I know what you mean. Life, real life, has a certain demand on us that makes forums like this seem like playtime. Winter is not a good time in life for most people. Close up inside an isolated many time can cause a person to become ... hardened to life. It seems like there are always people wanting to use those precious moments you have in life that you want to use doing something you want to do. We are creatures that need to belong mostly, but there are times we also need to just let it go and be ourselves without conforming to other peoples ideals. Plus family does have its needs. To be truly free is an elusive ideal. But we must deal with life as we can and hopefully in our later years life will be generous to us.
Well, Dabs, you have a great eye for color. That one is flat-out beauiful. the one I posted at Artful Quilts in Hobbies wasn't even the prettiest one. The one of some potholders done in the same kind of double crochet that you do was by far prettiest. I hope you post a pic now and then as you're working on it! It's a day-brightener yarn, and I can't wait to see your version!