A Winters Day

Another Icy Morning

Another long, sunny day of knitting and dog walks in the park

Can you identify this SIP by its field marks?

Four Days Off!

I am really, really, really enjoying four consecutive days away from work.
I like my job, I love my co-workers but it is so nice to have a break.
We had a wonderful meal with friends on Thursday, went out for a lovely brunch on Friday and I still can't believe I have another day and a half to relax and knit.
We got some house cleaning done and took the dogs to the off leash park yesterday afternoon and I still managed to whip up a pair of these:



This pattern is so easy and relaxing and satisfying to knit. I cannot believe I haven't made it sooner. Such a great use for all those single balls of yarn bought impulsively just because.

The Naked Sheep Knit Shop, my LYS had a black Friday sale and I went early for some great deals and a new knitting bag.



I won this yarn in a raffle and also went home with a new Naked Sheep coffee mug!



I grafted the toe on Lenore #1 and finished the first Christmas Monkey




and started another pair:




I think my favorite strategy for sock knitting is to make a whole gaggle of singles and then start over and make the mates. It keeps the yarn and patterns more novel.

I enhanced my stash further with this:



Three skeins of Malabrigo Worsted Merino in Indigo. What should I do with it?

Back to knitting! Happy Saturday!

Happy Turkey Day

Sweet Potato Pie...mmmmm



Yes, there is bacon on this alder and hickory smoked, maple glazed turkey. I think it was the best I've ever had. The bacon was like some crazy meat candy. We cooked it on a Traeger grill and I am getting one of these when I can afford to.




My crazy husband will not pose nicely for family photographs.

Socks and Showers

The cold fall weather and BMFA Stash Sale have finally brought me out of my sock knitting slumber. I started this Monkey in BMFA 'Christmas Balls'.




I finished (ahem, except for grafting the toe:) one Lenore. It fits well despite changing needles and sizes several times.



I finally blocked Shetland Triangle #2. It is huge and lovely but the edging isn't very pointy and I'm not sure why as I did all the edging rows, maybe a second blocking will do the trick, it made #1 pointier.



I made this hat for myself for cold mornings waiting for the bus. It is Elsebeth Lavold Silky Flamme which is Alpaca/Silk/Wool. I wanted a more neutral colored beanie so my outfit on cold days did not have to match my red cabled hat.
I'm not much of a fashionista really but for some reason I like my accessories at least to go well together (not clash too badly).



Last but not least, our water heater is dying and we will be spending some time over this holiday weekend installing a new one. This will cut into my knitting time but hot showers (and baths) in the winter are important to this crafter.

Break (Yarn) Fast

To reward myself for slaving endlessly on the above project, I broke my highly unsuccessful (and mostly imaginary) yarn fast and went to the Blue Moon Stash Busting sale.





It was fun identifying all these lovelies!

Left to right: Mesa, Dixie Chick, Fred Flintstone, Watermelon Tourmaline, Falcons Eye, Christmas Balls, and Titania.