It's a muggy, foggy Friday morning here. We've had several days of heat (mid- to upper 80s F), and we had some rain overnight, with more on the way later today. I should be able to fit in a run this morning, but I will be happy to camp out inside this afternoon if we do get a storm or two. The short stretch of days we had without rain and with the addition of heat was enough to dry out the soil in the front, so I'm always thankful when Mother Nature takes care of watering the flowers for me.
It has been an interesting first week of summer break (for Molly). She started her job this week with two four-hour shifts. On Tuesday, it was just her and the owner there, so she manned the register while he did the actual smoothie making. Yesterday there was a third person there, so she got to do some fruit prep. So far, she's enjoying it, and I'm enjoying the fact that she's getting up and out of the house. I think it will be a good experience for her.
I've had a relatively quiet week at work (no complaints there), though Ruthie has been challenging. Her latest is jumping up on the couch, where we haven't allowed her, so it's been really hard for me to sit down and eat a meal because I'm constantly getting up to shoo her off the furniture. She's also peed in the house twice in the last 12 hours for no apparent reason -- except maybe she's showing her annoyance? She has her first session of puppy kindergarten tomorrow morning. Please keep your fingers crossed that she makes it there without getting carsick! (I'll be giving her only a very small amount of breakfast before we go.)
While I haven't cast on my silk/linen top yet, I did start a new project, and this photo shows you why I can really only knit around Ruthie while she's napping -- just a second after I snapped it, she chomped down on the yarn cake and tried to carry it away.
This is another project for SSK. The featured designer for this month and next is Angela Tong, and I just happened to have her Kouyou (Ravelry link) shawl pattern already in my library from a knitalong my former LYS did way back in 2016. I'm using handspun from HipStrings for bonus tickets, starting with the blue/green skein:
I expect that I will use all of that skein and then will use the dark gray from the other skein. I'm just about done with the stockinette portion (I think I have two more rows left to knit), so it will be moved to evening knitting and I'll be getting my Hitchhiker out again for puppy nap knitting time.
Other than puppy class tomorrow morning, we don't have much planned this weekend, although on Sunday there is a big vote related to the future of our synagogue. For more than a year now, we've been involved in discussions with another congregation about the possibility of unifying into one new congregation. There's been a long process of looking at the many aspects of both organizations to look at areas of overlap and difference, the involvement of a consultant who specializes in this kind of process, and many meetings and town halls. Just last week, the boards of both congregations voted in favor of unification; this weekend is the vote by the membership. Our family is in favor of the unification because we're of the opinion that the two separate congregations will not survive much longer on their own. I think declining membership and declining interest in religious affiliation are issues that aren't unique to Reform Judaism, but they are major challenges for us, and I'm excited by the possibility of created something new. I will certainly let you know the results as soon as we know them!
I hope you have something good to look forward to this weekend! Enjoy it, and see you back here on Monday.
I wonder if Frankie and Ruthie have been having little chats! (He is of the same mind on all things yarny!) Frankie has one spot on the sofa where he can sit... it took a bit of time but now if I tell him to "go get on your sofa" he goes to his spot. I have never had much success keeping dogs off the furniture... so I wish you luck!
ReplyDeleteI hope you and Ruthie have a successful session at puppy kindergarten! It's too bad she isn't like Kym's JoJo to just point at yarn projects with her paw, but maybe she'll stop chomping down on yarn when she's out of her puppy stage. The unification of congregations sounds like a very good idea. There are several churches here in town with big buildings but small and diminishing congregations, but I don't think that the Baptists will unify with the Episcopalians!
ReplyDeleteOh, it sounds like Ruthie has entered her "teen years" in the puppy life span -- and has gotten comfortable enough with her new pack life to . . . challenge authority. Puppy Kindergarten will be perfect for you -- and Ruthie. (JoJo had carsick issues for several years. I always covered my car's seat with a big beach towel, and carried a roll of towels, plastic bags, and a spray bottle of cleaner in my car. Best be prepared . . . )
ReplyDeleteI'll be sending all my best juju to you and your congregation as you vote on your future. XO
I hope puppy school goes well. I think the pandemic hit smaller congregations especially hard. I hope the vote goes well.
ReplyDeleteI wish you and Ruthie well at puppy school. It can't hurt to have information from another source although you seem to have done plenty of research on your own. In general, I think organized religious groups struggle right now. At least that is happening in our area. I hope vote goes well.
ReplyDeleteI think Ruthie is testing you and that shows that she's feeling loved and safe. I hope puppy classes go well and that she doesn't get sick but be prepared with cleaning stuff in case she does! I also hope the vote at your synagogue goes the way you hope, it sounds like a well researched and smart decision.
ReplyDeleteKouyou looks like a gorgeous pattern and I love the yarn you are using. But Ruthie - REALLY??? You need to leave that yarn alone! And the furniture!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Ruthie and yarn! I had to switch balls on a project this weekend and Coleslaw gazed LONGINGLY at the new ball when I put it on the table to join, lol!
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