Well here it is, Sunday. Last day of vacation. Back to work tomorrow. Sigh.
How’d I do on my list?
Here it is, in case you have forgotten it:
- find a vest pattern and swatch for it, using the combo spin yarn I made. (in fact I did this before I even finished writing this post. Galiano is cast on. I’ll be playing yarn chicken, but I think I can win it) I have been working away on this, and have almost finished the pretty lace edge, which of course does not show in my crazy variegated yarn. I briefly considered ripping it out and just making it plain, but decided to only do that if I have to rip it out for some other reason. If I wear a solid color under it (and what else WOULD I wear, with all this activity going on with the yarn?) I am hopeful the lace will show.
- do the math after swatching and cast on the vest. (yes, well, I think I will be OK, I got gauge!)
- cast on the next sweater, teal and black stripes. Did this – twice. I knit quite a way (this photo s from that cast on) and decided that the neck was too big, so I ripped it out, started again. I am back to this point again. The green is a little more blue than this. I really like the color combination, and the yarn is nice and soft. Too bad it is discontinued. Sigh.
- finish spinning Copper and Gold, and ply it with silk and beads. Um what was I thinking? I worked on this in some good chunks all week, and still, I am just over the halfway point, I would guess. Maybe two thirds if you are feeling generous. It is going to be gorgeous. Someday.
- figure out if the green/gray sweater is done or not – it’s blocked, and drying now but the button band remains a concern. It wasn’t done then, but it is now! I redid the button band, and it is perfect. Now I have to work on buttons. I have some that work but I am not sure I like them. I have some very special ones, but not enough of them. So I have to ponder it a bit.
- finish knitting the gray High Country Crescent shawl. DID IT! With a little yarn to spare, but not much.
- block the shawl. Let the photo speak for itself. 🙂
- cast on the moon and sky shawl. About a minute after I bound off the High Country Cresent, I cast on Moon and Sky. 🙂 I am up into the first lace section now. Much better choice for this yarn than the previous pattern.
- and maybe the chain mail shawl with the Copper and Gold if it is washed and dried in time. Sadly not happening yet!
- clean out the POOL!!!! I have been working on it, but it isn’t even close for human enjoyment
- Hook up the filter so I can catch the rain that is sure to come to fill the top 6 inches of said pool. Filter is hooked up, but it didn’t happen before the rain.
- rake leaves. leaves? what leaves? It rained for most of the week, I don’t rake leaves in the rain. Nor do I rake soaking wet ones if I can help it.
- weed the bulb garden. See leaves. 🙂
- work on clearing out craft room. I did a small amount of this – sorted out yarn stash, boxed up tons of old needles and yarn to mail out to a woman who will be teaching knitting in Africa. I also started a “swap bin” for yarn whole skeins of yarn I won’t use but am willing to haul to Wisconsin in September, in case anyone at the knitting gathering wants it. So I will take this as a win, although the craft room is still in need of more attention
- remember to go to the doctors appointment Monday. 🙂 I did. It was not worth the effort.
- renew passport Check
- get A’s birthday present. It was boring but I got her what she wanted. (Bungee cords and a first aid kit for the truck. Oh, and her recliner is still on order, it will get here eventually.)
- Celebrate A’s birthday multiple times with various family members. I got this one in spades! We had a delicious brunch with Mom and B last Sunday, and yesterday, we celebrated with lunch and cake with a sister, a niece, a great niece and nephew, and a cousin. All of this and none of it the actual day, which we spent together doing errands, but had a lunch at one of her favorite burger places in Ellsworth.
- wind up the week at a dinner to honor niece B and her academic achievements in her 5 years at Husson University! Can’t claim this one as done yet, but we are on schedule to head out around 4 to go to this one.
I feel like I had a really nice, relaxing week off, spent so much time with my knitting and spinning, but not much else. And I like it that way. I told A if we ever have two weeks of staycation, I might have to retire, it would feel so good!