You know she's back in Texas when...

There's a month between posts. I apologize. My drive to Texas, excepting traffic snags from construction and accidents leading to detours, was uneventful. I was bopping along, listening to my music, catching the scenery as I flew past at less than 10 miles over the speed limit. Until the 11th hour. It was then I realized that I had 3 full hours to go. I had planned on 13 hours, so contemplating the extra hour was quite demoralizing. I did make it through.

I'm currently staying with friends. It's not a permanent situation, but it is comfortable. I'm staying in a town called Willow Park, about 20 minutes west of Fort Worth. Formally rural area that's being turned into suburbia. It's not so bad as it's only houses now - the strip mmalls and Target Supercenters are a little closer to Ft. Worth. I kind of like it... My commute is about 43 miles one way, but the traffic isn't solid on the route I take and I'm at work within an hour.

During my commute I pass grazing land spotted with cows and oil wells, then I'm into outer Ft. Worth suburbia, then through Ft. Worth, then I'm on a loop freeway, I exit onto an industrial park sort of road that takes me through new neighborhoods, I pass an auto auction house, a helicopter manufacturer, a couple of airport related businesses before getting to the industrial park area where the office is located.

Work is work. I'm on the same team, doing the same work. It's not challenging, but it's okay.

I’ve been knitting. I finished the Monkey socks. I love my Russian yarn. The colors are strangely appealing - variegated with the two primary colors being mustard and a reddish purple to muted fuscia with a touch of white.

I’ve also finished a second pair since I’ve been in Texas . A pair of cool multi-colored striped socks for a friend. I knit the first rendition of this pair almost four years ago. The third time is charmed for they are finished.

On the needles now is a pair of lacy socks - 'Vog On from the most recent issue of Knitty . Cascade Fixation is my new favorite yarn. Cotton, stretchy, easy to work with, bright colors. I lurve it. Though, it says hand wash, which I don’t believe in except for silk scarves.

Once the first sock is done, I’m going back to the pair I almost finished on my trip. I had to stop the second one just before the heel because I’d sent its older sister home with some stuff I didn’t need after the wedding. I want those finished. I went online to look for some yarn to make socks for friends and I found the most fantastic, no, super fantastic yarn EVER. Opal has designed a line of sock yarns inspired by the artist Hundertwasser and they have made yarn that is so cool it hurt my hands not to be holding it. So, I bought two of all the colors I like. Even with shipping from the UK , I saved money over what the shops here are charging (when they have it in stock). I’m not going to tout the website until my yarn is delivered safe and timely.

I’ve adored Hundertwasser since 1995. I visited the Hundertwasser Haus in Vienna - it is an apartment building designed by the artist. Curvy lines, brightly colored tile accents. Beautiful and striking set, as it is, amongst 18th and 19th century classicism. The time I visited they had a retrospective of Keith Haring's paintings. The exhibition space was as interesting as the paintings because of the floors. In one room, the floors are roughly split, but sanded wood. I loved it.