A certain handsome gent went willingly out on pasture with the flock this morning, so my Uncle Honeybunch-specific angst has dissipated (cost: $97 and 2 lost days of work; not too rough). Now just two more days of general heat-related-livestock-stress angst, and I’m in the clear. The latter anxiety is much more manageable: let them out early, lots of water, frequent checks that become more frequent at 100°, etc. And of course, after the better part of a week of Excessive Heat Warnings, I’ve made some nice accommodations that manage my stress as well as theirs.
I’ve finished my first 4-ounce challenge pattern & I’m working on my second. I’m knitting them in commercial yarn first, then I’ll be reknitting them in handspun. I don’t want to abuse my handspun. Also, it doesn’t actually exist yet.
This big pile of scrumpy goodness arrived yesterday. It’s pretty much true red, very pretty, though I was expecting something a little oranger. You really never can tell with monitors. It’s for my knitty Deep Fall pattern reknit. It’s super plush, and I think they sent more than I requested, so it looks like mama’s gonna get herself a little something on the side! I’d never seen Lorna’s Laces solids in person, so I didn’t realize they would be true solids–I was expecting more of a kettle dye situation, but this will actually be better for the pattern, though of course, less exciting to knit. The pattern has a nice texture that would probably compete poorly with color shifts, so as much as it killed me to eschew the glorious Lorna’s Laces hand-dyes, I had to request solids for the project.
I’m trying out this new thing where I have a Top 10 list each month that’s posted on a big white board in my office. I started in June & my average is about 60%, not bad, since a million urgent extra-list demands always pop up throughout the month. This month, so far? I’ve accomplished none. I’ve made progress on several, but progress ain’t crossing off. The extra-list items have been the Art Share block printing workshop, Jayne & Uncle Honeybunch health, animal heat issues, etsy maintenance, Craftzine projects, and the 4-ounce challenge (which should absolutely NOT be usurping my list; it’s unvarnished goofing off!).
Would you like to see my official August To-Do List? Ordered by priority:
1. Finish redesign/build of LSF site
2. Complete & submit PSIQs
3. Repair hay storage shelter (getting an all-new one instead!)
4. Put Color Source Book online
5. Install replacement hard drive and xfer old files (huge ass-pain on an iMac)
6. Add current stock to artclubshop.com site
7.Configure & test and go live!
8. Make complete inventory spreadsheet
9. Link rav ads to new site
10. Tentative Art Share calendar for the rest of 2010
And because I have a slave to my lists, I also make a weekly list and a daily list. Wow, this is incredibly boring. I’ll stop now. Back to work.