Really. One of my last "good" dishcloths has developed a hole, so it's time to knit up a few new ones. The hard part of this is going to be finding my cotton yarn (I have a ton of it) and the right size knitting needles and actually making them. I had hoped that I had put at least one ball in my knitting basket, but I didn't. I can do a quick foray into the craft pile (it's not really a room anymore, at least for the moment) and see if I can find some. I had the good sense to put the pattern in several places where I can find it quickly -- on my iPad in Ravelry, my digital knitting pattern file, and in Knit Companion. All that is required is the hands-on goods.
Edited to add: It took quite a bit of digging, but I found my stash of dishcloth yarn -- it was in the farthest box at the bottom of the pile. Right next to it was the box containing my needles. I took the opportunity to do a little exploration and rearrangement, and now I can get to my sewing machine and my spinning wheel (plus tools and fiber).
For the past couple of days the weather has been cool and cloudy, which is great. The Emperor has finally (finally FINALLY) begun to stir and has gotten the weed whackers working. We received a letter from the city asking us to take down the weeds in the little strip of yard lining the alley, and that's what got him going. We weren't the only ones to get the letter; I noticed lots of evidence of fresh weed-eating all up and down the alley. At any rate, I joined the Emperor armed with my long-armed clippers and took down the heavy, woody weeds so he could just work on the soft grasses. Today we'll finish the job, and I might even get out my lawn edger and go to work on the front lawn a little bit. Do a little judicious clipping.
Part of the problem with the weed whackers is that it's not just a matter of firing them up and going to work. For over ten years, every time it has come to this part of the yard work, the Emperor has spent more time fiddling with the tool than actually doing anything. He even bought a new one last year, but the fiddling continues -- something about the strings needing to be replaced every few whacks. As a result, yesterday we spent some time at the hardware store getting something that's supposed to end the fiddling and prolong the whacking. I just want to see the chore finished.
Edited to add: The Emperor fired up both weed whackers today, and the weeds along the back fence are no longer a problem. I went out with my long-handled clippers and got rid of a lot of unwanted vegetation. Oh -- I was correct in thinking that we weren't alone in getting that letter. The Emperor became acquainted with one of the back fence neighbors and found out that the alley weeds have been a sore spot with everybody.
We'll be packing up and heading for Arizona again on Thursday. In a rare fit of ego last spring, I accepted an invitation to speak at a symposium. Now we're in for another round of hotels and interminable driving and I find myself ironically yet heartily wishing that I didn't have to go to one of my favorite places in the world. After the last trip earlier this summer, I did some checking. I found that if we take the interstate all the way, it only adds one hour total to the drive, as opposed to taking the little two-lane state roads through the grim country of southwestern Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandle. That hour is worth it to me to be able to travel smoothly and with predictable places to stop. Well, the plan is to go straight there and come straight back and be home by Monday evening. That will give me about two weeks before school starts to get ready for it. Lord knows I have plenty to do but at least I don't have any online courses to create this time.
Another neighbor has fired up the weed whacker out in the alley. It must be time to get moving.
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