Enough Already!

You know, it used to be that I enjoyed rain storms. I found them to be energizing. And there's nothing better than curling up with a good book or some knitting and listening to the rain on the roof.

That all changed when we moved into our old house. Rain storms became a source of anxiety when we discovered all the places in the house where rain can come in...the sun porch roof, the basement...you know, all those places where rain shouldn't be coming in. Add to that a huge dying tree that hung over the house and rain coupled with high winds caused many a sleepless night during summer storms.

We took the tree down about three years ago so that worry is gone. We patched the roof when we renovated the back of the house, so there went that worry. Or so we thought. The patch didn't hold. So, ever since Saturday when the deluge started, my anxiety has been a bit higher than normal, especially at night. The sun room is off our bedroom and when the rains come, I lay in bed, just waiting for the sound of drip....drip...drip..drip.dripdripdripDRIPDRIPDRIPDRIPDRIP. We got more than six inches of rain between Saturday and Monday and probably collected several gallons in the sun room. You can imagine my delight when I woke up this morning to clear skies and no rain. Alas, it didn't last long. By afternoon, we were getting heavy rain showers. And now it's raining heavily and the poor cat is outside in the rain somewhere. (How appropriate...XM Radio World Zone is playing "The Rain is Falling" by Warsaw Village Band.)

Despite near perfect knitting conditions, I haven't made much progress on either the Jaywalkers or the blanket, although I have emerged from the twilight zone. I've finished the pattern rows and started on the seed stitch border with only seven more rows to knit up. And then the French knots...602 of them. It's not going to be pretty. The task is going to require strength, perverseness perseverance, and large quantity of chocolate, caffeine, and perhaps alcohol. I wonder if the Yarn Harlot could get me some Screech.

Despite the rain and the unfinished blanket, there was a ray of hope today. My horoscope said this:

This talent of yours is worth nurturing. Even if outward circumstances don't feel reassuring, keep on with it. Whatever nurtures your soul has the potential to turn into a financial source of support too.

While I wouldn't say that I'm a talented knitter, I'm interpreting the last sentence as an omen that my yarn shop ideas are eventually going to pan out.

One Skein
I mailed my secret pal her skein earlier this week and she got it today. This is what I sent:



It's a skein of silk chenille from Spirit Trail Fiberworks, in colors that she said she liked. I've always loved the feel of silk chenille and have been wanting to knit with it myself. It was very difficult to pack it up and ship it off. It was worth the grief of separation, though, when I read her thank-you note. I made a good choice.

Well, I think the rain has stopped. I'm off to search for a soggy kitty.