There's so much going on...

I haven't been to the library much recently, which is where I do most of my online work (the free wireless is great).  That doesn't  mean that there hasn't been plenty of work going on at Orchard Ranch.  We've been packing in preparation for moving to another state, and that's taken up most of my daylight time.  We've been dreading this chore, but it's been really good for us.  Both the Emperor and I have been purging our files, shredding outdated financial and other documents, and sifting through our libraries for books we could send to charity.  This move is going to make us much leaner in the personal possessions department!  That said, I haven't yet begun to pack my workshop.  It shouldn't be too bad -- I organized everything about three years ago and have pretty much kept things clean since then.  It will be a matter of taking smaller, labeled boxes off of shelves and putting them in bigger boxes to take upstairs.  The worst of the packing will be my craft magazine collection, which I plan to haul upstairs an armful at a time and then put into boxes.
Spinning and knitting have continued, however.  First, I finished the Riot of Spring Socks last week sometime.  Oh, they're so pretty.  I was sorry to see this yarn end.

Here's where things became interesting.  While I was at our local yarn store for the weekly spinning group (it's just  me and The Amazing A-- right now) the yarn rep came through to demonstrate her wares.  Before I knew it, she had spread an incredible smorgasbord of yarns all over the table, and I got to watch as our LYS manager picked out this autumn's offerings.  I even got to help a little with picking the Opal sock yarns!

I've already begun the next pair of socks -- I'm calling them the Berries and Cream Socks because they're purple, blue, and white with some dark green mixed in.  It's basically the same yarn I used for the Riot of Spring socks (Opal Schafpate III).  I really like this yarn, and the company goes out of its way to create beautiful and interesting color groups.

On June 2, I finished the Neck-Down Swing Cardigan.  I loved the pattern, I loved the yarn, but I seriously overestimated my own size (despite hitting the gauge right on the money).  I'm a big girl, but I'm not this big.  The sweater is washed and blocked and has sat for its portrait.  Oh my gosh, this yarn washes up so soft.



And finally, amidst all of the sorting and organizing, I found the scarf I banged together with that oh-so-fashion-forward yarn I brought home from Italy almost five years ago.  I've worn it exactly twice.  The yarn struck me as being too pretty and too fun to just keep the scarf in the bottom of the drawer, so I brought it to the surface and frogged it.  Here's the scarf, before the big frog:

The yarn is perfect for one of those elongated seed stitch cowls (like the ones being made from super-chunky Malabrigo Rasta yarn) and now this project has become my mindless knitting, to occupy my hands when my brain is fried from sorting and filing.  Look at how it's turning out:

That thick-and-thin is giving this a gorgeous texture.  I don't know what kind of buttons to put on it yet, if any -- this might be the cowl for a nice scarf pin.  I love my Rasta cowl, and now I can't wait to wear this one, too, next winter.

Okay, it's back to the packing for this sherpa.