Great. Now I have that song stuck in my head.

Its been a week. And I mean that.. its been a week. A rough week. We've had sick kids. John Edwards didn't do as well as I'd hoped in Nevada. And the kicker, Green Bay lost to the NY Giants... bleh. It could have been worse, like a loss to the Cowboys. I generally stick with the NFC team, but this time around I'd risk a case of the hives. So.. GO PATRIOTS!

Anyway.. I have a little in the way of food, fiber, and fun from Chez Martin..

These are the Blue Chip Cookies, posted on Smitten Kitchen last week (Deb has been my culinary inspiration lately.) I like a chewier cookie however, and these were quite crunchy. But the toasted pecans vs. traditional walnuts made them worthwhile and a definite future do-over.

I finished the socks. Nothing special. Just the basic sock recipe from one of the Yarn Harlot's books (Knitting Rules maybe?) Worked on size US1 needles in Shibui Sock "Breeze".

I finished spinning a single of my first bundle of Oompa Loompa BFL roving from Spunky Ecclectic..

And finished plying it the very next day. Navajo ply, not sure of the yardage.. I forgot to count as I wound it. Only two more bundles to go.

Red is impossible to photograph. At least for me it is. This is a little side project which will be revealed maybe in the next week or so. Being worked in a new to me yarn.. Debbie Bliss Luxury Donegal Tweed. I don't adore the yarn. But I don't hate it either. I do however, love my donkey stitch markers.

Lastly, Gilbert found a new hiding place under my new chair. She didn't appreciate being my subject this morning.

We had an estimate done for some basement/foundation work this morning. In one word: depressing. Let me tell you.. it has set the tone for my day. With the temperature outside, a balmy 48.. and expected to climb higher tomorrow, it only adds to this melancholy feeling. Because, by Friday we'll be back in the deep freeze that is January in upstate New York. In a nutshell, I've discovered over the years, that I'm a prime candidate to be one of those people who spend the summer up north, and the winter down south (that is, if I could find a nice liberal, nicely colored blue locality somewhere in the south!)

Additionally, I have another sinus infection brewing. Saturday was pretty horrid, fighting off the intense pain behind my eyes and forehead - all day long. By Sunday it lessened, but it still feels a bit concrete in there. Oh, and the resulting discomfort while eating, associated with a sinus infection. Bleh. But enough about that.. I've been working through it... and the theme is Gretel!

I just can't get enough of this pattern! You'll recall I did one some time ago for Cassidy in Pink Jaeger Shetland Aran. But I was wearing it earlier this week due to the extreme cold temperatures and everyone said it looked great on me. So stash diving I went, emerging with the leftover custom spun alpaca merino from last year's spinning guild holiday wool. I thought for sure I'd have enough to complete the fitted style of the Gretel hat, but no such luck. A frantic email to Christina was composed, and I was able to retrieve 2oz of this coveted and one of a kind yarn at our spinning guild meeting yesterday. Once I wind up that 2oz skein, I expect I'll be done in one evening.

But after the yarn shortage mishap, I couldn't just let go of Gretel. Another dive in the stash resulted in 2 balls of Karabella Aurora 8 in a "coal" looking color that I bought for a mere song at the Mission Rose yearly sale. I looooove this yarn. I don't like the retail price of it.. and I'll never knit an entire sweater with it because of that.. but I do love it. I cast this on around 3PM on Friday afternoon, and was finishing it up Saturday evening around 10PM (this is how I dealt with the sinus headache, all day long on Saturday.)

Now if that wasn't enough Gretel.. Cassidy reported to me that her pink Gretel is a smidge too big, and that my new black one was "perfect for her". So while we were out on Sunday morning doing some shopping, she picked out this multi blue Patons Merino. I'm not entirely confident that this multi blue will show the cables well, but its what she wanted.

I have so much more to take pictures of, but I'm a little picture lazy this week. There are the breeze Shibui socks.. the Bird In Hand mittens that I started before Christmas (50% done), a Koolhaus hat. But after my lengthy hiatus, perhaps I'll spread it all out this week, so as to not overload everyone. Especially my non knitting family and friends who stop in every day. I can literally sense the yawning over the internet after a knitting post.

Oh.. and Happy St. Distaff's Day. This means I need to remember to get my wheel out of the back of the van, and make some time, once the children are pajamafied and tucked in to do some spinning.

*this is not the best image. darn cloudy skies. damn lack of decent indoor lighting. and where the hell is the tripod?

Its a new year. The kids have returned to school. Connor's therapy schedule goes back to normal. Richard's office and teaching schedule return..

Its a relief, and also a little sad. Vacation is over.

But... the contract project was finished and shipped off (Its a horrid pattern. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone. I'll talk more about it.. if, when, it makes it to the site or catalog.) The previous one I returned is now up on the site, but I'm not telling which it is until I receive my catalog. This all means, I can go back to knitting what I want to knit.. when I want to.

More relief.

I've started another Gretel, a woven stitch scarf, which will likely be frogged - its not coming out the way I expected, the second basic sock is on the needles. I have plenty to keep my hands busy.

With that said, I haven't made resolutions, but I have set goals for myself. They are..

Get organized or be more organized. I'm sick of looking for obscure paperwork. Or for seasonal clothes for the kids. I need to organize them better in the attic so that they can be pulled out easily.

Make a routine and stick to it. Connor's sensory issues demand this. And some behind the scenes family happenings will also require this.

Be more creative. Not just knit already published patterns. Finally get down to brass tacks with the shawl design mulling in my noggin and get.it.done.

Spin more. And ultimately use more self spun yarn (which means BUY LESS commercially spun yarn.)

Family menus, where we all eat LESS meat.

Cook more. I love to cook.. I should be more adventurous in the kitchen.

Research buying a violin. I want to learn to play one. I've put this goal off for years.. its time to research buying one and actually learning!

That little project I was working on last week, only briefly mentioned? Well this is it. This was my mindless, "I need a break from that shawl" project. It knit up so incredibly fast, and the best thing of all, it actually looks good on me. What you can't see in this picture, are the vintage buttons from my Grammy's collection, holding down that strappy thing. I looove the buttons. They are absolutely nothing special, except that the color perfectly matches this yarn.

Pattern: Woven by Thea Colman (a lucky find at Ravelry)

Yarn: UK Alpaca Luxury Alpaca (dk weight) in mossy green

Needles: Addi Turbo US#5 16" circular (dpns for the last few rows at the top decreases)

I'll definitely make this again, though next time I'll make it a teensy smidge longer, like only a half inch or so.

And something not done..

The Boutique Scarf by Pamela Grossman.

I remember Pam posting about this scarf on her blog way back when, and longing for the pattern. Well she came through and put it up for sale as a download at Collage. Its lovely, its easy, and I'm actually more than halfway done! I'll probably be able to finish it up tonight while I wait for Cassidy to finish her Brownie meeting. And perhaps you recognize the yarn? Its the shimmer merino/bombyx from A Piece Of Vermont that I finished spinning at the end of October.

Knitting will seriously slow down now, except for the contract project, as the holidays loom near. I have so much to do. I'm not done shopping.. gifts or feast fixin's. Lots of baking to do. Lots of wrapping. Lots of decorating. My list grows by the minute.

Remember this?

Now that Beth has picked up her package from Christina.. and called me.. and gushed (blush)...

If you've forgotten, this started out as 4oz of alpaca/merino blend roving, spun into a lace single, and I used Evelyn Clark's book, "Knitting Lace Triangles". I didn't like the book at first since it seemed confusing and limiting. But as I worked through the shawl and figured out that there were endless variations when you apply the different lace repeats with their transitions, especially when you think about the visual difference of garter and stockinette. So you can now call me a fan of this book. I was going to sell it off once I was done with this project, but now it will be a staple in my library.

And lastly, let me share a picture of all of the items that were gifted at the holiday guild party..

.. I still can't show off my guild project. As it turns out, the person whom, by proxy, drew the number assigned to my project, was absent for guild this week. And until I receive word that she's retrieved her gift bag from Christina, and opened it.. well.. I'm not going to spoil her surprise. I did receive a lovely small purse, woven by Anna's son. Pictures of that item, along with all of the beautiful projects our creative guild members came up, as soon as Beth lets me know she got hers

And in other knitting.. nuthin' to show. Now that the guild project is done, its back to the grind with the contract item which is 50% done. If it kills me, I'm going to knock this out in the next week so that I can go back to enjoying my knitting needles again. Oh.. and sew that bagsket thing (no.. I never did get around to working on it last week.. I underestimated the remaining work on the guild project (as usual.)

I do have one itty bitty item that I've had on the needles for a bit now, and have knit on it a bit here and there in between mandatory knitting.. If I can muster up the energy to set up the lightbox and camera, I just may share. Otherwise, y'all will be waiting until its completed.

Ho hum. Its snowing. Sick kids home from school today. I'm getting sick. And to top it off, I pulled a muscle in my knee shoveling snow. Bleh! Its a good night to curl up with a cuppa and yarn.

See, I skip a few days, then return with lots of pictures..

Behold.. Momos. Mine aren't as pretty as the ones on the wiki link, but I bet they taste better! And you can be sure, I definitely ate more than three. I only put three in the bowl for the purpose of taking a picture!

Fellow fans of the Loopy Ewe will recognize what arrived in my mailbox on Saturday. See, once you place your sixth order, you become a "Loopy Groupie". I knew about the tote bag, but I wasn't expecting BONUS yarn! Whoa Sheri.. very nice surprise! And truth is.. I didn't even realize this was my sixth order, so my "Loopy Status" really was a surprise! If you are the type that cares about what I bought... I ordered the SKNITches Kettle Drum "Cherry Bark" bamboo/merino/nylon sock yarn there on the right. The surprise sock yarn is two skeins of Shibui superwash merino in the "Breeze" colorway. Squee!

I couldn't pass up the hand painted fiber sale at Spunky Ecclectic. Isn't this colorway amazing? See? My favorite colors! Three bundles of blue faced leicester (I swear this is my new favorite fiber!) Amy's colorways are beautiful.. and the selection of fiber, vast. More Squee!

I knit this hat for myself last week, using the Sublime merino silk cashmere dk that Byrony sent me over the summer. Well apparently my ability to pull off the hat look has expired. Good thing Cassidy can though! What a ham, huh? And thanks to Rosa for linking to bighugelabs where I made the mosaic. (What a find!)

Want to know which pattern? You can get the pattern here.

Lastly.. Talk me out of driving back over to Marshall's in Fairmount to buy these shoes. I tried them on yesterday. I almost bought them before I talked myself out of it with my usual mental argument : Shoe whore - You idiot, Christmas is coming - Heating season - Gas up to 3.31 a gallon - We really want to buy a new sofa - And the TV is on its last legs - But I waaaaant them - $110.00 retail, compared to the $38.99 price tag at Marshalls...

See the inner struggle at work here?

Wonder if I can sell off some yarn to buy the shoes because I.can't.stop.thinking.about.them!

I finished plying that little bit left on one bobbin from the spinning of 8oz of BFL.

Once plied I got 58 wraps on my niddy noddy.

58 x 60 inches (one wrap on my niddy noddy) = 3480 inches

3480 inches divided by 36 inches (one yard) = 96.66 yards.

Way more than the 60 yard deficit. Woo!