Same Old, Same Old

After finishing the Kudo shawl, which I have already worn several times, I am drifting among my UFO's. I knit some on the gray chevron socks--half way down leg of 2nd sock there.

I am plugging along at random moments with the diagonal triangles of block 16 on my Wrap Me Up Shawl

And I have been also working on Luke's Kylers Kardigan. I have about another inch to go on it before folding and fusing the pockets at the bottom of the body. This is the most recent picture but I have gone about 5 1/2 inches further than shown here.

Need I say I am struggling NOT to start another project? (BAD GIRL! Mustn't cast on!!)

But my mind is dreaming of a Pie Are Square Shawl with my mill ends. Or maybe fair isle mittens, the ones from one of last winter's Vogue Knitting that say Let It Snow across them. Or....

Must. Not. Cast. On.

Kudos for New Shawl

I mentioned that I purchased some cotton yarn to work on during the recent road trip to St Joseph. The yarn is actually 55% cotton, 40% rayon and 5% silk, and a brand from Plymouth called Kudo.

I also picked up their pattern for a simple triangle shawl that was the one used in the store sample. It only took 2 skeins and by starting 2nd skein from same end that first was finished it gave a wonderful rainbow effect, repeating the colors backward as I worked the last half.

I started it last Wednesday, and finished it last night after returning from Knit Nite. (Not that hard, I had to only cast off and weave in ends. )

What do you think? Here are pictures taken when I still had a few rows left to finish.

I wore it to work yesterday and it is soooo comfy!

A Day Without Knitting?

I have often heard it said that knitting reduces stress. As evidence of this, may I present a picture of a friend who had just spent 1 and possibly several days without knitting, and probably spinning. My friend Mary is a member of our Spin Guild and also attends Knit Nite. She recently missed 3 weeks of knitting due to visiting family and a nieces wedding. Obviously she has not been knitting enough. This wonderful shot (actually a photo of a photo) was taken the morning after the wedding. The previous nights's reception probably had nothing to do with that stressed look. I am sure it was lack of knitting.

(Sorry Mary, I couldn't resist the picture--it was just too good.)

St Joe Field Trip

Last Friday, for the third year in a row, my friend Mary and I have cruised on down to St. Joe Michigan where Christy, also my friend and Mary's daughter is a first grade teacher. We typically help out with basic "get the room in shape for school" activities.
The first year we visited was also Christy's first year teaching. She didn't even have desks in her room when we arrived. We cut out laminated goodies for school, and sorted and labeled books. We sorted out various handouts she had been given and made a general mess, but at least had made a good step in organizing before we left. That year was also highlighted by a rip-roaring storm that blew through as we left, just ahead of tornado warnings.
Last year we cleaned off laminated supplies, cut out more, and again sorted books. We rode down in her great old Buick and road back in her sister's farm van, complete with sweet feed/sour milk aromas. Ahhh, the smells of the farm.
This year, the weather was wonderful, cool and sunny. I knit a new project on the way down--cotton, in case the car was hot. (Pictures next post probably.) While I again wielded scissors and cut out goodies, separated handdouts from Scholastic Books and played with her chimes, Mary was busy this year with a different project.
Mary transformed 7 yards of slipper but shimmery turquoise fabric to curtains for above Christie's tall cabinets and for the fronts of 3 other long low cabinets with no doors. And dang, me with no camera. It was a lovely sight when she finished.
Of course we are not complete galley slaves. Each year we have gone for lunch at a different part of town. One time downtown St Joe. Another on a marina This year, Christie treated us to lunch at nearby cafe, Papa Taco's and we tried not to pig out. (But they did have the BEST warm salty tortilla chips and salsa.

Yum.
And I did get a lot of knitting down on the trip there and back.

Fair Time--No Grease For Me

I wasn't at the County Fair much this year, mostly because of cost, but also because I could not make a commitment of time, not knowing when/if I would get a job or be called back to the library. (By the way, back on 15 hours a week starting August 18.)

But I worked in the Cheese Booth, sponsored by the Farm Bureau. I was commandeered by a couple friends and had a great time. The shift on Monday night could have been a killer, with 90 degree temps predicted with high humidity. However, it wasn't too terribly hot. And since the previous weekend's rain had turned the main arena into a bog, the Figure 8 Race (AKA Demolition Derby) was canceled, we were busy enough to keep from being bored, but slow enough to get in lots of gossip. And I was entitled to a free Farmer's Muffin--the culinary highlight of each year's fair.

Other than that night, I only attended the Thursday festivities. The daytime was dominated by the Dairy show. Katy's two oldest, Lydia and Austin were showing. And so was the grandchildren of Younger Son's boss. Lots of pictures were taken. Bill, a family friend the same age of Younger Son was the judge for the younger classes of showmanship. He even smiled.

I also helped later in the day at the History Building. Helped them get the fans to work. (Hot in there!) And later on was the Small and Large Animal Auctions. Not too late this year, and again, caught up on lots of gossip.

My biggest regret? Not being there to organize and attend the Friday Night Grease Fest. Sigh. No grease for me.