I May Have Spoken Too Soon

But first, in crafting news...the red socks proceed apace:

"I don't know, dear. I really think he looks like your side of the skein."

The partial sock pictured is actually the start of sock number four. I have yarn for three pairs, and they've been moving so fast, I've just cast on the next as soon as I finish one. Definitely something to love about worsted weight socks!

The fluffy yellow sweater is in negative stitch count...I found a dropped stitch this morning in location that would be hard to fix inconspicuously, and so I ripped back about eight inches of the front. I've reknit about six of those, but the yellow sweater and I are due for some more quality time tomorrow, while I explain my expectations to it.

And yes. I may have spoken too soon when I said it was Tuesday and nothing had broken. Wednesday, during what was supposed to be routine furnace service the technician discovered a leak in our oil tank. Since the oil tank was probably put in when the house was built, this isn't terribly surprising. Finding out that our city who (in contravention to the historic 'Live Free or Die' principles of this great state of New Hampsire) has really annoying building codes that would necessitate moving the fill pipe location, was just an extra special bonus. Three days later:

--we have a new oil tank. Also with code-mandated concrete pylons to prevent us from hitting the tank while driving a power tool into the garage (there's certainly no room for a car in there). We still need to pass the city inspection, but that's fun for next week. Note the gaping hole in the ceiling over the tank--that's the ceiling that was brand new less than four years ago. (The oil tank technicians cut the new holes for the pipes. Fixing the ceiling and patching the old holes is our problem.) The new oil tank went in yesterday.

So then today we went to see our accounting professional and get our taxes done. (We're not gluttons for punishment, the appointment was set up months ago.) At least this year, no one's employer was acquired, no complicated stock transactions occurred, and our employers managed to withhold something approximating the correct amounts in the correct categories. (We have acquired some notoriety with the accountants, between the complexity of last year's return plus twice having cashed in on their guarantee to make right any mistakes in the return.)

By the time we got out of there, we decided that it was time to run away from home, at least for the afternoon. So we drove down to the coast and walked around the wildlife refuge on Plum Island. It was gorgeous- sunny, warm, shirtsleeve weather. Even this early in the spring, the place has a stark beauty:

We had dinner in Newburyport...an Indian restaurant called Jewel in the Crown, which had excellent food (though their medium spiciness would be quite hot by most standards). The nice weather apparently had brought out the crowds because they seemed to be a bit overwhelmed to have a full restaurant, and the service was on the slow side. Still, it was a good meal.

Now. If the remaining household equipment and vehicles would just consent to run normally for a bit....