risk.
Also, very impressed with the knitting. I've only done a tiny bit, and am very impressed. PJ stayed with me some years back, helping me recup from when I had major surgery. And because she is very project-oriented, she decided she would teach me to knit! I did a basket-weave scarf, but since then I've only done super simple patterns to make hats and blankets. The color looks gorgeous, and I'm sure all your girls will be thrilled to get something handdone by you.
Stay healthy and safe! <3

[madeleone]

Hey! So glad to hear from you! Yes we were happy to get the first shot, we'd signed online at a couple sites: county health dept, and Meijer pharmacy and never got contacted. But then a friend of hubby's called with a ph# for the vaccination clinics going on out at SVSU (which turned out to be with Meijer) so he called and they called back within a day and scheduled it for two days later on Thursday. Our second shot is already scheduled so we're good to go.

As far as knitting goes there are only two basic stitches, knit and purl, and different combinations of them create the patterns. For the Aran patterns the e-books I got offer both written out patterns and charts. At first I thought the charts were incomprehensible, but after I studied them for a bit I find it much easier to use the charts. I print out copies of them on card stock and mark off each row as I go (very important if you don't want to screw up the pattern.) I hope the girls like the things I plan to make for them. After that I still have plenty of grandkids, sons and son-in-laws I can make stuff for too, so that should keep me busy for awhile.

You also stay safe and healthy, my friend.

[blueartemis07.livejournal.com]

Wow. I never learned to knit and I can crochet a chain... but that is as far as that goes. Beautiful!

[madeleone]

Thanks, Blue. I crochet too and have made ripple afghans for all of my kids and spouses and most of my grandkids ( still have a couple to go on those). But I really enjoy knitting more I think, I just like the patterns of things that are knitted better.

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the vaccine! I had my first one yesterday. No ill effects beyond a minor sore arm. I've heard that the second one is worse, but even if so, I'm ready.

Beautiful knit work.

[madeleone]

Thanks, we were happy to get vaccinated. I've heard that the second one is worse, but even if so, I'm ready. My too dearie, me too! I just had a sore shoulder and a very mild headache which could have been sinus issues and not due to the shot at all. also my hip ached a bit the next morning, but then again I have arthritis so it may not have been due to the vaccine either.

[mywitch.livejournal.com]

Oooh those cables, mrs!! You make me want to pick up my needles again - but then I remember I barely have time to even lurk on LJ so I will wait till life calms down again. Gorgeous yarn, and that poncho is a fantastic pattern! :D

[madeleone]

Thanks, hon. I mostly do my knitting at night, either while binging on TV or listening to audio books or podcasts, so I can feel like I'm multitasking. I'm really loving the poncho pattern too, it's working up fairly quickly and looks great.

[orlando-switch.livejournal.com]

That's both pretty and impressive.

And good for you and Mr. Madelone that you have had your first vaccines.

[madeleone]

Thanks so much! Hubby and I were both glad to get the vaccines, we go back 2 weeks from Thursday for our second shots.

[orlando-switch.livejournal.com]

That sounds good! And I am glad you didn't have many side effects after the shot.

My parents will get their shots this Wednesday, they are in their 80ties.
I think I'll have to wait several months before it's my turn, with all the pharma companies failing to deliver the promised amount of vaccins in the EU, I really have no clue at the moment..