Dear Jan,
We were getting cocky here in Minnesota. Several days with temps above 70F led us to believe spring was actually here. The maples were blooming, the Virginia bluebells in my garden were coming up…and then this. 
I suppose you got a taste of it in Colorado, but at least in the mountains, one expects some snow into early summer even. My biggest concern is that we will skip spring all together and go straight to summer after this is over.
To add insult to injury, I got my first nasty cold of the 07/08 winter as a harbinger of the snow storm. It didn’t help that I had business dinners on Wednesday and Thursday and so never really got to rest and recover. At least with the yucky weather today I don’t have to feel bad about not being outside gardening.
I watched dumb TV (though I did learn some tips for surviving a fall through the ice - with the weather today, it may come in handy) and knit all last night as therapy . I will spend part of my morning today ripping out what I knit last night. 
I suppose the cold funk kept me from realizing just how sloppy the heel was on this sock. I need to make the heel flap a few stitches narrower and perhaps execute it in a stitch that will also help draw it in a bit, then I think I will like the fit of this self-designed thing. The cuff pattern, which I will keep, is called Cloverleaf Rib and is from Barbara Walker’s 3rd book, I think. It is a super simple pattern to memorize and gives enough of a rib to structure the cuff. I’m undecided as to weather (I mean, whether, LOL!) to add some plain ribbing at the top or not.
We are pretty concerned about Pearl. He’s lost another pound and is eating even less. We’ve tried tempting him with salmon, kitty treats, chicken livers, etc., but he only nibbles. He still enjoys curling up in laps and follows us around the house. I hope it warms up again soon so he can enjoy curling up in the sunshine on the deck.
I will join him.
Love,
Ellen
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
April 26th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Wow — that is some strange weather. And having a cold on top of that (and business dinners!) is just adding insult to injury. I really like the cuff pattern on the sock — it’s pretty without overwhelming the yarn colors.
I’m sorry to hear about Pearl! It’s always stressful when one of our beloved pets isn’t doing well. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that he gets some sun to curl up in soon.
April 26th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Crazy pie weather! and make that with nuts, please… mercy!
I’m seriously liking the pattern on your sock! Very Pretty.
Oooh, so sorry to hear Pearl is continuing to lose weight and not being enticed with the treats, I’m with Jocelyn on hoping the sunshine and warmer weather gets to you soon for you both to enjoy.
April 27th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Pie? I like pie!
Dale is now fearful that we are moving to Minnesota — while in Colorado Springs this past week (about which I’ll post, so no detail here) some friends described the snow and cold and how a nearby town advertises “Fifteen frost free days a year!!” I tell him, “But it’s a *dry* cold!”
So, so sorry to hear of Pearl and Judit woes. They are such great friends. I’m glad it sounds like Pearl isn’t suffering, even if he is winding down. As for Judit, have you seen the vet? Maybe there’s a basic medical issue…and at least you could rule that out and think about other options, like back to basic crate training. ?? I feel really unhelpful here…know that I feel for you though.
April 27th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Sad kitty. I’m glad I got to see him a few weeks ago.
I hope the cold (yours and the weather’s) gets better and you have happier things to report soon!
April 27th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Pearl got to go out in the sun for a bit and I’ll post a picture of him soaking it up in awhile. As for Judit - vet check, yes, done more than once, and though the estradiol that she is on helps with the dribbles, it doesn’t help with the floods or mudslides, so to speak. Crate, oh, yes, of course - but she has cracked two teeth in two separate instances while trying to open the door (extracted in two separate instances, too, which was stressful for her and for our checkbook). Last night was better - we all seemed to sleep most of the night. I’m walking her more often, giving her liberal treats and petting inside the bathroom, etc. She is definitely going deaf - no longer met us at the door even when she wasn’t penned in the bathroom and I think that makes her more anxious. But when she’s good, she is pretty sweet, like right now when she is lying on her mat next to me as I type this. (We have mats all over the house to try to be preemptive about her dribbling on the carpet.) Sigh. In the grand scheme of things, this is just part of life, but it sure wears on you.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
I just had to hop on again to say how much I loved your description of trying shield your daughters from tabloid headlines! lol I know exactly how that feels