Princess Line

It's starting to look more Princessy.

It's not a particularly difficult pattern. Although ask me when I'm duplicate stitching whether I still think so...

(Question: Do I do the duplicate stitching before or after blocking?)

I like that you can look up from your knitting and realize - hey! I've completed over 40 rows! That's one quarter of the chart! It's actually starting to look like something now. And it's much more interesting. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with the charts. The secret really is making sure you're lining up your current row with the previous one. Also, there are areas that duplicate the same stitch pattern as the row below. So, it's not been too bad. The jury is still out on the yarn though. I certainly has a lot of pop, but it's pretty springy. I'm used to good 2-ply Shetland wool. This seems a bit more "processed", and has more bounce back than I'd like. Anyway, I guess what matters is the final product, and I'm very intrigued at how it's turning out.

I'm only getting a couple of days or so a week in though, and that's usually on the weekends. At the end of the work day (at least these past couple of weeks), I've been too tired to concentrate on the chart. And of course, if Malcolm is extending the Kitty Post-Dinner Witching Hour, I tend to not be able to get much in.

"Uh huh. So what else did the vet say?"

"Um, something about how I have to drop these baby teeth first, then she told Mom I'd be good to go. But I don't know where. And that they're definitely there. Whatever they are."

"Oh. Well. Looks like you'll being singing soprano soon."

"Really?!! Is that fun? Will I like singing soprano, Gandalf?!!"

"It's a gas, kid."

The boy had his last booster shot on Friday. He wasn't able to get them all at once - when they gave him his first round in November, he was so tired afterwards for 24 hours that he barely ate. So, we decided that for his boosters, he'd get them one at a time. Much like Gandalf, he's not phased by the vet's office. He doesn't much like getting poked at, but he doesn't mind being in the carrier, or in the office. He'll be going in for his neutering in February, but first, his baby teeth need to fall out. His adult teeth are already in, and the baby ones are about to fall out. Once they do, he's good to go.

"Guess it's about time I have the Talk with the boy."

"What we gonna talk about, Big Daddy?!!"

"Girls and stuff."

"Oooo, girls are groooooooss!! Except Mae! They have cooties and Gandalf says they can be really moody and stuff."

When Chris was visiting last September, she commented that Malcolm is a bit of a drama queen. That he is. He will whine and whine until one of the other guys gives in to him - usually it's to take over a sleeping spot. Mae is the only one who rarely gives in. He doesn't seem to mind. She can be so crabby with him, it amazes me when I turn around and see scenes like this.

"Well. I suppose it could be worse. Don't know how, but it could."

"...zzzzzzzzzz...love...my...big...sister...mmphhh...zzzzzzzz..."

Deep down, WAY deep down, Mae knows he's a sweet boy.