My new favorite accessory

Thanks to my brother, Craig, I now have a pink iPod Nano. I had no idea I was acquiring a new pet that needed feeding (downloads) and dressing (iPod cozies). At least it fits in my pocket. It is thrilling to have an alternative to bad television (I only get two channels). Amazon had a deal that gave $100 off if you signed up with Audible for a year. Hey, no problem. That was an easy decision.

I am listening to my first Audible book - Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke. I love his writing and the detective stories about Dave Robicheaux in New Iberia, Louisiana. The reader has such a gentle Southern voice that I am lulled through the violence and moved by the descriptions of the people and landscape.

In my escape from television I have also reactivated my Netflix account and have watched Persuasion in the BBC version, and Good Night, and Good Luck. I don't know what I was expecting of the latter but not the unflinching and brilliant photography.

Also shown in the picture is my charcoal blob. A bit less of a blob now but still not very photogenic. I am on the sleeves and hope to finish on Monday. I probably won't be able to get a picture of me wearing it until next weekend. Funny how work can interfere with knitting and blogging. By then I will have started on the second version of the same sweater - a size smaller and in Cypress Malabrigo. And, of course, back to socks. I'm definitely casting on a pair on New Year's Day.

Edited to add Tell me your favorite knitting podcasts! I want to start listening.

Bad Catbookmom

Bad Catbookmom tagged me with a meme. I hate having to answer these things but at least this one is fairly short.

“THE RULES:Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.”

1. Not only do I not answer my telephone (land line), I don't listen to my voice mail.

2. My house looks like the dogs got into the trash because I give them empty food containers when I am finished eating a WW Smartones meal or when a yogurt container is empty. Moose likes to play with them so I only throw them away every week or so.

3. I enjoy the reality show "Cops".

4. I am so addicted to Solitaire on the computer that I have to delete it from any computer I come in contact with.

5. I have not missed voting in a single election in 40 years.

6. I can't think of 6 bloggers who wouldn't mind if I sent them this meme.

Tomorrow pictures of the charcoal blob and raptures about my new iPod Nano.

Merry Christmas

The hat is from Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick. Carolina made two in class and I just had to make one. I have been wearing it for the past week with the hopes that I would get some Christmas Spirit. I also listened to my favorite Christmas cds by the Squirrel Nut Zippers and John Prine. I have a new one - Putumayo presents New Orleans Christmas. Love Ingrid Lucia singing 'Zat You, Santa Claus? They cheered me up and helped me forget about the crazed shoppers flooding the malls. I also spent quite a few hours knitting at The Yarn Lounge along with others fortunate enough to have some time to indulge in our favorite obsession. The big charcoal blob of yarn that is my top down cardigan is progressing nicely.
Kim (preciouspups) asked how I deal with Second Sock Syndrome. As soon as I finish the first sock, I cast on and start the second. It is true that the second sock seems to take twice as long as the first and I always have the feeling the foot will never, ever end. But I stick with it because I really, really want to wear my newest socks. My goal is to knit 30 pairs for myself, one for every day of the month. So far I have enough for every day of the week. I could have had more but made three pairs as Christmas gifts. Hmm, guess I did have a little bit of Christmas Spirit after all.

The Last Socks

The last socks of 2006. I went over to Teri-Kay's last night to watch cable tv and knit. She finished a Knitting Pure & Simple cardigan in Lamb's Pride Bulky and I had an epiphany. I want a simple, easy to knit, basic but not bulky cardigan. I have my swatch of Lamb's Pride Worsted drying now and tomorrow I plan to cast on my top down, Knitting Pure & Simple Cardigan. So no more socks until 2007!


Tried to get a picture of Sela in the hat and sweater her mom knit in Knitting for Baby. Sela was not interested in modelling.

Check out this exhibition of Elizabeth Zimmermann's knitting. Truly inspiring.

Sunday knitting

Kate M., a Yarn Church regular, finished her first adult size sweater with sleeves. It will be a perfect Christmas sweater for her daughter who lives in San Francisco. She used some yarn she had in her stash and I didn't get the name. It is a Rowan pattern.


And I worked on ...... more socks! My first use of Fleece Artist sock yarn. 100% merino and machine washable. Dreamy and fast to knit. The colorway is a bit darker than the photo. I have just about memorized the sock pattern from Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns.

Not more socks!

Yes, more socks! Another Trekking XXL colorway. It looks a bit too much like Easter candy for me.
All (three small) Christmas knitting projects are complete so I am back to knitting for myself. The current socks on the needles are from Fleece Artist yarn. Beautiful.

Caps to the Capital

Melanie is collecting baby hats for Caps to the Capital. You can bring your donations to The Yarn Lounge by December 20 and she will send them to Save the Children.


A hat can keep a premature or underweight newborn baby warm enough to save its life.

Woodland Heights Artists in Residence

My neighborhood has a show and sale every December. It in is an old house in nearby Forest Hill Park. I really enjoy participating. It actually has the effect of putting me in a holiday spirit. I bring all the knitted projects I have made during the year that did not have a specific recipient in mind. I sell them at reasonable prices to earn some yarn money. Of course, I always spend some at the show.


My display was set up in a window and in front of the radiator. If the blurriness of the picture isn't too bad, you can see some of my wares.


Mary traded an angel ornament and a bracelet for this hat. I also got some very fragrant candles and a few small gifts that cannot be disclosed because their recipients read this blog.

On Friday evening some of the neighbors played fiddle, flute and other instruments. On Saturday, Santa came and there were craft projects for the children. Every vendor donated something to the raffle which took place once an hour. I won a candle. Someone won a black mohair scarf that I donated. We all donated part of our proceeds to our neighborhood civic association. There were two other knitters selling things - Linda had felted bags and ornaments, Robin had scarves, hats and a shawl that combined her handspun yarn with purchased yarn. I should have taken more pictures. Sorry. Anyway, a good time was had.

Some Entertainment

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Yarn Church

Teri-Kay finished another sweater this week. It is knit from Rowan's Summer Tweed. She looks great, as usual.

Socks & more socks

Finished the latest Trekking XXL socks. This is my favorite colorway so far. I just may have to keep them.

The next pairs of socks were presents. I forgot to take pictures of them after I made them this Summer. I finally received these pictures today. Better than any socks pics I have taken.


Craig's socks were knit in a yarn from Elann.


I can't remember where I got the yarn for Bruce's socks. Too bad, I like the self patterning.