In the end...

The Trekking bamboo version of the Pretty Thing cowl has been frogged.  The yarn was a bit splitty, and I didn't like the hand of the yarn -- at least, the thought of the yarn next to my neck wasn't an appealing thought.  I got out the bobbin full of bison single yarn, but haven't plied it yet.  In desperation, I defaulted to my stash and brought out my single ball of cashmere silk.  It's like knitting with a wisp of a cloud!  The yarn is mostly fuzz with a silk core, but it's stronger than it looks for its size, and shows stitch definition beautifully.  And look at the color!  The yarn is Filatura di Crosa Superior, from their 2007 line and that color is discontinued, darn them.  But at the price this yarn is supposed to go for, I don't think I could afford to buy another one anyway.

When the LYS had its one-year anniversary celebration, the owner put balls of yarn in "grab bags," charged a nominal price, and let customers pick based on color.  As you may have noticed, my favorite color is orange... so I picked the orange bag, and this was what was in it.

What's going on is that I'm coping with a massive case of startitis, and at the precise moment that I ought to contract a case of finishitis because of Christmas.  I'm doing everything I can to resist making another tea cozy (this one) before I finish not only the Emperor's socks but this delightful cashmere cowl.  I may not win that battle this week.

Today was the last day of instruction at school, and we had our department party.  I ended up bringing three schmears --  an edamame hummus, some of my world-famous curry-chutney dip, and some of my nearly-as-famous cinnamon honey dip (for apple slices).  There was an amazing array of food there already, so everybody ate a small amount of everything except the tiramisu -- everybody had a pile of the tiramisu, and there was still half of it left over.  I took home the leftovers from my dips, and we'll be schmearing it on all kinds of stuff for days.

So I'm happy, bone tired, and have plenty to knit.  After looking back on the past five years, I'm glad to say that I've finally come to rest in a place where I feel effective and wanted.  It doesn't get better than that!