It's been a while...

How long?  Well, long enough that our houseguest took off for his Mexican vacation a few days ago.  He did leave his sleeping bag, though...

Let's see...when last I posted, we were painting the bedroom and I was begging for relief in the form of anything alcoholic.  We finished the bedroom.  Without a drop of alcohol.  It took three whole days, but it's done, and we're happy with it.  I tried to get a good picture, but the light was kind of wonky.

The side walls and ceiling are painted in Olympic B12-1, Crescent Moon, a rich, creamy color with just a hint of yellow.  The end walls and the closet wall you see in the picture are Olympic B1.  4-2, Belgian Waffle, a lovely, buttery yellow.  The fan is for getting blocked projects to dry quickly - especially ones I block on the bed.  Once we get the dejunking phase of the bedroom redo finished, that fan will probably be in the closet when not in use.  We still have work to do...miles to go before we sleep...but it's painted, I've finally scrubbed all the primer off my skin, and we're still married.  Yay.

I also had a birthday last week.  I kind of screwed myself up by scheduling my annual physical for that morning.  The lack of food and (more importantly) coffee for several hours gave me an evil headache that bothered me all day and kept me from going to a movie I'd been wanting to see ("Get Low" with Robert Duvall and Bill Murray).  But Pete took me out to a lovely Italian dinner, baked a delicious devil's food cake, and gave me a gift card for Knit Picks.  Is he a keeper or what???  No...I didn't buy yarn.  I was focused on "gear".  Here's my haul:

And Knit Picks must have known it was my birthday, since I didn't experience the usual shipping grief with them.  I placed my order on Thursday and received it on Tuesday.  I thought that was pretty darn good considering Monday was even a holiday!

In the midst of all the painting and birthdaying, I have been knitting.  I've finished two projects and started a few more.  Will update next week.  I've put the two baby blankets I was knitting into hibernation and started two other projects in colors that will match the baby's nursery.  Turns out neither my stepdaughter nor I are fond of pastels or "baby colors", so I'm really enjoying what I'm making now, and I think she'll be happier, too.  After these are finished, I may knock off the other two blankets as time permits and just have them here for when they visit.

I worked on Merope most of the day yesterday while watching the rescue of the Chilean miners.  Hopefully, it will be done today, though that knitted-on edging takes ever so long.  It is a lovely touch.  

I've also done a bit of stash enhancement.

Since it's mid-October, I'm firmly in the midst of choral madness.  I'll spend most of this weekend singing with my church choir in addition to working on my music for Harmony Project.  Last year I was singing with a third choir, but I decided to sit out this year.  I miss the music and the people, but I don't miss having to sing a part that was frequently higher than my freakishly low vocal range and the resultant vocal discomfort and frustration that came with that.  It's not easy being a female tenor, and singing is one place where you can still be told you can't do something just because you're a woman.

Speaking of Harmony Project, we were honored by the Center for Healthy Families with a Bridge Builder Award.  It was one of the most inspirational evenings of my life. 

Wilbur had been doing very well for several months, but the last month and a half has brought repeated tummy problems for him.  Earlier this week we ruled out some big scary stuff and came to the conclusion he has irritable bowel syndrome.  He has bounced back from his latest episode and is back to his happy, goofy self again, and I've decided it's best to give him a totally home-cooked diet.  Lucky boy!

Ok!  Pete is back to work after a two-week vacation, Wilbur is healthy again...I'll bet I might actually be able to keep up with my blogging again...at least for a day or two.

Thanks for reading!!!