It has been a rough year! First my dad went into the hospital in late April. My father-in-law went into the hospital and then hospice and died in May.

Then my dad was doing a lot better and they sent him home in June, was living alone with his dog back from the pet sitter and getting physical therapy to build his strength up so he could drive again and suddenly died. The police called while we were on the way to the beach for the day in mid-June, apparently he went for a walk, came home and died. It was surreal.

That’s been a lot to handle and we were already exhausted by handling his health care before that and looking forward to him being home and things back to normal for a bit.

Instead I’m handling his estate and am the owner of his house which I’ve moved my floor looms into and am making it into a place we can stay in overnight. My parents were serious minimalists and my dad even more so after my mom died three years ago and the house needed some upkeep.

We’ve lost power three times at home this month and it’s been great having a place to go. It’s on the land where my grandpop’s unheated, outhouse only cabin was growing up so it has lot of memories and great view of the river. I’m looking forward to creating new things there!

I’ve stress knitted more chickens and now I’m trying to do other projects too.

I signed up for the Malabrigo KAL for the Lehigh shawl. I like how big it is and the pattern looked like a good mix of easy and interesting.

I’m starting early because I am starting a button making course in September, signed up for a class at a local yarn store that’s taking place next weekend to learn to knit enterlac (after realizing I didn’t have the capacity to teach it to myself after getting yarn to make a pillow for the house). As if that wasn’t enough, at the end of the month I’m going to a fiber arts event that is three classes (I chose two knitting, one button) in two days.

It is a lot! I figured I’d better start the shawl now before the buttons start because that will have homework. I’ve already completed the prep (starting a hat) for one of the classes at the end of the month that required it.

Hopefully it won’t be too stressful but once it gets cold, it is awkward to do some of these things because we are Covid cautious and mask indoors. So no eating/drinking indoors with other people which is tricky for all day events! The button class is potentially three trimesters going into the spring but virtual so that’s not a big deal but the two day event is all in person. I’m trying to pack it all in while I have the chance! And distract myself.

I picked Rios Cape Cod Grey for the main color and Pisces for the accent.

It’s a little brighter in person.