Here's what it looked like from the front door at my house yesterday and Tuesday. Although Tuesday it was icing for the majority of the day.
The house is covered with a lovely layer of ice. And the icicles hanging off the porch roof could kill you.
And we are supposed to get another "major'' storm at the beginning of next week. Charming.

Tired from trying to get some of the ice (3/4'' thick in some places) off the driveway and the walk.

But on the upside, I've gotten quite a bit of knitting done. All of the baby things for Amanda's friend's shower. And at least I have things to watch on dvd. I'd never seen Ugly Betty and am enjoying it.

Here's what I did today. Yummy, no? My first attempt at using yeast and I think they came out looking good. And they are tasty. And I made a "cream cheese" (vegan) icing that really makes them great. I also made coriander bread, curried lentil and spinach soup and cauliflower and pasta curry. Figured I might as well cook.

Eeek. Snow day! At the very least. Right now we have 4" of snow and it's now freezing rain/sleeting. Supposed to get at least 1/2" of ice tonight then an additional 4-6" of the crazy white stuff. Glad I'm home all safe and sound. Wearing my nice fleecy jimjams that I received for Christmas. So soft and warm.

Didn't get alot of knitting done today due to the baking but finished a pair of newborn booties and am working on the hat. Probably will finish that tonight. 'Cause I'm obviously not going anywhere tomorrow! Or the day after that either at this point.

Hope everyone is warm and safe. Enjoy the evening.

OH NO!! It's the white death....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It's here and it's going to get worse. At least I have knitting. Moving right along on my hat. It's now set up in the round so I think I will really get some speed now.

Here's a shot of my dinner from last night. Yum. It's linguine with spinach and craisins with a tamari/maple glaze. Very fast and easy to make and absolutely fabulous! (if I do say so myself).

Here is the guest haiku for the week (thanks Amanda!).

I have big clown feet.

My friends call me sideshow freak.

I like my cool socks.

Well, hopefully we won't have as much snow as they are predicting. I actually think we'll have more. Yuck. Plus the sleet/freezing rain makes it that much more fun. Went to the library today and stocked up on some dvd's and books on tape so I'm set. And my KnitPicks order came today. Woohoo! So I'm going to dye my sock yarn in a day or two using the cool Kool-aid (I know,I know.Redundant) that I picked up the other day. Black cherry, strawberry, lemon-lime and grape. I think it will look quite neat. Well, unique anyway. But as long as I'm happy. And my feet will smell like cotton candy which is always a plus...teehee.

Here is one of the socks that I've been working on for sis. Had to have something easy to work on when the hat was just too much. The colors don't really show up too well...they are BRIGHT!! I call it "supernova" and I am almost finished with the second one. I can't find the label anywhere so I can't tell you what company it's from but it's fingering weight and a nice yarn.
And yes, I'm still moving along on the hat. Here's the first earflap. I finished it last night and I'm pretty pleased with it. I went to the lys today and bought a yarn guide to help me with the two strands of yarn. I'm not sure if I think it'll work or not but I've been knitting with color A and then dropping it and picking up color B. A little slow but seems to be working okay. I seem to have the same tension between the two colors so I will take it. I plan on trying to learn one new technique every project this year. I'd like to learn entrelac next. There's a cool pattern for socks that I've had my eye on. So we'll see.

Here's the mug that I'm having my tea in today. I had one in blue but it got broken. :(

But it's very pretty and just the right size.

Had a reprieve in the weather today...in the 50*'s! Woohoo. Ran a few errands, went to the library and then had a fabulous lunch at my favorite Chinese buffet. So good. And they have a wonderful Mongolian grill that you can choose your raw ingredients and they cook it up to order right then. I had a plateful of vegetables with ginger sauce and extra spicy. Mmmmm. No peach buns for dessert though. Too bad 'cause they are great. Filled with a lightly sweetened red bean paste. I could eat my fill, especially with a nice hot cup of green tea.

Told ya!

I am sick of the awful cold weather. Just snow already and get it over with. I have gotten several projects finished though. My socks that I carry in my purse (yah!) and the cabled arm warmers. I had planned on starting the Andean Chullo hat today(stop that laughing....I really was) but got flattened with the start of what I think was the nastiest migraine headache. Thank God it's gone but still feel it kind of pounding around in my skull. So I don't think I am up to starting to learn fair isle and reading the chart. But tomorrow for sure.

But on the upside, here are a pair of socks that I made for mom. She really likes them as I can't seem to get them off her feet! They are Paton's Astra-a sport weight-in just a basic sock pattern.

Okay, I think I have to go lie down for a bit so see you later.

Pictures from art/knitting night. Here's my sock. It's a sport-weight from Paton's -Astra in a fun colorway. They are knitting up fast so it shouldn't be too long to finish.

Pretty beading hands! And the colored pencils are not in color order. Oh the horror!! There will be anarchy. teehee.

Go on with your fancy sock knitting Ms. Irascible! First socks too. Aren't they nice? And such a good job.

Go F-J. Casting on a hat.

Finished the Daily sweater. Woohoo! Much happy dancing abounds. I am pretty pleased with it so I'm going to leave the neck just as is. I am making a pair of arm/wrist warmers to go with it. They are out of the same yarn and knit up really fast. I will have plenty of knitting time in the next few days as I am NOT going outside if I can help it!! The cold is coming. Ahhhhh. It is going to be in the single digits at night and in the teens during the day. Not ideal for being outside but definitely ideal for knitting and drinking copious amounts of hot tea. And hot chocolate and hot chai...well, you get the general idea. I went to the library yesterday and stocked up on some dvd's, both movies and some series so I can have something to watch while finishing up the socks and the wristwarmers.

Yes, yes, I know. I am going to start the Chullo hat tomorrow. I have to make some bobbins and I wanted to copy the charts so I didn't have to use the original but it will have to wait a few days.

Okay, off to fill the teapot so stay warm all and see you in a few days.

Still slogging away on the Daily Sweater. Only 2" more on the ribbing on the left sleeve and then the right sleeve. I think I may not have a problem with the neckline after all. It still looks kind of big when I try it on but it may be okay. I will wait until it's finished and see. I think I have a way to fix it though if I do decide it needs work.

Cool washcloth, no? A wonderful Christmas prezzie from F-J. Such a good knitting job and some fabulous handmade soap.....mmmmmm.

Cold today. Ran a few errands and came back home. It was nice to be at home and this afternoon I took a wonderful, long nap. I usually don't sleep much if I do nap but today it was just the right kind of day and I was the right kind of tired and the couch was comfortable and the soft, fleecy microfiber throw was just sooooo soft. Ahhhh.

Here's a shot of the sky on Friday. It's pretty much been like that all weekend but raining and gloomy today.

Here's a pair of "plain vanilla" socks that I have by my bedside and work on when I can't sleep. They are Sockotta yarn and I think the color is very nice and bright to work on this time of year. I am almost finished with the Daily sweater but I have decided that I'm not happy with the neck. Everything else seems to be good but that neck. I haven't seen anyone else's that looks like that. It's just too big and floppy. I guess that I can undo the cast on and rip down a few rows and then knit back up and decrease as I go. Any ideas from anyone?

I am on the sleeves so not too much longer to go. I got the majority of the ribbing done last night watching "Funny Girl". Haven't seen it since the 70's and mom was watching it. I decided to watch when I realized that I was singing along and knew all the words. Scary. I sometimes can't remember what I had for lunch yesterday but can remember lyrics from songs 30 years ago. Sheesh.

We meet tomorrow night for art night/fight club! Yah. Seems like forever since we've seen each other so it'll be nice. Plus, it's always a bonus to get to go to Borders. Who doesn't like the bookstore?

Boring picture day. Haven't really done much this week so here's a shot from inside the library. It's actually pretty big as it's a regional branch. I love the library. Picked up some things that I had on hold and some dvd's to watch.

One of the books was Nicki Epsteins' new book and there are some great patterns in there. One of the things that I think I must knit is this. The Baltic cap. The armwarmers are also nifty.I've been knitting madly on the Daily Sweater and have less than 2 1/2" left on the body before the ribbing. Woohoo! Then just the sleeves and Voila! A finished sweater. Then onto the daunting Chullo hat. Although I'm sure if I take it one line at a time it will be fine.

I'm all ready for the new year...come and get me! I've never really been one to go out on New Year's so I'm in a nice,soft pair of flannel jimjams with a pot of Joy and Comfort tea (from Tea of Republic-a Christmas prezzie although I got to open it earlier) and a stack of dvd's to choose from. I have everything from movies to documentaries to series. So plenty to choose and knitting to go with. Happy New Year to all and be safe and warm.

Ahhh. Pretty new cabled Starbucks mug. I got a lovely surprise in the mail yesterday from a friend and it was a Starbucks gift card! Totally blew me away. I was so surprised and overwhelmed at her kindness!! And I ''loves" the new mug.

Wow! So windy today. Almost blew us over walking outside. At least it's warm....in the low 70*s. Weird. And tomorrow will be in the 40*s. Then everyone gets sick from the weather swings. And because they all get stupid and run around in shorts and short sleeves. Hello!?! It's pneumonia weather as my gramma used to say.

About half finished with the Daily sweater and am going to get working on that tonight. I'd like to get the body finished at least. So I can start on the chullo hat.

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Blessed Christmas!! I 'll post in the next day or two. Right now the Spurs are playing so it's time to cheer and knit. GO SPURS!!

Ponies! Aren't they cute??

In the little "town" where I live is the annual ride the carriage around the square. And here are the horses that are the stars. If it weren't so darn cold I probably would have gone for a ride. The building on the left in the back is the local coffee shop where they have good coffee and great iced tea. In the summer every Thursday evening the city has a ''cruise-in" with antique cars and music, and you can sit out on the coffe shop's deck and knit and have a great veggie wrap and just enjoy the atmosphere.Sorry about the double pictures. But enjoy the double dose.

New yarn.Went to yarnsandfabrications.com today in their new space and it's nice! Lots of yummy new yarns and of course some of it had to follow me home. I love this color. It's destined to be another pair of fliptop "glittens" for me. Yah.

The yarn on the left is a dk weight and will be a pair of socks for mom. The Happy Feet was just so cool that I had to have a couple of skeins.

This may also be a pair of "glittens" but haven't decided. Whew. Cold out today though. Yesterday it was 60* and today it's 29*. At least we didn't have the snow that everyone else seems to have gotten. But I will be glad to have my new "glittens" finished. I made them extra long so they didn't expose any skin and I" loves" them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Hunt meat eaters for sport.(heehee)

Here's what I've been working on today and yesterday.

Here it is almost finished!

It's actually the finished now and am working on the second one.

These are for me and I loves them! I made a pair last year but wasn't happy because they are a little too short but I still wear them. And they are a really cool colorway-flame. So I adapted the pattern and am really pleased with them. I'm going to go and knit some more on them now.

AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! The "albino brain suckers" are here. Haiku for the snow:

The white death is here.

Roads are icy treacherous

Stay at home with tea.

Which is exactly what I've been doing. We just had a dusting here but the driveway is solidly ice. At least the knitting is dry and non-icy! And the tea is hot and soothing. I think I just might put on my jimjams and watch a "Charlie Brown Christmas". Sounds like a plan! See ya later.

Dinner tonight. Baked macaroni and vegetables, homemade sun-dried tomato bread and broiled asparagus with lemon. Very good.

So. Art night tonight. I didn't realize that we were exchanging gifties tonight and I got some wonderful things. Fabulous stitch markers from Anna, earrings from Shanna (as well as handmade soap and ginger cookies tea and tangerines!) and a beautiful votive glass/candle covered with yarn (so pretty) from Sheri. Unfortunately the rest of us were unprepared and woefully ashamed.

Crap weasel loser

Jill and Amanda and I

didn't celebrate.

But we will make it right when we meet after Christmas. So there.

And nutty/loner/unsocial guy wasn't there so that's a plus. But here's a haiku in honor of him.

Guy in the tower

duffle with guns and ammo

thinks he is social.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA!!

Here is the picture of the Andean Chullo hat that I ordered from KnitPicks. As soon as I finish the Daily sweater I am going to start on this.Shot of the yarn. It's a fingering weight and I love the colors. And if you rearrange the colors on the chart you can get 2 hats from it. Hmmmm? One for me and one for Amanda?

Sunset last night. It looked like it was on fire.

Sis was out grilling...don't ask...and it was COLD! She called me to come out and look. This time of year everything looks all gross and dirty. Of course it didn't help that we had a full day of soaking rain. Could be worse...could have been snow. We would have been up to our elbows!!

Today's Christmas mug!

Another inside shot (with tea!)

This looks similar to the mug from last post...it's because I think they are siblings! heehee. I would like to have the mug from this year though. It looks like cabled knitting and must come to my house.

This is a sock that I'm remaking for Amanda. She was wearing the other pair (just the same-pattern and yarn) and found a hole under the foot. She must have caught it on something. I "fixed" it and then the other one got a hole. I'm thinking that maybe there was something wrong with one of the skeins of yarn. Maybe it wasn't strong enough? So I'm trying it again.

Cold and rainy tonight and looks like it's getting very foggy out. I'm glad to be inside my nice,warm house.And maybe I will have to make myself a cup of chai. Ooohhhhh...maybe with the Soynog. Oh yeah. That's the ticket. I'm on my way to the kitchen.

The inside of the mug in the following picture. It's always nice to have a surprise in the cup. And not the kind that is floating in the cup.

Mug of the day. You can't see it on this picture but the silver parts are sparkly. The picture is a little blurry as I was kind of on the run. I like this mug 'cause it's really sturdy and holds 2 cups. Here are the "celebrity" poets as promised.

The guy over there

listened very intently

he should get a life.

(Jason)

Freight train in the night

keeps me from sleeping soundly

my friend snored loudly.

(Amanda)

Who knew they were all so talented? heehee.