I put a gate up today. It’s kind of jimmy-rigged at the top of the stairs because for some reason, that’s the only place Clark wants to go. Once I put the gate up, he still hung out there for another 20 minutes, looking at the stairs. I’m going to need to go shopping for gates. I could use two that will span 49 inches, and one for the top of the stairs that will cover 80 inches. Do such gates exist?

I spun and plied the rest of the 4 oz of baby alpaca from Madrona a few days ago.

It’s thicker than I wanted it to be, and I only got about 100 yards out of it, but it’s soft, and pretty, and I’m sure I’ve learned something from the process, like, I need to keep practicing alpaca. It’s tough.

I survived yesterday. It wasn’t fun, but nice in its own, understated way. Nate was sick, I was tired beyond all reason. I managed to knit on the Silk Stole for an hour. I cleaned much of the house. And Clark slept for a little over 12 hours last night, hallelujah.

I’m not 100%, but I am certainly functioning.

Today I may spin for my new clogs, or I might knit some more on the Stole, or I might go shopping for baby gates and filter media for my fish tank. Did I tell you I got some new fish?

Zuko

Cecily

Zuko & Cecily

and Frank

Frank has been banished to a large vase on the counter until I can get back to the pet store, because he is a big jerk, and I don’t like him. Of course, he’s by far the most beautiful fish of the three. It’s always the way, isn’t it?

We had them named within an hour of having them home. It’s so odd how that works. It took 5 months to name Bridget, and a few weeks to name Ilsa Dear (or, Ilsa Darling, depending on the day). But these three, boom. Under an hour. And they’re perfect.

Well, except for butthead who has to go back to the store. Frank, I mean.