Uncle Leona's Day Camp

A long weekend is a good thing; a short week is better

I spent the last three days up on Kelleys Island with my folks. It was a nice time, as always. What was even better is that I did nothing that vaguely resembled work.

Nothing.

I have reached the end of my yarn, however, for the Maddy Laine cardigan. I ordered exactly what elann.com recommended, and I think I'm at least two skeins short (if not three). ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! And, of course, elann.com has no more of it. I did locate some in Germany, though. Can't read the web site (that college German did me a lot of gut), but the loose Google translation makes me think there are 17 skeins of the stuff in their warehouse.

Or perhaps, the Fourth Reich is coming in 17 weeks...I can't be sure.

Before I go Euroshopping, does anyone out there have any Gedifra Korfu in shade 2027 floating around? I don't really care about the dye lot--that can be finagled.

Never fear, though, I did get some knitting done that was positive. I'm almost done with a long-languishing WIP, the Cables and Lace Cardigan. For a few years now, Kato has been using it as a bed. I decided it was time to finish the dang thing. I should have the sleeves done this evening, then it's crochet the edges time.

Alert the media. I'm crocheting. This is always entertaining.

I'll post photos once construction ensues--right now it's just a lot of denim cotton cables and lace over and over and over again. It'll look lots better once I get it put together. I hope.

Last Thursday night, I met up with the lovely Carina at our local Bonefish Grill. The company was great, the food was beyond belief, the Pinot was wonderful, and Carina's brownie was overly decadent (it was our way of riding out a thunderstorm...good plan). Thanks again for a fun evening, Carina! For a Michigander, you're all right!

Is that an olive branch I see?

All of us here in the Midwest were finally able to park the ark this weekend. I don't remember when I was so happy to see 55 degrees and sunny in my life. 10 days straight of rain is too much. So, needless to say, I was outside quite a bit this weekend to try to find my yard. The lawn got cut (without stalling the machine once--I was shocked), my portulacas got planted (all 40 of them), and I managed to plant some basil, cilantro, and catnip in my herb garden.

My thumbs aren't only green, they now lack fingerprints.

I also put together a Craftsman tool cabinet that I received for Christmas this past year. One corner of my garage is now organized.

The rest is a disaster area. I think I'll need a dumpster to fix it.

In the midst of all of this, I did manage to get started on the Maddy Laine cardigan:

This is going to be a neat looking little cardigan when all is said and done. My only beef at the moment is with the combination of the cotton yarn and my beat-up paws. Not a good feel, and moisturizer tends to make me slip off the Addi Turbos. Never can be easy at the Day Camp. But I'll sally forth. I need room in Ikealand.

I also finished up another cotton cardigan in Blue Sky Organic Cotton. Did I mention I was doing it? I apologize. It was started just before all of the Grand Rapids stuff began.

All it needs is buttons, and I'm just too lazy to head out to JoAnn's to get them. Bum, thy name is Leona. The cotton is really soft, but I'm a little scared to see how it wears--seems a bit delicate to me. Doesn't matter too much--the temperature is supposed to be in the 70's-80's for most of the week, so the short sleeves will be in style.

Woo hoo!!

Speaking of woo hoo, I am so pumped that I get to meet the lovely Carina this week as she wanders into my fair city. Carina is not only a wonderful knitter, but she's the best recruiter the state of Michigan has ever known! Between her and my fella, the human Welcome Wagon, who knows what could happen?

I must say, I refuse to wear anything maize and blue. It gives me a rash. And I would probably have to give back my MD.

This weather blows.

We're now dealing with day 8 of rain. Everyone is getting quite cranky. I can't play golf, so I'm getting quite cranky. I'm also taking call for two weeks straight for another doc, whose patients tend to be, how can I say this?

Airheaded.

It's enough to make one yearn for the funner days in Michigan, but now it's looking like I won't be able to see him at least for another month. ARRRRGGGHHHH!!! We are talking on the phone once or twice a week, and the little email comments are being made (nothing lurid; just normal everyday stuff).

Perhaps it's time to pull out the phone sex.

OK, Mother Nature, you had your fun...now go.

It has been one of the most gorgeous springs around these parts this year. Everything is blooming and green, and best of all, it hasn't snowed since who knows when (I think the blower was out only three times after Christmas). Of course, everyone and their brother has a bit of an issue with tree pollen, so the office has been a zoo of late. The only cure: rain. Thanks to Mother Nature, we now are enjoying spring showers.

For the next week.

Just when the golf game was coming around, too. Damn.

So, all of you folks out there west of Cleveland, Ohio, take a deep breath and blow hard eastward. Maybe you can move this system out of here. I know, I know, but it doesn't hurt to try now, does it?

As promised, I bring you knitting content:

I finally unearthed the Socks That Rock sock again. This is the second sock, as you may remember. If it isn't done in the next 24 hours, it will be my companion to the Indians game tomorrow night. It will come out during the rain delay to keep me from sampling something from every vendor in the area.

I have a project in the bullpen (nice segue, huh?) at the moment.

I got the yarn from Elann.com at a primo price--the pattern is just too cute (Maddy Laine makes very sweet looking stuff--we'll see if I am as enamored once the knitting commences). Of course, just because the project is in the bullpen doesn't mean it's next on the needles. I could change my mind. It has been known to happen.

OK, OK, I know you all are sick of my stalling. Yes, he's still around. He called on Monday, and we had our standard one hour plus chat about everything: it started with a recap of his league night and finished with him heading out to the kitchen to snatch a fresh baked cookie. Don't worry about the G-rating, though. I fixed that today. I sent him a few little private messages on the golf board that he seemed to enjoy. What kind?

Just call me Captain Innuendo.

I'll get him down here to visit one way or another!!

I'll leave you all with Kato in her latest hiding spot from Grady:

Whatever works, I guess.

Nothing new to report...shit....

This long distance stuff blows. Really blows. I did chat with the man this week on Tuesday, but haven't talked since. Of course, that sets off the insecurity alarms in me (it shouldn't...but it does). Not to worry: I ain't losing any sleep about this. I know I'll be seeing him in a month at a golf outing (with my schedule, that could be the next time we see each other unless something comes up at Memorial Day). Just have to be patient, Veruca.

There is knitting going on; I just haven't taken any photos yet. Maybe tomorrow after I pull weeds and edge beds. If I live.

Until then, I present my hungry kitty:

Grady likes graphite. Many thanks to UPS for busting up the club to satisfy his craving.

We have a correct guess!

Yes, I'm a tease. Sad, but true. I just thought I'd have a little fun with regard to my little Michigan excursion last weekend. Not that the excursion wasn't fun....it was a lot of fun. There was a correct guess out there as to the three words that most accurately described the occasion. Congratulations to Lorette, who managed to come up with:

"I got lucky."

Very lucky, I might add. For those who want sordid details, suffice it to say that from about 10 PM Friday night to 5 AM Sunday morning, we were apart for about 6 hours total. Wine, golf, dinner, and a lot of other....um....stuff.

Did I mention I got lucky?

This is one pretty neat guy--I just need to be patient, though. The long distance thing is going to be a real pain for Miss Impatient. You see, I have a serious Veruca Salt streak in me.

You know, "I want it NOOOOOOOOOWWWW!"

And no, I ain't talkin' about no goose that lays golden chocolate eggs.

Guess I'll have to rely on the phone and internet for a while. Poo. I'm just hopeful that he's willing to be just as patient. I think he is, but my luck with men has been such that I expect the absolute worst at all times. Yep, insecurity is so sexy.

Keep those cyber fingers crossed out there--this one could be a keeper.