Annette's Acre

Gee, can you tell I’ve been on vacation? I’ve even had a vacation within my vacation….

It’s amazing to me how the days quickly get filled with “stuff” that I sorta planned, but not really. DH has had some dentist appointments and I scheduled a couple routine doctor things for the week before Christmas which really sucked up that time. I knit socks and made the decision to knit *one* in each of the two pair planned to do a “test fit” on the recipients while in TN for Christmas. Good thing, too. One fit perfectly….one, not so much. The second socks should go much faster (one is half done already) and then I can send two pair of perfectly tailored socks with no worries

We were gone a week to Tennessee and it was one of those perfectly relaxing vacations, with just a few hiccups. I sneezed for a couple days and so did DS. DH was called on for “computer duty” and as it had been a year…there were lots of updates and scans and such that needed attention. He is always happy to do it but I made sure to allot plenty of downtime for him to spend with his parents. I adore my in-laws, so it wasn’t exactly a sacrifice on my part

I did knit a bit (the aforementioned socks) but mostly I read. Finished four books while on vacation and one right before I left:

Dead Heat by Dick Francis – found this at the library before we left and sped thru it. I have read almost every one of his books and this is definitely one of my favorites!
The Eyre Affair and Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Ffordes – isn’t it great when you discover a new author/series that you’ve somehow missed? This is in that category for me! It’s simply a great premise and I loved both books. I’ve got the third in the series ready to go as well…
Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris – a nice change from her Southern Vampire series.
Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber – perfect vacation reading. Light, easy, likable characters and gentle (though predictable) plot.

Speaking of, has anyone looked at Amazon’s new Kindle? I could totally see this to keep copies of books that I love to read over and over….

Anyway, what I haven’t done much of is stitch. I have an ornament almost complete and Emerald Mermaid is still missing vines, flowers and beads. I’ll work on her tonight but a 2007 finish is just not going to be. Too much going on. Thankfully, I’ve got three more vacation days to squeeze in Em’s finish, a couple of starts (TW’s 12 Days, Desiderata and Tuscany Mandala) and some Overlord.

And in a bit of “beginner’s luck” – I won my Fantasy Football League! LOL

Happy New Year to all – may it be prosperous and full of joy!

A few bits that I believe are bloggable…something for everyone today!

Golden Compass

Has anyone else seen The Golden Compass movie?  Kids and I went on Saturday and I believe it’s the first time I will recommend folks see the movie *before* reading the book.  It was good….it was simply….incomplete.   If you see the movie first, you won’t sit in the theatre saying “but….but….” when the credits start rolling (as the kids and I did.  We’ve all read the book.)

The next installment, The Subtle Knife, is due out in 2009.

Polls Are Still Open!

Desiderata – 4

12 Days Ornaments – 2

Yes, I’m seriously considering doing them both.  Life is too short to make such difficult choices.

Knitting Gauge Gremlins

Alas, the Gauge Gremlins have finally had their fun with me.  I swatched (a pathetic little 2″10 row thing).  I measured (ok, estimated).  I cast on and when thinking “this looks a little large…” mid-foot (of a toe-up sock) did I stop?  No.  I kept going and finished something that looks absolutely nothing like a foot, let alone a sock.  Just kind of a bulbous lumpy thing in a charming pink variegated wool.

Thankfully it wasn’t any of my treasured Ewe sock yarn (see below).  I found a pattern in the book that didn’t require me to measure and do math and started a new pair for MIL from some very nice Knitpicks Essential Tweed instead.

Chatelaine

I recently took over the Chatelaine Designs Yuku Board, including the Pattern Viewer and Gallery.  It took me about a week, but I finally got the last of the files updated this weekend.  Everything is working.

I am now in total infatuation with St Petersburg White Nights, Medieval Town Mandala (which I should have gotten during the class, but well….it’ll be available again at some point) and the new Sampler Mystery IV looks mighty tempting….

2.5 work days until vacation!!!!!

The Loopy Ewe that is.

I love the Loopy Ewe. I haven’t bought sock yarn from anywhere else in months. Here’s a sample accrued over the last few months:

Combine that with New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi and I am set for my sock habit for a bit…

At least until this, this and this arrives in a few days I love early Christmas money.

Slow progress being made on Em.  I’m off Friday, so she’ll see a chunk of time this weekend.  Only four days left of work for the entire year!

I’ve also posted my rotation plan for 2008.  Usually putting plans in such a “permanent” form means they will die out with a whimper, but it’s been a few days and I’m still determined to start January 3rd.  January 1st and 2nd will be my homage to “Guilt Free January” with two new starts: Tuscany Town Mandala and….well….a second start to be named later (candidate list has changed slightly.  It’s now between Desiderata and TW’s 12 Days of Christmas ornaments).

Any preference?

Well, I didn’t finish her while on vacation, but you can see I’m definitely close.  A few more leaves and flowers and then a boatload of beads and she’ll be done!  Definitely before the end of the year

Back to work this past week and I actually spent all of it in my own cube!  No travelling between buildings, no spending all of my hours (60-70 at least) on a single project and actually working on things for my own job.  It was great!  DH also chauffeured me a couple of days so I even got some knitting done on the commute.  I also learned of a vanpool that runs relatively close to my house (not as convenient as the express bus I used to take downtown, but not too bad) so for $10/week I can take that and go back to enjoying a book or a bit of knitting to and from work (and be assured of getting in and out at a reasonable time).

Two more four-day work weeks and I’m done until January 3rd.  I can’t hardly wait….