Still Here, Still Knitting

Oh Hi!  You may have wondered where I was, or if I had gone over to the dark side after the quiet book and become a full time felt crafter.  (HA)  Not to worry... this little hiatus was much more relaxing.

Our annual trip to Maui warmed me up for 10 days and reminded me what a warm sun feels like.  Sadly the weather wasn't as perfect as it sometimes is, (always a risk going in January),  and we had a few rainy days that forced me inside and kept me knitting.  I always lament that I never knit on vacation, well, this time I did!  (It probably helps that MiL was there and was also knitting so she sort of "put me in the mood" to pick up the needles.)

(Blurry sock, clear view... sorry about that!)  It's not a tonne of progress, but it's just enough of progress to make me feel like I did something crafty while I was there.  I ventured off the course of just a "plain Jane sock" this time and decided to do the "Vanilla Bean Striped Sock" just to add a little bit of interest to the game.

Before we left, I wasn't able to squeeze in another blog post but there was some knit "excitement" here.

My beautiful Wollmeise arrived, even after I swore I wouldn't order anymore.  (I was weak!  It was my birthday... it was like a sign that I had to just order the damn thing!)  The color, as always is beautiful and I hope that I actually knit with it.  To be honest though, I'm kicking myself a little because this is very close to another Wollmeise color I already have... and I should have maybe thought my purchase through a little more.  Oh well... one can never really have enough red so I'll make due!

I also, on a whim, decided to squeeze in another little hat to add to the collection, I just made up the pattern as I went.

Now that I'm home, I've dived back into the Umaro blanket, which I can work on again without any distractions.  Progress is moving along at a decent pace, but I'm already finding myself thinking about other things to knit instead.  (I have the attention span of a gnat apparently.)  I'm liking the pattern, but I had a better idea of something to knit for my friend this was intended for and now I'm feeling less inspired by what I'm doing.  (Friend is pregnant with their "flood baby" [they were flooded out and "consoled each other" - 9 months later flood baby is set to make it's arrival] and I kind of wish I had done a water themed blanket for them.  I'm toying with the idea of changing up my project mid knitting here.... but I'm not sure it's the best idea.  I want to be cheeky, not insensitive... they are still not back in their home and likely won't be for at least the remainder of this year, that's a TOUGH pill to swallow for anyone.  I can't decide it will be funny, or SO NOT FUNNY.)

I need to decide what I'm doing- by TOMORROW at NOON at the latest.  I have yet to commit to something on the Ravellenic Games (knitting challenge during the Olympics).  I'm smart enough to realize that I can't knit a blanket in 2 weeks.  I just can't.  It's not even ok for me to think that it could be a possibility.  I'm fast... but I'm not insanely fast.  But truthfully, starting another sock, or a pair of mittens when I have a large number of babies coming up isn't practical.  I need to knit blankets.  I just do.  So I think what I'll do is set a certain "inches" goal instead.  Like I need to be 30 inches on the Umaro blanket or if I DO change my plans mid knitting here, a certain number of inches on the new blanket.  (Am I insane to even be considering this?)  I'll let you know next week what I decide.

In the mean time- I thought I'd catch you up on the goings on here and assure you, I'm still here and I'm still knitting.