Drifting back

I’m still here!

Nothing monumental has kept me away from the blog. I drifted away; I don’t know what else to call it. I’ve heard from many friends — little notes with worry attached to them, hesitant questions about my absence and my health — and I want to tell you all how dear you are, and how sorry I am to have concerned you.

I’m also a little sorry that lately most of my (spotty) contact with my friends and my family has been through Facebook, because not everyone uses it, and it certainly doesn’t replace the blog, or an email, or a call. I want to remedy that.

My life has been occupied with realities, and I suppose they have been enough to have changed my focus and drawn me away from the small bits of writing that I’ve always done, both here and privately.

My health has been one reality — but it’s “just” the chronic lymphedema that is one of the souvenirs of my cancer treatment (my lymphatic system in my legs doesn’t function properly any more). I spent a couple of months going for treatment at a Wound Care Center for an infection in one leg, then at Christmas I developed another infection in my other leg. I’ve made progress, but still, I have to learn how to live with and manage this condition, because I can’t function when it’s taking over my daily life. That, and I’d like to be able to take a walk.

Another reality — which I’ve spoken of on Facebook — is that my dear cat Annabelle is seriously ill. At Thanksgiving the vet diagnosed an inoperable tumor in her small intestine, and since then I’ve been giving and getting all the love I can, and waiting for the time when her little self lets me know she needs to leave. Right this minute, she’s purring in her usual place, under the lamp on my desk. She spends her days eating a little, sleeping a lot, and reminding me that she’s in charge around here. I’m going to miss her so.

Since having to spend so much time with my feet up, I’ve been doing a lot of knitting. I made some beautiful Christmas gifts, but did I photograph them? Of course not! There was: a Porom tam in Foxfire Fibers Cormo/Silk/Alpaca, a Honey Cowl in Sundara DK, two Hydrangea Neckwarmers in Spirit Trail Berte and Foxfire Cormo/Silk/Alpaca, a pair of Foxglove mitts in Berrocco Blackstone Tweed, and some silly coffee cup cozies for my coworkers in miscellaneous leftover yarns. I did take a picture of the sock yarn /lavender sachets, though.

So here I am. It’s a new year, and the days are already growing longer. I hope I can be present here more often. I’ve missed it, and I’ve missed you. ♥