I double checked that, I think this is the 8th week. (I don’t really care, but I do a little.)
I was going to name this post “Sick & Tired”, but I’m neither anymore, or at least not near as sick and tired as I was a week ago. I caught a head cold mid January, the dizzy, reeling kind, and it lasted a few days, as usual. Then I developed a cough, the nasty, shake your brains kind, and that bastard lasted a week and a half. It was awful. Then I had one glorious cough-free morning, and THEN I caught another round of the head cold for another week. This time the sinus pressure and congestion was the I-can’t-think-straight variety so I finally succumbed to heavier cold meds. Those, of course, made me both jittery and exhausted so I stopped those. I stopped them not just because they made me feel worse, but because I drive a car for a living and didn’t want to think about feeling like that while driving. I drank a lot of juice and water (and some good coffee when my taste buds returned), ate spicy green chile, and on Thursday night my head finally popped back into this world (it was a weird yet very interesting feeling of pressure in my head, then and audible pop in my ear, and my sinuses expanded significantly), and the next day, I felt so much better! I’ve been saying that for awhile, optimistically, but today I can say I really do feel ok. A tiny bit congested, but it may be a combo of allergies (omg it was 70 degrees last week! woot!) and this crud finally leaving my head. So, well, yes, I’m in the gross phase of the end of a cold, the snorting, productive cough, need-a-tissue-nearby kind, but holy cats I’ll take it! It’s so exhausting being sick for longer than the usual week. Everything is affected: schedules, work, kids, spouse. Luckily they didn’t get sick!

I also worked too much the last couple weeks, I stretched myself too thin. I bet you know how that goes. More work to do, a deadline, trying to cram 4 weeks of work into 2. That was unnecessary, for sure. I’m proud of what I have done so far, but I made myself leave it at work (or literally int he work truck) and not do more than send email at home. By George, it works!! Imagine my surprise when the work was still there and there were no fires. ;-) I’m taking is easier now and it’s making the work easier, for one, and I’m able to make sure the work is right the first time so I won’t worry about double checking later.

Anyway, work is fine, but busybusybusy. We’re two weeks into the new job schedules for both of us, and it’s going swimmingly. I probably don’t actually see B more than I used to, but it feels like it because we talk all the time, like we do. :-) Ah, communication.

Boys are better too! A is over the hump of the terrible 2/3s. W is firmly 7, and it’s a little strange and exciting to see how much he’s changing into a bigger little guy, you know? Bit by bit. They both remain wonderful, tantrums aside. We went out to eat at Fat Squirrel last night (YUM, they’re new menu is great!) and we were complimented by a  stranger on our way out about how nice they were! Woohoo! It was a tough-ish day too, with tantrums and such so that was a good way to end the day. That and Lego Batman and me falling asleep on the couch, lol.
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But you came for WIPs of the yarn variety didn’t you? One side effect from my anxiety over life and when I’m sick is a lot of reading and/or crafting! I finished Locke Lamora (again for the first time, long story). I got a few more chapters into the next one too, plus I started listening to The Book Thief in the car at work. I have a knit project that’s perfect for reading whilst knitting. (see #7 below)

Oh but I went nuts with yarn! I cast on 3 or 4 things and made good progress on them. They’re mostly scarves of course. I love scarves; they’re warm enough in my coolish winter, fast, small/portable, and big enough to do a lot of techniques with only one skein of yarn. My favorite lately are the “assymetrical” variety, like Martina Behm’s Strichmich patterns. I cast on only a few stitiches, maybe 6 or so, the the “shawlette” is worked bigger and bigger, usually with one of the borders. So they are super easy and fun, and they’re supposed to be easy, with lots of easy garter stitch and an interesting but not difficult border. I made Hitchhiker already, and I think I have 3-4 more of her patterns on or ready for the needles! Penny is working on some too so it’s fun to see what we make with different yarns, same pattern. These patterns are perfect for variegated colors too; I love that. I can work on these patterns anywhere, since 95% of the pattern is garter stitch and I don’t even have to look down.

(Note: I’m trying to make it so you can see my Ravelry project page for each project, bear with me as I learn how to blog better. I had troubles loading pics onto the blog today, so hopefully all these rav links will work…)

1) Trillian is going well! Lots of yarn left, so I don’t think I’m halfway through. This yarn is smoooooth. I might make another scarf in this pattern, for sure. I love my new habit of taking pics of WIPs with whatever drink I have! I wanted to take one with my delicious root beer last night but I didn’t get a chance. Oh well. Try the root beer on tap at Fat Squirrel, it’s delicious.

2) Reichenbach Falls Cap. I’m not any further on this but still excited about it. Did you hear Sherlock Benedict C got married yesterday? How sweet!! They are also actively filming Sherlock Season 4 so I’m very very excited about that indeed! (Probably more excited about that than the marriage. I mean, congrats and love is wonderful but Sherlock is Sherlock.)

3) Second Story shirt-a new one!! I got my last issue of Interweave Knits this week and it has a ton of shirts and shawls I want to make. This is one of two patterns I cast on immediately (well as soon as the kids were in bed, lol). I have used this yarn for three other projects and I think this one is the right one! Finally! Such a simple, yet bold pattern. It’s nice to have a project with no yarnovers sometimes. I love these shirt patterns with two pieces sewn together; easy peasy.

4) Speaking of, Juicy Top is progressing! It might now look like much but it adds up pretty quick. I’m still nervous it won’t fit, but I remember checking and checking and then 4 checks later I know it will be the correct size. If it doesn’t fit me, my mom might like it. ;-)

5) Another new one! Also from Interweave Knits Spring 2015, is Potter’s Shawl by Jen Lucas. Jen dyed the yarn for my Bat Shawl years ago. I’m excited to see her design in a major knit mag. This is the project I put in my purse and work on near constantly. It’s all garter stitch except for easy increases on the ends. The neat border will be done sideways up the edging! Cool!! And that colorway…swoon. Lorna’s Laces always gets me in the heartstrings.

6) Blue Lagoon is not technically a new project but I grabbed it out of hibernation. It’s very good for movie watching and it’s progressing faster than I thought! This yarn is so soft and smooth and sparkly and happy. Plus, oodles of stitch markers clicking around are fun. It’s one of my oldest projects. I tried to start it when I just learned to knit, and it confused me. But I’ve had it sitting around, with this yarn specifically for it, for years. My dear friend bought me the yarn on our first visit to Houston. I’ll be so happy to finish this!

7) Boop! is a lace shawl/wrap out of this ridiculously colorful yarn, Freia. It practically glows. Penny gave me the pattern and she’s working on one too, in a smoky grey. This ball of yarn has over 600yds in it so I’m hoping this pattern will be just right to use most of it up. When it’s done I’ll have a nice light, hugging-shoulders wrap that practically glows. This one is great for reading and knitting since it is 99% stockinette. I named it Boop because when Penny sent me the name of the pattern, I read it too fast and instead of “Mobius Bias Loop” I read “boop”. ;-)

8) Finally, the T-Rex! I was going to finish this sooner but lost my stuffing. I found it yesterday under the couch, naturally it was there. I remember putting it there so I wouldn’t forget. (facepalm)

Eight is a big number of WIPs. I’m having fun though, and that’s the idea anyway. :-D

We’re having another glorious out-of-season day here. We played out in the back yard. The boys played baseball and in the dirt while I ran around taking pictures of WIPs, lol.

I hope you have a good day too!