Happy Leap Day!

Ah, another month ends. It opened with the excitement of Groundhog Day, and closed with a bonus day. I have been extraordinarily unproductive, but it is okay.

The NaSpiMoMo Redux has been a bust for me. Back troubles have kept me from the wheel. It is sitting in the other room with my barely begun bobbin of alpaca. I hope to get back to it soon, but do not know when it will happen. I miss spinning time. I am glad I still have knitting.

However, my knitting progress is also slowed way down. I have somehow managed to make it to the three-needle bind-off on the TYC. Here I am last night wearing it in progress. This was before the short-row shaping, but after taking some medication that makes the tip of my tongue numb. Fortunately, I was able to discern that I could not count to work those short-rows. This afternoon I used Nona's Japanese Short Rows Tutorial to work that portion of the sweater. I like the way it worked out. I will probably use this method on the EPS FIYC, but we are a long way from that. Still, it is nice to be so close to a new sweater. I enjoyed wearing it last night, even with the needles and waste yarn. It seems like it is going to fit nicely, and it will definitely keep me warm.

It is going to be a busy Leap Day. We have an in-law adventure we refer to as Gerry-Duty, plus the nephew needs to stay home from school at least one more day, and my sister must return to work. I hope he is feeling better and we can make up some ridiculous Leap Day celebrations.

Frog and Lapdog

My weekend was eaten up by fun and new experiences. We had visitors--a nephew, a daughter, and a Wii. We had a great time, but I am still behind on sleep. It has made me more excited for the time when we have our own Wii. My husband won one, and it should be here in 6-8 weeks. As great as the weekend was, it did disrupt plans to meet up with one of the Skanks. She had organized a group order to Knit Picks and was going to give me my yarn and I was going to show her how to use a niddy noddy. She has some projects to frog and the yarn to re-purpose. She was also going to give me a project and remaining yarn she needed to have out of her possession. She had begun a skirt long ago, but several problems occurred that let her know that it was not to be, and she no longer wants to see it or the yarn. While we did not have an opportunity to meet this weekend, she was able to drop off the yarn.

Much of Monday was eaten up by new technology. My husband ordered a laptop, and it was delivered Monday morning. There is still much to learn as we get to know our new machine. Monday night with the Skanky Knitters seemed to be off its usual rhythm. We had a nice time, but it was a bit of an off night. I know part of my problem was lack of sleep and the fact that I was sewing up knitting bits in public. I usually do not seam in public, but I wanted to get that piece finished. It was secret knitting, and I am glad to have the piece completed. It looked good when I was done, but I forgot to take a picture, so I cannot show you later.

After unseasonably warm weather, winter temperatures have returned. I was glad to have my mittens, and enjoyed wearing them today. The front porch has a light dusting of snow. I am pleased to have the cold for the sake of my sweater knitting. I think I will still have a chance to wear the TYC this year. In fact, I am off to knit on it now.

Surprises

When we last spoke of my Tangled Yoke Cardigan, I had joined sleeves to the body and was motoring on towards the cables. I was so sure that this would be the fun portion of the sweater. I was wrong. I am a wee bit disappointed that I have not found this part more enjoyable, but it is not for me. Still, I am plugging along and hope to have a new sweater soon. I begin the first of the 5-into-1 decreases the next time I pick up the project. I guess I had better begin the quest for buttons.

Since I am working on the second sleeve of the EPS FIYC, it is not a great photo opportunity, either. Fear not, there is beauty and joy to share. First, gaze upon my lovely mittens. I lightly hand-felted the hands and thumbs. That Knit Picks Bare Fingering Weight feels a bit lighter than the Palette. When I finished knitting the hands and thumbs seemed a bit big and floppy, so the mild felting was a perfect choice. I love my new mittens.

Cinderella had that nice bibbity-bobbity-boo stuff that turned household critters and garden bits into a nice evening. Good for her. I think we fare better with our Fairy Godknitter. I won a nice contest over there, and the prize package is fabulous. Thanks, Joan!

C is for Cookie

That's good enough for me. Each time I have worked on this post, that song popped into my head. I tried to fight it, but finally gave up and gave in. Cookies are good, and they have been a good part of my life. My mom used to bake us chocolate chip cookies every year for Valentine's Day. She had an old shoebox that she covered in heart wrapping paper that she filled with the cookies. Christmas cookie baking is one tradition I have taken with me. I have so many good memories of baking.

Then there are the Girl Scout Cookies. I was painfully shy as a child. I still struggle with it now, but I am much improved. Anyway, by the time I became brave enough to join the scouting world, the local troop was full and not accepting new members. My mom, along with two other moms, started another, smaller troop. We were much older than the typical new scouts, and something of a different troop. We earned few badges, but had fun. If any boxes of cookies were sold, it was because we went door-to-door, not because a parent took the form to work. It was a positive experience for a group of girls who were left out and left behind.

How Did That Happen?

We have accidentally become involved in a camping adventure. I hope to finish this mitten and be home. I packed more yarn just in case.

Tangling Without Tears

Once I had joined the sleeves to the body of the TYC, my progress seemed to stall. I took it to knitting Monday night and only managed a few rows. When I got home, I started to not feel well and was irritable (probably due to pain). I knew that the way I felt was irrational, but it was strong and I did not want to act on it. I carefully moved my knitting and myself to the back of our home to watch mindless television and knit the stockinette. Eventually the knitting clicked along and I was ready for sleep.

I was glad to feel a bit better today, so I went to second Tuesday afternoon of the month knitting. We were delayed slightly by the telephone so knitting was already in full swing by the time we got there. It was quite an interesting time knitting with everyone. We have enjoyed the recent influx of new people attending the fun knitting times around town. I had the opportunity to visit with some knitters that I had not been able to get to know at other knit-togethers due to being on the other end of the room.

I rounded out the day by purchasing a knitting book. I bought my own copy of Knitting Without Tears. We bought a gift card for Books-A-Million as a Christmas gift for someone who has since moved off. Sorry, sweetie, but we have not seen you since before Thanksgiving and you do not know when we will see you next. Therefore, the gift card became ours again. Anyway, I made my way through the disorganized knitting book section and chose this book. I took the book to the front of the store to pay, and set it on the counter. As I worked to juggle the knitting bag and the purse, the cashier asked the usual discount card question and then turned his attention to the book. "So, what are you going to knit me?" he asked. I replied with a loud laugh. He may have been embarrassed, as he quickly completed the transaction, and I was out the door.

I have two last things before I end today's post. A great big welcome to the world for the newest member of the Skanky family, Manuel Ramiro! A warm welcome to the newest member of the Campbell family, Kristina Marie! Moms, Dads, and Babies are all well.

Tornadoes and Tangles

Yesterday it was seventy degrees and I had to mash a mosquito. Now it is thirty-eight degrees. In between the warmth of yesterday and the return of winter, we had much rain, wind, and tornadoes. I am so glad to have been out of the path of said tornadoes. It was crazy out there. Three of the tornado sirens in my county are out of order. I turned up the volume on the weather radio so that it would wake us up if the bad stuff hit while we were sleeping. As it turned out, I could not sleep. I was working on my TYC and trying to enjoy the cinematic masterpiece that is Turner and Hooch (it was three in the morning and my choices were limited) when the squawking of the radio alerted us. I turned to the local station. The path of the storm was predicted to be our way in a little bit, so we packed up the emergency radio, flashlights, knocked on the new neighbor's door, and headed to the storm shelter. I do not love being there, but I know we are fortunate to have it. We tuned in to hear what was happening and I knit away. The uncomfortably humid conditions were not ideal for knitting, but it helped to pass the time. I was quite a sight, but taking a picture probably would not have worked. We stayed until it was safe to return home. Then we called to check on the kids as the bad stuff was predicted to head their way. We were relieved to hear that they were both home and the daughter was tuned in to the local television station and prepared to take cover. Again, we were all blessed to have not been in the path of the tornadoes. I know others did not have the same experience.

I thought that I had completed the TYC sleeves. Upon further examination, it was clear that they were not long enough. I added a few more rounds, and now I can begin the task of joining them to the body of the sweater. Time to dig the pattern out of the knitting bag. Maybe I will cast on for the second sleeve of the EPS FIYC first.

Nah, I am going to get out the wheel. Margene called for NaSpiMoMo Redux. I am pleased. I think it is time to try alpaca.

Happy Groundhog Day!

I have not made big plans for the holiday, but I hope to make it as much fun as possible. What are you doing to make your Groundhog Day special? I hope your day is great!