Knitting, cats, and cake

So, I spent the first two weeks of 2008 in bed with pneumonia, and the rest of the time catching up with work and the rest of the world.
But the time under the duvet wasn't entirely wasted. Even if high fever gives me the attention span of an 8-weeks old puppy I have indeed been knitting.
And I've even finished something:
Lois Young's lace tam from A Gathering of Lace. It's very pretty and very warm.

I also very nearly finished Harwood from Rowan Studio 2. And I actually cast on for it minutes after making the list of all the things I wanted to finish. Have no idea how that happened.
And I was very, very, very nearly finished when I decided to try it on (Having sewn one shoulder!). But it was a bit ... narrow in the fit. And I measured, and measured again, and then started counting, and somehow my gauge had changed from 12 st. to 15 st. per 10 cm. Same size needles, same yarn, same ... me.
Again I have no idea how it happened, but it makes a bloody big difference.
(Please note the freshly washed cat-butt)
I have not frogged it yet.
I look at it and feel very pleased with my changing the direction of the cables (because I'm such a sucker for symmetry), and with having stuck with something so long that I nearly finished it. And wonder if blocking would make up for the gauge-problem.
I doubt it.

And because a lot of cables all the time was a bit much, I started something else and sweatery from a very lovely dark red SoftWoolSilk bought in December when I felt rich.
(Please note the freshly washed cat-legs)
Much stockinette, and a lot of making-it-up-as-I-go-along.
It may turn out a mess, it may turn out brilliant. It's too early to say.

And to add to the wip-insanity I cast on for gloves yesterday, having lost or maybe just misplaced the only pair I had left. The Cabled Gloves from VK's anniversary issue.
I love VK even if they have very crappy subscription service.
Yet sometimes keeping an eye on a chart while keeping an eye on your knitting and keeping an eye on the cat, whose butt is likely to cover the chart anytime while the other end of same cat is pawing a bit too enthusiastically at the yarn, and keeping another eye on the movie you are watching is a bit much all at once.
Therefore I missed what may be a vital part of the pattern but I do not mind too much since I'm no big fan of bubbles anyway.


And so I have added a few extra projects to the list of things to finish in 2008.

The cats are now adjusting to the fact that we are no longer staying in bed all day.

And after several long mornings of complaints they have returned to getting baked on the radiator.

Oh, yes, it was my birthday this week.
And since I have two jobs, that means two cakes to bake. Which should be no big deal.
One big carrot cake baked Tuesday evening to bring to job #1 on Wednesday, there are only 10 of us there, so that was just fine.
Except that the company also bought cake. A giant marzipan-covered wonder in no lack of fondant roses and gold dust, and I couldn't help wondering if somewhere there was a medium-sized wedding of the posher sort looking for their cake.
That was a bit overwhelming. And very sweet. My carrot cake looked a little lost and misplaced next to it.

Wednesday night then meant baking for job #2. We are close to 30, meaning Very Big cake.
Very Big carrot cake, because I lack imagination and because I've developed a kick-ass recipe for one!
I mixed egg yolks and sugar and cinnamon and orange juice and oil and grated carrots in a big bowl, while humming merrily and chatting to Vincent, who was yelling at me from the overhead beam. As he likes to do when I'm in the kitchen. Don't ask me why.
And then I went to answer the phone.
And then I had to hang up rather abruptly due to loud crashing noise in kitchen and cat yelp.
But before I made it to the kitchen I met Vincent racing past me covered in lovely egg yolks and sugar and cinnamon and orange juice and oil and grated carrots.
And before I could catch him he rolled on our pretty Oriental carpet.
Then Laurenz went out into the kitchen to investigate. And walk around in egg yolks and sugar and cinnamon and orange juice and oil and carrots. And probably taste it before walking around in it a bit more. Before going back into the living room to wander across the carpet a few times, because that's the sensible thing to do, apparently, if you're a cat covered in egg yolks etc.
And so I had two very sticky cats and a sticky carpet and sticky floors - and only 6 eggs left, by the way.
All I could do was cover myself in layers of hopefully protective clothing and carry a very angry Vincent out into the shower.
And I hope I'll never have to wash him again.
Laurenz only needed his legs and face washed, and he's a bit more laissez-faire in his approach to the world.
And with all the cleaning of the cats, and the kitchen, the floors, and the carpet, I forgot to add the egg whites to the second cake-attempt. Resulting in a very moist and dense carrot cake. But there was no way all that mayhem, and the mess, and the first sticky then wet-and-grumpy cats should have been wasted.
So they would bloody well have to eat it and nod approvingly and say how delicious it is.
But luckily the boys at work think cake is cake, and cake is good.

I felt rather happy I came too late into 2008 to think of inviting guests for my birthday.
Even if I could have used an extra pair of hands when washing Vincent.