First Lace

I'm calling this my first lace project here is Branching Out in the blocking stage - this was a week and a half ago. I have to say I'm happy with it - if anyone reading this is looking for a pattern to learn lace on this is it.

Here is my finished Herringbone Rib pattern from Li. This is the second I've made - the first I donated to a charity auction - this one is mine. I love this!! Soft, warm, lonnnnnng and wide. I can wrap and wrap and wrap. It's not blocked as I couldn't resist wearing it when we ended up having serious cold, snow and wind last week.

Here is how we spent our Valentines Day evening. I made it home before MFB and started shoveling the snow and when he made it home he took over. I made the coffee and a tasty beef cashew stir fry (I use raw cashews) and he gifted me with a MP3 player. Happy Dance. Yep no chocolate, flowers, or candy for me. You give me an electronic necessity and I'm a happy knitter!!

Why necessity you ask? I'm sitting in a hotel room in Pittsburgh. I fly out to Arizona and have to be at the airport at oh dark thirty. Last year when I flew to AZ, my carryon contained a laptop, a walkman, recharger, batteries, about 12 CD's, plus two books on cd courtesy of the library, a magazine, paperback knitting and five friends. There's restrictions on the size of carryons so the friends decided to purchase seats for the flight. This time it's me and in my carryon I have laptop, MP3 player, the good book, and knitting. I think my back will be happier than it was last year.

Last year was three hotel rooms, girlfriends car, my rental car, two houses and two airplanes. When I got home I was bragging to MFB that everything made it home with me. Then the library told me I hadn't returned one of the books on CD (unabridged mind you - $$$$). "Are you sure? I know I returned it", I said. They searched through two small community libraries for a week and couldn't find it. They hadn't asked me to pay to replace it - yet. Then two weeks later there was a message on my answering machine saying they had received it in the mail from an airline cleaning crew, and they had no idea how the crew had come across it. Man, did I feel guilty. On my next knit night (we meet at the library) I explained to the librarians that I knew exactly how the crew got it. We all had a laugh about it and they were so gracious about all the work they went through to look for it. I told MFB, Remember when I said how everything made it home with me? Well - I lied". I mentioned to the ladies at the library the other day I was flying to Arizona this week and wanted to check out some books. (Yes I was teasing). Oh airline cleaning crew? You're the best!

Everybody have a safe week - I'll try to pack up the warm weather and bring it back with me and share with you all.