There is not a lot to show for the last week. Following my back problem and the mattress rotation, I woke on Wednesday morning with no back issue at all. It has continued thus. Following the advice/urging/nagging of a couple of concerned friends (thank you!) I did some research, made several phone calls and identified a likely replacement mattress, and a company that a) has it on sale b) will remove the old mattress at the same time as delivering the new and c) will recycle the old mattress. I have not as yet visited and purchased, mainly because it has been a week when it seemed difficult to find a block of time to do it without pressure. Tomorrow is looking good.
It has rained fairly steadily all week and a couple of days were very cold for Adelaide. On Friday afternoon I stitched with a friend, continuing my knitting.
Much of my week has been spent racing to finish the Aztec cardigan, shopping/cooking for a Sunday lunch and Monday dinner and reading to work out what to recommend for our Book Club August meeting.
On Saturday the butcher couldn't supply the 12 chicken Marylands I asked for, so I settled for 9 Maryland and 8 legs. My intention was to cook 3 legs for Sunday lunch with friends and the remainder on Monday for family. I got the chicken marinade (olive oil, honey and lemon) organised on Saturday afternoon and cooked a big pot of rice to leave spread out in the fridge overnight, ready to make fried rice to go with the chicken.
Just as the chicken went into the oven on Sunday, a phone call brought the news that my lunch guests were in a doctor's surgery after a night of pain. One of them called me again a couple of hours later, on his way home with antibiotics, an appointment for an MRI and blood tests and instructions to eat little. You may remember this happened a few weeks ago, and yes, the same friends. I have got over the fear I am a Jonah! There are no results as yet and I have my fingers crossed for my friend's health.
Monday's dinner dealt with the bulk of the chicken and rice while I caught up with study, sporting and a little work news.It also delivered a ball dress with a hem to fix. It is a simple enough task, but does require matching thread.
I have a match, but it is finer than the original, so today I visited Riverlea Quilts and got what I think is a match in a suitable weight. It's a while since I visited the shop. She has a fabulous range of Sashiko and Japanese fabrics and threads. I wanted to show a bit more support than a single spool of thread, so bought a book I've been thinking about for a while.
I set it aside, however, to finish off the cardigan. this afternoon. I have needed to do quite a bit of adaptation and adjustment since construction, because the sleeve insets were too tight. I will write this up in detail in my Embroidery blog, but I'm hopeful this is now ready to wear, and it will be on its way tomorrow.
I have quite a lot of wool left from this project, certainly enough to add large pockets if required. There is also a Kaffe Fassett pattern in this month's Piecework magazine for a bench cushion in a similar pattern that could be adapted.
I'm debating whether to knit this year's Shetland Wool Week hat next, or to move on to one of my many waiting embroidery projects.
I had a couple of long phone discussions with friends during the week. Lorraine, who has been in and out of hospital, is in respite care in the care home in her retirement village. She is very pleased to be there and has asked me to visit next week.
It has been an odd kind of week, a lot of discussion and the unexpected, but not a lot that converts to image.
