So, I was here in New Jersey for the last several weeks–I really was–and yet, I have some wool from Maryland after all, thanks to Liz. Wasn’t that great of her? Such pretty, Martha’s Vineyard-inspired colors, too . . . not to mention the sweet, hand-written note.

See? You toss something nice out into the Internet waters, and look at the pleasant ripples you get floating back toward you!

Of course, this forces me to admit that I’ve been sadly neglectful of my spinning wheel, though–do you know I still haven’t even taken the plying head out of the plastic yet? And it’s been a week since I spun anything. I’m a terrible person! But now, somehow, I’m feeling newly inspired. . . . (just in time to go on vacation and well, I know the Lendrum is a portable wheel but trust me, there will not be room in the trunk!)

Okay, maybe I’m not really terrible . . . I’ve just been focusing on my knitting. I’m pretty close to that magical, invisible line in a project where I’m ready to move from “enjoying the process” to “wanting the product.” I’m on row 204 of my Peacock,and look! I’ve got proof:

  I wanted to try to get a picture of the status of my shawl, so I cleared off one of the bookcases in my room and caaaaarefully stretched my shawl-in-progress across the top, so you can more or less see the progression from the tiny neckline pattern (to the right) to the “eye” section (middle) to the “tail” section at the left.

  A closer look at the end–where the pattern’s more interesting. I think that the variegation in the yarn is going to work just fine with this. I was worried that it would take away from the lace pattern, but . . . just looking at the way this shows up, laid out over my bookcase, I think once this is blocked, the colors aren’t going to take anything away at all!

  One more, closer view of some of the stitches. It’s interesting to me, because when you look at this in close-up, it doesn’t look like much of anything, but from a little distance (like this thumbnail), you can see the “eye” of the feather pattern quite clearly!

If I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m very much enjoying this pattern. It’s interesting with something new going on all the time. The Knitpicks “Shimmer” is a lovely yarn. 70% baby alpaca and 30% silk. It’s soft, it’s lovely, it’s reasonably strong for its thickness. I haven’t (so far) found a single knot, the color is really lovely, and you simply cannot beat the price. I’m just about at the end of my second skein and will definitely be using at least some of a third, but considering the yarn was only $4.99 each . . . such a bargain. Like I said above, I’m really happy with the way the colors are working out–the variation is subtle enough, I think, that it works . . . not bold, stark changes that would stand out like a sore thumb. Just blue to green to blue to green . . . soothing, and very “peacock.”

Yep, I’m definitely moving quickly toward impatience at seeing this done . . . and being able to wear it!!

We learned about a glitch in our remodeling scenario for next week. We had coordinated having the bathrooms and the kitchen refaced the week that Mom, Chappy and I were away–so save on wear and tear on their nerves. We made sure the company new this and everything was on track . . . until today, when they called and said the job they’re working on is going to take just a little bit longer and while they’ll be starting the kitchen on Monday, they won’t be here to start the bathrooms until Wednesday. Yikes! This is going to create a serious logistical problem–not only for the weekend we’re back (when, really, we need at least one functioning bathroom/shower), but also for the following week when I’m back at work and my parents will have to figure out some baby gate configuration that will keep Chappy out of the way while the workmen troop up and down the stairs . . . Uh-oh!

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My 10 Favorite things:

Liz tagged me for this meme (well, she hinted). So here are my ten favorite things (although I’m sure you could have deduced at least part of the list by now!)

1. Chappy. I mean, of course, I named my entire blog after him. The sweetest Boykin Spaniel you’d ever want to meet. I just love spending time with him–sitting, playing, going for walks–he’s great company. He takes good care of his mom, too–and is especially sweet if I’m stuffy or coughing from allergies. He’ll come over and quite seriously sniff at my breath, making sure my lungs are doing okay. Really. Without meaning to anthropomorphize this too much, I’m sure that’s exactly what he’s doing–he started when I had bronchitis in December, and coughing very deeply, and he would sit and stare at me with such concern. He’s a good boy! I would expand this to include our other, gone-on pets, too. Katy. Jilly. Muppy.

2. My family. I have the best parents in the world. Sure, you might think that you do, but–while they might be wonderful–you’d be wrong. I’ve got the top pair. Why else, I ask you, would I still be living with them in my late thirties? They’re good company; they’re fun; they’re loving and generous; they adore my dog . . . we three people (plus dog) get along really well and the tempo of the house is just suited to all of us. And of course, there’s my sister, BIL, niece and nephew. They live an hour away so I don’t get to see them quite so often as I’d like, but they’re all pretty much wonderful, too!

3. Reading. Yes, it comes in above knitting because it was my first love. I’ve been reading since I was 3, and cannot live without it. I seriously cannot go to sleep at night without reading first, and if I finish the book, must get a “fresh” one so I have it to pick up first thing the next morning, and then carry with me all the rest of the day. I actually remember the exact moment that “reading” made sense to me–I was looking out of the car window, up (up, up) at a sign, when suddenly the alphabet Mom had been teaching me made sense. I distinctly remember the realization that all I had to do was learn the words, and I could read absolutely anything . . . and the family joke is that I’ve been trying ever since.

4. Knitting. Well, sure. I had about a five year hiatus from when I brought puppy-Katy home, but have otherwise been knitting pretty regularly since college (about my junior year, 1988). I love trying new things and am not afraid to challenge myself. In fact, that’s part of the fun. And even better, I end up with soft, warm, cozy things at the end.

5. Other fiber arts. I’m going to lump all the others together, because I haven’t done nearly as much of them in the last several years as of knitting, but I also quilt, spin, and embroider. I’ve been known to use a sewing machine, though have never been thrilled with the way my finished products look “homemade” (good for cake, bad for clothing). I’ve made at least 5 quilts, all by hand, and I’ve got a slew of embroidered pictures around the house–I’ll do counted cross stitch, but also like to stitch in different stitches. I like the variety and the challenge. Spinning, of course, is new. I only started that in December.

6. My job. I love my job. I’ve worked at the same place–a magazine fulfillment company–since 1991. Fourteen years. I’ve hit almost every department we have and am in exactly the right spot, in a position that was basically created just for me. Love it.

7. Movies. I haven’t regularly gone to the movies since I got my dogs . . . frankly, I’d rather be home with them, my books, and my knitting, than spending several hours in a dark room . . . but I love watching movies. Ones with a brain, or that assume I have one; ones with a sense of humor and a sense of drama–preferably at the same time; light and amusing, like a good romantic comedy (“When Harry Met Sally” is about perfect); old musicals; Disney cartoons–the good ones.

8. Television. You can say what you want about the lack of quality programming–and believe me, I have (and I won’t even go near the way they program shows these days with crazy schedules of repeats, no repeats, etc)–but there is something satisfying about knitting in front of a decent television program. West Wing in its heyday was sheer perfection. This season of Veronica Mars was great. Gilmore Girls. Jack & Bobby. Desperate Housewives. Joan of Arcadia. American Dreams. Quantum Leap. Due South. I don’t like to turn it on just to turn it on, and I don’t like reality shows at all (have never watched a single one unless the PBS “Colonial House”-type series or Extreme Home Makeover count). I don’t like stupid comedy, and I really have no interest in the several dozen versions of CSI or Law & Order, but there is some television programming that’s enjoyable, well-written, and makes for a darn good hour in front of the tube. And, you know, so long as you’re knitting or sewing or reading, it’s not like your brain is going to turn to mush that quickly!

9. Sitting over tea or coffee. It’s silly, perhaps, but there’s something very satisfying about just relaxing with a beverage and a small snack. On the couch, on the deck, even in the kitchen . . . it makes for such a nice interlude. Mom and I used to do a regular, Sunday “tea” with the brown pot, Grandma’s china, homemade scones . . . just the two of us, and Jilly, the mini-dachshund (who liked her tea with milk, no sugar, thank you very much). And still, now, we often end up on Saturday mornings, sitting in a coffee shop over a drink (she likes the iced, frappucino kind; I like mine hot).

10. Martha’s Vineyard. It pretty much had to be on this list somewhere. My grandmother grew up on the island and graduated from high school there, before moving to NJ. My mother spent ALL her summers there, as she grew up, and then there was a long hiatus of over 20 years, until she dragged me and my Dad up there, the summer I was 15. My sister was just out of high school and didn’t want to “do” a family vacation that year. I, of course, being 15 was mortified by everything my parents did normally, but that trip? My mother’s first time back on the island in two decades? My clearest memory of the trip was of her having Dad stop the car so she could take a photo, stepping one foot on the street and standing to take the picture, and then asking him to move up a little and promptly falling [luckily] into the car while I sank lower and lower in the back seat, hiding behind my book (Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz). Despite that, I don’t think I’ve missed a year since. Usually, it’s Mom and I who go together–now with Chappy–and I can’t see us stopping any time soon!

The second part to this meme is to list 5 Things that I may or may not have done before that I’d like to learn or try again.

1. Get my book published. I’ve got one, complete manuscript that I’ve been trying, on and off, to get published for years now. I would love, love, love to see it in print. (And no, the print-out from the computer does not count.) And then there’s the half-written one I’ve been sort of working on, though not since I started blogging… (hmmm!)

2. Drive a stick shift. A friend taught me about 8 years ago, but I haven’t touched one since and would like to reassure myself that I haven’t completely forgotten.

3. Swim. Also, technically, something I learned about 8 years ago. (There were things I decided to try when I turned 30, what can I tell you?) I never learned as a kid, and wanted to know that if I ever fell into a pool, at least, that I could get safely back out again!

4. Go up in a hot-air balloon. Something I’ve never done, but would like to–and it seems a lot safer than sky diving, which, thanks, I’ll pass on!

5. Go back to school. Not for anything particular, but it would be nice to get my Master’s degree in . . . something. Writing, maybe. I don’t really see it happening, but I like learning new things and I loved going to college and stretching my mind. It would be fun to do it again . . . you know, if time and money and laziness weren’t an issue!

And, in theory, it would be nice to meet someone and get married so I don’t spend my old age alone, surrounded by books and wool and dogs, but . . . it’s not something I’m counting on!

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