AWOL to playwith stash goodies

See this box right here? The topless one? Know what I've been doing for the past 48 hours?Touching, sorting, reading, re-reading, planning and just generally trying to overcome my speechless-ness. See the goodies? My twin, born to other parents in another year and state sent me some of everything except dinner as part of our private stash swap. I think I got the better end of the deal for now. WOW! I cannot even begin to name everything but some of the ones popping to mind right off: enough yarn for at least 5, yes 5 pairs of socks, two books I'd picked up and put back at the store at least a dozen times, quilt fabric and patterns and enough sisterly love and laughter to carry me through the rest of the week.

Now I know some in blogland complain about bloggers using their blogs to show off stuff. Ask me if I care? Not one iota. Why? Because my blog is also my journal. Periodically I do go back and read posts from whenever. It amazes me all the things I forget, all I accomplish when I think I do nothing. We all need those reminders just as we all need to know we are loved. Jan, I thank you again, publicly from the bottom of my heart. Not only for the goodies, but for the love, laughter and friendship you give so freely.

When the goodie box arrived, I made myself promise that I would not delve into the new yarn stash until some of the old, acrylic yarn stash had said goodbye. Actually, I promised myself that when Jan and I decided to swap. This week alone, I have knit 2 scarves and a hat with another 1/3 done. Yes, in a week's time or less. Am I paying for it? Most definitely. The knitting bag/corner earned another new addition thanks to the enemy acrylic: Absorbine Jr. Not exactly my first choice for the pain in my elbow and wrists but it's one I can apply by myself without getting my hands all icky. Upside to Absorbine Jr is that my kidlets find the smell so offensive they steer clear of me for hours. Downside is nothing really helps the pain except rest which in this case means no knitting. :::::GASP:::: I do have several sewing and quilting things to accomplish, just not in the mood for that right now. The new couch (new to us that is) deserves a nice, clean, orderly living room. Cleaning. Me? Not usually. The living room could be dubbed "yarn barf central" for the time being. Needles everywhere, Altoid tins full of markers, pins, needles and scissors surface at every turn, dpns form teepees at will. Yarn also serves as an insulating draft cover at the bottom of the door. The library stack has formed its own version of Stone Henge. Normally, I would tidy it all up in the wee hours of the morning when the house is silent and asleep.

But no! Hubster has not gotten over his insomnia at all. Otherwise he is feeling great. Up and about, tinkering around, walking and trying to maintain his hold on the Olympic Gold in the sport of couch potatoing. Late night and early morning hours are my quiet time. The time I unwind, reflect and plan. Only, I cannot do those things with an audience. That's like using the bathroom with the door open. Just wrong. He tries his best to be quiet and all that but it does not work that way. I need solitude at some point. Nothing like a nice, quiet, sleeping house that will remain asleep for hours yet to help me unwind. I have tried getting up uber early for quiet time. I am NOT a morning person. If I am up early, I feel compelled to wake the kidlets, start school, and clean house, not spend time recharging my personal batteries. I hope he finds a way to sleep soon!