Knitting Cybrarian

Saturdays and dreams

I'm not working at the Studio this weekend, so I slept late this morning.

 

Portia was quite pleased; she snuggled next to me for quite a while.

I awoke from strange dreams -- I've had variants on a theme for quite a while now.  I dream that we're moving or have moved to a new place -- that new place is our current home.  And we've forgotten something from the old place.  I never know what that something is, but it's important and we've not closed out our lease or the management has gone ahead and let folks move in even though we've not finished moving.  Sometimes the old place has changed -- still in the same location but with additional rooms, porches, etc.  Sometimes we're moved to an interim location.  But always the same:  we've forgotten something and we have to retrieve it.

Strange.  Occassionally this dream leaps back to a residence from 1992.  But still the same -- something's forgotten, it's important and I'll know it when I see it.

In the meantime, I've got a little more time to unwind and snuggle with Portia before I get the cleaning done.  Joel's working overtime today and I'd like to have things done before he gets home so he can enjoy a break this weekend too.

Knitting?  I've knitted several baby hats, baby mitts and now I'm knitting a hat for Joel with leftover blue yarn from some of the baby projects.  Then another set of mitts in the future.  Yes, small portable projects.  I'm itching to get back to some of the more substantial projects, but I'd like to get some of the smaller ones done too.

Wednesday

It's midweek and I've survived so far.  Some parts of the week have been stressful, but not unbearable. 

The 5-6 inches of snow that fell over the weekend is slowly melting, but it's been beautiful and not terribly messy.  I worked at the Studio Sunday and was initially concerned about driving.  I'm still in the "driving big rear-wheel drive truck" mindset.  Lil' Red handled the snow/slush beautifully.  I felt like such a dork, but I'm getting used to no fishtailing and fewer to no surprises in inclement weather handling.

As always, lots to do and slowly getting things accomplished.  What's that saying-- I have to live a long time to get everything accomplished?

Making your Monday

Deer on alert

We had four footed visitors yesterday afternoon.  The Clementine crate had a special treat for the birds and squirrels -- chopped dates and raisins mixed with peanut butter.  I don't think they left any for the deer.

A new use

for those 3.5" floppy disks. 

What's sad is that I remember when they first came out and were very cool.  Well, compared to the 5 1/4" disks.

The university was closed today because of inclement weather.  Although Sunday was worse and I fretted and worried about my staff that afternoon and evening.

Tomorrow... most likely we'll be open.

Sleet, snow, dough

Since Friday we've had sleet, freezing rain, snow, more sleet, more freezing rain, etc. etc.  I'm off work today because of the MLK holiday and Joel decided to stay home because of the many wrecks and fatalities reported on the news this am.  I've not been out of the house since I came home Friday afternoon. 

However, I've been knitting.  And I've rediscovered the joys of the dough cycle on the breadmaker.  We've had a breadmaker for years, but I don't like the hole the paddle leaves in the bottom of the loaf.  Joel makes sandwich bread often and loves it.  This weekend I decided to try using it to mix up the dough and do the first rising.  I like the texture of the bread much better than what I've been getting when I don't use the cool rise method.   I made a loaf (huuuuge loaf!) earlier this morning for Joel to use for sandwich bread and I have a second batch in the breadmaker to prep rolls.

I've been thinking about how I can use this to have hot rolls with dinner too-- or have dough ready to roll out, make up into cinnamon rolls and rise, then bake in the morning.  Without having to get the dough out of the fridge at 3am for it to warm up.  Lots of ideas, obviously.

I hope they all don't go to my waist!

By the Fireside

Yesterday the campus closed early due to inclement weather.  Sleet and freezing rain.  The forecast has been for a series of bad winter storms to come through the area this weekend, so I stopped by the grocery store on the way home to load up.  I got home by 3pm with the goods.

Joel worked overtime last night, and left work at 6:30pm.  I was concerned, but he made it home safely.  I think he fared better leaving after rush hour.

Campus is open today, but I don't know for how long.  The sleet started hitting hard about five minutes ago here.  It's quite noisy, hitting the frozen ground, pinging against the chimney cap and into the top of the chimney.  And of course, when the wind shifts, it slams against the windows and jolts my nerves.  I don't have a fire going now, but may later, depending.  The current temperature outside is about 16F.  Brrr.

We've got our furnace turned down and have quilts and throws for snuggling.  I feel lucky that we are both not working this weekend and can stay in.  Not everyone is so lucky.

So those of you in the KC metro area, stay safe and stay warm!  I'm knitting and reading.  And snuggling with Her Highness.

Friday

Finally Friday, although it's been a short work week.  I've been digging out my office.  Each semester I try to restore order to chaos and each semester it spins out of control about 4-6 weeks in, depending on various demands.  We'll see how this semester goes.

Another busy weekend ahead. 

Our church's beloved Senior Warden died unexpectedly Tuesday night, and the funeral is tomorrow.  I'm singing in the choir and singing descants as well.  It won't be easy-- I'm on the church vestry and served with our Senior Warden.  My heart goes out to his family.  The funeral service in the Episcopal Church is one of an Easter celebration.  The deceased has left this world, truly risen with Christ.  It's a beautiful service in its affirmation of faith.  One of the opening collects for this service reads:   O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother (sister) N.  We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.  In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn.  Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. (1979 Book of Common Prayer, p. 493)

Other events this weekend as well, but this one certainly has my immediate focus.

Not in MY library

'cause:

• there's no card catalog
• no law books here (music library)
• there would be MUCH better music

The party's over

My so-called winter break is over.  I'm up early to attempt to get to work early (for me).  Must get some half and half for work coffee en route.  Portia is snuggling close.  Somehow she knows I'm going back to work today.  Perhaps it was that I got up at 5am and showered right away. 

I'm really hoping to get my office cleaned the next couple of days.  Really.

And I dreamed that I was doing inventory last night.  Ugh.