Those who know me well know that I hate shopping. And I especially hate clothes shopping. As a result, my wardrobe is sadly outdated. Thankfully the standards in a pediatric office are a little less casual than say, an upscale cosmetic practice. So it surprised me a little that clothes shopping served as a little retail therapy this week. I was hoping this week might be a little less stressful, but while less frantic, stress was in good supply. I'm having trouble with my DSL. For unknown reasons, it just quits on me. It doesn't seem to matter what I try to do to resolve it, but after a while, it spontaneously comes back. Not a big deal unless you're trying to close out the day (which requires a connection with the bank) and you really, really want to go home! Then yesterday, I got a call at home at 6:00 a.m. (never good news!). The anesthesiologist called to say that his equipment wasn't working and he had to cancel. We had a full day of general anesthesia scheduled and I had to call a bunch of disappointed parents to tell them we had to reschedule. It escapes me why the anesthesiologist can't call them – he has all their numbers. Must be why I make the big bucks (Haha!!). So anyway, I decided to take my new found day off and go shopping on the mainland. My original plan was just to buy a few summer tops. However, I came away with 7 tops, two pairs of slacks, two dresses, some undies and two (count 'em) two! pairs of shoes. Just about everything was on half price, so I really didn't spend a ton of money. So I may still be stressed, but at least I'll look good!
Today is a blessedly free day off with nothing pressing, so I decided to block Hidcote. I had help:
Maggie was in a bit of a funk because Kirby got to go ride in the car this morning. Kirby would just as soon have forgone the trip to the groomers, but Maggie was disconsolate! It's long been a standard in the family that Kirby is the lap dog and Maggie is the car dog. She was very unhappy and parked herself in the middle of the living room, put her head up in the air and howled! I've never heard her do that before. Then she pouted:
About halfway through the blocking process she decided that "zoomies" were in order and started tearing, at breakneck speed, around the bedroom. Unfortunately, her route took her right over the shawl I was trying to block. Thankfully I remembered a suggestion of bones with cream cheese stuffed in them and frozen as a dog treat. I had put one in the freezer and Maggie was more than happy to be diverted with that. So Hidcote was finished blocking with no further incidents:
Stats: Hidcote by Miriam Felton, unnamed lace yarn from my stash, size 4 Knitpicks Options needles. Started in January, finished about a month ago, but not blocked until today. While this was an interesting knit, I did find several errors in the pattern. They were not enough to throw an experienced lace knitter off, but might trip up a novice. They may have been corrected in later versions of the pattern. By the way, I would have never been able to capture that picture with my little point-and-shoot. The new camera with wide angle lens is wonderful!!
Now what to do with the rest of my day? I may work on some digital scrapbooking stuff. I have a class that I bought months ago that I have not had time to play with. How nice to have a day stretching ahead with no firm plans!
missouristar 
Bummer, that you had to cancel the schedule of pts. Yipeee for the “found” time.
Your shawl is beautiful
The shawl is beautiful–what a lovely color.
I do all the shopping I can online, but I find, as you do, that once I get into the swing of it in an actual store, I can really rally to the occasion. Enjoy your purchases.
Enjoy your day off, Nana. You deserve it. 🙂
I just LOVE that look on Maggie’s face. :p
Hidcote is beautiful.
I’m not crazy about shopping either, and when I have to do it I prefer to go alone – in and out.
What an expressive puppy face!
The shawl is gorgeous.
That is gorgeous!
Maggie has that Corgi “look” in her eyes. Lewey does the howling thing on occasion, but usually it’s when he’s very excited and happy, and he yodels. It’s the funniest dang thing.
Taffy is a major howler and they love going with us in the car. I can hear Agatha when we leave her behind, one very sharp bark!
Hidcote looks lovely!
I am with you on the clothes shopping. I just hate it. I do it all online and scour for sales only when I absolutely have to because my current clothes are a nice set of cleaning rags.
Love Hidcote. Wonderful work, as usual. Hope you are having a lovely weekend. We finally have some decent weather with temps in the 70’s. We have yet to see anything close to summer.
Did you buy work clothes or retirement clothes? It took a few years for me to realize I was never going to wear my work clothes again and send them off to my happy little sister.
Brother Dave and I were just talking yesterday about how smart dogs are. They know their place in the family and they know their jobs. Poor Maggie. Glad the frozen bone took care of her cute pout.
Hidcote is beautiful.
Oh Maggie’s face is hilarious in that photo! I laughed so hard! LOL Your Hidcote is gorgeous. I hope you will show us pictures of it after the blocking is done! I came here to tell you that I have a new blog… I’m trying out Typepad and so far I like it. http://forgetmenots.typepad.com is the digiscrap blog and http://forgetmenots.typepad.com/alongtheway will be my new blog for every day and hopefully some knitting! 🙂 I’ve missed you… I’m going to read more on your blog to catch up.
Maggie’s face is priceless – absolutely priceless. Dogs are so communicative. When I got home this morning, Sofee was “guilt” all over! I found a peach pit in her bed – and to have gotten it, she had to be up on my night stand, and chew threw a napkin in which it was wrapped. Naughty doggie!
Your stress story brings back so many like memories! I also worked in a medical clinic. And any technical problem (aka electronic billing) came to me.
Oh – and you can’t think about retiring with all those new clothes. Seems retirees really don’t need a very extensive wardrobe – at least I certainly don’t.
Your lace is gorgeous – as always! I love it, but not sure I love to knit it. LOL
Hidcote is beautiful! I have started my second flower basket shawl with Turquoise Splendor Shimmer from KnitPicks – with beading. Sigh, my arthritis is acting up, the orthopedic specialist was bored and not very helpful. So the shawl is creeping along – very discouraging. I just hope my plan for the beading doesn’t go sideways on me -because I really don’t want to start over. I’m not sure lace knitting is going to be my thing – I love the look, but getting there has not been fun. Enough whining. I’m rejoicing with you over the clothes shopping – very cool. Deb
I must be REALLY tired. I’m reading DSL and thinking dear sister in law. Then I’m thinking something like ACL and your knee must be giving out. Then it hit me.
I tend to buy in multiples when I find somthing I like. Like today – I found a light weight cardigan hoodie and bought it in three colours. I had a 40% off coupon for one and the clerk gave me a second coupon for the second one so I bought a third 😉 Saves me future shopping agony.
What a gorgeous shawl! So glad it didn’t get snagged by doggie toes…