Monday, April 30, 2007

Why are vacations always not?

So, I'm getting ready to head out for vacation on Wednesday. I'm going back to roads once traveled and heading off for Maryland Sheep & Wool. While there, I'm going to visit a bunch of friends that I made while living in the area. It seems like my vacation is even more scheduled than my normal life.

Not something that I usually strive for when I go on vacation. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm going to need a vacation when I get back...

So, I have cabled the scarf/shawl to deliver to the ladies of Just Our Yarn. I think it's been in the works for more than a year (in my defense, I moved across the continent during that year...not that that really made a huge difference in finishing time). I do need to finish the pattern for it. One of those things that I always hate doing.

I want to look for yarn to weave a runner while I'm at S&W. I'll probably be looking for greens and browns because that's the color of the room that it's destined for. Also colors that I tend to have a lot in the house, so it's likely to work no matter where the piece of furniture ends up.

I'm definitely ready for stash enhancement at S&W. I have been feeling a distinct lack of choices here, which probably doesn't say anything about the real choices, but says something about the availability of stuff in the DC area and from being near S&W every year. Mostly I miss the interaction and the creativity that it generated in me. I haven't found a good group to get creative with yet.

Ok, done whining for tonight.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Spring colds are the pits

The creeping crud has officially caught up with me. There's been a rather nasty cold going around work and I finally caught it. I thought I was going to manage to dodge it like I usually do, but I think it just hung around a little too long as it was being passed from person to person.

It's gone from my head to my chest, so I'm having fun coughing my lungs up. At least the drugs for chest congestion seem to be working well.

I finished the socks and the scarf/shawl over the weekend. About the only thing I did besides stare at the boob tube and sniffle. Still need to do some design for a couple of weaving projects, pick out some yarn for a new knitting project, and find the pattern for the next pair of socks. I have about 3 or 4 patterns that I want to try over the next couple of months.

I'm going to go back to my corner now and sniffle in isolation so I don't infect anyone else...

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Somewhere in April

So, it's more than half way through April and I feel like I haven't gotten much done. I still have the same things in progress.

I do need to spend some time designing a weaving project (or two). I have a couple of things that I want to make, and I just need to make myself sit down and do it. I need a new cover/runner for my cedar chest and I want to explore some new structures, so I'm thinking about making some placemats--that way I can make several pieces in the same theme, but not keep doing the same thing over and over.

I'm headed for Maryland Sheep & Wool at the beginning of May. That will be a nice break from work and a nice trip away from here. Since I lived in the area, I have lots of friends to visit and lots of stuff to do while I'm there.

I swear I'm going to set aside time this weekend to design the weaving and actually spend time knitting the vest that I have neglected for DH. That ought to be interesting, since I haven't done anything since well before Christmas. Wonder if I can keep the same gauge...

Time to go. If I go knit now, maybe I can get myself to do some of the design stuff later.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Spring has sprung

Posting just to get myself back into posting.

I spent a good chunk of the day figuring out what I want to do in the yard, putting out compost, weeding and pruning. I need to finalize some decisions on what to plant and what I'm going to put in containers.

Currently knitting a shawl/scarf destined for the ladies at Just Our Yarn, a pair of socks that is almost complete (should manage to finish them off this week), and a vest for DH that I have been working on for hmm....not sure I should say.

I've started the preliminary design to get something on the loom now that chaos from moving (first across the continent and border, then into a house where we actually have enough room to set the loom up) is almost over with.

More later. I'm going to go do a few other things before reading time.