Learning Experience

World Spirit Tarot

Mini Diva's school production of 'Oliver!' is this week - and it being set in Victorian times meant I was suddenly cooler than ever amongst her friends, who are all aware that I knit shawls. Many shawls. Many shawls in many colors. Many shawls that could be borrowed to wear as part of the costume.

I thought I'd better whip up a quickie just in case there was a need for an extra shawl, and chose the Thimbleweed Shawl: being for 4ply/fingering yarn, a fast knit, not too complex but without being too boring. And I had 2 balls of Drops Alpaca in charcoal gray hanging round which I had no other plans for.

No, I have no idea why they were in my stash either, actually. It's not exactly like I'm a jay for color, and have nothing but ponycorn rainbows in my stash, but dull drab subtle colors like gray are definitely not my bag at all.

About halfway through, I decided the color and the pattern were both 'meh' without much to redeem them. But I plodded on, finished the shawl in a couple of days, then washed and blocked it. It did look better.

I left it on the back of the sofa prior to photographing it and giving it to Mini Diva.

Somehow, someway, somewhere, someone .... managed to swoop it up into a pile of dirty laundry.

Yes, one of the markers of a tragedy is the inevitability of the result. I know you know what that was, and here is the crime scene photo evidence:

No, I shan't be bothering to re-make the pattern. It might be a good thing and a lesson from the Universe that this was ruined ie. at least it was inexpensive yarn and a pattern I didn't care about, the lesson being not to waste one's time with things one doesn't feel enthusiastic about.

Cod Liver Oil

Sunday and today have been the only sunny days we've had in about 2 weeks or so: the torrential rain and cold greyness has been depressing and miserable, to say the least. Hibernation would be mental salvation. However, on both decent days Mini Diva and I took the dog to the park, where I enjoyed them running round using up energy and tennis balls: I doubt I would have done this if we had been dogless.

I am feeling restive, yet unable to commit to anything because I desperately need to springclean - a Herculean task akin to cleaning the Augean stables - during which process I have decided that I will jettison lots of 'stuff'; our house is tiny with little storage space, and the things that live in boxes and cupboards that haven't seen use in a year or so is obviously not needed, and therefore can go for recycling, whether via a charity shop or otherwise. I know I can be this harsh, I have done it once before (after my divorce) but I am not looking forward to it.

An additional challenge is that because the house is small, it will have to be done somewhat like a magic square:
It will also have to be done when I am on my own, or else I get really grumpy. Which means that I am going to have to be very self-disciplined, and manage my time far more effectively. What joy. Usually you can camouflage vile things that are good for you with something else, eg. cold liver oil in capsules, or maybe find something equally good that balances the evil, eg. finding one of these:




















Chippendale chair

or these:



















Ming vase

But after all our moves, and given that the access hatch to our loft is mouse-sized, I feel it is somewhat unlikely ....