Owie!

Knitting crazily fast, listening to episode after episode of Cast On, trying to get Pont Neuf done for my daughter's Lutheran confirmation on Sunday.

Yes, Sunday June 1.

I am nearly finished the bottom border, then I will do the button bands, block and done.

I really do NOT KNOW if I can get it finished in time.

My hands are killing me.

I have to go now.

Highest, Hottest

Today I was remembering the brief run of daily posts I put up at the end of last year, and how easy it felt to post every day. There weren't necessarily a lot of comments, but even without the dialogue it was an interesting process.

We've been keeping really busy this summer, with lots of barn time and play dates. The weather has been spectacular, so we're going to try camping soon. We won't go for long - three nights or so - but I think it will do Avery's blood sugar a lot of good to spend a few days running around outside. 

This picture was meant to be a lot more interesting, but the shutter speed on my phone camera let me down again.

I'm working on some projects for Christmas. I've got a gansey going - have just divided for the armholes. It will be a vest rather than a full sweater, because the recipient gets hot easily and doesn't like sleeves too much. I'm knitting it on 2.5 mm needles so it felt a bit slow at first, but really it has progressed quickly. Here is the swatch.

And over the past six months I have been making ice cream. I'm disproportionately obsessed with it. I literally lie awake nights dreaming up new flavours. Like I have a plan for a truly stunning and completely original flavour, which I can't even share with you because I'm hoping to get rich off of it someday. But here is my margarita ice cream - lime, salt, and tequila.

Carolyn, you remarked that Canadians measure blood sugar differently. You're quite right. A U.S. blood glucose number is (randomly) 18 times a UK or Canadian number. So when Avery was running between 17 and 22 (UK or Canadian) for four days, in the US she'd have measured at between 306 and 396.

It's nice to be talking to everyone again!

7 Thingies In All

Remember when I used to talk about knitting? It seems such ages ago. Well, I have been knitting like a fiend for months. I have about 7 projects to do for Christmas, and can't talk about any of them on the blog.

Thing 1 is done. It's blocking right now, and taking up a good section of my living room carpet.

Things 2 and 3 are done, and they are blocked. Looking mighty pretty.

Thing 4 is done and needs to be blocked. Thing 4a is nice, but Thing 4b and 4c are AWESOME.

Thing 5 is in progress - I estimate I'm about 35% done.

Thing 6 and 7 are not cast on yet.

But the good news is, I have (unintentionally) arranged them in order of the amount of time they'll need, so Thing 1 took two months, Thing 2 and 3 about a month, Thing 4 two weeks, and so on. Things 6 and 7 will be quickish.

It's a good thing, too, because we are only 56 days away.

Ack!

Half Soled Boots' "Wet Woollies" Advent Calendar

Do you remember me making a hat and mitten advent calendar back in 2008? I loved it, made a second one for my sister, and wrote up a pattern.

In 2009.

Here you are then - enjoy!
Ravelry page

EDIT:
Some people have had a problem downloading from Scribd.com. Here is an alternate host - please PM me on Ravelry if you still can't download it.

And here is YET ANOTHER alternate host. Google docs. Argh!

HSB Hats Mitts Advent

Theme: What I Knit for Christmas

On October 20, Gwen emailed everybody with her Christmas list. On it was "A great big sweater to swath myself in. Preferably in some shade of green."

I, in turn, emailed everybody (except Gwen) and said "I call the sweater."

The "green" thing didn't happen - Gwen likes cables so I decided on a gansey, which is traditionally blue. So, blue it was.

November was a little busy for me, but I did manage to win NaNoWriMo AND knit my sister's sweater within the month allotted. 

Sadly, I was so stinkin' sick in the first two weeks of December, I didn't manage to take any photos of Gwennie's Gansey before it had to be mailed.

So I had to ask Gwennie to snap some photos for me, which she did with alacrity.

My favourite one is this one below, showing the Gansey nestled among its fellows - garments I have knit for Gwen in the past. Isn't that something! That whole drawer - all handknits. And I don't mean to brag, or anything, but there are lots more that aren't showing.

There are layers in that drawer, baby!

Thanks, Gwen, for the photos. Love you!

----

Yarn: Harrisville New England Highland Aran 10-ply in Cobalt - #31.
Pattern: Based on the Robin's Hood Bay gansey from Gladys Thompson's Patterns for Guernseys Jerseys & Arans, with some modifications based on "Fylingdales" (Lisa Lloyd, A Fine Fleece). I increased the length of the stockinette portion at the bottom of Robin's Hood Bay, cut WAY back on the length of the cabled portion so it begins about 4 inches below the armhole (I think it's more flattering this length), took out the knitted initials, added Lisa Lloyd's welt and used her button band, used a plain 2X2 collar, and added a top-down, knitted-in saddle shoulder of the rope cable, flowing down the sleeve to the cuff. The cuff is about 4.5 inches long and knit quite tightly, to enable folding back of sleeves. (This is a house sweater and as such should be able to be shoved up to the elbows while using flour/water/detergent/towels/hair products.)

1982, Revisited

Since Christmas I've been enjoying a second childhood with my daughters' new dolls - Brianne and Leonie of the "Maplelea Girls". This line is Canada's version of the ubiquitous "American Girl" doll - equal in quality and price (a nice, round $100), albeit definitely a country cousin as far as the comprehensiveness of the line goes. There are only five Maplelea Girls, whereas the American Girl line, with their 'customize your doll to be exactly like you' option, is basically limitless.

Anyway, down to business: the clothes.

I'd be embarrassed to tell you how many hours I've spent dreaming up outfits for these dolls, so let's skip that part and get to the first one I've actually made - a gift for a friend's daughter, whose birthday party is today and whose Maplelea Girl will be the lucky recipient of this.


It looks better in real life.

A pleated wool skirt and an alpaca cardigan, made with the remnants of a 100 gram ball of Socrates alpaca sock yarn.





The wool is scrap from a skirt I made for myself this week, and was done in about 2 hours, altogether, most of it spent pleating. I just cut a 33" piece, marked it at 1.5" increments, and pressed 1/2" pleats all along the length, then stitched two lines at the top and a 1/8" hem at bottom, and added the braided microsuede trim to give it a firmer edge at the top. Two 1/4" snaps close it at centre back. This was SUPER FUN to make...luckily, because my daughters both want identical ones for their dolls.

Cardi for Brianne
Pattern: Retro Cardi by Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer, for 18" dolls
Yarn: Alpaca With a Twist Socrates in kind of a purpley colour...have lost ball band.
Tension: around 7.5 sts per inch
Needle: 3.00mm bamboo
Notes: Turned out too big. It looked slimmer in the pattern photo, so I'm wondering whether my tension was incorrect, or whether my eyes simply deceived me. So, once it was done I cut it under the arms and removed 3 inches of width, in total. Seamed it with a sewing machine. Shoulders are still too generous though.

This project was so fun, I've already started a Fair Isle vest that measures 12 inches around and 6 inches long...so cute! I'll show you next week. Today's Mr HalfSoledBoots' birthday, so I'm off cake-making right now.

I said to Lizbon last night, "I don't think I'll have time to blog regularly - I'm too busy." She sighed and said she'd miss me. I thought about the tin can phone and about how little it actually takes to write a post, and said to myself, "Cowboy up."

I've been working on my niece's sweater - fields of white stockinette with zero interest until the button band, which is stranded. I've finished all the pieces except the hood. Work in progress:





And here is the swatch for the colours. I started out with a paler green and a paler pink (you can see them down near the cast-on edge) but they were all wrong - too babyish. The new ones are much better.

Lots of things are going on lately - I was joking to my mom the other day that I feel like I'm manning a crisis hotline. My poor friends are having a terrible time - 2010 is a doozy. I'm managing by careful administration of movies, fiction, alcohol, and stimulants.

Tea, Coffee, Sugar

Lovely stimulants.

Speaking of noses...

How much do I want this? Much much. I've been scoping it for the better part of two years, since Lizbon linked me to the one she wanted.

I have gotten two emails from the owner of Body Matters Gold, both with coupon codes for percentages off. The first code was for 10% off: "TXT10". The second was for 15: "TXT15". So what I'm wondering is, if I go through the checkout and put in "TXT50" will I get it for half price?

Embarking on a new sweater today. This one is a knockoff for my niece, who showed it to her Mum on the Gap website, calling it her 'dream sweater'. Sadly the sizing was all wrong for her, so her Mum couldn't buy it, but I've decided to come to her rescue.



I need some simple knitting because things have taken a decided turn for the worse. Sandy is so very, very sick. This week I'll be with her on Wednesday and Friday, just spending the day sitting with her while her husband is at work and the kids are at school. She can't be alone in the house.

Knitting figures largely in our history. I want to knit while I'm there because it comforts her. I can be in her room for hours and she doesn't feel like she has to talk to me, because I have something to do.

So, the yarn will be Loyal superwash wool, with the colourwork done in (probably) Lanett. I'll use Ann Budd's handy book for the basic sweater, and add the colourwork bands when the body is completed. I haven't decided whether to knit the bands first and seam them, or pick up and knit them from the body stitches. I'll do as the spirit moves.

And as much as this distraction will also comfort me, as well as Sandy, I'm afraid it can only help me so much. When push comes to shove...I'm lost. I don't know how to lose a friend. I think the handbook for that might turn out to be short: muddle through as best you can.

Vestuary

I vaguely recall reading a blogger who was talking about "Vestuary"...I think it's a sort of knitalong where you are meant to knit a vest in the month of February.


And I realised, I actually did Vestuary without meaning to.

I cast on Dad's vest on the 23 of January, actually, but I did finish it in the month of February - on Groundhog Day, to be precise.

I've been promising pictures, but as Dad was at home recovering from surgery, an opportunity didn't really present itself until the other day when he walked over to my house for a piece of cake, and Lo and Behold - he was wearing his vest.

Piccy time!


Yes - I am Shan, son of Ham. (Well, okay, 'daughter'.) There was no one on the other end of that phone.

The picture is a bit out of focus - it's because Dad wouldn't stand still but insisted on goofing off...see photo #1, above. (Love you Dad.)

British School Slipover
Pattern: Cheryl Oberle, from Interweave Press' Folk Vests
Yarn: 3.5 skeins Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Peat Mix
Yarn Source: Needle & Arts Centre
Needle: 4.0mm Clover bamboo circular
Tension: 20 sts/4"
Cast on: January 23, 2010
Bound off: February 2, 2010
Size: 45" chest
Modifications: None.

Braids, buns.

I finally tried the Latvian braid from the Lizbeth Upitis book…it turned out pretty well.

And doesn’t my breakfast look good?

QLD

I just bought these two pattern books at Denise's NeedleWorks. There ought to be some kind of rule about late-night online purchasing, like in Gremlins: don't feed your stash after midnight or it'll take over your house. Where's a wise old Chinese gentleman when you need one, like when you're logging on to PayPal?


But I've been wanting these books for a long time, so it's not really an impulse-buy - more a well-considered investment.


Book One:

and Book Two:

They're for me, of course, but one or two Christmas presents might be made from them...maybe. I've got two pressies done already - y'know, we're more than halfway to Yule. (Kate, are you going to smack me for that, the next time I see you?)

Warm Fuzzies.

Aw, y'all are so sweet! Thank you for being so staunch in your defense of my right to post about knitting. You made me all verklempt. (Well, I'm just joking about that part. I'm not actually crying.)

Today is a special day. One year ago on this very day, our little Piper slithered into the world, probably hogging more than his fair share of placenta, and already claimed by us. Happy birthday, buddy!


What a sterling visage.

And in Sheltie Appreciation Part II, Messy Tuesday is visible - thanks to Anna who commanded I post more messy pictures, to cheer her up. Look behind the dog, friends - that's my living room. I usually crop those bits out.


I have some jobs to do today - mostly involving cleaning up getting ready to leave tomorrow for a week-long family visit. I won't be blogging until I get back, so you can just wander through the archives if you're looking for something to distract you from your own life.

Here is the promised picture of my first bobbin of singles.....ain't it pretty? I realised I forgot to take a picture of the fibre, so I'll have to do that for next time.


Everyone else seems to take pictures of their spinning using a dime for scale, so here is the Bluenose to provide a little perspective.





I'm off to Postes Canada Post now, to mail this:



and then I will be absent until next week. (Barring a Friday post I've got queued up - isn't scheduled publishing wonderful?)


Kiss Kiss

V's Baby Hats

One of my roommates from university days is expecting her first baby in the next couple of weeks. She doesn't read the blog, but saw on Facebook that I knit a lot and asked me to make her a yellow hat as a keepsake for the new baby. I was so excited for her - even when we were living together in 1997 she was unable to have children. All these years later, what she thought would never be, has happened - I'm almost as happy as she is.


I wanted it to be a gift from me but she refused, shuddering at the crassness of asking for her own baby gift, and insisted on sending me money. I immediately decided that she'd be getting not just the yellow hat she'd wanted, but a pink and a blue one too.


The yellow one came together fast. I like it but I did briefly wonder whether it was a little too feminine for a gender-neutral garment...in the end I figured it was fine - if there's a dude around who can carry off a picot-edged bonnet, he is definitely a newborn.

Note: Hat title links are to the Ravelry project page.



Yellow Hat
Yarn: Mandarin Petit 100% cotton
Needle: 3mm bamboo circular, magic loop
Pattern: No pattern, but based on a baby hat I saw on the web somewhere. It's a simple picot cast-on, a bit of garter, and one eyelet row. I used a five-point decrease for the crown.



Pink Hat
Yarn: Lana Grossa New Cotton, 60% cotton, 40% microfiber
Needle: 4mm bamboo circular, magic loop
Pattern: No pattern. Made up a travelling rib using yarnovers as the increase and SSK as the decrease. Crown decreases in pattern to a swirl top.



Blue Hat
Yarn: Patons Bumblebee Baby Cotton, 100% cotton
Needle: 3.5mm bamboo circular, magic loop
Pattern: No pattern. Moss stitch with a four-point double-decrease every row to make a square top.

I love crown decreases.


Those finished, I wanted to make a cuddlier one, a hat that would really keep the little blighter warm. I took some Classic Al from the stash, leftovers from my father-in-law's Christmas sweater, and cast on some rib to knit this:


White Hat
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Classic Al (50% Alpaca, 50% Merino)
Needle: 4 and 4.5mm bamboo circulars, magic loop
Pattern: No pattern. Used a closed cable from Continuous Cables, changed it up a bit to fit a rib better. Crown decreases in pattern to a four-stitch i-cord for three inches. I-cord is knotted to finish.

Crown decreases and i-cord.


I'm a little bit pleased with myself for coming up with a way to make the cables flow up through the crown decreases and into the i-cord with no interruption...it's very gratifying that it worked out, first time too. I am writing up the pattern for this hat and once I figure out how to do up the chart for download, I'll post it here on the blog. It's such a cute little thing, I couldn't just keep it all to myself.

Fiddlehead

I've been doing a lot of knitting lately - more than you'd think, from reading the blog. I was over at my friend's a few weeks ago and she remarked that she had been to my blog and was happy to see I had posted, until she saw it was knitting. She heaped scorn on me. She scathed me.

It put me off blogging about knitting, but then I realised there wasn't much to talk about if I didn't talk about that, and got over it.

I'm making Ruby a third sweater - she lives in Ottawa, she needs 'em - and my uncles chose Mason-Dixon's Fern. Fern is a beautiful sweater, maybe the nicest child's sweater I've seen yet. The original is knit in Jamieson & Smith Spindrift, a 2-ply 100% wool - non-washable. For this family, machine-wash is a must, so I needed to sub the yarn.

Some crocuses for you, to break up all this knit-talk.

The problem is, Jamieson & Smith Spindrift comes in eleventy-one subtle colours, six of which are used in Fern - four different greens, a brown, and a turquoise. All of the colours are gorgeous, heathered shades, muted and harmonious. Once I started looking around for a different yarn, I realised just how rare it is to find those colours in a washable yarn.

So I needed to find a yarn that:

1- is washable

2- is heathered

3- is not too scratchy

4- has at least four shades of green, all complementary

5- cost $55 or less for the whole works.

The planning page from my knotebook.

Suffice it to say, I had a terrible time finding something. I thought I had it with Sisu, a sock yarn in quite a few solid, woodsy colours. I was so confident about that yarn, I even budgeted for it during the planning phase. But Sisu yarns are too clear - they have all been bleached before being dyed, and without the heathered look they just looked so unrefined and clumsy. Plus they didn't have a turquoise.

In the end - and this yarn search took me the better part of six weeks - I found Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine. The only thing this yarn was missing to be a perfect match was two shades of green that were in the original sweater. By this time, though, I was desperate to cast on, so I just swapped in an earthy purple, willy-nilly, for one of the greens. For the other, driven as I was to the last ditch, I threw in a skein of Estelle's Arequipa (Rav link) sock yarn in a variegated green, which happens to contain almost all the other colours in the sweater. I was way over budget by this time, but Who Cares? Chances are I'm going to have a fair bit of at least a few of these colours left over, and socks they shall become.

This photo was taken in bright sunlight. The yarns are actually a lot more muted than they appear here.

I've finally cast this on, and being that it's knit on 2.75mm and 3mm needles, I expect it will take me a while to complete. The knitted fabric, though, is heaven...I wish someone would pay me to make MYSELF a sweater out of fingering weight alpaca on 3mm needles.

---------------------------

Spinning continues to thrill me, and Marianne* and I have made firm friends with each other. I'm spinning an 80% merino, 20% silk top on a high ratio to try for a lightweight yarn I can make lace out of. It's purple. So far I'm enjoying spinning the singles so much, I don't even care if the resulting yarn is knittable (judging from the Beginning Spinners' Group on Ravelry, the chances of my first yarn being knittable is about a thousand to one against).

---------------------------

Marianne Dashwood is the name of my spinning wheel. What....didn't you know all wheels have names?

Behind the Scenes

I used to write a knitting blog. I miss those days sometimes.

Niece's Socks

Pattern: none. Basic Stockinette with a 1X1 rib at cuff, a slip-stitch heel, and a wedge toe.

Yarn: Fortissima Socka mit Bambou, 60% wool, 25% bamboo, 15% nylon

Yarn Source: Needle & Arts Centre

Yarn Cost: $20

Needles: 2mm and 2.25mm Addi Turbo

Tension: 40 sts over 4 cm

Cast on: December 30, 2008

Bound off: January 10, 2009

Size: Youth size 2-4

Notes:

I tried to use the Addi Turbo double-points for this project, but got a lot of laddering. It might be because the double-points are pretty heavy and I'm used to the lightness of a circular. I went back to magic looping with a slightly smaller needle (Addi doesn't make a Turbo in 2.25mm in the 120 cm length).

Gwen's Chalet Socks

Pattern: Chalet Socks from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks

Yarn: Phildar Preface, 70% wool, 30% polyamide

Needle: 2.5mm Addi Turbo 120cm long circular, for magic loop

Tension: about 36 sts over 10 cm

Cast on: December 27, 2008

Bound off: January 8, 2009

Modifications: Left out one cuff repeat, making these a little shorter in the leg. I was worried about running out of yarn - needn't have been, since I have more than enough left over.

Notes:

I'd make these again - they went surprisingly quickly and were fun to knit. The pattern was a little tricky to memorise at first, but after about 2" of the travelling twisted stitches, I had caught on and didn't need the chart too much anymore.

I've cast on another project, from the book I got for Christmas from my sister. These are Veronik Avery's "Woollen Gloves" from Knitting Classic Style. They're meant to go under a pair of fingerless Latvian mittens, but I'm undecided as to whether I'll make the mittens or not. They are pretty cute together....

The yarn I'm using is Crystal Palace's Panda Silk, a blend of merino, bamboo and silk. It's gorgeous yarn. Soft, smooth, with a little lustre...I'm knitting it on 2.5mm needles and getting a little finer tension than the pattern specifies, so the glove is nice and snug. It's a nice quick knit, with an easily-memorised pattern - a simple lace scallop. In fact, it's almost the exact same pattern as the Lacy Scallops socks.

Soon I'll be casting on for the next of Ruby's sweaters - Mason-Dixon's "Fern" cardigan, knit in Sisu sock yarn. My goal is to finish it by Easter - knit on tiny needles and with sock yarn, it will probably take me some time, so I'd like to get going. At the moment though, I'm happy to be knitting something for myself for a change...

FO, FO, FO, Merry Christmas.

Cross-Country Chullo

Pattern: Knitty, winter 2004

Yarn: Phildar Preface in light denim and denim marl

Yarn Source: Touch of Wool, Vancouver

Needle: 2.75mm Lantern Moon ebony DPNs and 3.25mm bamboo circular

Tension: Dunno.

Cast On: November 20, 2008

Bound Off: December 5, 2008

Size: This one is pretty big. It fits my 24" head perfectly but I think it's a bit too large for my brother-in-law, who got it for Christmas. I guess I'll be knitting him a watchcap to go underneath.

Notes: This one takes a lot of blocking. You've really got to use wool for best results, and do a heavy block. I used a steam iron on this because I didn't want it to grow, but next time I'll knit it smaller and stretch it like crazy in the blocking.

Note the shades - it's my clever solution to the time-consuming photo-shoot makeup problem.

I like it. I wouldn't mind making myself one of these eventually - it's a cool-looking hat. It was a fairly quick knit considering it's made of sock-weight yarn and small needles, and it was fun to make. The applied i-cord was a bit of a palaver though - not sure I wouldn't change that for next time, but it does make a nice finish.

Late as usual

We're back from the States, and what a surreal experience American Thanksgiving is. I felt all disoriented, with Christmas decorations and turkey and whatnot, and it not even December. Never mind Black Friday, which we observed curiously...in sum, lots of people, long lineups, mediocre deals. Maybe I went to the wrong stores but I don't think 50% off is worth getting out of bed at whatever ungodly hour some of these people turned up. I was hoping for bins full of $15 iPods but they were nowhere to be found. I was also wondering whether I'd see someone get trampled to death, which is not unheard of on Black Friday, but on the whole the crowd seemed orderly enough. And people in Puyallup are very friendly - they chat to you in line-ups.

It was so great to see my family though, and to hang out with everybody for a few days. Much fun was had by all, and so was much beer and rich food. Plus, I got to meet another blogger, my brother's friend KingJaymz. He and his wife came from Portland for Thanksgiving and it turns out QueenJaymz is what is known as a Dark Horse - doesn't say much, except "ante up" and "high flush" and "Shannon, if you're out of chips you can have some of mine." My butt still hurts from the (metaphorical) spanking I got from her.



Thanks, everyone, for your comments on my last post and for pointing out that I missed a few holidays in my "holidays" definition - it was very WASP of me to leave them out. I will amend all my, um, "holiday" cards to read "Merry Chrismukkahkwanzaadanstice"*.


We got home last night, and I spent an hour putting together this Advent calendar I bought last year at Munro's. I had put it away and forgotten about it for a year, and even though it was a couple of days late I was compelled to see it completed. It's a little punch-out paper Weihnachtsmarkt where the numbered trees and buildings open so you can put treats inside. Excuse the blurry photo. It seemed fine while I was taking it...




And the hat and mitten Advent calendar would be finished except I lost a hat or two. They'll turn up as soon as I bind off their replacements, I know.




I finished the Cross-Country Chullo and will provide pictures once it is blocked. It was a fun little knit, didn't take long and turned out nicely.


Amy and Mark, I had a great time at your house. Thank you so much for your hospitality and, Amy, thanks for contributing two mittens to the cause.



------------------------------------

* "Chrismukkahkwanzaadanstice" - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Solstice. I'm sure I'm still forgetting some.

Put the Wife and Kiddies in the Family Car

Tomorrow we're off to visit my brother and his wife in Washington state, for our first ever American Thanksgiving. It's weird that they have it so close to Christmas, but it does rather kick off the season.

And by the way, I've only just realised, like two weeks ago, why Americans say "the holidays" - I always thought they meant Christmas, but I think they mean Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's all very integrated.

It's exciting - I've never been to my brother's house. Like - not just this actual house, but to his home - ever. He lived in North Carolina for the last 14 years, and I just didn't get there. So I'm very much looking forward to making up for lost time.

But there's a complication. We have always been more or less footloose and fancy-free, in terms of going away for weekends or whatever, but this past spring we bought ourselves a $1,000 ball and chain:

So I had to find someone to come stay here with Piper, and spent an hour meticulously writing notes that say things like "Don't use two heat-based appliances at the same time on the east wall of the kitchen - the breaker will blow" and "Bleach under the utility sink in the laundry room for potential dog-related poo disasters (knock on wood)" and "for TV audio select 'VCR' on Pioneer 'input' panel". It's exhausting. When you live in your house, everything works just fine, but when you take a step back and view it through another's eyes, all of a sudden everything is crap and you have to stand on your left leg and close one eye to get the bathroom door to open. But only in damp weather.

Now it's 11.30 PM, and we're leaving at 7.30 AM, and the only thing left to pack is the knitting. I should have done that first, before all the trivial stuff like underpants and contact solution. Now I need a whole 'nother suitcase just for the projects.

Which reminds me I should update you. I started (and have almost finished) the Cross-Country Chullo for a Christmas present (recipient doesn't read blog). It's in two shades of denim blue, which I think should be subdued enough for a guy. Can't wait to block it. Can you see the little Nordic skiers there?

And Jaali is coming along - here's the front:

And the Kauni Christmas stocking continues, though I'm at the heel turn (I opted for a short-row heel to preserve the seeding pattern) and it's taking FOR FREAKING EVER.

So I guess I'll be packing those, plus yarn to finish off the hat-mitt advent calendar. I also need to bring Charlotte's Xmas stocking, which is starting to make me feel a bit panicky because I am nowhere, but nowhere, near done.

You know what's odd? Ten years ago, if I was off somewhere I just put my clothes into a duffel bag and left. Now, before I go anywhere I spend an entire day running around madly charging all this bloody technology that is supposed to make my life more enjoyable. Cell phone, iPod, camera batteries, extra camera batteries, video camera batteries, memory cards and cases for everything. Then you have to remember to take the chargers too, in case your batteries need charging AGAIN while you're away.

By the way, see that message there? I think that's a subtle command from the Matrix. They've got us right where they want us - dependent on technology to live.

But I am also bringing a Rummoli set, and this, which is the most fantastic game ever invented:

Whaddya know! A completely SCREEN-FREE activity! I hardly know how to work it. Where's the mouse? Does it come with a trackpad? Is this the most current version? Are there automatic upgrades?

Cheerio, my beauties. I'll be in touch.