Secret Pal strikes again!

Friday, the Queen Princess had off school. She wasn't feeling well (sinus infection). So we were home all day, with me being her nurse.

Then the mail arrived. And guess what? I got a package from my Secret Pal!! She sent me a card, some stitch markers she made (I have a talented SP!), and some beads. I'm not sure what I'm going to use the beads for yet, but they are beautiful. The pictures, I'm sure, don't do them justice. As if that's not enough, she tells me that there's another package on its way to me! How awesome is my SP?!? Thanks SP (sorry for taking so long to let you know I got the package!)!!

Now on to knitting. Sit down...I actually FINISHED some items! Can you believe it?? I'll bet you all thought I just knit and started new projects and never finished anything!

Remember the Killer Shawl? It's done. Off the needles. Turned into church. Ready for the next needy person (and another triangle shawl has been started). It is such a quick knit! Less than a week (and there were 2 whole days I didn't work on it at all!). You can see it in the background of the 1st picture of the gifts my SP sent me. I didn't take a picture of the completed shawl - I was just too excited to have another shawl finished.

Speaking of the prayer shawls. Wednesday night I found out that the first shawl I finished had been given to someone! It was given to a woman who's husband recently died. It was presented to her at the funeral. She is an older woman who is not in great health. In fact, she got out of the hospital the day of her husband's funeral. She will have to live in a nursing home (her husband took care of her) now. I'm told that she likes the shawl, the softness of it, and the color.

I love to knit. Sometimes, I think I HAVE to knit. Knitting is something I'd do even if there was no need for the items I knit. It's an amazing feeling when something you've knit goes to someone else, and helps them.

I watched Knitty Gritty a few weeks ago. They were making Fluffy Cuff Mittens. I liked the mittens & thought they looked like something I could do. With all of my increasing of stash, I had some yarn that would work for the mittens. So yesterday I knit one. Yes, one. I'm not happy with the size of this mitten, so I'm calling this my "test" mitten (excuse the pictures - I'm left-handed, the mitten is for the left hand ...and it's not that easy to take a picture of your own hand!). Tonight I'll probably cast on for the left mitten (for real, this time) & then do the right as soon as I finish. I liked making it - it was a quick knit for me - and the first time I'd ever knit in the round using dpn's (I've only ever used circs before). Black & red do not match my coat (I had the yarn in my "stash", you see) but they are my high school's colors.

In other knitting news...

Sock: I'm at the heel part of the sock. I need to be in a room by myself, where I'm able to concentrate, to do that. I haven't had that time to myself yet.

Irish Hiking Scarf: I haven't worked on that for a long time. I just haven't felt like doing cables.

Odessa: I decided to use the same yarn that I'm using for my Irish Hiking Scarf. That way the two will "match". I know, I know. Cabled scarf and Odessa do not match, but I'm going to wear them as a pair. They both will match the color of my coat! Oh! I have the beads on the yarn...so it won't be long til I cast on for Odessa!

Felted Bag: I knitted a bag, using some Nature Wool and the Wool of the Andes (from my SP). I'm finished with the knitting of the bag. I'm working on the handles (I just haven't felt like knitting i-cord lately!). Some day, soon, that bag will be finished & felted.

That's all for now. Enjoy the weekend...and MAKE it a great day!