The pictures from the party came out pretty abysmally, but I did catch a snapshot of the kahlua cake and a not terrible one of the boy. The cake went over really well- apparently it's a family favorite up North, but around here people hadn't had it. The recipe is ridiculously easy, it just involves making a few parts ahead of time and having adequate light cool whip on hand. Easy-peasy, but so tasty. I think I'm going to finish it up right now, in fact!
Someone special on my new sofa. Note the wide sofa arms- specifically chosen for pattern and laptop holding and being low enough to not impede knitting elbows. I really did pick a knitting couch.
This was a banner weekend. Saturday was the party, Sunday night I went to see Pearl Jam, but Friday night was Stitch 'n Pitch at the Nationals. I forgot my camera, but I did get some progress done. Between then and tonight, I got well on my way on my sweater fronts!
I also worked on the cashmere lace stole, because it's like knitting butter.
Mostly, however, I've been enjoying my local library the past few weeks. Here's the books to be returned tomorrow. Hopefully I'll finish The Good Earth by then, too. I'm really on a kick reading pre-Revolutionary Chinese lit. I have read more than my fair share of Victorian literature through my own research interests in graduate school, and a smattering of Indian lit... and tons of sci-fi. Branching out into the rest of Asia is really enlightening, and I feel like I'm really learning a lot. Every visit to a public library is like a free vacation to the far reaches of the world, and even beyond into space. Everyone says that, but I'm finding it more true than ever, now that everything I read is entirely because I feel like it and not because I ought to, or need to, or have any other obligation. In addition to the Chinese themes and the sci-fi, I've been catching up on a great deal of Jewish literature as well. The Shawl (shown here, too) is possibly the most gripping thing I've read all year. And that few hours of pure agony and complete submission to a novel? Free. Ah, do I love my local library. Too bad about all the books on my own bookshelves, but I like the smell of library books better.
