Snow, the 2009 version

About eleven months ago I posted THIS photo. The new photo here was taken farther back from the front door, but from a similar angle. Click this one for a larger view. So far this winter we've had 10" more snow than we'd had by Jan. 15th last winter. And last winter set a record for total snowfall.

Darned cold here, too. This a.m. the morning local tv weather guy said: "Do the math -- it's -23 F. outside. Add the indoor temp at your house to 23 to see why it's such a shock to go outdoors!"

OK. It was 67 deg. F inside - 67+23= 90 degree difference.

Then he said, "But the windchill is -45 F, so figure out the 'feels like' difference."

67+45= 112 degrees. No wonder I've been saying a lot of naughty words when I go from the house to the car and from the car to my office.

Ravelry Updates

Egad! I've been on the computer for 6 hours: several posts here, blog-browsed (that took about two hours), and I worked on one of the items from my To-Do list mentioned earlier today.

I've added a few books to my Ravelry library and added a bunch of stashed yarn. One of the things, OK the MAIN thing, that kept me from working on my Ravelry pages is that I don't have photos of my stash and didn't want to be bothered doing photos. But, I added the stash without photos, just details. :-)

Another day I'll work on updating projects and wish lists. Hmmm... Maybe that will be on Tuesday, if we Do get that blizzard.

You can find me on Ravelry at jakkimitch.

OTN Update and Mid-January Musings

Last evening, as soon as I finished the earlier-posted-about socks, I swatched for an easy vest to go with my turtle necked tops & slacks [for work.] Requirements for the yarn:

1. Inexpensive

2. Easy Care

3. Chunky

4. Colorway to "go with" my collection of current & proposed turtle necked tops: black, red, white, pink, burgundy, green. dark lavender. [I currently only have the first four colors.]

I had in mind a yarn that was maybe "homespun" and in a white-black-and shades of gray colorway. Keep in mind, that Inexpensive was my first priority and Easy Care was my second, so I headed for H.L. with a Christmas gift card. There was absolutely Nothing that came close to what I wanted. However, what I settled on will work. I was thinking of something with more white and less gray. But, it's OK.

And now I have about 5 rows of the back OTN.

Pattern: Lion Brand free pattern - "Denim Vest"

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun #312 Edwardian

Needles: Size 10 [6mm] circ

Knit For: Me :-)

Mid-January Musings

* I'm still working on my To-Do list that I wanted to finish during my 17 day Holiday Break. I thought it was a do-able list, but I needed two more weeks [at least] to finish it!!

* It's awfully tempting during Mid-January in the upper midwest to question WHY I live here. Oh, yeah. Grandsons, daughters, mother, and a much better job than the one I left five years ago [in the shadow of The Rock (see photo at top of blog).] But, Dang, winters are long here. The weather.com alert icon is flashing red in my computer's task bar. It's trying to tell me about the blizzard watch for this area. Last winter went into the record books for all-time-record snowfall. This winter, so far, we are more than 10" ahead of last winter. I'm typing "DANG," but you can be confident that I'm saying other things.

* Knit projects on the horizon include a pair of knucks for me, and a secret project that will use some of the same yarn as the knucks. More important to finish the secret project first. And I might have to improvish with my pair of knucks. Or buy more yarn. The yarn is Knit Picks DK. I'm thinking that I could probably use some leftover sock yarn from my stash in a coordinating color [and doubled] to do the ribbed wrists. I'm also smitten with a cardigan [to knit for myself] = Berroco's free Rosebud pattern. And then the day after I mused that I probably would never have to buy another knitting book, I bought: Knitted Jackets by Cheryl Oberle. There are five or six patterns I'd like to do. Decisions, decisions.

January Socks

I finally finished this pair last night while watching the Arizona Cardinals defeat the Carolina Panthers. [Well, I think Carolina helped defeat themselves. But Kurt & the guys took full advantage of the situation.] Editorial comment: the news is full of reports of the "bad eggs" in pro & college sports, but we rarely hear about the good guys. Kurt Warner (and wife Brenda) are Angels in disguise.

I started this pair in October [or was it September], but only worked on it sporatically due to knitting other things, and then there were the holidays, and family time, etc. etc.

As I mentioned in my Tuesday, Sept 16th post, I was concerned there might not be enough yardage to to the pattern I'd originally picked out. Thought I'd better do a toe-up sock - which I did.

Lessons learned:

1. I CAN do respectable looking toe-up short row wraps - eventually. There were numerous froggings.

2. I do NOT like to do short row wraps.

3. I do NOT like the way the toe box fits my feet with the toe up method I followed. [From P G-R's book.] I suppose if I really, really wanted toe up socks, I could use a different approach. I've seen a few others that might work better for my feet. But, the only reason I'd ever do another toe-up sock would be if I had short yardage again. And I sure as heck will try not to ever ever again. I'm completely happy with the fit of the "standard" top-down toe decreases I use.

Pattern: Toe-up, short row wrapped toes & heels; leg: 5" of pattern, then 1" of K2,P2 rib

- leg pattern "Oblique Openwork" an 8 stitch pattern from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks.

Yarn: Filatura Di Crosa - Maxime, Color #16. It's a dark foresty green in real life.

Needles: Size 1 [2.25mm] dpns [my Knit Picks order with two size 2.25mm circs will probably arrive tomorrow]

Knit for: Me!!

Peanut Butter Fudge

Sometime before Christmas I found a recipe for peanut butter fudge over on Tea's blog. Dreamy, creamy, peanut butter goodness! It was a hit on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. :-)

Give Me a "T"

[Genealogy content]

...for "Tara."

I've had my mitochondrial DNA tested and the results are that my maternal line is from "Tara" see also the National Geographic's Genographic Project pages for "T."

While "T" mtDNA is found across Europe, it is a smallish population and IS found in Scotland where the MacNeals are from. [I've always enjoyed bagpipes!]

Christmas FOs

#1. Pattern: Knucks

Yarn: Knit Picks' Swish DK in Nutmeg

Needles: Yikes - I think 4 [US] dpns

Knit for: My dear friend J across the pond

Instructions on Knitty.com call for embroidery on the "knucks," but I left them plain. J can add stitching, if she wants. The pair I will cast on tonight [same yarn, same pattern] for myself will have "DAMN COLD" embroidered on the fingers. These will be my computer gloves - and maybe my knitting gloves too! I prefer the nickle coated Knit Picks needles or Addi Turbos over bamboo, but the bamboo needles don't get cold like the metal ones!!

#2. Pattern: generic. CO 68 stitches. K2, P2 rib for 1" and then K3, p1 for the leg and instep. Top down.

Yarn: Red Heart's Heart & Sole [70% Superwash Wool & 30 % nylon] in 3950 Watercolor Stripe

Needles: 0 [US] bamboo

Knit for: Mother for Christmas

Buster, Sewing, and Sunday Knitting

Buster's preschool Christmas program was last Monday. The kids [and their teachers] did a great job with all of the songs. Buster's been singing lines from the songs for weeks. He's such a ham, I thought he'd be all into the performance. But, he stood in the front row and just smiled. Didn't sing, didn't jingle the bells. Just smiled. Cute smile though!! [We asked why he didn't sing, he said, "I didn't want to."]

I think I could have both sets of PJs finished for the boys by Wednesday afternoon. But, I decided yesterday to lift the stress level and NOT have them be Christmas presents. When the mama and the grandsons stopped by last evening, I had Sport try on the bottoms. I showed him the half finished top... and the sleeve pieces. Showed them both the pattern cover. And showed Buster the material for his PJs. But, I didn't promise that I'd have them finished by Christmas.

Sunday knitting for Charity. Yes I did. A few rows.

December FO - and Winter Storm Warning!

Yippee Skippee!! I have an unbloggable (for now) finished project. However, there is a post about it over at SAM6.

After last year's record setting snows, I was hoping for a milder winter this time. But, we have a winter storm warning for later today & tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about this. When my daughters were young and I was a stay-at-home mom, I wasn't bothered by winter storms. We had a fireplace and I always kept the pantry and refrig full - we could stay in and warm and bake bread & cookies.

But, now we all work. The girls have jobs that don't close for winter storms. So, that means they have to be driving in sometimes hazardous conditions. Me too! I'm not happy about this at all.

The "mixed feelings" -- I'm hoping my work is closed tomorrow. But, that would mean it's reallly bad, and I don't want that either.

Two Years & One Day

My blogoversary was yesterday. When I blogged earlier today, I thought, "Hmmm... must be about blogoversary time." But, didn't check on it.

No, I haven't had to go into work (yet) -- I've called twice. Everything is OK, so I'm probably free for the rest of the evening. Haven't had time to knit yet. It was just one item on a list of 14 things to accomplish today. Watching the boys tonight while their mama and her friend go out for supper was not on my list, but is now #15. Gotta go work on the list before I head up to DD2s.

Sunday Charity Knitting 2009

I've been blog browsing and read that Ruth over at knittingbloggyblog will be focusing on charity knitting on Sundays [and maybe other days] during 2009.

That's a great idea! I'll do that, too!! I haven't been doing much charity knitting lately [OK - the pink blanket took two months, but since it was only one project, my numbers are down....]

Today's knitting goal, though, will be to finish the 2nd Christmas sock for someone. Will blog about them after the 25th. However, later today I might at least cast on a watch cap for a charity.

All of this knitting will depend on whether or not I have to go to work today. I'm "on call" for a Noon - 8 p.m. shift.

In Praise of Chicken Soup & Matzo Balls

I admit it. I'm a horrible patient. I moan and groan. And if my throat didn't hurt so bad, I'd be calling people to tell them how awful I feel.

Maybe because I've been medicated today and not thinking clearly, it wasn't until an hour ago that I thought about making soup. I didn't have any chicken, but, plenty of chicken broth, garlic, onions, etc.

I've only had a few spoonsful so far, and already I feel better.

Very basic recipe:

Make the matzo balls following the recipe on the container - add a half teaspoon (or more) of dried rosemary. Refrigerate 20-30 mins. Then gently saute a small onion, chopped, and thinly sliced celery in a tablespoon of canola oil. Add a couple teaspoons of minced garlic and plenty of coarsely ground black pepper. Add about 4 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Add chopped chicken, if you want. Drop matzo into the gently boiling soup by spoonfuls. [It doesn't bother me if the soup gets a bit cloudy. Some people cook the balls in water first, but I like the flavor when they are cooked in the broth.] Cover, turn heat down, and simmer for about 20-30 mins. - depending on size of matzo balls. Ladle into soup bowl. Splash with Red Devil pepper sauce. Serve with a box of tissues.

Works every time!

When I finish this bowl of soup, I'll work on sock 2 of my December socks. Don't think I've blogged about them yet - that will give me something to blog about tomorrow :-)

6x6 Meme

I should be getting clothes and things lined up for my trip to IC tomorrow. But, instead, I'm blog browsing. Something I haven't done in quite a while. Over at Stitches of Violet, Marguerite posted a 6x6 Meme. Basically: go to your 6th photo folder and post the 6th photo.

Ha! I was tickled to find that the 6th photo in my 6th folder is of Sport when he was 6 months old! :-)

Reader(s) - you're tagged! (Hi, Kathy :-)

November socks!

Well, they are for little feet, but they ARE socks for my November SAM project. I have two "real" sock projects started - so I should be able to get one finished in December. Should. What a funny looking word.

I used the leftover yarn from the scarf, hat, glove/mitts I finished earlier in the week. Whew! I wasn't sure I'd have enough for the second sock!!

CO 32 stitches on size 4 needles & used the same cable as DD2's hat.

Cables!

I have FOs for November! [I'll work on the FO sidebar later.] A year ago or so, DD2 and I stopped at a yarn shop on our return trip from taking the grandsons to their dad's aunt for the weekend. DD2 expressed interest in learning to knit. I was so excited - I bought her yarn, a magazine with pattern she wanted, needles and assorted other knitter necessities. But, alas, DD2 probably will never be a knitter. She has a phobia about "sharp things" near her eyes.

So this April I started one of her projects and then set it aside, promising to finish before she really needed them. And, during the past week I finished:

1. Scarf for DD2

It's narrow, with a 4 stitch garter-stitch edge. But, even after steam blocking, the edge still rolled. I looked through several of my pattern books and read that adding a single crochet row on the edge would help. One row helped, but I ended up adding a second row.

2. A hat for DD2

got the pattern off the internet - but can't find my print out now.

3. Urban Necessity Gloves/mitts for DD2

Pattern from Magknits

And there's a little yarn left over. Cross your fingers - there just might be enough to get a pair of little kids socks for CIC out of it.

Yarn for all three projects:

Plymouth Yarn Encore color #153. It's called gray. But, it has a lot of lavender/purple tweedy bits in it.