dumb dreams

Did we get rain yesterday or what! It poured rain all day long. When I got back to the office at lunch, I sat in the van for about 10 minutes because it was really like sitting in a carwash, the rain was coming down so hard. I think I heard on the radio this morning that we got something like 3 or 4 inches of rain yesterday.

So naturally there was a lot of water in my basement. Again. It's getting pretty depressing, mostly because I can't afford to fix it. I got news from the bank yesterday that they won't lend me the full amount I asked for, and even that amount wasn't enough for foundation work. I don't know what I'm going to do. So last night wasn't a pleasant night--between worrying about the basement, listening to the sump-pump, wondering how much the bank will end me and how to juggle what I get to cover the most pressing projects, whether to pay the credit card off or put it all into the house, whether I can justify having a shower put in, etc., I didn't sleep much, and my IQ is about 60 today.

But at least the sun is out today. About 1:30 I finally went out and got a few things at K-Mart--couldn't face doing grocery shopping--came back and let the dogs into the pen to play while I puttered around and looked at things. There wasn't anywhere for me to sit--the swing was soaked (the canopy has finally bitten the dust), and the two plastic chairs are headed for the trash this week, and I can't find any replacements. You know, those $10 plastic outdoor armchairs that come in white and dark green--I haven't been able to find any. Neither Walmart or K-Mart has them.

At any rate, I've been thinking about knitting a bedspread. I realize this would probably take me 2 or 3 years (although didn't Mrs. Rachel in Anne of Green Gables knit 14 "cotton-warp quilts"?). But I've been looking through Mary Walker Phillips' Knitting Counterpanes, and they're all knit in pieces or strips of some description. So, you know, buy white crochet cotton--size 5, maybe?--as needed, get a bag and a dedicated set of needles, photocopy the pattern I choose, and I could just tote it around--it could be my outside knitting project in the summer, something I carry in the van in the winter, or use as a fill-in project when I'm between socks or sweaters. I need a nice bedspread and haven't been able to find a commercial one I like and can afford, so--maybe I'll knit one. I wish she'd included more pictures of complete counterpanes. I guess I'll have to make some samples with various size thread, etc. I'd love to know what pattern Mrs. Rachel used! ;-)

The sweater, btw, is coming along. I have another 2" to do before I split for the arms (yeah, as usual, I'm knitting it in one piece instead of as 2 fronts and a back), and the yarn's holding out well.