Mother knows best

As I do every year around this time, I've been concerned about mosquitoes. The little buggers require only a small amount of standing water for their larvae. I try to eliminate any potential breeding areas or spray, if possible before summer gets into full swing.

The other day, we were down by the barn when I noticed a couple of puddles teaming with activity. I bent down for a closer look, expecting to see mosquito larvae, but instead found practically the opposite -- tadpoles!

I'm hoping these little beauties are Mother Nature's answer to my annual mosquito problem. Frogs think mosquitoes are tasty. Lots of frogs equals few mosquitoes, right?

I was worried their puddles would dry out before they had a chance to grow up even though we had some rain yesterday. They seemed quite happy when I checked on them this evening. Their nursery is bigger now and the temperature cooler.

We're expecting thunder showers this evening. Grow, little tadpoles, eat the tiny vampires!

The cool air, combined with the coming rain, perfectly sets the mood for a  lazy evening. I'm looking forward to some knitting.

I did indeed run out yarn for Kes' (belated) birthday socks. On top of that, when I went to the Knit Picks site, the yarn I needed was not immediately available. I ordered more yarn for her sister's birthday socks, which are starting out late, after it occurred to me to check her size and the recommended amount of yarn. It was very tempting to start on them anyway, but I resisted. My immunity to startitis seems to be getting stronger. Don't get me wrong; I love the thrill of casting on a new project. On the other hand, I think the thrill of satisfaction from finishing something gives me more pleasure.

I was really tickled last night when I finished the second front for Vova's Totem Pole Jacket. Here it is in all its pre-blocked glory. Yay! Just sleeves and collar left.

I cast on for the first sleeve this morning. I worked the ribbing in the car on the way to brunch and in between running errands on the way home.

I was born late and I haven't caught up since

I'm still not finished with Kes' (belated) birthday socks. Argh. Her sister's birthday is in two days, so I'm pretty much two pairs in the hole. I'm running out of yarn, too. It may end up being very close.

Joyko's not worried about it.

Spring!

This is one of those great plays on words in English. The season has begun, yes, there's no doubt about that. Then there's my momentum from earlier this week, which is still holding. It's like it was all potential energy in a compressed coil that's now sprung. I don't understand it, but I like it. Wednesday I finished the lace repeats for the leg and started the heel flap on Kes' (belated) birthday socks.

After I got home from work, I picked up the sticks and branches that came down during the snow storms. Anna, who was over for the afternoon, helped, despite a particularly poignant episode of teen angst.

Yesterday was a busy day at work, more so because I decided to take today off and wanted to make sure there were no loose ends. Not much knitting went on, but the rest of the week was so productive that I didn't mind.

My goal in taking today off was to get a jump on the yard work before all the vegetation takes over. Last year we really didn't start out with the right equipment. By the time we had it, well, it was a losing battle that I fought all summer. In the end, I did gain some ground, quite literally, but it was hard won. If you have the suspicion that I'm a lawn nerd in addition to being a knitting nerd, you are right.

Despite the fact that I just mowed two days ago, the lawn already needed it again. Not only that, but there are dandelions everywhere.

Vova called the repair shop to see how soon they could come pick up the lawn tractor for a maintenance check and to fix the flat tire. After saying it would be three or four weeks before they pick it up, they suggested we remove the tire to repair it separately. We did so, feeling very clever, I might add. Then it occurred to us that it might have just lost pressure after having sat in  the shed all winter. I took it to an air pump at a local gas station. Apparently, that was the problem; I mowed all afternoon on it with no pressure loss.

Why is this interesting? "Why are you a lawn nerd?," you might ask. I would submit to you that the reasons are almost identical: this activity produces tangible, visible results; it relieves stress; I have a sense of satisfaction no matter how much or little I do; people look at what I've done and say, "Wow! You did all that? It looks beautiful." Although, I admit that maintaining my knitting hardware is far less messy and requires less upper body strength.

One of the other benefits is, in spring, enjoying outdoor sights and smells. Practically everything is in bloom right now. The dogwood tree is especially spectacular this year.

I blew it on taking pictures of the pear tree. Earlier this week, it was covered in white blossoms, looking like some giant lacy thing. However, when I went out to take pictures of it today, I found that only a few blossoms were left. It's still nice, but not the incredible display it was.

I'm looking forward to a good crop of pears this year. I don't know what kind of pears they are. The skin is rough and brown, the flesh is grainy, but sweetly mild-flavored.

These were my ruminations as I mowed, gathered more branches, raked, and cleaned the mowers.

Then I went in the house and cleaned the kitchen. I know I should provide photographic proof, but you're going to have to take me on good faith here. I washed all the dishes in the sink, vacuumed and swiffered the floor. I also vacuumed the breakfast room and the stairs. The stairs had a good swiffering too.

Tomorrow I'm planning on teaching Anna how to drive the lawn tractor. She was going to come over this evening, but her play auditions ran late and Vova wasn't feeling well. We decided it would be better all around to start the weekend visit tomorrow morning instead.

 Where will it all end?! Will she be able to get up and do it all again tomorrow? Too bad I don't know the value of any of the variables in this equation or I might be able to calculate when this energy will peter out.

Where did all this come from?

Yesterday I spent about eight hours cleaning the garage. This was on my day off. I took everything out, sweeping out the dead bugs and cobwebs as I went. Let's just say, the spiders ate well this winter. Then I took my shop vac and vacuumed every surface I could reach. After that, I diluted some ammonia and mopped the floor, then changed the solution and mopped it all again.

We munched on salami and cheese sandwiches while waiting for the floor to dry. I'm so glad Lent is over!

Fortified by good food and a glass of  good beer, I went back to my task. I wiped down all the wooden objects with diluted Murphy's Oil Soap. Vova helped me wipe off and vacuum everything else. It was nearly midnight by the time we finished. Leaving everything outside was not an option since the dew was already falling.

Since I was up so late, I only managed to knit a little on the morning bus ride. I did a little more during my lunch break. On the way home, I stayed awake long enough to finish the fifth repeat on the leg. Traffic was so bad that I got in a nap and had time to start on the last repeat. Imagine this picture with an extra repeat. I took another one this evening, but it wasn't as good.

When I got home, I mowed the grass. The riding mower has a flat tire, so I had to use the push mower. Incidentally, I had no problem starting it, which really surprised me since I haven't had much exercise in months. Maybe shoveling all that did some good after all. I had intended to mow only the parts closest to the house, but I noticed some thistles already sprouting and the grass around the gooseberry bush had to be thinned out...

It would be great if this trend continued for a little while. My enthusiasm tends to run in sprints more often than in marathons.

Easter Monday

I'm really glad I took today off from work. It gives me a chance to start on my spring cleaning since we weren't home all weekend.

On Friday, I managed to finish the first repeat on Kes' second sock. I just hope I can finish it before her sister's birthday, which is in less than two weeks. The socks I'm planning on making for Ashley are anklets, but those are also going to be late. Oh well, that's Aunt Bonnie.

The rest of the weekend was nice and relaxing. We reserved a room in DC for Friday and Saturday since we would be attending the midnight Easter service. Vova surfed the Internet and read the paper while I read and knitted. I finished reading O Jerusalem, which I really liked. I started Justice Hall, the next book in the series. Vova picked both of those up for me in one of the secondhand shops in Middleburg because he thought I would like them. Very good choice on his part. Now I want to read the entire series as well as Laurie King's other books. 

I am harboring a vain hope that I can finish the second sock for Kes by the end of the week. Over the weekend, I finished another three repeats for the leg, which only leaves two more before I can start on the heel. Maybe I'll have to increase my coffee intake so I can stay awake longer on the bus. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

Especially-good Friday

It's Good Friday and the weather is perfect. We had some high winds earlier this week, but those seemed to have passed.
I stayed up literally all night last night baking kulich (Russian Easter cake) and syrnaya paskha (Easter cheese).

The kulich is not as it should be. I think I probably should have gone and bought some fresh yeast, because the dough did not rise like it's supposed to. The yeast was a little slow in foaming up, which caused me some concern. Everything else was going so well that I decided to risk it.

By the time I realized that my risk had failed, it was nearly four in the morning. I gave up and went to bed, leaving Vova to watch the cake in the oven. Not only did he do an excellent job (see photo at left), he cleaned up the kitchen, too. 

The syrnaya paskha, on the other hand, was a brilliant success. Well, we'll know for sure in about another four hours. It's sitting in two Easter molds in the refrigerator now. If they hold their shape, it will be a complete success. If not, the taste is a definite success.

This is the first time I've ever made it, so I'm really tickled that it tasted just about perfect. For those of you who have not had it, it's sweet and slightly sour. The dairy ingredients mixed with sugar taste pretty yummy by themselves. Then when you add ground almonds, lemon, vanilla, nutmeg and cardamom, you get something that tastes heavenly. As I put the molds in the fridge, I had that slightly elated feeling of pulling something off perfectly. 

The kulich not rising brought me back down to Earth. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. Besides, it's been a good week otherwise here at Klein Waldeck.

Vova's daughter, Anna, spent a few days with us during her Spring Break, which was a lot of fun. We all went to church together last Sunday, then out to brunch. 

Then we went to Macy's for Clinique Bonus Time. We both got some skin cleanser and I decided to try out the Dark Spot Correcter. I'm soon to hit the age where everything dries up and starts falling off.

Anna asked if she could get some foundation, but wasn't really sure what would be best for her. The nice lady at the counter spent a lot of time helping us figure out what we wanted.

Out in the car, we swapped out the things from the bonus bags that one of us didn't use and the other one wanted. The process was very easy and efficient. Anna systemically went through all the items and organized them into the bags as we agreed on who was getting what. 

Monday, I went to work and the two of them hung around the house. Vova made us a nice Lenten supper when I came home. 

Tuesday, they did chores while I was at work. Anna worked really hard out in the yard raking up all the dead leaves from last fall. She did a great job.

Next time, she's going to learn to drive the lawn tractor. Exciting! And I'm not being sarcastic. I'm all for anything that makes chores enjoyable or, at least, less of a chore.

On Wednesday morning, Anna left with her mom to go visit her grandparents for Easter. 

The last couple of days have been kind of a blur. I took today and Monday off to prepare for and recover from Easter.

Speaking of that, I'd better get to it. Happy early Easter, everybody. С наступающим празником всем!