Ravelry !

Finally got on Ravelry and have loved looking at all the projects people are working on or have done. It took me a while to figure out how to access Flickr from Ravelry so that I could post. I had to write e-mails to the Flickr "help" people and then enlisted the California girl (my daughter) to help me understand the answers. Success at last!

Knitty Gritty

Finally I'm back to knitting. Finishing Nora's socks and have started another pair with "confetti" yarn, and also starting the "spice" pattern from a new book by Cat Bordhi - New Pathways. It has SO many wonderful patterns, I wish I could do them all at once -- but have to take it one stitch at a time.

For the "Spice" socks, I ordered the exact yarn described in the pattern and am going to follow the pattern exactly. It has a small band of colorwork -- and this will be my first attempt at changing colors. So wish me luck. I've read about carrying the yarn on the back, but it's like reading about how to swim or how to ride a bike -- have to just jump in and try it.

Winter has set in with a vengeance. It's about 15 degrees tonight. Too cold to snow? I'm really glad and grateful that I don't have to go out in it.

Friends Forever

Today is actually December 21st. Posted this picture over a month ago, just after Mary and Bob were here visiting (from Cape Cod.) I had hurt my knee before they arrived and was hobbling around the whole time they were here, but enjoyed the visit anyway.

Since then , the days before Christmas that are supposed to be spent singing carols and shopping and decorating with greenery and red ribbons, I've spent mostly in doctor's offices, getting one test after another, etc. An appointment can easily take half a day or more, though a lot of that is spent waiting. A lot of the tests were ultrasounds, and when I was then sent to a specialist, he decided the tests needed to be done over again. I still have one more to go.

The whole business put me out of order for Christmas shopping in the stores. But there were all those catalogs that came in the mail and I hadn't thrown them all away, and there is the internet too, which has saved Christmas this year.

I still have several gifts I want to get. My ability to walk has improved a lot but still not enough to get to the stores. It's too late now to get anything by mail. HOW many times have I made resolutions to do all the shopping EARLY? Just about every year, but I never get going until December. And didn't count on not being able to do it.

Alpaca

This photograph was taken by Sharon when she visited her friend's alpaca farm.

I think this fellow should have a name.

He seems to have stepped out of the pages of a Dr. Seuss book.

He's just donated his wool (alpaca) to the cause of knitter's everywhere.

Thanks, Sharon, for sharing the photo.

Samson

Last Sunday, Will came to visit his mom (Carol) and brought his new puppy, Samson. I volunteered to puppy-sit while they all went to church. Actually, MacTavish helped, too. Samson is very curious, adventuresome, wants to explore everything. He loves to play tug-o-war with just about anything, a toy, the fringe on a rug, my nightgown. Another thing (this surprised me) - he is very quiet! No yips, no barks, no noise at all. And he is so light, that when he bounced over the floor, it made no sound at all.

MacTavish is not very sociable with other dogs, but he seemed patient... even when Samson hopped on his back as he was taking a nap.

And next?

Whenever I get to this stage of a pair of socks, I begin getting anxious about what to start next. I know it will be another pair of socks. But what yarn? What pattern?

It's true that I do have some UFOs as they call them, but they are hidden away. More fun to start something new.