We all have a routine that keeps our lives running. Get up, brush teeth, make coffee, drink a cup, get dressed, head out the door. Don’t forget phone-keys-wallet. We run our dishwashers, we sweep our kitchens, we vacuum our floors, and feed our pets.
Being writers, we work from home, and our cycle of routines is fine-tuned, because our house is also our work space. Nobody likes to work in a mess, so we perform the necessary maintenance. For the majority of the time, our routines hold. The house is, if it’s not guest-clean, then at least presentable. The clutter is kept to a minimum. The surfaces of the desks are somewhat visible.
But there comes a time, usually at the end of the novel, when all of that goes out the window. There is no energy to spare to clean up and arrange things. Every ounce of mental fuel is going into the book, and at the end of the day you are so tired, that you open the refrigerator trying to figure what you can make for dinner, hit decision paralysis, and then go to your favorite take out app and stare at that blankly, too. At the end, you will order the same standby you usually order, simply because there is not enough creativity left to think out of the takeout box. “You have ordered from Firehouse Subs 17 times…”
Yesterday we spent the day cleaning. We threw away random items that accumulated on random horizontal spaces. Why in the world did I need to keep broken headphones from a year ago? Who knows? We washed the couch throws. We vacuumed, we mopped, we retightened the screws in the dining room chairs. We still have the bedroom and the dining room to go, but for now, the study, the living room, and the kitchen are all clean. The house feels bigger somehow. It’s easier to breathe.
Today will be more laundry – we have got to unpack the bags from the Dragoncon. They are only partially unpacked right now, and if there is one thing cats love more than throwing things off your desk, it’s sitting in your suitcases. I still have some bookkeeping maintenance to do from the trip.
Grace Draven might drop by today. When we talked yesterday, she asked what we were doing, and I told her, “Between the books cleaning.” She knew exactly what I was talking about.
I imagine Gordon will soon decide to cut the grass. It rained a lot this summer and the lawn didn’t quite die to the brown wasteland stage. We let the native groundcover spread and right now, the back yard is lush and green and looks like something out of a Shire. As much as I love the look, we found a couple of coral snakes in the backyard before, and while they are shy and timid, they are also highly venomous. Short grass is a must. This way neither the snake nor we will get surprised.
I started a new craft project. Two actually. The first is a knitted cardigan. This will explain how little brain I had left – I could not do raglan increases. Normally it’s not a problem. You have 6-8 markers depending on the pattern and you increase on each side. At some point in the writing process, the raglan increases became the Crete’s Labyrinth. I knitted some during the Dragoncon, because we didn’t have to write, but my cardigan might have to wait. Or I will give up and just do the 4 rectangles.
Kid 2 has moved into her new house, and she asked for a blanket. She wanted a kind of retro-looking pattern with greens and purples, so I am working on the daisy squares.
I bought a yarn from UK. It’s called Stylecraft Special, and it is so soft. It’s acrylic, so it should stand up to the German shepherds.
I ordered the yarn from the Little Wool Shop and the shipping was very reasonable.
The squares are looking kind of tilted, but this will all straighten itself out in blocking and joining. It’s going to have a white border and will look very cottage. I just winged it, because I remember how to do it, but I found a written pattern that is similar and free. Here is the Ravelry link and here is the direct link to the designer’s blog.
Here is what I did, if you want the differences. I am very bad at pattern writing, so I recommend looking at Stephanie’s instructions linked above because she has awesome pictures and is all around better at explaining.
Click for terribly written pattern.
With yellow yarn
Row 1: Chain 5, join in a ring.
Row 2: Chain 3, 11 double crochet into the ring, join again.
Join white yarn
Row 3: Chain 4, 3 treble crochet into the space between the yellow double crochets. Free the hook, slide it into the fourth chain, catch the loop from the last treble crochet, pull through to make a cluster. Chain 2. 4 treble crochets between the next double crochet, make another cluster. Continue to the end, join together.
Join purple yarn
Row 4: Chain 3 (counts as the first double crochet), 2 double crochets into the first 2 chain space, chain 2, 3 double crochets into the same space (corner made), chain 1, *2 double crochets into the next 2 chain space chain 1, 2 double crochets into the next 2 chain space, 3 double crochets into the next 2 chain space, chain 2, 3 double crochets into the same space, chain 1* repeat from * all around. 4 corners and 2 spots with 3 double crochets each.
Row 5: We are doing Row 4 again, but this time we are going to have 3 spots with 3 double crochets each.
Row 6: In the corner space, chain 3, 1 double crochet, chain 1, 2 double crochets, then *2 dc in each dc, 1 dc in the 1 chain space, skip 1 dc, continue from * to the corner, in the corner we are doing 2 dc, chain 1 2 dc, and continuing from * again to the next corner.
I am skipping some dc in the Row 6 because when I tried it without skipping, the edges of the square ended up too full and loose.
I have lofty plans today. I’m going to drink all the tea, and at night I’m going to drink decaff coffee with too much cream. I’m going to crochet the blanket, watch silly TV, read some books, and run around with Gordon in the WoW. We made a couple of blood elf hunters. I blame Matt Frost, Jeaniene’s husband for reawakening some nostalgia. And that is my staycation plan until the new writing begins either next week or the week after.
First! Congrats on finishing the book and enjoy your staycation 🙂
By the time his is posted, I’m sure I’ll be sixth or seventh, but let it be know, tha there was no post by the Horde posted when I was wrinting this one.
That sounds absolutely lovely!
Congratulations on your cleaning endeavors! I hope to get a more complete cleaning and weeding done soon. We recently had company coming. Two batches on different weeks. The Fall cleaning came early and since my husband has finally retired I had help. All current projects got scrapped and a lot of stuff is still in my sewing room/pantry. I just kept telling myself “You can have it perfect or you can have it done”. The visits were lovely! One just a day trip and lunch, the other was my kids’ family. They stay in a motel with a pool and they understand clutter. We visited the Lincoln sites in Springfield, IL. The Lincoln Museum and Lincoln’s Tomb were both well worth visiting! No time for anything else. All is quiet now and I’m still adjusting to my new lifestyle. Be kind to yourself and take time to recover from travel and books!
Enjoy your time off!
Sounds absolutely perfect!! Enjoy, you deserve it, you soooo hardworking wonderful persons you!
Well deserved, enjoy!!!
I have relatives coming in a week or so. I have to clean the house. I am allergic to dust. I really do not want to move the mounds of dust and the cobwebs.
Pick up another face mask and wear it while cleaning. It also works some in pollen season and when people are burning leaves. A long handled dusting tool is worth investing in. I think some of them have washable covers. Good Luck!
I had chronic bronchitis and sinusitis until I realized the simple fact that it was the dust inhalation from cleaning. I’ve now gone 40 years without an episode of either. The specific allergies are dust and dust mites for me. My husband had an even worse situation, where even touching grass gave him hives. He totally shut down when people were cutting grass.
I finally managed to get him to an allergist, and after 2 years of shots he is totally free from his grass allergy. As a bonus, his milk allergy went away. It must have been grass related.
Allergies are much easier to treat these days, speaking as someone who had the shots at age 7. I’d had pneumonia twice by then. They did their job. I had several years free of allergies, which gave sickly me a chance to build up my strength and immune system. It’s funny what you remember. The doctor had bribes to go with the shots, small toys and such. I remember the little embroidery kits as the best ones.
Dying to know what the silly tv shows are. I love silly.
Also hope Grace Draven is doing well.
I feel your (allergy related) pain. My dust-rhinos and I get along pretty well as long as I don’t disturb them in their territory (under the china cabinet, etc). My brother recently informed me that since it’s the year we stay home for Thanksgiving (hosting my local father-in-law, who goes to my sister-in-law’s on alternate years), they’ve decided to drive up (8hrs) to spend Thanksgiving week at our house. My brother doesn’t particularly mind the unseen dust-rhinos, etc, and my nephew is 12 so he doesn’t care at all. His wife is another matter entirely, and probably why my bro wisely gave us a couple months to get ready. With various health issues that slow me down, I haven’t actually finished all the guest towels etc from their last visit. Ugh. I’m pretty sure the crash of dust-rhinos is safe from me for awhile yet. Sending good wishes and virtual allergy meds your way!
I feel a sudden profound urge to make a daisy afghan. I have some fine alpaca in colors that might work.
What is that terribly interesting looking table thingy next to the devoted Quincy?
Enjoy a clean house and lush grass. Check out Korean dramedy on Netflix’Miss Night and Day’- due to mystical happening a 20 year old looks Forty during the day then back to twenties at night. How why what to do!! Oh my.
And for those who also want to do granny squares check out the book, A Year of Granny Squares. Many different designs.
Enjoy! Thank you for all your hard work!
Quincy photo is adorable!
Awesome staycation plan. And bonus points for doing the between-the-books-cleaning first.
I have a pile of projects and mending upstairs in the sewing room, so am avoiding going up there … may have to go halfway up to the mid-landing, as I heard the sounds of cat barfing there earlier … sigh …
Thank you for the posts … going on line and finding a blog post on the site is one of the highpoints of my day.
I totally understand about decision paralysis after work. I get that way when I have done a lot of calculations for validation that my head starts to hurt.
Acrylic yarn is good for blanket projects with cats and dogs in the house. My mom used to say that acrylic yarn wears like iron. You can let cats and dogs lay on the blanket, wash and dry it, and the blanket will look like new.
More power to you on the granny squares. I tried making a granny square blanket when I was young and learning how to crochet. I just ended up with one huge square. I just don’t have the patience to create all these squares, then putting all the squares together and make a border. My mom made a blanket for my brother in squares. It was one 8 oz skein of Red Heart Yarn per square in a red variegated color. When she was done with putting it together, the color made a swirl pattern. Very pretty!
Enjoy the downtime. You’ve earned it. 🙂
Beautiful pattern! I have a friend on her way to FL stopping here for a night next weekend, which means couch throws must be washed. Guest room needs an additional door – I bought one at the reclamation place yesterday, and they are power washing and drying it so I can pick it up and get it in place. It won’t match the others, because it’s painted while they’re stained, but it will keep my beasts away from her cat while she’s here. Stripping and staining will have to happen later; the store wanted $850 for that. Raided Home Goods for pillows and towels today. Grass needs cutting, yes, because I don’t like wet feet in the morning.
Your staycation plan sounds like heaven. Have a peaceful day!
I finished my work for the week too. I refused to work more than my alotted hours this week and signed off after finally telling a boundary pusher to back the heck off. I am now on my couch trying to convince myself to go swimming, which I love.
hauling myself into a swimsuit and leaving the house? not as much my thing. i am sitting here wondering whether I would take instant wardrobe change or instant short distance teleportation as a superpower to procrastinate.
Sometimes cleaning and organizing gives the best feeling. Thats what I ended up doing last Sunday and Monday. Between Wednesday and Saturday we had a flurry of ups and downs. Car died, dropped my middle kid off to college, hotel was a mess, pipes backed up once we got home.
I was so drained and tired. I started organizing the last kids room, and next thing you know most of the house was cleaned and organised. It felt really good sitting on the couch Monday afternoon and just vegging on Tv. I fixed what I could and daughter did not have too much anxiety or a panic attack at college. The rest will be taken care of by next week.
Enjoy the rest of your staycation!
OK, at first listen, I thought you said Jeaniene’s husband’s name was Mad Frost (darn VoiceOver). My first thought was how cool! My second thought was wait, let me check and see if that’s the case. Then I went through it character by character and realized it was Matt, not Mad.
May your in-between time be restful and relaxing.
“Mad Frost”
*snort-laughs* As a gamer, Matt would love this for a nickname!
Cats in suitcases – triggers one of my favorite memories.
Years ago we had a great big grey fluffy monster manx cat named Paddlefoot. Paddlefoot loved to find laps to purr and drool in. We had that fluffy love bug for 15 years and he never made a mess in the house except once.
My former stepmother married my father because she thought he had money. Sadly he didn’t. When they came to visit she left her suitcase open on floor of the bedroom all weekend long. The morning they were to leave we heard her screaming and cussing. Paddlefoot had gone in and sprayed both sides of her suitcase. My father calmly informed her that they could wash everything when they got home and loaded up the car. She just got in the car and waited glaring at all of us through the window.
By that time Paddlefood was winding himself around my feet so I picked him up to keep him from further mischief. As my father leaned in to hug me good-by he leaned over and scratched Paddlefoot behind the ears and whispered “good kitty”.
After the divorce he always brought donuts for the kids and a can of tuna for Paddlefoot.
Happy staycation!
I’m not sure what all that means, but it sounds like things you will enjoy. Indulge!! I hope Gordon has a similar list. See you on the other side! 😀
Sounds like a plan!!!!
Loving the color combo where Quincy is sitting. I’m getting ready to sell my house and down size to something more manageable. Even if I dusted everyday I can’t keep up with the dog hair!
I love that daisy pattern. Poor puppy missing mommy.
I hope you have a fantastic time between and get to do all the knitting and crocheting your heart desires.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could magically clean our houses?
We turned in our old lease vehicle today Subaru ascent and downsized for money and gas mileage reasons to Impreza. It’s so tiny I feel like a gladiator trying to get into it and I’m only 5’4”🤣🤣🙄🙄. I’m doing fall/back to school cleaning this weekend and treating myself and family member to mimosas on Monday while kids are at school. I can’t wait!! Happy staycation!!
Sounds good all around! Have a great staycation!
Coffee with cream – yum! The real stuff, not “coffee mate”….
I think it is an emotional trait of GSDs and GSD mixes that they pine for their human “moms” because of their strong bond with them. Our GSD/collie mix loved the whole family, but my mother was the center of his world. Quincy is exhibiting normal GSD emotions!!
Here’s to strength for house cleaning! And cheers to the fun things of staycation!! May you have all the things!!
I like that plan. As all the adults in my household have had covid this week, we have no plan. I reject all plans that don’t involve sleeping, eating, drinking tea/water/juice, and taking medicine. I just don’t have the energy or braincells left to make a plan. I have, however, very much enjoyed my “critter” cup I got from the merch store. Over 12 hours and it still has ice! Also, the little nechist make me smile when I look at them.
Coral Snakes! Gorgeous, but yes – mow that lawn.
I shall drink tea with you in solidarity. I’m sure it will help you relax and recharge knowing other people are relaxing, too.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
It used to be I couldn’t do a female Belf Hunter… The draw on the bow was incredibly ridiculous and looks like she was struggling to pull the weight! I deleted her and didn’t look again for years, but now they finally have a decent draw on their bows! Yes, I know it’s a video game, but I did archery in the SCA for years, so seeing that original horrible draw made me cringe. It completely destroyed my immersion.
I still can’t do female Belf Warrior or Paladin sword-and-board types, either. Unlike the Hunters, their issues have not been improved. They hold their shields on their arms behind them in combat. What good is a shield going to do back there?? It looks utterly ridiculous. That’s why my female Belf Paladin is Ret, two-handed weapons are handled much better. =)
Have fun, hubby and I are enjoying The War Within! I’ve only leveled one character to max so far, but I don’t feel the need to rush. =) Oh, the lynxes in Hallowfall are SO incredibly adorable, my Nelf Hunter will absolutely tame at least one while she’s there. =)
that feeling of being able to breathe after a fresh cleaning… I don’t even realize how tight and cramped I feel in a super messy house until after.
I don’t clean my home anymore. I found a wonderful company and I have seen the same two women every two weeks for over a year, now. This was the second company I tried. Do not ask about the first company. Let’s just say it was a learning experience.
The cost, it is worth it.
The cat likes them, as much as she can. They have a “don’t touch me and I will gladly ignore you” relationship.
I’ve just reached the point in my disability where it is too much to clean my home.
I, too, work from home.
I am normally just a lurker but I am too impatient to wait for someone else to ask how you make a blood elf hunter? Some type of avatar for perhaps the game world of warcraft? And nostalgia since that game has been around for 20 years? Any mention of Jeaniene always catches my attention since I have been a “Frosty” for a long time, still grateful to her for bringing me here.
Yes, the elf hunters are game characters in WoW 🙂 https://highfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Hunters_(Warcraft)#Blood_Elves
Crocheting squares is a good go anywhere project, but I absolutely hate the joining. I’ve tried a lot of methods, but I still hate it.
Yours do look lovely and I’m sure the afghan will be perfect!
Enjoy your between time!
Blood elf hunters are the bomb. Hope you have as much fun as I did playing WoW. I had a shadow priest. As for the house, excuse me authors of NY Times list – hire a housekeeper.
Regarding the WoW… my hubby and I are doing the same in EverQuest right now. Our Kid 1 started playing and asking us questions. So we dusted off our accounts and started new characters on a random Server to give him a run through. Last night I logged on my upper level characters and tried to remember how I played all those different classes.
I too am enjoying a nostalgic trip through Norrath right now. Unfortunately, as a result of a hip injury, I can no longer game for hours on end, so I just go in and basically putter around. But I had missed the fun and comradery of the guilds. But it’s a nice trip down memory lane.
I’m going through more packed boxes and have resulting piles of stuff some of which I haven’t seen in ten years since the first move. I am enjoying seeing my memories going up on the walls and the feeling of accomplishment when more boxes get dumped in the garbage. I put up my thread storage last night for the orgy of sewing this next week. It felt really good!
Nostalgia. My Mom started crocheting when she retired. She made me a daisy chained blanket I still have today. I am left handed and very unsuccessful attempting knitting or crocheting. Many have tried to teach me, all have failed. #inmyrightbrain
My grandma taught me to crochet when I was knee high to a grasshopper. But, many years later, I attempted to learn knitting from a book. I did finish that blanket, but I didn’t touch knitting needles again for two decades.
I heard about Continental knitting, and then Brazilian/Arabic knitting, and body rest needle knitting, and and and!
I was blown away by all the different forms of knitting (and crocheting, for that matter) that people have developed. 😃
YouTube has been a fabulous find for me (some right-handed teachers flip the screen for left-handed learners, but there are some native left-handed teachers out there “NobleKnits” is one of them).
I have finally figured out a method that works for me. If you ever want to try again, I wish you the best of teachers. 🧶
There are many ways to knit and crochet. When I was young people tried to teach me how to knit with my right hand and with straight needles. I dropped so many stitches I got so frustrated and stopped. I taught myself to crochet and found it so much easier than knitting.
When I was a little older, my mom taught me how to knit. She used her left hand to knit. She was right handed for everything else. I use my left hand too for knitting. She told me so long as the bumps are in the back for the knit stitch and the bumps are in the front for the pural stitch, you know pretty much all the knitting patterns.
I use my thumb to pural. For me it’s easier than using my index finger.
My advice to any beginner knitter is to use circular needles. It’s less chance of dropping stitches.
Sounds like a good day to me. Enjoy your break!
Enjoy! Sounds lovely!
Excellent plan of action! Enjoy your staycation!
Is Stylecraft Special softer than Caron’s Simply Soft?
Stylecraft doesn’t pill like Caron super soft. A much better yarn
I’m into knitting 4ply I got cashmere pale pink to knit and rose pink to do once I do the sleeves for my knitted side to side jetsay.
I’m so glad for y’all to have your lovely mini cation. I miss Grace so bad. I used to teach her Eldest and they’re just so lovely to hang out with. Enjoy!
We lost our wonderful kitty cat this weekend. We aren’t even sure what happened. They think he choked on something, possibly a hairball but he wasn’t given to eating weird crap and only got like a hair ball every other year I swear. But he choked (maybe??) and aspirated (probably) and needed a scope on a holiday weekend and just wasn’t responding to any of the meds we tried and….
We are all devastated. I’ve finally recovered enough to start to clean again, and do silly things like dye my hair and bake to make me feel better. We are going to move in a few weeks and then maybe adopt some new kittens. I’ll scrape some money together somehow.
Which is my over share way of saying I understand being over whelmed and losing the battle against the house and how lovely it is to reclaim the space and not have the walls close in around you.
So very sorry for the loss of your sweet kitty. Hopes for peace!
I am so sorry.
Relax and enjoy.
I really relate to the cleaning part, it usually occurs to me when I’m writing exams
hope your staycation is restful and you aren’t too sucked into WoW 😉
Hooray for relaxing rituals! Glad you’re getting much-needed rest.
COMPLETELY understand the need to straighten/clean before beginning the stay cation, and here’s to all the tea, coffee with cream, and WoW or whatever helps rejuvenate your creativity, and relaxes the bodies! Much affection for you and your imaginations.
You have NO idea how much needed escapism your books have provided to me. My husband is going to have his 4th cancer surgery soon, the last was 26 days in-hospital in 2021 and trauma-producing for both of us, a rocky “recovery,” and home nursing for months after. When I allow myself to wallow, I sink, so we stay busy and when I am just exhausted or overwrought, I read or re-read IA novels and live in a revised world for a bit. Thank you for sharing your imaginations.
I’m so sorry about your husband’s condition. I, too, turn to Ilona Andrews’ books when I need a break from reality. I will pray for you and your husband.
I am so sorry you both have been going through this. There is nothing worse than an illness, especially when it happens to someone you love and you feel helpless to fix it. Gordon and I wish your husband the smoothest, fastest recovery.
Stylecraft special dk has an amazing colour range- I think 70+
My sofa throw is in this yarn, in granny squares, and still going strong 15 years on.
Enjoy the downtime, you guys work very hard.
I understand about cats and suitcases. Also about the spiritual (and health) need to clean between projects. Enjoy your (mental) rest!