This isn't the only thing I'm doing but for the moment, it's consuming my attention. One thing I've discovered in all this cleaning is that I have a LOT of yarn. I can't tell you how many times I've culled and given BAGS of it away. You would think I'm a certified knitter...or crocheter.

The truth is, I'm a bonafide sucker for pretty fiber, be it yarn, thread, ribbon, fabric or animal hair. I see something pretty and my brain immediately imagines at least one thing I'm GOING TO MAKE! By the time I get home, I've already forgotten the exact inspired idea half the time, but there are always dozens of others to take its place. This yarn was originally meant to be something for my oldest granddaughter. Probably a sweater since I seem to have skeins and skeins of it. I do remember giving her a skein of it while teaching her to knit. I guess since I gave it to her to play with, the sweater idea was immediately discarded.

For a couple of years now, I've been wanting to make a cowl or a wimple or a neck-something-or-other. They look to be much faster to make than a shawl or sweater or cape, right? Quick and easy gifts too. So every time I see a skein of yarn to-die-for - I buy one skein. That's all it takes, I'm sure. Or mittens. I was making the foldover mittens for my grandkids one year. Big plans don't always match up with time and energy. I've got yarn for my youngest granddaughter too. I know from my other grandkids that it's not always a good idea to jump in there and make something. Sizes change. Color preferences change. Okay...she's too young to talk but mom might have some input there. And until I know for sure that I will have the time to start AND finish it, I don't want to start.

Now...I've been wanting to make one of these cowls for myself for ages. I started a different one as a gift last year and it's still in the beginning stage. I got stuck on something. I didn't really intend to knit this one right now. I was making a swatch and trying to figure out how to work the circular needles I have. I've used them before but it's been a long time. Way long. So once I figured everything out and I'm not going to tell you how many times I started over, I decided to go for it.

So far I have three inches done, plus another inch that was turned and knitted in with a picot edge. I've had to correct a few mistakes which I'm grateful to have found to begin with.

And now I feel a need to keep at it until it is DONE.

Even so, I took time out today to go to my lace guild's Christmas carry-in and exchange. It was a fun afternoon. I won a commemorative bobbin from Carolyn Regnier. Our lace day next April will also commemorate a 30 year anniversary. I got a set of lovely tapestry crochet potholders from Dagmar. She taught the tapestry crochet at our last guild meeting.

I'm too tired right now to get the bobbin and potholders to scan and add.

You see, I've spent a good part of the evening shampooing the living room carpet. Half of it. When it's dry, we'll move the furniture over and I'll shampoo the other half. THEN I can put my tree up!

I've decided this will be the last year I put up this big tree. I have more than enough ornaments but it's becoming more of a chore than fun to get it all out. I love Christmas trees so I don't want to give them up but it's time to go to something smaller and more manageable.

So..I'm waiting on the carpet to dry, hopefully enough to move the sofa out of the hallway, and I'll knit for awhile and then go to bed!