Need to Pick Up the Pace A Bit

Olympic view has happened every night, but not Ravellenic knit.  I'm a bit behind schedule on knitting.  The pattern calls for 14 repeats of the budding lace motif.  I am in the middle of the 12th repeat. After that I have 22 rows for the Lily of the Valley motif, 10 rows of lace border, 8 rows of scalloped lace edging and then bind off.  I have to get cranking.  I also hope I have enough yarn.  It will be a major failure if I get near the finish line and run out of yarn.  I'm not going to get discouraged yet.  Keep pushing forward!  This is what makes the games exciting.

Speaking of exciting games, I watched the USA vs Russia men's hockey game this morning.  Wow!!! Couldn't have asked for a more exciting game.  It was hard to cheer against the Russian goal tender Sergei Bobrovski.  He is the goal tender for the Columbus Blue Jackets, my favorite NHL team. 3 other Blue Jackets played for Russia, but I didn't hear their names mentioned much during the contest.  Bob did a great job, but not so great that Russia won.  He needs to shake it off and get back into the groove when he returns to Columbus after the Sochi games.

On one final note, I didn't get the Navajo knitting scarf finished by Valentine's Day.  I will finish it shortly after the Swallowtail shawl is complete.  It will be nice to get 2 finished objects done during the beginning of the year.  Maybe I'll shoot for one finished object a month.  Hmm, that will be a big stretch goal.  I do have a major project planned that cannot be done in a month.  And I have Trisha's college blanket to work on.  I'll have to think through this goal thing a little more.

My Entry in the Ravellenic Games

The Winter Olympics started yesterday and I began my entry in the Ravellenic Games.  This year I am making the Swallowtail Shawl out of a skein of Poems Sock that I bought last September at a fiber festival. It looks like I am off to a fast start, but as with any triangular shawl, the first rows do fly by.

I love  the colors in this yarn.  It has long color repeats.  It is giving a peacock effect I think.

I decided on this pattern for several reasons.  First, I love the shawl and have had it marked as a Favorite for some time.  Second, I have a ton of sock yarn, but can't seem to get motivated to finish a pair of socks with them.  Lace holds my interest far longer.  Third, I have started wearing shawls, especially smaller ones that I can wrap like a scarf.  And finally, and as the challenge part, I can't seem to finish any project quickly because I get distracted by another shiny object.  Trying to get this done in two weeks should be short enough time span to not risk getting off track by another pattern.  That darn knitting ADD!!!!

In case you are wondering, I have not yet finished the Navajo knitting scarf.  I did work on it a little more today when I was out with some friends.  It is my take-along project.  I'm still trying to get it done by Valentine's Day.  It will be a challenge to do that and keep up the pace with the Swallowtail shawl.

Halfway Through Winter

Today's paper had an article that stated that this winter hasn't been as bad as it feels.  We've had the coldest temperatures in over 20 years and more than normal snowfall.  However, the statistics show that we are not at record breaking levels for the most part.  One day in January set a record for the coldest temperature on that date. I really don't care what the statistics say.  It is cold and I'm getting tired of it.  I do like winter, but this year is a bit too much for me.

One thing the statistics can't refute is that we've had some rare phenomena.  This was the first time I had ever heard of a Polar Vortex. I'm sure it has happened in the past, but it was never called that name.  Another phenomenon, which I had heard of but never seen, is snow rollers.   Last Sunday night we had high winds. On Monday snow rollers were everywhere.  

This one was in my side yard.  It was a lonely, single one.

This one was in a field along the road.

It was not so lonely.

I was a little obsessive about them.  As I drove to and from work I would try to spot new ones.  It was a fun game while it lasted.  Thursday was sunny, which melted off a few, and then yesterday went above freezing.  Today's forecast is calling for temperatures in the mid 40s F with rain.  That will take care of any remaining snow rollers.

Speaking of obsessing, I am totally enthralled with the scarf I started in the Navajo knitting class.  Here it is.

It is about 18 inches long.  I'm not quite halfway through the ball of yarn.  The instructor said that the scarf when finished should be long enough to wrap twice around the neck.  I can't wait to get it done.  It is really keeping my interest.  I hope to have it done by Valentine's Day.  A very doable goal at this rate.

Here is a close up of the texture.

The color red is appropriate for February.  Not only is Valentine's Day in February, but February is also Heart Health Month.  The color red has been adopted for this campaign. The ripples of this scarf remind me of heart beats.  Appropriate, I would say.