Tuesday, December 30, 2003

Digging Out & A Lighter Shade of Pale

WOW!! We have got snow, snow and more snow! A big storm hit on Saturday, then another on Sunday. I took my yardstick and trudged out to the middle of my backyard and measured 24 inches. On Monday, we got another 3 inches. That makes 27 inches right outside my door. The snowplows have been working overtime. It really is pretty -- see:






This picture is of a woman walking her dog at the Bonneville golf course (courtesy of The Deseret News).

While it is gorgeous to look at, it is horrible to drive in the snow. I swear, people forget from year to year how to maneuver through snow and ice. So once I make it home from the office each evening, I just stay inside and knit.

I have finally begun my Phildar. I am knitting this from Filatura di Crosa's Zara yarn in a very pale shade of blue. (How does the old song go? "A lighter shade of pale?" Perfect description!!) I love the color -- it feels so calming and relaxing. And the touch of the yarn is like lying in a pillow of clouds. I've never felt a yarn so soft.







I scored some more yarn off eBay: some Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool and more Noro Kureyon. I can hardly wait until it arrives. Is there anything better than coming home from work to a package of yarn?

Well, stay warm, wherever you live. And if you would like some snow, ask the Good Mother to send it your way. We have enough, thank you!!

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

My Holiday Knitting is Done

All of my knitted holiday gifts are complete -- woo hoo!! After two trips through the wash cycle, first with jeans, then with towels, booga bag #2 turned out great. I made this one a bit bigger than the first one. I just increased from 34 to 38 stitches on the bottom, and knit about 6 extra rounds on the body of the purse. I like this size much better than the first one I did, and if I knit more bags in the future (for me, maybe Mom, some office mates, etc.), I will definitely make the larger size.

I have still got a bit of shopping and all of the wrapping left to do before December 25. As soon as Christmas has come and gone, I am going to treat myself to a new knit project. In the meantime, I am cyberknitting along with many bloggers and planning in my mind what my new project will be. My Phildar? A new Rowan cardi?? How about a Starmore St. Brigid or Inishmore???

Thursday, December 11, 2003

Boogie Nights

My evenings have been spent knitting Booga Bags from Julie's great Noro Kureyon pattern. I finally received the yarn I won on ebay, and have been speeding along on bag No. 2. This colorway is gorgeous -- all bright pinks, purples, lavenders, and a tiny touch of orange. I love watching the colors change as I am knitting. Once this has been knitted and felted, my knit-related Christmas projects are done. Yay!! Now, if only the rest of my shopping were finished, wrapped, and under the tree!

The doubleknitski hat is an FO and a great success. My son put it right on his bald little head, and it has hardly been off. Mucho gracias to Alison for the wonderful pattern.

The boss just got back from the rodeo finals in Las Vegas, so things are a bit crazy at the office with the work that has piled up while he was gone. So, I'm off to play catch-up!

Monday, December 08, 2003

Mail Woes

Last week I almost went postal on the postman. Now, I know it wasn't the poor man's fault my mail was so messed up. But sometimes one must blame the messenger instead of the message. If nothing else, it makes one feel a bit better. Actually, I don't feel better, so I'm recording it for all posterity.

First of all, I finally received my package from a local LYS (that shall remain nameless herein). I was so excited! At long last, The Viking Knits Collection: Book One, was in my possessio. I love Elsebeth Lavold's designs, and was ready to devour the contents of this lovely book that I ordered over 3 weeks ago. So imagine my dismay when I opened the envelope to find not the book I had longed for, but Viking Patterns for Knitting, a book that had already been in my library for a couple of years. A quick call to the LYS confirmed their mistake; but I was also informed they had sold out of The Viking Knits Collection: Book One, which I had special ordered from them, which they called and told me was in, and for which I had immediately paid. Bother!!

Next, I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my December kit from a scrapbooking club I belong to. These kits always arrive packaged in a large pizza box, thus securing the 12x12 paper so it won't be bent. Imagine my disappointment to arrive home and see my much desired pizza box that looked as if it has gotten soaking wet, and then either dropped from the top of a 10-story building or had a 500 pound weight pounded into it. Everything inside it was ruined. The papers were crushed, wrinkled and faded onto each other.

To make matters worse, I am still waiting for the Noro Kureyon yarn I won on ebay 2 1/2 weeks ago to arrive.






It is going to be another Booga Bag for sister #2 for Christmas. I'm starting to get that panicky feeling when things just don't seem to go my way. What else can go wrong?