Tuesday, September 11, 2012

My day did not start out well – early, but not well! I had great plans for what I would accomplish with my extra few hours this morning (Pat was teaching so I had a five AM start). When I stumbled out of bed and went to the coffee pot the red light was blinking. I thought it was probably out of water but no, the water was fine. The red light only means one other thing – the pot needs cleaning. Now there are some things I’ll do at five in the morning, but cleaning the coffee pot isn’t one of them.

I headed up to my studio and settled in to work on my morning project. I had just barely started when my mouse ran out of batteries. We have rechargeable batteries but that is Pat’s domain and he was into his class. I connected an old mouse and carried on.

The software I’m using is a new version since I upgraded my computer. Why was I squinting at the machine when I could put the program into Full Screen mode? Good idea, until I needed to use the menus to figure something out. No menus, and there didn’t seem to be a button to get me out of Full Screen mode. I gave up on that project and worked on some cross stitch until Pat finished his first class.

I was able to get the batteries changed in my wireless mouse and, once that was done, I could find some help with my program and get the screen back to a squinting view (with menus). And best of all, Pat started the cleaning process for the coffee machine – and by this time I really needed that cup of coffee.

I’d like to say the rest of my day was uneventful. I cut out a zillion pieces for a new quilt pattern I’m going to make. It will be the piecing test for my new machine. This is an off-week for the Guild sewing bee but there is a splinter group that meets in another location so I popped in there for a bit. I picked up the Challenge project for the year – nice fabric that I’m to turn into a bag of some sort.

This afternoon was my first lesson in knitting socks on two circular needles. The method for casting on is very, very different from what I have been doing for more than fifty years (my, am I really that old?). I can’t believe it took me two hours to figure out how to get it done right. I didn’t even get to the sock pattern or sock wool – I was using big needles and big wool just learning the method. I hope that once I get past this it will be a lot easier. The teacher has promised us she will continue the lessons as long as it takes us to knit a pair of socks. In my case she may be regretting that commitment!

I think I’m going to do some reading for what is left of the evening. After today I feel like it might be something I can handle!