Sunday, November 28, 2010

Treading Like Crazy

Things are going about as you would expect when one parent who has always been at home goes back to work in an office, leaving the other parent, now at home full time but also still working full time, to contend with all the various and sundry household and family chores that necessarily arise as a result of kids and pets and chickens and laundry and shopping and cooking and other chores.

That is to say, not perfectly.

So far, though, we are keeping our heads above water by treading frantically. Things are a bit messier and less organized than I would like, but I'm learning to let it slide. I don't think the dust buffaloes are actually dangerous, after all.

The four-day weekend was a help. I did a truly enormous amount of laundry, vacuumed the house, watered the plants, did the grocery shopping, and lavishly petted several seriously disgruntled dogs. We hosted Thanksgiving, which involved a whole lot more shopping and cooking and cleaning. I am proud to say that, three days later, I finally finished the last of the dishes. The boys had a sleepover here Friday night. I woke up to the Great Nerf Gun Battle of 2010, Older Son broke my favorite vase (a wedding present), and Heidi peed in three different spots, yet they all survived, so again--proud of myself. And a dear old friend of mine came to visit on Saturday and showed off her baby bump--a huge deal, since she and her husband (in their 40s and 50s, respectively) have been trying for quite a while and have been through two miscarriages in the past two years. Saturday night is Date Night, so the KH and I went out for Afghan food, sans children--who have been home for nine straight days. That was great on many levels.

I felt so inspired by all this that I put a double batch of sourdough batter out to rise last night, thinking I could bake today and have enough bread for the week. As I usually do, I warmed the oven slightly and put the dough in it to rise before I went to bed. This morning, the KH got downstairs before me and decided to make cinnamon rolls for breakfast. You can see where this is going, right? My double batch of sourdough, responding to the delightful warmth of the heating oven, rose and spread and overflowed all over the oven, to the grave detriment of both the oven and the dough. I probably should have stopped while I was ahead...or at least, less behind.

Despite all the activity--or maybe because of it--I have been knitting. Here's proof:

This is a progress shot of Flame D'Amore, the top down raglan I've been working on. The yarn is handspun merino and merino-tencel plied together. It's about a dk weight, but I'm knitting at a worsted gauge, so the sweater is light and drapey.

I am basing the design on Francis Revisited, but mostly making it up as I go. I'm very happy with the way this is turning out. As you can see, it's a fitted design (Bertha and I are the same size), with a moderate cowl neck.

The edges are rolled, because I like rolled edges. I'm planning on elbow- or full length sleeves. I like the short sleeves, but I find longer sleeves are more wearable. Especially now, since my new office is just a couple degrees shy of "arctic". I'm not kidding. It's so cold that my nose runs and my fingernails turn blue. I have taken to wearing sweaters under my suit jackets and I am planning to knit a pair of fingerless gloves to wear while I'm working. I didn't start this with the idea of wearing it to work--hence the casual style--but I'm going to try it with a jacket and see if I can pull it off.

At some point I do have FOs to show you, but it's not easy to find time these days for a FOtoshoot, so I'll just leave you with the song that's running through my head, "Just keep knitting, gotta keep knitting..."

7 comments:

At Home Mommy Knits said...

So sorry things are stressful right now. I'm sure you will all find your groove as time goes on. Best of luck on your new career and your knitting is beautiful as always!

Stephanie said...

I think it will look great under a jacket.

Maybe you can say that you are saving the buffalo for spinning fiber...then it won't seem so bad!

Life's a Stitch said...

I worked full time outside the home while raising three kids. We've let a lot slip house wise, but I'm a better mom for it. Now I'm enjoying the time after kids and before grandkids, still at work with a disorganized house. Our agreement is I will retire a year early in order to get the house in order ;-)

sophanne said...

Good to know all living beings survived. A sleEpover? Really? Are there other moms who do that or are you the only nut case? :)

Anonymous said...

I was wondering how old Heidi is? Is it possible that she is not peeing on purpose? Our somewhat elderly Sheltie needed estrogen to control her 'older' bladder and it worked wonderfully. Its tough getting older.

Your sweater is lovely and certainly perfect for work.

Val
(dispatcherval)

Unknown said...

Flame is gorgeous but goodness knows how you manage to find the time! I have enough with my dogs I would be a nightmare if I had children too!
xoxo

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

Congrats to your friend, that is really exciting for her! Knowing you, you have some sort of lavish baby knit on the ready...am I right?;) Love la Flame btw, it's going to be a stunner!