Turtles and socks; not turtles with socks

I've been trying to write a summary of our weekend and I'm not really sure where to begin. I do know how it ended: with a new sump pump.

I woke up this morning to find Cynical snoozing and television watching on the couch. I decided to snag the opportunity and wash our sheets. As I waddled down the steps with an armload of linens I knew something was wrong, very wrong. Two inches of water in your basement is wrong.

I backed quietly up the stairs, proceeded to check the breakers, hoping it was something as simple as that. And it wasn't. I waded back down, rescued a floating laundry basket, turned off the dehumidifier which was still running fruitlessly. And that's when I told Cynical.

Dazed and confused, he examined the water while I reluctantly called our plumber, at 8:15 a.m., waking him. Gotta hate waking anyone up on a Sunday morning; but what's a girl to do.

He just left a bit ago and for a little hassle, some cashola and a little stress we have a new sump pump and a basement in the process of drying. The good news is that we caught it early, it did not affect our washer, dryer, heater or hot water heater. We had cleared our the storage areas some time ago to prepare for our move, so nothing was on the floor that could be ruined (everything had been on pallets or shelves anyway); The floating laundry basket was just that, floating, not full of water, so the clothes are dry and safe.

And the buyers of our house will reap the benefits of a new, shiny and paid-for sump pump.

As for the photos, we have a guest in our yard, a little box turtle. We got so excited we shot about 30 photos of him; and he was not happy with the attention of the paparazzi.

And the Embossed Leaves Sock, well it's a bit of a milestone for me. When I began knitting socks, I really, really, really wanted to make these; but I was so intimidated. A few days ago I decided to dig out the pattern, use up some Koigu (my first time using the yarn) and went to work. And it's the quickest I have ever knit socks. Such an easy pattern, such wonderful yarn. Tried out a new version of a flap heel and did a star toe as per the pattern. One down, one to go. Love, love, love these socks.