Anticipation!

Today is the 12th anniversary of my employment at Cisco. Rob asked me if I wanted to go out and celebrate but I declined. Twelve years at a high tech company could be considered a milestone of sorts but certainly doesn't merit a celebration like a birthday or wedding anniversary would. After leaving the office I stopped by Dahlia Lounge bakery and picked up panini sandwiches for dinner and rhubarb tarts for dessert. Even though it is pouring down rain and gloomy outside, it will be fun to reflect back on the changes I have witnessed in this industry as well as lament today being the deadline for filing Income Taxes. Rob was hard at work finishing up our returns this afternoon and then went for a ride on his bike before dinner. I am in the midst of finishing up two immediate Nihon Vogue projects - both cardigans. The round neck cardigan needs sleeves and button bands. The V neck cardigan needs quite a bit more than that as I have to finish a few inches on the back, the last half of the fronts and two complete sleeves. The V neck will definitely be on the docket to travel to Hawaii with me when we leave on Sunday morning. Amusing how I spend more time figuring out what knitting projects to take with me on a trip than I do in determining what clothes to bring! Thankfully, this trip will be easy from a wardrobe perspective since it is a vacation in the tropics - swimsuit, shorts, Tshirts, sundress. Whoo hoooo!
I am planning to make a baby sweater for a dear friend who is due in the fall. It is from Dale of Norway and is called "Marihone". I had to source the yarn from three different stores in order to find the exact or approximate colors I needed. SpinBlessing in Oregon provided most of the colors and the darling lady bug buttons, Cultured Purl had the purple and So Much Yarn had the black skein. I have made small fair isle bags but haven't tackled a fair isle garment, so I am looking forward to learning some new skills and techniques. The size 2 needles will be a first for me as well as I like working with worsted weight the best. Another project I have to spend time thinking at length about is the Project 8 for Nihon Vogue which is "Design My Own". I don't know that I will be up for another cardigan so soon after projects 5 and 6. I am extremely fond of texture and aran style sweaters and am attracted to the cables in this sweater that I discovered in a Japanese book I purchased at Kinokuniya Bookstore in Seattle. I have several stitch pattern books I'll be studying over the next few weeks as Jean wants us to review our Project 8 plan with her in the next class which will be the end of May. I am finding great enjoyment in the planning and design process. Sad to say, harder to admit - I have a staggering amount of yarn and purchased patterns that do not hold the same appeal for me today as when I initially purchased them.