Getting back to "normal"? And the knitting continues.

I don't know why, but I start out the month, and I know if it will be busy or not.  Rarely am I surprised.

This month is so-so.  Last month was crazy.  Hopefully I won't jinx it, but next month looks fairly open.

BUT...

I have to get some check-ups taken care of, so we shall see what happens.  And, the Ren group wants some help with cleaning up and preparing the site.  I will see if I can do that, but I usually go for one long stint, then remember that I am, uh, not invincible.

Sigh...

I am finding that I am considering the busy times more 'normal'.  Why, I am not sure.  I actually LIKE being home, but strangely, it feels like I should be doing something when I am home.  Go figure.

I am sort of apprehensive, I have a presentation coming up at the end of this month, and have been doing a lot of research.  I know my stuff, and I am fine with the people I will be talking to, but I am not entirely looking forward to the talk.  I suppose, part of it is that I am not an expert on the subject.  I will be with people who are not only experts, but work on and with the subject (that being scam prevention and preventing identity theft).  To this end, I will be having one of the said experts checking my work, so to speak, so I am not giving anyone a 'bum steer', and I will be then trying to focus, so I don't blather on, or conversely, go blank.

Also, I hope my rosacea doesn't act up.  I would really like to go up and speak without looking like I have dipped my face in red paint...  Meh.  (And also has given some to think I am a woman of a certain age. Which, while I am, it's still annoying.  Sheesh...)

I have been keeping my sanity centered by some incredibly zen-y, mindless knitting.  I have knit a lot of squares.  Basic, garter stitch squares.  I will, when I finish, have 100.  I have been knitting these for a while, I believe I am up to sixty.  

The presently cat-free desk, with afghan mock-up and Petty poster...

(For anyone interested, the pattern, such as it is, is cast on 38 stitches.  Knit 72 rows. Bind off. Repeat 100 times.) 

I will border them with black, and the end product?  Maybe a bedspread, as large as it will be.  Or a really, really big cocoon blanket. I actually have knit more than 60 squares at this point, some have been accidental doubles of the same color, so they are put aside, I might donate them to charity. (A group uses these kind of squares to sew up for elders).  I also have a few that didn't have enough yarn to make a square, those might be in my crazy quilt.  Or just un-knit, and put aside for some other project, because we all know I have so little yarn! (COUGH, COUGH!)

Coming soon, hopefully: chicks.

SECOND post of the new year... eep!

So much for getting off to a good start with my blog.  Hmph.

I have been doing "stuff" for which I can blog, though.  I have been working on a "selfish" project, I am making simple garter stitch squares for a blanket, with the fancy name of "100 Square Afghan".

I have 21 random squares so far, that's why they sort of clash at the moment.  I just grab whatever scrap skein that is close and start working on it.  I also am using a rather unique set of needles...

 Yes, they are chopsticks.  Take a pencil sharpener, point the end a bit more, a little sandpaper for any rough spots, a dab of nail polish on the tips for making it a bit smoother, and a rubber band finial, ta da!  (And for any knitters out there, they are very close to a US #8.)  And very nice to knit with.  I am going to make a few more.  In fact I have some that I've made up but not used yet, that are more of an oval, I want to see how they do...

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In other news, Schrodinger is fitting in.  This is her, finding a favorite bird watching spot...

Why does she have a collar on, you ask?  Well, two reasons.  We are training her to be on lead when we take her outside.  With no front toenails, she is not armed.  And she has surprisingly taken to it pretty well.  I think it's from being raised around dogs her whole life, she doesn't know it's not a 'cat' thing...  :)  She loves going outside to visit Rudee.  She, however, hates Buzz with a passion... Odd little thing, which can make outdoor trips eventful, if nothing else.

And the second thing?  Well, we have to put a leash on her IN the house sometimes, because:

She tried to eat the blinds. I tried repairing them, she then ate the repair tape off the blinds... While eating more of the blind!  (She is more chewing and tearing them up, I haven't seen her actually dine on the blinds, but I don't want to take chances, we are keeping her away from them, and eventually getting some vertical blinds.  We suspect she just wants to see out.)  This has led to my Husband's nickname for her, Miss Chevious...  Except for when she was a bit gassy, she was then dubbed Hellstinky.  Husband is nothing, if not creative!  I even nicknamed her Dingus, when she acts up.  She seems to take this is stride, putting up with humans like us seems to not bother her too much.  I am pleased with how my Husband has been with her.  He always said he isn't much of an animal person.  

Don't you believe it...

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I won an award for volunteer of the year from the Sheriff's Office.  It was a ceremony in front of a large group of deputies and volunteers, and I had to stand up front while my doings were pronounced. I had this suave, casual, "panicked deer in headlights" look going on, I am sure.  I was pleased to be recognized, but I have trouble in front of groups.  At least I didn't have to speak! (Except thank you!!)

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And I have been working on cleaning out my craft room.  It has become a storage room for just anything, so I have been really ruthless about sorting and throwing things out, (2 large bags of paper and trash, so far).  I sorted all my spinning wool, which was a good thing, I had some that was, uh, not so good, and I had to toss it, along with some anti-moth doings for the stuff in with it...  You know you are a spinner, when you have to check if you have enough room in your freezer - because of wool!  Husband has become somewhat inured to this, I ask him to get a bag of peppers, or some such out of the freezer, he just looks at it oddly, and gets the aforementioned item.  

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I am also planning on building a trailer.  Mostly to see if I can.  Husband has said he will stay out of it, unless I specifically ask, or do not have the technical skill to do something.   Or if I have something built wrong to the point of being dangerous.  I figure that works.  Right now I am in the 'cost and weight analysis' part.  I want to make a vardo/gypsy style wagon that will be small enough for me to use with my tiny truck or jeep.  It will be more for summer stuff that I go to, but who knows, if I get a wild hair to go be alone with my thoughts, it could do that, too.  I will probably have it more "modern" than a lot of vardos, it will have fan vents, and solar chargers (the plan anyway), and will be able to be extra "dry" storage for things in the winter, if I do it right...  We shall see what happens.  So far, it's been doable, but I haven't been out to see what is available in real life, it might just frighten me to death!  

And, I am looking at the veggie p*rn for this year's garden, getting things set up for some chicks later in the season, going to meetings for the Neighborhood Watch, among other things, and generally just staying busy!  

With any luck, I will have at least a couple more blogs this month, one a month is much less than I want to do!  Oh, and messymimi, thank you for the lovely card!