Moving on with life…..

and focusing on other things is making my soul happy. Of course, I do have to get past the lastest ‘issue’ with my broken foot. I had wanted to post this wonderfully happy report of getting the last four pins out this past Monday….but….as it turned out….one of the pins did not want to come out. Three came out beautifully as planned. The fourth one simply refused. So now I’ve got another incision on the top and BOTTOM of my foot just to get one little pin out….uggh. My foot looks like it’s been through a war. Post-op instructions are – only use my foot as much as I can tolerate the discomfort & pain, no driving for 10 days, keep elevated as much as possible to help reduce swelling, and when trying to use it keep either my walking boot or post-op shoe on it. Humm. There was so much bandaging that neither fit! My solution to that was to ask my doctor if I could remove some of the bandaging, to which he said just a small bit – don’t remove too much. It sort of helps. Anyhow, the next time I post about my foot will hopefully be one to say all is finally well.

So what are some of the happier things going on in my life? Well, here’s a cute picture for you – a couple of weeks ago Little Miss Darby decided that she’d get more sun if she stood in the window sill of the window in our front room…..all the others were laying in the sunshine on the floor in a ‘puppy pile’.

Now, this is really not a dangerous thing for Darby to do. First, the window sill is only 2 ft off the floor and all their crates are sitting under it, which is how she got up there. Jumped on top of a crate and then stepped onto the sill. They all love looking out the front window but Darby is the only one who’s decided that standing on the sill was fun.

And knitting wise I have two of my projects for DRG done & turned in. The third one is coming along very nicely. I can’t give you any details on these yet. I also have a pattern nearly done that will be initially released as an exclusive with Sandrasingh.com. This one was actually started before I broke my foot and was really impacted by that, especially getting the photos done. I’m looking at completing this pattern this weekend – cross your fingers for me!

Another exciting thing for me – my Darling Darby Sweater Pattern has been steadily moving up in the popular ranking for pet patterns on Ravelry! Thank you to everyone who has been knitting this pattern and posting good reviews – you’ve made my day. :0)

With everything I’ve got happening I haven’t done any personal knitting, perhaps around the holidays – we’ll see.

So that’s pretty much how my life has been going lately……..hope all is well with all of you

Cheers! Jean

 

Goodbye RMTA….

at least as Webmaster/Club Officer. While it’s been a fun ride and I will miss it – there are just some times in this world when we need to draw a line. For me, that was at the last RMTA event. Let me tell you in my own words why I would chose to leave something I enjoy……..

When my family first joined RMTA I really thought this club was one of the best in the US. And for the most part it is. There is just this one thing that I can’t abide….that is when there is a group within the group that feel the rules don’t apply to them. Yep, the good old boy group. And unfortunately it’s some of the club officers who are ‘promoting’ this behavior.

Over the last few years there have been more & more incidents that have shown me RMTA is not wholly the club I thought, or wanted it to be. Each time the rules were ‘adapted’ to allow one or a small group of persons to benefit from actions outside the rules I’ve lost a little more faith that fairness, not favoritism, was the driving value for the club.

At the last event several people witnessed an incident between our club president and myself. Prior to attending this event (a two dayer) I had made the decision I would no longer sit by, keeping my mouth shut, when our rules were not being followed. So I didn’t. On the first day, a trials master changed a section after several riders had ridden it – wrong – so I brought that up, as did my DH. Then on Sunday there was a support level rider both riding the event and as a trials master for the event. Our rules say that only our Pro class riders can be a trials master for the support classes and ride the upper class sections at the same event – no other class rider can both ride and be a trials master at the same event, which had been defined as the whole day. When I tried to ask our president about this – i.e. had I misinterpreted the rule – he totally blew up and began yelling at me – in public – because I asked a question about our rules.

In the end, it turns out – not only was the club member I originally asked about both riding & being a trials master…so was dear president!  So how is this fair to every other club member who is not given special dispensation from our rules and able to gain series points from an event they shouldn’t have been riding anyway? What is the point of having rules if they aren’t followed, especially by club officers? (edit here – dear president did scratch his name off the scoreboards, more in a fit an anger than anything else – but effectively he did not take points for the event. I don’t know what happened with the other support rider’s score.) Another edit Oct 30th – I had intended to be done with this issue and move on, however today I discovered that Dear President and the above mentioned support rider are listed on the results for this event – in the places they would have been if they had not been trials masters. Now, there is no listing of trials masters on the results sheets (which there usually is) and I may be making an assumption here – but I’m guessing that both DP and SR are wanting to receive series points by saying they were not trials masters for this event – unreal!  (There was also an indication of this in a comment made by another RMTA officer to my DH at another recent event – a comment that now makes more sense to me.) Both Dear President and Support Rider were trials masters, everyone at the event knows they were trials masters, so how do they think they can say they were not?  This just confirms that I made the right decision to cease any involvement with people who think they don’t have to follow the same rules as the rest of the group.

Well, this whole thing was as they say..the straw that broke the camel’s back. I could clearly see what I had been ignoring for so long….in RMTA the rules don’t matter for certain people. If you are part of the ‘group’ – anything goes. At that moment I made my decision to resign as webmaster & a club officer.

Did our president apologize for his outburst? Yes, he did – at the awards ceremony – although he failed to also say that he was in the wrong & my interpretation of our rules was right. He only said he was sorry for yelling. What does that tell you? It told me that resigning was the right thing to do. I need to hold on and keep to my values. Fairness, not favoritism, should be the value held higher in any organization like RMTA.

Riding trials is a sport both my husband and son (who is a really good rider) enjoy. So if they want to continue riding that’s fine with me. I’ll even go as a spectator. But I will not allow myself to get involved again with the club administration, it’s not worth it.

So goodbye RMTA….and best wishes to the new webmaster.

Jean

 

Let’s see here………..

what’s been going on in my life since my last post?

Well, my doctor did remove the “sticking out” pin from my foot – which hurt like h*ll – but my foot feels much better without it now. I am however still fighting daily swelling and will be so glad when my foot really starts to return to normal. My doc says the swelling is a normal part of the healing process so I suppose I should be patient.

With the pin out I was finally able to return to my day job, this is my second full week back – ok part week because yesterday was a holiday. Things are going ok, especially since I have a small camp stool by my desk that works pretty well for a foot rest.

On the knitting front – by the end of this month (hopefully sooner) I’ll have a new pattern out – this one will be an exclusive with Sandrasingh.com. I think you’ll like it, can’t post pictures though – it’s a surprise!

And I’ve even actually got a Darling Darby Sweater done for K9knittersUSA – small size so I was able to work  on it during commutes to work with DH – foot isn’t healed enough to drive yet. I’ll post a photo of the sweater before sending it off.

Then, since fall is upon us – at least here in CO – I decided it was time for a Desert Rose Designs sale. And since Sept has 30 days I decided to give an automatic 30% discount off all cart sales through the end of the month! So pop on over – now’s the time to get started on those projects you’ve been wanting to knit, and… I’ve got new items listed in the Boutique with some more on the way.

So that’s what I’ve been doing – how about you?

Cheers! Jean

 

The Saga of My Broken Foot……

First – a warning – some people may find the photos for this post gross, even I think they are – but nothing can describe a broken foot better than pictures.

And now, on with my “story”……..it all began back on July 29th about 10:30 pm. My dear Husband has just arrived home from his shooting practice at the Olympic Training Center in town. Just as we’re getting ready to retire for the night our cat, for reasons unknown, decided to use our bed for his litter box! Angry doesn’t even come close to describing my immediate reaction. The cat got tossed outside and DH immediately stripped the bed & began cleaning up after the cat.

I gathered up all the sheets & mattress pad and headed down the stairs to the laundry room in our garden level basement. When I reached the last step something went really wrong. Somehow, between the bottom step and the basement floor I ended up with my right foot twisted in and under me, smacking my left knee flat on the floor. Now, any other time I would have had a huge bruise on my left knee – this time, not a scratch – while my right foot screamed in pain. I had heard my bones crack and so hoped that it was only one of the many, many smaller bones we have in our feet. (Did you know the between your foot & ankle you have 26 bones & 33 joints?) DH heard me fall (and cuss) so came bounding down the stairs. He helped me up & together we got the sheets in the washer. Then he had to help me get back up the stairs….6 from the basement to landing and another 7 to the living floor. Uggh.

Once upstairs I removed my slipper (leather boot type) and examined my foot. It was swelling alright but no bruises showing yet. Perhaps that was good I thought, maybe I only sprained my ankle – something I’ve done many times in the past. I decided to wait until morning & see how my foot was then. Of course, by morning I knew it was broken and off we went to the emergency room. The closest ER is about 25 miles from home. Not a fun ride. At the ER they immediately got me settled in an exam room, took x-rays, gave me an ice pack and expressed lots of sympathy. The doctor came in an confirmed that I had indeed broken my foot – the fourth & fifth metatarsals with the fifth one being the worst break. Here’s one x-ray from the ER………………..see that fifth bone – ouch.

So, off we go with a splint on my foot, prescription for Vicodin and instructions to keep my foot elevated above my heart so the swelling will come down. We were also instructed to make a follow up appointment with an orthopedic clinic for further treatment. On the way home I called a clinic I had received treatment at before and was scheduled for the following Tuesday (Aug 4th) and told I’d have to wait that long to make sure the swelling was down, nothing could be done with my foot swollen. Ok.

Now, the ER personnel and those at the ortho clinic who had seen my x-rays all seemed to feel that my bones would need pinned in order to heal properly. (Did you know that your medical records are shared between doctor offices via computer/medical network?) With this in mind I did as I was told and spent the week between my ER visit & scheduled appointment flat on my back with ice on my elevated foot hoping the swelling would be down so treatment could begin when I finally saw the doctor. What I didn’t want to do is drag this out more than was already apparently necessary.

Aug 4th finally arrives and we head to my appointment. We arrived a few minutes early, completed the necessary paperwork and were seated at an exam table in the cast room. The aides removed my splint revealing a bruised and still somewhat swollen foot………..

Now we waited for the doctor to arrive. And waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, more than an hour past my scheduled appointment time a Physician’s Assistant comes in. A young man who couldn’t have been out of med school very long. He declares that he’s reviewed my x-rays, the bones will heal just fine although the fifth one will have a “bump”. They will put my foot in a cast and recheck in three weeks. If the bones aren’t healing they’ll consider pinning at that time. And off he goes. EXCUSE ME! What did he just say – where is the doctor? No follow up x-rays after 6 days? This is unbelievable. I wish DH had taken photos of the faces of all the staff that had been standing there when the PA made his diagnoses. Shock was everywhere. Their faces told me this is clearly not the normal course of action for this type of break.

I allowed the cast to be applied since I couldn’t leave the office with nothing on my foot. As soon as we got home DH got on the phone with this clinic while I called a different one. DH spent a good deal of time speaking with the first clinic’s ombudsman trying to get me in to actually see a doctor that day – didn’t happen since they were way too busy. Which is exactly how we felt about my treatment there, they were too busy to give patients appropriate attention. Could I have waited for the 3 wk check and had surgery then – yes – but why add another three weeks to my recovery? So the doctor can make more money or it’s more convenient for him? So I can be off work longer? Not acceptable reasons.  I am on my feet a lot at home, work & play – having a bump on my foot simply isn’t acceptable either – I need to be able to use my feet. By now I’m pretty frustrated so luckily I was able to get an appointment with the second clinic for the following day.

Trying to feel optimistic about the second clinic we head down to town again on Aug 5th. We arrive a little early again, do the paperwork and very shortly are seated in an exam room. The aides remove the cast the first clinic applied then take me for x-rays. I’m starting to feel better. Once back in the exam room we didn’t have to wait long for the doctor – an orthopedic surgeon, not a PA – I’m feeling better. He looks at the x-rays and tells us what he thinks. Yes, he says the bones may eventually heal without surgery…but…metatarsals don’t heal as well as other bones and he feels that with the position of the fifth one it’s unlikely it will  heal on it’s own. If it did the resulting bone deformity would cause a hammertoe condition down the road. Wow, the PA never said anything about that. His recommendation is to pin the bones ASAP and get the healing started, especially since it’s been a week already. As the doctor is drawing me a picture of what pinning the bones entails we can see a light go on…let’s do this he says….he’s used this procedure for broken hands, not feet before…but the way my bones broke this is the perfect way to fix them. It was amazing just watching him. My confidence is completely restored. Surgery is scheduled for early in the morning on Aug 6th – the next day.

The surgery was a new experience for me and I can tell you the staff was great, everything went really smoothly. Along with general anesthesia they give me a “block” from my knee down. I didn’t feel my right foot for another 24 hrs. Here’s an x-ray taken immediately after surgery…I don’t remember this part………….

The doctor put five pins in – two in my fifth metatarsal and three in the fourth. The one the comes up between my toes actually sticks out of my foot and is supposed to come out in another week or so from today. When I began to feel my foot again it really hurt! That wasn’t unexpected though. I had to keep it elevated for another week after surgery….more laying flat on my back with my foot propped up. It’s impossible to knit in that position so I didn’t get any knitting done. Crochet wasn’t took bad so I did work on some simple crochet projects. Must be the difference between two needles or one hook.

You’re probably wondering if I’m ever going to get to the end of my tale by now Ok, so a week after surgery I go back for my first check…bandaging is removed and new x-rays taken. Here’s my foot at that first post surgery check……….

I have two incisions – one on top and one on the side of my foot. My doctor is happy with everything except the red streak. He gave me another round of antibiotics just in case although he said it could just be blood in the skin layers. New bandaging is applied and I have a removable “boot” instead of a cast. My next check up is on Aug 26th. Hopefully the one pin (yellow cap) will come out then. My doctor tells me that if/when the other pins come out depends on the healing process. In the meantime I am working on keeping my foot down for longer periods of time and beginning to put some weight on it….doctor’s orders. He is letting me go back to work on the 24th as long as I can use my foot to help me up/down stairs. The office I work in is on the second floor of a building with no elevator.

Things are starting to look up! I can keep my foot down for longer periods and even got down/up my deck steps yesterday – yea! (I chose the deck to practice on since it’s only 7 steps with a landing after 3; the steps are also wider than the ones in the house & there is railing on both sides) And since my doctor was happy with my progress at my check last week he let me go to RMTA’s annual UTE Cup – as long as I didn’t try to do too much & I had help. With our friends visiting from WA the help part wasn’t a problem. My friend Alecia also made sure I didn’t try to do too much. Without her I couldn’t have gone. Even though it was only a long weekend trip….it felt so good.

So that’s my “story”….the moral of which is pay attention when using stairs. We did let the cat back in and somewhat forgave him. Unfortunately a few days later he wanted out and we haven’t seen him since. I feel bad about that since around here it’s more likely than not that he became part of the food chain. We’re not getting any more cats though. I also called the first clinic to let them know I was continuing my care with a different doctor. I had to leave a message and have never received a call back. So glad I changed doctors.

And now I’m looking forward to when my foot is completely healed and I can put a shoe on it. I’ll let you know when that happens

Cheers! Jean

 

Aahh…the weekend….

time for FUN! And what is fun today?

Well, I’ve got a new product listed in the Desert Rose Boutique – the first set of stitch markers! Yes, I know – there are several online shops selling stitch markers – and each one has their unique concepts & designs. Just like patterns. I think there is room for all and I think you’ll like mine.

Crafting these markers is a creative and fun process…no two sets will be the same…you know I’m all about doing unique things This first set is made with red crystal beads set into shell circles, with one gold crystal bead marker that is useful to mark the beginning of rounds or a stitch pattern. The end caps are silver rondelles and I’ve carefully hand wrapped each wire to avoid any snagging on your yarn. There are 8 markers in this set, all for only $12.00.

Another set will be a prize for the July Play Yarn Dash, so if you haven’t signed up and played yet you won’t have a chance to win these………….

There are 10 markers in this set…the one distinct marker has a purple crystal bead while the rest have a mauve glass diamond bead set into a shell circle, all have a coordinating glass cap bead on top and again…I carefully hand wrapped all the wires to avoid any snagging. Both the set I am selling and this one will fit up to a US9 (5.5mm) needle.

ENJOY!

I’m off for more *fun*…..and some design work………….

Cheers! Jean

 

A New Play Yarn Dash…….

and a new special promotion starts today! Everyone likes to get something for free, soooo…….for July’s Play Yarn Dash I’m offering my Winter Lace Scarf pattern FREE with the purchase of my Celtic Cabled Slipover pattern.

Get this pattern FREE with purchase of this one….

And if you buy today – July 15th – you will still get the automatic 15% discount! The 15% discount promotion ends at midnight tonight – the July Play Yarn Dash offer is good through July 31st. Purchases must be made with through my site shopping cart in order to receive the promotional discount or free pattern – just use the “Add to Cart” button and cart checkout.

And that’s not all folks…..I’ll be introducing Desert Rose Designs Stitch Markers too – should have a photo up this weekend. The stitch marker sets will join the Handcrafted Sweater (until someone buys it) in the Desert Rose Designs Boutique. A set of 10 handcrafted stitch markers, a $15.00 value, is my prize offering for July’s Play Yarn Dash – you have to sign up and play in order to have a chance to win! The stitch marker sets will be a fairly regular feature – with different designs based on what strikes my fancy.

So have I enticed you to Play Yarn Dash - visit my site – buy patterns? It’s your support that makes it possible for me to continue designing & offering patterns for your enjoyment. And I thank you for that support – very much!

Cheers! Jean

 

Yea! Announcing………

sneak peek at “It’s in the Bag: Knitting Projects to Take & Make”! My first ever pattern published by a major publisher is in this book! Woot! Here’s a look at the cover………….

The editor, Kara Gott Warner, received her preview copy and gave the go ahead to promote it. This is sweeeeet……the actual release date is August 10th, 2009. Annie’s Attic, Borders, Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it on pre-sale so have fun shopping at your favorite online book seller.

Now that I have your attention…..I can’t show you my project until the book’s official release in August…only one month away!

I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it, la la la la………

Cheers! Jean

 

It’s a new day……..

the “Sweet Summer Knitting” blog tour is over – thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit. Hope you all enjoyed the tour & the apple crisp

So now what..well, it’s business as usual. Get up & do web work or design work or bookkeeping for DH’s business before it’s time to go to the day job, go spend 8 hrs doing commercial property management stuff, come home, fix dinner, clean up, more knitting. In between – love DH, SIL & pets.

This week I’m working on more submissions and a new pattern that will be introduced exclusively through Sandrasingh.com. Sandra provided the yarn for this one – Schaefer’s “Susan”, a 100% mercerized cotton. I must say I love this yarn. And my design for Wooly Wonka is getting closer to completion. Thank you Anne for being so patient!

Other than that…it’s life as usual here. I am wondering why I haven’t heard the fox kits yet this year – is the den not in use or were the kits born late? Don’t know. Never thought I’d miss being woken up at 2 am hearing all their yipping though. It’s like something is missing from nature.

Hope your summer has been good so far!

Cheers – Jean

 

“Sweet Summer Knitting” is here!

Welcome to the “Sweet Summer Knitting” blog tour, and I hope you are enjoying this Fourth of July holiday! The “Sweet Summer Knitting” tour is celebrating summer with all kinds of special offerings – each blog has something different & fun for you. You’ll have to visit each blog to discover the surprises… The blog list is in my sidebar so be sure to visit each one.

Since this tour is for you to get to know some new blogs & places to shop – and have fun doing it, I’ll start your “tour” of my blog by telling you a little about me (there’s more on my About page)……………knitting is a skill I learned at a very early age, continued to practice off & on while growing up, and as an adult..absolutely love. There is a satisfaction in working out the design of a project, knitting it and seeing the appreciation on the face of the recipient. And some designs just want to be shared with all of you. That is how Desert Rose Designs was born.

In my designing I love to come up with new stitch patterns or ways of constructing a garment that are easier than usual methods. (My early years as an US Air Force brat, living in a small German village where we played in castle ruins, taught me to think “outside the box” as they say.) Looking at something and saying - what if I did this stitch this way, or what if I worked this part that way..what happens – is how I approach most of my designs. The end result, I think, are distinctive & unique designs. It may take longer than just dropping a stitch pattern into a basic shape but that’s ok. When I do release new designs you know they have been well thought out & tested.

And speaking of new designs………..drum roll please………..to celebrate this Fourth of July and the “Sweet Summer Knitting” blog tour…….here is a new pattern for you!

Celebration! is a really fun knit and a versatile pattern. Just change the color scheme & appliques for any holiday or to match your decor. I’ve also included basic instructions for knitting a set of matching place mats.

In Celebration! of the “Sweet Summer Knitting” tour, I’m giving an automatic 15% discount on any cart purchase from Desert Rose Designs. Just use the “Add to Cart” button & cart checkout on my web site – simple.

All my patterns currently available are shown on my blog Patterns page, and can be purchased on my web site. If you’d like to receive notice of new pattern releases or special offerings…sign up for my newsletter. Newsletters are published quarterly with special issues when I’ve got something fun to share with you between issues.

Another unique find on my web site is the new Desert Rose Designs Boutique! You never know what you’ll find here, as the name says – it’s a Boutique. Right now this beautiful sweater is the first boutique offering – a one-of-a-kind design, hand knit from hand spun 100% Suffolk wool. I will proudly tell you this wonderful creation is by Kathleen Triem – my older sister. And the automatic 15% discount applies to the purchase of this sweater too. That’s a real deal!

And what would a summer celebration be without food! Specifically dessert! Well, have I got the ultimate Apple Crisp recipe for you. This recipe was taught to me by my mother-in-law and is a must have at all family get-togethers. Although she’s been gone over 10 yrs now, I know she’d enjoy sharing this recipe with you too. First, I must tell you that I have no idea what the calorie count is..high..the sugar content is..high..but I can tell you the flavor is really, really high! And I’m sorry, no photo….it would just torture your taste buds anyway

I’ll post the recipe here but if you click on this link...Apple Crisp…you’ll get a pdf more suitable for saving and printing.

June’s Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

• about 12 medium size granny smith apples – peeled, cored & sliced thin* (frozen apple slices don’t work as well)
• 1 to 1  1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 cup butter – stick form
• 1 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
• 2 cups flour

Utensils:

• really big mixing bowl
• mixing spoon
• pastry cutter
• 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish
• cookie sheet large enough to fit under baking dish

Mix together apples, sugar (taste apples – use more sugar for tarter apples, less for sweeter ones), cinnamon, nutmeg and 2 tbsp flour, stir gently to coat the apples well. Put apple mixture into baking dish.

Using pastry cutter – mix butter, brown sugar and 2 cups flour until butter is pea size. Spread evenly over top the apples.

Place the baking dish on the cookie sheet (to catch drips which there will be) and bake in preheated oven for 10 mins at 450 deg. Reduce oven temp to 350 deg and bake another 50 min or until apples are tender.

Serve warm (vanilla ice cream goes really well with this)

Number of servings depends on serving size.

*using a food processor will speed up prep time for the apples

So there you have it – “Sweet Summer Knitting” and the ultimate dessert for your Fourth of July holiday. I’m spending the day with family and friends….hope your day is as wonderful!

Cheers! Jean

 

And the winner is………

Leslie! I had the wonderful pleasure this morning of telling (emailing) Leslie to let her know she won my random drawing for June’s Play Yarn Dash! She gets to chose the pattern of her choice from Desert Rose Designs…..what will she chose? It was fun – I put everyone’s name in a basket and Suzanne (my SIL), with eyes adverted – drew the winning name.

I’d also like to thank everyone who played the Yarn Dash and visited my site – I hope you enjoyed the game too. We’ll do another one later this year.

In the meantime…..the “Sweet Summer Knitting” blog tour starts today – the list of blog to visit in right over there in my sidebar. Everyone has some fun surprises for you so don’t miss a single day. The Fourth of July is my day so make sure to come visit

And check out my Patterns page…..Celebration!…..is new today!

Cheers! Jean