weekend update

We were off to a great start - my husband and I. Our first weekend together since we went to Cuba (Mar. 7 - wk of). Friday night we went to dinner with friends while boy child engaged in Friday night Frolics at the school. Very fun evening full of food, wine and complimented with ball winding and a movie :)

On Saturday morning we headed off to the local hardware store where I proceeded to purchase supplies I will require for gardening this summer. These are over & aboves, like cement to make the stepping stones in 'You Grow Girl', some solar panel lights for the back yard and front deck, a thermometer for the back deck, humming bird feeder - you know, Spring essentials.

After taking the loot out of the trunk, honey reached up to close it and popped his shoulder of its socket. I heard him moaning downstairs and when I saw him laying on the sofa writhing in pain I knew immediately what had happened. His shoulder is a little lose and has popped out many times: the day of my brother's wedding, playing softball with his work, picking up a pillow off the floor... So we rushed to the hospital where they took him in immediately - tax dollars at work right there folks! 1 1/2 hrs later - a drugged husband in toe, we headed home only to prepare for the evening of his wisdom teeth removal. Needless to say, husband was legally high all weekend.

I did manage to get little green house up - seedlings are very happy.
I'm at the part where the arm holes start on the sweater - I'm very nervous.
Received franchise agreement - freaking out!

Raining today as was all weekend and will probably be cloudy until my last day in hell, I mean, the office :)

jak

grow my pretties, grow

I'm so excited!

Life is out there. In the little box of dirt at the end of the driveway. This is the box that I usually put sweet peas in (they climb up the steps nicely), and sunflowers. In the Fall I cut the sunflowers down and left them for ground cover, and they seeded. After work yesterday, on the way in the house (I check all dirt piles for signs of life before heading in to check my inside dirt pots), I could see tiny sunflowers poking up in search of light. Not one or two - at least 7!

This morning we awoke to big soppy flakes of snow scattering from the sky. I quickly grabbed newspaper and ran out to protect the baby sunflower from our moody Maritime weather. Now the sun is shining, so hopefuly they are warm and ok. Can't wait to get home and check on them.

Inside dirt:
No sign of these herbs surfacing yet. Dill, coriander, thyme, thai basil, mint, and lavender (this one is a fussy little one I think).

Hot peppers are curling their way into the sun, along with the echinacea, and chives. This weekend I'm going to put together the little plastic, zip up green house my neighbor (thanks Trace) so kindly gave me when she moved last Fall.

Knitting:
Oh my sweater is coming right along. Or should I say my husband's sweater. On the 2nd skein and measures about 10" (on the round). I casually mentioned to him last evening that this is my first sweater and the arms may be a little quirky. He made a snide remark about the entire sweater turning out quirky... he better be joking or else this sweater might turn out to be a 'little' too small for him and fit - oh - ME!

Called SVW today - she has day off and is gallivanting to yarn shops, and probably at cafe knitting... jealousy overtaking me right now... Ok back. Hoping I can stop by her place today after I get off work to take advantage of her ball winder :) Need to double up yarn on a couple sets of mits I'll be making.

Employment Ops:
'G' the taker carer of the Nuggets (my boy child & friends) called this morning with a very cool business idea. We are meeting with Trace (x-neighbour - green house giver), this weekend to brainstorm. Also received requests from suppliers for home phone number... never know... I do know that I feel relieved and oddly happy.

tomorrow isn't promised

A friend shed some perspective on my 'unemployment' situation today. She had some time when she didn't have a job, and was able to learn from that experience and she shared with me (thanks JWM).

She's right and I will take her words to heart and live by them ~ tomorrow isn't promised...

jak

My new life...?

I quit my job.

A job that pays relatively well for a woman - I say with a hint of sarcasm. A job that has good medical benefits. A job that offers a RRSP program. A job that administers Savings Bonds. A job that... Well, really that's all of the good stuff. Besides being a place where I can see and talk with people I like everyday. But the ones that are real friends I will see outside the confines of hell - I mean, the office.

I'm not sure how to feel right now. Perhaps still in a little shock. I have been planning this for a while. But plans and reality are not the same. I didn't think I would actually do it. The independent side of me is FREAKING. The tired and sad part of me is sighing with relief. The knitting side of me is wondering where the cash for the next stash is coming from. The hungry part of me is hoping those tomatoes really do grow... and thinking I better get in gear and start planting the cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelon, peppers... Livin' off the land this summer and knitting up whatever remnants I can find. Should be interesting.

Must go feed boy child and earn my keep.

On the edge of unemployed...
jak

IMG_2261

IMG_2261
Originally uploaded by jakinthebox.

Wool drying in the sun today...

Oh What Have I done?

This is the 'after buying a new stash' guilt that is settling in. I should be saving for retirement, but noooo - I spent $120 on yarn. To some that may not be a lot. To me - a beginner, a novice, a poor woman!

SVW, my boy child, and I headed off to the Valley today and hit Gaspereau Valley Fibres. Wonderfully, beautiful location with amazing 'I am not worthy' wool of every type. My budget was $60, so I about doubled that and have finished my yarn purchasing until Fall (perhaps longer, depending on retirement fund).

I do however, have enough wool to knit up a sweater (this one promises not to be a 'knit for ever' pattern due to 9mm needles and bulky wool - we shall see). This is my first sweater (Berkshire Pullover, Weekend Knitting) and the ladies tell me an easy one :) Heee heee hawww... I also bought some wool - oh that I love so much - to make more mittens. Yep, I'm gonna giver' another try. I'm very excited about those.

Today was at least 10 degrees Celsius, sunny with clear blue skies. Such a great day for a drive and relaxing with sheep, a lama, a few chickens, and friends. Thanks to great friend SVW for racing with boy child, talking to lama with boy child, and basically distracting him while mommy selected perfect yarn. OH! SVW is going to spin her own Yarn! A Turkish spinner thingy! Very cool. We tried it out today. I bet the yarn will be rustic and oh so creative. Can't wait to see an entire ball (how's that for pressure Stfy?).

Updates

Work - still dying on the inside (as my friend SVW would say).

Knitting - still working on mittens. I would say the knit forever mitts - but that would indicate that I seem to get all the 'knit forever patterns', then it would be me that is slow and not really the patterns... We'll call this one the 'knit & unknit, then knit again' pattern :)

Sewing - look at pretty fabric for my gardening apron everyday. It's still really cute.

Gardening - oh sweet little buds! Some are getting bigger everyday. Others are being pokey (that's funny), and some I'm afraid, will never come through. The Summer Savory for instance is in 4 pots, but nothing yet. I will be patient. Tonight, I'm going to put some tomatoes in dirt, and perhaps some other herbs. SVW called me last night to ask if I thought the pit from the avocado she was eating should be planted. Definitely!

Motorbike - had out on weekend when weather was much warmer than today. I even had my chaps on! I was scared to death, but I didn't die...

Homework - boy very sad and defiant... Perhaps I'll begin re-knitting while I monitor spelling progress.

PS - did you know the Farmers Almanac is on-line? That's freakish and cool at the same time.

the Stones

A typical Spring day. April Showers with promise of May flowers as tiny green buds spiratically poke through dirt.

My friend SVW, and I noticed green buds everywhere earlier this week while on a lunch time walk (well it was more like a hobble for SVW :) She's started jogging, and I'm making fun of her cause I haven't and I feel horrible about myself... That's what friends do - right?

Anyhow, while on our walk we decided to pop into the Burnside Zoo (pet store). This is where we met Kieth and Mick. 2 little crazy ass pups. I fell in love, and even begged my husband, his parents, and my son to accompany me after supper last night so they could meet Kieth and Mick too. Kieth, I discovered is female :) and Mick the male who is 2 wks older and has been groomed, so looks a little more... or should I say, a little less wacky.

I'm not even sure why I want a puppy. My husband keeps focusing on the negative - poopy scooping, late night pee trips, cold or rainy day walkings. I guess I look at it as a reason to get up in the morning... ou that sounds very sad doesn't it? But maybe if I have someone to look after, that will pee on my carpet if I don't get my ass out of bed. Is that what it's come down to? I guess I shouldn't put it that way. I do get out of bed and quite enjoy days - that I'm not at the office. Perhaps I should wait until this phase cycles past before we invite a puppy into our family. I will keep checking on Kieth-ett though. If no one buys her, I'll have to save her from the Zoo.

In~laws are here this weekend, so I imagine we'll be doing a bit of shopping and visiting. Last weekend my girl from home moved into the province, so we were at her new home. The weekend before we went home (NB) for Easter and my nannies B-day, and the weekend before we were coming home from vacation - no wonder I've been sick this week.

Husband away (in NF) next weekend, so I'll finish knitting projects I want to complete. Start more seedlings - Oh very excited about that! And going to sew an apron for gardening tools, from You Grow Girl by Gayla Trail. EXCELLENT book for growing, and gardening projects for a yard or balcony type setting.

Hmmm just notice something. I bought two gardening books. One by Gayla 'Trail', and another by Lois 'Hole'. Do you think they did that on purpose? Perhaps I could write and gardening book and my name will be Jenna Dirt. No, that's Joe Dirt. How about Verta Thumb? That's funny!! Well, to me.

OK enough bibble babble - lunch break is over. Must get to work.

jak

Umbilical Cord Hat (from Stitch 'n Bitch) 

Spring is Here

The sun stays with us a little longer in the day and the snow is finally gone. We are beginning to shed out Winter insulation :) and digging out sandals, shorts, and skirts while singing 'drip drip drip little April showers. Nothing compares to your beautiful sound..."

OK none of that is happening - the days are longer and I am hopeful that I will be inspired or motivated enough to shed Winter weight. In the meantime I busy myself with planting seedlings (planted some herbs March 28th and already there are tiny green leaves poking through the dirt), and finishing knitting projects for the winter. Last project will be mittens. I have only ever made one, and it's a pathetic excuse for a mitten - but I will try so when next Winter arrives I will have Beautiful new mittens to wear.

Over the weekend I knit a baby hat for my husband's cousin. It's very cute (see below). Also completed the knit forever - French Market bag. It turned out quite nice as well.

Well, now that I have managed to post another photo - and change my template, again. I will call it a night.

Good night Spring moon.

jak