1. This is a long time coming, but I received my Knitters Tea Swap package from Sara. She got me some lovely goodies including some yummy Roobios tea, chocolates (yum!), and yarn!! Some of the yarn she got me even came from Italy. I loved everything, including the mug, which, sadly, didn't make the trip across the Atlantic in one piece But everything was really great, and I'm so happy to have received it.

2. This is an even longer time coming. I received my Summer Knit Kit Swap package from Winnie. The yarn and pattern were awesome, as was the tea and chocolate. Thanks so much!

3. Wii! I bought one last Friday, and I love it! It is so much fun playing a video game and not sitting on your butt while doing it. So far, I only have two games - Wii Sports and Wii Play - but I'm sure, as time goes on, I'll get more. I'm pretty happy with just the two, though. I really enjoy playing all of the Wii Sports games, especially boxing! And man, ya work up a sweat. Super fun!

4. I finished my first Waving Lace sock.

This is, by far, the prettiest sock I've ever knit. I can't wait to do the other one, but I have to put it on hold because...

5. I'm teaching an advanced sock knitting class at Stitch Cleveland. Stitch Cleveland is Shannon Okey (along with a few other people)'s new adventure. I have yet to go down there to see the place, but I hear its very cool. My friend Andi, who is awesome in her own right and probably needs an entire category of her own on my list of awesome things, got me the gig. She'll be teaching the basic and intermediate sock classes. The advanced class consists of toe-up socks on two circular needles. I'm considering it more of a method class than a project class, so my students will learn a few different toes and a couple different stretchy bind-offs. If you're local and would like to participate, the classes are July 28, August 4 and August 11 from 2 - 4 p.m. You can visit the Stitch Cleveland web site for more information.

My house is like an episode of Wild Kingdom these days. There's hissing and growling, funny noises from the wild, random attacks on my hands and feet, and every so often, I find a pile of poo on my floor. Thank you kitty and your diarrhea. The Humane Society actually gave me something to help with that, so no worries. She's still a baby and still getting used to the litter box. I expected that, but I gotta tell you, I'm not thrilled with it. She's adjusting, though Velvet still hates her. She now has free reign of the house and is into EVERYTHING. As long as I'm in the room with her, she's a happy little foster kitty. However, I'm still torn on whether to keep her or not. Velvet is so very stressed out about having the kitty around. I did take the advice of Monica and bought some pheremone complex for the cat. She is doing better, but not as good as I'd like. I'm giving it a few more weeks, as I don't want the kitten to go back to the shelter. She's used to the great wide open of the house, and I'd hate to see her in a tiny cage again.

Through all of wild kingdomness of my house, I've had *some* time to knit. I finished my Ellen's Half Pint Farms socks...

and I love them! The colors are gorgeous in person and the stitches are so very nice. The socks are soft as a baby's bottom and I can't wait until fall (or a cool summer night) to wear them. Since I was so in love with the Ellen's Half Pint Farm yarn, I decided to break open another skein, this time in the merino/tencel blend. I'm knitting the Waving Lace Socks from Interweave's Favorite Socks.

I've also broken out the ol' Lizard Ridge Squares. Had you forgotten I was knitting that? I wouldn't blame you if you had. I have 26 squares right now. The pattern calls for 24. But I really think that the afghan should be bigger. So I'm going to knit an extra six squares, for good measure. I might knit five more on top of that, which means I have nine more to go. Not too shabby, if you ask me. I'm actually planning on blocking them all this evening. Wish me luck!!!

Here she is everyone... the no name kitty.  I have decided not to give her an "official" name until after I decide whether I'm keeping her or not.  The shelter calls her Tumblina, and occassionally I will, but mostly I just call her "Kitty".  Or "Stinky".  Because I have NEVER smelled a cat that has this much odor about her.  And I'm shocked about this, as she is only about six inches long.  The size of a sub.  And she smells like a sewer.  Gassy, gassy cat.  I'm hoping that good food fixes that.  Anyway, everyone wants to see pictures I'm sure, so here she is!!

(She looks like a tiny Velvet)

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(In a paper box lid, for size reference)

(In my "plant" in the sunroom.  She climbed in there, it was quite adorable)

So my house is bursting with cuteness right now.  However, Velvet hates her.  She is throwing a fit every time she sees the stinky kitty.  Today, she has been a *little* better.  She hasn't growled... yet.  I'm hoping she warms up to the little stnker.  Maybe another bath will help...