We're doing it again.....

....renovating, that is. This time it's the staircase. When we completely renovated the downstairs about four years ago, we didn't have enough time, money, and to be honest, umph left to tackle the staircase. Well, now is the time. Here is our progress so far.



This is what we'll be covering the existing stairtread with.

Old piece of stairtread carpet. Yuck, the dust/dirt under it!!!

Carpet all gone!

Removing the railing.



I think Richard is trying to kill us all with the primer he's using - it's oil based to cover up the stained rough cedar wood, and it stinks. Yea verily does it pong!

There is a bit of knitting to show you:

KnitPicks Stroll Tonal Fingering in Blue Yonder. I loved the Hedera pattern by Cookie A that I'm using it again. This is very unusual for me, as once a pattern is knit it rarely gets re-used. I like to move on to new patterns and new adventures. Hedera, however, has an allure and appeal for me that I couldn't just put it away yet.

Darn it!

Yes, I have several, five to be exact, pairs of socks that are holey. I love these socks, and therefore do not subscribe to the Darn It method of repair: look at holes in socks, say "Darn It", and toss them into bin. They deserve better than that, they are saveable.

But I am having a decided lack of enthusiasm for the chore. With all that's been going on lately, I'm having a decided lack of enthusiasm for most daily things right now. Truly hoping this resolves itself soon.

I do have pics of my current SIP (socks in progress), but not where I can get to them right now. Promise to post them later. :)

And so life moves on

Since last reporting on my dad, things have happened. He recovered enough from the broken hip to go back to the rehab center. But after a few days, he began to decline, to exhibit signs of confusion and hallucinations. The staff wanted him to go again to the hospital for tests that they couldn't perform there.

Daddy did go to the hospital, and stayed there another week; he was just released back to rehab yesterday. We believe through all this that he is suffering from post-operative delirium. I've never seen him so weak, so unable to be the man I remember as being 10' tall and able to do absolutely anything. It's very sad and I'm sad for him. I'm also angry at the "way things are".

My brother and I, with help from my hubby, went interviewing long-term care facilities in OKC. We found two we liked very much, but we just don't know how he can swing it on his monthly retirement income. I cannot believe how expensive this type of setting is. It's unfreakingbelievable. $4,500/month and that's just room and board really. There are so many incidentals that aren't covered. How in the world are people supposed to actually be able to afford this?

Anyway, hubby and I are headed back to OKC tomorrow to tour more facilities, and to start packing away Daddy's life. He has a one bedroom apartment at an independent living center, but he can't live there anymore. Daddy must have the level of care that a long-term home provides. There are a few things that both my brother and I know we'll take from his apartment, but the rest.....I guess it can just go into storage. Or maybe be purchased by an auction house. The balance of Daddy's life in a few boxes.

This entire experience is really souring me on the prospect of growing old. It doesn't look to be much fun. There must be a better way, an alternative. I'd like to speak to the Entity in Charge and lodge a serious complaint.

Another one in the "done" column

These are such comfy feeling socks, I'm really happy with them. And the colors are wonderful!! I love how they don't pool and bunch. Fingering weight Koi Pond by Three Irish Girls.

Fertig!

Just channeling my inner German. I'm finished with the Hedera socks for Katie's boyfriend's mom. This lace pattern knits up very quickly. I might use it for the socks I'll be doing for my SIL. I don't know - I don't ususally repeat a lace sock pattern, we'll see.

All washed and blocking :)

Whew

This has been a tough week. Early Monday morning my brother calls me to say that Daddy has fallen and broken his hip. This happened in the rehab center he was already in for falling two week before that and breaking two ribs. So off to Oklahoma City Hubby and I go to see what's going on. Daddy gets admitted to the hospital, of course, but they can't do the hip surgery on him because he has pneumonia in his right lung, and his blood is too thin from his normal meds. Joy. We stay all day and then head back home with the understanding that he won't be able to have his surgery until all those things get better.

Tuesday is a normal day until about late afternoon, when again a call from my brother stirs us to action. Yes, the docs say, Daddy will have surgery at 7:00 a.m. Wednesday. Not that everything has cleared up, but because they need to get him up and moving for a better overall recovery, and that means his hip has to be fixed.

We leave the house at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning to get to the hospital in time to see Daddy before surgery. It all goes swimmingly well, thank God. The surgeon was very happy with the overall state of Daddy's bones, said they were very dense for an 88 year-old man, not all porous and brittle. Yay! Wednesday was spent watching and waiting for Daddy to come out of the anesthesia haze. By the time we left that evening he had eaten a solid dinner and had had a breathing treatment.

Thursday was a day for doctor appointments for myself and Hubby. Called Daddy and found out he'd already had the "physical terrorists" (as he calls the therapists) in his room and they had him up and out of bed to begin his recovery. No rest for the wicked!!

Today, Friday, my poor hubby had to have oral surgery so I'm home with him playing Florence Nightingale. He's doing very well, and believes that percoset is his very best friend. That and the kitty curled up on his lap. Soft kitty warm kitty little ball of fur. Happy kitty sleepy kitty purr purr purr.

Just glad this week is about over. It's been a doozy. Pretty sure we'll be making another trip to OKC sometime next week to see Daddy, but I just don't know when exactly.

Tired? Why yes I am. Wine? Yes please, fill 'er up!

ps: I did do a lot of knitting on the Hedera sock while at the hospital. Turned the heel on the second sock and made good movement down towards the toes.

50% + 50% = 50%

Because 50% of a pair of socks does not a full pair make. I have one full sock of the Koi Pond colorway (left) and one full sock of the Hedera pattern (right, which I love, btw) complete, but since they are from different pairs, I still don't have 100% done yet. ;)