Foolishly, I only took advantage of the last half hour or so of this beautiful day. And it wasn’t even for anything fun, nor did I get to cross anything off my list, since I got such a late start. I was able to fix my hay shelter roller blind and finally tear out all the deflated tomatoes I let freeze because I am a fucking idiot. Gardenwise, there’s nothing more depressing than chucking out 20 pounds of mature, mushy green tomatoes that could have been happily ripening inside if you weren’t a complete moron.
Ironically, the nicer it is outside, the colder it is in here; and the shittier it is outside, the cozier it is inside. That’s because when it’s just me & Ron, we try not to run the boiler if we don’t absoultely have to (because it is really fracking expensive). When the overnight low is in the 30s, we really don’t have to run it. Of course, we’re freezing our tits off unless we’re in the basement or my bedroom (which has a space heater), and I have to admit I’m a little slack on the personal hygeine when the boiler’s off. So I’m perversely looking forward to tomorrow night’s single-digit lows because that means: YAY! TOASTY WARM! (Importantly, toasty warm without feeling guilty for being a whiny pansy who can’t quit winging and put on another fucking layer).
Running the boiler is also fantastic for dyeing fiber, because I can drape it all over the vents and it dries up all fluffy and lovely in no time. So I’ll be dyeing all weekend. I’m actually kind of psyched we decided to move this weekend’s classes, because now I get a surprise extra weekend for free! I’m going to catch up both on dyeing and Christmas knitting, and hopefully finish off a little test project I’m working on. I also get to FINALLY test a sample of my languishing beer and see if it’s reached it’s final density or whatever they call it. I suspect it will still be way high, but who knows?! Maybe it will be ready to go and I can bottle away.
If it’s still not ready, I will probably start another batch of beer (my mom sent me TWO coopers kits) and try pouring the old stuff over the new yeast, as someone on one of the beer forums I was haunting suggested. If it is ready, I’ll still start another beer, but I will also start a cider! I’m super psyched about the cider, even though apparently it takes a lot longer. I really should get a decent homebrew book.
Oh, that’s one for the 2011 Überlist: Check back into interlibrary borrowing from the Harveyville Library (which is open like 4 hours a week, but still: free books, if I can actually get the ones I want).
Tonight’s really too cold to be up in the craft room, but I’m itching to make a flannel nightgown, so I’m going to give it a whirl. I’m flip-flopping between using a pattern and experimenting. I was all set on this one vintage pattern when I realized that it’s actually just a frumpy pattern and only looks adorable and winsome because the girl in the drawing is adorable and winsome (and leggy and beribboned). So it’s back to the drawing board.
Oh, that’s another one for the list! Make something from my vintage sewing patterns! (I’m bolding them so I can find them later on when I’m compiling my list. Working on my next Überlist is still on my list of Things I Must Not Do Right Now Because They are Distracting Me From the Work at Hand.)
Anyway, I toyed with making up my own pattern, maybe something boxy with gathered shaping. Then I thought: what about a hood? That would be cool! So I made a little tissue paper model while I was playing Lexulous with Suzanne. Only, it looks like some kind of witchy Druid ceremonial robe, not the fetching nightie I was imagining, so… I dunno. Maybe I should try it anyway. Maybe if it’s made out of flannel instead of tissue paper and Priority Mail stickers I peeled of a box it will look less, you know, ridiculous. We’ll see.
I’m kind of relieved I’m not the only person who thinks a hooded nightgown is a good idea. I’m using Butterick 4038 (they call it a robe, but I know better).