A Lot Can Change in a Month

I don’t think I’ve ever written a catch-up post without random cat pictures sprinkled throughout, so here’s one of Tara to get things started. 

Tara

One thing (maybe the only thing?) that has been consistent over the past year and a half is how quickly things can change.  If you wait a month in between blog posts, what’s going on in your little corner of the world can drastically change.

I’m back to working from home.  We were back in the office for about a month.  Our official work from home started on August 9^th, but a few of us started working from home about a week before that.  We have mask requirements in place again, but there was about a week between those starting and when the CDC started recommending masks even for vaccinated people in areas with substantial or high spread.  Our county continues to have high spread and a lower vaccination rate than the rest of the state, so we’re fortunate to be able to work from again.

Charlie

Caroline is thrilled that I’m working from home again.  My work laptop seems to be her favorite thing in the world, so she’s back to spending her days on my desk. 

On my last day in the office, I discovered that I have a mask and dress that match perfectly.  I didn’t realize it until that morning when I was getting ready to leave, but I was pretty excited.  Lots of people commented on it.  One of my coworkers asked if I had a mask to match all of my dresses.  I don’t, but that would be pretty cool.  I still seem to be the only person at work embracing more colorful masks.  As one of my coworkers pointed out, though, I have a pink office, so no one should expect me to show up in a dull mask.  I still think that masks in cheery colors or patterns help make the best of a bad situation.

Our library system did a summer reading program.  You were given cards to fill out with time spent reading.  It was a check-off system, in 30-minute increments, and you turned the cards in when they were full to be entered in a drawing for prizes.  They had a program for kids; they got a free book every time they turned in a card, in addition to being entered in the drawing for prizes.  The adult program was just for the drawing at the end.  Each branch did a drawing and had prizes.  I won one of the prizes! 

I was so excited to win!  I know the picture isn’t the greatest, but my prize was a tote bag (great for taking books to and from the library), a tumbler, a book light, and a puzzle.  I’ve loved the library for as long as I can remember, and the only award I ever won in public school (before we started homes-schooling) was for reading, so I was very happy to win anything in a reading program.  Even as an adult. 

We’re currently enjoying some cooler weather, which is a nice change.  It’s still warm but not miserably hot.  We’ve been opening the windows in the mornings and evenings.  I love it when the weather is mild enough to do that.  I’ve seen a list of the 12 seasons of the Carolinas floating around the internet, and I’m not sure who started it, so I’m not sure who to link to.  Here’s a link to it, showing that we’re currently in False Fall.  I’m just glad we’re no longer at Hell’s Front Porch.  It’s one of the most accurate things I’ve ever seen about our weather, especially the various winters and springs. 

So how are things for you?  Are you working from home, or are you back in the office?  How many seasons do you have?  And which one are you in?

My Masks Need A Mask

Now that the recommendations for avoiding the spread of COVID-19 include wearing cloth masks in addition to social distancing and hand washing, I’m trying to learn to make masks.  As are a lot people.

The more popular choice seems to be sewing pleated masks. 

I can’t sew.  And I positively hate the idea of sewing.  We don’t own a sewing machine.  We don't have fabric.  I think we have some needles and thread somewhere, but I wouldn't swear to that.  Honestly, there are have been times that I’ve super glued (or even hot glued) a button back on or a hem back in.  I.  HATE.  Sewing. 

But, there are also patterns for crocheted face masks. 

I’ve been trying to learn to crochet for about a year now.  I’m left-handed, which makes it a little harder to find someone who’s willing and able to teach me.  And I’m really NOT good at trying to learn something like that from a right-handed person.  My mom is right-handed and my dad is left-handed.  Dad ended up being the one to teach me to write, tie my shoes, and all of the things like that.  So my crochet progress has been slow.  Very, very, very slow.

I’ve been working on granny squares.  I think I’m slowly getting the hang of it, now that we’re not going anywhere, and I have more time on my hands.  I found a video that goes through everything, from the slipknot to tying off.  I’ve probably watched the video 100 times.  I’ve almost memorized the pattern.  I enjoy repetition, and it seems to be the best way for me to learn.

My stack of granny squares.

My sister (who has no desire to crochet) now has the idea that I know how to crochet.  She tagged me in a post on Facebook with a pattern for a crochet face mask.  It wasn’t in English.  So I looked for one that was.  I found several, but I’m not great at reading patterns yet.  I looked for videos and finally found one left-handed tutorial. 

I thought I could follow along with that one, but a few of the stitches were ones I haven’t learned yet, and the quality of the video wasn’t great, so I couldn’t quite figure it out.  I watched a few more videos and decided to try to make one on my own, using stitches I know. 

The basic idea seems to be a sort of pouch with straps, and you put a liner (coffee filters and cut up cotton t-shirts seem to be the popular choices) inside it.  Obviously, this isn’t a medical grade mask, and it’s certainly not any kind of sure protection.  But it is, apparently, one more layer of potential protection.  To me, that’s worth trying. 

When you’ve spent the last three weeks realizing that everything you’ve ever learned to do is absolutely useless in the midst of this pandemic, and you’re tucked up safely at home while people you love and care about are out in the middle of it, you grasp at anything you can do to possibly help protect them. 

So began my efforts at making what are surely the world’s ugliest masks.

This is the first one, which Nick wore to work today. 

Our neighbor works in a home improvement store, so I sent her a text (with a picture so she would know exactly how hideous it looked) and asked if she wanted one.  She said she did.  So I made a second one for her.

I don’t think there’s much (any?) improvement in this one.  Again, though, it should cover her nose and mouth, which is all it really has to do to serve its intended purpose.

I posted pictures on Facebook asking friends who crochet for tips on what I’m doing wrong, and how to do a better job.  Apparently I need to keep careful count of my stitches.  A friend, Jane, experimented and made one (that’s far less bulky than the monstrosities I’m making) and wrote out the pattern for anyone who wants to use it.  I’m going to attempt that one tomorrow.   Because, unfortunately, it looks like there’s going to continue to be a need for masks, so I’m going to keep at it.   Wish me luck!

Jane says she’ll have some classes and teach all of us who are trying to learn once this pandemic is over.  There’s talk of a crochet group.  I love that idea!  It’s something to look forward to, for one thing.  

So what about you?  Are you wearing a mask?  Are you making masks?  Have you seen a mask that looks more hideous than mine?  Any suggestions for how to make mine better?