Alive, knitting, and reading.

I've been having a nice relaxing week of getting caught up on things as well as getting some projects done. First,

I finally finished the Weeping Angel socks--huzzah! They ended up being fraternal instead of identical, but TOO BAD. I think the intended recipient will love them anyway. I want to make another pair (why yes, I AM crazy!), but there will be some modifications to the heel and the pattern down the top of the foot.

The Serenity blanket is also going well; I just started the edging today. I had to switch to a different yarn as I am done with the three balls of what I started with, but I'm hoping that since the edging is all the new color that it will be tolerable. It's getting really big; I can't wait to see what the finished project looks like off the needles!

Finally, in nerdy knitting, I has a tribble!

One thing I've been doing a lot of since term let out is reading. I've decided to go as eclectic as I can this holiday, so in the glorious mixture of my reading I've been working on,

* The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey. A research mystery in which some pretty convincing proof for the non-villany of Richard III is laid forth. On a side note, there is a whole Richard III Society dedicated to clearing his name.

* Enchantment by Orson Scott Card was a real page turner in which Card explores Russian fairy tales and the one story that might have started them all. Babba Yaga was suitably terrifying, and this book gives you a good insight into the Russian mind. A warning--this book is a bit 'earthy,' but I found the ick was quite made up for with the plot.

Currently I'm reading through The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin and finding it fascinating! Not that I want to put out to see on a leather boat, but I'm sure enjoying reading about Severin's process and the experiences he had sailing a medieval style leather boat from Ireland to North America!

Well, I had better go start making my shopping list; I'm taking off for 'civilization' on Monday. Huzzah for road trips!

A little bit of shiney...

Very little to report; this week was insane, and I'm barely clinging to the edge of sanity right now. Here in brief are the shiney things that have been making me happy this week.

Beth's parents arrived a week ago, and they brought some things I had ordered and some other goodies from home with them. Like this! Just in time for dry season, my very own Phoenix! Yes, I am a Warehouse 13 nerd!

Also in same happy box were these--yes, I am THAT nerdy, and no, I won't be wearing those where my co-workers can see. Pretty spiff though!

I finished the pink baby sweater; all the 'decorating' was sort of fun and a bit tedious at the same time. Good thing I got it done--it flies out on Friday!

I barely knit at all this week, but in celebration of still being alive after the last report card was filled in, I might have cast on another sock...

I GET TO SLEEP IN ON FRIDAY MORNING!

Is term over yet?

This week has been pretty wild, and next week will only be worse, but I did get a little bit of knitting in. My Serenity blanket is coming along nicely--here is one quarter spread out as best as I can on:

I also made some good progress on the baby sweater I have to have finished by the end of term. I hope to start the embellishing (ie. the FUN part!) this weekend.

I've also got my first Erebor fingerless glove almost finished--the frustration of last weekend is mostly gone now, and I'm ready to get it finished! Sorry the picture is blurrey; I was in a rush this morning!

I recently bought the soundtrack to the newest Jane Eyre movie, and just wanted to say how much I've been enjoying it. I love the sweeping violin and piano score, and I love that it is wordless yet tells the story. I think this version of Jane Eyre is my favorite; it's very 'artsy,' but this is a Mr. Rochester that I can BELIEVE Jane loves. Makes me want to read the book again...in all my spare time!

Designing again!

So, pretty much I'm just going to talk about knitting today. I've started working on my Erebor Fingerless Gloves pattern to match my hat, and while it's been challenging, I've been enjoying it a lot. I had quite a bit done on one 'draft' when I realized that it would be a bit tight, and the charming side details of a 1x1 cable wasn't lining up where it was supposed to. So, frog it was! Now I have the cables in the right place, but I haven't started the 'exciting' main cable pattern.

I've blocked and finished my TARDIS shawlette; while it's smaller than I had wanted it to be (more of a scarf), I'm still pretty tickled with it, and not willing to pull it out and try again!

I made a bit more progress on my Celtic Knot stole, but I didn't finish the pattern repeat like I meant to in February. Oh well, Beth has stalled out on hers, so I don't feel too guilty!

I also knit on the back of the baby sweater that doesn't end--I learned the other day that a friend of mine had a baby last year, so I'm making something to sent in belated welcome of the adorable little girl. I just wish the sweater wasn't so boring! It will eventually have some cool finishing details, but I have to get the pieces done first.

I had a bad fall yesterday and sprained/strained my right foot, so I guess I'll have lots of almost guiltless knitting time this weekend! I feel so bad that I'm putting a strain on my weekend team by being somewhat useless, but I guess it can't be helped. Hopefully it will heal up soon. Until then, knitting it is!