Day off

I'm taking today off. Due to some contamination problems with our cells, I have absolutely nothing to do in the lab today, and I have a 35 mile round-trip commute (which is almost 1 1/2 gallons of gas). I told my coworkers to call me if they needed me at all. I have a ton and a half of stuff to do around the house.

So why do I feel so guilty for not working?! Maybe my conscience is hyperactive.

I do have pictures to show you, though.

Here's Juliet!
Good: incredibly yummy yarn (Malabrigo Worsted in Tiger Lily), easy but interesting pattern, pretty design
Bad: can't decide what to do regarding buttons on the bodice, can't wear it until it cools down quite significantly

I've also started Emerald from Knitty in some recycled wool from Greece! It's still got the lanolin in it, which unfortunately doesn't agree with my hands. The bulky yarn works up wonderfully quickly. I cast on last Thursday on size 10 needles (for once, I got gauge with the suggested needles!), and all I have to do now is the shawl collar and ribbing. I think I'll do a belt instead of the button.

We've also got some new visitors out back.

Yes, that's a male pheasant, a female turkey, and two ducks. According to our bird books, pheasants don't get this far south. I beg to differ. Not sure where the ducks came from, since we don't have a pond or anything. The four of them like to hang out in the field behind our house. Last year, we had a pair of turkeys with a baby!

Still kickin'

I'm still here...and still knitting. (Well, actually, right now I'm typing, but you get the idea.) Juliet is done - yay! - but I can't decide on what sort of buttons to use. It's beautiful. Pictures will be forthcoming when I figure out how to close it. Since I used a heavy worsted weight instead of the suggested bulky, it's a good deal drapier than the original pattern suggests. So it definitely needs something, but I don't know what yet.

Lately, I've been in a sort of knitting slump. I need to find some project that I can really sink my teeth into. I've been eyeing Starsky and Oblique, both from Knitty.com. There are several yarns in my stash that will work. But I have this "thing" about using ALL the yarn. For example, I have over 1200 yards of Patons Classic Merino in Bottle Green that would be a very pretty Oblique - but Oblique only calls for ~940 yards. And that bugs me. I don't like having leftovers! But when you buy only sale yarn like I've been doing, you buy first and find a pattern later. I need to stop doing that. So why do I still regret not getting the 7 balls of beautiful green wool for $2 each at Michaels?

A slightly delayed post

Last Monday, I had just taken pictures of a project and some yummy yarn to post here. However, I was slightly distracted, and I think you'll understand why.

Introducing...my furry nephew, BASIL THE WONDER PUP!!! (take special note of the nose wrinkles in the fourth picture)

Basil is half American Staffordshire and half Mutt Who Jumps Fences. He was saved from certain death by one of my brother's housemates, who brought him over last Monday night for his first bath. He is the cutest thing! The poor pup had both parvo and roundworms, but he's all better now. Expect a lot more pics of the closest thing I'll have to a nephew for a while...

Oh, and knitting. Can't forget the knitting.

This is Malabrigo Worsted in Tiger Lily, a variegated orange with a pink cast to it. I started off making the Circular Shrug from Peony Knits, but the yarn wanted to be Juliet instead! I'm almost done with Juliet. If I hurry, I may be able to wear it tomorrow!