Stop kicking me!

The mitten is kicking my butt.  I did not have the mistake I feared yesterday, but found an earlier mistake -- in the first row of the braid -- and ripped it all the way back.  I'd purled the damn row rather than knit.  That's the third time I've knit that braid.  It can only be lack of concentration -- I was so intent on following directions the first time and didn't have a single problem, me and my cocky attitude are being put in our place with the second.

There are no guarantees that I even did Meg's Jogless Jog correctly, but you see the result at right compared to plain ol' circular stripes (spiral) on the left.  What do you think; is it an improvement or a wash?  I think it's kind of a wash.

I've been playing with closures for the SP2 Shapely Shawlette.  I wear it a lot and had been making a knot, but then I look like I have a uniboob when I put on a jacket.  When Lynne sent my prize alpaca, she'd tied it all up and included was a sparkly, plastic belt buckle which I used the other day. This is one that I cut off an unused belt I had.  It works very nicely and lays pretty flat -- I'm looking forward to thrift shopping for potential shawl closures!

It was a good mail day yesterday -- two packages!  The first contained books (the redemption of my B&N Christmas gift card), and the second was a leather coin purse that my sister made for me.  Every year, for the past several, she's made "Martha gifts" for our mom, her MIL, sometimes sisters and SILs -- always a project from Living magazine.  This year, it was leather coin purses.  She had extra leather, so made one for me -- and look what I found inside!

I'm ready to talk about Duncan now.  Who knew that the best way to introduce a new cat is to throw 'em all off-guard with a dog, first!  When Ai's friend called before Christmas and asked if we could adopt her 4-month-old kitty because things weren't working out well at her house, my hesitations were 1) do we really need a third cat/fourth pet and 2) the poor kitties have just gotten used to a dog, how will they react to a new cat?  Well, apparently Scamp & Roxie figure that there's strength in numbers -- I cannot believe how well Duncan has been "accepted."  Hmmm, not with hugs and kisses from the others, but not nearly the amount of hissing and spitting and pet mayhem that I was expecting.  Duncan has melted our hearts, for sure, a real sweetie-pie, and he has obviously charmed the other felines, too.

Coming up on Monday:  someone's getting a new 'do.  Have a great weekend!

Comments

[Cindy]

such a tease you are...: ) new blog do or new you do.
Mitten is very nice even with your "cocky attitude" : )

[Margene]

We always pay the hard way when we think we "know" what we're doing. The glove is beautiful anyway. And that cat...wish I could curl up and get comfy like that.

[Bron]

Darling mitten...and darling kitten. (sorry - couldn't resist!) Great idea re: belt buckle shawl closures. I'll have to take a trip to the thrift store too! Can't wait for the new "do". :)

[Mary in Boston]

Yay, Duncan pictures!!!! Love the mitten...can't wait for my copy of Folk Knitting to get here so I can try one.

Your sister is a hoot...love the inspected by ticket...

A friend of mine at work and I have started a Duncan fan club

[Annie]

You did have a good mail day. Almost makes up for the mitten mistake~ which looks beautiful, by the way.

Can't wait to see the new do!

[Maureen]

That kitty is darling..... I love the mitten. Are the brais hard to do. The Latavian Mitten book is the only one I don't have. Soon as I wind up a few more projects I am going to dive into the mittens.

[Allison]

I love your kitty! We too are three cat, one dog people. Some may call us crazy but I couldn't give up any of them. We got our third cat because he was at a shelter for three months because nobobdy wanted a deaf cat. Now we wouldn't give Radar up for the world (and he is frequently featured on the blog). Good luck with your new member of the family!

[Lynne]

Vicki, the mitten looks delicious anyway! You really have inspired me to do a little folk-style knitting...after two scarves, a sock, a sweater.......

[Mary in Boston]

I guess I will just have to become a three cat one dog family too, seeing as it's the "now" thing to be!

;-)

[Mj]

Your mitten is gorgeous and I'm right there with you...I'm doing the maimmu mitten and wow...it is giving me a run for my money! Each row is a new adventure!

[Mj]

Your mitten is gorgeous and I'm right there with you...I'm doing the maimmu mitten and wow...it is giving me a run for my money! Each row is a new adventure!