this was our winter last year...

















it is so much nicer this  year!!!

today's lesson

ok, so i had my first knitting class today. it's the little green thing above my typing. it went well, and i have, well almost have - the hang of holding the yarn, the needles and actually getting through a row. it's just the "knit" stitch for now, i am attempting a scarf. i have no doubt i will get it done, but of course, once i got home, and away from the instructor, somehow i managed to add another stitch to the row. so instead of 30 stitches, i had 31.  instead of leaving it, i tried to fix it. BIG mistake. much worse than adding a stitch. i had watched my very kind instructor, pull out a couple of rows while she was teaching me. i had hoped i could do the same, and with successful results, but that was not to be. so i kind of just muddled along, and kept going to keep the practice of holding the needles and yarn. but it became VERY clear, it wasn't looking too pretty, so i stopped.  i will try to get to her shop on wednesday evening, but i am not holding much hope that she'll be open by the time i get home from work. 
on a brighter note, i have two rows together from my mystery quilt. it's slow going because my seams are all off because i did not have an exact 1/4" seam.  this is not my couple of months for successful quilting, but i continue because i enjoy it. and i think this quilt, will still be very pretty, just a tad smaller than the pattern called for. i tried and tried to rotate it so that it would be in the proper direction, but it looks like that's not happening. if you tilt your head to the left, then you would see the top row, and the second row...
and meghan has started a quilt...  i'll get a picture of that for the next time... potentially next weekend.

but, for now, what's next is stopping the crafty stuff for the night, and settling down with game of thrones by george rr martin. i am really enjoying that, it's as good as the television series.  so good night and i hope your stitches are even,  your needles slide well, your seams are accurate,and your sewing machine hums along!

a picture of the swan boats in the beautiful boston public garden

ok... that was wrong.

http://www.anniek-whatsnext.blogspot.com/

i think this one is correct.

ohmygoodness...
got answers on how to get back into this one... for two other recent posts, please see the other blog...

http:// http://www.anniek-whatsnext.blogger.com/

and now that i know how to get back into this one, YAY...

very confusing.

type 2 diabetes

that's what's next. i have been officially diagnosed. not at all impressed. have spent the past two weeks on a roller coaster of emotions... haven't done denial, but definitely felt sad, and angry. i have been cranky and bitchy. it is a time consuming, lousy disease that i have to spend waaaay too much time thinking about. maybe this will get easier, but for the moment, not so much.

will be back when i can figure out how to fit this catastrophe into my crazy life. i know it's because i have not taken care of myself, but still, my papa was right, it's hell to get old. be back with further developements as they occur, or as i get a better handle on all of this.

no more lemonade

regarding this type 2 diabetes thing;  i was discussing the "situation" with someone- who was also recently diagnosed with type 2- friday afternoon and this person observed that trying to manage this disease is like another full time job. and he is correct. its not enough that i am a mom, even though my kids are all in their 20s, i still love, worry and care about them... i am a wife... i have 2 adorable dogs... i have a house... i work full time... and now i need to freaking pay attention to whatever i want to put into my mouth. i am counting carbs, looking at food labels to discover how many carbs are in something, along with how much protein. i am constantly worrying about what my blood sugar levels are- at least they are finally out of the 400+ range- remembering to take pills, some in the middle of the night, some at breakfast, some at supper.

i TRY to keep a positive attitude, because negativity and being the victim gets old...and no one wants to hang around with a "negative nancy" - so i have always liked the saying "when life hands you lemons, make lemonade" and in reality, pink lemonade always makes me happy- but now, since i don't use artificial sweeteners, i am stuck on not being able to even make lemonade.  i am sure i'll figure something out, but for now, i am just sad that such drastic changes need to take place. but really, this blog does actually deserve a "WHAT'S NEXT" designation.