solutions

Wow! I guess I should talk about this serious stuff often. Y'all have a lot to say. Oddly, when I read all the comments from the last post, you'd fleshed out the whole hard issue. Is it that marriage is hard? Taking responsibility? Managing divorce or single parenthood? It's all hard, and well, my readers are smart folk. Thanks for engaging in the issue with me. We may not be able to solve all these problems, but it sure is nice to have an intelligent conversation about it.

The professor went to a party last night at a friend's house. I went to my spinning group, loved seeing my friends there, and just about keeled over with the effort of it all. Who knew treadling was such work? I came home and sent the professor off on his own, in his handknit sweater, of course. To my surprise, I heard that I have a steady blog reader nearby, who never comments but asked the professor how I was doing...I think I've met her once or twice, at parties around town. Hi Zoe the Dog's grandmother! Thanks for asking after me! (Mrs. Dillard, this is you!! :)

Now, on to other "important" knitterly details. The problem with adding a shawl collar, or knitting an addition to my handspun, handknit cardigan of the last post, is that I have run out of yarn. When you spin up a naturally colored fleece for a sweater, there is no running to the store to just buy another ball of that chocolatey brown. Nope. When it's all spun up and knit--there ain't no more. Anywhere. Sadly, if that sheep gave up its fleece to me again--even that wouldn't have matched in color exactly. (wool fleeces change in color from year to year just like our hair would.)

I searched around diligently through stash and online trying to find a good match, a contrasting or coordinating fleece or yarn. Then I came to my senses. I've obviously had enough of this project, matching zipper and all. I looked down at myself, wearing a (non-matching) scarf with the sweater, and said, "OH." I went online and ordered this scarf in brown and black. (brown might not match, but a silk scarf or two? Always useful.) Now that mine's on its way, here's where you can get yours!!

I mean, just in case someone else needed a good scarf. Let's hope this works. It sure seemed like a painless solution.

Finding solutions is satisfying. Like a moment where you find the perfect kitchen utensil or the scissors or whatever, and feel so happy that it worked. Yesterday the electricity went off at my folks' house in Virginia, and my parents built fires in the fireplaces to keep my grandmother toasty. My mom didn't want to leave the fire unattended, so she stayed up and read with a wind-up flashlight. Sometimes, the right tool is all it takes.

The sad thing is that we get used to those easy solutions and wish they could apply everywhere! I mean, this latest bout with the US health care system has left me thinking of all sorts of improvements, as I'm sure most anyone who has had a less than satisfactory experience with a doctor has already done. My best friend is a doctor, too, and often bemoans the system here. By contrast? I was once sick while visiting England. I got seen at the local country hospital, right after the kid who'd suffered a head wound playing soccer. (OK, obviously he got in first, that was kind of serious.) I walked right out of there with antibiotics that helped me until I got home to my regular doctor, and no bill. This time?--the doctor ordered an ultrasound, absolutely necessary to do, and suddenly, I am supposed to pay hundreds of dollars for this? What's the health insurance for? I mean, it sure isn't for fun, right?! There are days when I bemoan the state of healthcare in this country, and particularly, in a place like Kentucky...

Solutions, anyone? (I'm still feeling icky and go see the specialist tomorrow. Can't wait. More tests. Woohoo.)