Still building the Brickless

I'm gaining on getting to the halfway point (I think, anyway) of the Brickless Scarf, and STILL, I have not started the color change.  That's what's keeping me going...it's got to happen soon!  I'm so curious what it will look like.

New cast on

Looking through my stash, I picked out a single ball of fingering yarn that I bought at Yarn Fest a couple years ago.  I decided I could use the scarf pattern Brickless and be assured that the yardage would work out fine, and I could probably use up the entire ball.  Since it's fingering weight, I cast on with size 3 needles.  The yarn is ModeWerk Flow, 100% Superwash Merion, a product of South Africa, hand-dyed in Minnesota.

I decided to work from the center of the ball, and as the yarn came lose, it was very kinky.  Those first few inches of knitting will look a lot more relaxed after it has been blocked.  Right now I think it looks kind of funny.

I'm interested to see what the scarf looks like as the yarn goes from white to purple...

Temps above freezing

Ah, it's so good to have the sun shinning and temps reaching above freezing!  Dare I hope that the really cold (below zero) dips in temperature are nearly over for this winter???  I know, I know, we still have February to get through.  But still.  It kind of appears like the worst is over. 

Love having the snow beginning to melt away on the south side of the house.  The north side - not so much.

Finishing the skein

While I still had red yarn...why not make yet one more dishcloth and hopefully use up most of the skein!  THEN, perhaps I'll be motivated to go through my stash and see what motivates me to cast on.

I've got a UFO I could work on...but it's tedious.  So, I need a 2nd project.   Yet, I'm thinking I should try to do even a couple rows a day on the UFO or it will never get finished (and I've got a LONG way to go on it).  Or, maybe the UFO will have to wait till later...

More on the dishcloth

The King Charles dishcloth is coming along...slowly.  I finished a second pattern repeat.  Something that's interesting is the difference in look from right-side to wrong-side.  Here's a photo of the right side:

Here's the wrong side:

I think I prefer the looks of the wrong side!  So, it's an interesting pattern.  Will I attempt it again? Not likely.  I really prefer less tedious patterns for a washcloth!

Got fog?

Cold temps and heavy fog clothed my trees and bushes in hoarfrost.  As the skies cleared and the sun began to warm the air, the hoarfrost started falling from branches, and it's been fun to watch it as I sit here at the computer.

Hoarfrost formed on the icicles dangling from a juniper.

Winter storm

Yesterday, when I thought it was probably about time to shovel the porches and walk-way, I was very surprised that I could barely open the door.  The snow had come down, falling vertically (rather than the wind blowing it horizontally and drifting), and it was pretty to watch, a winter wonderland.  So how had the snow drifted a good 12 inches on the porch???  Let's just say I got in more shoveling exercise than I wanted!

Here's a picture of the beginning of the storm. It snowed pretty steady for a day and half; I was so happy to see my neighbor come over yesterday afternoon to plow the snow in the driveway areas...it's a huge help.  I can get the truck out with no problem, but the car is another story.

Just to answer a couple questions from readers, I would have to report that I did not take a picture of the guitar my brother made.  Oops, should have done that...too busy playing.

And for those interested in the front of the bride's dress, from the wedding I attended over Christmas, well, here it is.  She looked stunning in it.

Slow on the knitting front

Since I finished the two Blue Water Cowls (which I worked on furiously), I have not determined what project I want to cast on next.  So, the best go-to project is a dishcloth, as they knit up quickly.

I finished a simple one; then, I thought I'd branch out and try a new pattern, the King Charles.

Well, it's much too tedious; I have to watch the pattern for every stitch.  So, that's going rather slowly at this point.

I will soon have to pull out the stash and patterns and get inspired with something brand new!

Busy holiday

Since the day before Christmas when I drove to Colorado to be with my brother's family, it's been busy.  But I've also taken some much needed quiet time too. 

The Sunday after Christmas, many of us enjoyed a fabulous buffet brunch...and probably ate more than necessary!  But the choices were many and the flavors fantastic.  It was all so elegant.  In the background, a gentleman was playing a grand piano for our entertainment.

Besides all the Christmas activities, we had a wedding on the 29th. Here's the bride and groom, signing the legal documents with the judge. Lots of folks came from out of town to help celebrate, so there were various social gatherings nearly every day.


My brother has had a project going for a couple years: build his own guitar.  He and a couple other guys worked on building their own guitars, step by step, meeting weekly.  But then, because of work, my brother's progress was hampered, and it wasn't until this December that the guitar was completed.  It is a beauty, and we made time to play some Christmas music together on his guitar and my ukulele. That was a highlight!

I'm enjoying getting back to my regular routine...