After a few misleading clues from the CatMan, he finally revealed our destination. We had a lovely weekend in Montreal's Centreville. This is the view from our room in the Courtyard Marriott on Sherbrooke. We walked to the Museum and had a wonderful dinner at Cafe Bistro le Baroque (190 Sainte-Catherine Rue Ouest - right across the street from the Museum.) The weekend was cool and rainy, but perfect for some rest and regrouping. To top it all off, we stopped by IKEA on the way home. I think we always disappoint the Border Crossing when we declare so little after an IKEA run!
Project specs: This pattern
One skein Sockotta cotton/superwash wool (color 5613) on #3 needles.
This was a quick knit and I like the result. If I knit it again, I'll probably use a different yarn (I'm a matchy-matchy girl).
In weekend news, the CatMan is whisking me away for a surprise getaway. I've got no details (did I mention how I hate surprises?), but a couple of projects will be going with me to keep us company. I just wish I knew where we were going (and if there will be yarn for sale!)
Red Scarf #2.
Notice the lack of matchy front stripe-age. And the big bars of colors on the sleeves. The pattern has a remarkable lack of guidance - at no point are you given the overall length of the garment or the sleeves. This is a slight problem for me since I don't have kids or know of anyone within a needle's throw who does. So I culled what information I could from other baby patterns I had on hand. I'm thinking once I finish, block this puppy, and sew on the buttons I will be much happier than I am right now. 
And in preparation for upcoming projects, I wound off some more of the "alpaca cones that will not die." Note the green/blue cone is a full 2.2 kilos; the burgundy and black have had some major knitting applied against them. I think I'll be keeping company with these kids for a good long time.
This weekend I'm hoping to make headway on the 1 x 3rd Time ribbed sweater.
As Norma has mentioned, the colors aren't as vivid this year, but I'll take 'em. The Catman observed there so many wooly bears, the road seems more like an obstacle course. That can't bode well for the winter, can it?
The pairs not yet apparent, but getting there. One Urban Rustic (which fits and looks better on than in the pic) and one Soctoberfest sock.
Non-progress on the 1 x 3 ribbed sweater.
However, I did pick out red yarn (Cascade Heathers) for Red Scarf #2. I'll be knitting this along with the buttery yellow and soft orange from my stash.
Pretty, hmmm?
Some gorgeous Berroco Foliage to knit Urban Rustic for my niece's birthday in 16 (!!) days.
And to confirm I'm completely off my rocker, the co-worker's baby that I thought was due in December? Is due in a month. Ack. I was going to attempt the Sockotta baby cardigan using this:
My entry will be from 2 skeins of Jawoll Superwash Cotton in my favorite pattern on #2 Brittanys (as modeled by Senor El Cinco). 
From left to right: (all squares were knit with yarn from my stash. I think my grandparents would have appreciated the frugality of it all!)
Block 1: In memory of my grandfather William Cryder (who died when I was 5 months old). This square is Jawoll washable sock yarn in a green/yellow/red colorway (the ball band has long since disappeared) knit together with black Peruvian alpaca in a fingering weight. I love how the square looks like stained glass. I threw in some vertical twisted ribs to add some texture to the plain garter stitch.
Block 2: In memory of my grandfather Charles "Shep" Shetler. This square is a basketweave stitch done in Berella Country Garden D.K. machine washable 100% Merino, in a soft sage green. The yarn made me think of how Pop-pop loved to garden, especially irises.
Block 3: In memory of my grandmother Lula "Sister" Shetler. This square is pink/lilac/taupe variegated wool sock yarn from Dorchester Farms knit with Froehlich Wolle washable sock yarn in taupe. I did an open dropstitch pattern in keeping with Grammie's love of crochet. (If I had really planned this out, I would have figured out how to do a chevron pattern.)
Block 4: In honor of my grandmother Irene Nell Holcomb Cryder. This is the first block I knitted for the project. It's a trinity stitch square combining 2 strands of Baby Ull; one in periwinkle, the other a sky blue. I used the trinity stitch to honor the fact she has been a spiritual mentor for me and the colors are her favorite.
Thanks Kristy and company for taking on this project! I hope we have enough squares to give to all the residents.
Ayep, there be some weird ribbing issues here. And friends? I continued knitting. Clearly, I live in the Land of Delusion, on the banks of Denial. This morning, armed with a cup of coffee and a full night's sleep, is Frog Fest #2. I'll be casting back on in 1 x 3 ribbing, hoping it's the charm.
This is some recycled silk yarn purchased from The Wool Peddler. I have knitted with recycled yarn before, but I really like this all-silk version. You can't tell from the wonky photo, but it's shiny, soft, and making a perfect little 'tossed-on chic' scarf for moi. I also purchased some funky yellow-green handspun/dyed wool (sorta the same color as the background of the lower left quilt block above) from a little NH farm with no website.
IMHO, the Sheep and Wool Fest wasn't nearly as much fun as last year (and it has nothing to do with the fact it wasn't the same weekend as KYarns Tent Sale.) The location at the Fairgrounds had moved and the exhibits/vendors were in two different buildings instead of under one roof. Many of us trotted down one path only to be redirected and backtracked by fair personnel (note to the powers that be: signs are our friends). It didn't seem there were as many vendors (no Dorchester Farms this year...wah!) and far more roving than a non-spinner needs to see. But as I said, this is just my humble opinion.
In other knitting news: a finished pic of the Dangerous Serengeti Wrap (it's folded in half here), appropriated by Miss Cashew who is fighting the good fight with another bladder stone (we believe she is winning this one thanks to a special diet).
Here's the start of the Top Down Swing Coat. I'm trying to ignore the sneaky suspicion that I may not have enough yarn. 
And to confirm my total lack of self-control in the WIP department, here's a pic of Red Scarf #1, utilizing the OCD squares. This is a case where the object is definitely wonky, not the photograph - I just need to decide how much wonk I'm willing to deal with. 
This is scarf #1 for the October scarves project. A LYS (Knitters Laine, no apostrophe or website) is providing scarves for a breast cancer retreat to be held in Burlington in October. This is a feather/fan pattern using the pink 'alpaca cone that will not die' from the stash.
