I'm being a baby!

Well, here it is. Monday morning. I was tagged for my first ever meme! (I do not know what that word means, anyone?) by Kim~Thanks girl! BUT. You will have to wait until I have a chance to formulate some answers. My first instinct is to answer
None, nope, not a one, what?? and such. But that would be cheating. Although a bit true. But music has a way of being in your life, even if you don't nurse it along.
So, let's get this straight? This is a post saying that there is a post coming?
Yes. A preview post.
Movies do it. Why not blogs?
Baby booties
I got the brilliant idea to make a pair of baby booties for a gift. You know the routine. Small. Fast. What could be better. I had some debbie bliss baby cashmerino in my stash.
Let me just say this before I continue. BABY BOOTIES KICKED MY ASS! First off, I started with cute booties from the Adorable Knits for Tots book. It has little dots on them. CUTE. They stumped me. I emailed an SOS alert to Leigh. (Thanks, Leigh! )She kindly offered to help and when I started typing the email, I got it. Sometimes it takes jolting the mind. So I continued on my merry way. Until I realized that the little dots were leaving quite a few strands behind the knitting. Sure, I was catching them every 2 or 3 stitches, but little baby toes could find their way in there. I remembered being a mom and trying to get that baby foot into something that was resistant. Off the needles it came. I could not do that to any new mother.
Next up was a pair in the debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino book. They look a bit like sandals, with a cute strap and little button.
Now, I fancy myself a perfectly adequate knitter. I think I'm okay at it. I am a smart human being. Sometimes it takes me a bit to get the hang of a pattern but this one...this one kicked my ASS! It sits on the needles right now. When I look over at it, I think, "what the???" It looks very much like a catnip mouse. The directions are so vague I could just scream. I think I can see what I need to do to bring them a bit closer to being baby booties.
But honestly, let's think about this. Does a new mother need a baby bootie that has a strap and a tiny, miniscule button? Really?
Okay, idea number 2 scrapped.
This was supposed to be a fast and easy project and now it's taken a whole Sunday away. I could have been knitting the other things. That I am supposed to be knitting before my wandering eye took me in another direction!
Scheez.

101 things about me

1. I do not drink coffee
2. but I love the smell
3. I have tried it and it makes my tongue feel fuzzy
4. I am a diet coke addict
5. I try not to drink too much, but I have to have some
6. Family is the most important thing to me
7. Although I am not close to my family
8. When I was little, I always knew that I would move away
9. And I did
10. Not too far, but far enough
11. I am a weather nut
12. Weatherbug is my favorite computer program
13. I never was a cat person, until I got one
14. Or I should say, until the cat got me
15. I love to eat cold pizza in the morning
16. I buy extra pizza just to have some breakfast
17. When I was little, I thought I would marry David Cassidy
18. I owned every Partridge Family album there was
19. My friend Debbie and I used to lip sync all their songs
20. I had a monkey as a pet when I was 5 years old
21. His name was Peppy
22. He died and we got another
23. His name was Peppy 2
24. He did not live much longer
25. I sing all the time
26. But no one but my kids hear me sing
27. I am not a good singer
28. I used to make up songs for the kids every day
29. It's fair to say that I won't be making a fortune on songwriting
30. I love the ocean
31. The sounds and smells make me happy
32. Seagulls are my favorite bird
33. Even though I know they are the equivalent of flying rats, I love their grace
34. But I hate sand in my clothes and shoes
35. I can't get over my love for the muppets
36. Muppets Family Christmas is one of my favorite movies
37. It wouldn't be Christmas without It's a Wonderful Life
38. I could eat pasta for dinner every night, I love it that much
39. I wish I were more organized
40. I love my home clean but don't often do it or at least often enough
41. Winter is my favorite season
42. It may come as a shock to you, but I wear mittens and not gloves. My fingers get cold in gloves and stay toasty warm in mittens. Hence, my mitten love
43. I am very compassionate and if I tune into someone, I KNOW things
44. This has never worked out too well for me. Sometimes people shouldn't KNOW things about others
45. So, I've learned to turn it off
46. The older I get, the easier it seems for me to get annoyed
47. I hate that. It annoys me
48. I crack almost all of my joints. I can't help it. Just further proof that I am cracking up
49. I love to read
50. I miss reading every night to the kids
51. Sometimes I read one of their children's books just to get nostalgic
52. I can't wait to have grandchildren to read to
53. My favorite author is John Steinbeck but my latest favorite book is Owen Meany
54. I have always loved to cook
55. I am a physical therapist
56. But I don't work in the field anymore. I got very burned out and depressed over it. Now I just have a job and I'm happier than I had been in a long time.
57. I wish I had been an English major. I think I am one in my make believe life
58. I was a hockey cheerleader in high school
59. I hope you won't hold that against me
60. I am not perky
61. I was also a shithead in high school
62. Yes, that's right. I don't swear very much, so I hope you enjoyed that one
63. I'd like to go back in time and fix some things that I did
64. But, alas, I am not a time traveler
65. I like to stay home more than anything. I think I'm becoming a hermit
67. I loved Herman's Hermits. I could sing you "Mrs. Brown you've got a lovely daughter"
68. I have watched Days of our Lives since I was 15 years old
69. Although I don't watch it every day anymore, I keep up with the story lines and watch it when I can
70. I got engaged to Andy exactly 3 months after meeting him
71. That was 22 years ago and I have never regretted saying YES
72. Our song is Can't help falling in love with you, by Elvis
73. Although, Andy probably doesn't realize it.
74. Over the 22 years, each time we are at a dress up with dancing event, we always dance this song during which Andy hums the song softly, which happens to be right in my ear. I get tingles thinking of the sound of him humming.
75. tingles after 22 years is a good thing
76. I have to wear sunglasses while driving on sunny days or I get an extreme headache
77. It's true, I don't do well in the back of a mini van. I get motion Queasiness
78. My favorite classical piece is Pachelbel, Canon in D. It makes me very happy each time I hear it.
79. I hate mustard
80. As a girl, I read and owned all of the Nancy Drew books
81. And I started a library in my walk in closet, numbering all the books and starting a card file
82. no lending ever took place, though
83. I had a hysterectomy at age 39
84. That was 4 years ago and I don't miss that part of my body at all!
85. After the operation, I could not concentrate to read or write for over a year
86. I'm thankful that my fog has cleared
87. I don't like turtles
88. Derek had one and of course, I was the one to take care of it
89. I hated the way it's neck poked out of it's shell.
90. Ick.
91. I had never previously wished death upon anything living
92. I did not kill it
93. I think I could do anything if I put my mind to it
94. I wonder why, then, I don't dust this computer desk?
95. I love lilacs and wonder why they can't make some that bloom all summer long
96. I am not a phone person. Sometimes I don't even answer it. I hear my Mom's voice when I say, "It won't be for me anyway!"
97. I believe in Santa
98. I would like to dye my hair red. Ish. Not flaming red, but some reddish highlights would be fun
99. I'm afraid to go to my high school reunions because I'm afraid that people won't remember me. Or worse, they'd remember that I was a shithead
100. I love the word: Friggin'
101. Oh, yeah, and I knit.

S-A-TUR-D-A-Y NIGHT!

Shhhh, the family is out tonight and I am in my knitting glory. I thought I'd spend a little bit of the time with you!
Shhhh. Don't tell your kids. I don't want any screaming children running through here. Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow would be good for me!
Wowza!
I just stumbled across the Secret Pals 4 program. Holy Moley! There are over 300 knitters signed up! I am stunned! Stunned. And more than a bit pleased as the founding mother of the SP's. Great going, people! I know how much work and aggravation goes with it. But more than that, there is great personal satisfaction that so many are sharing a bit of themselves with others.
It's good, isn't it?
Knitting
I have realized that my blogging style is to show at least one picture along with my entry. That's a problem. I need to bring the computer to the shop to be looked at and I can't bear giving it up for a couple of days. A conundrum for sure. So, you get words. No pictures. Only pictures painted with words. STOP YAWNING! I saw that!
Scheez. Tough crowd!
What am I knitting?
I am knitting mitten number 2 for the Knitters without borders raffle. I thought I would be done with it by now, but I am not. Plans go awry all the time. It's okay. It will be finished. I can't wait to see who won them! I am about halfway done the 2nd mitt. Alas, I do have a problem, though. I dropped a stitch on thumb number one and for the life of me I cannot find it. CAN NOT. Where did it go? It can't leave. It has to be there. But I can't find it.
Everyday Cardigan in Buffalo Brownski. Yup. I'm knitting that too.
And also the Friday Harbor sock for the sockapalooza! It dawned on me that someone out there is knitting socks for ME. Holy cow, mother of socks! I can't fathom it! Joy. Unspeakable joy at this prospect!
Gotta run, Desperate Housewives is coming on soon. Yes, I know! What trash! I love it!

pull up a banana seat, I have a story for you!

When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I won a bike at the VFW Christmas Party. I couldn't believe it! I did not even know how to ride a bike. I was not the most co ordinated of children. It looked something like this It was pink and white, with a banana seat and hand brakes! HAND BRAKES! None of the other kids had banana seats and handbrakes! My cool factor was elevated, although temporarily. You were either cool or not. A bike only piqued their curiosity for a couple of moments.
Until I got used to the hand brakes, I wore out the toes of my converse low top sneakers by dragging them on the ground trying to slow me down. Mom wasn't happy about that!
One time Monica Girard wanted to switch bikes for a ride. She had foot brakes on her bike. We rode down the huge hill of our street (from her house to mine) on each other's bike going faster and faster, neither of us remembering how to brake. I remember hearing Monica's voice behind me yelling, "How do I stop?" I remember my feet not being able to stay on the fast moving pedals. Reaching the bottom of the hill at speeds 10 year old girls should not be traveling at, we met our stop in the form of trash cans in front of the same VFW that gifted me the bike. Trash cans, bikes and girls went flying around. I don't remember now what my injuries were. I'm sure there was a bruise and a couple of scrapes!
In my adult life, I cannot ride a bike. I've tried. I really tried when I was first married. I couldn't keep my balance. Falling as an adult was much more painful then the memory of falling as a child.
Yeah, yeah, nice story, Sandy, what's your point?
Don't rush me.
I'm getting there.
I have never won anything as special since. I am now 43 years old. 33 years has passed. Oh, sure, I've won the occasional $5 scratch ticket. But I do not buy them. I am too cheap. Er. Frugal. No, cheap was right. I don't like the gamble aspect of them. I have won a pool at work once. But I played it more for Andy than myself. But I have not won anything so exciting since then.
Until now!
I won this.

Picture lifted from Harlot's blog
From Stephanie's Doctors without borders fundraiser. It is the most lovely hand spun yarn from Sandi! (Hi Sandi!) I do not have it in my hands yet, but they long to cop a feel!
I believe that this winning will make me a bit happier than the last. Certainly if I won a bike today, it would not thrill me.
The color of the yarn, the fact that it is handspun, it comes from a sheep named Bessie, handdyed, hand everything. All facts that bring me happiness. I am so excited! I can barely contain myself.
Do I need to get out more?

a quickie

With Derek gone back to college, it's again quiet around here and my chance to post pictures has gone as well. Remember the USB problem? Yeah, well, it
wasn't solved, just ignored. I'm especially good at that. Ignoring. It's a life tool.

Did you ever play the game, " I WONDER"?
It goes something like this:
I wonder if I'll ever get used to Derek going off to college?
I wonder if it will ever stop snowing?
I wonder how long ~insert family member name here~ will leave that shoe/dirty cup/dirty socks/candy wrapper there if I don't pick it up?
I have to tell you that I have not ever been able to win that one. I have tried, believe me. I leave it there. And it stays. And not one person notices except for me. It continues until I just can't play this game anymore. I guess it's fair to say that I'm not good at games.
Speaking of snow:
More snow today to add to the bunch.

Free snow to all. Plenty to go around!

Today (how's that for creative titling?)

Blizzard, a look back:
It was fun while it lasted. The kids have no school, but work continues. Always. Derek was supposed to move back into his dorm yesterday but that was not about to happen!
Here's a couple of my favorite pictures that got snapped:

This is the same view as yesterday's picture. View and compare! Andy and Derek shoveled for hours to dig us out. Wow! I am impressed, Mother Nature!
Can you see that the snow is almost waist deep on the Mr.?
After the shoveling was completed, Derek was assigned the task to make it to the back of the house to check the dryer vent. I did not have any plans of dying of carbon monoxide poisoning any time soon. I'm much too busy for that crap! Being an ambitious 18 year old, he chose walking through the yard. Walking is a generous term that would describe slogging through waist high snow. I would have chosen the quicker, cleaner route of the street around back. But hey, I'm not an 18 year old, am I?

He had lots of fun jumping like he was 10 years old again.
Any guesses?
Who would like to take a stab at guessing how much knitting I got done the whole day of a blizzard? Who said NONE. Right you are! How silly is that? I wasted more hours than I should have with this game! Damn game! I KNEW it would happen to me! I stayed away because I knew if I started, hours would slip away. Slip away they did. While the men folk were throwing snow around, I sat like a slug at the computer until 4 pm! Can you say "wasted day?" Then, embarrassed at the time I'd wasted, I sheepishly got up and cooked a nice dinner for the crew and finally showered. Thank the unsmelly gods for that one!
But on Saturday night I did knit some on the sockapalooza sock.

The color is a bit off on this photo, but you've come to expect that winter photos are not as good as summer ones, haven't you?
It's the Friday Harbor pattern from Knitting on the Road. You should try it if you are tempted. The pattern is fun to do!
I heard that Johnny Carson passed away. I still miss him on the Tonight Show!

Definition of blizzard? more knitting time!

Well. Is it ever snowing! I can't remember seeing this much snow. The news tells me that we've had about 29 inches here. It's hard to tell because we've had such huge gusts of wind that is drifting the snow.
This is what I see out my front door.

In the foreground is a pile of snow. That's the top step. What stairs? See my car? The lump with blue sticking out? Does anyone see tires on my car? Or a hood for that matter. Yeah, me neither!
I have to admit that there is something so peaceful about snowstorms. The world is quiet and soft with the snow swirling outside. The real joy comes in knowing that the snow fall and the wind blows but I am warm and safe inside my home. The joy ends when the shoveling begins, of course.
Let it snow, indeed!

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs!

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs:
(Does anyone know that book? It was one of my kids favorites when they were little!)
The forecast for tonight is snow. And lots of it! My plan will be similar to hibernating. Cooking chicken stew with dumplings (which is similar to chicken and dumplings but is a soup), cleaning up around here, more laundry and yes, lots of knitting, maybe even a movie or two! But first I have to go to the grocery store and I'm not happy about it! I genuinely need groceries. I'm not going there to stock up on food because of the storm. I need bread and milk. Not EXTRA bread and milk. We have none. Shouldn't there be a stash of food for people who are not panicking? One little mention of snow on the weather and it sends people into a tizzy! What if this is THE ONE? Maybe we won't be able to get to the store for a month and a half!
Oh, please! Move over! I NEED groceries! Mother Hubbard has got nothing on my cupboards!
Icicle on Sandy

My house is growing some huge icicles right now! But this is my favorite. The water drips froze on the way down the SANDY windchimes.
I just love icicles! Even though it really means that the drainage system outside our home is failing miserably! There is a price to pay for beauty, is there not?

Knitting and a murder (almost!)

Sockapalooza
I decided that I did not have enough started, what with the Knitters without borders mittens and the everyday cardigan, so I planned out my sockapalooza. It has to be mailed out on or about March 15, so what am I waiting for?

Friday Harbor sock from Knitting on the Road and Luscious mountain colors yarn, colorway lost trail.
It was a scary, scary, scary, scary monster!
Most of the times at 3 am I am blissfully sleeping. Last night around that time, Derek, the eternal nightowl of the family, is standing in our bedroom at that time saying, "Mom, did you just hear the doorbell ring?"
Hmm. No, I tell him. Of course, I could have missed it amongst my snoozing. He was downstairs at his computer playing some gosh awful game with all his night owl friends online. Then I have the thought..Why would someone be at our door at 3 am? Derek speaks it out loud for all of us. "It's kinda spooky!"
Andy and I get out of bed and the three of us stand in the bedroom window looking down at the sleepy neighborhood for longer than any adults standing in a window wearing pajamas and rumpled sleepy hair really should. We are huddled together, figuring that the straggly ax murderer that is standing at our door, ringing the doorbell for access to slaughter us all will get tired of his wait and go to the next house.
Knowing that Derek is "creeped out" and that he still has to shut down his computer, I make for the stairs, figuring that brave hubby is close behind, ready to protect his family at any cost. Um. Wrong. Hubby is back in the warm covers mumbling something like, "Don't forget to turn out the lights".
Okay, so it's Derek and me, creeping down the stairs at 3:15 peering into each shadow as if it's the polite bell ringing intruder. Adrenaline pours through our veins, our hearts pump so loud they scare us. We both put our faces in the front window to see if anybody is standing on the porch. There is not. Phew. He left, that ax murderer! Thank Goodness he did not use his ax to bust the door down.
I decide at that moment to do what any decent knitblogger would do at 3:20 am. I sit at my computer to check to see if there are any blog updates. Oh, good, Norma has updated. I leave her a message, wondering if she will notice that I am up at 3:30 am. She did. Notice. She's quick like that.
Derek is sitting at his computer, finishing up what he needs to so we can go to bed. Again. He says, "Oh, my god, Mom, come listen to this!" Since every creak and noise in this drafty old house is sounding ominous, I get cold all over and go into the room. He hands me the headphones while telling me that his friend sent over a clip for him to watch. One with puppet-y type things and they are standing at a doorway delivering a package. I don't watch any more when I hear the doorbell sound in the headphones. He tells me that while waiting for the video to load, he minimized it and continued his computer game. The sound of the clip was all music. Except for that realistic doorbell sound. Which, coincidentally sounds exactly like OUR doorbell. Go figure! While only listening to the clip, the doorbell sounded real to him. We have a good, nervous little laugh and both head to bed.
One more night has passed with the local ax murderer not getting my family. Life is good.

Brr

When I see my rhododendron bush shivering like this:

(Bush is not actually shivering, it just is my interpretation)
then I know the thermometer says something like this:

Pass the wool, please!

Peace out!

Who's been sleeping on my Everyday Cardigan?

Caught in the act! ~ Please excuse my thumb that got in the way! Fig was trying to find a warm place for a nap and this everyday cardigan drying on a sweater rack looked inviting to him. Looks guilty, doesn't he? He was in the process of his getaway at this point.
And speaking of Everyday Cardigan. I think I could knit one of these per year, I love it so much. So, I'd like to introduce you to the makings of the EC, 2005! Color: Buffalo Brownski Peace Fleece! When I knit with this yarn, hearts come floating out of my head. Actual hearts.

Let there be peace on earth.

Is this a cooking blog or what??

Thanks to all of you who joined in on the great debate of American Chop Suey vs. Goulash. All of your comments made me feel loved beyond belief. Or is it that you just love food? I'd like to stay in my happy little delusional euphoria and think it's the love. :)
I learned so many new names for a dish that I've been eating all my life. And I think I wouldn't be out of line saying that fun was had by all.
Here's some of the other names:
Slop, Glop in the Pot, chili mac, slum gullion, hot dish, casserole, meat gravy, spagetti and so many fun others. I will still call it American Chop Suey, but when I cook it, I'll think of all the others. And probably laugh into the pot, further proving to the family that I've lost my mind!
Now, is this the time to mention that my Mother used to make a dish that I now call "shepard's pie"? It was layers of hamburg and onions on the bottom, corn in the middle, and mashed potatoes on top, baked in the oven. She called this "CHINESE DISH". Made no sense to me, even as a kid. I refused to call it that. I always refered to it as shepard's pie, ticking my Mom off. I was a rebel, I tell ya!
Chinese Dish, indeed!

Spelling Bee
I feel as if I am involved in a spelling bee while at home lately. The family has found the game, I Sketch. It is an online version of the game Pictionary. It is all the rage around here. It is played against other people, who take turns drawing a word assigned to them. All the others guess the word. Being an online version, spelling is important to getting the word correct. I'll be sitting here knitting and all of a sudden the spelling bee starts. "Mom, how do you spell Zeppelin. Or Labyrinth." Fun for all. Gets my brain working. But I feel as if I must stand and follow the spelling bee format. You know, "~clear throat~ Zeppelin. Z-E-P-P-E-L-I-N. Zeppelin"
Knitting
Today I start the 2nd Latvian mitten without borders. As well as knit on a little project I picked up and am excited about. Not ready to talk about it yet, though. You'll have to come back to see it.
Heehee!
Mean, aren't I?
In the meantime, Go eat something. And hopefully it has a wacky name!

American Chop Suey

Mitten Sans thumb
Is it wrong to love a mitten so? Knitting without borders mitten sitting next to a wonderful wish pot made by the ever talented Amy. Go get yours! I am done reading the Life of Pi so I can concentrate on knitting tonight. My family thinks that I have turned rude because I cannot seem to read and talk at the same time. Every time someone would say something to me the last couple of nights, they would get an annoyed look over the pages of the book accompanied by a page turn. At first I was so disappointed with the ending (of which I will not spoil here) but the more I think about it, the more I like it. So symbolic and meaningful. I have to admit to yelling out "Another Bobby Ewing shower incident!". I am dating myself with that reference. The book ending is growing on me.
In a Fog

All day long, fog has blanketed my corner of the world. It really has a relaxing, soothing feeling. As long as you are not driving on the highway that is.
Did I say American Chop Suey?
Yes, that's right. The other day Norma asked me why I didn't name the entry called "Hash and rehash" American Chop Suey? And I had no good reason why not. So, I name this one for her.
Norma lives not far from me. Not near either. But we live in the same country. Same part of the country. I believe it would be a 3-ish hour drive to visit my Norma from my house. Maybe 4 ish. But apparently, we are worlds away. When we were roomies at Rhinebeck, a discussion ensued about the food item I call "American Chop Suey". Which for me has always been macaroni (or any pasta), tomato sauce, and hamburg mixed together. Sometimes with onions and green peppers. Now, memory is starting to fail me on the details, but Norma's Vermont version of ACS was what I call chop suey. (correct me if I'm wrong) Chinese Chop Suey, a variety of vegetables, bean sprouts in a thin cornstarch sauce. And the macaroni version would be Goulash to a Vermonter.
Interesting, this English language.
You say goulash. I say American Chop Suey.
What's your dinner called?

Raise your hand!

About a week ago, my family had a heart to heart about cleaning. Yes, that's right. Cleaning the home. It started with one saying how such and such bugs them. And then I admitted that I can't do it all anymore. I need help. Then they pledged their undying support and all volunteered to do tasks. You know....
"I'll make sure the trash is taken out and the floor around it kept clean!"
"I'll vacuum when it needs to be done!"
"I'll fold the laundry!"
"I'll do the dishes!"
and then there's this one..
"I'll wash the kitchen floor!"
mmmmhmmm. Raise your hand if you believe this story.
Hogwash!
That's what it was. Although a half hearted attempt was made once in which a vacuum did actually touch a floor and a swiffer did mop up a kitchen. So, I'm grateful for that anyway.
Soon enough, floors started to appear dirty again, clutter reined.
Back to normal, I guess, it was good while it lasted!
Knitting?
Instead of knitting my fingers off, the last two nights I have been reading my eyeballs out. I can't put Life of Pi down. I couldn't pick it up for a year as it sat on my nightstand and now that I've started, I can't stop. The Latvian/Estonian/Massachussian mitten begs to be finished. And tonight it will.
Perhaps I will knit while the family cleans up around me.
Pshaw!

Hash and rehash

A couple of words, first about my January 6th entry.
Go ahead and read it, if you want to refresh your memory. So many of you commented on my smile. Thank you for that. For all I see when I look at that picture, besides the feeling of happiness I feel for the time spent reconnecting with Loe, is chins. Plural. Ick. This is a sign. I must heed it. Chins. How did this happen to me? I'm living my life all good and happy and all of a sudden it happens. Chins.
Sigh. I guess it happens to the best of us.
Dishcloth talk
I will use it. Not to scrub dishes, but to scrub my face lovingly. All of my chins will get to participate. I will wet it with super duper hot water and put it over my aching eyes when needed. And in between time, I will hang it proudly in my bathroom to remind me of the woman who made it.
Mitten:
Did I call it a Latvian mitten? I'm sorry. I meant Estonian. Is my face red!
Here's how it looks. Latvian. Estonian. Massachsettsian. Whatever.

I'm pretty excited about the pattern. I love it! Though this picture shows a funky line running down the right side, it does not exist in person. Blue line is the new thumb placement. Better? I hope.
Something is inkling in my mind though about this mitten. I'm not convincingly happy. Yet. I am thinking that I like mittens to be a bit roomier. Maybe once the thumb can be released into a space of it's own, it will fit better. And, mind you, this does not need to fit ME. It is going to one of you generous people who have given money to Doctor's without Borders, info over at Stephanie's.
Hmmm? What's that? Did I check my gauge?
I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it may incriminate me.

Another snowy day

The snowflakes are HUGE!

Snow falling on Peace Fleece!

Imagine

Phew! I don't seem to have enough hours in the day lately! I'm always coming up short. I wonder what that bodes for the new year. I hope I am not in a frenzy like the past week!

This is the latvian mitten as it stands now. As you can see, I decided what to do with the thumb issue. I ripped it out. I cannot be happy with it as it was. And fixing it would take longer than just knitting it again. So, it grows. Again. It's all good experience!
Maybe you have heard, or maybe not. I am donating this pair of mittens to the Cause. Visit Stephanie's blog, donate some money to Doctors Without Borders to help with the tsunami recovery effort, and you will be entered to win a pair of Stephanie's wonderful latvian mittens. And mine. I have given small amounts to a couple of wonderful charities but I feel helpless. I feel like I can't do enough. I can't just leave my family and fly there to help. I can knit to help. So I will give my time and my talent, be that as it may.
So, go ahead. Give from your heart. Big. Small. It doesn't matter. Every penny combined with all the others grows big. Imagine if every human gave one dollar. That would be a lot of money helping our human family in need.
Dishcloths.
That's right. You heard me. Dishcloths. From latvian mittens to dishcloths? I never imagined I would talk about them on my blog. I have nothing against them, I just never wanted to knit one. I hear people raving about them, but I'm a sponge kinda gal. The kind with a scrubby on one side. So a knitted dishcloth held no magic for me. Seems like a lot of work to soak in a sink and scrub dirty dishes!
And yet, here it is.

Not made by me. Even better. This was made by a woman named Loe. Here I am with her. Me on the right (wearing my koigu kersti scarf), in case you've forgotten.

Loe was my neighbor when I was growing up. I have not seen her in years, probably since I got married and moved out of town and my parents sold their house. She truly is the person I most admire, as written about in a 3rd grade essay. She is 82 and still knits up a storm. When I told her I was a knitter, inspired by her, she ran into the next room and got me some dishcloths to bring home. She made me promise to use it. And I did. Promise. But I just don't have it in me. I will keep it in a safe spot. Loe's dishcloth. A dishcloth has never been more loved.

thumb it

I'm having issues. With a thumb. Not my thumb persay, but the thumb in the aforementioned wonderful mittens. It starts off innocent enough, with a comment about "Do you know where your thumbs are?"
And sure enough. I don't. It did occur to me that perhaps the thumb placement seemed low. But what do I know? This is my first thumb done this way. I reread the instructions and knit merrily on my way.
Now. It's painfully aware that the thumb and cuff are in cahoots to live together.
Dangnabbit! What will I do? Like any good knitter. I will pout about it until the solution comes to me. I figure I have 2 choices. Fix it. Or Rip it. Choose wisely. Fix it comes with a price. It cost me time. And aggravation. Rip it costs me more time. To redo. But the experience gained is priceless, no? So they say.
So, excuse me while I decide whether I'm going to give it thumbs UP or thumbs down.

Christmas will officially end tonight. At long last!

The calendar may say January 2nd, but it is Christmas for us. Again. Today heralds the end of our family christmases. We were supposed to partake on December 26th, but inclement weather postponed it. We will be driving the 1 1/2 hours out to my mother's. The worst part? Back to work tomorrow after having 10 days off. Ugh!
Mitten frenzy continues:
This mitten in the book is called maimu's mitten. Me? I refer to it as the chocolate snowflake mitten.

This knitting is the most fun any knitter should have with some pointy sticks. The blue line you see is where the thumb will reside. It's my bookmark, so to speak. I guess we'll call it a thumbmark. See? I'm using markers to easily spot my repeats. The Charlotte's web lesson sticks like glue. Say it with me: Any knitting that has repeats will have markers. Now: say it like you mean it!
New Years Eve recap:
It's official. I'm getting old. I actually thought about not going out and just hitting the hay. I did not. But I thought about it. We did play cards with friends until midnight was looming. Then we went to the TV to ring the new year in with Dick Clark's substitute.

Andy, Livvie the dog (although she doesn't know she is a dog, please don't break it to her), Bethany and my friend. Look at the way Livvie is just sitting, hanging out with the humans. Cracks me up every time I look at it. Silly pup!
Dogs like Andy. And Andy likes dogs. Problem is, Sandy doesn't like cleaning up after dogs. I'm more of a cat person.
Off to have more Christmas. Surely it's not a good sign that all I can think about this year is "where will I put it??"