Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon**

Oh, I wish! While the dogs seem to be practicing their relaxation technique:


I've been busy. There's one big thing brewing that I hope to be able to share soon, but even without that, there is plenty afloat.

Stash Out, Stash In...

I took part in two yarn swaps recently. I love yarn swaps; it's a great opportunity to cull the stash of project leftovers and things that are no longer wildly loved, and trade them for something new, bright and shiny. This is what came home with me:

This is the only one that actually is shiny. A good project's-worth of what I think is a silk/mohair blend from Artfibers. The rest are a little more muted, but still new and full of possibility. Any suggestions?

Some Yarn Place Graceful. I couldn't for the life of me get a focused shot, but this one shows the color pretty accurately.

Alpaca Baby Twist

Koigu...

...in two pretty colorways!

I have no idea what this is, but I liked it so I let it follow me home.

And, as I was actually getting a little bit low on plain cotton, I picked up some more for dishcloths. I lurve hand-knit dishcloths!

Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch...

I couldn't help myself. Yup, more brown. I took some fiber from one of these:

Spun it into this:

And last weekend I turned it into this:

It's Pretty Thing by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. This yarn was a little heavier weight than what's called for so it doesn't look quite as delicate as hers, but I think it still works. I did however, totally space at one point and all of the decreases in the middle section lean the wrong way. So it's not perfect, but the reversal didn't turn it into Ugly Thing by any means, and I'm happy with it. It's a great and easy pattern (especially if one actually pays attention - ahem...) and I'd make it again in a heartbeat. It's going back to Vermont as a gift to my friend who owns the alpaca; I thought it would be cool to send her something made from one of her own.

In keeping up with work on UFOs I've been working on Lady Eleanor as well.

I'm closing in on this one - it's nearly 4' long now. Not too much more to do! But I doubt it'll be finished soon; I've swatched for this:

(that's rust damnit, not brown!) I still have some math to do but I should cast on for the Sandrine cardigan soon.

I swatched and actually did cast on yesterday for Peasy, using some Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool left over from a long-finished project.

There's a lace panel in the front that will require some concentration, and I will need to alter it a bit, but I still think it should be a fairly easy knit. I hope those aren't famous last words.

I've spun a little too.

This is some Ashland Bay Merino I picked up at Stitches last year. I have a sweater's-worth, and decided I wanted to get going. In keeping with my New Year Plan #1, I'm not in a rush to finish this; it'll be spun a little at a time. Ideally I'd like it completed in time to knit something for next winter, but we'll see how busy I am in the next few months!

Obligatory Food Porn (if you're not a vegetarian)

Here's another thing that took a long time.

I roasted beef bones, then simmered them with carrots, onion, garlic, celery and home-grown herbs.

This is what it looked like after bubbling on the stove for five hours. The next evening I froze half of it and turned the rest into onion soup.

Soooooo worth the time.

**Points to you if you can identify the artist!