Knitting again

So, I'm in the mood to knit again, after taking several days off because I knit myself out last weekend. I had to fix a mistake I found in a cable, but I've already had to do that once before on this scarf, so I've had some practice with that technique. I also added a new ball of yarn because I had used up all of the first ball. I had to pull out the innards of the commercial ball of yarn in order to find the other end, and so out of necessity, I made my first center pull ball by wrapping it loosely around one of my knitting needles. So, here is my progress picture:

I'm still debating whether or not I should block this when I'm done. I really really want to, because the widths are so different in various places, but it is acrylic, and I've heard some mixed reviews on blocking acrylic. I'm not sure if "killing the fabric" will work with cables very well. When it comes time, I'm afraid I might have to knit a swatch to practice on. When I started this project, I started on the suggested size 11 needles. I only got about an inch done when I realized that was not going to work at all. It was waaaay too holey. So I tried again, and again, with smaller needles every time, knitting about an inch or two or three until I was sure I liked how it was coming out. And that is why I do not have a swatch. In a way, this is my swatch... upgraded to the real thing.

I also did a little research on the snake that scared me half to death in the mountains over Labor Day weekend, and found out that it is a ring necked snake. It is completely harmless, and eats things like earthworms and slugs. They are supposed to be secretive, but that one sure wasn't shy!

And look how my little triops have grown!



Arn't they cute!?!?!