Wanna see something cool?  This is the Evenstar shawl after clue 3.  Well, almost after.  I just completed the increase row and went from 280 stitches to 560 stitches and now I have 6 rows of plain knitting to finish before I'm finished.  I reknit clue 2 three times until I was satisfied with it and clue 3 only needed one try (thank goodness).  The green lifelines separate the clues.  I wasn't sure I was happy with the yarn I chose.  I thought it would be too thin and wouldn't show the details but it seems to be good.  I'll be ready for clue 4 on Friday and I'll wait until Saturday or Sunday to start it so I can see it finished.  Someone always finishes in the first 24 hours and posts a photo.  I'm grateful.  I like to see what it's supposed to look like.

In other knitting news, I am planning to go to knit night tomorrow after the gym.  Kate is planning to go as well.  We'll pick her up after the gym and get some dinner and then head out.  I'd like to take something interesting to knit but I think I'd better stick with the socks. 

Pk and I are going to see Leo Kotke and Los Lobos on Saturday night.  I'll take some cool yarn and start a pair of plain socks.  I figure I can get them at least cast on and the ribbing done before we go and then I can knit during the show.   

Spring is all around us here.  It's been raining again but the temps have been balmy and the daffodils are blooming.  You can't walk anywhere without sinking in the wet ground.  It's squishy.  We are already an inch and a half over the average rain for March and March isn't over yet.  I don't think we'll have to worry about drought for a while.

Work has been quiet.  Today's clinic was a tough one.  Only four women were scheduled but all four of them had been having suicidal thoughts in the last few weeks.  They calmly sit in the chair and explain how it would be just fine with them if they didn't wake up tomorrow.  Three of them have plans and all have tried in the past and didn't complete the act.  It's heartbreaking.  I sit and try not to make light of their burdens but at the same time, I want to point out the things they have to live for. (but not be patronizing)  It's a fine line. 

Pk met me at the station and we came home and I spent some time in the kitchen making chicken parm and baked ravioli.  Pk offered to get some take out but it was soothing to cook.  I was wiped out but spending time in the kitchen was restorative and I felt up to tackling the last few rows of the patterned part of the lace. 

This is what we came home to today.  My favorite

of all the spring flowers.  It's hard to believe that a month ago we were under 3 feet of snow and today we have daffodils.  Next the hyacinths and tulips and grape hyacinths will come up.  At least I hope we'll have tulips.  The squirrels love tulip bulbs and have eaten a good deal of the ones we planted.  I'm too lazy to dig them up in the summer and replant them. 

I'm off to bed.  The time change is still messing with my inner clock and I tend to fall asleep at my desk in the morning.  A little extra sleep couldn't hurt.  I have a group to lead tomorrow and it always goes better if I'm awake.  We're going to talk about mental health vs mental illness.  Could make for an interesting discussion.  How do you define mental health?  And how different would you feel if you defined yourself in terms of your mental  health instead of your mental illness?  I can't wait.