Things are finally back to almost-normal around here. That includes getting back on track with my own knitting. I'm almost done with Chart A. In two more rows I'll reach the point where I am supposed to divide for the back and front:



So far I'm quite pleased. The little dragon skin texture is working out well; the side cable has been lots of fun to knit. The next challenge will be to play with the texture pattern and any shaping decreases that will be happening around the armhole. I'm not worried though. I worked out the logic of trimming this particular repeat on the pocket. Shaping around the armhole should be more of the same.

The piece is weighty, and the yarn is a killer splitter but that's to be expected working in a multistrand cotton of this type. Target Child is also quite pleased that I'm back working on the thing.

In other news, ten days of above 40^oF plus savage rain has revealed the muddy glory that is Massachusetts in the spring. That means that sometime in the next three weekends our next major sweat-equity house project will commence - the removal of The Ugly White Picket Fence. I leave you with an archive photo from last year, so you can see Ugly Fence in action (plus the giant pine tree that used to lean on the house):



Why do I think my fence is worthy of destruction?

1. It has nothing to do with the architecture or style of the house
2. It's the wrong size/proportion for the lot
3. It's not on the lot line, and shrinks the visual footprint of the house
   
4. It's discontinuous, and serves no purpose of containment or security
   
5. Walking down the chute path to the front door makes me feel like a sheep about to be dipped
   
6. It's a pain to rake around, shovel over, and mow around.  The snow dunes it formed this past winter completely covered it and required major excavation to move.
   
7. For some reason, the previous owners included a massive sign post as part of the fence, as if they were going to be hanging out a doctor's shingle or a permanent "for sale" sign (you can see it near the front door). I hate it.
   
8. It needs a severe scraping, sanding, and repainting.  A problem since it's probably covered in lead paint.
9. We know someone who wants it (lead paint and all), and who will help us take it down for the privilege of hauling it away and re-using it.