i think i've been infected, but i'm not sure I care

Matt has a cold. He's had it for a week or so now. I think he finally managed to make me sick too. I keep sneezing.

Nonetheless, I am enjoying life. It's raining today (which I love), but for the last two days, the weather has been sunny, chilly pre-autumn delicousness. I have lots on my plate at work, which makes me happy and stressed. I finished another knitting project. You'll see that soon.

And, I might go shopping tomorrow.

Finished!

In the last few weeks, I've managed to complete quite a few knitting projects. I'm started using some of my lunch hour to knit, and I did a lot car knitting.

First, the Ballet Camisole from Magknits July 2006, using Knitpicks Shine Sport in Orchid. Started July 11, finished August 15. I like it. It's not my favorite thing ever, but it fits well. I had to change the strap shaping - it looked really funny when I did it the way the pattern said. No pictures with me modeling because my hair looks funny today.


Then, I finished two washcloths as housewarming gifts for my friend Randa, who just moved back to Florida. These were quick - I started on August 15 and finished September 1. I used the ballband dishcloth pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting and used this yarn because the colors reminded me of her:


They turned out like this:


And finally, on September 11, I finished the Two at Once, Toe-Up Socks From Knitpicks that I started on July 22. I would have finished these earlier if I hadn't had some frustrations with the heels. I followed the pattern to discover they didn't fit at all and had to re-do them.


I also accidentally made them really short - more like anklets. They're kinda cute, though.

I've read some books...

I haven't posted about my reading in awhile, probably because I haven't done a lot of reading, probably because I don't have a lot of time for reading. Here's what I remember from the last few months:

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
I just finished this one, only because I got the audiobook and listened to it in the car. It was wonderful! A smart book about smart kids for smart kids. The story is hard to summarize, but two Chicago sixth-graders solve the mystery of a missing Vermeer painting using ingenuity and intuition. Recommended for kids and grown-ups.

Teen Idol by Meg Cabot
I can't help it. I like fluff. In this case, sweet fluff about a sweet Midwestern high school girl who writes the school newspaper advice column and has to keep the identity of a new student (he's the teen idol, in town to research a movie role) secret. She gets the guy in the end, but it's not what you would expect.

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen.
This was a simple, fast-paced mystery. Seventh grader Sammy sees a robbery across the street through her binoculars. Unfortunately, the thief saw her too, and the police don't really believe her story. Through her own brand of adventurous sleuthing, she solves the crime.

Time for a new look around here

Like it? I got tired of the fancy green-ness and decided to go for something cleaner and hopefully more personal.

I am loving this four day week. It's Friday already. I had a great time with my former roomies last weekend, especially with Anna's little boys.

This weekend looks like it'll be busy too - we're helping friends move and attending a Sunday School picnic. (Huh. "Sunday School Picnic" reminds me of Anne of Green Gables. Remember when she couldn't go to the picnic to eat ice cream for the first time because Marilla thought she stole an amethyst brooch. I have GOT to get Matt to watch that miniseries with me.)

Maybe, just maybe, we'll work more on the bathroom.