Friday, August 24, 2018

A scarf pattern whether you want it or not, and a few answers to comments................



Two of you fine blogging friends asked for this scarf pattern.  As I adapted it from another pattern and just had some scratchy notes on it I decided to try and write it up for you.  I am not a pattern writer so I hope this works.  It is easy peasy.  The original pattern was a seven treble crochet fan, but I can't find a link to it. My drawing skills are lacking good alignment, the scarf does not get wider as you add a row.  Any questions about the pattern just send me an email, my email is located on the sidebar in the About Me section.


This sheep made by Little Buddy makes me smile everyday.  It is on the wall in my office so the lighting is a bit poor.  I love the sweet smile.  As for Little Buddy thank you all for your concern, week 2 of school has moved along well. Today was another good day.  He has had very good behavior all week and is cooperating more.  As for Kathy B's question about naps, there are no naps in first grade.  I am concerned that he might be needing a snack in the middle of the morning or afternoon, that little body runs on little fuel as he is not a big eater, plus his tighter muscles burn more calories.   After sending one in everyday this week it seems to be helping, and it is there if he needs it.

One reader asked if he can walk on his own yet?  I think it looks that way from the photo of his first day at school.  No, Little Buddy still needs his forearm crutches and a walker for longer distances.  He can use one quad cane for a shorter distance but walks very slowly with this.  We are working on speed, safety and balance when it comes to his ambulation skills.  Little boys like to move fast so they are not always cautious.


Here is my Zick Zack Shawl in progress.  Only a few more inches have been added this week as again my schedule is pretty brutal right now.  I thought the colors looked better in this photo.  I am about 25 inches into the shawl with loads more to go.  It is an easy project and can be picked up and put down without losing your place.  I think you all should give it a try!  

This year has been hard on me as far as completed projects.  I am not getting much done but I am not worried.  Work and Little Buddy come first, and when I can spare a few minutes I can pick up a needles or a hook and hopefully create something wonderful. 

My blog friend Sandy says she has a hard time using cotton, and I agree it can be really rough and abrasive.  A cotton blend helps with that but this Appalachian Baby Organic Cotton Yarn will work, too!  It is by far the softest cotton yarn I have used and I think it is also very reasonably priced.



In two days these two will be 10 months old!  They are keeping us laughing and also yelling a bit if I am to be honest.  This weeks casualties; a plastic boat for the pool, a plastic shovel, a plastic hammer and screwdriver from Little Buddy's tool box, a painted rock and a plant pulled right out of the pot.  Actually, now that I look at the list we aren't doing too bad!

I am feeling a bit better after my acupuncture appointment last week.  Cheryl, who has worked on me for years, is truly amazing.  She is so gifted in so many areas and frankly has put up with me and my family for a long time.  She muscle tests different things through a special kinesiology technique.  Now I can do this also as I have had many courses in this but I don't do it for the same purposes as Cheryl.  She determined that my last seven weeks of being ill with massive headaches was because we had a booster for our satellite TV installed in our bedroom, actually across from the base of my bed where my feet are.  It amazed me she picked this up and frankly makes a ton of sense because I was progressively getting worse every day, which meant I was spending more time in my room on my bed trying to rest, and the cycle just kept getting worse and worse.  The booster was installed three weeks before I started feeling ill.  I have not slept in my room since last Friday night and I am feeling better already,  No headaches this week at all although I still have pretty intense fatigue and nausea.  The booster is getting moved tomorrow and then I will be back in my own bed, hopefully free of that crazy energetic interference.

Thank you to Betsy for the Thieves Oil recommendation, I ordered it right away and am already putting it on at night.  And also thank you to bittenbyknittin for the information about daith piercing, I looked up the information and am looking into it.

I will have a bad neck for the rest of my life due to five concussions as a child and the resulting whiplash injuries that comes with them.  Plus, I have had 4 1/2 weeks of radiation to my neck which frankly just cooked all my muscles along with everything else.  Headaches are a small price to pay for still being alive and seeing my children grow up.  They are literally a big pain but hopefully I can keep dealing with them without them getting worse.  I did see the doctor today for a check up and am going to try a new anti-inflammatory medication at the first sign of a bad headache.  We will see if that helps. 

Thank you all for your concern, your positive thoughts and your friendship.  This blogging world never ceases to amaze me with the love and kindness that is shared everyday.  Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.

33 comments:

Araignee said...

That Zick Zack scarf is really beautiful. I am most definitely going to have to add that to the queue!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hope you are feeling better soon.

Looking at photos of those sweet pups should put a smile on anyone's face.

Caffeine Girl said...

The connection between your headaches and the booster is terrifying. We just adopt all this technology so quickly! I worry about the young children. LB has you, but so many children have too much exposure to technology -- and we have no idea what the consequences are.

My thoughts are with you for the headaches and neck pain. Since my jaw problems were diagnosed five years ago, my headaches are much better. I think I tried every migraine treatment on the market and none of them helped! Turns out the problem was my jaws. I have severe arthritis in my neck. They don't know why.

Hang in there!

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

I'm glad you're feeling better and your acupuncturist figured what was wrong. Wow! I've been using young living essential oils as well. Lately Raven has helped me breathe with all the smoke in the air here in OR. Today it looks clear outside. Nice update on Buddy. Hugs to you all!

Lorrie said...

Thank you for this newsy post, Meredith. Your shawl is beautiful; it's good to have a project that can be picked up and left as needed. No rush. Glad that your little guy is settling into 1st grade. It's a big switch from kindergarten.
Our bodies are complicated by all kinds of things. I'm glad you're finding some relief.

Betsy said...

Thank you so much for the pattern. I can’t wait to try it. I think your skills are just fine. The Zick Zack shawl is another pattern that I will be trying. It’s beautiful
I’m so glad that you have discovered a possible cause for your headaches. Our bodies are so sensitive. I had three concussions in a 6 month time period two years ago. Not fun at all. Hopefully the Thieves oil will help you. I’m amazed at what I’m learning about oils and the benefits they have. Care does need to be taken though, because they are like medicine and can be used incorrectly.
The boys are so sweet looking that it’s hard to believe the mischief they get into. Between them and your little eguy you certainly have your hands full my sweet friend.
Blessings,
Betsy

Kris said...

Such a newsy post! Love the scarf and shawl! The little sheep is so sweet. Glad to hear Little Buddy is adapting well at school! The pups are just gorgeous!!! I cracked up at your list of casualties!!! Sorry to hear about your neck trouble. Hope the oils help!
XO Kris

Delighted Hands said...

It is so hard to live a balanced life....
I'm glad you found the root of the headaches and can find some relief!

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Thank you Meredith for sharing so much with your friends. The pups and what they have destroyed this past week in their rather mixed choice of what to wreak this week was really funny and cheerful.

I was very happy that Little Buddy's week went well. Detective work.

And then your Acupuncture therapist Cheryl figured a cause for your massive headaches for the last seven weeks. Great detective work.

Blogging friends are blessings with their suggestions of what worked for their similar health issues.

Hugs and Love.

Joy

Janice Smith said...

The sheep artwork is almost as precious as Little Buddy is. Glad that so far things are going well in first grade.

Teresa Kasner said...

I love that lacy scarf pattern, I could see making that someday. But I'm gobsmacked with the fabulous colors and design of the Zick Zack shawl.. it's eye popping! Your fur boys are so fuzzy and handsome. Do they like to crawl into your lap? I'm so glad your acupuncturist found out what is causing your headaches.. I hope like heck that moving that thing will do the trick. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.. we have no plans and that makes me happy as a clam. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Babajeza said...

I'm happy to hear that you got that much information regarding your headaches. All the best for you and Little Buddy's school experiences! A snack every morning may help a lot to keep him concentrated. Also a glass of water. Regula

kathy b said...

Here's to sleep! its 2:15 a.m. a thunderstorm is quietly heading our way . IM up. So is Fezzik. I think I'll give up on my bed as Im sure Im disturbing Fireman's sleep. I wish you more than 40 winks Mere! Here's to a long weekend for Lil Buddy . Nothing like loving family and pups to recharge.
Here's to goodbye with those headaches. You put up with enough!!!!
Im knitting with the berroco cotton you suggested a bit ago...its so soft!

CJ said...

Head and neck pain is horrendous isn't it, but I'm glad you've found something that might help your headaches at least. Lots of naughty dog stuff here as well. When does it stop?! But as you say, they are all lovely. I love that scarf pattern as well, it's nice to see a zig-zag that's knitted and not crocheted. I never seem to be able to get going with crochet. Have a lovely weekend Meredith, and fingers crossed that moving the booster box will help your head. CJ xx

mamasmercantile said...

I found your news about the headaches and the connection to the booster alarming, when we live in a world of technology. Who knows the damage that is been done. On a more positive note your shawl is stunning, love your choice of yarn. The sheep made by your little man is wonderful, a real delight. Glad to hear he is managing well. Your furry boys are a joy, despite their mischief.

Jo said...

I'm glad you've found some relief from the headaches, it's quite debilitating when you're getting them so bad. Good news that Little Buddy has settled down a little for his second week, they're long days for little ones and it makes sense that he may need a snack mid morning, I'm glad that it's helping. I love your Zick Zack Shawl, it's been on my to make list for ever but I think I need to move it up nearer the top now that I've seen how pretty yours is.

Bridget said...

How kind of you to write up a pattern and share it! Someday when I learn to crochet, I'll give it a try.

I love the colors in your shawl - isn't it fun when colors change in your knitting? It always makes me feel so happy.

Take care. I'm glad you are able to get treatments and help for your problems. It's always better to be above ground even if there are things to daal with. :-)

bittenbyknittin said...

Little Buddy's sheep made me chuckle - so cute! And he knows what mama likes. One of my granddaughter's complaints about second grade is NO SNACKS! (They had them in first grade.) I remember getting to junior high and being appalled because there was NO RECESS.

Vera said...

Hope you are feeling better! Your zick-zack is beautiful!

Jodiebodie said...

Glad you have had a breakthrough with the headaches. Electro magnetic fields have a lot to answer for. There was a cancer cluster in a suburb in my city which affected young children whose kindergarten was underneath a span of high voltage electricity distributor lines. The government denied that it was the cause but they demolished that kindy and all that remains is an empty block and no one is allowed to build on it. When you consider that the human body had its own electrical circuitry it is very plausible that strong magnetic fields and other interference could cause havoc.

Andrea Ostapovitch said...

What a sweet little sheep! And I love the way that scarf is looking. I've crocheted for years, and I took up knitting this summer, I'm still pretty shaky, but I may have something to post by late fall.

Have a great week!

Andrea

Jo said...

Your scarf is incredible - it is nice to have something to just pick up and put down every now and again between a hectic life and capturing moment to sit still. Hope you find a solution to your headaches. Jo xx

Nance said...

That sheep has to have a Place Of Honour in your home already! I think it's terrific--definitely an uplifting piece of art. It makes me smile for sure.

The Zick Zack is absolutely gorgeous and, I have to say, intimidating. I doubt mine will come out as lovely.

karen said...

that booster story is amazing! I never would have figured that out at all. Sorry you were not feeling well for so long but so glad your acupuncture person figured it all out. Your blanket is beautiful! I can knit with thin cotton but if it is worsted weight well it bothers my hands and causes me joint pain (I have RA).

Toni said...

Oh my goodness--I'm so glad you seem to have found the cause for your increased headaches! That had to be so miserable! But the scarf is adorable! I did indeed have to download the pattern.

Judy S. said...

So glad you are on the mend! Your newest Zick Zack is beautiful; yours is way further along than mine which I started quite a while ago. There is nothing at all wrong with your productivity! You've made lots of stuff in addition to working full time, taking great care of LB and the dog brothers plus tons of other stuff. Love the shawl, too, and it's pretty pattern. Hugs!

Gracie Saylor said...

My sister, Carolyn, had not tried acupuncture, Thieves Oil, or daith piercing [we had to look that up :-)]. Since her daughter suffers from severe migraines as well, she is passing along the info to her. I hope that moving the booster helps long term, too! Your stitching is lovely, and thanks for the pattern. Thanks for letting us admire LB's sheep and your furry friends, also. xx

Mylittlepieceofengland said...

Loving your Zick Zack Shawl and especially loving Little Buddy’s sheep xx

Melanie said...

The correlation between your booster and your chronic headaches is so scary! My mom goes to a natural practitioner who does the muscle testing on her, too. Many are dubious about this practice (I do question it a little myself), but I have to say, mom's practitioner has always been on-point. And when something in her body is out of whack, she gets specific holistic drops. Mom is 78 and in terrific health and shape; no prescription meds. As for prescription anti-inflammatories, be very careful with those. They carry horrific warnings for side effects and potential long-term damage. When I had my torn meniscus, before my surgery when I was in a lot of pain, the dr wanted to prescribe an anti-inflammatory. I came home with the scrip and looked it up and said no way was I taking that stuff. I don't know about the laws in FL, but maybe you could qualify for medical marijuana? Just a suggestion.

I'm so glad to hear LB is doing well in 1st grade, so far. His sheep is so cute. And, as always, your shawl is gorgeous. You are so talented with your knitting.

elns said...

You have lovely handwriting, Mere. I love the sheep LB made for you. It's a smile giver. Wishing you well.

handmade by amalia said...

Hello Meredith, I was on summer break so am only now visiting to catch up on your news, there is always a lot going on at yours - crafting and work and cute doggies and one special little boy - I do admire all that you accomplish on a daily basis. And the Zick Zack Shawl is beautiful. Glad to be back.
Amalia
xo

Jodiebodie said...

Returning to see whether you have posted further news and am admiring your Zick Zack shawl all over again. Lovely colours. It's a beauty.

Christine W said...

That looks good! Nice pattern of your scarf! A good week fot little Buddy. A beautiful Zick Zack shawl! Lovely pictures of the dogs.