To go or not to go . . .

That is the question! I'm referring, of course, to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival which is next weekend. I want to go, but I have such a yarn stash that I hesitate to add to it. I have two small orders to place for a couple of projects already, so I should follow my instincts and stay away this year. I was hoping to go to the festival to get some Tilli Tomas yarn for the Labyrinth pattern. I think I will wait and just pay retail for it. I won't be making it until winter unless the SKC chooses it to be the next KAL project.

I got a deal on some Debbie Bliss Pure Silk on Ebay:

I hope to make the Hourglass Jacketfrom Stitch Diva:

I plan on making the one with longer sleeves.

I received some lovely goodies from my Ravelry Coffee Swap Pal!

A skein of Chunky Malabrigo, a skein of Chunky Misti Alpaca, a lovely mug, a pound of Sumatra coffee beans, a Scharfenberger Dark Chocolate bar, some stitch markers and a photo postcard from San Francisco! Here's a closer look at those stitch markers:

Notice--they are made out of coffee beans!

I found two cute patterns on Ravelry. One, called Sprout, is a little cropped cardigan which can be knit top down. I like that it has cables on the raglan seams. One person did yarn overs for the increases which created rows of holes next to the cables. I really liked that. Here is one photo:

I have 3 skeins of Handpainted Yarn merino which is basically the same as Malabrigo which I will use for this. The other pattern is a purchased pdf. I will have to knit the bodice at a smaller gauge as the smallest size is a 36.

The featured yarn is Tilli Tomas. I have a full skein of my Double Sea Silk left from Giselle. I love that yarn so I am thinking that I will purchase 2 more skeins and use it. I may do the crochet trim with the brown sea silk as I did for Giselle. I also have the brown silk ribbon. I think the color combo will work well for this.

I got a late birthday present this week:

A 16 gb ipod touch! I love it. I've put a lot of my photos on and part of my music. This also has wireless so I have my email accounts set up as well. My ipod mini was on the way out as was my palm so I figured this would take the place of both of them!

Other news this past week--I got my cast off! I have a removable splint which I have to wear most of the time. I cannot use my hand for gripping and lifting yet so I still can't really knit. Bummer. I go back to the doctor on May 13 after which I will start therapy to get my strength back. I had to take Mikey to the vet. I noticed that he'd been losing weight and he seemed a little lethargic. He was also crying for food all the time. These were the same symptoms he had when he was first diagnosed with diabetes. Sure enough, his glucose level was high at 296. Normal is between 125 and 150. We've increased is insulin and he goes back on Friday. He seems to be feeling a little better as you can see here:

He was watching DH trim the tree out the window!

This weekend was totally stress free! I got a pedicure yesterday and a massage today! I feel ready for my wild little darlings tomorrow at school!

It's been an absolutely lovely week. Spring at last--or not! Apparently it is going to be cold and rainy this week.

That's about it for now!

Bushism of the day:
"We actually misnamed the war on terror. It ought to be the Struggle Against Ideological Extremists Who Do Not Believe in Free Societies Who Happen to Use Terror as a Weapon to Try to Shake the Conscience of the Free World." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 6, 2004

Kitty Cam: Samantha tries to inch her way onto my lap while I type. My left arm is currently covered with kitty spit!