The First Day of Retirement

Yesterday was my last day of work. There was a barbecue with sooo much food! ...tempura king crab legs, edamame salad, Maile's famous pumpkin roll, tabbouleh salad and so much more! I was stuffed to the gills.

My house looks like a florist.




It was all so final...turning in the parking pass, the ids, the computer token, my beeper and doctors coats. I emptied out my desk and brought Yorick home. He's lost his patella. I thought it was stored in his cranium, but alas...poor Yorick! He seems quite happy though anyway and ready for whatever comes up next.



Today, it still seems like a dream. The plan is to get my house together and get ready for the chapter 2, in which the Acornbud knits, finished up those other crafty WIPs, gets healthier and suddenly becomes a good housekeeper and gardener. Well, number 1 and 2 for sure:) And of course I have to use all those gift cards! Hmmm...oh oh, the Cheesecake Factory.

Black Koigu Broken Rib Socks

Pattern: Sensational Socks, broken 2x2 rib. K2P2 around, then K then next row around.
64 stitches.
Needles: size 1 Clover 5" dps. I tried the Hiyahiya short circs, but wasn't very comfortable on them.
Yarn: Koigu in black

These socks hibernated a bit but were rescued and completed in Kona. It was hard to to get inspired by the black yarn, so practical, but not so fun to knit, even in sproingy, wonderful Koigu.

I hit Kona early so hung out in Borders for lunch and the AC. I read about A Fine Fleece and had talked myself out of it, as I don't spin, but it is a wonderful book and I had a gift card! Yay! My Ultra Alpaca Lobster Mix Forest River Gansey was languishing unloved so I frogged it and started up Portland Pullover. It is a much better pairing!

The Hapuna Beach Prince was under construction so I was given a resort credit daily! YAY. I love the brunch and ate the best bread pudding I ever had, not to mention the fresh strawberries with bowls of whipped cream. It was so quiet and relaxing. I slept, walked the beach, read 2 books, finished my socks and attended the conference on Pediatric topics. The Hapuna Beach is the best beach on the the Big Island. It is surrounded by old lava flows. Waterworld was filmed not far from here and the ocean can be an incredible blue at times.
These red flowers were in bloom all over the place.

On the last day I drove around to Hilo. The Yarn Basket was open, but the owner was not in. I didn't have a lot of time there, but enjoyed squishing all the different yarns. I was tempted sorely by the silky wool.

At night I was serenaded by the e. coqui They are quite a nusiance, but didn't bother my sleep. I totally fell for this exotic goat, Nani. He was named Nani, a girl's name, but turned out to be a boy. I thought he was so unusual with his red hair and horns, only to learn he was painted! He acts more like a dog then a goat. I never noticed what unusual eyes goats have. Nani always seems to be smiling, too.


Hilo has a wonderful open market. It's a great litchee season in Hilo and the Big Island is known for its papayas. The anthuriums and orchids are amazing. I was only in Hilo one day, but managed to have the taro hash and pancakes at Encore. Yum!
This sign in the restaurant is made of a thousand gold cranes.

The Countdown says 12 calendar days!

I tried really hard to think of an appropriate retirement gift for myself, and finally settled on a roll of stamps for mailing thank you notes, a fine leather good as I was in need of check book cover, and some yarn and yarn goodies. I decided to buy local.
The first day I contacted Sue at Isle Knits, she did not answer the phone. I was sure it was karma, and so tried to find something good at Little Knits or Webs online. After cruising the thrift store with Angela and Kim, and stuffing my face with meat jun at Yummy's, I tried Sue again. As it turns out she was in and said something is wrong with her phone! So I went down and parked in a brand new parking structure beneath one of those humongous complexes that just went up downtown, and Sue just happened to be in the lobby getting her mail. Now that's karma:) Anyway, I had the whole store to myself as it was a Hawaiian holiday.

I tried hard to come up with yarn for St. Brigid, with no luck. So I decided to make myself happy with some Noro silk garden for some little projects, and a couple skeins of Totoro like colors in Donegal Aran Tweed by Debbie Bliss. I also purchased some Berroco Linen Jeans in beet root to make February Lady Sweater.

Sue talked me into trying those very tiny 8 inch circs for socks. I also go some of those tubey things to put sock needles and projects on, and a small needle gauge for my notions box.

All in all a good haul, except for St. Brigid which will just have to wait.

After I return from my Big Island trip where I plan to bask in the sun and knit and read, I have only 3.5 working days. I suspect that is why I think constantly about consuming large bowls of whipped cream with fresh strawberries. Stress eating over leaving the source of my stress behind.

Summer seemed "on" for a few days and it looked like it was really going to be a warm one. Then some rain came and today it is overcast and not quite so warm. I find myself obsessed with the whole pre-retirement thing. The first thing that went is my housekeeping. Never a priority for me, but it's hit an all time low. I may just kill myself tripping over shoes that never got put away. I've made some feeble efforts at doing laundry and putting dishes away, and at least no houseplants have been neglected to death. I actually cooked a meal. The next victim of neglect was my exercise. I had a sorethroat and bodyaches yesterday so at least I can spread that excuse over at least two days. I tell myself soon, I will have a lot of time on my hands!

So I'm practicing for retirement by focusing on some TV and movie watching, knitting, some reading, thank you notes, and perhaps one email to that supervisor I just got off on the wrong foot with. There is no point in worrying about the financial part, the part time job, or any of that at this point! It's do or die:)

I've finished The Book Thief, and I'm half way through A Thousand Splendid Suns. This book is very captivating so far. Next in my reading queue is Twilight. My Netflix queue has almost 300 things in it so I won't run out anytime soon. I'm watching Atsuhime and Battlestar Galactica on the tube.

Opal came back from a long trip which included the Maryland Sheep and Wool and returned bearing gifts. I have a cool tube of roving for my needlefelting adventures! Thanks, Opal!


I was gifted this green bag full of local style goodies and it has become a great little bag for knitting while watching TV! The goodies didn't last long. I could say who it was from but not with the privacy act. Thats the River Forest Gansey WIP in Ultra Alpaca Lobster Mix. The color doesn't show too well.


More gifts!
A hand quilted zippered bag, cupcake bag from Cinnamon Girl, printed grocery bag, and large purse with outside pockets. I will not run out of bags for awhile!
My 8 inch square has run into problems.
Unless I find a maverick ball in my stash, or frog my Fetchings, I don't have enough yarn to finish the icords. Oh well, it is almost one inch too big anyway. Sigh. I liked the color, Cascade 220 Heathers.

M first beret attempt, Tweed Beret


Pattern by Kristin TenDyke, in IK Winter 2006
Yarn: Berocco Ultra Alpaca
Needles: size 6
This is a top down beret. I added the nubbin on the top instead of the two she has in the original. I'm not quite sure I got the decreases corret. She has a nice ribbing pattern to narrow the beret down to the headband which is stockinette that curls up by its self. I made the large, but I think I needed to keep increasing a bit so it would flounce out more. Either that or my head not the beret type. The head band fit just right. My target hat from The Wind that Shakes the Barley is felted, too.

I've been tagged

I got tagged by terby

1.) What was I doing ten years ago?
In 1998 I had two boys in high school. I was in my 18th year working for Kaiser Hawaii as a Family doc.

2) What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today:
organize a bit of my mess
knit on my River Forest Gansey
finish this meme:)
clean my fireplace
Shop for my retirement present. So far I've thought about new TV, fireplace screen, laptop, rewiring my patio and lighting, table for dining room, step tansu. Currently fireplace screen is winning, but rewiring the patio is coming in a close second.


3) Snacks I enjoy:
- chocolate
- nuts
- strawberries

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
- pay off my mortgage and fix up the house!
- get my sons set up in their own places
- travel in my private jet
- donate to help feed and educate others
- I'd buy a little yarn;)

5) Places I have lived:
Hawaii, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky

6) Jobs I have had:
Emergency Room registrar. Yup I had to ask bleeding, drunk and laboring people if they had insurance. It was better then working in the collection department though.
Family Physician, Kaiser
General Chemistry teaching assistant
pineapple packer, Dole Cannery (I only lasted two weeks)

7) Peeps I want to know more about:
sunflowerfairyknits
eklectika
theknittedbrow
lilikoiknits
yarnoverpullthrough

That Hat

How many of you out there in blogland watch a movie and get sidetracked by a knit? I was very distracted by a beret in blue that starred in The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
It's a bit hard to see. It has a nubbin on the top and a garter hem. I have more Ultra Alpaca crying out to be this hat. Sigh. Well see. The movie itself was set in the 1920s in Ireland. Brothers are caught in a conflict I still don't quite understand. It was sad.

I was totally surprised on Sunday with a "graduation" party as I like to call it.. I mean really surprised! I would have dressed better and worn some make up if I'd known. It was an awesome brunch with tons of flowers and best of all, I didn't have to make any speeches. I haven't had this many leis since I graduated from high school. There's no turning back now!

Ultra Totoro

Night shot in the box
A couple more are on Flickr
More photos for the beadlizard





Posing with epidendrums.

Saturday Sky Haiku

A moon rise surprise
Peaceful moments here then gone
Golden memory

Stash busting that eyelash yarn, Straw Lei

I used some cording I had laying around, but Isabelle used 3/8 inch grograin ribbon.
She also recommend the McDoogle (aka golden arches) straw because it is sturdy and wide enough to thread the grograin through.
I used the tube part of my fabric tube turner which I have misplaced since making the leis, and so the demo shows a drinking straw.

	Cut the ribbon longer then you want the lei to be and thread it throught he straw. Tape the end down to the straw. Tie the end of the yarns to the straw Isa used two, I used three.
	Grasp the knot and the straw and start winding the yarn around. Do not let the yarn wind over the previous wrap. Wrap so the loops are consistent, but lax enough to slide down the straw.
	Push the wraps down firmly toward the knotted end.
	When the straw is filled up, push the packed wraps on to the ribbon.

Repeat all the steps until your lei is as long as you want.

To finish, Isabelle (blogless) threads the ends of the grograin ribbin through shells and a
kukui nut,
and the wearer ties the ends into a bow to wear. I tied my ends together and the wearer slips the lei over their head. A ribbon bow can be tied on.

Seems to me that this can be done over elastic and made into hair thingies. I'm sure it´s been done:)


Ben Franklin Hawaii has nice instructions for a straw lei with beads.

Top Down Cardigan, FO

Pattern: Neck Down Shaped Cardigan #241 by Diane Soucy. Published by Pure and Simple.
Yarn: Berocco Ultra Alpaca, about 5.5 skeins.
Needles: 6s and 4s.
Mods: none

This is an easy pattern of mostly stockinette which was welcome humdrum. It' top down so the lack of seaming is a real plus. The raglan is not the best for my round shoulders, especially viewing from the back, but I love the top down idea. The yarn is very soft and fun to knit with. The color is called tanzanite. The sweater is very warm so I don't know how much wear it will get, but it is so comfy.

One month and 12 days until my retirement date. Getting all the paperwork done is annoying. I'm trying to focus on my mantra, "Grace, Gratitude and Acknowledgment" and soon:


I went to see Ironman last night with my sons. I enjoyed the action, story, acting and best of all the special effects.

Of Turtles and Alpaca

Blogless Michelle is on turtle patrol on the North Shore. The turtles come to a particular beach to bask in the sun and her job is share information about the turtles and prevent the busloads of tourists from getting too close and tormenting them. I brought my knitting, but knit not a stitch. Instead I lay in the sun, floated in the water and the time went by.




The green sea turtle is fully protected under both the federal Endangered Species Act and under Hawaii state law

In total disregard of my personal mandate to buy no more yarn, I got a sh*tload of ultra alpaca from Webs. But hey, it's soft and somewhat fluffy and I don't care if its not practical for Hawaii and that summer is on the way.


So I cast on for Pure and Simple's Neck Down Shaped Cardigan. I'm leaving out the shaping.

Not Scarlet, FO

My lovely nieces are modeling for me. On the left Christine is modeling the $4 Tommy Bahama silk dress I got at the thrift store. On the right is Jennifer modeling the sleeveless tank.





Pattern: Scarlet Woman Sleeveless Tank, by pieknits
Yarn: Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK, 5 balls for the XS small
Mods: just an unintentional boo boo in following the rib pattern. I did all left twists up the 6 stitches.

The pattern doesn't show up much in the photo on the black. It was a fun, fast knit, and both my sister and niece who tried it on said the yarn felt very good. Since it was cotton, I didn't block the pieces before sewing up the shoulder an side seams, but steamed it a bit before crocheting the neck and armhole edge. I quite happy with the size of the armholes and neck. I think it can be made longer for a taller person.

Hanging Around my Bathroom

While doing my residency in Lexington, Ky, I was fascinated by Shakertown. According to wikipedia, the Shakers, were a Protestant religious denomination officially called The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, originated in Manchester, England in 1772 under the leadership of Mother Ann Lee, who moved the nine-person group to New York in 1774. The colony in Kentucky was a one of 19. The group believed in celibacy and many of the members were orphans. I guess this zero population growth eventually led to extinction. What fascinated me was the simplicity of the life, which is reflected in the furnishings. I love the shaker pegs and have to thank my ex for humoring me and making a bunch of these for my bathroom, sewing room and laundry room. The Shakers hung up all their furniture on these pegs and this made housekeeping and floor washing much more efficent. Apparently they did a lot of cleaning. I hang up my buckets, my thread boxes, clothes, treasures, bag ladies ready for more plastic bags and all kinds of other stuff on them.


Opal gave me some very colorful yarn and I took a break from my two black projects Scarlet Tank and Koigu socks. Blogless Michelle was appalled by the colors although I think it matches her scarf.
The bag really was just random stitches and then a cord mixed together some very old cotton red and blue yarn I found in my closet. I think it will make a great bag to keep plastic grocery sacks it because it can grow larger then a baskeball! It went home with Opal.
I want to thank Megan for the bead book. There are some cute projects in there and I hope to get my bauble making mojo going.
Sandy had an interesting discussion about Sue Monk's Mermaid Chair that I stumbled on. I got the next book on her list, but it's really fat and I wonder if I'll finish it in time. If not it can go on the shelf with all the other books I plan to read after I retire. Reading is on my list.


I hit my 3rd Blogiversary on April Fool's Day. I am so grateful for the great community of real and imaginary friends. The inspirations and the stories are priceless. Thanks!

Random thoughts while treading water

At 3 months, 14 hours to retirement, I think a lot about saying goodbye to a 27+year career. Having a virus also makes me grumpy and somewhat negative. Maybe it's time to take those blues CDs out of my car, heh. And now that my Pakucho is done, what next? So I decided to take Kim up on doing the Random thoughts meme. Everyone who happens by this post is also invited:)

5 Random Thoughts
1. Really, I don't need a $200+ knitting book, even if it is Alice Starmore's Aran Knitting. It's pure indulgence and there are more worthy causes.
2. I think about that 35 year old man who died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. He was a patient assigned to me by the health plan who(m?) I never met. He was single. Who was he? I will not miss worrying about patients at 3 in the morning or on holidays and weekends after I retire but no doubt I will still think about them. I still think about Mr. H from medical school days.
3. I want so much to knit the red Fleece Artist Marina. I just don't think anyone I know, including me will wear a tube scarf.
4. Is there a secret to cooking pancakes? Why do mine cook too fast or too slow, heh. I'll have to get my sister, master pancake maker to share her secrets.
5. I think about all kinds of other hats I might try on in the next chapter of my life...librarian, prison doctor, etsy store keeper, substitute teaching. All dreams so far. I have no experience in retail. I suspect there are a million other jobs I never even heard of. It constantly amazes me at how small my world is.

Hmmm, I just remembered, I gave up thinking for 2008...I'm supposed to be living in the NOW. So much for resolutions. But then again, maybe random thoughts are not the same as thinking. I think I'll just let the mystery be.

Pakucho Treasure, just about FO

Pattern: Centerpiece Treasure Afghan, Lion Brand Pattern
Yarn: Pakucho Organic Cotton 6 colors, about 2 skeins each
Needles: Knitpicks Options, size 9
Mods: Finished up with a picot bind-off. With the last color, I knit one row, then purled one row the did the picot bind-off, casting on two and binding off. I think that last purled row cut down on the curling.
I have yet to block or wash this thing. It's not quite a square or circle, and small like the the baby it's for. The yarn is very cushy. The stockinette is just the thing for mindless knitting while catching up on the netflicks.

Nautie, FO

Pattern: Nautie from Knitty (ooh just noticed the Spring issue is up)
Yarn: The last of the Classic Merino Peacock
Mods: I knit the face directly on the body, by picking up the bumps behind the bind off row so I could avoid seaming. Instead of casting off on the face I knit two together and used the last 3 stitches to knit the first tentacle. I have yet to make a eye as I can't locate my white felt so I cheated and used pelon for the photo shoot.

This strange critter is a fun, fast project. I don't know what to knit next. The Jo Sharp Soho I got for Cherry just isn't speaking to me. I wanted to do IKs Flutter sleeve cardigan, but the gauge was way off. Maybe the yarn really wants to be Cherry. I have reservations about the neck line, but may just make it for one of my tiny relatives.

The Totoro were a little disappointed that there wasn't a Peacock Totoro, but have let it go and moved on, heh.

My Lillehammer

Pattern: Cider Moon, Lillehammer
Yarn: Cascade 220 scraps and left over peacock Paton's Classic Merino
Needles: Size 5 circular/DPs

The Feral Knitter suggested I try holding both colors of yarn in my left hand when I complained about what a poor thrower I was so I watched a couple of you tube videos and off I went. This method of fer-alling suits me better:) Thanks Janine!

I had difficulty with the first row so I used a different method for it, doing one color at time. I was thinking this made the first row curl, but after reading about it discovered this is faq! A twisted German cast on was suggested, so I watched the you tube of this and will have to try it next time around.

I ran out of cream at the top and substituted peacock and so I have a big blob of it on top. It is a bit habit forming, but hard on my hands for now. I'm sure to run out of the peacock classic merino soon, but maybe there is enough for a Totoro:)

Bar Harbor Shell Bag, FFO (finally finished object)

Pattern: Knitting Dream's Bar Harbor Shell Bag
Yarn: Lamb's Pride worsted, 2 sk khaki, 1 sk pine shadows, 1 sk onyx.
Light felted to preserved stitch definition
Mods: I cast on 7 stitches for the strap and did 3 st attached i-cord on both sides to make a wider strap.

The lining was challenge. I used two layer Timtex on the bottom and one layer of thickest sew in interfacing which was not as stiff as I was hoping. I thought adding the lining would stiffen it more, but it still is a little flimsy. My bag came out tall instead of inverted bell shape, stands alone, and all in all I'm quite happy with it. I may make one of those removable pocket things for the inside.

On another front, it finally happened. I knit a hat that actually fits me. Hah. Miracles do happen. I give you heart hat, top down beanie, in Peacock Classic Merino.

Wednesday Sunset

This portion of tonight's sunset was so fleeting. A real wow moment.

The lining for Bar Harbor Shell Bag is proving challenging, as is the closure. I found a lovely button to use,but the loop I used was too thick. Sigh, I feel more i-cord knitting coming on.

Oatmeal Nut Scones

I adapted the scone recipe from Joy of Cooking to use the stuff my friends Margaret and Betty had in their kitchen. I love scones, I like them sweet and buttery and I like them to have oatmeal and whole grain flour. I need that fiber to counteract the sugar, don't you know;)

scones
Originally uploaded by acornbud

1 cup coarsely ground oatmeal
3/4 c whole wheat pastry flour
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2-3 teaspoon orange or lemon zest
2 eggs sl. beaten
1/3 c milk
1/4 c butter
1/4 c chopped almonds

Mix the eggs and milk together. Add the ground oatmeal and allow to set while preparing the dry ingredients.
Mix the flower, sugar and baking powder together. Cut in the butter until the size of small peas. (a pastry cutter, two knives or a food processor all work well!)
Mix everything together gently until just well blended. (other nuts work just as well). Add a teaspoon of vanilla if you like. If the dough is too wet make drop scones, about 6. If it is drier, shape into a 6 inch round and cut into wedges. Sprinkle sugar crystals or brush with egg wash if you like.
Bake 400 deg, 12-15 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet. A lot depends on your oven.

To make glaze, start with 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Add lemon juice or Grand Marnier or maple syrup, and mix until it is smooth and flows slowly from a spoon. Apply to scone as soon as it comes out of the oven.


I think the flour can be replaced by ground nuts. I may try it.