Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Choices, Choices...

November is a big month for The Sheep! First, there's the whole voting thing which I love. Or used to love back when I got to drop my ballot in the big blue box and was rewarded with a sticker. But, even without those nice homey touches, I still have a true affection for the process.

Then there's all the extra knitting time! This week is a short one for Le Sheep. Friday we will be celebrating Veteran's Day and that is a day off for this weary educator! There was a brief period where the project du jour was in question. But since Mommy and Daddy Sheep have chimed in with their thoughts regarding the Feather And Fan scarf and how lovely it would look draped about Mommy S's neck, I'm thinking that this might be the thing to work on during my day off. Fine with me...it's a pretty simple pattern repeat and having an intended recipient will motivate me to knit like the wind. Well, perhaps a gentle breeze. But I'll have all day to work on it so progress will still be made.

Now, the week of Thanksgiving...that's something of a conundrum. You see, my school district gives the kidlets the week off and provides two days of mind numbing workshops for teachers to meet staff development requirements. The good news is that we have some choices with regard to what we get to attend. The bad news is that I have never once managed to get into any of the fun ones. While everyone else will be making jewelry and practicing yoga, The Sheep will be trapped in some endless Power Point presentation outlining the benefits of the no. 2 pencil. Or something like that... Lucky Sheep.

But, The Sheep is not all downcast about this. For, you see, she is a knitter! She has the ability to entertain her very own little self via the joy that comes from creating with naught but sticks and string. Ha!!

The Sheep also has a very tiny ipod into which she has downloaded several books and will be cleverly camouflaging the earbuds beneath her hair during much of the two days. But this we do not discuss...

The tricky part of all this is deciding upon the project. As we have discussed on several occasions, I am not exactly an accomplished knitter. If I focus reeeeeally hard and sacrifice a couple of jelly doughnuts to the gods of knitting then I have a shot at intermediate level projects. Workshops are not exactly conducive to this type of concentration for, at any moment, a boss-type might walk by or the presentation might spontaneously turn into one of those audience participation things. The savvy knitter must be ready to set aside the project at a moment's notice and look highly interested. A sock might be a good choice except that I must also avoid cussin' type projects and heel gussets can lead to sudden and inappropriate outbursts.

I'm going with a scarf. It seems like the safest choice. With this decision made, I am now at the yarn-choosin' stage of the process. This is coming along slowly, but there is still time. I'm leaning towards the corriedale that I spun up this past spring. This could change... And the pattern? Not even a consideration at this point. This could require a day off from work to peruse the possibilities. Whatever the final decision, you can be assured that it will be a nice, simple pattern!

On the homefront, last night's truce between the kitties was short-lived. My hopes for world peace through feline example were dashed an hour after posting my blog entry with great hissing and lashing of tails. The couch population has been reduced by one.





This couch is not a democracy!
I fear I may be ousted next. Good thing I have a job to go to...
SA

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Spoken like a real DIPLOCAT!!!!

Anonymous said...

A nice, simple wash cloth might be in order? I always tell whoever that knitting helps me to concentrate on the speaker. They usually believe me.

Anonymous said...

All that knitting time sounds wonderful! I agree with debsnm, a wash cloth would be a great choice. Also paired with some fancy soap it would be a very nice gift for someone who likes to pamper themself.
We had a nasty dog fight here yesterday. They were yelping and growling. An hour later they were snuggled side by side. Makes no sense.
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/

Anonymous said...

now you got me wondering about this pattern for the scarf. how can you share with me? check your email asap...also, have an absolute gem of a yarn store here outside of ellsworth. perhaps you've heard of it, shirley's. i actually need your help in regards to a project that involves shirley's. must contact me...

sheep#100 said...

What, not a dishcloth?

Anonymous said...

Hats are easy projects, too. A hat might be more easy to conceal than a scarf. I'm pretty impressed by your nerves of steel and being able to do that thing we must not discuss. I'd be too nervous to try that trick. :)

April said...

I'm so glad to see you're taking such good care of my kitty.

Anonymous said...

Do anything you must to stay awake during those "workshop" days. The leaders tend to frown on napping. Glad the feather and fan message was received. The suggestion of a face cloth with some nice soap might be nice for the unknown 18 year old coming to the family gathering on the 25th of Dec. Enjoy your day off Friday,
Mommy Ewe

Anonymous said...

lucky you getting to knit through meetings, I wish I were so fortunate. Plus holding a pointy stick during meeting might get me more respect!

I'd go with a washcloth1

Cursing Mama said...

Several thoughts -

I want Veterans Day off .... :(

You can download books on the ipod? I knew I needed one of those things.

Irish Hiking Scarf is an awesome knit - so easy to find & fix the required mistakes.

Anonymous said...

Yesterday all cat races were joined together in harmony on the couch. Today, they are practicing separate but equal in different rooms. But they're going to join together in a revolution shortly if "housekeeping" does not attend to the cleaning of their facilities! :)

I'd do the scarf myself. :)

Hannah said...

A scarf sounds perfect. When I am at important meetings, I am often knitting a seed-stitch (k1, p1 over an odd number of stitches) scarf. Drapes well, is super easy, and requires no concentration.

When I am at OTHER (ie, boring) meetings--it is LACE ALL THE WAY!

My knitting husband would second what Debsnm says: knitting keeps him awake and aware of what the speakers are saying!

Mia said...

I can only laugh at your "conundrums" Sheepie :-)

Emma said...

Come on and join the Knitting Democrats, Sheepie. You know you want to!

mehitabel said...

This morning my two sworn enemies were both vying for my attention...while I was trying to stay asleep, and worried about becoming the launching pad for one or the other. It's happened. I have the scars to prove it. Then I realized--she was washing his head, and he was letting her. Oh my. Of course, once I was up and about it was snarlsville again...