I really need to knit.

Knitting time has been scarce these last few weeks – I am becoming nostalgic for January when I had a back injury and the flu. Knitting time seemed so abundant then that I even took an hour or so here and there to write letters or (shocking!) work on a needlepoint seat cushion kit. Oh, the heady days of winter….

On a side note: It feels like winter now as we have had snow off and on for 5 days! Nearly an inch accumulation one day! Crazy weather for us!

Anyhow, with Easter, the college kids’ Spring Breaks, gearing up for spring planting (which is on hold now until the snow abates), Sonja’s wedding plans (bridal showers, the house they are in the midst of purchasing, etc., as well), the stepping-up of activity in some of my volunteer organizations…well, you know how it gets.

Last night, we turned off our lights for an hour at 8:00 pm as part of the nationwide statement calling attention to environmental concerns. The girls played cards and George entertained Max (who was not at all happy about the dark house – finding it all a bit surrealistic and oddly bedtime-ish for his taste). I knit lace by candlelight. Not nearly as charming and romantic as it sounds. It involved twisting slightly in my chair and holding the work up to get maximum light while squinting at the directions. Stockinette would probably have been the wiser choice, but I was feeling a bit stubborn about knitting what I darn well want to knit now that I finally get to knit at all, for heavens sake, thank you very much!

I do not imagine that life is going to slow down now that spring is (nominally) here. But something gives me hope: Baseball season begins tomorrow. TV baseball is ideal for knitting – interesting, but not riveting. As our whole family (even the baby) likes watching the Mariners play, it is sort of a communal balm in our house. It promotes unity in feeling (we all always want the M’s to win – esp. if they are playing Texas or The Yankees) and gives us a topic of conversation devoid of argument fodder (our family can debate anything – the color of the sky, the color of water, the color of color…). And anything that calms the family is good for my knitting.

The dark was not calming (it was a very noisy card game, too, by the way). Snow is not calming (at least, not when it is nearly April and we are shivering in our cotton sweaters and flip-flops). Baseball, ah, Baseball….”Star Spangled Banner”…Play Ball…Batter Up..I am good to go!