The Land of Misfit UFOs

3rd Time ribbed sweater and the second helmet liner.

Mom's Koigu Scarf and one CrazyLandLady Regia sock

(now frogged back to the ankle because I wasn't crazy about the fit).

Check it off the list

Halfway through my 6-day 'vacation' and the to-do items are dropping off like cluster flies after a hard frost (at least here in my achingly old farmhouse). 3 Dulaan projects and the 2 Red Scarf projects are blocked and folded away. 1 Helmet Liner is done, the other is 1/3 finished. The second skein of Mom's Koigu scarf is wound and ready. The storage cubby has been cleaned out and organized. Christmas gifts bought throughout the year are sorted in and boxes (not wrapped). The rest of the fall clothing has been put away and winter sweaters are at the ready. The down comforter is on the bed and 8 loads of laundry have been washed, dried and folded.

Not yet done: cleaning the apartment, paying bills, cleaning off my desk, scheduling my physical and mammo appointments, replying to my inbox, finishing the Christmas list, and starting the Christmas socks and gloves.

Of naps and knitting

How we spent Thanksgiving (notice the prominence of the Serengeti wrap)

There is much rejoicing in the CattyAbode - I'm off until next Wednesday! Unfortunately, even if I start knitting RIGHT NOW I won't finish everything on the to-do list. Even more unfortunate is the fact that knitting isn't the only thing on my to-do list.

Viva la Toque

Here's Frenchy's toque done in 2 x 2 ribbing. Since I'm not a personal fan of the look of decreased ribbing, I chose to make the red and yellow area at the top just stockinette. All the yarn used for this hat was a recycled gift from a friend - the gray yarn was actually two strands together wound into a ball. I diligently unwound it and rolled it into separate balls, but had NO IDEA it was two different colors of grey until I took this picture. To explain - the contrast is much more apparent in bright lighting (the flash of the camera), and I have old eyes and new glasses. Frenchy likes the subtleness of the color transition (it is subtle. really.) and is very happy with the hat.

In other news, I am looking forward to having 6 DAYS off starting Thursday. My list is getting long, but definite projects to finish include 3 Dulaan projects in various stages of doneness, my mom's Koigu scarf and two helmet liners for Kimberly. And then I can start my holiday knitting. And maybe finishing 1 x 3!

Bright lights, big city

And the surprise trip was tooooooo.......

Montreal!

After a few misleading clues from the CatMan, he finally revealed our destination. We had a lovely weekend in Montreal's Centreville. This is the view from our room in the Courtyard Marriott on Sherbrooke. We walked to the Museum and had a wonderful dinner at Cafe Bistro le Baroque (190 Sainte-Catherine Rue Ouest - right across the street from the Museum.) The weekend was cool and rainy, but perfect for some rest and regrouping. To top it all off, we stopped by IKEA on the way home. I think we always disappoint the Border Crossing when we declare so little after an IKEA run!

No baby yet

But we have a sweater!

Project specs: This pattern
One skein Sockotta cotton/superwash wool (color 5613) on #3 needles.

This was a quick knit and I like the result. If I knit it again, I'll probably use a different yarn (I'm a matchy-matchy girl).

In weekend news, the CatMan is whisking me away for a surprise getaway. I've got no details (did I mention how I hate surprises?), but a couple of projects will be going with me to keep us company. I just wish I knew where we were going (and if there will be yarn for sale!)

Stop the presses

This just in: I went to the happy place today to pick up some needles and walked out with this.

My mom's birthday was this past weekend and I found out she got a new winter coat in periwinkle. So being the loving, yet neglectful of the present-buying daughter I am, I thought I'd knit her a scarf as a late gift. (I know - really! A scarf! What a new and novel idea. I've never done THAT for Mom before!)

This swatch picture is labeled "KPPPM P523" and my actual dye lot is "KPPPM P210": however the colors match. If anything, the yarn is a bit brighter in person than online. Problem is I'm in love with this yarn. Deep, possessive love. The kind of love that may not endure separation. Or may cause me to go back and buy the remaining sale skeins.

The world's a little wonky...

...through new eyeglasses. It seems for the past two years, my right eye has been doing all the long distance looking, and my left eye has been doing all the close work. Well now, they're back in sync. And I'm having some problems. The closest I can relate it to is the sensation of only one eye looking through a lens and the other one is trying to catch up without any help. Disconcerting? Yes. Unnerving? Yes. Annoying? Definitely!

In knitting new: the Sockotta Cardi is done, blocked, buttons on. Seems the CatMan made off with the camera, so pic coming later today. Frenchy's toque came out a little smaller than I had planned, so it's going in the Dulaan bag and I'll start a new one tomorrow. I've also started a Dulaan kids' poncho.

1 x 3's front is finished. Now I just need to motivate on the back. Then the sleeves. Then the neck . You get the idea.

I'm all for a challenge!

Especially when it's a win-win like this one!