So . . . the good news is - I finished the Rosemarkie vest. The bad news is . . . I'm going to be a bit busy for the next couple days and won't be able to get a picture up. I haven't even had a chance to wash and block it.

Oh, and my car is probably headed for the junkyard. Bruce and I went to the car dealer yesterday, and they tried to screw us over. Uggghhhh. We told them that we'd get back to them next week if we decided to get the car. Want to bet you that when we call, they'll say it's been sold to someone else and that we'll find ourselves back at square one?

I've been running around like crazy for the past two weeks, because the job at The Nursery. Don't get too excited - it's just a temporary, part-time job lasting two months at the latest and will not lead to a permanent job. Let's just say, it's one of those "go into work, keep your mouth shut, and leave on the dot" job. At least I have time in the afternoon to work at my other job, job hunting. I wish I could quit that job already.

I've got the Little Gem up for sale, because we just don't get along and I ReallyReallyReally want that Schacht Ladybug wheel. Yes, I've advertised on Ravelry, on Craigslist. No takers - I'm surprised. Anyway, here's the blurb that goes with this ad:

I've had this wheel for over five years, but we've just never gotten along well, so I feel it's time to find it a new home and get me a Schacht Ladybug. So, I'm putting up my barely-used Majacraft Little Gem (NOT Little Gem II) wheel for sale.

I had the wheel replaced because of cracks in the original wheel, and the metal shaft had to be replaced. Included is a Woolee Winder and a bobbin. And, 8 Majacraft plastic bobbins, and the delta flyer.

I would like to have this sold before Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. I can deliver locally in the DC Metro area (my preference), at the festival, or ship if you pay for shipping and insurance. At this point this will for sale as a complete package; I want everything out of the house before I can pay for the Schacht Ladybug.

All for $700. Cash, certified check, or PayPal only. First come, first serve. Thanks!

Please help me get this off my hand - if you know anyone who's looking for a nice spinning wheel, pass this along to them!

Oh, yeah, tomorrow's Pascha and as usual I'm doing stuff at the last minute. This includes finishing the edge of the vest (only 4 more rows to go and no buttonholes). Must remember to take a good nap tomorrow . . .

Pattern: Russian Prime Vest

Source: "Meg Swansen's Knitting: 30 Designs for Hand Knitting" by Meg Swansen (oop); Russian Prime DVD from Schoolhouse Press

Size: Too small for me

Materials: Québécoise from Schoolhouse Press

Needles: US7/4.5mm Addi Turbo Circulars, I think

Started: March 2001

Finished: April 9, 2008

I can't believe this took me 7 years to finish. But I can understand it because this has happened to every knitter. You're knitting merrily along when you discover that it's way too small for you. And so you rip it out. I would have done that . . . except that I had already cut the steeks. Oops. So, I resigned myself to finishing it and giving away to someone. The pattern calls for sleeves, and two i-cords around the neck area. I just couldn't bring myself to get started on the sleeves, as this would just prolong the agony. So, I decided to just finish off the armholes an the neck area with an i-cord. This will eventually go to some lucky Russian girl, if I can find a way to deliver this to one of my contacts without having to go through the postal service.

Next up: the Rosemarkie Vest. I'm putting on the finishing touches, and have it done before end of month. Before end of this weekend if I push it! Oh, yeah, must get on with the Purple Polo Pullover. it's only three weeks before MDSW and I'd like to enter it in the competition . . .

I can guarantee you that this will definitely be done before the end of the month. Because that's when Orthodox Easter is, and I got to have something new to celebrate. I could actually have had this done before now, but I wanted to wait till the Thursday meeting at Barnes & Noble so that the ladies could see me cut it all up. Usually I do this alone, but it was nice to have an audience for this performance.

The corrugated ribbings shouldn't take so long, as I'm only going to do half the width of the bottom ribbing. I'm debating whether to put in buttonholes or not. Most of the time I wear my vests open. And I'd kinda like to get this finished soon.

As I'm getting ready to usher this out of the door, I'm gearing up on my Glass Beach Cardigan. I already have the vest version, and I have enough yarn for the cardigan version. Okay, well, I might have to buy more Jamieson's Spindrift Maroon (which is just the same as St*m*re Campion Ruby). This version will be zippered, as inspired by this Oregon cardigan by Susan of The Rainey Sisters. I'm thinking about having this v-necked, or whether it will go straight up to the neck. I'm also thinking about having set-in sleeves. Going to be a royal pain to tweak the pattern around for this. I think I may need to study what Eunny did with her lovely Autumn Rose Sweater.

Yes, still working on the Purple Polo Pullover. I've decided to keep the ridges because these are so striking. i'll need to redo the bind-off, though, because when I got further down on the other side, I realized I was going to have more sleeve stitches than body stitches to attach. So I'll need to count the body rows, and then determine the ratio. Math - ugh.

Ever since Mugabe took over Zimbabwe and kicked out people who had successfully provided for its riches and the ability to export its products (and who just so happen to be descendants of colonists from Great Britain), the country has gone downhill. So far that inflation is at 100,000% and rising. Life expectancy has dropped to 37, malnutrition is widespread, and child mortality is rising. There was an election over the weekend.

From the deserted streets of Bulawayo to the fetid slums of Mbare, Zimbabwe was waiting on tenterhooks last night to discover the fate of President Mugabe as he appeared to be heading towards election defeat.

With official counts trickling out of Harare, the clamour grew for the authorities to tell the people what they already knew from their own polling stations: that for the old tyrant, the writing was on the wall.

[From Zimbabwe on a knife edge as fears deepen that result is being rigged - Times Online ]

From what I've read, unofficial results seem to have Mugabe losing very badly. But the longer we're having to wait for the results, the more likely it seems to me that they're trying to rig the elections in his favor. If that happens, look for things to get very ugly there.

While I'm at it, why aren't Obama, Sharpton, and Jackson speaking out about this? And why isn't the Congressional Black Caucus weighing in on this? And NAACP? Hello?