Rain and work, knitting and jumping

I have been at work every single day for the past ... 9 days.
Two more days, this included, to go before I have a full two days off.
So I'm tired and cranky.
More so because it has been terribly busy. Not just busy, but terribly so.
And as I'm currently working on both Elizabeth and the second Elfin Bride, and both require a certain degree of concentration I am saving the Monkey socks for knitting at work.
For which there has not been time.
And this is really not something I should complain about.
Even if knitting a bit does help during a long, long day.
But: I have finished the back of Elizabeth I!
55 stitches mid front are on hold, hence the slightly crumpled crookedness in the photo. She will be very pretty once done!
And I have cast on for the front. The sleeves are already done, and so she should be all fine and finished before .... the last Potter book comes out.
See, that's probably the highlight of my summer. The last installment in the Potter series.
(Sad, really.)
But: First sleeve is done on the Elfin, stitches for the second one has been picked up and I'm getting very close to the gusset cast-on. All very exciting.
(80% cotton, 20% cat hair)
Knitting the sleeves of the first Elfin was a bit of a drag after all the excitement knitting the body. So I've decided to finish the sleeves completely before moving on to the really fun part.
And the slight boredom of sleeve-knitting will let me finish Elizabeth I first. I think.
I have a serious crush on both of these patterns.
I think that the shaping and the details in both are in a league of their own, and I want to knit them both in every colour possible.
I could easily become the one who knitted the same two patterns for thirty years.
(But then my Ravelry queue says something different.)
I wish I had things to tell about travelling the big wide world, or whipping up a lace shawl, or something immensely interesting and fun.
But life these days is rain and work and knitting.
And a lot of jumping not to step on the myriad of snails occupying the sidewalks.
Some of them are pretty. Some of them are incredibly gross (but no less fascinating in the mind of my inner 5 years old). And both make me wish I brought my camera.
But then I would probably be late for work.

PED and WIPs, but no FOs

I have been tired.
And wondering if there is such a thing as Post Exam Depression.
I have enjoyed the past week of having nothing to do other than go to work, eat, sleep, knit, and play with the cats.
But I have felt like a flat tire. A pretty worn down flat tire.
I have spend as little time as possible by the PowerBook, although I have been playing around with Ravelry, which is a dangerous place.
Not only does it confront you (that is me, actually) with your bad case of castonitis but it also makes you want to knit everything, looking at and admiring the many wonderful and inspiring FO's.
And reconsider your own.
I honestly don't think I want to muck about with short rows and things in order to make the Waist-cincher top wearable and so I have more or less just given it up as a bad job.
But for now I've just put it aside.
Instead I have come quite close to turning the heel on the second Monkey Sock, and I have started my second attempt at the Elfin Bride, this time in a wonderful, luxurious black cotton.
And I have given Elizabeth I a bit more attention.
So far I've actually finished the sleeves, and have come nearly halfway through the back, and it all looks terribly dull in photos. But I have made stitch markers.
Using cheap split rings and beads from the Big Box of Things I once meant to use for something and then forgot about.
And maybe, just maybe, I have finally figured out how to use my bad, old camera.
The laundry room is still a big hole in the ground.
But I'm getting pretty good at doing the laundry in a bucket.

Finishing the Elfin

I finished "her" this morning.
And I love it and so do the cats.

Mmmm, Silky Tweed.

Move? Who? Me? I'm not going anywhere.
I've managed a few catless photos - but they're to be found on the Domiknitrix KAL

I have....

First of all I have a new modem. The second new modem in one month.
The old one burned out.
The first new one did too.
But the second new one is still not burned out at all.

I also have what may very well be the most beautiful yarn in the world.

Recycled Sari Silk Yarn. It is gorgeous and shiny and so very soft and glistens in the colours of all the jewels of the world.
I am so very much in love with this yarn and pet it very gently while wondering if I ever can bear to knit with it.

It came in a box full of wonders (which Vincent the Helpful assisted in unpacking) from the lovely Linnea, along with a pattern for fingerless gloves and matching dpns and chocolatey goodness and a wonderful, beautiful and very inspiring book:

I've seen this book, and read a bit about it. But none of what I've seen or read has done it justice. It's so very inspiring, and I really like the focus on who, why and how rather than what.
And I will absolutely use it and try to do something good for someone - once I've done my bit on the five exam papers and projects I have to hand in during the next two months.

I also have cats enjoying the return of the sun.


And I have a garden which has exploded in colours and floral abundance this past month.

My gorgeous landlord isn't much the gardening type, so it's all a bit wild and left to itself - and it's probably the prettiest garden in the street, even if it's trying to escape through the fence:

And I wish I knew the name of this one:

It has a few days yet before it once again becomes this glorious fairytale tree of flowers, and then it will be only a day or two before same flowers are strewn across the lawn.

I also have made progress on the Elfin Bride. In spite of myself, and red wine, and a strong inability to properly read patterns.
But I plan (hope) to finish it this week, so that I can concentrate fully on the exams. It is the most interesting and exciting and beautiful piece of knitting I have ever encountered (not that that really says much, but still....).
And it's very addictive.

And I have two weeks before handing in the first exam paper/practical project.
And I have a cold, which may actually be some kind of hay fever.
And I have new shoes. Beautiful shoes.

And no actual news or interesting things to tell. At all.

The beginning of the Elfin Bride

I've had a bit of a fever all week, and today I just could not find the energy to go to work. So I've just been reading, sleeping, and playing with the cats.
And knitting a bit.
I have found my camera, and can now prove that not only has the Elfin Bride/Gothlet pattern been released but I have actually had the courage to start.
Only because the pattern is exceptionally well written and very detailed, and because In addition Jennifer Stafford offers a brilliant visual aid gallery showing the complete process.
I fell in love with this piece of knitted genius during my first forays into the online world of knitting.
And it still seems a bit unreal that I am actually attempting it.
Of course i have already shown disobedience by not using the recommended cotton, mostly because I was eager and impatient to start, and March will be a bit low on the money front, but also because my lovely green Silky Tweed seems so very perfect for it.

And the first sign that it's meant to be, is that first swatch hit gauge right on.

And now that the camera is back, a kitty picture is in order: Vincent says hello.