Woo-hoo, I'm Famous!

Okay, not really. Still, I had the most wonderful thrill as I read Anne's latest Knitspot post, and saw my socks (okay, her socks) at the bottom of the post. (Go take a look. I'll wait.)

I'm really coveting her latest shawl creation, but as I've yet to finish my first shawl, I'm hanging in there and being patient. (Okay, okay, I'm not patient. Anne hasn't put the pattern up for sale yet, that's why. But I like to kid myself that I'm being patient.)

I'm still working away busily on the Bee Fields Shawl, and this pattern is starting to take over my life. It's been awhile since my knitting has ordered my schedule. (Usually I fit my knitting in with my other daily activities, like surviving mommy-hood.) However, since it takes me about 15 minutes to do one row repeat, I don't have a lot of impressive pictures to show off. Handyman was so sweet last night when he commented, "Wow, that looks really pretty!".

Especially as he was looking at the wrong side and it was clumped in a big lumpy green ball.

Test-Knitting

I'm still feeling a bit under the weather, but something arrived in the mail today that cheered me tremendously, stupendously, and whatever-ously else you want.

This. Isn't this the most oh-so-luscious looking yarn you've ever seen? It's from Briar Rose Fibers, and it's not acrylic. (Please don't faint from the shock.) This stuff is an unbelievably soft 100% merino wool, and it's going to go straight to my feet.

Hee hee, I'm practically giddy from the anticipation, but I am actually a test-knitter for the coolest designer, Anne Hanson. She's wanting to adapt this mitt/hat pattern into a pair of socks, and I get to try out the pattern! Plus, Anne generously sent me the yarn for free, and I get to keep the socks! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

(Okay, I'm back from running around the house like a lunatic with my hands waving wildly above my head.)

Isn't this exciting? I feel like such an elite knitter, now. I have my evening all planned out - after my dental appointment this evening (ugh, good thing I've got knitting to look forward to.), and the mandatory grocery shopping (ugh, good thing I've got knitting to look forward to), I am going to come home and knit, knit, knit, while listening to the Hobbit on audio book.

You know, I was thinking when I saw this pattern that these would make some really nice man-socks, don't you agree? Perhaps when I'm done knitting a pair for myself I'll knit up a dress pair for Handyman . . .

I'm really glad the yarn Anne sent me is such a lovely shade of red/rose. I don't have to feel guilty about knitting a pair for myself first, instead of Handyman. He'd never wear red socks. I, on the other hand, will display them proudly for all to see and be shocked.

The Magic of Blocking and Chocolate

I finished the scarf I was test-knitting for Plucky Knitter, and finally got around to blocking it. It never ceases to amaze me what a difference blocking makes for knitted items, especially if it's lace.

Before:

After:

I won't be able to post for a few days, because I'm going to go visit family in Michigan. I can't wait! I'm picking up my Mum at the airport tomorrow, and off we go to Uncle Paul and Aunt Sue's house. We're planning to stay there a day, and then head up to the upper Peninsula to go look for Petosky Stones. Should be fun, and the kids and I are psyched!

As a treat for my Mum and my Auntie Sue, I made some Ghiradelli Chocolate Truffles (if you'd like to make some, the recipe is on the back of Ghiradelli's Semi-sweet chocolate chips). Let me say, that these have made my day go very smoooooooooooothly! I think the boxes took me longer to make than the truffles, though! (I just used some leftover scrapbooking paper).

Now, I have to get some packing done . . .