You may be surprised to discover (I know I was) that I kept to my word and started working on Halcyon again!  Truth be told, after I finished the Retro Rib socks I had been avoiding it.  I didn’t want the hassle of trying to remember where I was in the pattern – you know that whole word problem thing!  I am using a magnet board to read the chart, but after sitting around for months, I didn’t trust that the magnets would still be on the correct line.

I also did away with my cable needle.  I am doing some variation of cabling without a cable needle – and it has really sped things up!  Yesterday I got 15 rows done.  This is a land speed record for me and this pattern.

It is a busy week here at Chez Swine:

• Vicki on Thursday
• Brother and SiL on Friday
• Daughter #1’s prom on Friday
• Graduation on Sunday
• Party with about 45 guests Sunday evening

guess I should quit blogging and get to work cleaning, shopping and cooking …..

than me and Vicki??  check out what QuitNet sent me this morning ……

Hello purlingswine! Your Quit Date is:Thursday, March 17, 2005 at 11:15:00 PM Time Smoke-Free:91 days, 8 hours, 32 minutes and 32 seconds Cigarettes NOT smoked:1827 Lifetime Saved:13 days, 22 hours Money Saved:$496.80

In honor of this auspicious occassion, I will pass along two little Internet gems that I have come across ……

a fellow fpug fanatic Purl Up With a Good Yarn shared this nifty random stripe generator.  This is a very cool application and one that will come in handy – I’m thinking mittens …..

and our favorite Snowball shared a fantastic Ebay source for Kid Silk Haze

go now — play & shop!

A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"

Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."

And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.

And it was a good animal.

And God was pleased.

And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.

And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and cannot think of a name for this new animal."

And God said, "No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."

And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.

And they were comforted.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."

And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.

And Cat would not obey them.

And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat’s eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.

And Adam and Eve learned humility.

And they were greatly improved.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was happy.

And Cat didn’t give a shit one way or the other.

Brace yourselves ladies (and gentlemen?).  I know you come here for wild tales of sex toy parties, for the occasional public nudity, the broken glass, the wild pack of dogs ….. but knitting??  I bet you even forgot that this is a knitting blog!

Without further ado, I present my Retro Rib Socks!  The pattern is from Interweave Winter 2004 issue.  The yarn is Mountain colors (thanks Anita!). 

These are luxurious socks – so soft and cozy.  I am amazed at how fantastic hand made socks feel on your feet.  I did not make the calf length as long as the pattern called for.  In a typical Ann maneuver, I panicked and thought I wouldn’t have enough yarn to complete both socks and now I have some leftover!  oh well. (at this point, I would say live and learn, but it would seem that I am never going to learn)

My knitting attention will now be switched back to Halcyon.  I have vowed to get a pattern repeat or two finished before casting on for anything else!