Sweet!

Our first winter storm watch of the season is here! Right now, the forecast calls for 6 inches of snow on Saturday, changing over to sleet and freezing rain. Cool. Even better? I don't have to work this Saturday. The first Saturday since the beginning of November (which, due to Washington's health problems and one cranky Ewe Little Dickens made for a truly, for-lack-of-a-better-word yucky weekend)

Snow showers are in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow, too. I'll take it.

My new camera arrived the other day and I had a chance today to set it up. So far so good. Here's my first few shots, taken of our wee beasties:

Now is that an exciting post, or what?

I'm dreaming

of a White Thanksgiving, and I got one.

Instead of going to the gym on Thanksgiving morning (a very rare decision these last 3-4 years...so rare, in fact, that I can probably count the days not at the gym during this time frame on one hand and a decision I always regret. You'd think I'd learn...), DH and I went for a brisk and chilly (28 degrees with a stiff NW wind) 1 hour tromp through Shorewood.

I love the snow on top of the Halloween decorations:









And, while I think it is way too early to have Christmas decorations up, you have to admit it is pretty:
Sorry for the blur, but my big woolly mittens really prevented me from getting these shots in focus!






This photo doesn't do the snow on these beautiful burgundy leaves justice:

I certainly hope this early snow is a harbinger of our winter to come!

What I can accomplish in 20 minutes

After making fine progress on sleeve #2 of the High Neck Cable and of the last diamond patch mitten this week, I thought I'd move poor, neglected Stevie along. I thought that finishing the back was absolutely within the realm of possibility this afternoon. So, I picked it up, worked a few rows and decided I just wanted to check the armhole and overall measurement:

A mere 20 minutes later, in the hands of this fickle knitter, the nearly complete back of poor Stevie was reduced to this:


I just didn't love it. The fact that over a week would go by without me wanting to knit it should have told me something. Don't get me wrong, I love the yarn...heck, I love the pattern. I just didn't love the two of them together. So, out it came...life's too short to knit things you just don't love, right?


I feel better now, a little sad, but better - like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I'll just focus all of my energies (like I should have all along...drat those knitting muses striking me down again after breaking my own "one project at a time" mantra) on cranking out the High Neck Cable and - finally - the last mitten. I'm actually getting the needlepoint bug again - perhaps I'll do a canvas during my early a.m. time for a change of pace??? But, all of my lovely sock yarn is still calling my name!

What a difference a week makes

A complete 180 degree turn-around from how things are going and how I feel about the world...it's all good. As I'm rather anxious to get back to my weekend of knitting, cuddling, and watching football, just a shortie update on the knitting progress.


The High Neck Cable sweater is chugging right along. The body (knit in the round) up to the armholes and one sleeve awaiting joining to said body are complete:

I'm really looking forward to wearing this as it is going to go very well with just about everything in my fall/winter wardrobe!


I've also completed one of the diamond patch mittens and gotten over 1/2 done with the second. No photos yet...best to wait 'til they are both done for maximum impact! The first one, though, is pretty neat to look at and it won't be long until I'll need to wear them.

After a taking a bit of a pause, I've picked up the new sweater project today: Stevie from Rowan's Cork collection, knit in their new and ultimately snuggly yarn, Coccoon:



This is the project I finally settled on after my brief, but albeit unsuccessful attempt at copying the Audrey cable sweater from Athleta a few weeks back! Knit on size 10.5 needles, this is going so quickly! And I thought knitting the High Neck Cable on size 7 needles was speedy...but then again, my mittens are done on size 0!

Ok...I'm done...back to my chair, and football, and knitting!

Accentuate the positive

In light of our recent feline health crises, the lack of a working camera (mistaken as a cat toy with the result of the lens getting banged out of alignment), and a nasty case of the mean reds this morning, I thought it best to list out the things for which I am happy:

1. The time change is finally here. I will save ripping on Bushie for enacting the stupid legislation which delays "fall back" (aren't there more important issues than this?) and just be grateful that it is here at last. I love me that extra hour of weekend, no matter how I get it.

2. This weekend was the first in over two months that I
a) didn't have to work and
b) didn't have to teach

3. There are flurries in the forecast





4. The Colts/Patriots game begins shortly. I love the Colts and the Pats are a close second. I want them both to win. I'll hope for a tie.

5. There are flurries in the forecast. Sorry, but I'm really happy about that.

6. It's just early afternoon, and most of my lunch for tomorrow is packed up already (I HATE packing up my lunch for the next day).

7. Today's the first day chilly enough to wear my favorite cuddly at-home outfit: what is now an absolutely huge loden corduroy dress from J Jill. It's so big now it's just downright silly, but I can't bring myself to donate it.

8. There are flurries in the forecast and the time change. Well, at least I combined them this time.

9. Washington seems to be finally making an improvement.

10. I do indeed have a thoughtful husband.

Moving on...

Well, I'm not 100% thrilled with the Tangled Yoke Cardigan, but I'm much happier with it now that it has been blocked again:

It fits a better and, while the button bands don't lie completely flat, I can live with it as shown here in the ubiquitously bad bathroom mirror shot, slapped on over pjs:

I'm still going to re-do it. I really enjoyed the pattern and I love Rowan Felted Tweed (I've got lots in the stash). I just have to be honest with myself: I don't like making cardigans and I should just not do them! I'm going to attempt the henley version on The Rainey Sisters as noted below in a very divine ginger color.

I think I'll give it a whirl in the new year, after I finish the two projects I'm working on now and after I take a little mental health break from the pattern :-)