Dawn Brocco's Life & Design Blog

Had a lovely, quiet Christmas. DD stopped by for a few hours and will be back on Saturday with new beau for much of the day. One of her gifts was a cap I knit which didn't fit (she's smaller than me), so I undid it and reknit her a scarf last night. She may be 28, but she prefers her Transformers hat, anyway!

The Alpaca Boucle I'm using in a grey/black tweed is quick to knit and the color (or lack thereof!) is right up her latest wear-just-black phase. Must be from working in NYC, where dressing in black is de rigeur.

And of course, many hours were spent on the phones with relatives, who all sent such lovely gifts - much to enjoy and be thankful for! Including Pookie's Lasagna with meatballs on the side - a Christmas tradition in our house.

What I love to listen to at Christmas - thanks to gift from wonderful hubby - Can't help it - grew up watching the special every year,a nd always loved the music!

Cool jazz - no wonder I like it - absolutely LOVE another cool jazz group - The Dave Brubeck Quartet.

My middle brother and wife sent a lovely tea set with herbal teas chosen specifically to boost my health!


So, I tried the Mulberry tea last night, and actually drank it. For herbal tea, the taste wasn't bad at all. I've always liked the *idea* of herbal teas, but not usually the taste! There's 2 more to try - Lemongrass and Southern Ginseng.

Today, I get to rest my throat (Hubby has his 2 jobs to go to) and immune system - seems the Dexamethasone is not only to help with the nausea, but it's also the stupid steroid that messes with the sleep AND is an immune suppressant. Though I made it to almost 8 am this morning, which is better than the first couple post-chemo days were, sleep-wise. I was plum tuckered out by 9 last night (aided, I'm sure, by the slow-digesting lasagna!), so I'm sure that allowed me to sleep a bit more.

I WAS gonna use Bollicine's Revolution for the new Chill Chaser Vest sample, but after receiving the yarn and swatching it, there's no way in heck this yarn is a good substitute for Kraemer Yarns' Bear Creek.

Way too thin - they list the gauge as 2 sts/1" - yeah, if you want gauze for a fabric! So, I've been looking online, and finally thought to double up the B&L Softspun and swatched it last night. This may do it, gauge-wise (it's still blocking) and is much softer than the Bear Creek and the Revolution, AND I'll be ordering the yarn, anyway, so that helps as I won't need to get another yarn elsewhere and pay extra shipping.

If not, I'll swatch their Country Roving, when it comes in. I could just ask Kraemer Yarns for more yarn, but I don't want to overextend their generosity, and it IS nice to see a design in an alternative yarn, anyway.

Kraemer Yarns' Naturally Nazareth yarn is holding up rather well in the 3 pairs of socks I've knit from it, despite it not having any nylon content! And I'm HARD on socks, so that's saying something. Now it IS worsted to heavy worsted wt, and needs hand washing, but if you have my sock yarn prefs and haven't found anything sturdy enough, yet cozy to wear, you may want to try this yarn out.