Ironic...

It is a sad fact, but a fact nevertheless. On a day where you have all the time in the world to knit happily away, you don't always feel like doing that. However, when handed a day where you have lots to accomplish and a time frame in which to make it so, you are suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to craft a slipcover for the couch in handspun silk.

Irony...

I was up at 6:00 this morning. On purpose, no less. The Annual Gathering Of The Maternal Side Of The Sheepish Flock was upon me and there was no way I was going to be let in the door if I didn't have some of my world-famous cheesy bread in hand. In fact, it is highly likely that I would be burned at the stake. Or on the grill right along side Daddy Sheep's even more world-famous barbecued ribs.

Bread is easy, but it takes some time. And Cheesy Bread is better when it's had time to sit for a bit so I knew I'd need to get an early start. Frankly, I should have done it last night. But it was too hot to even contemplate such folly, even once the sun had settled down for the evening so I put it off until today when the temperatures were markedly cooler.

I cast a few longing glances at that Thing That Is So Totally Not A Sleeve And I'll Fight Anyone To The Death Who Says Differently and set to work. I am nothing if not a worker bee, after all. Of course, the only things I really needed to do were bake the bread, locate my very-stretchy-jeans and make sure that I had two shoes that matched. However, I defy anyone to figure out a way to fit all that into a day and still manage to find the time for a nap. It was a mad scramble to work it all into the schedule and get myself off to Mommy and Daddy Sheep's house in a timely manner!

It was worth all that early rising and not-knitting, though. I look forward to this yearly event. The food is amazing. Over the years, we've all managed to find our niche within the theme and everyone has their "something special" to add. The highlights, of course, are my Dad's offerings from the grill. But the desserts were nothing to sneeze at either. Of course, we all missed Uncle Sheep's lemon bars, but we will forgive him this year (and this year only) as he is out of state for his son's wedding. Cousin Sheep made up for it with his Snickers Brownies. As soon as I work my way out of my diabetic coma, I'll maybe describe those in further detail.

Mommy Sheep also provided (God help me) another birthday cake for her eldest daughter. This one was chocolate which, as we all know, is the very best of cakes. A generous slice was added to my pile of leftovers. It seems that I am not quite as "caked out" as I thought I was last weekend when I celebrated my actual birthday with more cake than anyone should eat in a two day period.

It is a very good thing, I found those stretchy jeans...

The company was good (lots of folks I don't see regularly). The conversation was lively (Any time you get to hear one relative greet another with the words, "Well hey there! Good t' see ya! Been a while now, hasn't it? I put a fresh batt'ry in th' hearin' aid this mornin' figgering you'd have lots of questions for me!" is going to be nothing short of awesome). And, as I mentioned, the food was beyond words. (I will be eating well this weekend) I even got to see Great Nephew Sheep in the full upright and walking mode! And he colored a picture for me for my birthday!

Of course, another ironic fact is this: One person's pleasure is another's misery. Certain residents of this household do not care for changes in the routine. Or the parts of the routine that involve my leaving. They can't even handle it when I go to work in the morning. Hence, they become rather clingy when Mommy tries to do things to get ready to leave. They will cry at the window while she goes to her car. They might even attempt to block her path to the door, not caring one little bit that there is a gigantic table full of food and a cake with her very own name on it waiting for her. They don't like the separation one little bit. They are the types who tear off the wallpaper when Mommy leaves the house.

Iz too much. I haz the sadness and hides mine faces.

Happily, it is a three day weekend here at the manse. I'll do some Kitty Kompensating. I can make up for my big night out with another couple of days, complete with extra head scritches and some time watching the panda-cam (he loves the web cam from the zoo almost as much as I do...) He'll be just fine.

And I'll be OK, too. I've got leftovers and an extra day to see if maybe I can make some progress on that not-sleeve. It all works out.

SA