a plague upon my house

earaches, pink eyes, headaches, sore throats, fevers, congestion,vomiting, runny noses, sore noses from all the nose blowing (even with the Kleenex with aloe and lotion)... We are all pitiful. I just have two words for anyone suffering from the same afflictions- nasal irrigation. It may sound kooky or gross, but ahhhh the sweet relief if brings. When I first mentioned it to The Girl Wonder she looked at me like I had two heads. After she tried it she asked me to leave everything out so she could do it if she woke in the middle of the night. Much better than the crazy cold meds that make us weepy and irritable.

Ok, Ok, enough of the pity party.

In my first post this year, I mentioned that I did not want to start any new projects until I finished what was on the needles...Well, apparently just typing those words were enough to make projects jump on my needles! The release of the Babette Blanket pattern on the Interweave Knits site encouraged me to buy the pattern, frog my previous squares and restart the pattern. My 'winging it' version just wasn't quite working out. I am thrilled with the results so far! And have already completed as much as I had before. (Technically, this is not a new project.)

I have also started the Feather and Fan Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. I really love the Hemlock Blanket everyone seems to be knitting these days, but liked the center motif from the Feather and Fan. It is the first thing I have knit from the book (although I have looked at it many, many times) and so far I am really happy with the results. I actually frogged my Rusted Root and am using the yarn from that to knit the shawl (size 6 US needles). I figure it will be a nice little lap blanket come spring. Besides, I only wore Rusted Root one time (for my little bloggy) and knew I would not wear it again. It was a bit too short, the neckline flared a bit and the sleeves were not poofy like I wanted. Also, it was a bit itchy.

I also knit a wee baby hat for the local hospital. Back in November, my former neighbor (who happens to attend church with my parents) came over and brought me 6 skeins of yarn and the patterns the hospital accepts for the newborns. I was sleeping off way too many martini's from the night before when the doorbell rang. I threw on my robe and stumbled to the door. Just as I invited the sweet retired neighbor inside I realized how hungover I was (very, very, veryveryvery hungover). She was just talking and talking and my head was pounding, my stomach was churning and I started to blackout. That was when I realized I was going to be sick. I quickly told the sweet lady I was going to be sick and stumbled to the bathroom leaving her standing in the living room listening to me hurl. She let herself out, with hardly a thank you for her kind gesture. I not only wanted to die because I felt as if I had been hit by a vodka truck, but I was so embarrased that this sweet lady was witness to all of it. I felt so bad I called her later to apologize for my behaviour... That being said 6 skeins of yarn will make bunches of baby hats (with matching booties and mitts).

I have completed the first clue of Secret of the Stole 2. (handpaintedyarn.com laceweight color cinnabar from frogged Lovely Lacy Shawl. 3.25mm needles) DK did not disappoint this time round either. So far I love the pattern and can't wait for more clues.