Finishings

Knitting has been going on at an almost every day pace, but I haven't seem to have been accomplishing much. Maybe it's the end of winter blahs, maybe it's the tax time funk, maybe it's just because there was too much stuff to do when we were vacationing, but I haven't finished near as much as I've wanted to. Or maybe my expectations have been a bit unrealistic. Anyways, it's time to celebrate several finishings!

I've made my 100 miles for Runagogo!! Buddy and I walked the last mile on Friday night. Now the next goal is to walk another 100 by July 4. I might need some new shoes, though.




Several weeks ago I finished my Fetching Mitts. I love the Malabrigo and I want to knit a hat to match these for autumn.




I finally finished some hats for 40 Days for Others. I used up several leftover bits of yarn and I'm very pleased at being able to put those bits to good use. They will shortly be in the mail and now I am finishing out Lent by knitting preemie hats-- more about that next time.

I just wish I could get my knitting mojo back into gear. I just know it's that tax time funk. My knitting's just been going to the dogs.

Casting on the Twosies

I've finished my first project for 40 Days. I whipped up a little hat in the Live Dangerously-No Swatching pattern, using up some leftover Encore worsted in the process. I ran a bit short at the end and used some of the leftover Fun Fur from the chemo caps to finish it off. Joe says it looks silly, but I choose to disagree.

I also finished his first Welsh Country Stocking. It fits him perfectly; however, he is complaining that the heel feels funny. Since he normally wears tube-type socks, or else socks with very plain heels, the double-thick shaped heel probably does feel unusual. I'm telling him that he'll get used to it. I'd hate to think that I'm putting the effort into these socks that he may decide he doesn't want to wear. And they certainly won't fit me!

So today I decided to cast on for all the number two portions of the projects at hand. At the top is Fetching Mitt Number Two; on the left is the 40 Days Hat Number Two, and on the right is the Welsh Country Stocking Number Two.

And because I'm going a little crazy longing for some spring-like color, I cast on another little number. Socks for me in shades of yellow, blue, and lilac. Who cares if it will soon be too warm for wool socks? It's the colors to cheer my soul.

Random Musings

Another blogger gone missing in action for more than a week! Actually, I think I've been in a sort-of-end-of-winter-not-quite-spring funk. Our weather has been going from lovely and warm to windy, cold, and wet and back again. And I finally went over to our new building to check things out, and that didn't help the funk. The building is no where near finished, is very badly laid out, and has more wasted space than a body could imagine. Now I understand why for weeks now I have been hearing how awful the design is. No one is happy about it. In the meantime, we are still in our old office, but everyone else has moved to the new complex (their new digs are lovely, bright, airy, and enviable!) and we are stuck in an old building that is falling apart and which no one will spend the time or money to fix. Such is progress.

A year ago last weekend, Joe had his "mini-stroke". This was on our minds a lot last weekend, of course. I'm pleased to say that his health is excellent and that whole episode seems to be safely behind us now. And I can also say that now, a year later, it really did affect our lives; now there is none of this "Someday we'll do this or that or whatever". Someday is now, today, and if we want to travel or do something, it's time to plan it and do it. No more putting things off for us. Life is fragile and precious and nothing should be put off if it can be done now.

I've been working a bit on Joe's sock; I'd like to say that I'm racing towards the toe on the first one, but it's halting progress at best. Although I am getting pretty close to the toe shaping. I've been spending a lot of time lately raking up the yard and going through old papers and files. When we were in the military and moving every few years, it was easy to keep things from piling up; sooner rather than later I would have to throw out all the junk before the movers showed up.

Now we have been in one spot for 12 years and the "stuff" has become unmanageable. So the garbage can has been pretty darn full every pickup day for the last couple weeks. And after a day of sorting crap, I've been looking for some low-key knitting, and finding myself picking up the sock yarn log cabin blanket. The colors have been very soothing and the simple garter stitch has been suitably mindless. Very relaxing.

I haven't picked up the Icarus Shawl for quite a while now. And spinning has become a Friday night only event. In my carry-around bag are the makings for a hat for 40 Days For Others. In the past two days at work I've managed to get a couple inches done on it. Prior to starting the hat, I've been making myself a pair of Fetching mitts; I've managed to complete one mitt in the odd moments at work when nothing else is going on.

The yarn is Malabrigo, in the Sunset color, I think...I absolutely adore the softness of this yarn. Once I'm done with my 40 Days knitting, I'm sure I'll make the other mitt, but there's no hurry. Spring is fast approaching and I can't see a need for hats and mitts lasting much longer. The rose bushes and the trees are trying to bud. Soon it will be time to head to the garden center and pick up some annuals for the flower beds. Certainly in time for Easter!