Monday Report

I made a couple of the Ballband Dishcloths from Mason Dixon Knitting. These are really fun. I have a few more balls of yarn in these bright colors, but the cotton makes my hands a little tired, so I'll be doing them a little at a time.

I worked two repeats on the Kiri Shawl. I like it well enough, except for the fact that I can't use stitch markers to mark the repeats, because the pattern shifts on every row. I was trying to use markers and it made me nuts. So, I can see I will be making more mistakes and having to concentrate more because I can't mark repeats. Oh well. . . The party is on December 3, so I don't have a lot of time on this.

I spent some time looking at the November Burda WOF, which has some Plus patterns for stretch velvet. I bought some velour and matching rayon knit with gold sparkles (they're subtle, not too crazy) last week. I think I might use these for the outfit. If I don't finish the shawl, then maybe I can make a jacket.

I read March by Geraldine Brooks this weekend, my November book club selection. It was a fictionalized account of Bronson Alcott (father of Louisa May Alcott)'s experience in the Civil War. I enjoyed it, but I think I like LMA's short story, *Transcendental Wild Oats* better. The Wild Oats story is about how her father took her family to a commune called Fruitlands. It ends up with the men all praying and arguing about doctrine, while the women are trying to find a way to eat and stay warm and doing all the chores, etc. It's very funny, how she tells it, always with cheer and good humor.

Here's a caveman I found in the woods yesterday: