Still Cold, Die-Hards and still knitting!

As most of you know I've joined a knitting group here. I joined, KnitWits and Hookers, that meets every Monday evening around town. I'm a KnitWit who occasionally Hooks!
;-) Then I also attend "free knit time" at two different store locations around the city. This picture though is of the die-hards that attend the KnitWits and Hookers meeting. The night I took this picture was the night that our sub-zero temps hurricaned into town. We met over at Panera, across town from me, when the temp was -3* and the wind was howling with up to 40 mph gusts. David took me as this was a new meeting place for this group and as a regular I felt obliged to be there in the event someone new were to show up. I obviously was not the only one to brave the temps, wind and generally poor weather! All of these gals are regulars and the second from the left is the originator of the group. We're all thankful to Joy for starting this group. So from left to right we have: Carrie, Joy, Paula and Jen.
As proof that the temps were really as low as we've been bragging about here is a picture of the cars outside temp reading the day after the above group get together. Burrrrr!
A couple of weeks ago I had a felting day over at the house. We had about 16 people in all, kids included, and just had a blast! Poor David was so good about all these women and kids being in the house and didn't complain when all were still here hours later. Anyway... I'm now kind of hooked on felting. I had no idea it was so much fun watching something shrink and turn into something useful! So after everyone left I started knitting this set of what will be nesting boxes after I felt them.
Then I knitted these. The two on the left will eventually be rings, yes! rings, and the two on the right will be bracelets. I'll take pictures when they are felted and finished.

We're doing another felting day over here in about 3 weeks. Thats when all of these items will be felted.
Another gal I get to meet up with is Leah. We meet usually Tuesday mornings at Montagues for coffee and a little nosh, before heading over for a free knit time at Yarn Outlet. Here she is showing me her starfish washcloth. Very cute!

So... with all the wonderfully frigid weather we've been having I decided that I desperately needed a pair of lined mittens. Fortunately for me I had some yarn that I was wanting to get rid of and LOOK! it turned into lined mittens. Love these mitts. Very comfortable and handy. Can't beat that!

Stay Warm!

Freezing Cold, Chinese New Year Eve, the knit and more....

Well I have to apologize for taking so long in getting back to this blog. Life has just been full of children, knit get togethers and life in general. So I'd let the blog lag and caused some folks to contact me with questions. Thank you for your concerns and Thank you even more for being pro-active and letting me know that you had concerns. Rest assured, all is well.

Day 2 of no school has begun. With our temp this morning being -9* I think the District made a good choice. The city hasn't been brought to a stand still because of the cold, but the schools sure have. Even the schools that were in session yesterday drew the anger of parents. It was just to cold for these kids to be standing out at bus stops waiting and then the cost of heating these schools to a tolerable level must be, well expensive. I think today will find all of the schools in the area closed.

Tonight we're venturing out to go spend Chinese New Year's Eve with friends. We'll be partaking in a Hot Pot and doing lots of visiting. I guess I need to check and see what the temps are supposed to be later this evening.

Tomorrow we have lots of preparations to make for all the dumplings that we'll be cooking later. Remember! Eat as many dumplings as you can so that you'll have great luck this year.

Olivia is particularly excited about this year as it will be the "Year of the Rabbit", her birth year. In the Chinese Zodiac the revolution is once every 12 years. So this will be a big year for her.

"People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog."

The knit continues..... at a furious pace. I'm actually making myself a sweater coat and will be piecing it together starting Friday. My next project is a hooded scarf. I've finished the hood and am now working on the scarf which will be connected to the hood at some point. I'll get pictures and post them eventually. Frankly the list of items that I have picked to do are probably going to take most of the year to do. I'm really looking forward to getting started on more and this year I've designated for myself. So whether it be socks, a scarf or a sweater I'm going to be the beneficiary. After years of knitting for everyone else, except for the socks I've done as a matter of foot preservation, I've finally reached a point of not feeling guilty about doing this endeavor. To think it all started with a wrap.

("Every Way Wrap" by Okmin Park)

I love this wrap and really Love wearing it. Just the perfect weight.

Well my children are all up and some of them are fed. The rest are looking at me expectantly. I best get moving before I have a minor revolt on my hands. Stay Warm!