Work. That's it in a word. What's keeping me busy night and day, interrupting my sleep and seriously cutting into my knitting time. Last time I told you that I had all the pieces of a baby sweater ready to be sewn together. Its status has not changed.

I didn't make the Aug 31 deadline for Kisiizi Appeal shipping with this one. Not for the drops sweater either.

That's the half-way mark. It's a very easy knit, and I chose it as the Aug Subtitle Project of the Month over at the Subtitle Knitters group on Ravelry. But it's on size 3 needles and it's slow going.

Anyway, today I carved out two whole hours for knitting and blogging, and I worked on another WIP that I don't think I've blogged about. I call it "Clown Vomit" and it's an entrelac baby blanket for Afghans for Afghans in a truly riotous colorway of some inexpensive wool purchased from eBay. More on that when there's more to show you.

Last weekend was the Japanese Festival here in St. Louis, which I attend ever year. I picked up some video tapes of randomly-recorded Japanese television, which is always fun. You never know what is going to come on next. I also found a copy of Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore" in Japanese - one of my favorite books. The sumo wrestlers were there, and all the usual stuff. This year, however, there was a new thrill. I met Liza Dalby! You probably don't know who she is, but if you're obsessed with Japan a Japanophile, trust me, meeting her is a very big deal. Kind of like meeting the Yarn Harlot. Or Anthony Bordaine. Or Chris Robinson. Or Bill Clinton. Or any larger-than-life person who is prominent in a world you're interested in and who you never imagined you may one day actually meet. (I'm now at 2 out of 5. After these 5 I can die suitably impressed.)

I love what she wrote. "May the world be your garden." Such a fantastic sentiment.

Speaking of gardens, and new things, and stuff from the Japanese Festival - I started a bonsai. A tiny little jasmine "tree." It doesn't look like much yet, and I'm just trying to keep it alive for a year before I get going with the snipping and the wiring and the Mr. Miagi-ing. It was a wonderful thing to do with my Dad, who has many, on Labor Day. It was a great lazy day without a laptop or a cell phone, just me and my parents at their house, paging through books and watching movies and eating yummy (I didn't cook it or order it through a speaker) food. I needed the break from the rat-race-through-a-salt-mine and it was awesome. Hope you had a great long weekend too.