Can't wait for more of the story?

While I'm still writing Section 1, you can go here and read Chapter 2. Don't worry, it won't spoil anything.

Fiction II

There was one small, somber individual in the crowd, though: Rabbit. Rabbit was not an animal, though, but an unfortunate decision by his parents to let his older sister, at the age of 3, name him. He was tiny, yes, but not particularly furry or long eared, he could frequently be long winded, but his employer, Izmella, helped him to keep this in mind. He wore a special pendant that glowed green and tingled slightly whenever he spoke for longer than a minute or so. Right now, he was feel the sting of it, as he muttered quietly, excitedly, “it’s happened, it’s finally happened, it’s happened, what now, what now,” as the people in the streets rejoiced. He pushed his way through the crowd, ever mumbling, and headed towards Izmella’s cottage.

Izmella was a typical witch: beautiful, tall, with a curvaceous feminine figure. The green of her perfect almond eyes matched the emerald of Rabbit’s pendant and was framed by the dark ringlets that fell to her waist. “Rabbit, please, you’re disturbing me, either speak out load or don’t speak at all,” she said quickly, not looking up from her crystal globe as Rabbit walked through the door.
“Sorry, mistress, but there’s big news: it finally happened, the princess has been abducted.”

“I know,” Izmella repied coolly, pointing to her globe.

“Yes, right, of course.” Rabbit shifted his weight a few times and looked erratically around the room, as if looking for something that did not exist. His eyes finally rested at a crack in the floorboards, just in front of his feet.

“This is good, not only does the town get a reprieve from the wretch, but we won’t have to wait too much longer to see the prophecy realized.”

“I haven’t been waiting that long, miss, only about 20 years.”

“WELL,” Izmella rarely raised her voice, but she didn’t need to, she had a certain way of putting emphasis on just the right syllables to make anyone feel like he might wet himself. The knowledge that she could turn one into any sort of insect didn’t help, either. “I’ve been waiting just a little longer than that; 200 or so years longer. I had hoped this was the princess of the prophecy, but do you know how many nasty princesses there have been in the past 250 years? It’s apalling!” Rabbit nodded, not at all able to comprehend 200 years of obnoxoius princesses. “At least that should all be done with now. You’ll have to go and spread the word to the surrounding kingdoms, the king will put out a notice to all able knights and we want the right sort of knight volunteering for this job.”

“Yes, I can do that,” Rabbit said, finally lifting his gaze from the crack in the floor. Izmella was not looking at him, still intent on the visions in the globe. Rabbit had often peered into the crystal when he was tidying up for her and he never saw anything there.

“Now would be soon enough.”

“Oh, uh, yes, but -” Rabbit stuttered.

“I know, there is only one knight who can do the job, so to speak, but we can’t just go and tell the king who to get, can we? We have to let everything play out. So go tell the surrounding kingdoms and do what you can to guide the king.”

“Yes, but -”

“I know you’re small and a little feeble minded, but the king isn’t too bright either, I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”

“I’m hungry!”

“Well I didn’t say you couldn’t eat anything on your way.” Rabbit could hear her eyes rolling, but he had to be cautious; at times, when she says to do something, she means right now, and at other times, she means, at your leisure and after nearly 10 years as her servant, he still could not tell the difference.

“I will report to you tomorrow.”

“Rabbit, there is no need.” Izmella rose, gesturing to the crystal globe, “take care and I believe there is some food in the refrigerator. I must go and check on a few things; I think the woodsmith has finished repairing my broom.”

“Yes, mistress, I’m glad to hear it, my back hurt sweeping the floor with your old hair brush.”

“I know, Rabbit, you’re a good helper. I’ll see you when the king has found a worthy knight.” Izmella threw her gray shawl over her shoulder and strode out the door. Rabbit was flustered, touched by one of the few compliments Izmella had ever bestowed on him. She must truly be happy that this day has come, he thought.

A Little of Everything

I tried something new today! I made Honey-Wheat Bread, from the Panera Bread Cookbook and while it could be prettier, it's pretty yummy!!
I've started knitted up the sock yarn & pattern that my cocoa swap pal, Lyndsay, sent me, it's coming along (a whole inch or so!) but I don't have any photos of it yet!
I DO have photos of the sweater and hat set she made for my daughter, though:I know she doesn't look happy, but she LOVES it! Thanks again, Lyndsay!!! (PS Sorry if I've spelled your name wrong!)



Here, she's looking a bit happier snuggling Miss Bean. How she got it away from me, I'll never know!! It's almost as snuggly as she is!

Spoiled!!!

When I got home from a lunch with Jen & a trip to Costco (yay, Costco!), I found these on my doorstep:


I opened straight away and found all kinds of wrapped goodies inside! In my favorite color, pink, no less!

After I tore through all of the yummy wrapping, I found this:

Here's a closer look at my blues buster buddy:

And a closer look at the DELICIOUS sock yarn:


Lyndsey-Jane was/is the best swap friend I've ever had (well I've only had two, so...) She lives in Cambridge, England and filled my parcels with all kinds of yummy treats that I miss, like Munchies (my favorite English candy) and Cadbury's cocoa. She ALSO sent me some really yummy looking liquid chocolate from Hotel Chocolat which I can NOT wait to try! And pretty pink stitch markers and a book called Knit Speak and a bag that she made herself, which I LOVE! DPNS from Knit Picks, a GORGEOUS sweater and hat set for my daughter, chocolate for me and my husband.. I mean, WOW!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I will take some photos of her wearing it and post them just as soon as she wakes up from her mid morning nap.
Oh, and the yarn is so soft and lovely, I'm going to start trying to make socks today! It's Fyberspates Sock Yarn designed in Wales.
Check out Lyndsey's blog here and say hi!

A quote

I can't go back to yesterday - because I was a different person then.
Lewis Carroll

New Finished Object!

Woo hoo!
My little girl's head is a little warmer today.Pattern: Pixie Hat by Diana Chan Taylor
Yarn: Not sure! It was in my stash!

Fiction, for a change

“Your majesty,” she ran through the hall, blonde hair flying wildly behind her, twigs and leaves stuck to her long, blue dress and straggled through her knotted mane, and threw herself, face first, at the King’s feet. “The princess has been kidnapped!”

“Please, get up, my child,” the King stroked his long, red beard, apparently in thought, as he waited for the princess’ hand maiden to rise and attempt to smooth her long, frizzy hair. “I think this must be tragic,” the King said slowly. He raised a hand to beckon his chief steward. “Don’t let the people know of this; they will react strongly.”

“I’m afraid,” the portly steward paused, “the people are already aware of the event.” He pulled back the gold curtain that shielded the hall from the streets of X, just as he had done sixteen years before. Then, he had revealed to the joyous masses the new baby princess, Ariadne. Today, just as they had long ago, the people of X were dancing, singing and otherwise occupied in jubilation. They no longer need worry about the noxious ways of the horrible princess, the only heir to the kingdom, and the most miserable wretch of a girl that ever existed in the peaceful kingdom of X.

To be continued (hopefully soon...)

Copyright 2/13/2008 Katherine Sauchelli
Reposting not allowed, but feel free to link here.

Because sometimes there are no words.

Cast offs, cast ons, and a contest!

Ok, we'll start with the cast off - I FINALLY finished John's scarf!!! Here it is:

And I cast ON for yet another calorimetry, this one is forNeus:

When I'm done, I'm going to make one for myself in the same, yummy, DK weight baby alpaca lavender!!!

So for the contest... Nancy is celebrating her 300th blog post with a contest, here: CONTEST
Tell her I sent you!
She also requests that we leave a hint or tip about knitting that makes things easier. Honestly, the best thing I've discovered is that local yarn stores have yarn winders and I can avoid tangles if I ask them to ball the skeins before I leave. I wouldn't have thought of it, if I weren't in one when someone else asked the owner to ball their yarn for them - I didn't even see the winder there! (OK I know winder might not be the right term, but it works for me!)

And here's a fun picture, just because:

Stuff!

So Lily & I met up with Sara & Evan today and (of course) I forgot to take photos!
Sara is very courageous and is making her own calorimetry!!! I have 2 more to make (one for a friend, one for me) so we can sort of knit a long with it, which will be fun. That is, IF I will ever finish my husband's incredibly boring garter stitched scarf that he wants to be 7 feet long.

I also want to let all my readers know about a contest on insanknitty's blog! Check it out: http://insanknitty.wordpress.com

It's her blogaversary in 10 days, so help her celebrate! Go have some random guesses.

I'll post some pics of the scarf soon.

She's on time she's on time she's on time she's on time Hallelujah she's on time...

Title is for all you BNL fans out there.

BUT she IS on time (ish). I'm sending out my package tomorrow because I'VE FINISHED KATE: