Back in control

I am feeling like I am back in control of my life.  Amazing what getting through a busy patch intact can do for one!

Our weekend was busier than normal – second weekend in a row where we did not stay home hibernating on Sunday!  We did travel to see my sister and her family in their brand new-to-them home.  They had just finished emptying and cleaning the old apartment a few days before, so the new home is decorated in beautiful brown corrugated boxes.  But it is possible to see that the place is lovely, and a good space for them.  There is a music room and a dining room and a play room and a craft room and a TV room and an office.  None of them are huge, but there are designated spaces for the things that are important to them.  And a glorious barn, and some not so glorious sheds between it and the house.  And a fabulous back yard with a pool!

We had a nice time visiting them and seeing the whole place and hearing about their plans and dreams for it.  It will take a bit of work but I think it will be a show place when they are finished.  Which, we warned them, might not be for 20 years. We are ten years in our house and still have some boxes stowed away.

Before we did this visiting, though, I went to Whorls and Purls on Saturday, which was good.  I missed it, not going the week before.  I did a whole lot of knitting while chatting with the ladies and eating delicious rhubarb dump, but haven’t much to show for it.

Still plugging away on Durrow (an old photo I happened to have of the first square at the same point I am at with the second square.)

and Hitofude (This is a picture from last week, I have a few more inches done… but many more to go! But perhaps all of these old photos tell the tale of why I feel like I am not getting anywhere – progress is infinitesimal! )

and socks.  Actually, the socks got a lot of love on the drive to my sister’s, and so I am on the home stretch – just over 5 pattern repeats to go before the ribbing.  So almost done, in my book. (new photo!)

I also got the yarn for a scarf for my coworker who is good enough to keep asking me to knit for her, and I cast that on.  It is a pattern she found on pinterest, and is named “quick and easy scarf” or some such.  I wasn’t believing it, but now I am.  It is bulky yarn on size 9 needles, and it zips right along.  I’ll get you a photo of that the next time.

I did some spinning on Saturday and Monday evening. This fiber is cheviot, and it is really easy to spin.  I have a lot more to go, but I feel like I am making progress on it, which helps me get over the blah feeling I had last week that nothing was moving forward in spite of lots of attention. (Another older photo, but you know, with big spinning projects, each bobbin looks like the last!  I am currently working on more of the blue and yellow one.)

Also, picked up my roving of the month on Saturday – my mind is already turning over ideas on how to spin these fun colors! (The option I choose is the multi-colored one at the top left.  Though I am always tempted to also pick up the solid as well when I see them together – and what Debbie at the Purple Fleece uses for inspiration!  Where does she find these things?) The fiber is quite wooly, a blend of churro and Scottish Blackface.  It will make something fun, but not something to wear next to my neck or face. What should it be?

Big snow storm is imminent, but not big enough to get a day off from work, I don’t think… just big enough to mean that commuting is terrifying and tedious all at once.  And to mean that though we are in the office, and the tax volunteers are here, lots of clients will not show up and that makes a slow and boring day for everyone.  But it’s almost Friday!