Einstein had it right, more or less

It's cold here. 36F this morning when I went for my walk. I know that if you're in Chicago, for example, that will not seem cold. Just remember that a couple of weeks ago we were having temperatures in the 90s. It was so cold last night that the lady who usually sleeps in front of the local post office had moved into the lobby. I think I woke her up when I went in to drop off some letters.

I don't have any photos today. Everything I have knit recently is for someone's Christmas gift and I'm not sure which people might be reading this. I should be able to post a couple of things by Monday though.

Are you ready? I am. Relatively speaking, of course. I'm still waiting for one package from Amazon and then I'll get the balance of the gifts wrapped. It's been a little more difficult this year to figure out what folks wanted. I think most of us are a bit leery of spending a whole lot plus no one seems to have much in the way of wish lists. And what lists there are seem to be oriented toward the practical.

It was a strange feeling yesterday when I realized that I had finished everything, including the gift wrapping and the addressing of cards. I suddenly had several hours ahead of me where I didn't have to be doing anything. Made me feel sort of useless. I suppose I could have picked up an old project to work on but I just didn't seem to have any focus left. But it's party time today so I'm feeling relatively better.

The joy and woes of too much stash

I got all the boxes of yarn moved to make room for the construction people. I'm glad it's done but it sure takes a lot of effort to re-stack all those bins. I'm definitely looking forward to our next yarn sale.

One of the things I've discovered about my stash is that it rarely has a yarn that works for what I'm wanting to make. Or if it does, I can't find it. I think yarn has a fashion life just like clothing and cars.

But sometimes I find something that I've forgotten about and it's a real joy. This scarf for example. I don't remember buying this yarn and I only had two skeins. Judging from the label I'd say I got it at Unwind. It's Plymouth Patches, a mixture of three different yarns wrapped around a common core. It's whimsical enough for a quick neck scarf and it worked up really fast.

Closer and closer

This is my almost final project for holiday knitting. I'm calling it "the not quite enough ruffle scarf". I used three skeins of Filatura di Crosa Porto Cervo cotton that I got at Skein last summer. It's just a garter stitch worked on the diagonal with an improvised ruffle along one side. A short scarf that can be folded and wrapped closely around the neck. I would have tried the ruffle again if I'd had time and more yarn. I was envisioning a bit more swirliness along that edge.

If I have enough time I will make something similar for another friend or to have as a backup in case there's someone I have forgotten. But first I have to rearrange my furniture. As if there weren't enough going on at this time of year, I have some construction/repair work that needs to be done and it's supposed to start on Monday. The contractor said he would have to go through my condo to get to the balcony and will have to haul all the debris back through. All four of the balconies in my building will be repaired and everyone has to go through the same mess since none of the balconies are accessible from the ground level.

It's not a lot of work really to move stuff around. It's just inconvenient. And, since we're supposed to get some more rain on Monday in addition to what we're getting today, I'm not sure if the repair work will actually begin on Monday. But my part will be done.

Anyway, I'm getting closer and closer to being ready for Christmas. We had our shop Christmas dinner last night and we'll be having a luncheon on Friday for the knitting group, and anyone else who happens to be there. I'm looking forward to it.

Holiday decor

My holiday decorating is done. It takes less than five minutes. Every year I think about putting up a tree at least one more time. I go look at trees. I consider the price and the likelihood of my cat resisting the temptation to play with the ornaments and realize that I don't really want to go to the trouble. So I go find this needlepoint pillow that I did a few years ago. I plump it up a bit and pick off any cat hairs that I missed when I put it away. And I'm done.

I have only one more ruffle to knit on the edge of a scarf and my holiday knitting will be done. I have the bags and tissue. So I'm planning on being done by this evening. I still haven't bought cards. I'm not sure that's going to happen. But maybe. I still need some ideas for my non-knitting friends and relations but most everything is done in that category too. Just waiting for delivery. I wonder what I'm forgetting.

We're having a nice old-fashioned rain today. Nothing fancy. Just plenty of it. It's been a while. It sort of messes with the outdoor decorations and causes all kinds of havoc on the freeways. But hey! We're not sitting here with no heat or electricity like the folks in the northeast. And it's probably all going to be over by tonight.

Crunch time

Only 24 days (and nights) to get it all done. I finished one pair of socks and discovered a very serious mistake in another over the weekend. That pair will be re-knit but not until after Christmas.

Going through my stash I found a shawl I had started a year ago. That might get done although the yarn is like knitting rocks. A few rows of that and I had to switch to something else. So I started a hat using some vintage yarn. I think the hat might end up on my head.

Fortunately I have been finishing things throughout the year. Just have to decide who gets what. I may be adding a scarf or two and a pair of fingerless gloves. Otherwise I'm feeling fairly confident. I do have some yarn that some people have been lusting after.

But I still have to knit those remaining things and get it all wrapped. I think I might have to make a list.