Saturday

More rain. This is good for the grass seed I put down yesterday, but I'd been hoping to take at least one of the Ts onto campus for a flexi-leash walk, since I'm cat-sitting and have to go over there this afternoon anyway. Maybe it will let up later. Right now I'm watching a Band DVD and drinking "coffee" (instant with cocoa mix added) because it's only about 60 degrees in here and I'm freezing, despite a silk underwear top, a two-layer henley, and my favorite Lopi sweater.

Suddenly I seem to have too many projects going. From oldest to newest:

These have been around forever, seems like. They--or it--lives on the lamp table and I reach for it when I don't have anything else going on, or when I'm thinking or doing something with the computer. It's a plain 2x2 rib, 68 stitches on size 0 Brittany birch needles, and in about another inch I'll be able to turn the heel on this one. Should only take me another year or two to finish... I'd like to switch to metal needles because the Brittanys are warping a bit--though it will probably change my tension, since I work pretty gingerly with the Brittanys for fear of breaking them. (I wonder how this yarn would look made up into those Mermaid Socks from Cool Socks, Warm Feet?)

These are the basketweave rib socks. I was really excited about them when I started them, and I still love the way they look and am looking forward to being able to wear them. Remember the story of the Shoemaker and the Elves? I wonder if there are brownies who finish socks? Worked on size 1 needles

These are pretty new--started last week, using a lace rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. I was going to use size 2s, but size 1s seemed to work better. This is a beautiful, soft yarn that will make warm socks, and I think the lace rib will be very pretty, but boy, the yarn splits like crazy.

This is Ocean Moods from Lavish Lace, using a silk/merino blend on size 2 rosewood needles which need a bit of sanding. For some reason the camera photographed the yarn as blue. I corrected it to something more like the real color, but it makes the background look sick, doesn't it? This is the one I had to start over 3 times because the original cast-on number is incorrect. The basic pattern itself is pretty easy. This may take forever to finish because I discovered last night that I can see best to work it if I take my contacts out and hold it up to my nose. It could become an insomnia-night project.

(Why does it always happen that when one of the dogs is being adorable and I would like to get a picture of it, no matter how carefully and slowly I move, I make some kind of noise that alerts them and presto! the opportunity is gone? I'm getting into the habit of carrying the digital around with me, but obviously I have to get it implanted in my palm or something so I can get those candid shots.)