Friday, March 31, 2017

I'm okay if I don't look out the window

Yeah, it is snowing.

It's one of those storms where the final amount will depend greatly on the temperature, so it's hard to say now what I'll end up with. But honestly, one flake is too much for me. I'm channeling Marvin from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy whenever I look out the window.
So let's avoid that window; instead, have an oldie to rock out to.



My swim teacher has this on one of her playlists, and I finally got the name of it from her so I could check it out. Don't know why I like it so much, but I do!

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Please Be a Joke

Because I'm not sure I can stand it if we actually do get four to eight inches of snow tomorrow and Saturday.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Two Kinds of Progress

While I'm nowhere near "there" yet, for now the idea of tying the spring cleaning/clutter-clearing project to the move to Florida is working, even with the date of the move so very unset (as in, what year will it happen, who knows). I usually need a deadline for these things, like with regular cleaning tasks; I'm currently cleaning because my mother will be here in a few weeks, even though she doesn't care how clean it is (spoiler alert: she loves me anyway). But I have, as I always do, put things off for too long and now I care. The same way, instead of looking around in resigned despair at the clutter of ten-plus years, sighing, and going back to my book, I am able to frame it as, "This will help with the move! The sooner you can get this done, the more likely the move becomes, and you want to move, right? So get to work."

I was thinking about it this morning, and I've lived here about three times longer than I've lived anywhere since my parents sold the house where I grew up. I wasn't a total rolling stone, but it's been two years in this apartment and three years in that one, until I bought this condo. I was used to having to face moving every few years, and while I hated the moving process, it forced at least some de-cluttering to happen on a semi-regular basis. No wonder things have piled up in the corners here.

What this means right now is that I will shortly have before-and-after photos of one corner of the bedroom, which is almost sorted out. Much progress has been made, and I am pleased by it.

Meanwhile, here is another kind of progress. I bought a hyacinth last Wednesday, and have watched it grow since.

Here it is, peeking up on Thursday morning.
And from above, just for the fun of the angle:
See how fast it grew: by Friday, almost as tall as the leaves (is that the right word?):
And Saturday, taller:
And the purple, sorry, blue is just starting to show.
On Sunday, really blooming.

And Monday it was just about all out.
No more white in the overhead view.
Tuesday, yesterday, is when I declared it fully bloomed.
It looks the same today, and will until it starts dying. Which is the sad part, but watching it grow has been very cheering this week. Considering the possible snowstorm on Saturday, I may need to buy another one fast.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Yarn From the Crawl

I got around to photographing the yarn I got at the recent Yarn Crawl, and I know you've been dying to see how that one skein photographed in daylight, so I'll start there. I took a bunch of photos, to capture all the colors.




 Much more true to life! This is Paca-Peds, from The Alpaca Yarn Company, and it is (surprise) 100% alpaca, in fingering weight.

Next up is my purchase at Coveted, which is Pacu Pura, from Mirasol Yarn, and is also 100% alpaca, this time in sport weight.
Quieter colors, just as soft. And on sale!
Finally, at Another Yarn, I got this Berroco Folio:
It's "only" 65% alpaca, and 35% rayon, at DK weight.

Other than a row counter and some stitch markers, that's it, but I'm very happy with the day's haul!

Monday, March 27, 2017

Do What, Now?

I took this picture while I was stopped at a red light, where I was waiting to turn left. Legally. So I did not follow the GPS' suggestion to turn right, go down to the next light, and make a u-turn.

Seriously? What in the world?

I was leaving Best Buy, having dropped off a few things for their recycling program (which I love), and my best guess is that it thought I was in the parking lot, not on the street (although from the map, it sure looks like it has me in the right place, and as far as I know, you've always been able to turn left there). But still.

I also brought two bags of clothes and two lamps to Savers, and five small bags of books to the bookstore. Yay for operation reduce the stuff successes!

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Greenhouse

It's been a good weekend, got a lot done, including a quick trip to the greenhouse, as I like to do at least once every winter. And since my hands hurt, and I'm heading out to have coffee and knit with Mary Ellen, I'm going to throw the photos up by themselves. and you can soak in the flowers in lieu of other weekend details, for now.