Thanks, Nancy, for the thoughts below.

My precious little family is going through a private rough patch (completely unrelated to the thought of the day, I just liked what Nancy sent me), and I need to process it a bit, but prayers, chants and other positive thoughts would be much appreciated.

In the meantime, how 'bout some quick fiber updates. I'm sure you're just panting for them, right? I've finally decided what to do with the tank top that I'm working on. I've stopped and started on that puppy so many times I was afraid the yarn was going to run screaming from the room. But I'm doing a lovely aran cable up the front, have gotten about six or seven inches up, and I'm really quite pleased with it. I know what I want to do with the straps, but I'm not quite sure of the mechanics of doing it, which technique I want to use. I've got a mini-sock on some dpns here in the office, and I'm really liking how the yarn is turning out - it's Regia "confetti" I think, and just darling. In the car (yup - knitting everywhere you turn!) there's a mouse. Well, the rear end of a mouse, started on way too small needles on the ball of yarn I bought at the car-accident-yarn-shop (those two events will be forever joined in my mind!) It's just going to be a cat toy, and what do they care if it doesn't felt right? I was running out the door and just grabbed the first needles I lay eyes on. Did an I-cord tail, then increased away, and now his little tushy is nice and round. When he's done, I'll sew up most of him, leaving a spot in his belly to insert catnip, and sew on velcro to hold that closed. My two sweaters have been put on hold - uninspired to work on them in the heat we're having.

My mother has caught the fever as well, which is a blast - always fun to be an enabler!!! I gave her some lovely cotton for Mother's Day, and she's started a scarf with a wrapped-stitch technique Bess taught me, and I taught her - the scarf looks amazing! She's also bought some Lion Brand Homespun that would look - well, I was going to say "like it was made for" but I suppose it would be made for - great with her couch, and she's going to do a garter stitch afghan with that. Once school lets out for her (she's a teacher) I'll take her to play in some LYSs. What fun!

Thought for the Day:

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and the dog walking beside him had been dead for years.

He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like Mother of Pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is heaven, sir" the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up" The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend", gesturing toward his dog, "come in too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back towards the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog. After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there" The man pointed to a place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveller gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate and sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveller filled the bowl and took a long drink himself, then gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.

"What do you call this place?" the traveller asked.

"This is Heaven," was the answer.

"Well that's confusing." the traveller said. "The man down the road said the same thing."

"Oh you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."