Christmas came early!

And I didn't have the willpower to wait to open it. Friday was One Of Those Days and I really needed some joy. It came in a wee box from Florida.

Lookylookylooky at what Lorena knitted for me! I had no idea she was going to send me a package much less knit me something. Although she did give a pretty good hint. And it couldn't have come at a better time as SF is seeing a cold snap (Tomorrow's forecast: rainy, lows 36F/2C. Burr!)

And now looooooooooook at this. Hand dyed yarn in "Gingerbread Man" colorway. How awesome!! Guess who's going to have Christmas socks? (Mememememememememememe!)

Plus there was two bars of the yummiest smelling soap that I forgot to photograph but did add to the shower. Lorena's soap is the only soap I will put on my skin and it leaves it feeling soft and smelling great. Want to know what you're missing? Then order some here. You won't be disappointed.

Lorena - You totally rock!! Thanks for making my holiday warm and my crappy Friday bright. Giganto hugs are being sent your way now and a package is being assembled (albeit slowly) for you that you should see soonish.

Today two good things happened

I love it when golden moments slip into a rather uneventful yet stressful day.

This morning my doorbell rang. I thought it was the FedEx person. But no!! It was my mailman and he was nice AND he had a package for me. The return address was from The Purple Purl. Were they sending me back my Vine Lace Vest? NOOOOO!!! They sent me a "hey we miss you and heard you couldn't open your box of yarn yet" package. *wipes away tears of joy*

Malabrigo sock yarn. Soooooock yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarn. AND I'M ROLLING AROUND IN IT RIGHT NOOOOOOOOW. Weee! Thank you, ladies, for thinking of me in my dire time! And as if the yarn wasn't enough, I stumbled upon this on my friend Allyn's LJ:

nataliedee.com
click here if you can't read it

Heeeeeee!

What happened to December??

No, really! What happened? I feel so dazed and confused, like I've lost a couple weeks of my life. Seriously. For me the weeks before and after Christmas are like a black hole. Don't. remember. doing. anything. I'm frantically trying to get to the 100 unanswered emails that have been languishing in my inbox, the unchecked to-do lists, blog posting and work. Egads, I'm behind!

Anyways, the In-Laws came to visit for Christmas and to check out The House for themselves. They were quite impressed. Which was a huge relief for reasons that I won't go into here but it culminated into a very nice visit without incident. (Although I probably should have kept that to myself as I know probably jinxed the next visit.) Plus they brought delicious chocolate (that I have promptly inhaled already)! I did finish their arm warmers (from The Last-Minute Knitted Gifts book) in time. I even had a chance to wash them in Eucalan before gifting (plus I blocked the garter stitch shawl I made for my friend in LA... I mean Huntington Beach). They turned out so soft! Although I don't think they'll ever get worn (including the shawl). Oh well. It's the thought that counts right?? I just wish I had taken a picture of the arm warmers on the recipients. It's been a bit since I've finished anything and it would have been nice to have that proof. A pic of the Gypsy Shawl will be coming soon.

I did get a bit of knitting done because we did a lot of sitting around and talking. I finished the heel of the HELL sock, I completed the back of the Noro sweater, started Paul's arm warmers and I realized I royally messed up Lace Wings. Besides the Lace Wings everything was a positive and made me fee as if I was getting something done.

At Wednesday Night Knitting, Sophie (I'd point you to her blog, but she has stopped blogging. *cough, cough*) came bearing gifts: Socks That Rock in colourway Roctoberfest and Sandra Magazine.


If you've never picked up Sandra magazine you should. I mean right now, run out and get one in your hot little hands NOW! Keep in mind that you're not buying it for the patterns. Nooooooo! You are buying it for the descriptions.

Read such beauties as:"An extravagant and rather transparent eyelet pattern decorates the sweater in noble soft yarn. The broad and elastic ribbed collar, knitted separately, does a good service as regards to warmth and transparency."

Or delight in: "Hurrah, my sausage will be ready soon. Then I'll help the others since my outfit with cap, sweater and turnbacks keeps me warm."

Sandra Magazine == brilliant. I am sending an extra headbangin' air guitar solo your way, Sophie!!

Tonight's my Smoochy Pie's birthday so we are out and about this fine evening in a low-key kinda way. After tomorrow I will thankful and relieved that I can return to my regularly scheduled program of my life. I leave 2006 with a cat picture because I felt it needed to be done.

See, even Elena loves Socks That Rock!

OT: In My Nose

Right now I have the most amazing homemade soap stuck in my nostrils. It just arrived in the mail from Ms. Snark herself over in Snarkland. (Thaaaaaank you!) Enjoy the Snarky Soap!



Flying Pig is Hazelnut & Sugar Pumpkin scented goat's milk w/ Chamomile exfoliant, Mouse with Candle is "Feliz Navidad" scented goat's milk and the ladybug is "Yuzu Cybilla" scented olive soap. Yummmmmy!



We've decided that we need to do a "Not-So-Secret Secret Pal" exchange. Her soap has inspired me to be crafty. I need to unpack my books so I can find some inspiration.

Birthday Love Continues...

As you can recall, I think birthdays are fantastic! Especially birthdays that are unintentionally draaaaaaaaaawn out. It all started when I arrived at Wednesday Night Knitters and Wendy, who I had helped mostly untangle an incredibly tangled mess of railroad ribbon yarn before she jet-setted off to Scotland for a few weeks, had flowers for me. She said they were a "peace offering" because she didn't forget that she offered me a latte the next knitting night for helping her. Now I really didn't mind helping, even though it was an exhaustive effort. The unfortunate part was that we didn't get the whole thing untangled, but we did have partial success. Anyway, the fact that she offered was good enough for me. I actually had fun trying that tangled puzzle. So Wendy, if you're reading this there is no need for the latte! The flowers are gorgeous (even though I don't have a proper vase -- it's already packed)!

Sandi Purl surprised me with the most beautiful knitted rose (an "American Beauty" no less!) with a vintage knitting needle that lost it's mate as the stem. My camera was being too arty and wouldn't put the whole flower in focus (some day I'll actually read the manual) but on the leaf there is a ladybug charm. OMG!! I looooooove it.

I've found the perfect home for it! I house my straight needles, most of them I inherited from my Grandmother, in an old mason jar and it looks right at home there. (I would have taken a picture but I gave up on the focus thing.) She also gave me a bead bracelet with a little cowboy boot on it. And the first thing I said to her was "yeehaw!" Some may not know, but I grew up in Texas. I didn't take a picture of that either because I was wearing it.

Delayed Birthday Post

Birthdays are so fantastic! And this year was especially awesome, especially in regards to knitting. (Especially!) My special day did kinda sneak up on me and the day itself was largely uneventful, but three things did happen.

First, earlier in the week I found an American Express gift card languishing on my desk that was given to me back in October. With that discovery, I decided that I needed Knitpicks interchangeable needles, Options. I heard so many great things about them that I couldn't help myself. I have a feeling I will love them as the needles themselves seem very well designed and have a nice weight, but I will admit I'm not too crazy about the carry case as it seems very much like an afterthought. (Just assessing the line overall, Knitpicks needs to offer needles smaller than 3.5mm and the cables shorter than 24". But this is all before I even lock the first needle to the cable. More of a review later!)

Second, my mom sent me a gift certificate to The Naked Sheep and it arrived right on my birthday. It was perfect!!

Then, Sophie surprised me with the most awesome gift (in two parts). We meet up for a knitting afternoon at Tango Palace Café and she gave me some of the softest variegated merino wool I've ever felt. It's Malabrigo from Uruguay in colourway Cuarenta (#237). With the yarn, she gave me the Guantlet pattern made famous at Wednesday Night Knitters. Yummy! Then she went on to completely top herself by giving me the most fantastic bag that has plenty of room to carry my knitting around in. It has a classic pin-up beauty saying "I love not camping" on top of a vintage tropical leaf pattern. And it's true. I do love not camping. Squee!

Hmmmmm... now Sophie's birthday is coming right around the corner. I had better start doing somere-conn to find the perfect gift. *Begins tiptoeing around doing best Sherlock Holmes impression*