…. so very close…
You can see the one on the left is just thiiiiis much shorter than the one on the right.  I made some astounding progress on it yesterday.  This sucker is going down today.  Which leaves, seaming, collar, button bands and picking n sewing on of buttons.  Almost indeed.  I seriously loves it.
Yesterday I had one of the rare days when I was able to go shopping by myself.  Let me repeat that.  BY. MYSELF.  Neither kid wanted to come along.  I know I mentioned on Saturday that the stores in my county are closed on Sunday, but the county over threw off their blue laws ages ago.  We all schlep over to shop there.  Not that terribly far as the southern end of my town borders the river, which is also the county border.  And for perspective, the town is only 4 sq miles or so.
So anyway, yesterday, both kids opted to stay home which left me footlose and fancy free.¬† I wanted to get over to Michaels to take advantage of a sale on Patons Classic Merino.¬† I’d decided that this year’s teacher gifts are slightly larger booga bags [ravelry link].¬†¬† I spotted the new Lion Brand Wool while I was there and picked up a mix of both the Patons and the Wool to use to make two bags.¬† They’re up in the queue soon after finishing T&C.¬† I still need to make the twins hats/mittens/scarves first though.
I also reallly realllly realllllly want to make this:
That’s Yank by one of my most favorite designers, Bonne Marie.¬† While I’d love to use the Pastaza that Bonne used in the original, I couldn’t justify laying out the bucks for that much of it.¬† I did find that I had some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran in stash but the note in Ravelry says I bought it for Juno and I didn’t like the color for this project.¬† Good thing I put the note in it though as I couldn’t remember from looking at the picture the why.¬†¬†¬† I picked up the LB Wool in a dark navy blue at Michaels.¬† It is a 4st” on US8, just a smidge smaller than the 4st” on US9 that the Pastaza is but I think it will work.¬† I’ll have to swatch it.¬† It won’t go to waste as I could always do one of the other sweaters in Fine Fleece with it.
When I got home (after getting lost in Clifton having made a wrong turn on the back roads), we had a quick lunch and then took the kids over to the open house at the local fire company.  They got to see what the inside of a house is like when there is a fire.  They crawled around in theatrical smoke trying to get from the entrance door to the balcony where a fireman awaited at the bottom of a pullout ladder.  Then came the fresh made donuts and apple cider from a local farm (which is sadly going out of business).  Up next was a short film on fire safety which culminated in a ride around town on the fire engine with lights and sirens running!!  Dad was sitting up front in the cab while the twins, mom and I sat in the middle seats facing rear.  The back of the truck was filled with kids.  We even went down our block!  The kids loved it.  After we got back to the stationhouse, the kids got balloons and played on and around equipment with their friends, whose father is on the squad.
A good time was had by all and the weather was just lovely for it.
Craft on!
