A Little Off-Shoulder Number

Catkins progresses...Sleeves are joined and yoke has begun.  Looks a bit Flashdancy at the moment, no?

I'm alternating between Catkins and the swatch project this week, which has been nice for the needle size variation (3 vs 8).  Allows me to alternate which muscles I'm clinching from time to time. 

This week I achieved 2 Full-Time-Mommy Milestones:  I successfully roasted a turkey breast (okay, dinner may have been at 9PM that night, but still), and I scrubbed the kitchen floor.  Well, I actully sloshed water on it creating mud, but I think it's still a win because I got lots of exercise, and the smallies were really impressed.  Not like you should lick the baseboards or anything, but baby steps.

And then I got bronchitis.  Coincidence?  I think not:  One cannot expect to wallow on the floor in the mud without contracting something nasty.  I consider this proof that housework is not only the domain of the uncreative mind, it's also toxic.  Fortunately, it's never too late to swear off.  Good thing I got that lesson out of the way.

This weekend the Snohomish Knitters Guild Yarn Train rolls into town, with my pals Lisa and KT aboard.  I'm meeting them at the yarn shop, and then doing lunch.  If that won't cure what ails me, then nothing will.

So, what did you DO today?

Well, Gentle Readers, we made it to the end of week one of self-employment.  I wish I could say I had a lot to show for it, but maybe it's more than I think.  I was worried that being alone all day would be too weird for words, but I had sick children home with me for three of five days.  So while still weird, it wasn't exactly lonely.  Who knew I would leave the hospital only to become a full time nurse?  I'm happy to report that the patients have improved, even if the patience hasn't.  Who are these people, anyway, and why are they so small, and needy?

Every summer, Phillip has the honor of staying home with our children for three months.  As an educator, he has the same school vacation schedule as the smallies.  So while they have what could be loosely described as a "system", their stay-home experience has not, in my judgment, been long on the "Daily Chores" or "Ambitious Projects" experience.  This used to cause me no end of consternation (make your face look surprised here).  I never could understand how three bipedal creatures with opposable thumbs could manage 90 days of freedom, without even accidentally cleaning out the garage.  I used to come home after a long day at the office, survey the carnage, and demand to know of them all; "But what did you DO all day?"

So far, Phillip has kept the smirking to a respectable minimum.  He has even been sympathetic, when I worried that the sick children might put me around the bend.  I have the sense he's waiting for the proper Told Ya So moment.  Which I have decided I will not begrudge him, when the time comes.

So in answer to the question, which I now have to demand of myself,  I did this:

Two sleeves and the lower body of the Catkins Cardigan.

I also:

Went to the doctor's office, followed by the pharmacy.  Twice.

Waved goodbye to the school bus 5 times (at least one kid went to school every day).

Let my dog take me for a walk.

Made the bed.

Challenged the summit of Mount Washmore.

Took someone's temperature seven million times.

Woke up in the night with small sick people.  A lot.

Wondered at the miracle of being Home.  Not just for the weekend.  Not just for a vacation (previously known as my one-week, office-sanctioned, Annual Housework Interlude).  Really home.  So little time have I spent here that it doesn't even really seem to be my space.  Not like the office was.  For all its penitentiary qualities, I felt that my cubicle belonged to me.  But here, I feel as if I have have yet to emotionally unpack my bags and move in.  Twisted notion, no? 

Pretty sure I'm up to the challenge, though.
 

Catkins 2.0

The saga of the pussy willow sweater continues.  At last report, I had attempted too much contrast between the stems and the background, but not enough between the background and the catkins.  I took a picture before I frogged it, for archival and comparison purposes:

In this photo, the chart is working exactly like I want it to, but the colors are not doing it justice.  I also regretted my choice to work one sleeve at a time, which made it (somewhat) easier to put it out of its misery.  Kinda surreal to totally frog a knitted piece right out of existence.  I even reskeined the yarn, so it was like the first sleeve never even happened.  Messes with my head.

I thought I wanted to change to a black background, but as luck or alpacas would have it, there wasn't enough of the black in stock.  Instead, I changed to this complicated and textural charcoal gray version with a soft brown for the stems, and kept the fluffy silver angora for the catkins.  Sometimes designs just know what they want to be made of, even if I don't.  This is definitely one of those times:

So much better, no?  I'm back in love with it again.  Note also the two-at-a-time sleeves:  WAY more fun and comfortable on the longer circular needle.  I wonder if my contrast instincts got jacked up because all the colors are natural/neutral?  These shades are so much more subtle than I usually choose.  Turns out working with beige and gray is a completely different prospect than lime and fuschia.  Duh.

This yarn is made for stranding - so delightfully sticky, but still ultra soft.  My esteemed associates at Toots Le Blanc have struck the perfect balance between drape and strength, in my opinion.  And those who require next-to-the-skin softness in their yarn will find nothing to object to either. 

Hard to believe this will be my last post of 2009.  It's true what they say about time flying and having fun.  And boy am I having fun.  All this and a New Year's Eve party tomorrow, too!  Lucky Knitter, me.