Just Like a Cat with a Shiny Object......

Have you ever noticed how short a cat's attention span is? If not, next time you're near a cat, wiggle a shiny object and see how fast you distract the cat from whatever it's doing. Yep, I'm just like it, except for me, just put yarn within my field of vision and I lose...what was I saying?

Right now, my Alaskan yarn acquisitions are sitting on my table and trying to distract the heck out of me. Sure, our second Planet Purl book will be Seaside Knitting and will include locales on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, but I need to finish Deep South Knitting first. It's bad enough I have a dozen DSK projects on my needles. I really can't start casting on for book #2, for Pete's sake. So I sketched out some designs for my Seattle Sky Sweater and my Alaskan Glacier Pullover (which I can't wait to knit for myself), and the British Columbia Deep Woods Afghan, and then I have this idea for a musk ox lace moebius and I absolutely must stop myself right there!

But that doesn't resolve the issue of these gorgeous yarns I bought and that are piled up on the table in front of me, especially this hand-dyed chunky mohair from Raven Frog Fibers. The colorway is called "Cabin in the Woods" and its a combination of creamy vanilla, reds, yummy greens and the tree bark browns. I can already see it as an oversized long-sleeved deep funnel-necked, rolled hem alternative to a sweatshirt. Mmmmmm.

I fell in love with the Raven Frog Hand-Dyes. They're made in Sitka, Alaska and they make all kinds of textures. Which explains the 4 different skeins I bought in the "Alder" colorway. Soft thick and thin roving, silky chenille, worsted wool and a bumpy, crinkly, boucle-y wool. I have no idea what I'm going to make with it, but I couldn't resist. Any ideas?

Also trying to seduce me with come-hither smiles are the ball of vicuna and the ball of marine blue Quiviut that I totally splurged on with Mr. PurlQueen's enthusiastic agreement (after I made certain offers of a, well, personal nature). 217 yards each of 100% pure, soft, luxurious heaven and I can almost feel it turn into fabric on my fingers. But now I've distracted myself again, darn it.

OK, one Planet Purl book at a time. I really need to develop some serious self-control. And it better be before I head to France next month. Two weeks in the home of Bergere de France, Anny Blatt, Bouton d'Or and more trims, buttons and embellishments than you can shake a quiche at. Sure. I can control myself, right? Right? Awww, who am I kidding -- I need to take an empty suitcase with me.