Land o’ Sunshine

Do you ever have those days when you feel like you are getting it done?  You know, the laundry is moving through the whole process, you’ve done some things on the ever growing list?  The kids were all fed and happy (ok, maybe not happy, but not screaming or crying).   Today was one of those days.  Not the past tense.   Was.

Ten minutes ago, I was doing my usual routine of dishwasher avoidancefinally emptying and reloading the dishwasher when I was called to mediate a dispute.   Problem solved.   I think I’ll check out Ravlery and the email.  Hey, blogs, cool.   Wow, a minute to myself with quiet–well, the washer and dryer are running, but that is background Mom noise.  

Sunshine son #1: “Is someone washing dishes?” 

Me:  “No, that’s the washing machine.  Go outside and play.” 

Out he goes.  I blissfully read and waste time on the computer.  I then think to myself.   Wow, that washing machine is really loud all of a sudden and its been loud for a lot longer than it should have been.   Better check on that.   As I walk to the laundry room, I realize I had not shut the kitchen sink off!   It was not the washer, it was the HOT water running full blast!!!!   

Note to self:  look confused when the gas and water bill are exceedingly high next month.  Of course I will have forgotten this funny little story, so it is likely that I will be confused about it. 

I really need to start paying more attention.  

Yodel-lay-hee-hooooo!   

I have been knitting.   I have not been blogging and honestly, I don’t feel guilty in the LEAST about it (ok, maybe a litte, but it is just the Irish Catholic, with a side of Jewish mother-in-law).  

So here is what I’ve been working on since school started:

PTA!  Meetings, boring.   Why is it there is always ONE person who has to act all “I understand by-laws, nuclear physics, and can speak in 32 different languages” to make everyone else feel dumb (even the PTA president with Ph.D)?   I don’t like those kind of people.   

Red Scarf Project.   Start knitting your scarf now.  Its due on the 15th!   Mine is done.     I love it so much I am delaying sending it out.   It really isn’t red, but I still love it.   It was great carpool line knitting.  

Carpool line.   It has taken me almost 5 weeks, but I have FINALLY figured out that in order not to wait for the sunshine boys, I need to not arrive early than 2:40.   If I wait, then I knit.   I am currently knitting socks in the carpool line.   It is slightly difficult to juggle size 1 dpns and the steering wheel.   I think, I’ll knit another scarf! 

Hats On!   This is a great book.   I cast on for a hat and completed said hat in one day’s time.   Great huh?  Not so much.  It doesn’t fit.   I am thinking of changing it a little and making yarmlke’s for the in-laws this year for Chanukah.   It is quite comical really.   And yes, I did use someone’s head as a measure, but once again, I fell into the trap that gets me EVERY time, the directions.   I read the diretions, but CHOOSE not to follow them, for surely, I know better than the creator of the pattern.   I have never knit a hat before, but I’m sure I can change several things and have it turn out the same.   Apparently, not. 

There are a pair of socks, the Leisel scarf, and a sweater that is having gauge issues.   More on that later!  

I’m allergic to angora!  Yuck.   I wish I wasn’t, this yarn is SO yummy. 

I don’t have anything to knit.   Ok, not totally true.   I don’t have a “big” project to work on.  I am a fairly monogamous knitter.   Usually, there are no more than three things on my needles–one big project, one sock project, and one dishcloth project.   Is it boring, sometimes, but it serves me well for several reasons:

• I have a limited number of needles. 
• I don’t have a large stash. 
• My budget is limited (understatement) for buying new needles and yarn unless there is a big project in the works. 
• I am indecisive.  (See Quinn. I still haven’t chosen that lining)
• I have a hard time with color & yarn choices.   There are just too many and I really end up at the same place–Cascade 220 in blue/green colors.   BORING.  So rather than be boring or absurd, I just don’t buy anything. 
• I don’t have the space or time to buy something I won’t use right away. 

There are other reasons, but they are just variations on a theme–money, space, and  my wishy-washy attitude.   There are some days I really envy knitters who can just head out to the internet or LYS and buy something in anticipation of knitting.   That is another pity party though.  

Last night I really wanted to knit something big.   I wanted to get going.  Here is how my night went (after the kids were in bed) :

Ooh, what a great hat (thank you Ravelry!).  I had all the things to get started–yarn, needles and free pattern.   Fifteen minutes in, though, everything was ripped  out and wound back, needles away.   Ok, Mason-Dixon, here I come.   There is something in there for sure.   Miter?  What a waste to knit that in dishcloth cotton.   Log Cabin?   Garter, no, too mindless for my big project.   Baby genius burpcloth it is.  Cast on.   Not enough of a tail for a long-tail cast on.  I’m short about 5 stitches (yes, I know I could have knit on the extra ones).   Oh, forget it.   I don’t know anyone having a baby anyway.  Knitting this dumb thing will only make me want to have a baby.   Out it comes.  

I guess I’ll go find that sock.