I must apologize

The formatting for that last post sucked.  I only know enough about this blogging stuff to do the most basic things.  I also don’t really want to know more.  It works for me, most of the time.  However, when things don’t work or when I do something and I don’t like how it looks, I don’t know how to fix it.  This was evidenced by that post.  I should have just started over, but I’m also lazy. 

I have been knitting quite a bit.  I finised the Merino Lace Socks in DIC Some Summer Sky.  I’ve started on the Hopscotch pattern that came with my Chewy Spaghetti Blue Plate Special.  I’m used the yarn that came with it, too.  It’s very nice.  I’ve hit a snag in the pattern, but Khris is looking into it for me.  How sweet! 

My big knitting news is that I’ve been knitting this.  I’ve joined the Dream in Color KAL (knit along) that Sheri from The Loopy Ewe started.  For the KAL, I got 20% off my order of DIC when I bought it from The Loopy Ewe.  I had a couple of colors picked out, but they sold out before I could make up my mind.  I ended up choosing Black Parade, which is so beautiful.  It’s not a flat black at all.  It has hints of dark greens and blues.  It’s impossible to describe.  I really love the Mr. Greenjeans pattern, too.  My sweater will be more form fitting than the one pictured on the pattern page.  I am almost finished with the body of the sweater and I’m getting set on picking up for the ribbing.  That may be tricky, with the dark yarn.

We have a busy next few months at our house.  Well, it’ll be busy for us, since we don’t get out much.  In a couple of weeks my parents (mom and stepdad) are coming for a visit and Josh and I will get to go away for a couple of nights.  LouLa will stay here with her grandparents.  Then it’s LouLa’s birthday with her first “real” party.  In the past we’ve invited family.  Not many have shown up, since my family lives far away and Josh’s family is lame.  This year we’re inviting kids from her daycare.  Then I’ll be gone for a weekend for a National Board workshop that I’ve been part of the planning team for.  I had planned on running in Bloomsday and my dad and his crew had planned on coming for that weekend, but it looks like that’s the same weekend as my National Board thing.  Crap.

The Loopy Ewe Swap

I got the most amazing box earlier this week.

How pretty!  And chock full of stuff!

The idea of the swap was to use yarn purchased from The Loopy Ewe to make something and send to your swap partner. 

Isn’t this hat beautiful?

My picture in no way does it justice.  It’s really soft, beautiful, and, if I do say so myself, cute on me. 

Here’s the other fabulous things that I got in the box from my very generous partner:

I love the notecards and they will come in handy.  I’ve always teased my mom about sending things and not putting in a note or anything.  I think I’m worse; I send things and use a ratty piece of notebook paper or some other scrap.  These notecards will give me a little class.  And, see that yarn?  Yeah, that’s 90+ grams that was leftover from the hat.  That’s basically a whole pair of socks.  The stitchmarkers were made personally by my partner.  Since I’ve gotten into lace knitting, I’ve found myself buying lots of pretty stitchmarkers.  The body butter is delicious.  Also included was a cute little notebook and pen, both of which are the perfect size to slip into one of my many knitting bags.  Some of you know that I have a thing for notebooks and pens; I just can’t get enough of them.  I also got Dove Dark Chocolate Promises, which are my favorite of all time.  I have a picture, but it has a bad flash thing going on.  Needless to say, I haven’t eaten them all, yet.  I get about 2-3 a night, as a little treat. 

Thank you so much, Andrea!