Unfinished Funk

I was surfing the other day when I hopped over to see what Kim was up to and she had a post about being in an in between project funk. I could totally relate. Here I have all of these long-term projects on the needles that seem to be taking for-freaking-ever. That compiled with the endless cloudy days has left me in a funk. Those who know me well, know that if I don't have anything nice to say, I don't say anything at all. So, that's why there's been a long silence.

I do have some good news. I got my passport on Friday. Here they said it would be a couple of months but it turned out to be just a couple of weeks. I also got the time off I requested around my sabbatical approved. So, it's written in stone: I have from May 17 to July 7 off with pay. The countdown begins: 8 weeks to go.

Caitlin sent an email letting me know that she blew out her fuzzy feet slippers. She's got them held together with duct tape. And Danny is so fearful that hers will blow that she is rationing wearing them. So, I quickly made some felted moccasins for her. The last time I made them slippers, I mailed Danny's first and then followed up with Caitlin's. I learned that those two are competitive, so everything has to be equal. So, I'm in the midst of making a pair for Danny to mail off. Silly lesbians.

I also found that Martha Stewart published a felt slipper pattern a while back. So, I've used her pattern to make slippers from recycled felted sweaters from the thrift store rather than trying to make my own pattern. They are fast and fun to make. I set up my sewing machine in my office. It was nice to hear the whir of the machine. Years ago, I used to sew my kids clothes and a bunch of mine. I forgot how much I like to hear the sound of the sewing machine run.

I also signed up for two wet felting classes in April with Cottage Fiber. That should be a total blast.

I had an appointment this week and grabbed the long languishing landscape socks to knit while waiting in the office. After knitting a bit using this fabulous sock yarn, I realized that I hate knitting with the Noro Kureyon sock yarn. It has no give. It twists up on itself making knot after knot. It flies off your fingers as you knit. Frustrating. However, I spent an arm and a leg on this yarn, so I'll be damned if I don't finish these socks.

The diswarsher is installed and Sam and I are back full force in the kitchen. We were supposed to have some friends over for dinner last night. But, they canceled because the wife and the daughter were both sick. I had gone to a LYS and bought some "beginner" style knitting needles. I had big plans to teach the little girl how to knit. Maybe next time. We had planned on making smoked meatloaf, mashed cauliflower, sauteed mushrooms and peas with fresh thyme and garlic. We had all the food, so we made the meal for ourselves anyway. Since I spent the majority of Friday cleaning the house, it's all done. Those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers with Febreze are fabulous.

I think I'll spend today working on the Lady Eleanor Wrap. It's a welcome change to be knitting on larger needles after jacking around with the damn Noro socks.

Victoria, Here I come

I purchased my tickets for Victoria, British Columbia last night. I fly into Vancouver and take a long ferry to Victoria. It was substantially less expensive than I thought it would be. In fact, I would most likely be able to afford to go visit the girls each summer at that price.

Next, I have to get a passport, which is required. And then I need to take some time to work on my laptop so that it has everything I need. I hope to post daily during that time so that you can see how lovely Canada is.

Right now, I can’t bear to work on the laptop because my work computer shit the bed and I’ve had to spend the last few days dealing with that. UGH.

I had a particularly glorious day on Monday. I spent the morning tidying up and then took off for the thrift stores. I was in search of 100% wool sweaters. Some to felt for needle felting. And some to harvest for recycled yarn. I couldn’t believe how cheap it was. I bought 12 sweaters for the price one skein of sock yarn.

Two of the sweaters are handmade. No tags. And they are made quite well. One sweater is a blue mohair cardigan. I thought it would be great to use this yarn for a pair of fuzzy feet slippers for me. I wasn’t sure if it was a acrylic blend though. As I went to rip it apart, I saw what a nice job this woman did making this sweater and I didn’t have the heart to go through with it. So, now I’m wearing this when I have to go outside briefly. Like to the garage etc. and I don’t want to put a coat on. This sucker is warm! It will replace an old torn up cardigan of Sam’s I’ve been wearing for the last several years.

I also was in search of those awful thin acrylic scarves that your mother used to wear. People also use them to learn to juggle. Thrift shops used to be stuffed to the gills with them. But, alas. No scarves. I plan on finding some and adding snippets to my yarn as I spin for some bling. I am inspired by Ozark yarns. If you can find any, let me know.

After thrifting, I treated myself to lunch at an Indian restaurant. Delightful. Oh. I also ended up at a LYS and bought some Noro Kureon sock yarn. It is quite twisty. It was a major pain in the ass to wind into a cake.

I was thinking that I’d go to the KC Fiber Guild meeting tonight to hang out with the spinners. But, it is just too damn cold. I had to drive to the office to swap out computers today and I about froze my fingers off carrying that stoopid computer around in the cold. I know where the meeting is held, but the thought of carrying my wheel in the dark in an unfamiliar place in the freezing cold sounds unappetizing to me. I’ll wait until the weather isn’t so gross.

Next, I will be in search of laminate flooring for the family room. One of my girlfriends at work suggested going to Sam’s or Costco. BINGO. It’s much cheaper there. Thank you M8K. I’ll be checking that out tomorrow.

So, I think I WILL be able to afford the trip, the new floor and a CSA membership after all. I’m excited about the CSA membership. I hope to post a bunch about the surprises I get each week in my bag.

And what have we been cooking? I made a fabulous Chicken and Cashew stir-fry on Monday night. Last night it was crab salad with Asian dressing. Tonight? We are ordering a pizza. I am sick to death of doing dishes by hand.