Happy New Year!

Well, it is the first time I’ve posted this year.

There is still snow around in protected areas that had deep drifts from our blizzard Christmas Eve.  I don’t count the piles of snow that were scraped up after, but it’s been over 3 weeks and it’s still around?  That’s unusual for Oklahoma.  Of course the first week of January was really, really cold.  Cold enough I wanted a taller pair of warm socks, so I dug in the stash and came up with some nice wool yarn and started a pair last weekend.

First one just needs the toe grafted.  I did most of it Sunday.  Taught socks Saturday, which was pretty interesting considering I had laryngitis and could only whisper.  We still had a good time.  Doing another sock class late next month too.

Ooh!  Speaking of teaching, Gourmet Yarn has scored Jane Slicer-Smith to come teach in April.  She’s the author of Swing Swagger Drape, and designed the Swing Coat I’m knitting.  I think MG said the actual dates are April 16-17.  Class list not finalized yet, but stay tuned.  I’m looking forward to it!

Speaking of Swing Swagger Drape, the knitting on the jacket is going well.  Sleeves are almost done, and it’s a really simple thing to knit.  Progress is visible enough to keep your interest, but it’s not so challenging that you sit with your tongue sticking out in a totally quiet room.  I did put it down for a couple of weeks to knit a blanket though.

I know – it’s really bright.  But it’s for a 3 year old boy.  His name is Nathan, and his Mom is my friend Jill.  Nathan was diagnosed recently with a Wilms’ Tumor.  It’s a kidney cancer that (thankfully!) has a good prognosis.  He’s had his surgery and is currently going through his chemo treatments.  I hate feeling helpless.  So, I knit this up for him to snuggle under when he feels bad and to use for whatever a little boy does when he’s well.  It didn’t feel very good knitting (I Love This Yarn from Hobby Lobby) but a trip through the washer and dryer softened it considerably.  Normally I would have popped up to GYC and grabbed some Encore to knit something like this, but it hit me that I wanted to do it when we were in Lawton around Christmas and I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to get to the store for several days.

Total gear change here.

A couple of years ago my Mom gave me her napkin holder.  Grandpa made it for her when she got married, which would have been around 1958 or 1959.  A few months ago I mentioned to my friend Ed Thompson at work that I needed to refinish it.  He’s a wood worker and loves it like I love knitting.  He offered to refinish it for me, and I took him up on it.  When I gave it to him he went on and on about the wood.  It’s known as Birds Eye Maple, and it’s very pretty stuff.  The holder had 40+ years of nicotine built up on it and it was admittedly pretty nasty.  He got it cleaned up and brought it back to me last week.  Holy shit.

It’s absolutely beautiful.  Gorgeous heriloom sentimental value aside?  He also turned a salt shaker and a pepper mill to fit.

I’m astounded and grateful.  Thanks Ed!

I’ve done a little stash enhancement lately, but have slowed down some.  I’m totally unable to resist the annual DBNY New Year’s Sale.  Got a few things, including some DK superwash to make a sweater (yes I know it’s sock yarn, but it’s also DK).

I also took a chance on some worsted out of the potluck series.  Those are one-off experiments, etc.  Well….this one isn’t exactly what I expected.  Not sure what I’ll do with it yet.  It’s worsted, so I may do something to be felted with it.  Or I may overdye it.  Or I may knit up a swatch and discover I love how it looks.  Time will tell.

GYC also got in some Zauberball sock yarn.  I was unable to resist the (surprise!) red.

The picture doesn’t do it justice.  It’s a very pretty red that goes from bright and clear to deep and rich.  Looking forward to knitting it, although I’ve read a few comments that it’s prone to having knots with abrupt color changes in it.  Think I’ll rewind before I actually start knitting so I can make sure I don’t have any surprises.

Happy long weekend to me – except we’re going to work tomorrow.  But along the work vein, I did get some very good news last week.  When I started the new job I took (for me) a huge chance and accepted a temporary, no-benefits appointment.  They needed help quickly and I think they wanted to see if I would work out.  Let’s face it, while they might like me (What??  I can be charming when I have to be!) that doesn’t always translate to a good employee.  Well, we all discovered I’m made to do the job, so they competed the position.  I was selected, and tomorrow marks the first day I’m a benefited, temp-to-perm Federal employee.  Yippee!!!