One of my goals for the weekend was to finish Elanor's Feb Lady Sweater and I did it. I finished it Saturday night and put it to soak in the washer on Sunday morning and then blocked it . The blocking wires came in handy to keep the fronts straight. I measured El and made the size just a bit up from her measurements in order to give her some ease (she doesn't like tight garments). Pre blocking, the sweater was short and seemed small. Post blocking, it fits just like she wanted. I had to sew the button holes shut a little because they were made for round buttons but other than that, she loves it. I used Knitpicks Swish worsted in Deep Ocean and I have 4 skeins left so someone will get a hat and/or mittens out of it. It's a superwash merino and knits up soft and squishable.

I had intended to make this sweater for me but I'm rethinking it. It is definitely a quick knit. The lace moves along fairly quickly and is an easy pattern to remember. I'll wait and see how this wears for El. I've seen photos of some that have stretched out and I'm concerned that the pattern is really not made for full sized sweaters for women that spend their time upright. Baby sweaters are designed for infants that spend a good deal of their time horizontal.

I've put a few rows on the bayerische socks and have started a pair of plain vanilla socks in some Opal that Knittech sent me for guessing when she would post her 600th post. I started a toe up sock but decided to frog that(I was using 2.5 mm needles and didn't like the fabric so I moved down to 2.25) and do a simple cuff down, plain sock that would show off the purple, blue and orange stripes and pattern of the yarn. We've been watching the Lord of the Rings this weekend (sort of a long Labor Day ritual around here) and this is perfect for watching a movie.

We didn't get to have a picnic yesterday due to the weather. It started out sunny but the clouds moved in and the temp dropped into the 70's , too cool and breezy for a picnic. We ate the already prepared food at the dining room table. Today, the weather has been much of the same. It's like summer just waved at us as it went by this year. I'm wearing jeans and socks and slippers. The calendar says it's summer for two more weeks but it feels like we should put away the sandals and pull out the shoes and socks.

Next weekend is the Garden State Sheep Breeders Show and we're planning to go. It's a small show, or at least it was last year. I'm looking forward to it. I have had my wheel for over a year and have a better idea of what I'm looking for in roving and yarn. And I like to see the animals. It will be tough to remind Pk and Kate that we cannot have alpacas or baby doll sheep in the back yard.

Tomorrow it's back to work after a 5 day weekend. I could do this all the time! (work 3 days and then take off 5) At least the upcoming week is a short one. In the mail last week, I got my invitation to join the AARP (american assoc of retired persons) and my notice from the Social Security letting me know how much I'll get when I retire based on what I earn now. Are they trying to tell me something? I think I'd retire tomorrow if I could afford it. The AARP has been sending me stuff for a few years although technically, I'm not eligible for another 3 years or so. Talk about feeling old.

It's time to take my nearly-elderly self off to the phone to order a pizza for dinner and then to feed my brother's cat (he's in Florida at Disneyworld for the week). Have a good week!