Chugging Along

Listening to: early morning sounds

I love this time of day - predawn in early autumn. Ok, so I love this time of day no matter what season except possibly dead winter. Anyway, the crickets are going to town, the birds are stirring around (including Twerp - loudly), and the lack of other local sounds allows me to hear traffic on the interstate a mile away. This last isn't such a bad thing - it reminds me of ocean waves gently washing the beach, an artificial soothing. It's cool enough I have windows open and that's made for some wonderful sleeping.

So let's see... what have I been up to over the last month? Work has picked up a little, mostly because I'm finally getting badly-needed training. One of the local guys set up several phone conferences with me and a couple other folks, so twice a week we had the opportunity to ask questions, watch him do different tasks, take notes, and practice on our own. I've also been taking over some menial tasks from another team member... menial does not equal bad since it gives me the experience and allows him to unload.

I had two visits with a dear friend from England. The first visit was straight from the airport, and we had a few days of stuffing ourselves and drinking good beer from a couple of the local microbreweries, and shopping. It was really enjoyable, and I was glad I had a spare bedroom for him. He left for a couple of weeks worth of driving and sightseeing, then came back for a two nights before flying home.

What else?

Finished and blocked a beautiful lace shawl (gift, so no pics). It's the cap shawl from Victorian Lace Today, a fairly quick knit - took almost exactly 2 months. Blocked size is 74 inches.

Sewed a navy linen skirt for me.

Cut out a dress (again, for me).

Finished a pair of socks for Ron. These are from yarn he chose, in the colorway Chicago. Can't remember the brand, and the ballband seems to have escaped, but it is some of the softest sockyarn I've come across, with lots of spring so the ribbing nearly pops back after being stretched. The design is a basic pattern, starting with 65 stitches, working the leg in 3/2 rib, then decreasing one stitch before starting the heel flap.

So... slowly the world awakes with folks leaving for work, kids waiting at the bus stop, and it's time for me to think about stirring around for breakfast. This afternoon I head home to the family (Yay!).