Updates . . .

Okay, it's been a while since I updated, so here's the news:

1. Gardening -- my veggies are going along, but I lost some of my beets. For some reason, seeds just don't make it in my garden. They either don't germinate, or they germinate and then disappear after two weeks. Maybe birds eat them?

This year I only put in two Kale plants because I still had four gallon-sized bags of frozen Kale in the freezer from last year. And, it looks like it will be another bumper crop. I may not be able to grow things from seed but I can really rock with transplants!

2. Costuming -- I lied about the skirt. I decided to go ahead and try to finish a boned bodice and make it into a gown. Of course, I got almost to the finish line, then ran into a problem with the eyelets. I sat down and looked at my schedule and decided that yes, if the only thing I did for the next three days was go to work and sew, then I might be able to *just* finish it in time. But of course, no one can only go to work and sew. People must eat, bathe, sleep, play with dogs, visit friends, and attend fighter practices and their friends' christmas parties. So I put the bodice down and backed away slowly. I took deep breaths. I made a skirt. I went to Yule Revel in my skirt and had a great time. Now, I'm back to those eyelets.

Maybe I can finish the gown soon, and then expand my original plan to include sleeves for Candlemas! And a new chemise. And a farthingale . . . .

4. Work -- my job-with-paycheck has gotten very boring lately. A few people come in to buy living christmas trees, gift certificates, and a few gardening toys for their garden-nut giftees. We're bringing in money on these expensive purchases, but we only have 10% of our usual customers. So there's a lot of standing around bored, trying to look busy as we dust the same shelf over and over . . . rearrange that display *again*, etc. Blah.

I can't decide if I want to keep working, or if I want to be temporarily laid off. Last year, the managers reduced my schedule this time of year so I was only working half-time until spring. The loss of paycheck sucked but the time at home with the doggies was fun and I had the promise of bigger paychecks in February.

My cash gigs are basically steady. One client is out of town doing holiday things, so I get that time off. Another client relies on my continued presence in her garden to keep her sane as she deals with housecleaning, relatives, cookies, christmas lights that blow fuses, and grandchildren who do all the things that grandchildren do. The things she says about her pseudo-daughter-in-law!

I have informal plans to landscape my dona's new backyard. These plans will include a dye garden, and herb garden, some fruit trees, and a big bare space for fighter practices. Doing the work may be problematic, what with her being twenty miles on the other side of nasty traffic, my dislike of expensive gas, her finances being a bit tight, and the Bermuda Grass all over her backyard. But I have a cunning plan . . .

5. Family -- Oops, I forgot that Christmas is Next Week and I didn't buy any plane tickets. My bad. Maybe next year, ya'll.

That's it for now. Check in later for more excitement from Perilous Knits!