Finding Neutral

The depth and breadth of my own naiveté never ceases to amaze me.  I really thought that this week would be no big deal.  Turns out that even when I see the headlights, I sometimes fail to notice that I'm about to be hit by a truck.

Simply put, it's been a bugger of a week.  I was thinking late last night that I finally feel back on center and ready to tackle the jobs before me when it came to me that this was THURSDAY, and the jobs before me have actually been there since MONDAY.  It's taken that long to quit grinding my gears and begin at the beginning.

But I guess that's just the way it goes:   Not everything you do can be your very best, any more than every attempt can fail.  Knowing this does not keep me from being hit upside the head by it, however.

By way of self-reassurance, I will now enumerate the week's accomplishments (some of these belong to Phillip, whose week also chewed him up and spit him out):

1.  Finished AND POSTED Faery Ring pattern, at long last.  It feels like I have been working on it since Thanksgiving.  Which I have.  Marilyn King of Black Water Abbey Yarns, who was kind enough to provide the gorgeous yarn, also likes it, and has plans to spread a few copies around.  Yay.  (Get yours on my homepage, and tell a friend if you like it).

2.  Delivered the elder offspring to not one but two ice-skating lessons in one week, a new personal parenting best, which almost compensates for missing the fact that there was no school on Monday and leaving both children waiting for a bus destined never to arrive.

3.  Successfully attended first Cub Scout meeting with the younger offspring, on only the third attempt.  Offspring pronouncing it cool = Bonus Points for Dad, who also felt really bad about the bus thing.

There may have been other achievements, but I can't remember anymore.  I'm just so happy to see the back of the last few days. 

So even though it's Friday, I'm going to treat this day like it's a whole new beginning.  There's a birthday party to plan, about 23 loads of laundry to do, a bunch of bills to pay, and oh yeah, a WHOLE BOOK TO REWRITE (*me not panicking*).  I'm SO going to buy wine on the way home tonight.  And maybe some Qiviut yarn, too.

Coming Soon To Some Needles Near You

To those who have patiently waited, I offer my sincere thanks.  To the rest of you, myself included: simmer down, it's almost here!  In spite of a week that defies explanation, I am dangerously close to posting the Faery Ring pattern.  So close, in fact, that I am finally showing you the pictures of just what you have been promised for lo these many days.

You would not believe how hard it is to take pictures of oneself wearing ones own sweater.  And when that sweater is made up of cables that disappear in all but outdoor lighting in the dead of winter, the problems are just beginning.

So here are a few rough first attempts, if nothing else, to prove that there really is a Faery Ring.  Here, also is the poem that inspired it:

                    If you see a faery ring
                    In a field of grass,
                    Very lightly step around,
                    Tiptoe as you pass;
                    Last night faeries frolicked there,
                    And they're sleeping somewhere near.
        
                    If you see a tiny fay
             Lying fast asleep,
                   Shut your eyes and run away,
                   Do not stay or peep;
                   And be sure you never tell,
                   Or you'll break a faery spell.

                    Author Unknown

My week has so far included an unscheduled day off from work because I didn't notice that my children did not start back to school the same day as my husband (yes, they were actually still waiting for the bus when I figured it out:  Worst Mommy In The World award number 13), extra ice skating practices for my daughter, an introduction to Cub Scouts for my son, the beginning of Graduate School for my Husband, the return of all my book edits from my publisher, and a surprise trip to the ER, where I met a swell neurologist who explained to me all about how a migraine can actually cause a person to temporarily lose their powers of speech.  And it's only Wednesday. 
Never. Ever. Ask. "What Next?.

Pattern to follow.  Really.
 

Achieving Closure

Well, I did finish the knitting, but only got one sleeve set in before 2009 crept up on me.  I did set the other one yesterday, so now it's just button loops and a tassel between me and the end.  I'm so pleased to be beginning the new year with the Faery Ring all buttoned up.  Today I will edit the pattern, and should have it available to you all by the end of next week.

Our New Year celebration was without incident, which is a pretty great thing to be able to say about any celebration.  Old friends were toasted, revels were reveled, and even a bit of dancing at the ball was done before we all turned back into pumpkins.

As soon as I get the Faery Ring pattern posted, I'm going to pick up the Lilac-y Vest again.  That yarn makes me think there isn't much wrong with the world that a little cashmere couldn't solve.  Peace, Love & Cashmere:  There are no greater wishes.