I took a nice long bath last night, and hunkered down with some knitting. I caught up on last weeks Grey’s and Private Practice combo, and even managed through most of House. To be honest though, there wasn’t a ton of knitting. I got thru the 1st 12 rows of the mid month KAL and my hands didn’t want to cooperate with my need to zone.

I didn’t fight it, I just put the knitting aside, watched TV and eventually drifted off to sleep. I wish I could say it was a restful nourishing sleep, but I tossed and turned, and woke up feeling worse in the morning.

I made the decision back in January that I was going to give a best effort to write every day in the hopes that I would get the flow started and I would expand off the blog and back into a physical journal, something I haven’t done in a really long time. I’ve written here every day since but I’ve avoided the actual journaling. In the shower this morning (one of my absolute best deep thinking places) it dawned on me that this dark mood, this inner unsettled angsty feeling (I so hate that word!) is likely all wrapped up around the stuff I need to get out on paper. It’s time. (Well, ok, beyond time, but sometimes I’m slow on the uptake.)

I’m going to go knit todays KAL rows (16 rows today!) and then see if I can find one of my many many blank notebooks to get started in. Worst case, it gives me an excuse to buy a new one

Quick shot of the KAL day one, and the base from the bag I started – I guess I’m in green/neutral mode

I’d like to state for the record that blocking a circle kind of really sucks.

I am not a blocking novice, but this is the 1st circle and as of right now, it may very well be the last. This has been less than fun and it’s not even done yet.

It started out innocently enough with a simple bath in some lavender Eucalan. I let it soak for a bit, then drained it and rolled it up in a towel.

I started to pin it out and discovered rapidly what a huge PITA this was going to be with only 2 hands. I stopped and started 2 or 3 times and walked away for a breather. When he saw me getting cranky, my honey came in with an offer to help. Initially he was a little more of a hindrance than a help, but then he came thru with a tape measure and an extra set of hands. I now have the center motif flattened out and almost all the way to the edges lying the way I want it to. My plan is to attack the edges with a spray bottle and pins after the center is mostly dry tomorrow

Stay tuned for round two…

Last October, I took Charlene Schurch’s heels workshop at SAFF. I fell in love with the strong heel – and for me, that’s saying A LOT. (before anyone asks – from what I understand this heel pattern is available in the Fall ‘03 Knitters mag)

I’ve been super busy and haven’t knit any socks since I learned this heel (I know, I know) so tonight, in an attempt to avoid the Hemlock bindoff practice the skill so I didn’t lose it, I did another round of practice heels and a single little sock.

The yarn is a cheapy cotton acrylic blend I picked up at SAFF as homework yarm – seriously it was like 3 bucks a ball, and frighteningly enough, I really like it (enough that I might eventually see if I could get more)

Anyway, here is the test knit and the little baby sample – just off the needles, unwashed or blocked or anything

Counterclockwise from the top, a heel flap, a regular short row and a strong heel:

A free formed lil sample sock – brainless no rhyme or reason except for the heel

a close up of the left side:

a close up of the right side

It was a good use of just a little time… I probably should have caught up on the dishcloth KAL, but I will get caught up on that tomorrow after I finish the work I brought home with me this weekend.

And yes yes, I know, Hemlock already. If you see me on Plurk, chase me away, ok?

Yes, I caved… but only a little.

I know I said I wasn’t going to knit anything else until the Hemlock was done, but it’s been a really long icky week, and I woke up with a sore throat, and it’s cold out and I was thinking on the drive home that my neck (and by extension throat) would be much happier with a scarf around it and since I don’t have one (I know, I know, how is that possible? I gave away the ones I knitted before I moved here. I have no idea what I was thinking) somehow after I walked in, let the dog out, changed into comfy clothes and made some tea, I found myself with a ball of Noro Cash Island in my hand and this idea to maybe just see how the Silk Delight Scarf from Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders might knit up. (wow that was one very long run on sentence!)

I’m not looking at it as cheating, more like an Amuse bouche.

Can you blame me?

After tonight, I will be back on Hemlock, but for what’s left of this evening, it’s just me and my diversion. And my tea and my Halls Vitamin C drops. “And that’s it and that’s the only thing I need, is this.” (quick, name the movie. NO googling!)

Happy weekend!

Somehow, although I have no clue HOW, another day is behind us and there is just one more day standing between me and a MUCH needed weekend. I know it’s been a tough week when not only have I been emotionally and physically drained, but I’m getting sloppy. Not spilly droppy sloppy, but my attention to detail on work projects is off, and I’m slower on the uptake. People joked with me today and honestly, it went right over my head. After the past few days, I have perfected my completely dumbfounded look.

I’m not complaining about work, I LOVE my job. the company I work for is really great and I get to work with so many of my friends it isn’t even funny. I’m just stuck in the raw end of a semi-new process and as we work thru the kinks, I’m feeling the pain. It’ll be fine, we’ll get it where it needs to be, I know this. I really think it’s a combination of the extreme change in pace from pre-holiday no one wants to work too much or hard on anything to post-holiday OMGHURRYUPANDFINISHEVERYTHINGNOW!

’nuff sniveling, I’m here to share my Plurkcraft365 pic of the day,which happens to also prove I am knitting! I got home from work tonight and while I do have work I *can* do, I’m not doing it. I’m going to sit and knit until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore, and then I’m going to pass out.

May I present to you….

Hemlock! Still a blob! But doesn’t looking at the cute purple sheepy stitchmarker make you not care that you have no clue what you’re looking at and that you can’t tell I completed another full round?

Oh well. Can’t blame a girl for trying…