I'm onto a whole new kind of square this week (only temporarily setting the ballbands aside) as my friend Megan took the time to sit down* with me and walk me through a granny square, step by step. I knew the basics of using a crochet hook for my knitting, but every time I had attempted to sit down and teach myself how to read a pattern I have been horribly discouraged. My first square (see above) is a little wonky, but I got the hang of it pretty fast. Now, not only can I make sense of the granny square chart and instructions, but I can make my way through one of these pretty quickly and mindlessly. What more could I ask? I am well on my way to a fun, new granny square scarf.

As I write this, my parents and all sorts of other good stuff are flying over the Pacific and going to be here tonight--a little hard to believe. I have been so busy these past few weeks that yesterday I had the panicked realization that their visit which was "a few weeks away" for so long is actually HERE. NOW. The apartment has been cleaned, the sheets have been washed, and the reservations have been made so now I just need to finish up a few last things before I go to get them tonight. Hopefully I won't be TOO busy playing tour guide to fit in some knitting with all those goodies. Or at least a few more granny squares!!

* Actually, she has a cast and didn't have anywhere else to go--I buttered her up with dinner and then juiced her for the tutorial.