Noro by Another Name

Not all Noro yarns are created equal. You'll recall that I am not the least bit fond of yuck yarn - aka: Noro Kureyon - and I believe I have shared that thought more than once. However, Noro makes more than yuck yarn! I had pondered Silk Garden, and my new knitting pal Crimson Purl has been more than gently urging me to give it a try (check out her nearly completed Lizard Ridge!). Now, thanks to Flowerpot, I have some SG of my own to try! What I failed to capture with my camera is that there are also some rich to vivid blues in this colorway. Here's a swatch photo I finally found at Royal Yarns. Obviously, the colors are a bit off in the swatch (at least on my monitor, the photo I took is more true-colored.) Still, the swatch shows the blues and other hues in there. Now, what to knit? It won't be a blanket or a scarf, so just don't go there! It also won't happen too soon, because I have the Sockza socks to finish (I'm ready to move into the heel on sock one; thank goodness for the LONG ride to Myrtle Beach!), and a baby blankie to start and finish post-haste. Yes, yes, I said no non-socks this summer, but my hubby insists that "Baby Ploeg" will arrive with a blankie to be wrapped in. Never mind that since Mommy P (or so we'll call her) is due on August 26th, it will most likely be so hot that a simple cotton blanket will be best. Mark rarely insists upon anything, so BP will have a blankie before he/she arrives, God willing! (Going to Myrtle Beach? I'll be easy to spot. The freak knitting a blankie on the beach...)

But wait! There's more! I also got some shea butter soap - love me some shea butter - and some minty lip balm. There's also a very lovely handmade card, which reminds me that I spent a small fortune in cardmaking and stamping supplies, mostly in the name of making my own cards. I even selected the hostess only stamps that included some yarn and knitting needles, so there's no reason for me to keep rushing to Hallmark. Sigh. Can someone tell me how to make cards without putting down my needles?

Now, you must excuse me, because there's this little white dog, pacing the length of the house with his ball in his mouth. You see, in two days, his eight weeks of no running, no fetching and no jumping (yeah, right) is complete, and we can begin to slowly reintroduce those things into his life. His wee little ACL has mended as best it can, and once again, Mugsy will be chanting, "Throw the ball, throw the ball, throw the ball..." as only he can.