So, here I am, continuing to exist. Not that you could tell it from my blog. Or my finances. Or my wardrobe. Or my apartment. I'm still knitting, though less than before. Still enjoying it, but I just never remember to work on it. Currently I have an afghan and a shawl on the needles, with a baby afghan getting ready to go on.
The afghan is in lovely green Sensations Angel Hair from JoAnn's, similar to mohair (or as I like to say, faux mo' (actually I've never said that, I just made it up)). It's got a simple, zig-zagging k2tog&yo, k2, eight-line pattern that gives a nice blend of laciness and warmth. When finished it will meet its destiny as an anniversary present for Kelley and Jimmy (of course their anniversary was December 20th, but whatever).
The shawl is my favorite Falling Leaves pattern from the Knitter's Stitch Bible (a giftie from Kim) in white Lion Brand MicroSpun (one of my new favorites, machine washable, soft as all get out, pretty, and super cheap). The cast on edge is the right hand side of the triangle, going from the bottom point in the back to the side point on the right, to give a little challenge to the pattern. The top edge is created by decreasing one stitch at the beginning of the pattern on every right-side row, and on the same end on every 14th and 55th wrong side- row. So instead of the leaves falling down from the neck, the will appear to fall diagonally from the left. I'll finish with lots of luscious fringe, and maybe some tasteful accent beading. This projects destiny is to warm Mamaw Marge's shoulders. Then I'll move on to Mom's shawl, a big, ultra lacy, white, bridal looking thing. Looks stunning in the magazine.

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

Felt it was time for a new entry.

Of course, it's been so long since I last posted that I've already forgotten what the other stuff was that I wanted to post about. Progress has been made on Niece's Belt. Going to e-mail her today to let her know that I am working on it. Just slowly. I also made a washcloth for the Market Day baskets, and we finally made it out to see Market Day. Lots and lots and lots of tacky crap for sale, though I did buy a gorgeous pair of $5 earings from David Allen Coe's second cousin Bill (no, really!, he was cool, too). The only thing I saw that was anything like what we had in mind was some kind of high-end name-brand Avon-ish stuff, and it was waaaaaay overpriced. We shouldn't have any problem competing with them. I just hope we don't get adjacent booth spaces. Now we just have to get our stock stitched up. We also decided that one of us should be doing washcloths while the other does purses, which are like, so easy. You just do a short scarf, fold it in thirds and stitch up two of the sides, leaving the third for a flap. The you pick up a inch-worth of stitches on one side and knit a garter stitch strap to the appropriate length, binding off by attatching to the other side of the purse. See, don't you wish you had thought of it? I think I'll start selling patterns for purses on a second blog. Yeah, that's what I'll do. I could also sell purse kits. Or do I have to make my own yarn for that?

Man, I'm sorry it's been so long since I posted any new content, but at least I have lots to tell.

First up is knitting content. Finally figured out the Niece's Belt concept, and STILL had to frog it and restart. But I think the 37th time will be the charm. Then, just yesterday, I received an e-mail from someone on the elann.com swap system who had some Pakucho Vanilla for me to finish Anna Banana with! Turns out she also had some Avacado, so I told her Anna Banana was done, but I had this that and the other to swap for the Avacado. Then SHE says that she's not really interested in swapping, but would be happy to just GIVE me a couple of skeins. Wow. Melinda rocks so hard. I love Melinda. I'm thinking of using it for some ultra-nice washcloths to combine with homemade soaps from the cousin-in-law to put in baskets to sell at Market Day. So I'll design an extra special washcloth and call it Melinda the Great.

Second, I broke down and rescued a cat. Roommate's cat peed on her Bible, and that was the last straw after a year and a half of doing nothing but peeing and biting and scratching, so he went to an animal adoption shelter with a nice new carrier. Then a few weeks later, I was at cousin's house to drop stuff off, but nobody was home. I heard a kitty cry from the back, and found a beautiful black and white trapped in a nasty shed full of chemicals, rusty equipment, and cat poo. So when he climbed out the window and into my arms with no hesitation at all, I said, "Alright, yer comin' home." He has become Monty (as in Python), and he has taken to jumping across my face at 6:30am. Not over my face, across, hitting me with all four paws as he goes. Missy and Cartman are not pleased. But they didn't see that shed.

I've got more to post about, but I'm late for dinner at cousin and cousin-in-law's house.

Holy crap in a basket! I've been linked!!!!
Swatchy, bless her heart, has put me in her blogroll. I'm so pleased I could spit! (I don't know why that sounds right to me, it just does.)

You know, to some this might not seem like that big a deal, just a community of regular folks who touch base now and then. But to me it's almost like having Dave Matthews mention my name on David Letterman or something. Maybe I'm easily impressed, but who cares?! I'll be danged before I'll give up being happy about something just because somebody else might think I'm being a starry-eyed geek.

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!! I've been linked.

Heh. Hehehheheheh.

Well, I'm currently working on a dishcloth from a book of cloth patterns I bought long ago. Getcha pic' later. I'm using the Cotton Tots, but I'd like to do a raglan-sleeved top with some of that eventually. For now, at least I have a project. I REALLY need to ship Grammy's shawl off. I'll do it on my next paycheck.

Hot Dog! Swatchy commented on my blog! EEEEEEE I love Swatchy's blog. Yes, Matagorda Co. is on the water, but I'm inland at Bay City. I didn't even know there was going to be a TKGA thing in Sugarland, but I'll come if I can. The dishcloth is for Mom, so she'll probably set it up as a display with some tea-time type stuff. First I have to Rit Color Remover it 'cause she's more of a soft, faded pastel type of girly-mom. Of course, I think I'm repeating myself now, but that's okay, because Swatchy commented on my blogYaaaaaaaaay!