Finally, some knitting content! I started the Trinity Stitch Shawl last night and became so addicted I stayed up past 11 working on it. Bad idea, as I still woke up at 5:30 this morning. Anyway, this is my kind of pattern - just two rows, easily memorized, suitable for tv watching knitting, I definitely recommend it as a first shawl or an "I'm too tired/lazy to concentrate on a tricky pattern" shawl for anyone. Easy and pretty is my idea of an ideal pattern, and my idea of easy is REALLY easy. The only problem I had (which caused me to rip and re-start twice) was adjusting my tension to knit even more loosely than usual. Because of the repeats of knitting three times into one stitch my hands started to ache. I'm working in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece from the stash and it's not the stretchiest of yarns, and I think that contributed to the aching hands problem, but once I figured out what I was doing to myself and concentrated on working slowly and keeping my stitches relaxed, my hands felt better. I probably wouldn't have picked Cotton Fleece as the yarn for this if I didn't have a boatload of it on hand from the ebay yarn-buying self-medication of this time last year. I need to work through that yarn, and this seems like a good way.

I think I need a new needle, though. I'm using what I think is an Inox circular, size 10 (because Catherine always has to go down a needle size from the pattern's recommendation) and it has a rough spot at the join between needle and cable - it's driving me nuts. I also think this needle is too slick for the yarn, and a bamboo needle with a better point would be the best thing for working the "three stiches in one stitch." (Oh man, I'm so dumb! I just got the theological reference - I thought it was just because the pattern stitches were worked in threes, but no, it's the Three-in-one! Very clever!) My enormous needle stash does not contain an appropriate long bamboo needle with a fine point, so it looks like a quick order from JKL Needles is in the plan for today.

Along with after-work trips to the post office and Home Despot. We've been visited by that great Florida tradition, the "pop-up shower" - the weatherbunny name for "I can't tell you if it's going to rain or when, but chances are you will get soaked at random, or maybe not...." I planned to finally make it to the post office yesterday at lunch when the skies opened up. Then I was going to hit Home Depot on the way home from work when the black clouds gathered again (and faked me out that time, they dumped on some other neighborhood). I'm tempted to take a half day of PTO today. The Boss is off, and I could run errands and get all this stuff done and off my conscience...we'll see what the weather does, that's starting to sound like a plan. I just need about four hours of roaming the immediate vicinity on errands to get caught up here. Because though I am off for a week while the kitchen is installed, I will be here monitoring Persons in Toolbelts and not free to roam the streets in search of adventure. Or Goodwill drop-off stations, as the case may be.

Bess mentioned the glorious No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books in her Monday entry. I second it - if you haven't gotten around to reading these yet, treat yourself this summer. They're indescribably delicious (and carb and calorie free). You may develop a craving for redbush tea, though. It's also delicious, and very good for you.