Well... here it is.... .... the gold medal for all my effort. Phew..... it was all worth it.

I have conceded that I will not be able to finish the Bird's Nest Shawl. I don't have enough yarn to make it the size I would want it to be. So between the yarn shortage and illness, I have been working half-heartedly on it. I am so relieved that I did finish the FBS. At least I earned one gold medal.

I've been down for the count for the past week with the flu. I should have changed my name to snot bubble. I feel like I must have lost at least 20 lbs with the amount of horrid boogers that has been coming out of my nose. Where does it all come from? Does it ever end? I have slept, accompanied by my trusty Vick's vaporub and my box of Puff's tissues.

Nick has been away on a business trip and I have had no one to baby me. Alas.... self-pity is setting in fast. A friend that lives in Boston, had jokingly volunteered to come and change the sheets, make fresh jello. Oh... that would have been such heaven. I think I would have given my first born, well, make that my second born son (Pete has been on thin ice) for fresh sheets!

Thank goodness, I am feeling almost human today.

Number Two:

I finished my Flower Basket Shawl in three days, setting a new personal Olympic Record. I am so amazed that I am still able to use my hands after that feat.

But, even with the excruciating pain... I must persevere. I have cast on for the Bird's Nest Shawl. I have done two smaller scarf versions, as seen.

But after I warmed up with the FBS, I figured that I am definitely up to the task to complete a full sized version. No pictures of it yet, as I only have one repeat done. The only thing... I really don't think that I have enough yarn to complete it. Oh well....

My First Gold Medal!

Listen.... Can you hear the National Anthem playing?

I got off to a late start, beginning on Saturday night, but after 3 days of SOLID knitting, I am so pleased to announce that I completed the Flower Basket Shawl! Woo Hoo! I used Mountain Colors - Mountain Goat in the colorways Silverbow. Isn't it fabulous?

I had been "dabbling" with simple beginner lace scarves over the past 2 months, but completing an entire shawl ?!? I thought that a feat like this would be beyond my reach.

I will be working on the Bird's Nest Shawl for the remainder of the Olympics. I know that I don't have a snowballs chance in Hades at completing it, but I do promise you all that I won't go Tonya on you, when I don't.

I am hoping that everyone else who is "competing" in the Olympics will strive for their gold and will attain it!

Go Team USA!

And they're off....

I couldn't quite decide which shawl to do. Oh my, decisions, decisions. I was so torn between the Bird's Nest Shawl and the Flower Basket Shawl.

I had done a shortened version of the Bird's Nest Shawl and made a lovely scarf for my daughter, but to do almost 250 rows, with 346 stitches in under 16 days. EGADS. And for the Flower Basket shawl, not that is NOT what I would consider social knitting. The pattern changes each and every row. And it takes me quite a while before I "get" the pattern and it goes smoothly. So, which one do I pick?

Both.... No, I am not a glutton for punishment.

I started the Bird's Nest Shawl that I can take with me in the car, shopping, at work, etc. I am using some Lorna's Laces Shepard Sport in the colorways Tuscany. It is rich, deep tones in russets, greens, and blues. I only have 4 skeins, so the size with be as big as my yarn holds out.

I also started the Flower Basket Shawl that I will work on with my full concentration at home. I am using Mountain Colors Mountain Goat in the colorways Silverbow. It is dramatic shades of an earthy blue with the most subtle hints of purples, violets and pink.

I will be working on both. Both will be a great learning experience and forcing me to "raise the bar" and to strive for excellence. I will try my darndest to finish both. If I do, that feat will truly be worthy of a gold medal. But, if I don't... that will be ok too. I will have learned a new skill and have pushed myself to new levels.

After all... isn't knitting supposed to be fun? And I am having a blast!

Team USA..

Through my friends at KR, I heard of the Knitting Olympics. This is Stephanie's brainchild and that girl is truly ingenious.

Who can join? Anyone. What do you need? Determination. Goal? To strive for one's personal best.

I love a challenge, so I just couldn't resist signing up. But, what would I attempt as my personal best? Hmmm..... I have just started doing lace, and oh begeezus, it took me almost 2 weeks finish my first lace scarf. That's it!!! My goal will be a shawl.

So, here I sit proudly, a member of the Team USA Shawl Knitting Team.

Scarf Exchange update...
I have received the most wonderful correspondence from the Pal who has me as her recipient. I just love reading her emails and I do believe that this will be the beginning of a very special friendship. I can see that we do have so much in common, from overcoming insurmountable obstacles and being able to envision the joy and blessings in the most ordinary places. She is a beginner much like myself, who has never shied away from any challenge. She laughs in the face of adversity... ha ha ha.
This is the first time that someone will be making something just for ME. She has placed such high expectations upon herself. I believe in her and know, deep in my heart, that she will rise to the occasion. She doesn't know failure and refuses to accept failure as an option. I know that I will love, cherish and adore anything.... knowing the love and thought and friendship that she knitted into each and every stitch.