E is for Energy

A nd energy is what I've needed this week, in spades. It was a very busy week at work, and I had some school projects to work on. Then throw in a puppy and a semblance of a social life into the mix... (not to mention the horrible cold that kept me home sick one day, throwing everything further behind) ... well, let's just say that it was a pace I'm not used to, and I relished a much slower cadence this weekend, when not every single minute was scheduled.

What made it easier is that I feel I have genuine enthusiasm for everything in my life right now, which hasn't been the case before. So even though it's a challenge, and I am not getting a ton of contiguous sleep, I am having a total blast.

I have also found that getting up at 7 a.m. with a puppy every day makes for much more productive days. (Now if only he could sleep through the night... we'll get there.) So I've had the luxury of sneaking in a bit of breakfast knitting some days. I have two active wips right now, depending on my brainpower.

Drunken Bee is when I have time to focus on the chart and pay attention for more than a few minutes at a time. The pattern is quite enjoyable and not difficult, but I'm not gifted enough to intuit the rhythm yet.

And then a Clapotis. I knit one of these for Grandma way back when, and I decided I wanted one for myself too. I'm using Koigu Kersti, which I've never used before. It's knitting up nicely. This tends to get pulled out for one or two rows at a time... at least they're long rows. I just started dropping stitches, which is a great marker for progress.

I'm just so glad that it's starting to warm up now, too. It meant that we got to spend a lot of time outside with Sam, who just loves the fresh air. He's starting to really develop a personality and get comfortable at home, which is a total delight.

Yes? You have treats for me?

(Also, since it's that time of year, make sure to check out the Easter Peeps Diorama Slide Show. So delightful!)

D Is For...

Yes, I know I'm a bit behind in the ABC-along, but we had to wait a week for his adoption to be approved (from the Dorchester County Humane Society, they were fantastic!).

D is for Dog. Meet Sam, a beagle-lab mix about 8 weeks old. Alternatively titled, why it's 10 p.m. on Sunday night and Ann is just settling into a very large school assignment.

Right inside the front door. He's not so good at walking on the wood floors yet. Lots of toppling over while he figures them out.

But he liked the yard! There's a lot of room to run around and best of all, more sticks than a puppy could dream of. Already he was retrieving things. Strong instinct.

That face? Totally worth the every-two-hours wakeup calls for the next several weeks.

Welcome home, puppy.

Restart

Sorry about that, dear readers. I know I promised you a contest winner last week. And then life sort of got away from me. I did *pick* a winner last week though. Congratulations to Jo, who will have the spring-a-licious Koigu to play with!

So, meet a sock.

Simple garter rib. Flew off the needles. And yet, as I went to turn the heel mere hours after I started it, I couldn't shake the feeling that it just wasn't right. Wasn't the right marriage of yarn and pattern. Wasn't the right sock for me, right now. I dithered. Elspeth suggested that perhaps the yarn would be more suited to, say, Drunken Bee? She was onto something. So I said goodbye to that sock, and hello to this:

It's definitely slower and more involved, but I'm loving it. As if there were ever any doubt that I am a process knitter.

(Yarn is Vancalcar Acres Jennifer's Flock Sock, btw. Copper Pennies colorway. Purchased at Rhinebeck, lovely to knit with, and so far has well-survived being frogged twice.)

An Overdue FO

[First things first: don't forget to enter the contest! Deadline is later today.]

So, the Endpaper Mitts: Done! They've actually been done for a couple of weeks now, but I'm wearing them so much I didn't stop to take a picture.

Endpaper Mitts
Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang, size M
Yarns: Koigu KPPPM (loden) and Sunshine Yarns (Sandstone NSS)
Needles: US2, done on 2 circulars
Modifications: I did a regular tubular cast-on instead of the Italian method called for. Other than that, I knit them exactly as called for.
Comments: What a great first foray into colorwork! The pattern was easy and intuitive, which meant that I could focus more on my tension and holding the yarns.

Also, for someone who is always cold like me, these are a great accessory. They keep my wrists snugged up at work, but my fingers free to type-type-type all day. They'd also be a great gift... in fact, if I were a betting woman, I'd wager there are more of these in my future.

Hello? Spring?

If you live near the DC region, there's a good chance that you heard about the massive sale at the Happy Place this weekend. Holly and Aimee had promised that there would be some amazing bargains, and they did not dissapoint! Carolina and I went over lunch on Friday to snatch up some good deals. After about an hour, I felt a little dizzy, a little overstimulated by all! the! yarny! goodness! ON! SALE!

(You can click on the photo for all the details.) Yes, there's a lot. But seriously, such bargains I couldn't pass up. Total cost for everything in that photo? Under $225. Total savings? Well into four digits. You see what I mean? Worth going back for, on Sunday, to scoop up some extra goodies. I told Carolina that it's one of the few times in my life that I've bought a ton of yarn without a specific project in mind--and actually felt a little remorse for not buying more. Oh well. I can't be a total yarn pig! A sale this good should be shared.

And that's why, dear readers, I am going to share - with you! Walking around today, I was reflecting on all the delightful things I'm excited about for spring.

To me, Spring means:
* Tulips blooming in the yard
* Bike rides
* Coffee on the porch every morning
* Celebrating another year of marriage
* Sunlight when I go to AND leave work
* The return of farmers markets
* Sleeping with the windows open
* Maryland Sheep and Wool

What does spring mean to you? Leave your answer in the comments, and one winner at random will receive this:

Two hanks of Koigu, in a color impossible to photograph but that reminds me of spring azaleas blooming, a cheerful mix of pink, salmon, orange and fuschia. Deadline for entering is Wednesday at 5 p.m. EST, and the winner will be announced on Thursday.