Yes. Knitting is keeping me up at night. More specifically, Holiday knitting. So. While I have to finish the Gryffindor socks, (the movie premiers on the 18th and I have to have something to wear after all -- I have my priorities, you know) other things are going to have to go into the post-holiday knitting bag. BTW, this yarn from Dani is really nice -- colors are perfect of course, but the yarn is soft and lofty -- it knits up beautifully. I can't wait to wear these babies.
Anyway, goodbye dear Lacy -- I love the pooling and the super soft Mountain Colors mohair (that, you'll remember, I got for cost due to an extremely inconsiderate customer at the lys who decided she didn't want her special order of 8 hanks of hand-dyed-to-her-specifications yarn) but you are not a priority. 
At least not yet -- it's going up into the mid 70's here today -- beautiful day, one of the last I guess. (That's daughter's cute little hand.)
And, these mittens will have to wait awhile. Dear Daughter's hands won't be too cold for awhile. But they are very cute with the scarf. I'm knitting them in Utopia acrylic, (actually very nice yarn for what it is) from the Norling pattern on #7 dpns -- they go really fast -- finished this one at work yesterday (very slow day at the yarn shop when it's 80 in November...) 
I used the same repeat pattern as the PoA scarf.
What I really have to work on are these: Contestant # 1: Some kind of scarf, maybe one of the cabled ones from Scarf Style? Out of this: Inca Alpaca in a heathered brown. LOVE this yarn. It is gorgeous! It is for daughter's teacher. He has reddish hair and this yarn is perfect for him. 
I am the room mother and have to come up with a gift for the two 7th grade homeroom teachers. Mr. E. will get this and some hockey tickets I'll get donated. I try not to spend too much of the room parent money -- there's not too much there and it's got to go a long way. In this instance, time is not money...
Contestant # 2: For the other grade level teacher? Mrs. G.... I don't know her very well, but I'm leaning toward a large felted bag -- I did that last year for both 6th grade teachers and they were a big hit. I don't have details of this fleshed out yet. Daughter and carpool girls have to spy for me and get me a color scheme. God knows I have the yarn. Oh, and movie tickets or a book store gift certificate, again, donated.
Contestant #3: For Son's 3rd grade teacher who is also daughter's tutor. I adore this woman. She is one of those tireless teachers, there at all hours, loving, firm, creative. If she could take 'em both through high school, I'd be thrilled. For her, something extravagant. At least I wanted to do something extravagant. But, I'll have to ramp that down a little. I had started the mystery shawl 2, you'll remember. Clues 1 and 2, fine. Clue 3? Can't make myself. I can't concentrate -- too many other distractions this time of year. Hmmm, lace knitting -- the really complicated stuff -- must be a summer thing for me. Who knew? So, out of the knitalong I go. And rip goes the progress. (I'm staying in Frost and Flowers, because, by God, I will have that shawl if it kills me...) And the yarn, beautiful buttery yellow silk merino from Judy? It's going to be a just-as-beautiful Wool Peddler's for this wonderful teacher (whose favorite color is yellow).
Garter stitch I can do. Do I feel like a failure? No. I am a dyed-in-the-wool quitter, I am. If something doesn't make my heart sing -- you name it: knitting, a book, a recipe -- I'm outta here. I don't have time for drudgery in my hobbies. There's enough of that in my housekeeping. If you can call it housekeeping. But that's another entry.
Contestant # 4: Dear husband's Odyssey vest. Love the yarn. But it is not a brown mix. It is a blue, olive, and a little bit of brown mix. 
It's an extra large and I've come this far. Although, I have to admit, (OK, Cathy?)that the yarn reads brown in this picture. In person, more olive, I swear!
I have got to put everything else down and work on these four things. Well 5. The socks.
See, only 5 things is disciplined for me. I have a problem. Which my daughter has NOT inherited. Look at this! She came to work with me yesterday, school conference day and nothing to do. She shopped around in the sale bin and found this Trendsetter Savy in what was called pinks and grape I think. Hideous chenille and fur stuff for weenies who don't want to blend their own scarf colors -- didn't sell. She got out my 24" #13 needles and cast on 42. Enough to get around the needles. I helped her join and she started knitting. And she kept on knitting. In the car, at dinner, through the night. And now she is here. 
On the flap of a VERY cute backpack. Of her own design. I take back the hideous -- this yarn was waiting for my dear daughter to whisper it's secrets. She told me what she wants the straps to look like, so I'll help her figure this out, but ....man. It is really cute, and perfect for a 7th grade purse/pack. She is a wonderfully talented and adventurous kid. She'll support me in my old age.
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