I Went Ahead and Did It...

Yep. I started the Close to You Shawl for my friend's upcoming birthday. I mean, "upcoming" as in "this fall..." Not like I don't have time. The last one  - which was the first one I ever knitted - was done in 2 months. It took me longer to get around to blocking it. 

I have two pair of socks in progress. I have a scarf that I never finished. I have a few (more than a few) WIPs. But I felt compelled to wind the ball up and start the shawl. 

So this is the yarn. Expression Fiber Arts, "Stone Tulip." It's got a twist to it, so I wasn't sure if this would be good for the shawl. It's billed as sock yarn, but I also don't know if it'll be good for socks either. 

I have a few other yarns of this same type (from different dyers) that are billed as "sock yarn," but I wonder if the twist in the yarn will keep it from being comfortable. I guess I'd better knit one up into actual socks soon. 

I think my friend will love this, particularly since it's her favorite color blend. You only turn 60 once, and it's important to me that I make something for her. It's also kind of cool that we'll have "matching" shawls - at least as far as the pattern is concerned. 

So anyhow, got the swift and ballwinder out and cranked this one out this morning. It sat. All afternoon (you'll see why shortly). And then around suppertime, I figured it was time to cast on. 

I put the project bag together and had to look up my notes on the last one I did so that I could familiarize myself again with the pattern. I admit to a small "mental-pause" there because I was a tad confused on some of the repeats, but then I got the mental picture of the shawl, so it's okey-dokey. I know people have knit multiples of this one, but this is only #2 for me!

Using the Unicorn bowl, but I'm not committing to putting the yarn through one of the solid holes! I'm leaving it in the removable one so that I can take it with me to work on at lunch. I figure it's a decent enough "lunchtime" project that will keep my hands busy. 


We shall see.

You start this one out small and it grows. I like the crescent shape of this shawl because it stays on well. I can drape it, pin it, tie it... It can be worn in many ways, and I really like the "tips" (which you may remember from the last one I made)... You'll see this as it comes along. 

So the socks are temporarily in "waiting" till I get moving on this one a bit. Like I said, I have time, and I can enjoy the process here. I like to be in a situation where I don't have a tight deadline, so I'm kind of glad I'm giving this one a lot of time. 

Enjoying the unicorn bowl - it's finally a bowl deep enough without me raiding the kitchen cabinets for a mixing bowl! 

...And I have a question for my readers. Anyone know what this little gadget is? 

I got it in my shipment from Expression Fiber Arts, and I have no clue. There was no packaging that gave me a hint, no instructions. It's not an eraser. But that's about all I can tell about it. 

Not sure. Anyone?


Eagle Run...

So, we got news that eagles were in a local-ish park. We couldn't go during the "eagle weekend" because of a couple of things, mainly including the blizzard that happened. 

We went this weekend. Of course, you go on "eagle weekend" because they're around. We didn't see anything that resembled an eagle. I did see a hawk and a seagull. And a cute little rescue dog on the trail with its humans. 

Oh, and some folks kayaking down the river. 

But no eagles. 

What I did see were LOTS of ancient trees. This was near the river, and I couldn't stop looking at it. Such an amazing tree. Don't you wonder what it would look like in full leaf? I may have to trek down there and find out in the summer. By the way, I made these two pictures small because I took them with the "big" camera and they're quite hi-res. I didn't want to kill anyone's computer! 

Random Picture...

For some reason, I'm attracted to "path" pictures. I took this one at McKinley Woods today. It's a path. It's kinda sparse. 


But again - unlike a prairie park, where there's lots of grass and few trees, this shows those older trees, and it shows that each tree is unique...as is the path each of us takes. 

I can see this in my mind in the summertime, with the birds flitting through the trees, the leaves making dappled shade on the path. Maybe the smells of the river coming over you as you walk. And I can see it in the winter, covered in snow. 

I can see the possibilities in the path, and I hope you can too. On whatever path you're on. Whether a path actually in the woods, or a path you've set out for yourself. Your path may be paved. It may be gravel. It may be grass...and sometimes there's mud, you'll have a fallen tree or two and there may very well be pot-holes. 

But if you keep your eyes open and keep your wits about you, you won't trip. And you'll also know when it's time to change paths - or keep on with the one you're walking. 

My, I'm philosophical this evening!