Thursday, December 17, 2009

Baby, It's Cold Outside (and inside, too)



Well, it's not that bad, but still pretty bad.

As I write this, I'm wrapped in an afghan. Because our heater has broken. Again.
Not quite three years ago, our heater stopped working in the middle of winter. It was the thermal coupling that needed to be replaced. And then the chimney needed to be re-lined because the collapsing chimney innards was causing the coupling to keep shorting out. We had all that done.

And now today, I realized that it was pretty damned cold in the house, and the radiators were stone cold. So the very nice heating guy came out and replaced the thermal coupling (again), and said that this shouldn't be happening so soon after replacing it, and maybe it was the gas valve that was causing the problem. And we wouldn't want that because replacing the gas valve is going to cost more.

And guess what? Even with a new thermal coupling, the heater still wouldn't kick on because......it's the gas valve that needs to be replaced!!

Tomorrow, Mike will call me and let me know when he can put in a new gas valve and how much it will cost. Can I let him know right now that it doesn't matter how much it will cost? Am I going to call around to get a second opinion while it's in the mid-30s during the day? Or am I going to say, just do it and get the (f)sucker fixed?

Thank heavens for afghans that I can wrap around me. And for handknit woolen socks that I can wear to bed tonight.

Oh, and to make everything sweeter, Chuck, our new cat, is very helpful, and got into the heater closet and helped Mike with the thermal coupling. Now Chuck's little white paws and belly are totally gray and disgusting.

Thank you, Chuck, for sharing your soot with us.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Finishing

Today I finished: this "semester" of our class at ASB (on winter break until January 12); Brendan's scarf since he's probably coming for latkes on Friday night and I can't give all the kids knitted things and have nothing for Brendan; my latest pair of socks for Warm Woolies; an earwarmer for Michael: the weather is supposed to be some 20 degrees colder tomorrow than today so I think he can use it.

Tomorrow I start my swatches for the Great Wall of Yarn.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Etsy Shop

In addition to kidknits.biz and Ravelry and Knitting 911, I now have re-opened my Etsy shop to sell handknit neck cozies, shawls, and wraps.

And as of September 2010, the Etsy shop is closed because no one bought anything.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Happy Feet


Today is the official start of winter: I put on handknit socks.

From winter to winter, I forget how cold my feet get. And how good it feels to wear handknit socks. Today I remembered. My feet are encased in simple handknit socks, and I feel good all over. Now I get to re-introduce myself to the socks that made me so happy last winter; they've been waiting patiently in their box on my closet shelf, and now they get their chance to do what they do best: make my feet warm. And happy.