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Dear Ellen,

It seems like forever since I’ve posted a proper note…I guess in the blogosphere 2+ weeks is forever. Hopefully I’ll do better in coming weeks, but there is that pesky wedding thing. As it is, this post will be heavy on photos and light on words. Many may prefer it that way.

First, let me introduce you to our new car. Sammy (whom you can just see in the background) likes her very much. She is very British and very much a tomboy. Her name is Roberta, but we call her Bobby. At least we think her name is Roberta…somehow it’s not quite as certain as Samuela was for Sammy, so I’m wondering if she’s having an identity crisis.

As previously reported, the knitting on the wedding shawl is complete. Here it is drying out in the blocking process. The red-orange stick next to it is a standard yardstick, so that should give you a good sense for it’s size. Here’s some of the detail. I think it’s lovely — some laddering, but it is my first real lace project, so I’m pretty pleased with the overall result. I guess this is my own opportunity to feel a bit smug. I think I told you that it’s around 46,000 stitches, so not half bad for a first lace project. I am going to have to talk Marie into letting me borrow it right after the wedding as I want to bring it in to Guild so the ladies can see how it turned out. They’ve been following it for 4 months, so I feel like I owe them.

Heidi’s socks got blocked too. They were too long for a single set of sock blockers, so I had to improvise and insert the medium blockers into the tops of the large blockers. She has size 11 feet and wanted knee socks. I hope she likes them. They didn’t have 46,000 stitches, but size 11 knee socks can feel like they go on forever — especially when knitting sock number two!

The dogs have been good enough to leave the shawl alone as it dries. Frankly, they are far more interested in playing outside. Here’s Max with our confused Irises. He looks a little confused too. But moments later he decided to look more regal as he surveyed his territory for miscreant squirrels. Ruby was his trusted assistant, but she got bored and sought to return to the indoor treasure trove of stuffed toys with which we have indulged the two of them. They really do have a pretty good deal for former Neopolitan street dogs! They were quite pleased with Uno’s victory in the Westminster. Though he’s a purebred, they felt he was much more a commoner’s dog than the other entries.

I did a little more knitting today as well. I finished the entrelac scarf that I was working on with the sole purpose of learning entrelac. It’s a bit on the short side — I probably should have made it a “block” narrower to get more length, but as long as the recipient wants a single wrap for their neck, it will be fine. Do you like the artistic black and white effect? I’ll block it this week — will see if I can’t get a smidge more length out of it. It’s probably destined for the red scarf project next December.

I had to fish out the photo of Dale and I when we got to meet Alton Brown a few years ago. I doubt he remembers, so I wouldn’t bother bringing it up when you meet him in March. It was exciting for him at the time, but he probably has a Sailor in every port.

Love, Jan