challenged

I have a finished object! No, you can't see it yet - it has to be blocked, and then it has to be sent on its way to its rightful owner. I'm almost ashamed to be so proud: it's a lace scarf, the first lace I ever actually finished, and it's really, really pretty. (Hint: I used one of Roxanne's Art Walk Sock Yarns.)

It's a good thing I was feeling good about my knitting, because after yesterday's Ravelry knit-together, I was ready to slink into the nearest storm drain. Literally, literally, I did nothing but cast on and rip, cast on and rip, cast on and rip, for 3 hours. It was gruesome. First, I tried to knit Branching Out, but couldn't get past row 5. Finally I gave up on Branching Out, and started a simple lace pattern. Rip.

(When I got home, I cast on for Dainty Bess, and I've finished about 10 rows. The secret, I guess, is to start a project when I'm NOT having fun. (The picture is from Ravelry - mine will be dark green.)


I've joined Becky's Arthurian Challenge. How could I resist? My first challenge book will be The Mists of Avalon (which I won't be able to start until I finish Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman. Did I mention that I'm moderating the discussion for this book on Ravelry?) I'm also reading Pamela by Samuel Richardson, trying to get through a 2-foot high stack of New Yorker magazines --

(And darn it all, why do I have to work???)

p.s. - my take on the latest manufactured controversy about Senator Obama is exactly this piece by David Coleman. And maybe I'm naive, but I don't want to have a beer with my president - not only because I don't drink beer, but because I want my president to be smarter than I am, more knowledgeable than I am, and willing to express subtleties. As my husband says, I don't belong in this world.