A different direction

Frogging my Downton Abbey mystery shawl was the wise thing to do. Starting over for the third time (first time was gauge issue, second time because I apparently can't count) was the right thing to do. Once I began to relax about gauge issues, it all came together pretty nicely. I ended up going up to a size US 5 needle, and now I am spot on! I'm very happy so far and have just two rows left of clue#1 to finish, then will move onto clue #2. Which is more of the same, just more stitches. I just love the three "spines"!!!

 

At some point today, I will get my brother in law's socks cast on. I'm really considering maybe doing some sort of a waffle stitch pattern this time, or maybe a rib. All I know is I'm going to be joining my Tuesday knitting gal pals again, after a several month hiatus. I have missed them all, and am so glad I got to see them for the Christmas get together! We are a large group and there is lots of chatter, so I try to take a project that doesn't require too much focusing, which is usually socks or a cowl or something like that. I'm just excited to be going back! I hadn't been able to go since I was doing daycare for my daughter, and there wasn't enough time to get from the location we meet at over to my grandkids school(s) to pick them up at the end of their day. My daughter and her husband have made the decision that it's more important for her to be home with their children than it is to work outside the home. She has a couple of ventures she plans to pursue out of her home, and being the entrepreneur that she is, I know she will be a success. While I will be lost without my grandchildren being with me everyday, in my heart, I know it's the right thing for her to do. I think that any parent that is fortunate enough to be able to stay home with their children when they are young, should by all means do it! We do need to finish our valentines though!!! :)

 

 

There was no spinning again this past week, as I'm still waiting for my broken toe to heal. I'm hoping to do some this week...I'm itching to spin up some of the gorgeous fiber I have! So I can order more...hahaha

 

I almost forgot to include this tidbit in my post...I have a girlfriend from high school that I reconnected with a couple of years ago when her sister and a friend joined the Wednesday night knit group I attend. Her sister stopped coming, but occasionally, I would run into her in different places around town. I ran into her this past week and she told me her sister (my friend) bought a local yarn shop!!!! Talk about a huge surprise...my girlfriend didn't knit in high school, and in fact, just recently learned when she began frequenting this yarn shop and took lessons. She was so smitten with it, she bought the darn shop...how cool is that?!!??! It's about an hour away from me, but I plan to make the trip this week to go talk to her and see her. I can't hardly wait!! So exciting! When I told Chris, he said "well honey, would you like a yarn shop? 'Cuz you could totally do it if you wanted to". It's tempting, especially since I have my husband's support all the way, but I just don't know if I want that kind of commitment in my life. Right now, I can pick up and go as I please, anytime I want, and I'm very fortunate that I don't need a job. Still, it's tempting!! Hello, it's yarn!!!!

 

Since I don't have kids today, it's time to resurrect some unfinished projects, and I've been trying to get a chandelier I bought a couple of months ago painted. Let's see if I can make a dent in some of that this week...