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True Test Begins

The longest vacation time I've taken away from work in the last 20 years or so has been for a total of three weeks.  In the past after those three weeks off a need for familiarity would come over me.  The thought of returning to work was a welcome opportunity to return to a known routine.  Upon retirement I wondered how I would fare during the fourth week and beyond.

So doing the math this morning, I realized yesterday was the first day of that fourth week.  The fact that it was necessary to actually do the math is a good sign.  So far there's been no pining for a routine yet, because there has been no need for one.  The great thing about retirement so far is this, if I am tired I sleep, bored I get out and do something, hungry, there's plenty of options to eat in (yes, the cupboards are now pretty well stocked) or out (and by out I mean walk a couple of blocks to a host of options).   With family and friends around, there is someone or something going on all the time.  But stay tuned, who knows what the rest of the week/retirement will bring.

On the knitting scene, like a true intuitive type, I started a new project rather than finish what is already on needles.  Those projects must be finished soon, however, because infants are growing fast!  The new project is a lace scarf, using South West Trading Company's Yang yarn purchased from StevenBe's on Friday.  This yarn is a blend of wool, silk and bamboo with tiny sequins attached.  Some reviewers of the yarn complained the strand on which the sequins are strung separates making the yarn split, but I haven't had that problem.  The pattern I'm using is called Arches and Columns, designed by Melanie Lewis and featured on the Crystal Palace Yarn website.  This is a great first lace project because the repeat is every four rows, and yet the simple design packs a visual punch.  See for yourself, there are arches and columns:
So far with Arches and Columns

In for the close up.  Note the tiny little twinkles from the sequins.
The scarf has only been started, several more feet/meters need to be added to it.  And of course like any lace, it needs to be blocked for the true beauty to shine, but you get an idea here of how it will look.  Just in case some inquiring minds need to know, those green lines of yarn running horizontally through the project are lifelines.  Even though this is a simple pattern, mistakes can and already have be made.  The lifeline makes correcting them a whole lot easier.  And there a two lifelines just in case, two are better than one for me.  I learned this lesson the hard way a while back.

As week four unfolds, I will check on my need for normalcy and let you know how it goes.  In the meantime rest assured there will be knitting done.





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