Water in the basement

We had a line of thunderstorms roll through yesterday afternoon which forced allowed Mr. Aitch and me to do some water removal or rather water squeegee-ing.  Is that even a word?  Anyway the drain outside our basement door was shut (defective, more likely) and the door just wouldn’t hold the EIGHT inches of water that accumulated outside.

The concrete stairs outside act like a waterfall and channel the rain to the drain.  I braved the torrential downpour with a screwdriver and released the drain cover.  I understand the concept behind this drain cover so stuff doesn’t go down it and clog the drain but anything more than a nice gentle rain, and the thing acts like a plug.  Poor design.  Or maybe it wasn’t designed for where it is at my house.  We really need to get this issue resolved if I want to turn part of the basement into a craft/sewing/knitting/painting area.  Water has its place in the world but not running across my floor.

Whatever.

Fortunately I had the foresight to place all the “good” junk up off the floor by using those foam-type shipping supports (that come around various computers, monitors, TVs, aquarium supplies, and furniture) under everything to keep it dry.  It was still a mess and some things were not on said foam-type supports.  So some things got wet.

Because of this wet mess, I decided I’m taking all the old but still wearable clothes that have been in a holding pattern in the basement to Goodwill today.  They were in plastic bags and protected.  It’s something I’ve been meaning to do but never got around to it yet.

And what does one do with old motorcycle helmets?  Is there a motorcycle helmet grave yard?

The Lace Hem Topping is slowly but surely coming along.  I have the back finished to where I think I need to start the shoulder shaping but I’m not going to do any more until I get the front done to the same place.  This way I try it on (sort of) and get an idea if the armholes are too short, too long or just right.  Then I will finish it.

It’s the right thing to do

“If something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.”  Emma Bronder Kreidle, my grandmother.  

If you have been following my dilemma about the Lace Hem Top here and here, you know I am not happy with the armholes.  I tacked a few stitches together under the arm and shortened the shoulder by a half-inch on both the front and back thinking it would fix the problem.  

There are no shortcuts to doing something right.  I’ve spent too much time knitting this only to have it second-rate.  I would always look at it thinking I should have…  

So I ripped it down to the beginning of the armhole shaping and knit another inch before I start the armhole shaping for the second time.  Then I will make the armhole an inch shorter.   

Second attempt

 

It’s the right thing to do.  Right, Gram?  

On another note the thermometer already says it’s 89 degrees and it’s only 9:00 am.  Gonna be another hot day.  

Mr. Aitch and I “planned” to ride our motorcycles to the Farmer’s Market in Springs, PA this morning to visit a scissors repair man.  

Broken Stork Scissors

 

I have a pair of stork embroidery scissors and the pivot broke many years ago.  I didn’t want to throw them out so I finally found someone fairly local that would take a look at them to see if he could repair them.  Not sure if we want to ride 40 miles one way in this heat.  It just might be too darn hot.

Yarn lover’s delight

My LYS is having a sale starting today.  Check it out here.  I stopped in the store yesterday thinking the sale started then but I was wrong.  I did look around and picked out something yummy (Cascade Ultra Pima) to make a shell (Eileen) featured in No Sheep for You by Amy Singer.  This shell is knit with worsted weight linen (I’m using cotton) on size 0 2 and 1 needles!  That’s right size 0 2 and 1.  I don’t have size 0 but I will pick some up when I buy the yarn.  <edit I didn’t need the size 0 but bought some anyway thinking that’s what I needed.  Will return.>  The Bacardi cardigan from the same book is also on my list but I have a hard time spending that much money for yarn…even on myself!  The sales girl said she would kindly (though reluctantly) hold the Cascade yarn for me today so I want to take an early lunch and pick it up.   I will post pictures of my purchases.

In other news…I wimped out and drove my car to work.  I have a 19 mile drive to work instead of the motorcycle.  Since I have to run into town to pick up the above mentioned yarn, I didn’t want to put the extra miles on my car or use more gas.  Car = 25 mpg.  Motorcycle = 52 mpg.  The thermometer was what made me decide on four-wheels.  48 freaking degrees is just below my threshold for riding.  Plus traffic will be horrible when I go home.  Granted it’s not LA traffic but when you are not used to a lot of crazy people from DC and Baltimore rushing to get to the lake, or locals rushing to the shore, it can be pretty scary.  At least it can be for me.  I am so small town.

Be safe and have fun this weekend.  Happy (Early) Birthday America!

Purple boxes

On our trip this past weekend, we saw these purple boxes hanging from the trees.  They were about 3 feet tall with a triangle top and bottom.  They were on Rt. 160 and 219 in southern Pennsylvania and we saw some last year along Rt. 40 in south-western Pennsylvania.  Sorry the picture is so blurry but this was taken with my phone while riding on the back of the Harley and we were moving. 

Purple box

Purple box...why?

 

So does anyone know what these purple boxes are? 

I decided to change the buttons on the white sweater from the ivory square ones to round white ones.  No pictures as I don’t have them sewn on yet.