I had to get tough on myself this past weekend. I sorted through my yarn – stash, donate-ables (there wasn’t much) and unfinished-ables. My head has been a tangle (pun intended) of knitting conundrums and I needed a good organizing to clear it up. I wound and rewound some balls on my favourite contraption – that toy is paying for itself in free therapy, cleaned the crumbs and crayons from my project bag, and sat myself down to complete some of the unfinished projects.

I mostly finished (minus blocking and and buttons) the Plain Vest, added the button to the colorimetry, messed around with a mitten that will not match its partner, finished a gift, and nearly cast off on a blooming puerperium. Phew.* (Forgive me if you can’t follow those Ravelry links.)

Now I’ve got sleeves to add to Red Boy’s Blue Raglan and then I get to start something new.

When I haven’t been tackling my woolly addiction I’ve found a few minutes to continue reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Tonight, though, as I was fiddling with wool in the basement I pulled out my Grandpa’s old copy of Tennyson’s poems. Maybe I should pick up poetry more often – I found it just the thing for a tired mind.

*That may sound like bragging but I needed that pick-me-up.

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joining with Ginny for yarn along

I’m yarning along rather sluggishly this week. I’m fighting sickness again (grrr….) but on the plus side I’ve made more time for knitting and reading.

As I promised myself I finished last week’s projects. Now I’m working on two new projects. Inspired by this knit-along I’m working on a gap-tastic cowl for a friend. It’s a nice simple pattern but a lot of seed stitch. It’s not knitting up quite as quickly as I’d hoped despite the chunky wool and large needles. Maybe that’s because I switch over to my other project when the seed stitch gets boring.

I’ve finally started working on the Plain Vest I’ve been planning for a while. I’m using the Fleece Artist Afrika I mentioned a while ago and it’s lovely. Absolutely. I love the colours in the wool and the chunky stitches make me happy. It’s knitting up quickly (so quickly that I lost track of the pattern and kept knitting) and I’m hoping I’ll get it finished and tucked away for Christmas.

Somebody likes to watch me knit.

In reading I’ve moved onto the second Harry Potter book, The Chamber of Secrets and the girls and I are nearly through Little House on the Prairie at bedtime after a brief hiatus for Tintin.

I’m rushing through the book discussion though to share the week’s most exciting news…I won Ginny‘s giveaway sponsored by Springtree Road and now I’m faced with the nearly impossible task of deciding on a skein of my very own. Let me tell you I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit browsing through Maya’s shop and I’m still undecided.

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joining with Ginny at Small Things for another week of yarn along.

My needles are not as empty as I’d hoped as this new week has rolled around. I’ve got new projects begging to hop on so tonight I am casting off on the last of the Sextuple Tornados and my Ocean Rae. I really am. No buts. The Rae was held up when I ran out of wool and I finally made the necessary yarn store visit today. While there this Malabrigo Sock jumped into my hand. How could I say no to a colour like that? It just may become a second Rae…Call me a gluten if you will.

I did finish the sweet owl hat for the smallest little. I’ve decided that it can’t be strictly for Halloween because no one even noticed it on her. While I can hardly blame them as she was conked out in the Ergo, I’ve decided it will find more wear – despite our friend commenting that the chin strap makes her look like Abe Lincoln (modelled here). Well!

In my search for lighthearted novel reading I’ve falling again (quite willingly) into the Harry Potter series. Don’t know if I’ll make it the whole way through but I’m enjoying The Philosopher’s Stone during those few moments I find myself picking up a book. The comfort of an old favourite always feels right*.

What old favourites do you find comfort in? Do you have a favourite book series or pick-me-up read?

*Speaking of old favourites, this new song is working its way into that category.

First off, thank you so much for all the love yesterday! So many wise and encouraging words to wake up to.

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This week has been kind of topsy turvy but amidst the strangeness there has still been some knitting and reading, more of the later during the days I was flat out.

My hopes of clearing some needle space were a little lofty when I realized my illness was more than a little inconvenience. I did nearly finish my Rae. Unfortunately I ran out of wool just short of the end so a return to the yarn store is in order. I did start on the last of the Sextuple Tornados for Mira and am about to cast on a sweet little hat for her Halloween noggin*.

Mostly though I’ve been trying to organize my brain. Printing some patterns, glancing (once again) through my stash, making some (more) lists and prioritizing to prevent unneeded (and unwanted) stress.

As for reading I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of An Irish Country Doctor. It was just what the, excuse me, doctor ordered – a sweet, humorous novel. I followed it up with another great read, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place. The Incorrigibles is just what I love in a children’s novel – humour, mystery and adventure. Add to that the fact of the main character being a most endearing governess and my Jane-Eyre-loving heart was smitten. This novel captured my fancy much like The Mysterious Benedict Society, another favourite series of mine, and the illustrations in The Incorrigibles are perfectly and charmingly imagined. I’m such a sucker for children’s novels.

A certain little girl and her daddy are begging some mama relief so I’m off  to a bout of baby holding…what a shame, huh?!

*For the record, Halloween is a holiday I usually prefer to see the back of but as the kids have fully discovered the joy of the costume hunt I’ve decided to make friends with it. I don’t appreciate the candy (we still have candy in their bags from last year…) but the costume designing is proving exciting for more than just the littles.

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joining Ginny for yarn along

Things are low key this week here. I managed to stress myself into a bout of shingles. It is most thankfully a mild case but I’ve slowed way down while I let my body heal. I’ve been trying to take a break from everything but have still managed a few rows of knitting here and there.

Nothing new and exciting to report – another pair of these fingerless mitts for a sweet little friend, more decreasing on my Rae, a little more of my secret knit. I’m not making myself any knitting promises this week but I just may clear some needle space for the last little hurricane hat and the plain vest I’ve been itching to get started on…or maybe that’s just the shingles…

In reading I’m still working my way through An Irish Country Doctor. Such a nice, gentle read. It’s not griping, challenging or terribly enriching but just perfect for me right now.

And now I’m off to rest up and get better. Thanks for stopping by!

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find more yarn along post over at Small Things