Knitting in Transit

Last night, D came over and helped me fold, stuff, and sign Christmas cards. Oh yes, I am lucky! They may be late, but at least they will be in the mail before Christmas. Things will be pretty quiet here over the next few days, which is fine really, because most of the people who read this blog will be seeing me over the next few days! I'm looking forward to seeing all of you, especially the Little Guy and all the Nuts! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Yup. It's me. I'm the person up at 7 a.m. traipsing all over my hardwood floors in my hard-soled slippers and driving you nuts. Okay, maybe not driving *you* nuts, but the poor guy downstairs who had to come tell me to be quiet. "Oh gosh yes", I am too loud. Here I've been for the last two years, thinking my building was so quiet, and it isn't. It's just that *I* am the noisy one.

It is mighty cold here in Minnesota. The bank said it was -5 this morning. It sure felt like it. It is the kind of cold where the snot freezes in your nose. I'm sitting here in my cube with my Fetching fingerless mitts (ravelry link) on and my Shadow Scarf wrapped around my neck, and I couldn't be happier. I'm diligently working on my second mystery sock. Well, I don't know how diligently. It sure is taking me a long time to finish it and I won't let myself start something new until that is done. In the meantime, my new sock yarn is just sitting there looking sad and lonely and lovely. Sigh. So, the Little Guy does not like to have his hair washed, and as of late, he doesn't like to take a nap either. Last weekend, he lay in his crib chatting away to himself, refusing to sleep. Gigi went in and told him, "If you don't take a nap, I'm going to take you downstairs right now to wash your hair". Apparantly, this had worked a few days...

I came home from work yesterday and there was a package outside my door. My first thought was that it was another Christmas gift for the people who don't live in my apartment anymore. Last year I got a pecan pie. I opened up the box and found these (yes, it's a horrible picture...and yes, I am wearing gnome pajama pants)! Some rain boots from my friend, Jenn! I have been wanting some boots like this. In fact, just a couple days ago I saw a bunch of rain boots outside Practical Goods on Randolph Avenue and thought about how I really needed to get some rain boots. (Click on the word "practical" above. I think it is funny that that particular website had the best description I could find of the store) I have a vague memory of telling Jenn this summer that I wanted some boots, and perhaps she mentioned she had an extra pair. Or maybe I am making that up in my head to explain the sudden and unexpected arrival of rain boots on my doorstep. I really don't know! She did...

Last year when I went to the No Coast Craft-o-Rama, I came home with a bunch of fun goodies . This year, not so much. Perhaps...okay, no perhaps about it, I DEFINITELY should not have waited until after my Arabic dance class and lunch to go. I didn't get there until nearly 2:00, and it was so crowded I immediately wanted to leave. No amount of crafty goodness can make me want to hang out in a large crowd. Lucky for me, the first booth I came to was for Fiery Lion Designs . I finally got my necklace! I have been wanting something from them since I first saw them at the St. Paul Craftstravanza two years ago, but have always held back because I've been trying to be frugal. This was sort of a "job well done" gift to myself for paying off my debt. My one other purchases was this pair of earrings from Falling Forward . I thought they were lovely, and a steal at $9. Then I just had to get out of there. I escaped to Target, where things were much more relaxed. Next year, I wi...

My sister called me this morning to tell me she has been checking my blog daily to see if I have posted my purchases from No-Coast Craft-o-Rama. She sounded so sad. I've just been so busy lately. No time to post. To make matters even worse, I missed my blogiversary. Yup. I started this blog a year ago on October 26, 2007. I missed it by a lot. So, let's go back in time and see how it all started, shall we? My First Blog Post Gigi says perhaps she will do some guest blogging! I hope she does!

Last night the Little Guy called me and we had a lovely conversation. He had seen a new show last night and wanted to tell me all about it. It had a scary monster, a snowman, a lion, an elf, and some reindeer. Yup. He saw Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for the first time last night. The fun version with Burl Ives as a singing snowman and the Island of Misfit Toys. It was so cute to listen to a 2 1/2 year old describe it. He did not mention Santa Claus. Also this morning, we got some information about the state's budget deficit . This worries me, being that I work at a public institution (the largest in the state for that matter). No, I'm not worried about losing my job. I'm worried about all the students here. After all, I work in the financial aid office and I see how much of a struggle it is for many students to pay tuition as it is. With such a shortfall, what will the impact be on these students? I'll try to focus on good things, like the fact that the ...

These are the socks I knit for Kathy, my step-mom. I don't really have a better picture at the moment. I finished them up just in time to give them to her on Thanksgiving. The pattern us just a simple garter-rib stitch. I used a German Twisted Cast-on , a Strong Heel (can't find a decent link explaining this), and a rounded toe. Done on two circular needles (Addi Size 1). The yarn is Cinnamon's Dye Pot. The label said Cinnamon's Dye Pot Kona Fingering. The colorway is wineberries. This yarn was a gift from a fellow Raveler. I sent her something from my stash and she surprised me with this lovely yarn. Very soft! I wish the socks were for me!

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and surprisingly, I had no pumpkin pie. My step-mom figured my mom would have it at her house, so no pumpkin pie at the noon Thanksgiving. I'm not sure what my mom's reasoning was, but there was no pumpkin pie at the 5 p.m. Thanksgiving either. Perhaps I should have brought pie. I had a pretty lazy weekend. I did manage to make a pair of odd looking mittens for the Mitten Fairy. They are made of Classic Elite Yarns Bazic Wool in Sunflower (a superwash wool). I used the Family of Mittens pattern from the book Holiday Knits. That one thumb turned out kind of wacky. I guess mittens aren't my thing. I'll head over to the Yarnery to drop them off after work today. Hopefully my goofy looking mittens are accepted. I have added a couple new things to my stash. This lovely Lorna's Laces Organic Sock Yarn.... And some Cascade Yarn Sassy Stripes. These will make some socks with some nice, thick stripes!