F-R-O-G. The Grammie Hearts lapthrow was just not working for me. Stitches were dropping left and right, the heart pattern was not showing up like I thought. It was giving me heartburn. So it's frogged. I cast back on with the burgundy and rose alpaca held together. Bing, bing, bing - we have a winner (so far). I've added the extra rows of seed stitch on the border and I'm thinking of a purled argyle-type design alternating with rows of stockinette. Here's a pic of the new cast-on.
And the sticky, hot, non-September in Vermit weather? Is just now starting to go away. Thanks, Ophelia!