Knitting and Poker

In our house, there are two nights a week that we are busy.  On Wednesday, I travel to my weekly knitting circle.  Occasionally I have dinner with a girl friend beforehand or stop in a shop in the town where we meet.  We sit around the Espresso Bar (or on special occasions, The Shenandoah Chocolate Bar), laughing, knitting and enjoying each others' company.  This night is a great help to my sanity so I feel no guilt leaving my husband home alone to fend for himself.

There is usually leftovers in the fridge, should he choose.  But me not eating with him means he gets to go to places that I won't eat.  Like Chipotle, which uses cilantro in everything that I can't stand.  It's like serving me rice with a heaping spoonful of Ivory dish soap on top.  Eww.  Or Chic-fil-A, that I won't patron for their corporate policies and beliefs.  Which I won't get started on.

The reverse happens on Thursday nights when dear hubby has poker night with the boys.  They have Chen's Famous Chinese or Rocklands BBQ, and play cards trying to get each others' parking change.  And while he's away,  I get to eat things that he won't.  Tofu and broccoli, Boca burgers and zucchini or if the mood strikes, nothing but a huge bowl of popcorn.

It works for us, having our own special time with friends.  And at night when we get home, the other is there to snuggle up to.

Spring showers for flowers...

Yes, I love the sun, but where are my showers?  I went through all the work of digging out new garden beds in the hopes of having fresh veggies come summer, yet mother nature isn't cooperating.  This time of year is when we start getting these weird rain storms that start after sundown for a few hours and nice weather through the day.  Ideal for the gardener, because you get to have your rain for the plants and the sun too!  But lately it's just been cold and overcast.

Now, maybe I jumped the gun a bit in planting my seedlings outside.  But I did go through all that work preparing the beds that it seemed like such a waste to just have soil to look at.  I guess I will just wait to see if I need to replant.

In other gardening areas, there are these weird shoots coming up.  I have no idea of what they are.  Dealing with gardens that someone else has planted, I keep getting surprised with bulbs that are popping up.  And I am a little scared.  The previous owners are the same people who planted mint in the GROUND.  (FYI- NEVER do that.)  It will take me years to try and get rid of the invasive pest.  So, I admit to being scared that some of these shoots are bamboo.  There was a pokeberry plant too, I can only surmise that they wanted to poison the neighborhood children and attract every deer in the area.  That took me most of the day to dig out and I fear that I may not have gotten all of it.

I do have high hopes for the roses.  I mean, roses are roses, right?

Upon waking

Anyone else ever dream of yarn? I do. Last night I dreamed of yarn. Yarn that I knew I had. Yarn perfect for a spring/summer top. Yarn that I couldn't find. In my dream, I knit the yarn into a lovely top, with gorgeous drape and an airy swing. My brain wouldn't let it go. So, on a Sunday morning, I awoke at 6:10am and HAD to hunt for the yarn. Trying to be very quiet as to not wake my hubby. But I found it, and the relief was profound. I will make my top and it will be beautiful. I may even swatch. All is good.

(I also found enough yarn for 2 other perfect tops. Life is good.)