A wild ride

I teach a beginning drawing class on Monday nights at a women's prison. When I left the house last night, the sky to the west was black with clouds, very ominous and threatening. The thing about the weather here in the Middle of Nowhere is that the mountains can divert storms in just about any direction. I felt pretty sure it was going to rain at my house, but that didn't necessarily mean the storm would follow me 25 miles east.

The prison compound is closed during severe thunderstorms with lightning. I was there last year when one came through, and had to stay locked down until it had passed. Fortunately, storms tend to blow right through.

By the time I got to the gate, I could barely see to drive. The rain was so heavy I couldn't open my window to identify myself to the guard and I turned around and came home. We were in the midst of a gullywasher.

gullywasher: gul•ly•wash•er [plural gul•ly•wash•ers] noun.
Definition: A heavy downpour or its runoff [informal]

I've never driven in such wild weather. The wind was fierce, wildly blowing tree limbs and leaves into the road. I've always felt safe from flooding since I live on a mountain, but that amount of rain runs right off the mountain and into the road. Two volunteer fire departments were out in different locations moving debris and directing traffic around high water.

It'll take your appetite away, that's for sure.

I woke up this morning at 5 a.m., and it was still raining, although just a steady soaker. As if we need more soaking.

I almost didn't know what to do with myself when I got home with all that extra time on my hands. We got rid of the television in the living room. To watch TV now I have to go to the second floor of the garage, which is a multipurpose office/workout/family room. I wasn't going back outside last night, so I sat down to knit for an hour, and then went to bed early.

Before I turned in, I dug around in the back of my closet for a pair of shorts I haven't worn in a long, long time.

Here's my snack-attack prevention tip du jour:

When you feel like eating mindlessly, go try on clothes.

If they're too small, you'll be motivated to skip the snack because your ultimate goal is for them to fit, right?

If they fit, you're going to be so thrilled to have a 'new' pair of shorts that you sure don't want to blow it by eating.

That's what happens to me, and I highly recommend it. I'm not sure I'll actually wear these shorts. Remember a dozen or so years ago when 'city shorts' were in style? These are red silk, pleated at the waistband and knee-length, and I used to wear them to work with a silk tank, a jacket, hose and ballet flats. I don't think I'll be wearing them out, but they're good for gauging progress.

Knitting progress continues. I'm more than halfway finished with the front of the Shapely Tank I started a few days ago, and I've also started another top from Just One More Row Designs. I'm using a shiny pink ribbon to make something a bit dressier than the sample photo illustrates.

You start by knitting six diamond-shaped pieces of fabric separately. Then you connect them by picking up stitches along the top edge of the "V" made when you put two of them side-by-side. Eventually you'll have connected all six and you just keep moving up, shaping armholes and the neckline by eliminating or truncating the diamonds.

I made one in a blue slubby cotton a very long time ago, in a tunic length [simply add two rows of diamonds for the longer length], and just now am able to wear it again. I have a special occasion coming up in a few weeks, and this will be perfect for it.

I don't often work on two things at once, but the ribbon is too slippery to work with while reading e-mail. So I'll work on the tank at the computer, and save the ribbon project for times when I can pay close attention.

This turned out to be quite a bit longer than I'd intended. If you're still reading, thanks for putting up with my drivel!