The Poopy Experiment

So as you know our Poo has Feline Diabetes. Last week we purchased a meter to test his blood glucose levels here at home. Well today, with the help of YouTube, Buddy and his owner, and Poo's vet we were successfully able test Poo's glucose levels. Granted the test results were 562 which is WAY to high. In an ideal world we would like him somewhere between 100 and 200.

In the video below we learned how exactly to perform a glucose test on a feline. Thanks Buddy!




So tomorrow Poo's vet has asked that we perform a glucose curve on Poo. This will require 11+ hours of work by Poo, Jimmy and myself. At zero hours Poo will get his shot of Insulin, which we changed today from .005 to .0075 based on the very high level reading today. Then starting 4 hours out and every 45 minutes there after we are going to test his blood glucose levels. The results will be placed into a curve chart so that we can determine his low point. It is very important that we figure out how low Poo's glucose level is actually going so we can determine his correct dose of insulin. There was a point when the doctor checked him in the office and he was at something like 70, which is way to low.

So stay tuned tomorrow, later in the day, and I will post his glucose curve.

Full Blown Spring Fever Baby....

Yep! I knew it wouldn't take much and boy oh boy mother nature did not disappoint. Yesterday was in the seventies here. WOW it was so nice. I believe I may experience a huge nasty mood swing if it snows again this season.

Jimmy and I went for a walk at Homestead Park yesterday morning. It was nice to be outside without 5 layers of clothing. Here are a couple pictures taken during our walk.




Friday I received a Knitpicks yarn order. There is some Cotlin yarn to make the Slinky-Rib sweater for spring/summer from Wendy of Knit and Tonic. There is sock yarn, Essential Kettle Dyed, for four pairs of socks and some stitch markers.


Kristie asked if I wanted to knit the SKA March Mystery Sock along with her. Clue one was published last Sunday and clue two today. I cast on, not once but twice, to start these socks yesterday. My first attempt went south pretty quickly but my second try is going pretty darn well. I am using Frog Tree Alpaca yarn for these lovelies. I have seen some pictures of finished clue one and it is soooooo pretty. Here is my cuff of sock 1 with the first lace repeat complete. I think I will knit a total of two repeats for the cuff and cast on the second sock since I want to have them both through clue one before I start clue two.

Attempt one:


Second cast on..


This morning I finally couldn't stand it any longer. I had to cast on the bedroom blanket for Jimmy. I really love Mission Falls 1824 Wool! Soooooooo soft and buttery. A pleasure to knit with for sure.


So in an attempt to regulate our Poo's glucose levels the Vet asked if we would be willing to test his blood regularly. On Friday we received his meter. Yesterday we attempted to take a reading but didn't not have success because the reading said we didn't haven enough blood. Poo was pretty pissed off at us after we stuck him 4 times to get blood. So we will try again today. I have been in contact with the Vet and she is going to contact her Vet friend who has done these tests on another kitty to get us some pointers. Here is his new meter.

Knitting 'can delay' memory loss

One mover very good reason to knit people!

Knitting 'can delay' memory loss

Knitting may help, but watching too much TV could be a problem

Engaging in a hobby like reading a book, making a patchwork quilt or even playing computer games can delay the onset of dementia, a US study suggests.

Watching TV however does not count - and indeed spending significant periods of time in front of the box may speed up memory loss, researchers found.

Nearly 200 people aged 70 to 89 with mild memory problems were compared with a group who had no impairment.

The findings are to be presented to an American Academy of Neurology meeting.

The researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota asked the volunteers about their daily activities within the past year and how mentally active they had been between the age of 50 to 65.

One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years so there is a desperate need to find ways to prevent dementia Alzheimer's Society

Those who had during middle age been busy reading, playing games or engaging in craft hobbies like patchworking or knitting were found to have a 40% reduced risk of memory impairment.

In later life, those same activities reduced the risk by between 30 and 50%.

Those who watched TV for less than 7 hours a day were also 50% less likely to develop memory loss than those who spent longer than that staring at the screen.

"This study is exciting because it demonstrates that ageing does not need to be a passive process," said study author and neuroscientist Dr Yonas Geda.

"By simply engaging in cognitive exercise, you can protect against future memory loss. Of course, the challenge with this type of research is that we are relying on past memories of the participants, therefore we need to confirm these findings with additional research."

Sarah Day, head of public health at the Alzheimer's Society said: "One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years so there is a desperate need to find ways to prevent dementia.

"Exercising and challenging your brain - by learning new skills, doing puzzles such as crosswords, and even learning a new language - can be fun.

"However, more research, where people are followed up over time, is needed to understand whether these sorts of activities can reduce the risk of dementia."

Woodsmokes ~ Uno almost finished

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter
I had put this project aside to work on the Komet socks. Now that they are finished I can refocus on these babies. I love this pattern and yarn marriage. The subtle color changes from the kettle dye just add to the curling smoke pattern.

Front-Loader + Wool = Partial Felting

This post is sort of a continuation from the post earlier today. Here is a picture of the red scarf partially felted.


Not a great picture but you can see the loss of lace stitch definition for sure.

Below is a picture of Arla wearing my blue bombshell. I am grateful it is going to be worn and enjoyed.

Remember this?

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

This is a warning to all.... I have had MANY people say to me, "you can't felt wool in a front-loading washer". THIS IS NOT ~ I REPEAT ~ IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT.

You can felt in a front-loader. Did you hear me? Did you read this? Yes it is true. You can CAN can felt wool in a front-loader.

Pictures coming soon.

This piece and my lovely fitted, with boob darts as Jimmy reminded me, blue bombshell partially felted last night in the hand wash setting of my front-loader.

Take heed knitters!

Komet Socks 100%

Komets 100%
Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

These socks went so fast. Well I did cheat a little bit by ending the pattern mid foot and finish them in stockinette stitch. Tuesday is going to be a great day! What day wouldn't be amazing wearing new hand knit socks?