Will Spring Ever Really Come?!

Here it is, May 12, and the temperature outside is 55 degrees - still. We had some really nice weather a few weeks ago, but since then, it has been cold and damp and dreary. I've been spending most of my time indoors getting rid of a cold. In one way, it has been driving me nuts being so house-bound. But, in another way, it has been a productive time. I have actually been working hard on my county fair entries during this time.

So far, I have managed to work on four crochet projects, all of which are in different stages of doneness (is that a word). I am almost finished with a shawl that I'm crocheting using a bamboo blend yarn (very soft and eco-friendly). I have a baby afghan that is about half-way done and I've designed a table runner from cotton yarn that should be done soon, too. The big item (actually, the smallest but most technical) is a pair of crochet socks. I've never crocheted socks before, but I was intrigued by the pattern (they have two cables down the front), and I really love the feel of sock yarn. The socks start by making the toe sections. Easy-peasy. Then I started working on the foot of the sock.

I have been working on the first sock for four days now and am finally getting to the heel gusset. The reason for that is that last night (very late last night) I realized that I had been doing the cable pattern incorrectly, which is why the cable didn't look like one. So, at 11 pm I ripped out everything that I had done, back to the first cable switch and re-worked the entire foot back to where I had ended earlier. I then added two more sets of the pattern to take it to the length it needs to be to start the foot gusset before I finally went to bed - at 5 am this morning. It now sits there waiting for me to begin the next section, which I'll probably do some time this afternoon. I've been reading the pattern, trying to make sure that I actually understand what the next step is. I don't want to rip anything out again if I can help it. And to think that when this sock is finished, I have to finish the second one, too.

I have also been working on a counted cross stitch project for the past few weeks, too. I've also finished the top for a new lap quilt. Since I've picked out 27 items that I want to enter into the fair, I really need to keep working on them now. Don't want to be rushing to finish everything the weekend before the fair judging. (LOL - I'm always rushing to finish things at the last minute. It's when I do my best work.) I actually have started on 10 of the 27 items and have chosen the designs for another 10, so far. If I can keep up this pace, I should have all of the entries in the works by June 1. Of course, the real problem is getting them all finished by the end of July. We'll see. I may have to pare down my list of entries.

In the mean time, I will keep working away on the projects I have started, all the while wishing that the weather will finally warm up and I can get out of the house more. Or at least, open the door to let fresh air in without freezing!