We have a winner!

It's Ms Alotta.Knittin! I had fully planned to get an action photo of Jack picking the winner out of the sap bucket, but he decided after reconning the paper, he was going to play chase with it (and me.) I would love to send each of you a giftie, but I'm pretty sure The CatMan would think 27 packages a bit excessive! Thank you all for the shout outs and emails!

(BTW, I'm not going to reveal Ms Lotta's giftie here and spoil the surprise. You'll just have to check her blog out in a few days.)

Meanwhile, back at the knitting. In just a few days, it's the next Project Spectrum combo and I'm a bit excited! My plan is to have Scarlet and the two Red Scarves finito by next Saturday. That should leave plenty of time for some socks and the dastardly Mystery Stole 3 (why yes, I'm still at clue #1 ...why do you ask?)

It's a party (and a contest!!)

Next Saturday I celebrate my third year here at Gathering Wool. Since I'm all about the party and the subsequent cake, I'm having a little contest! All you have to do is show up by leaving a shout out in the comments OR dropping me an email** anytime from today through Saturday, July 28. On Sunday July 29, all your names will go into the prize patrol (read: sap bucket) and one name will be randomly drawn (read: recon'd out by Jack the Cat) to win a lovely little giftie as my way of saying "Thanks for reading/lurking/commenting/just being you."

**Send the emails to: the muse medusa AT yahoo DOT com (delete the spaces and change the caps to the appropriate symbols) - enter "PARTYCAKE" in the subject line.

The only knitter still on clue 1.

The week after vacation can really be a bear. As in big, hungry, cranky grizzly. So not much was done in the way of Scarlet (and she's sooooo close to being done!) But I did frog and reknit my Mystery Stole. This pic is up to row 56 - and there is a lifeline.

I took the pattern's multiple 8.5 x 11 pages and messed with them until I got Clues 1 & 2 onto one 11 x 17 piece of paper. It's making for a much tidier knitting bag. I've also finally figured out that black just ain't gonna photograph well. I'm quick that way.

Well, at least I can read about it...

Can I get a Woo?

(That would be the car's antenna bisecting the pic. The CatMan is not Herb Ritts)

Or more like a 'whew'. There was some broilin' (floppy brim hats only work when you remember to take them to the beach), some drankin' (though there weren't many Southern accents where we were), some knittin', and a lot of laughter. The trip was looooooooooong, but luckily we had satellite radio to keep us occupied. Funniest satellite moment? Listening to Spinal Tap during Live Earth: "'ello Wimbledon!"

Part of the joy of unpacking is making up to the cats for leaving them alone in the care of their friend Judy who spoils them to no end. Izzy is not amused that I took my knitting, but not her.

Project specs: Opal Silk/Wool sock yarn, color #1120 (Tiger...rawr!). Knit on Brittany #2s using the tried and true pattern.