A Whole Lotta Yarn

Besides the obvious changes needed in my life for physical and mental health, I also find the need to "destash" in 2009. For you non-knitters, that means knitting from my current stash rather than buying new stuff. Seems like common sense, sure...but when you have close to 200 skeins of yarn and keep buying faster than you knit - there might be some room for improvement. And if you think 200 is a lot, you should talk to some of my friends or visit Ravelry. Mine pales in comparison.

So for 2009, I'm hoping to knit the following:
- 6 pair of socks (at least).
- This shawl, in some groovy Egyptian mercerized cotton I have.
- A scarf pattern that came with my Buckwheat Bridge purchase at Rhinebeck 2007
- Another hedgie for one of Joe's coworkers (who just had a baby)
- Possibly this scarf using this yarn
- A hat and scarf for Joe to replace the really crappy ones I knit him when I was first learning
- Another Clapotis, this time for me, out of some awesome yarn I got at Rhinebeck 2008 (the purple stuff at the top of this photo)
- This fish hat. Because how can you not make a fish hat?

It doesn't look like much, but it's a pretty aggressive list for a slow knitta like me.

For all of you non-knitters who really couldn't care less about all this, hopefully I'll be blogging more - about various things - in 2009. Since the world revolves around me, of course, my gift to you is more of myself. Bwah!

I hope you all have a lovely night - be safe, and have fun. We're celebrating in our normal manner, which usually involves lots of wine and a really awesome breakfast. Cheers!

I Have This Friend...And She Rocks.

Many of you know (or have read about) dearest Lorena. Last week, she sent me the most delightful little package of Christmas surprises, and I promised not to open them until Christmas. Well, Joe and I typically open our presents early - this year I'm surprised we waited until 12/22 - and so last night was The Great Unwrapping, during which we found further evidence that our dear friend rocks. A lot. And not just a lot of rocking...but rocking a lot of the time...

She knitted us socks.

Adorable, warm, matching socks! The above picture has better color.

This picture, while darker, shows off the picot bindoff on mine (ZOMGWTFBBQ!!1! Cuteness!), and Joe's more manly cuff.

I also got a skein of the 2008 Holiday Gingerman sooper dooper sock yarn! Such lovely goodness. What a beautiful person - and mad-skillz knitta - you are, sweetie! MWAH!!!

Joe was particularly good this year, as he received TWO pairs of hand-knitted socks. I finally finished his Baby Cable Rib socks, made with Lorna's Laces I got at Hanks last year (see how it all comes full circle?)...

Joe is a changed man. He now owns four pair of hand-knitted socks, and I don't think he's ever going back. He loves them!

I'll go into more detail about our gifts to each other at a later date. But a couple of hints: I'll probably be posting more to youtube in the future, and our very cluttered office is about to be a lot less cluttered.

Happy Holidays!

Pull Up A Chair

- Over-the-counter cough/cold medicine: $4.99
- Variety pack of herbal teas: $7.00
- One bag of pellets for stove: $5.00
- Watching the snowstorm from my house, rather than from my office: PRICELESS

ETA: photos

Trifecta of Pain and Misery...

Four words:
- Cold virus
- PMS
- Hangover

Need I say more? Now get the fruck away from me before I hock a loogi on you, and please turn the light off when you go (and do it quietly, thankyouverymuch)...

Friends Near and Far

So Friday morning wasn't as bad, weather-wise, as they had predicted. It never got really icy on the roadways, so for that I'm grateful. But it was still so very nice to sleep in...at least until the sun got too bright. I gathered up my courage and went to the mall (maul) to pick up some gift cards for my brother's kids. But first, a lovely little package appeared on my porch:

Lo-and-behold, presents from Lorena! Plus, a surprise Hanks gift certificate from Joe! Those sneaky little bastards... I'm not opening the wrapped presents yet, but the soap looks and smells absolutely divine.

After realizing how much I hate big-box-mall-stores this time of year, I did a little more shopping in the village, picking up a few things for work people and such. Then it was off to a friend's house to work on something for another friend (can't get specific here yet, alas - but it's good). Wine was flowing freely, and I got home way past my bedtime. A lovely day off.

Saturday was another day to lay low - with laundry, general housework, and some grocery shopping. I also picked up some wine to go over to another friend's house - he and his wife were having a holiday party and also celebrating his recent kick-ass diploma-getting skills. Lots of coworkers there - lots of food, wine, and beer...the next thing I know, it's 5am and we're finally putting an end to the "evening." Needless to say, Sunday was rough. Very rough.

Today brought the harsh reality of being productive at work, but this evening brought a couple of lovely surprises...
A lovely Winnie-and-Piglet hug from my dear friend Sunshine, with whom I'd recently become reacquainted on Facebook. It was such a perfect bright spot in an otherwise crappy day, THANK YOU, dear!

I also got plenty of Christmas/Holiday cards, one of which had an odd bulge to it. It was the sweetest card from Lulu (Willow's First Mum), with the cutest little cake stitchmarkers in it. I couldn't get a good picture though - not good with closeups on this camera in artificial light.

And so now I have a smile that won't quit, some knitting to do, and some holiday cards to get started on. I totally skipped out on them last year, and I'll feel really bad if I do it again.

Thanks for the prezzies, friends! Mwah!

Silence

I've been informed (and, of course, I realize) that I've been a bit silent as of late. Interestingly enough, many of my blogging buddies have been as well. Holiday planning, travel, stress - it all gets the best of us. To be honest, there hasn't been much stress here. Just not much...of anything. At all.

Routine: Get up ridiculously early to walk/strength-train/yoga myself back to a smaller, healthier Beth (4:30am - yup that's right). Shower/dress/yadayadayada, go to work. Work. Get home sometime between 5:30 and 7:00, depending on responsibilites for the day. Drink. Eat. Drink. Go to bed at grandma-early times, since 4:30 is freakin' painful. Barely get to sleep. Joe calls - forgets that 7 his time is 10 my time. Talk for 10 minutes. Sleep. Wake up to horrible interruption of REM 2-to-5 hours later when snuggly cats decide to play/fight/piss me off. Realize I have X number of hours/minutes/seconds left of precious sleep. Wake up.

Repeat forever.

It's not terrible - I really do appreciate that I'm not bugging Joe by (a) getting up at oh-dark-thirty and (b) having broccoli, crackers, and hummus for dinner. But there's not really anything blog-worthy, unless you like hearing about how the cats are acting lately. Because that's what it comes down to these days.

Except tonight. Where the Weather Gawds and Vacation Day Gawds aligned and All Was Good.

Because tonight, as I drove home in 33 degree temps and heavyish rain, I thanked my lucky stars that I booked a random vacation day for tomorrow. The intent was to do some Christmas shopping and whatnot.

This is the scene that greeted me at home:

Hard to see in this dark shot, but that is a hefty accumulation of ice on a tree branch near the porch. It continues to rain, and the temperatures continue to fall. Whatever ice accumulates on the cars tonight can stay there. For at 4:30 tomorrow morning, after I wake to feed the playing/fighting/hissing kitties, I will go back to bed and bury myself underneath our wonderful comforter.

I Received a Book Tonight

Everyone knows I have a soft spot for the critters of this world. Well, maybe not spiders - if they're large and in my house, then all bets are off. But everything from the loudest little cricket and tiniest inchworm to neighbor cats, skunks, and even baby groundhogs - I'm a sucker for taking care of things. I'm sure there is a visible-only-to-strays sign on my head, for the Weismann Home for Wayward Animals has seen its share of visitors.

When I first visited the Daily Coyote about a year ago, I knew in an instant I was a gonner. The writing - the photography - and, of course, Charlie - I was in way over my head. I completely fell in love with everything about this little guy and his caregiver. So I kept checking in. And so I, too, became a part of their ever-growing family - hanging on to every word and picture. Shreve even commented on my blog once, and I felt like a celebrity.

And so tonight the mailperson brought me a great gift - my preordered copy of The Daily Coyote book. Even though I'm very familiar with the overall story, the first few pages captivated me. I once loved to write. I loved the freedom of words and all that they held for me in my small world growing up. In Shreve's book I see that same love and freedom. I see a life that most envy, even though it's certainly not an easy one. I see hard lessons learned, and I see beauty savored. I see pride in hard work, and I share in being extremely proud of the results.

Now, if you'll excuse me - I have a book to read...