NYC or Nebraska?

A friend recently told me that she had a goal for 2013 to see 50 movies. She saw 42. I thought that was a great idea so I've set a goal of 30 for myself this year. While most of what I've found on Amazon Prime so far has been sappy, predictable and/or uninspiring (Flight, 33 Postcards, The Burning Plain) I did manage to see Nebraska in a theater yesterday.  I liked it a lot.  It managed to be funny and poignant at the same time.  I thought I would identify with the wife but ended up sympathizing with the son much more.

My original plan for yesterday was to go to New York City to see the Chagall and Spiegelman exhibits at the Jewish Museum but alas. I went to Nebraska instead. I have no regrets.

I've also been knitting, of course.  It's too cold to do anything but knit and watch movies.

Basic mitten pattern by Mary Lou Egan done in Rowan Cocoon.  I had a skein left after making Mary Lou's Esker Cowl a couple of years ago, so now I have a matching set.  (I love the cowl and use it on the coldest Polar Vortex days).

I started a stealth project too, with a yarn I thought was mostly blue.  It's knitting up grey and purple.  I may have to re-group a bit before continuing.

And lastly, these are my purchases from the excursion to Darn Knit last weekend.  The colors in the first two are more electric than what came out here.

This one reminds me of the 1980s black and bright craze.

This one contains all my favorite colors.  I love Colinette yarn, although I don't think I've never tried the fingering weight before.

And this to make something for a baby.  No, I'm not expecting to be a grandma soon, but I seem to be reaching the age that requires I have baby stuff at the ready.

That's it.  Another Polar Vortex on the way.  Stay warm.

Free Day

 I had the day off work today and not a single obligation to anyone.  I hardly knew what to do!

Although I seriously considered going to a movie I decided I was having too much fun knitting, reading, listening to music, etc.  I did go out to Stillwater to visit Darn Knit Anyway; didn't find what I was looking for but did find some awesome stuff. 

On the way home I had an epiphany.  I've had this humungous pile of scarves, hats, mittens and gloves piled up on the dining room table.  How could I organize them and get them out of the way?  A closet shoe organizer, of course! (sorry for the awful quality of the photo)  I may have to alphabetize them or at least organize them by color, but you get the idea:

Also, did you know that, including the Target down the street from me there are five Target stores between my house and Stillwater?   That's one every five miles!

Then I decided to finish a pair of gloves I had started in … 2006!  Urban rustic gloves in Noro Silk Garden.  Clever pattern, awful yarn (they're knit the long way, garter stitch, with a crochet cuff).  I skipped the button closure.  Actually, I made up the whole crochet cuff thing, but it worked:

And I finished my new popover mittens too.  They won't be warm enough tomorrow, but pretty soon I'll be able to wear them:

That's it.  No more holidays until Memorial Day in May.  There will be knitting in the meantime, but no days quite as leisurely as today.  

I am currently reading Hyperbole and a Half, The Warmth of Other Suns and Memoria de Mis Putas Tristes.  No, I don't usually read three books at once.  It was an accident.

Adjusting

I realized recently that I am living by myself for the first time since I was in college. Don't get me wrong, I'm not boo-hoo-ing or anything, but I will confess it's kind of weird.

While it's true I had some time alone in the house while I was fixing it up to sell it, I was really busy painting and cleaning and sorting and throwing away. It was a hellish year. And although I bought the condo over a year ago I only really moved in last March, and I'd barely set things up when Boy-child arrived from Chicago. So all I'm saying is I wasn't really alone or bach-ing it or anything until now.  Did I mention that Boy-child moved out?  He did.

Anyway, here I am, already developing some bad habits. Like taking over the coffee table:

The new job is starting to take off now, which I'm very happy about (one can only take so much training). Taking the light rail to work is wonderful even if strange things sometimes happen - like the other day when we had to switch trains for reasons unknown. I was happily listening to music and knitting when a kind soul advised me that we had to get off (she noticed I had not heard the announcement). Working downtown is great…you never know what you're going to encounter.  The other day I was following a blind woman wearing four-inch heels through the skyway.

Last night was book club (Flight Behavior by Kingsolver).  Interesting discussion - feelings about the book varied widely.  Have you read it?  Did you like it?  Next month is The Warmth of Other Suns which is a hefty tome, so I'd better get started.

Christmas is Now Over

We had to delay our Christmas celebrations and so only finished partying last Sunday. 

This demonstrates why it's so much fun to knit for Girl-child (hand knit mittens, sweater and unseen socks worn in photo):

Auntie is doing well…

…she and DIL have to bundle up when they come to my house (although I remembered to turn up the heat for their visit, really I did!)

Boy-child dragged himself out of bed to kibbutz and nosh:

I received a pillow made from recycled hand-knit socks (Girl-child is starting to wear out a lot of socks):

Today I finished the Seasons hat by Jared Flood (this one is in the spring colors - a kit that was a gift from Rose the Gypsy).  It was a fun knit.

No, I haven't blocked it yet and yes, I still have to weave in the ends.  

I worked from home again today.  Cabin fever has set in, so I walked to the library tonight just to get out.  We got above zero today - hooray!

Cold

It's been kind of cold here. Schools will not open Monday because of expected dangerous temperatures.

The other morning there was a problem with the light rail so I had to take a detour.  (I heard a cable snapped because of the cold but I can't say that was ever confirmed).

Louisiana kitchen? Yuck!  I feel sorry for anyone who thinks that's Louisiana food...

I was traveling through a great part of town, as you can see.

Roberts has been here forever, but the neighborhood around it has changed.

Sometimes people find other ways to keep warm.

Although I'm not supposed to work from home until I've been on the job 90 days I'll be working from home Monday since the Minneapolis office will be closed.  

Wimps ;-)

Knitting

Some of the knitting has been holiday driven and some not. This is the pair of pop-over mittens I ended up making for Girl-child. For the first time I made the little i-cord loop and added buttons on the cuff to hold down the popover.

This is a mistake I'm trying to figure out - too much mindless knitting.  Should I rip it out or just leave it hanging around for moments when I need a project with no charts?

A pair of socks, which should be sufficient mindless knitting.  I can get a tiny bit done on the light rail trip to and from work, but not much (it's an 11 minute ride).

This is the Habitat by Jared Flood I made for Auntie.

It's a lovely pattern but only just barely big enough.

That was such a fun project I (finally) started the Seasons hat also by Jared Flood.  Rose the Gypsy gave me the kit ages ago.  It's my first project of the year :-)

And last but not least, the slouchy hat for Boy-child's Girl.  From the Wearwithall book from the Yarnery.