Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Snow? What Snow?

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Snow drift outside the back door.

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Preparing to go and clean the driveway. Who is that masked man?

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Having a neighborly chat during the blizzard.

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Some think it's fun.

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Four days later. This is my kind of blizzard!

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Caught in the Act

I've decided that Tuesdays are for cleaning out Dad's house. It's a rather big house, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, which will be a big job. It's overwhelming just to think about it.

So in order to not feel overwhelmed about clearing out Dad's house, I decided to go the the local yarn store first - and feel overwhelmed there! I knew they were having a sale this week, and I went in without a plan. I don't have any projects in mind. Well, I do. I just don't have any projects in mind that I don't already have the yarn. I was trying to knit from the stash. And, really, I can't afford to start any more projects until I'm done with the Husband's aran and my 'go to' sweater. I don't want to start down that slippery slope of startitis. Must Keep Feet Firmly on Path of Completion!

As I'm wandering the yarn store admiring the lady that had pattern in hand and the fortitude to only shop for yarn that would work with her pattern, my cell rings. It's the Husband.

"Hey, are you at your Dad's?"

"No."

"Where are you?"

"Shopping."

"Shopping where?"

"The yarn store."

"Lambikins? I'm glad that you are able to assuage your grief with yarn!"

Darn tootin'! I assuaged my grief to the tune of one book (A Gathering of Lace - I had one, but water had been spilled on it. It had never properly dried, and the pages were sticking and mold was growing), 1 skein of Sockotta, 2 skeins of Araucania Ranco, 1 skein of Misti Alpaca 2ply lace, 2 skeins of New England Shetland by Harrisville, and one large beautiful skein of Interlacements Spiderweb. You can see them all on ravelry - kskferg.

I thought my grief could be even better assuaged by the purchase of several skeins of the Jade Sapphire Silk/Cashmere. But I was sure that if I did, I would feel grief of a different kind. The grief of spending too much.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Sloooowly Getting Back To It

I've started knitting again. Granted not with the same drive I had before Dad passed, but I'm knitting. Still nothing picture worthy. I am almost done with the first sleeve of the 'go to' raglan, before the joining with the body that is. I think that with sleeve number two I'll try the magic loop, or maybe two circulars.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

A Punch in the Gut

My father has passed away, and I feel as though the wind has been knocked out of me. In order to cope with the grief, I keep busy. Busy making funeral arrangements, busy cleaning, busy bringing order to the paper work nightmare that is his will and numerous accounts. But the one thing I have not been busy doing is knitting. I just don't want to.

I'm sure I'll get back into it soon. I find it interesting, in a detached way, that the one thing that knit bloggers the world over say is the 'new yoga' and that comforts them when they are stressed, anxious, sad, etc., is the farthest thing from my mind right now.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you whose blogs I read. With your cheery pictures of beautiful, colorful knitting, you remind me that life goes on and that spring will come. I know this intellectually having also lost my mother some years ago, but I also need to feel it in my heart. Reading recently neglected blogs helps me to forget about my woes for a while which I know is part of my healing. Thank you.