What blog?

I know I've been absent for quite awhile now.  Thank you for all the inquiries and the concern that several of you have extended.  November has not been an easy month. My sister-in-law, Marge, was killed in an automobile accident in Pennsylvania the week before Thanksgiving.  When someone knocked at my door at 10:30 at night, I didn't expect to see the police standing there with such terrible news.  She lived alone and her only relatives are my husband and his brother.  Needless to say, we had to spend the next day packing and planning for a 6 hour trip.  In just the matter of a few days, we had to talk to the coroner, the State Police, the towing company, the fire and rescue squad, the funeral home, the priest, the executor and the neighbors.  In between, we had to plan a funeral, hold calling hours and go through her entire house.  Usually, there's a slight bit of luxury of time to deal with the aftermath of a death, however, since we live so far away, everything had to be wrapped up in this one visit. My husband's brother was unable to make the trip, so all of the decisions fell on our shoulders. Fortunately, Marge was a very well organized person and left nine pages of instructions with the copy of her will!  We pretty much knew just want she wanted as she had even preplanned her funeral right down to the music.  The best thing she did, however, was to write her own obituary!  She was a very accomplished and educated woman.  There's no way that we would have been able to have known all her dates, accomplishments, awards, etc.  (I think there is a very good lesson there, even if you feel well, you should write your own obituary just for the sake of others!! ) We may never know what she was doing driving at night or what caused the accident on that dark country road, but we're grateful for all the kind and caring people that made this ordeal bearable.

On a lighter note, when I was going through her office, I discovered a bag of Cascade 220 Superwash yarn!  I knew that she used to knit and apparently, she must have decided to pick it up again.  I have no idea what project she was planning, but I think I'll make some mittens or hats for the grandsons out of it, as a final gift from their great-aunt.  She also had some really old knitting books and in one, there was a pattern for an adorable baby sweater.  My husband told me I should knit that for our new granddaughter!

So, in short, that's why I've been away, but I have been knitting.  I have lots of projects to show you, but let's start with my most recent first.  I've actually begun a blanket.  I've been planning it in my mind for months, but since time is starting to run short, I decided it was time to get my act together.  I'm using Plymouth Encore, an acrylic and wool blend.

It's a very pretty fern green. WEBS had a sale on it last April (I told you I've been planning this for awhile!) and I picked up an entire bag of it.  I wasn't sure how much I would need and I didn't want to run out!  I've used this yarn before and it's very easy care which is just what my daughter-in-law needs!

I decided to keep it on the small side.  I'm using twelve designs.  The outside borders are 13 stitches wide, each design is 27 stitches and the inside borders are 9 stitches.  That made a cast on of 125 stitches.  Here's a picture of what it looks like after 3 days of on and off again knitting:

You might recognize the horse and the puppy patterns.  See how carefully I avoided showing you the square on the left?  That's a new pattern that I haven't posted yet!  Actually, I think there are four brand new designs that I'll be using.  This blanket does have a theme so I needed to come up with a couple more animals to have it work out!  I'm not a fan of large projects, so I hope that by posting it, I'll have the incentive to stick with it.  If I start slacking off, you can hold my feet to the fire!