I bound off last night! I still have to weave in a few ends (not many) and block, but the kitting is complete and I love it. I am just not sure whether it will be mine or a gift to someone, but I love it anyway.
I cast on Rob's second Riff sock, blocked Brian's binary cable scarf, blocked the swatch for Bob's next sweater and knitted a bit on Brian's SKYP sock (the second). I didn't get any knitting done on the Honka scarf but I hope to do some of that this week.
I prepped and spun more of the pine green fiber that I started last week for the Ravelry challenge. I think that one more spinning session will give me enough of the main color. I can then spin some of the roving for the 3rd ply of my 3 ply piney yarn. I have fiber coming that will be blended for the sky colors in the painting, and I will use some of my brown BFL for the tree trunks.
The blue spruce tree in the back yard has been lit up for the first time for Christmas. We talk about it every year but it never gets done. This year we seem to be getting to things that we haven't in past years. Maybe it's the warmer weather making us less reluctant to be outdoors doing things that you can't wear gloves to do. ; )
Most of the Christmas gifts have been wrapped and are under the tree - that's a first, too. I have a few things on order, and a few more things that I have that go into gift bags rather than boxes with wrapping paper. I have not yet written out cards, though. Bad girl.
I am trying to hit the right balance between being active and productive and also giving my back the care that it requires right now. I was in pain most of the weekend because I got impatient and moved some heavy things by myself. Grrr.... When will I learn?! Thank goodness for ibuprofen!
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Monday, December 12, 2011
Monday, December 21, 2009
Expectations surpassed
I had my doubts. We've had snow predicted before and it either didn't develop at all or we had a dusting instead of the several inches they were predicting. This snow, however, flew right on by my expectations! We had (officially) 21 inches in the Baltimore area. According to this site Bel Air had 16.5 inches. It was impossible to measure with the wind making drifts all over. The snow drifts were wonderful - beautiful snow sculptures, some defying the laws of gravity, it seemed. Graceful swirls, huge piles, overhangs from roofs, and blankets of snow on the evergreen trees - it was all so wonderful.
Bob and I went out on Saturday, about mid day, to do some shoveling. We knew that it would be covered again but thought a) it would be fun to be outdoors in the falling snow and b) we might divide the shoveling in half.
We were right about a and totally wrong about b. Blowing snow drifted over the driveway and sidewalk, leaving about the same amount of snow on our property as that of those who were not out shoveling. It didn't matter. We had fun. Sunday saw snow angels appearing in our yard along with the clear paths.
We were right about a and totally wrong about b. Blowing snow drifted over the driveway and sidewalk, leaving about the same amount of snow on our property as that of those who were not out shoveling. It didn't matter. We had fun. Sunday saw snow angels appearing in our yard along with the clear paths.
We fed the birds on the deck. I so enjoy providing the birds with food during the snowfall. They seem to enjoy a place to snack. We put the food under the table on the deck. The birds have shelter and we have a great view of the feeding. 
Sometimes there are fights, sometimes just posturing, but it is a big part of my enjoyment of snowfalls. The cardinals are the most striking to watch but I love the dark eyed juncos. They do this little hop or dance to move snow away from the food underneath and it's so funny to watch. Hop hop, peck. Hop hop peck.
Sometimes there are fights, sometimes just posturing, but it is a big part of my enjoyment of snowfalls. The cardinals are the most striking to watch but I love the dark eyed juncos. They do this little hop or dance to move snow away from the food underneath and it's so funny to watch. Hop hop, peck. Hop hop peck.
The tree was decorated - red lights, red and gold balls - and I like it a lot. 
The presents are all ribboned and looking great under the tree. A lot of stuff was moved out of the room we are putting Mom in, but the bed still has to be set up. I have a few more things to stop at the store for but that can be done once Mom is here. Tonight will be all about getting her room cleaned and the bed set up and ready. Hopefully there will be no fallout from the weekend storms and her plane will leave as planned tomorrow.
The presents are all ribboned and looking great under the tree. A lot of stuff was moved out of the room we are putting Mom in, but the bed still has to be set up. I have a few more things to stop at the store for but that can be done once Mom is here. Tonight will be all about getting her room cleaned and the bed set up and ready. Hopefully there will be no fallout from the weekend storms and her plane will leave as planned tomorrow.
Some kitting happened despite everything else. I have started on the front of the He Gansey - I am in the double moss stitch stage still, but it's progress. Eldest son's hat was ripped again and I am back to the stockinette after the colorwork. this is my last attempt. If this fails, I will buy him a hat. : ( I did some swatching for younger son's hat. I still haven't settled on a plan. I'd like to knit it with the yarn doubled to show off the colorwork pattern better (the alpaca is pretty fine) but the stitch count doesn't work as well for that. I have a 46 stitch repeat. We'll see. Maybe an idea will occur to me when I am not sore and tired.
Today was back to work, but it's an abbreviated week. I work today and a few hours tomorrow, then i am taking off for the holiday. I will be back on Wednesday, the 30th. That sounds good. ; )
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Christmas in February
We spent a few hours at the beach this past weekend. We were so bundled up, you couldn't see much skin, but we were there.
The waves were awesome. Everything somehow gets into prospective when you see the ocean. We (each of us) are but a small part of the world but we can each play such an important part in keeping the world the way it is or letting it deteriorate.
We noticed that there were a lot of seagulls on the beach and in the water near shore. Many more than usually seen. When we got closer we could see that the birds were eating clams that had washed up on the beach.
I don't know whether there was a kill of clams for some reason or if there was a storm that washed them up (seems unlikely since they are buried in the sand). We asked a few people but no one seemed to know.
We had a grat dinner that night and then opened our stocking stuffers (we had decided against big gifts this year). We had great fun with that! My mother really got in to the stocking suffer spirit this year and got some great things, especially for DH. The next day we did stuff around the house and then went out for a wonderful dinner at a steak place nearby. Conversation flowed easily and the evening was a success.
We had to leave Monday to head back to MD, so our visit was short but it was very good to see my mother again. She will be 75 this year and I don't want to take having her around for granted.
This was on the wall of the lifeguard building at the beach. We stared at it (not for the first time) for quite a while, trying to decide what it is. Anybody want to hazard a guess? Keep in mind that I don't have the answer. I am looking for one.
On the radio on the way home from work today I heard that there is a group of people who are trying to change the law so that they can buy unpasteurized milk. The radio person said this groups claims that the taste is changed with the process (I have no doubt) and that they feel like they "should have the right buy milk directly from the cow if they want to and she allows it!" I laughed for a good long time at that one.
The waves were awesome. Everything somehow gets into prospective when you see the ocean. We (each of us) are but a small part of the world but we can each play such an important part in keeping the world the way it is or letting it deteriorate.
We noticed that there were a lot of seagulls on the beach and in the water near shore. Many more than usually seen. When we got closer we could see that the birds were eating clams that had washed up on the beach.
I don't know whether there was a kill of clams for some reason or if there was a storm that washed them up (seems unlikely since they are buried in the sand). We asked a few people but no one seemed to know.
We had a grat dinner that night and then opened our stocking stuffers (we had decided against big gifts this year). We had great fun with that! My mother really got in to the stocking suffer spirit this year and got some great things, especially for DH. The next day we did stuff around the house and then went out for a wonderful dinner at a steak place nearby. Conversation flowed easily and the evening was a success.
We had to leave Monday to head back to MD, so our visit was short but it was very good to see my mother again. She will be 75 this year and I don't want to take having her around for granted.
This was on the wall of the lifeguard building at the beach. We stared at it (not for the first time) for quite a while, trying to decide what it is. Anybody want to hazard a guess? Keep in mind that I don't have the answer. I am looking for one.
On the radio on the way home from work today I heard that there is a group of people who are trying to change the law so that they can buy unpasteurized milk. The radio person said this groups claims that the taste is changed with the process (I have no doubt) and that they feel like they "should have the right buy milk directly from the cow if they want to and she allows it!" I laughed for a good long time at that one.
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