Brief Monday post, written in Notepad so I don't freaking lose it a third time, or I really will lose it - my mind, I mean. I'm already getting to the point where I just look around at all there is to be done and want to sit down and cry.
And get this - I talked to the Girlchild last night and now she's deciding it's insane to move back and take her last classes here when it would be faster and easier to take them up there. Apparently the "I want to come home!" outburst was just a particularly bad end-of-semester meltdown. I should have known. I really should have known.
I can't argue that it would be easier for her to stay up there, but damn, I've already torn her room apart and I'm busting my ass painting and carpeting! Now that it's torn up, I have to finish it. I paid for the carpet yesterday, the wheels are in motion, I'm hurrying to get things done, and she tells me last night that she thinks it would be better for her to stay up there to finish - which means there was no reason to start all of this before Christmas. Arrrgh. ARRRRRRGH!!!
Her old room is primed but not painted. I primed all day on Saturday and it's not quite done. That blue is really, really hard to cover and I don't know if the primer is really helping. I'm going to test-paint tonight with some of my leftover "Cream in my Coffee" and if it covers, I will not do a second coat of primer, I'll just finish up with the real paint next weekend.
I put up the outside Christmas lights and bought - but did not put up - the tree. Maybe I'll get that done one evening this week, on one of the nights I'm not painting or working. I did get a lot of stuff done this weekend, absolutely none of it Christmas-shopping related.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry about her changing her mind about moving back this month. She'll be coming back in May for sure anyway, but I'm busting my ass to finish all this home improvement stuff on a tight deadline right before the holidays for no particularly good reason now.
Believe it or not, I actually did cast on a new knitting project - a sweater for Murphy in royal blue Cascade 220. I barely have two inches done on it, so no photos yet.
Tonight I will probably put up the tree and then fall into bed early.
Wednesday I believe I'm going to an out-of-town mediation.
I'm off Friday for continued painting festivities, which will probably actually resume on Thursday night.
This week is going to pass in the wink of an eye, and I haven't done any real Christmas shopping yet. When I totally snap and they have to put me in the looney bin, do you think I will be allowed to bring my knitting?
Nah, they don't allow sharp objects in most loony bins.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say how much I've enjoyed reading your blog. You sound like a sensible, no-nonsense person. You're a few years older than I am. I'm in Baton Rouge, LA, beginning a Ph.D. I just moved here from Calgary, Alberta back in August.
I was touched reading about your struggles with your husband's illness and death. I was not surprised you felt more relief than anything when he did die. As you said, the grieving process was over by then.
I like your approach to knitting. There must be some sort of happy medium between the extremes of those who only want to do garter stitch dishcloths, and those who sneer at anything uncomplicated. I do get mildly exasperated with those who refuse to challenge themselves, but at the same time there's a nasty attitude on the part of "cool knitters" as you call them. Not only is there outright sneering at projects that are perceived as not difficult enough or not in the right yarn, but there is also the tendency to try to squash any different or unusual ideas. Hell, I think some designs posted in various places are ugly, but I can applaud the creative effort that went into an original idea.
Like you, I can do colour work and texture/lace, and so on--but not steadily. Usually, I keep a relatively mindless project going and a more difficult one.
Also, regarding yarns, I think acrylics and acrylic blends have their place. Like you, I really like Lion Brand Homespun for afghans. For garments I tend to prefer natural fibres, or at least blends. I'm still in the process of frogging some 100% wool sweaters I bought for $2 apiece at Goodwill (I made sure they're fully fashioned, not knit then sewn). One way of getting the fibres I desire when living on a student budget.
By the way--regarding lace stitches--have you ever tried "Old Shale"? A classic, simple variation in the "fan and feather" motif. Three knit rows, then one row of: K2tog six times; (YO, K1) six times. That's it--I'm working on a shawl afghan in that now and it's a very pretty pattern.
Your posts on Kool-Aid dyeing have inspired me--I had no idea you could produce such good results. When I can get my hands on some appropriate yarn I'm going to try it.