How much do engines cost, anyway?

Tomorrow is our first day back at the schoolwork.  Five weeks ago, we left old Johnny Tremain and his bum hand riding through New England and we were a few chapters away from getting out of the Middle Ages.  We've got new science, new Latin, new Spanish, new typing, new grammar, and new writing programs.  (The curriculum list on the sidebar is not quite updated, BTW.)  This week is going to be review, just a few hours of reminding them which end of the pencil to use.  Next week, I bring the hammer down.

It's been a good break, but I'm ready to have a routine again.  I never know what day it is anymore.  No routine makes me lazy and confused.  Especially now that our pool pump burned out.  We've got a big green swamp in the back yard while we wait for the new one to be delivered.  That pump has taken away a good hour or two of my peace and quiet I had when the kids were in the backyard splashing around.  Hopefully it will arrive soon and we can get a few more weeks of swimming in before summer is really over.

Bad timing on the pump too, because within days of spending the money for it, DH's truck died.  He heard clicking, then a loud bang, then he was stuck on the side of the road.  We knew this was going to happen eventually.  This is the down side to not having a car payment  We don't know what's wrong with it yet, because DH is busy with a field exercise at work for the rest of the week.  Thankfully, he's got a friend who picked him up, helped him tow the truck, then loaned him a "spare truck" to drive until we could deal with them problem.  Everyone think "easily fixed, inexpensive" thoughts in our direction, please.

Things will balance out just fine, I think.  I found out that my presence is required for an employee meeting in Florida in a few weeks.  The whole family is coming along and we'll get to see my best friend and my brother and I get to go to one of my favorite places, the Beall's Outlet.  I'll get paid for mileage, 2 nights of hotel, probably meals or per diem, plus whatever hours I'll put in prepping and working at the meeting.  As DH says, "Party on somebody elses' buck, woohooo!"  I don't know about a party, but it might buy a new engine or something.  It's also going to be interesting to meet the employees, most of whom I only know as a name on a time sheet.  Of the 20 or so, I've only met 2.  And one is the boss.  Who happens to be my dad.   

It's the end of the month and the invoices demand attention, but here's the knitting that's going on:

I decided I didn't want to restart the Cable Twist socks for now.  It's a nice pattern, but I'd like to tweak it and when a sock frustrates me, I take a break from it.  I took a while to fondle all my sock yarn and look through patterns and finally pulled out the Chewy Spaghetti.  Grace came in while I was winding it and said "OOH!  I like that yarn!"  Hmmm...pink, purple, green, & brown yarn, superwash, sport weight....hey, Grace, want a new pair of socks?  The beginning of the sock is pictured on the left there.  Small feet and sport weight yarn equal quick and satisfying.

In the middle is a waistband!  Knitting around elastic was a new thing for me.  Angela is several weeks ahead of me on her skirt, so I'm learning from her.  We are using 3 of the same 4 colors in our skirts.  I started with the teal yarn because she mentioned it was hard to see the stitches to pick up on the black yarn.  Now there's some wacky chart thing for the skirt stripes that I'm going to need to quiet time to figure out.

On the right, another dishcloth.  In the blue basket is a dog sweater that I nearly finished for Josie last year.  I followed the pattern for the leg hole placement instead of measuring the dog and it didn't work out too well.  I need to take out the belly panel and reknit that.  I'd like to make a few more sweaters for her this year.  My swatch for the Einstein coat is complete and the KnitPicks Decadence is not as bulky as it should be.  I'm going to just go with the next size up and hope for the best.  I've been wanting to make this coat from the moment I saw it.

This will be the first venture back to items with sleeves since the Doomed Cardigan.  Wish me luck.      

Comments

[Tammy]

"No routine makes me lazy and confused."

I hear you on that one! Loud and clear! I am also starting to plan and getting ready to pick up the books in a couple of weeks.

[Barbp]

Your sock pattern is one that I have my eye on. I'll be watching to see how yours turns out. Good luck with the vehicle woes.

[Miz Booshay]

Gorgeous coat!!