Week 17 – Chronic Pain and Dinosaur

Another week, and another blog! 17 weeks into 2026, and I’m still recovering from an MCAS / chronic pain flare.

The brain fog is fogging this week! It’s hard to keep my eyes open during the day, and I’m wired at night. This is pretty standard for me. I’ve always had issues sleeping, and my brain is most active after the sun goes down (which is great until you’re up at 1:30AM trying to convince your system that it’s time to sleep).

The weather has been weirdly warm after the 1 week of winter we experienced at the beginning of the month. It’s currently 26C outside as I’m writing this, but only 28% humidity (no wonder my eyes are so dry).

The change of seasons is really messing with my system. My histamine bucket runeth over. I’ve had to add another antihistamine per day to try to counteract some of it. I’ve had burning on the top of my feet for a couple of weeks now. Not to mention crazy amounts of pain in my hips and legs. I think the pain is actually coming from my psoas, which also explains issues I’ve been having with my diaphragm for years. The issue is that I also have significant medical trauma, so my body doesn’t trust anyone poking around to try to figure out what’s going on (not to mention that I have been to at least 5 different specialists for pain, and none of them helped – but they did take a lot of my $$$).

Isn’t chronic illness fun?! 

Week 8 of the stupidest war of the century.

Well, it seems like regime change is happening, but not in Iran. Various members of Trump’s administration have been falling to the wayside. Kegseth just fired the Navy Secretary… during a war… and a naval blockade. Genius. Tulsi Gabbard is rumoured to be next on the chopping block.

The Strait of Hormuz is still closed, and the world gets deeper and deeper into a fuel crisis. Even Trump’s own administration admits it will take at least 6 months for gasoline prices in the US to drop (if they ever do). And who knows what’s going to happen for the rest of us. Asia, in particular, is highly reliant on fuel from the Persian Gulf.

Other shit from this week:

• Trump has been crashing out on Truth Social – including threatening more war crimes and posting racist AI images of Candace Owens

• US Navy fired on and captured an Iranian ship, Touska; Iran fired on ships – the ceasefire is tentatively holding

• On Wednesday, Trump extended the ceasefire. Is this a ploy to waste time before a ground invasion?
• Nuclear Chief was filmed giving away US military secrets
• Tucker Carlson has apologised for campaigning for Trump – the rats are abandoning the MAGA ship
• The ceasefire in Lebanon, which doesn’t exist because Israel is still bombing and killing people, has been extended for 3 weeks
• Thousands of flights in Europe have been cancelled
• Scientists are warning that we could be facing a Super El Niño this year – just what we all need!
• In Australia, the government are planning to gut our National Disability Fund, the NDIS, but are happy to spend billions on AUKUS and submarines that may never be delivered

Amongst all the doom and gloom, something exciting happened yesterday! We planted some seeds last week, and now we have tiny seedlings. I am so looking forward to watching them grow (if the birds don’t eat them). We planted lettuce, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions, parsley, and basil (not sure how the latter will go with the upcoming cold weather). We’re also planning on adding a climbing area and planting some sugar peas and snow peas.

This week, I made a Dino Snuggler with Value Ball Stash Velour (a new, cheap plushie yarn from Spotlight). Surprisingly, it’s not too bad to work with! I was able to make a magic circle with all 3 colours that I used. The pattern is by GoCrochetStudio on Etsy. I was hoping to enter it into the Royal Adelaide Show, but I don’t think it shows enough skill. It’s still incredibly cute.

I also finished two beanies with a Dora Does pattern, My Brother’s Beanie. If you know me, you know that I make A LOT of beanies (mostly to donate to homeless and foster kid charities), but this is the first time I’ve used this technique: you start with a small circle and then work in rows, slip stitching back into the circle. I highly recommend giving it a try (and don’t be afraid to use a lot of stitch markers). I made one for my husband in an aran-weight yarn, and then another in stripes with Lion Brand Color Theory.

The crocheting continues on the shawl pattern by TL Yarn Crafts with the Scheepjes Whirl. I am on the final part, but I still have a lot of yarn left, so I’m wondering whether I should add another single crochet section and then continue with the clusters again…? Just run out the yarn? I can’t think of anything else I would use it for. 

We are still watching Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it’s becoming one of my favourite parts of the day. I have a vague memory of most of the episodes (I rewatched the series in 2021), but my husband has no clue what’s happening or anything about the Star Trek universe. 

House is House. I am continually shocked by the blatant sexism and misogyny. I tried to find something else to watch, but it gave me anxiety, so I just kept watching House. If you aren’t ND, this probably won’t make any sense to you! I just don’t have the brain power to find something new right now.

I finished Nona the Ninth last night. I have a real issue with the writing in this series. Half the time, it’s not clear what’s actually happening. I find myself having to read and re-read pages. I kept going because the stories and characters are great, but it’s like the author is assuming knowledge or understanding of the background and missing crucial descriptive information. I’m planning to go back to Holy Sister tonight, and then I have the next releases that I bought last night.

This week, the Granny Square Fidgets have been popular on Etsy. I didn’t realise that I hadn’t posted the pattern on there until I re-wrote it last week. Fidgets seem to be popular on Etsy, but they hardly sell on Ravelry. 

Just a reminder that the Bat Wings Poncho is 50% off until the end of April on Ravelry with coupon code: 50OFFBAT

I try to keep all of my patterns as inexpensive as possible (most are only $5 AUD), so half price is only $2.50! You can’t even buy a Snickers for that price. 

The other poncho that I’m making Sindar Jewelspun Ombre is on hold. I just haven’t felt like working on it. I think my brain needs a break from pattern writing for a while. I’ve mainly wanted to make amigurumi this last week.

Of course, I have a ton of ideas! We have the yarn for the Howard Doll (to match Old Gregg), but we haven’t felt up to working on that one either. My sister is knee-deep in her projects for the Incogonito Art Show, and I have a pile of things I need to get done (including my actual day job). 

I also have charts mocked up for an Edgar Allen Poe blanket I would love to finish this year! I hope it will happen… maybe when things slow down a bit over winter. 

I did another pattern roundup this week, and I found 10 Gothic patterns. There are so many on the list that I want to make! I’ve had my eye on the skull doily for ages.