Some Sheep Are Hermits By Nature

It's a beautiful day here in my neck 'o the woods. The thermometer is registering an unseasonable 55 degrees, the sun is shining, a light breeze is blowing and it is the perfect day for The Sheep to head out and complete the 98,234 errands she has assigned herself for the weekend.

Thus, logic dictated that she promptly put on her most comfortable sweats, ignore usual bathing and grooming rituals, crack a window for some fresh air and refuse to leave the house. What can I say? It was one of those "homebody" days. In my defense, it has been a long week. Monday through Friday encompassed third and fourth grade MEA testing (a challenging feat for any special ed. teacher) as well as the usual maintenance of the first and second graders schedules. In addition, I worked at my second job last night. My In-Home Parenting Education session ran longer than usual and it was 8:30 by the time I stumbled back into the homestead with groceries in hand. I'm tuckered out!

A day at home was a welcome treat. I can't say that it was the most productive I've ever spent, but I did get a start on the Jacob that I've been itching to get spun:

This is the darker portion that I separated out. There's still some white awaiting the carder!

This is the stuff that was destined for a woolen prep. Not gonna lie to ya: I'm not the queen of the long draw. At best we can call this a "semi-woolen," and it's probably not going to be the most consistently spun yarn I've even cranked out. But it's so ding-dong soft and squishy that I don't think I will care in the long run. I'm also managing a fairly finely spun single so I'm thinking of trying a three or four ply yarn. Since the arrival of the new Lazy Kate courtesy of Santa all things are possible. Of course given my skills, fewer things are likely, but we're just going to bask in the glow of hope and high expectations this early in the game.

And, in better news: a certain, special something arrived in the classroom yesterday! A student arrived really early, escorted by his loving father. My staff and I were prepared to be indignant at this invasion of teacher prep time until we realized the purpose of their untimely decent upon the classroom. They were there to deliver the his sister's Girl Scout Cookies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those of you outside the elementary ed. profession perhaps are unaware of how easy it is to find a pusher when you get a jones on for the GS high. In fact, you sometimes have to strategize and figure out how many boxes you can buy per cute little scout in order to not go into bankruptcy and have nine million of the things lying around the house. It's a perk of the job. At any rate, The Sheep used extreme restraint and only purchased three boxes. The lengthy wait for their arrival was almost more that I could bear and my staff and I spent many a day longingly discussing how wonderful "Cookie Day" would be. It was all we'd hoped for and more!

My strategy is as follows: I am starting with the Caramel Delights. I sort of ordered those by accident, meaning to get Peanut Butter Patties. Oh, well. They are a delight, as promised and I'm happy with them. Following that, I shall begin work on the Thanks Alot fudge dipped cookies. Lastly, the Thin Mints (my personal favorite) will be released from their confinement in the freezer and consumed in 1-2 sittings.

Having a plan is important. It's all part of the ritual.

Otherwise, it's just a Sheep in sweats refusing to leave the house.

SA