Summer seemed "on" for a few days and it looked like it was really going to be a warm one. Then some rain came and today it is overcast and not quite so warm. I find myself obsessed with the whole pre-retirement thing. The first thing that went is my housekeeping. Never a priority for me, but it's hit an all time low. I may just kill myself tripping over shoes that never got put away. I've made some feeble efforts at doing laundry and putting dishes away, and at least no houseplants have been neglected to death. I actually cooked a meal. The next victim of neglect was my exercise. I had a sorethroat and bodyaches yesterday so at least I can spread that excuse over at least two days. I tell myself soon, I will have a lot of time on my hands!

So I'm practicing for retirement by focusing on some TV and movie watching, knitting, some reading, thank you notes, and perhaps one email to that supervisor I just got off on the wrong foot with. There is no point in worrying about the financial part, the part time job, or any of that at this point! It's do or die:)

I've finished The Book Thief, and I'm half way through A Thousand Splendid Suns. This book is very captivating so far. Next in my reading queue is Twilight. My Netflix queue has almost 300 things in it so I won't run out anytime soon. I'm watching Atsuhime and Battlestar Galactica on the tube.

Opal came back from a long trip which included the Maryland Sheep and Wool and returned bearing gifts. I have a cool tube of roving for my needlefelting adventures! Thanks, Opal!


I was gifted this green bag full of local style goodies and it has become a great little bag for knitting while watching TV! The goodies didn't last long. I could say who it was from but not with the privacy act. Thats the River Forest Gansey WIP in Ultra Alpaca Lobster Mix. The color doesn't show too well.


More gifts!
A hand quilted zippered bag, cupcake bag from Cinnamon Girl, printed grocery bag, and large purse with outside pockets. I will not run out of bags for awhile!
My 8 inch square has run into problems.
Unless I find a maverick ball in my stash, or frog my Fetchings, I don't have enough yarn to finish the icords. Oh well, it is almost one inch too big anyway. Sigh. I liked the color, Cascade 220 Heathers.

M first beret attempt, Tweed Beret


Pattern by Kristin TenDyke, in IK Winter 2006
Yarn: Berocco Ultra Alpaca
Needles: size 6
This is a top down beret. I added the nubbin on the top instead of the two she has in the original. I'm not quite sure I got the decreases corret. She has a nice ribbing pattern to narrow the beret down to the headband which is stockinette that curls up by its self. I made the large, but I think I needed to keep increasing a bit so it would flounce out more. Either that or my head not the beret type. The head band fit just right. My target hat from The Wind that Shakes the Barley is felted, too.