Pressure

I work well under pressure. Really, I do. That must be why I seem to be trying to create some for myself.

I've been progressing well on the Tuscany Shawl for my sister. I am halfway through the 7th pattern repeat of 11 total. I think I might need a couple extra repetitions since I've subbed both smaller yarn and needles. Even so, it's looking good that this gift will be completed, blocked and wrapped by it's due date.

So, obviously, I brought home this:

Anne by Schaefer. I'm not sure which color without checking the bottom of my yarn bag for the tag.

I started thinking that since my sister is getting some handknit lace for her very special 30th birthday, doesn't my mom deserve some lace for her equally special 60th birthday? Here's the thing...mom's birthday is 4 days before my sister's.

Ignoring the idiocy of this plan and the slim chance it has of success, help me pick a pattern! I am thinking either

a.) Knitpicks Candle Flame Scarf (the colors make this seem even better)

OR

b.) Branching Out form the Spring 2005 issue of Knitty.

I want to make either one as a smaller scarf that would be worn maybe draped around the neck with a button down blouse.

In other news, my peach tree is blooming! After 10 years in a townhouse with a yard only big enough for the dog to "go" in, all the plants growing in my yard are just amazing.

Children and Lace

All morning at work I was daydreaming about coming home, sitting in the sun in the backyard and working on the Tuscany shawl from No Sheep for You while my children played happily in the yard.

*Snort*

I was greeted at the door by syrup sticky, pajama wearing, bed headed kids. No problem. I washed and dressed the kids and was ready to head outside. What? Hungry? Ok. Make, eat, and clean up lunch. Now, outside we go. Oh, you need something to drink? Alright, I'll just set my yarn on the patio table and run in the kitchen for a minute.

What do I see out the window not 90 seconds later? My son streaking by clutching a large ball of alpaca, yarn trailing the ground, followed by my daughter chasing him with the shawl end on the needles. Believe it or not they didn't pull off any stitches. I guess I need a safer place to keep my yarn when I run inside for a minute.

The shawl is for my sister for her 30th birthday. I'm really enjoying the pattern so far. It's not quite autopilot, so I'm not bored; but I'm still able to talk or watch tv while working on it. I've got just over a month to finish and block it. I'm not usually great with deadlines, but I am not giving this gift still on the needles. It could get very entertaining for everyone else as we get down to the wire.