I can sit again...

...at least long enough to post a bit. (And warning - it's pic heavy.)

Hip surgery is not exactly fun...but I'm making it and up and walking with the help of my trusty cane. (I actually forgot it last night when walking from the bathroom to the bed...yes, it's only about 9 feet - but I did it unassisted!

It's been four weeks tomorrow since surgery and while I'm not quite where I want to be, I'm not in the same kind of pain that I was in - and this is a good thing!

My Knitters really helped take care of me through all of this - Elizabeth and Annise came to see me in the hospital and brought plants and goodies. Hanane, Annise and Andrea came to visit and brought dinner. Becky, Betty and Tasha visited, brought goodies and helped me watch movies. And I would get daily calls, emails and cards from different ones - just letting me know that they were thinking about me. You can't imagine how much that means!

The worst part about the whole thing was the lack of a good knitting position. I found it impossible to knit laying on my back...which was the worst torture ever. Having all of this time off - and not being able to knit a stitch.

Which was double terrible 'cause of all of this that came to me in my stupor:



This beautiful yarn by White Willow in the Avalon colorway from Becky. (Who recently got the bestest news ever!) I think she made the stitch markers - she's so crafty!

Also - probably the most useful thing she brought me was this:



This little "Go Knit" Pouch from KnowKnits.com was the handiest thing - it snapped to my walker and I could carry my knitting around the house - and it doubled as "purse" to carry my wallet when I needed to leave the house for the doc's office, etc. It comes in multiple sizes and every knitter should definitely have one - you don't even have to be using a walker!! ;)

This beautiful Sunshine Yarns "Cup O' Joe" colorway from Blogless Betty. (This is a TERRIBLE pic of this yarn - it's rich brown and taupe colors - like a yummy cup of coffee...this makes it look much more orange than it is...) Miss Betty also send me the most luscious Brownies EVER - they are so rich and yummy.

And this beautiful Sophie's Toes "American Patchwork" from Tasha (along with a cool blue jean knitting bag and some stuff to help with my dyeing!) (Tasha also "helped" me in this difficult time of being laid up at the exact time that all of the local yarn stores were having these huge sales by going and buying me the things I "needed" or picking up the things had already purchased over the phone.)

This American Patchwork has been the first yarn that I can ever recall it "Talking to me." I've heard of this phenomenon - wherein a knitter hears a yarn calling to her to knit it up...even telling her what the pattern must be.

Well, let me just say that this yarn is also schizophrenic. First it wanted to be a pattern out of More Sensational Socks...then it wanted to be Jaywalkers (which is what is on the needles above...) As of this morning, I have frogged the Jaywalkers and am officially putting the yarn in Time Out. She's beautiful - but a little out of her mind. ;)

Once I was able to be upright in my recliner, I was able to finish my Monkey socks. I love Love LOVED this pattern and was not sick of it by the second sock...which is a major accomplishment. (I don't know if pain drugs had anything to do with this...but I'm takin' it as I can get it!)

They really aren't for someone with club feet - they fit my size 9's perfectly! I just need to break down and get me some blockers!! They are my first pair that are for me Me ME!! (Done in Lorna's Laces in the Aslan colorway!)

Right after surgery, I got home to a package that I had ordered from one of the knitters in our local group - Teresa is making these BEAUTIFUL sock bags to look like turtles and Froggies...

Meet Lilly! She makes me giggle.







I really can't let this thing end without mentioning my "nursing staff."

Alek has been such a love - doing things that he probably didn't realize he'd have to do when he said "I Do" six years ago.

My Mama - I still wish she hadn't gone home last week. ;) She was so good about everything - doing Mama work - and more. I know we drive her crazy at times - but I so appreciated all of the cooking and cleaning and caretaking she did.

Oh...and this is my Sabine - the one who has become my best nursemaid and therapy dog...



She looks all cute there in that pic - but when she's pushing me to do my Physical Therapy, she's all business! (The PT who came to the house wanted to take her with her as a therapy dog...she's such a love!)

...now back to knitting. I got the Jojoland Rhythm in the M26 colorway. (Fastest ebay shipping ever - paid for it Friday, got it Saturday! I know I live close to the woman, but still!)

This is what it looked like on the auction:



This is what I got.



Now... I love it! I also know it bears very little resemblance to the picture on the auction. I also know that this yarn has many layers and that those colors in the original picture will eventually show up. Just for you, I am digging in a ball to give an example:



I'm going to try to do the Lady Eleanor Shawl from "Scarf Style." After taking the Knitting Fairy's Entrelac class at the DFW Fiber Fest, I think I can do it! And I love this yarn...and think it will be a beautiful shawl with it!

Of course with me, we'll just have to see how bored I get with it. ;)

We all know I have Knitting ADD.

Thanks again for everyone's Thoughts and Prayers. They have meant the world to me...