A Frog's Birthday

Once upon a time there was a Happy Frog, but he was sad. It was his birthday, but he had to work all day and wasn't going to get to see his friends or family. 

But when he got home all of his friends and family were there! 

Surprise Happy Frog!  Happy Birthday!!

There was cake!

And lots of presents!

That night, as he went to sleep, Happy Frog couldn't stop smiling.

Because he knew that, while cake and presents are nice, it's really the people in your life that make every day great.

And I totally agree,
Joyce

P.S. I would like to thank my niece, Natasha, for the inspiration (and some of the pictures) for this blog post.  She'd begged me for over a year for a happy frog (I know, I'm a bad crafty aunt).  When I finally made it for her, she thanked me by sending me awesome pictures of him.  He's knit in Knit Picks Chroma fingering weight in Prism.

To all the ships at sea... Look for the fog

I recently went through a spurt of simple knitting. Nearly everything I knit was entirely garter stitch or stockinette. One of the projects I made during the spurt was a sweater to wear when I'm at work in the lab. It gets really cold in the office, particularly during the transitional months when the air conditioner is still on despite the weather being cold outside. (April and October, I'm talking about you.)

The sweater is the Lighthouse Keeper's Wife. Worked almost entirely in stockinette, it's knit in worsted weight using size 13 needles.

(Note to self: no more upward angled photos because they are seriously not flattering)

I made it in Lion Brand Wool Ease in Pines. The variegation of the yarn is causing a nice striped effect on the sleeves.

It should have been a very fast knit, but... as with Tempest, I stalled on the sleeves.  Happily the stall didn't last long and now I have a toasty sweater to keep me warm (if only I could remember to bring it to the office).   

These pictures were taken outside in 29 degree (F, not C) weather.  When the wind wasn't blowing, (and with long sleeved shirts underneath) I was almost not cold.

Almost,
Joyce

P.S.  The title is a quote from the movie The Fog.   It was one of my favorite movies in childhood and remains so till this day (just don't ask me about the remake). 

Gifts and Relaxation

This past week, the knitting group had it's biannual white elephant gift exchange.  The gifts are knitting based (what else would you expect from a knitting group).  It can be yarn, notions, project bags, books, you name it. Stitch markers and pretty project bags are particularly coveted and fought over in the fray.  During the gift exchange, stealing gifts from others is not only condoned, it's encouraged.  But everyone goes home with a gift and usually everyone goes home happy.

I managed to get (I stole it from Lana after the gift I opened was stolen from me) a great gift of beautiful blue Mad Tosh sport weight in Lapis. (which is the reason I stole it because GiGi loves that color), a project bag with sheep on it (so cute! It's from Blue Tulips' Etsy Shop), and some adorable Lantern Moon crocheted sheep stitch markers.

On top of a great gift exchange, Hubbie and I got to spend the weekend at his sister Kerri's house in Pennsylvania.  "The Hotel" (Did I mention that her place is huge?) is a great place to relax and knit (and read papers and write dissertation chapters).  We spent a lot of time in front of the fire reading and knitting. (Well, I knit, Hubbie's not so fond of it.  I've decided to let this one slide.)

I've been working on Stephen West's Pogona for the past few days.  I wanted to knit with some lovely Tosh Merino Light (Rhubarb colorway) I got in November.  Pogona is a simple design that works well with highly variagated yarn.

When I get tired the stockinette shawlette, I switch to the monster lace project that I've been alternately knitting on and avoiding for the past few months (in Jaggerspun Zephyr in Garnet).  This relationship is likely to continue for quite some time because this is just the test knit.  The full size shawl will be circular.  I'll keep you posted.

Winnie got to spend some time with his Weimaraner cousin Bella. They played, ate, went on lots of walks, and then finally crashed.  They sure do love the fireplace!

Such a tough life they lead,
Joyce

Knitty City turned 6 this weekend!

The best yarn store in the world (sorry other yarn stores) turned 6 this weekend.  They had a sale and cake.

Both real cake:

And knit cake:

I've  heard that yarn cake has more fiber, but I think that real cake has more flavor.  (Which is probably why the yarn cake went unsliced.  Poor thing, unable to fulfill its cakely duties.)

Lots of knitters came in to browse and partake the fibery goodness that Knitty City offers.

TK and I went by to join in the fibery fun, have cake, and bond with our fellow Knitty City lovers.  Oh, and I went to pick up my birthday yarn.  I've been saving my pennies for a particular basket of Tomatoes (in Madeline Tosh Merino Light) since September.  And it finally came in last week!!! (Apparently TML is a very popular weight and it takes a while to get special orders made.)

Totally worth the wait.  I plan to make Ann Weaver's The Whiteness of the Whale with it.  But I've been informed (Thanks GiGi and TK, sigh) that it would be best if I don't start a new sweater until I finish the last one.  So back to Idylewylde I go.  On a positive note, all I have left to do on Idylewylde are the button bands. 

That's what? Two, three months tops.

Right?
Joyce

Wishing you all :

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas has come and gone and a new year is upon us.  The only new year's resolution I made is to graduate.  Let's hope I stick to this one. 

Christmas was a quiet affair in my house.  It was celebrated a few days early because Hubbie was going to Louisiana to spend Christmas with his dad and siblings.  I had to stay in NYC to write (that whole graduating thing), but KT and I celebrated the day with a movie and dinner (and knitting, of course).

Hubbie, the pets, and I all got great gifts this year. 

Winnie got a tub of Jerky Treats.  He loves those things.  And then he got to ride in the car (he loves that too) all the way to Louisiana to visit the family.

The Kitties got a tall tower to play on.  And by tall, I mean taller than me.  Some would say that's not such a big feat, but you know what I have to say to those people.

Tea was not happy about being woken from his nap.  I apologized profusely and gave him kitty treats.  I'll let you know if he's forgiven me.

Hubbie got a super awesome (if I do say so myself, which I should because I made them) pair of flip-top mittens.  These are the "Soldier's Glomitt" by Beverly Quivey.  The pattern is free, well written, and easy to follow.  I measured Hubbie's (quite large, considering he is 6'5) hands, but was pleased that I only had to increase the length a little bit.  Otherwise the large size fits perfectly.

I used Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Merlot Heather.  They took about 2 1/2 balls.

And I got Tomatoes!!! Lace weight Tomatoes to be exact.  Yummy!!!

I also got an exercise bike, but it's not nearly as photogenic.  I love it. I can exercise and I don't have to go out into the unseasonably warm, but still pretty darned cold, weather.  (I don't love it nearly as much as the tomatoes, of course. I'm not that crazy!)

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and have a rip-roaringly spectacular new year.

Me? Obsessed? I have no idea what you're talking about! (Deny, deny, deny),
Joyce