It has been a very busy August at Casa Del KatKnits.

If I did not know better, I would think that I have been transported to Lake Woebegone as we had but one weekend of summery weather. In addition, that coincided with the Michigan Fiber Festival. Therefore, it appears that summer came and went in one short weekend.

One more child is ready to head off to college and life is indeed moving onward.

While I am sure that it will be very bittersweet when she heads off, there is something amazingly freeing about this passage of life.

Over the past weeks, there has been a malaise on the Knitting Front and not much has been moving off my needles. However, I did manage to cast on and knit the Milkweed Shawl in three short days. I used my friend Carla’s fabu hand-dyed yarn – it is the Cameron color way, if you are interested, you can find her Etsy shop here. Her sense of color is wonderful. It is a blessing to call her friend!

There has been some spinning going on, however. I had two entries in the Michigan Fiber Festival Skein competition. I entered last year as well, but left with nothing but my entries and some moderately constructive criticism. This did not daunt my enthusiasm to try again this year and after more practice and even another lesson or two, I came away this year with not one, but two ribbons for my efforts, a first place blue ribbon, and a second place red! I have indeed improved my craft. The same judge this year as last and while the judging is very blind – I would love her to see my skeins from last year so she could know that she did not defeat me, but rather she inspired me to be better. A year of progression from her comment “could be a little more consistent in plying and thickness” to “thickness consistent, no weak spots, beautiful, balanced…” Now, what to spin for next year… 18 wpi might be the avenue of choice…we shall indeed see.

I have also been weaving up a storm; Gina Lollobrigida has not sat idle! With some encouragement from some incredible friends, I am entering a piece in the “I Made It on My Schacht” contest. The pictures taken and the email sent. I have no hopes at all of winning anything, being a brand, spanking new weaver. However, I have stepped outside of my box and that I always a good thing. I am hoping for some constructive criticism from Jane Patrick, whose autograph adorns my loom. I have a new piece of furniture in my living room, thanks to the lovely Jillian who brought over a surprise when she visited recently. I need to warp her and soon and get all of those eight shafts working! I am beyond thrilled.

Because there is no rest for the wicked, I still am working nights. However, I am waiting (and not so patiently….) for the interview process to begin for a position at work. It would be more of a daytime schedule! My hope is that the interviews will happen soon and I will have something positive to report.

I would be remiss in not mentioning Senator Edward Kennedy’s passing this week – a great loss indeed. I respected and admired him greatly. He will leave big shoes to fill, very big shoes…

And with that, Gentle Reader, I bid you adieu.