It’s a lovely, quiet Saturday afternoon. Dan has Will at the house site, and the younger two are napping.
It’s pouring rain outside, and the pattering sounds so peaceful and drowsy on the roof windows, making me feel snug and cozy here inside.
I am going to get a mug of hot chocolate and curl up with a new book, something I haven’t done in…. far too long!
My sister is playing in a soccer tournament today, and my mom called from where she was watching from the car, saying that it was just downpouring on the girls, but they were still playing. My first reaction was, “that’s crazy!” but then, I thought back to my teenage soccer days… I remember playing in the rain, and even in my cold, wet, tired and usually filthy state, I loved it. There is something about being out in the rain, taking on what few other people would choose to do in the same situation, giving it your all, and… being proud of the muddy shinguards and the grass sticking out of your cleats, your soaking wet shirt and the dripping of your nose. Being proud of being a tough girl, for taking on the rain and the cold air and the physicalness of an impact sport, and when it’s all over, even if it’s not a big deal to anyone else, you feel proud of yourself for pushing through and not being a “girl”, not quitting, not being afraid to get down and dirty… for sticking it out and giving it your very best. 
(How’s that for philosophical.)
Anyway, I’m off. Hope you all have a nice Saturday as well!
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I forgot to mention how this season bring out the knitter in me. Every fall, without fail, I get an irresistible urge to dig out my knitting (including the scarf I’ve been working on for a year+ now…) and KNIT. I am just aching to get up to our storage and dig out my needles and my yarn (oh, my yarn!!) and maybe even my crochet hooks. I’ve been feeling like I should re-learn crocheting as well. I knit fairly proficiently, but although I know how to crochet, I’ve not done it enough to be much good at it. But I think overall it’s faster than knitting, which would behoove me greatly. At any rate, I just ordered $30 worth of yarn off the internet (yes, it was an impulse purchase. But– I’m planning to make a gift with it! so there. 
) Right now I have only one set of needles, attached to an irksome (above-mentioned) scarf. I have been working on it in the car (when Dan’s driving, of course!) lately, and have made a decent amount of progress. It’s cable-knit, though, which takes twice as long as a regular scarf of the same width would take… so the going is slow. (Obviously, since it’s been over a year. *sigh*) I probably have about 36″ or so done, but since it’s so thick (thanks to being cable-knit!) I probably need at least another 12″ or so to make it useable. Another problem is that it’s sort of a pukey brown color, which I apparently liked last year when I started it, but this year is rather boring- and bland- looking, further hampering my motivation to work on it. Maybe I’ll have it done by Christmas, and some lucky relative will be the recipient of a very old (but thick! and warm!) scarf.
My post-scarf project-hopefuls include a baby blanket (which, though bigger than a scarf will not be cable-knit, so shouldn’t take that long. Um, right..) and a small bag for carrying my needles and yarn around in. I saw a really cute felted one that I think I should be able to replicate without too much difficulty… so… we’ll see. Whatever of all this I’m not done by, oh… March… will have to wait till next fall.
) in the few spare minutes I have here and there, that usually beats out me getting on here and logging into xanga… If you want to pop over there ever now and again, you will likely see pics of my kids showing up every few days or so. 