Progress Report

I haven't been posting too much lately because I've had a lot of crazy personal sludge to deal with in the last couple of weeks, but I have been "hookin and loopin" (aka knitting and crocheting, for those who don't know) through it all. Thank goodness for my crafts, they really do keep me sane when I'm having a rough time with life. A lot of people probably don't understand my obsession with yarn and beads and making stuff, but focusing on a project really helps me to clear my head and think things through. So, along with all the pondering I've been doing, I've also been working on several projects.

• Birthday Blanket is now about 2 to 2 and a half feet square. I only have 2 working days left to finish, so BB may turn out to be a little small. I'm going to bust my arse to put another 6 inches or so on before I weave in the ends.
• My Big Bird yellow scarf is almost 2 feet long now! I've been taking it in the car with me, to work on while I'm waiting or when Hubbie is driving. No rush, I have until Christmas to finish.
• I haven't picked up the baby hat, and I haven't woven the ends into the baby socks. This project needs some TLC real soon.
• Anita sent out the Stitch Marker Swap partners last week, so I've been reading my 3 partners' blogs. I still haven't made any decisions about what kind of markers I would like to do, but the creative juices are flowing.

I will take pictures of the Birthday Blanket with the birthday girl, and post them as soon as I can get them developed. I hope everyone has a good weekend!

Crunch Time

Laynie's 1st birthday is in 4 days. I'm still not satisfied with the size of Birthday Blanket, as I'm now calling it. I want this blanket to be big enough for her to take naps with when she's older. Who knows, maybe it will make it all the way to little Laynie's teenage years. (Oh, the horror. I don't even want to think about the teenage years, she's only gonna be a year old for Pete's sake!) The plan was to have a tea party for the birthday girl and several friends at the park early Sunday, but due to other crazy stuff going on around here, I'm considering pushing the party off until the next Saturday or Sunday. No matter what though, Operation Birthday Blanket will be complete by Monday, which is THE big day.
As if Laynie's party and blanket are not enough to keep me busy, I'm also helping with a friend's baby shower in 2 weeks and there's a lot left to do. Luckily I will be sharing shower duties with two other good friends. I finished a pair of socks for the new arrival, but making a hat out of the leftover sock yarn has proven to be a giant pain in the butt. It is really hard to squeeze a pair of baby socks and a hat out of one skein of Moda Dea Sassy Stripes, but I'm determined, and it was on clearance, so there is no more left anyway. I'll let everyone in on how that goes when I finish up with Birthday Blanket sometime soon. Cross your fingers for me.

Happy Birthday!...

...to the good ole' US of A. Today, there will be fireworks, parades, BBQs, beer-drinking, time spent with family, and celebration. Please take a minute to remember why we celebrate July 4, and to be thankful that we have our freedom. Take a minute to remember the soldiers overseas who are fighting for that very freedom right now. And most of all, have a good time. Happy 4th of July!