Give me lots of daytime knitting, and I'll give you lots of scarf progress:

Backyard Leaves stretching as far as the eye can see.  The first half is complete, and I have already begin the second.  The pattern calls for 11 repeats, but I did one more to get some extra length.  I eyeballed the yarn, and while I was certain that I had enough for 12 repeats, 13 might have been cutting it too close--especially when I thought about the 20 or so rows after the last pattern repeat.  But, when all was said and done, I probably could have squeezed out another.

This project marks the first time that I'm knitting a gift for someone without the recipient's knowledge.  Much thought has gone into color and pattern selections, but still, it's against my usual policy to stick someone with a knitted object which she might not want or need.

In addition, this project is the second of three gift knits for which I've joined the Who Wouldn't Love a Handknitted Gift knit along.  A couple weeks ago, I was reflecting that I had not joined a knit along in AGES, and then Alison comes up with the perfect one.  Maybe I should hop over to that blog and post something....

Today also marks my return to the normal routine, and that means Knitsmiths later on today.  More knitting!  I can't wait.