Tomorrow I'm going to a full day of work, and then I'm driving a van of 10 people to the mountains of Nagano for our big, weekend-long soccer tournament. So what did I just HAVE to do tonight?

Block this leaf lace shawl, of course! I finished this ages ago, but there was no rush to block it as I was going to give it to my tea ceremony teacher when I leave Japan next year. But now the dearest friend and co-worker, who has been nothing short of a savior to me the whole time I've worked in Japan, is getting married. It's all very low-key and being done at city hall on Sunday, and I just know that she will die when she opens this wedding prezzie at work next week. She absolutely fawns over any handknit item I wear to work and is always full of positive energy (and gossip!). How could I NOT give it to her?

Ship over that next batch of yarn Mum, just T-minus 10 months to get the next one finished.