Coming up for a breath

God, it's been so long since I've posted! I had a post all ready to go about two weeks ago, and then just before I hit the "publish post" button Blogger ate it. Just knocked the wind out of me, if you know what I mean. (This morning I see that Blogger now has an autosave feature. Thank god!)

Anyway, I'm still alive. I'm fairly well, with the exception of a nasty sinus infection coupled with seasonal allergies that has knocked me out for the better part of the last week or so. (However, I went to the doctor on Monday, got some drugs, and I'm well on the road to recovery.) Work has been crazier than usual--more meetings and things wanted yesterday than you can shake a stick at. And the thing that's stressing me out the most is my classes are coming to an end and I've got a bunch of writing assignments due by the 22nd (yes, this Tuesday). And I have to study for a final. And I still have mental block trying to remember my constitutional amendments. (Please--no pop quizzes right now. I'd just go into the fetal position and whimper.)

In the middle of all this, I do have some fun stuff scheduled--a sock dyeing class at Webs on Saturday. I'm feeling quite a bit guilty about doing this, because the 10 hours I'm going to spend driving to and from this would really be better spent on my papers. However, I paid my money so I'm taking my class. Charlene Schurch, the author of Sensational Knitted Socks (my favorite sock book) and the recently published More Sensational Knitted Socks is teaching this all-day class, so it should be fun and I'll walk out with some custom dyed sock yarn!

Saturday's also the start of Web's big weekend sale, but let's not go there right now...

Anyway, there's been virtually no knitting here, just work, school, and coughing, so I've got nothing to show you. But Jim has been rather creative during this time.

Here's the side of our front yard. See the grassy hill?

Jim started digging. Look what's under there...

Jim added the stones right under the windows (some drainage and a flower bed).

And then he reached the sidewalk...

...and he rounded the front.

He finished it all this week, and I'll get to see it tonight. All of this in the space of just a few weeks. It doesn't look like the same house!

OK, I've got to get back to work now. I promise I'll resurface next week after I finish school, and I'll tell you all about my sock dyeing class.