The current state . . .

 . . . of my bathtub

 

 Ah, the joys of 1940's era pipes and tubs

Knitting Olympics-Shetland Triangle

I have never joined any group before this, but I knew when I got done with all the Christmas knitting I did this year that I would finally want to make a shawl of my very own.  I knew which one it would be-- The Shetland Triangle.  I knew what yarn I would make it out of-- Sundara Yarn aran silky merino in the black cherry colorway.  Last year I was involved in one of Sundara's yarn club things and I was just waiting to see what yarn I would get and hoping that the silky merino color would be just what I might want to have in order to make my Shetland Triangle.  I have to say that every yarn I got was just absolutely gorgeous.  (Still need to show you some more of the things I made with it all).

Anyway, I cast on for my shawl on the evening of Feb. 12 during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games not knowing if I could really get it done and blocked before the games were up.  I have knitted shawls before and this didn't seem like a giant one, but I have never knitted a shawl (or anything much bigger than a mitten) in two weeks time.  So anyway, I've done it!  It is still in the blocking pins (I hope--there are two cats inside afterall) at home and it is a couple days before the Olympics are over!  I didn't even knit every night--I did need to take some recuperating time between long evenings of knitting as my hands would start to ache.  (Much like Olympic athletes appreciate a break between events).

So here are my progress photos . . . (and a link to my shawl in Ravelry and the Ravelympics! and also a link to The Knitting Olympics!)

The start!

 

Partway through!

The lump--all knitted!

Pattern detail before blocking

Edge detail before blocking

Being blocked in the morning sun

Just look at those swirly bits and edges!

I mean--look at those--aren't they gorgeous!

Whoopee or whatever!

 

The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, to hereby swear that over the course of these Olympics I will uphold the highest standard of knitterly excellence.

I will be deft of hand and sure of pattern, I will overcome troubles of yarn overs and misplaced decreases. I will use the gifts of intelligence and persistence (as well as caffeine and chocolate) and I will execute my art to the highest form, carrying with me the hope for excellence known to every knitter.

I strive to win. To do my best, and to approach the needles with my own best effort in mind, without comparing myself to my fellow knitters, for they have challenges unique to them.

While I engage in this pursuit of excellence and my own personal, individual best, I also swear that I will continue to engage with my family in conversation, care for my pets, speak kindly with those who would ask me to do something other than knit, and above all, above every stitch thrown or picked, above every cable, every heel stitch, every change of colour, I swear this:

That I will remember that this is not the real Olympics, that I'm supposed to be having fun and that my happiness and self-worth ride not on my success....
but on my trying.

Let the games begin!
 

from the Yarn Harlot's blog

and just a couple more wintery thoughts (in pictures)

Golly, I love thick, frosty mornings!

Snowfall Photos

It is snowing here today and I decided to try and make it into town to do a couple things that I needed to get done on my normal day off (gallery is closed).  Of course, one of the things that I was really trying to get down was to work on bookmarking a video of the local city council meeting that I sent to upload on Friday and should have been up on the site already, but isn't and all that jazz--it takes a while--don't know why, but it just does, so I couldn't do that and the other thing I had to do wasn't exceedingly important, but at least I can do that.  In process of my little drive in, I decided to get a few shots of the house and around the farm during our pretty snowfall!

Enjoy!

 

  

  

  

  

  

Have a happy day!

He's Home!

Not home, home with his big sister and dad (and little sister who arrived from China this past summer, too), but with his mom in Florida!  His "gotcha day" will forever be Feb. 4, 2010!  About an hour ago he was released to his mother after 12 days or so of being separated from his sister in Haiti and a little over 3 weeks since the earthquake.

They hope to be able to get a flight home tonight!  It is possible that tonight the family will finally be whole and sleeping in the same house for the very first time!  I can't keep from smiling because he is finally in the arms of his mother!