Lots of Pictures and 2 FOs

A photo heavy post for an activity filled week ...

First, it snowed last week! Max and I took last Wednesday off and played in the white powdery stuff ....He even got to play in his new fleece booties ....
We set up the tree yesterday. We'll get 2 good weeks of holiday cheer out of it before we head to Georgia for Christmas....There's been lots of baking .... That's 76 almond cookies. The knitting group I go to on Wednesdays are having a cookie exchange. I'm supposed to bring 6 dozen cookies. Let me tell you how happy HD was when I told him we could only eat 4 of those cookies!

There's also been some knitting ...
I finished this neck warmer for a co-worker. Some specs:

Pattern: Luxe Neck Warmer from Knit2Together (although I just guessed at the pattern by studying photos on Ravelry and my Vogue Stitchionary.

Yarn: Berroco Touche, 1 skein

Needles: US 10, 16"

Verdict: This was a very quick knit. I made it when Bri and I took a trip to NYC to seek the Rockettes (See here for details of that trip). I started this when we got on the train in Trenton, NJ and I finished it just before we got off the train in Trenton on the way back (about 3 hours). I'm pretty pleased with it. My recipient requested no wool, so if I made this again it would be out of cashmere - not cotton.
I also finished this camouflage balaclava for my brother-in-law. He's a 16 year old hunting, Alabama boy and he pointed out something similar to me in a catalog over Thanksgiving. Specs...

Pattern: Jackyll and Hide, Knitty Fall 2007

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino, 2 skeins

Needles: US 8, 16" and dpn

Verdict: Not quite my style, but highly entertaining and functional. I might make myself one in another color scheme and maybe with a mouth. We'll see what he thinks of it ...

My New Love

I have a new love. The Knitter's Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes. What? It's your new love too?! I suppose we can share. Actually, I have to share, because my other old love, the library, is letting me borrow the book (only until I confirm my Christmas presents and gift myself with it if necessary!).

You should have seen me on Sunday when I realized that in the county library system there was one copy of the book not checked out. I had a 40 cent fine to pay which prevented me from placing a hold on the book. It was 12 o'clock and that particular branch of the library opened at 1. As I contemplated (in a paranoid fashion) the odds of another knitter in the area discovering the treasure and placing a hold or retrieving the book before me, I showered and announced my desperate need to go to the library.

I arrived 5 minutes prior to the library opening and I sat in the parking lot critically analyzing every library patron standing outside of the doors. Not a knitter ... not a knitter ... hmmm ... grandmother type with grandson, could be a knitter! The doors opened and I played it real cool. I went and paid my 40 cent fines and HD's $4 fines (guess who pays attention to deadlines in this family). Then I sprinted for the knitting books and snagged the book. My paranoia didn't end there though ... I spent the rest of the time that I was in the library worried that someone might place a hold on the book while I wandered around the library! I gave a big sigh of relief when the book scanned at checkout and then I sprinted out of there like a thief! It was hilarious. Why do I always leave the library incredulous that they've let me walk out without paying for all of these books?

Other than reading the wonderful words of Clara Parkes, and learning more about yarn than I ever knew possible, I've been knitting. Here's a shot of the socks that I made for my sister's birthday (modeled on my Max the Dog Blockers - thanks Pixie!) There's a lot of Christmas knitting going on, but I think that I will just do one massive Christmas gift post.