Mitzvahs, cards, knitting, canoes

Well, they don't seem to go well together, do they? The last 2 weekends have been full of those things and lots more. I keep waiting for a 'do nothing, relaxing weekend'.

Last Saturday at 9:10 Sanna asks if the rest of us are ready to go to the Bar Mitzvah. ??? Nope, we forgot all about it (even though I just thought about it the day before) and managed to get ready in record time. No time to make a card however. There was also a Bat Mitzvah Sanna attended several months ago that the card & gift keeps escaping me. So, this weekend those cards WERE getting made. It is now 9:10 and I've managed it, thanks in part to the extra hour that comes with the time change.

So, that covers Mitzvahs and cards. Is 'Mitzvahs' even an acceptable pluralization of Mitzvah? Since there was both a Bar & a Bat Mitzvah involved, I'm hoping so.

Knitting, always knitting. The first half of the bedspread is done and we're loving it. All other projects on hold, pretty much. That said, I'll sum up the 'canoes' part and go knit.

Last Sunday was consumed with 'Art on the Farm', a local artisans show where Doug has shown his canoes the last 2 years. He didn't sell one (we didn't really expect him to, canoes at that price aren't really a cash and carry item) but I did sell quite a number of knit items. I was thrilled and hope to have more to show next year. When I wasn't talking about canoes at this show, I was talking about his steam engines, also on display, and felt quite a bit out of my element. The rest of the time I was talking about knitting, which was much better.

So far November has been lovely. My mood will likely stay good as long as the weather does. I'm also applying for part time jobs. Blech. But more on that next time.

Fall fun!

I've been cooking again, and believe it or not, stamping a bit. Halloween got me going. While I'm not spending more than a little bit of time every few days, it does feel good to get inky fingers.

I'm also knitting just as much as usual. Switched to the 'hell bent for leather' (what does that even mean, and where did it originate?) mode for finishing the baby blanket. Came to the realization today that just because I 'could' keep knitting until I'm out of the yarn, I can also just follow the pattern and finish in about 26 rows. Which, when I count in the row of 'knit in the front and back of every stitch' and the following 7 rows of K1P1 ribbing, and the bind off row, amounts to ......drum roll....about 11968 stitches left, give or take.

So, that said, I'm gonna get on that. Updates to follow.

Late September blues

First of all, I have to get this out there. Private Selection Chocolate Moosetracks is by far the best grocery store Moosetracks offering. Mine is hidden in the basement freezer. Everyone is too lazy to go down there and look for anything good.

I feel confident posting this here, because no one follows my blog. Ha ha! Aren't I clever?

I started a baby blanket tonight, for a young woman I know who is pregnant. I just saw her for the first time in a while yesterday, and was surprised to see she is 7 months along. Anyway, I'm making 'Evellyn Anne's baby blanket', by Christine Olson. I'm using some recycled yarn, white and light purple, that I had on hand. I like the idea of using recycled yarn, as this young woman's life in the past couple years has been consumed with refashioning herself and her way of thinking. It seems fitting.

I don't know her very well, but it feels like a kind of 'pay it forward' project. I hope the circumstances around her pregnancy are such that she will enjoy her delightful baby when she arrives.

I still have 4 other projects on the needles....I like it that way.

Our foreman gave 2 week notice today. He's been with us several seasons and I'm sorry to see him go. He had a great offer elsewhere in a very different line of work. He's a good guy and could have screwed us by leaving with no notice, but that isn't 'how he rolls' (my words not his). I wish him the best, and I'll miss his irreverent, no-holds-barred humor.

The landscape season is drawing to a close, which always makes me a basket case. The bills come much longer than the money....I know we can't sell it until we buy it, but it doesn't seem to be profitable, especially this last year with the horrible, rainy weather. Many people tell me that 'it will all work out' and 'have faith, you'll be taken care of, probably in a way you haven't even thought of.' These people have no reason to lie to me, and experience has proven this to be true, but I always struggle. And fret. And cry for what seems to be no apparent reason. And have headache after headache. And sometimes snap at my children or spouse. And want to just crawl back into bed and pull the (hand knit) blanket over my head, but I wouldn't be able to sleep once I got there. Just worry. Which accomplishes nothing.

The saying goes 'If you pray, why worry? If you worry, why pray?' Am I the only person who can turn a pray into a worry?

I'm plotting a Halloween card for Vicki. I'd like to use some of my monsters I haven't used yet. And my new dripping blood stamp. Hmmmm.....

Musings

I remember looking at this blog recently and thinking "hmmm, I should really write something. Just something short. It's been a while." Today I checked back and see it didn't write itself, so here I am.

I've been knitting up a storm, which is the only thing keeping me sane. This year has been one full of anxiety, depression, and fear. Pretty cheerful for the first blog post since February, huh?

These are all standard issue life troubles, but I've always felt woefully inadequate when it comes to being a grown up. So in the spirit of 'starting my day (or year) over at any time, I'm making a solemn pledge to see the positive, take care of myself, do my best, and be kind.

That is all we can do, really, in this life.

Until next time, which I most sincerely hope will be on a more cheerful note,
Amy

Long cold winter!

The winter sure seems like it has been extra cold and snowy. Unfortunately, it also slipped past me without fulfilling a single goal! I know, there is a month left, but for the most part I have no idea where January or February went. So, in an effort to keep my pessimistic side from taking over, I'm freezing my butt off down here in the dungeon doodling with paperwork that should have been filled out long ago and debating on making at least some gift certificates for work. Yea, I'll get right on that.
The printer is protesting too. It won't print on the slightly heavier (but not cardstock heavy) paper I tried to put through.
The sale of mom's house went through last Friday. So many sad emotions brought to the surface over and over. Though it was a necessary thing, and I am grateful the house sold quickly so we can move on. In a way it is a relief, as well.
I have been knitting up a storm, however, and it is probably the thing that has saved my sanity this winter. Lots of projects worked on, several completed. Most notably, Lily's gigantic pink polka dot blanket. I haven't measured it or taken a picture that will capture its hugeness, but will soon. I did finish weaving in the ends this morning. I'm seaming up a sweater that has been over a year in the knitting (just the choosing of a pattern was over a year). Lots of small things knit in a frenzy after those were finally cast off. Currently, I'm working on a headband to match my mittens, a pair of socks, a baby blanket and somewhere is the start of my next sweater. So, you see, the insanity is kept at bay by frenetic application of pointy sticks and string.
Until next time, Amy