And what a birthday it was!  It started with breakfast at my parents’ house. Biscuits and gravy. Pancakes. Fried potatoes. Mmmmmmmm. Then back home to sit and knit for a while. This afternoon, we returned to Mom and Dad’s to drop of the kids so Tim and I could go to the movies (Harry Potter) and then to Nine Irish Brothers for dinner. If you are ever in West Lafayette and craving Shepherd’s Pie, this is the place to go! But be sure to just get a half order so you have plenty of room for the Creme Brulee Bread Pudding for dessert. Super tasty!

But, let’s back up a minute and talk about the knitting I did today.

Traditionally, there are two days of the year when I always cast on a new project: January 1 and August 5.  The first is New Year’s Day and the second is my birthday. Both carry the same philosophy: New year, new project.  And these can’t just be any project. They must be something a bit challenging. This year, one January 1, I cast on the Faux Russian Stole.  I only have 1 1/2 repeats left before it’s finished. If I finish it in 2007, it will be the first time I’ve finished a New Year’s project the same year that I cast it on. It’s totally doable. I can see myself wearing it at Christmastime.

Which brings us to my birthday project. Last year, I will admit that I didn’t cast on a new project on my birthday. Instead, I ripped out an entire sweater because I hated the way it looked on me. And I wasn’t about to waste 17 balls of Noro Kureyon on an ill-fitting sweater. But this year will be different.

I have 5 skeins of Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino and a plan. Of course, I can’t share my plan with you because it’s the River Knits 2008 Mystery Shawl*. So you won’t get to see finished pictures until June 2008. But, I’m hoping to have the shawl finished by October or November. I also believe it will only take 3 or 4 skeins of this yarn, so a mobius scarf may be in line for the leftovers. (By the way, the color is Tuareg, and I love it. After spending a good portion of the afternoon with this yarn, I can honestly say I’m in love.)

I was also gifted with a lace blocking kit from Tim and the kids and two skeins of Malabrigo and a book from Elizabeth and Michelle:

I thought the combination was a little ironic. No Sheep for You and two skeins of wool yarn. But I like irony. This yarn (and the lacweight version above) is heavenly soft. I haven’t decided yet what these two wonderful skeins will become….maybe mittens and a neckwarmer. Or a shrug. Or a little shoulder shawl. It will speek to me and tell me what it wants to be in time.

All in all, definitely a good birthday. I’m thankful to be a year older. Now I’m going to go do some online browsing because I have some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket.

*More on the 2008 River Knits Mystery Shawl as we get closer to 2008. I can tell you this: I’m working on writing the pattern (and test-knitting it) in three yarn weights: lace, fingering, and sport. I’m excited about it and greatly enjoying the knitting.