She's Here

 And she's gorgeous.

Her feet tell the family story...long, narrow, with toes that will pick dimes up off the bottom of swimming pools.

And this photo of her momma shows more family history.

This one has no idea how her world is changing!

But then...she will have to slow down just a bit for anything to catch up with her...

She shares her mommas curls, if not the hair color.

I must have been very good this year to have such a Christmas gift.

Finished!

So what have I shown and what haven’t I?  I don’t know, and will have to check, but in any case, I have been knitting a mess ‘o Christmas gifts.  I have been torn about showing the FOs, however, and have decided of late, what the heck!

So here they are…

Hand knit socks…

Neckwarmers…

Sweaters to keep little girls warm (one from Grandmama’s handspun.  Do you think she will notice?)

There is yet one more still on the needles as of this writing...

Also, some spun up fiber…

Many colored merino, all spun up randomly (worsted 2-ply)

BFL (fluffy singles)

My most recent navajo plying practice efforts

I recently found and acquired through Ravelry four wool batts (cheviot/suffolk).  The flock’s owner had the fleece processed to be used as quilt batts, but the seller was offering them on Ravelry to spinners, for which they could be used, and quite nicely.  I bought the lot of 4 (2 regular, and 2 crib) thinking I would use some for quilting at least, and maybe some for spinning, not having spun cheviot or suffolk.  Well, I think, after having seen, touched, and experienced them?  These babies will make some yummy quilts and throws.  They are very nice wool, indeed.

I am looking towards some sewing and quilting in the New Year.  2 grandbebes need their quilts finished, and these batts are crying out for some attention, as well.

Changing It Up

This Christmas:

I didn’t write a letter to go with our cards.

I didn’t hang my Star Trek ornaments.

I didn’t set out my Bear’s nativity.

I didn’t hang stockings, nor did I buy stocking stuffers for The Offspring.

I also have not put the cheapo mass produce holiday quilt and shams on our bed for the season.

Some I didn’t get around to doing.  Some seemed to be less than convenient.  Some seemed to be a thing of the past. Some do not seem warm enough.

Things evolve.

Random Firings

-Okay.  I felt soap.  Not soup.  Even after that was pointed out, it took me a while to see the difference between the words.  My brain sees those two words very much the same. I don't know why.  I have never washed with soup.  I don't recall eating soap...

-Apollo is not my first kitty boy.  Joe, the little black ‘scaredy-cat hobo kitty’ that came to live with us in Kentucky was a kitty boy. Also my first kitty ever, that I was given on my 9^th (8th?) birthday, in Greensburg, Sugarboy, was a kitty boy.

-I shared at my last spinning class the comment about making my yarn from scratch, and my class peeps wanted to know if my sister knitted…like that would perhaps explain her Philistine attitude.

-Eight Seven Six days out from Christmas has me within one project of being knitted complete.  Will I get that finished? I do not know, but it will be done shortly after the holidays for sure.

-Meanwhile, I have been spinning.  I use the reasoning that I am avoiding repetitive stress injury.

-While I am looking forward to the holiday, I am looking more to the solstice and the turning point for the days to get longer.  It has been very difficult for me this year to have it dark at 5PM, blooming holiday cacti or no.

-I am contemplating goals for next year.  I am thinking maybe just making a list of those I didn’t meet this year, but that might be boring. (Suggestions? Knowing that I do not feel obligated to take any offered…)

-One might be getting back to regular posting...

Almost EOY

And time for assessing how I did with my goals.  After giving them the old look-over, I am feeling pretty good.  So good, in fact, I am sort of kind of maybe a little excited about thinking what I might put on 'next years list of things I might set my mind to doing'.

• Finish Grandbebe Bean’s quilt, for one. (last qtr-Pending. Still.) (last qtr-Stitches have been made, so progress.) (Well…there it sits…) But I am getting the stitchin’ bug…
• Knit sweaters (in particular Feb Lady Sweater and EZ’s Green Sweater. (last qtr- Check, and 2 others on the needles. That’s right. Another FLS, and Peasy!) (last qtr-Another FLS and a Sunkist cardi (Sunkist from handdyed handspun) are completed, along with a Sweet Peasy. Finessing this goal now to pullovers…) (I have plans for 2 Feb Baby Sweaters for Christmas, but no pullover plans in the immediate queue.) One FBS is done, and the second is in progress. ( EZ’s Green Sweater is shelved until Schoolhouse Press does downloadable patterns.)
• Knit more socks (2 3 4 pair). (last qtr-2 adult and a couple for the bebes, but I am only counting the two adult pairs.) (last qtr- 2 more adult pair finished) (2 and ½ pair complete, and at least 3 pair planned for Christmas knitting.) Finished the ½ pair, and 3 other pair for Christmas.  One more to go.
• Go to Philly (week penciled in). Done! Spectacularly!!
• Go to Yellowstone (reservations made). (last qtr -Lists are drawn up! Packing is happening! Days are being counted!) (Oh. My. Stars! What a time was had by all! Where can we go next???)
• Take a photography class (scheduled). (last qtr-Done! Still practicing.) (last qtr-And still practicing.) (And still…) Ongoing…
• Learn to dye? (maybe) (last qtr-Actually. Yeah.) (last qtr - Bought lots of Easter Egg dye on sale…) (Dyed some ‘batches’ in the old blue enamel canning pot.) I am counting this as good.
• Commute by bike (starting in May) at least 600 miles. (last qtr-One month out from starting!) (last qtr - 220 miles.) (New bike and 600+ miles.) Made it.
• Hike 40 miles. (last qtr- Hmmm…probably 6 so far?) (Maybe 28 so far.) 70%
• Snowshoe. (last qtr-Uh. Didn’t happen this year.) But maybe this winter…
• Brush off the soap making skilz. (Last qtr - Fresh research. Inventory of supplies. Progress…) (If I don’t make some soon, there won’t be any for Christmas.) Used up stockpiled melt’n pour for felted soups, and that is progress.

Of course, with a few exceptions, some of these will just be continued, or even upgraded, but golly, what can I add to learn new! Or maybe, what skills to revive?  Or rather, what old lessons need to be dusted off?

Hmmm....I'm thinking.

Time Flies.

Well, how did ten days go by so quickly?  I have played bunko with the ladies of the ‘hood (and brought home some loot), made it to Boulder and back for the last of the spinning classes (where I spun from a ‘silk cap’…oh my!), and attended the weavers/spinners guild meeting (where I signed up for some workshops in the new year!).

I have worked on finishing up holiday shopping, decorated the house (which required buying lights at the last minute which is crazy but now we are all LED lit and green and it’s all good), and the tree and decorations do not seem to hold mysterious appeal to the newest addition to the family.

White enamel seems to be most attractive to Apollo.  He has settled in very well and it has been a great experience to add him to our household.  The only issue has been his need to sit on my lap in the evenings when I am use to knitting.  Often it is…inconvenient, but we are managing workarounds.  By which I mean I work around the cat…

The holiday cactus has been in full splendor, waffling between being a Thanksgiving or a Christmas cactus.  I don’t care.  When it is dark at 5:09 PM (!), I need some hot pink at my dinner table to keep me believing it’s not time for bed.

And the gift knitting proceeds apace.  The vote is still out as to whether all goals will be met, but I believe that most will be, and certainly 95% of all originally planned articles.  Time will tell…it’s hard not to spin…I have so many new skills that I want to practice, you know.