Spring is springing

The crocuses are out so I'd better update this blog. I've been a bit busy over at my other blog. I'm working on getting ready for the Friends for Life Bike Rally (600 km from Toronto to Montreal in six days as a fundraiser for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation).

I haven't just been cycling, I finally finished the baby blanket in time for baby Meredith's arrival. I think she looks rather nice in it.


I'm also working on a set of arm warmers for the bike. I'm kind of making them up as I go along so they are a little bit funny looking but I like the stripy-ness.

Buried!

Wow, it's been almost a month since my last post. I've been a real delinquent. Here in Toronto its been nothing but snow, snow, snow. We don't usually get that much snow (likely thanks to climate change) but this year it's been storm after storm. I'm getting pretty tired of digging out the car and am seriously considering abandoning the poor thing until spring.

Ah well, at least there has been pie...

and crepes!

But really who am I kidding, it's back outside for me, now where's my shovel?

Fun and frolic with friends

This weekend a very dear friend came visiting. She's a fellow newbie knitter and we decided to explore some of the Toronto wool shops I haven't had time to visit. It was a lot of fun. We lingered for quite awhile in the Purple Purl before heading to Lick's for lunch (I've been assured that there will be an equally unflattering photo of me on her blog).

In the afternoon we checked out the Naked Sheep. I'm beginning to realize that each wool shop is its own unique place. They sometimes have overlapping stock but really there's something different about each shop I've visited (perhaps that's a duh for more experienced knitters). Needless to say there was some wallet damage and I'm full of ideas of projects for the future.

The weekend was topped off by two potlucks. Phew, I'm pooped.

Starting again, and again

I've restarted my next knitting project twice now. The first time I wasn't sold on the pattern, the second time I wasn't happy with the size. The wool is great and I think what I really wanted was a fairly loopy design. What I got was a pretty but tight fabric. I got this far before frogging and starting with larger needles.
I'm slowly putting Christmas away. Last Sunday I held my second annual Post-Holiday Tea. Which features the annual destruction of the gingerbread house. Some before and after photos.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2008!

I've had a really great holiday; family, baked goods and knitting... I finished my baby sweater. The pattern was from Dogs Steal Yarn. The yarn is a dark blue so its a bit hard to see, but I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. There is no baby to model it yet, he's still in the works but perhaps I'll be lucky enough to get a snap of the little chap in it once he's on the outside. I've also got some more wool for my next project. This one will (hopefully) be a blanket for another friend expecting a baby. Its a lovely green baby alpaca that feels so soft. I think it'll be nice to work with.
Today it snowed and my parents and I went for a walk. My family are big walkers but today we couldn't resist testing out my Dad's Christmas snowshoes.
Even Toronto can be a gorgeous winter wonderland. Hopefully it'll be less wintry for tomorrow's commute (back to work, erg).

Pre-Christmas madness

I think I now understand why some people find Christmas so stressful. I'm usually an uber prepared Christmas elf. I love to shop early and have everything smugly stowed (usually wrapped) way before those last few crazy shopping days. This year for some reason I was in Christmas denial and really didn't get started until just recently. Shopping close to Christmas is not fun! There are hoards of people and inevitably the item you want is sold out. There's nothing worse than a smug sales person saying "Oh, that's a very popular item, we're all sold out" as I imagine the sad look of my niece when I present her with nothing on Christmas. In the end I had to do a bit more running around (thank goodness for Lavinia) but it is all done. PHEW!!!

Now I can concentrate on finishing the Christmas baking and gingerbread house assembling.

Sadly my knitting project has made no further progress...Blah.

Falling behind

It has been awhile since my last post. I don't feel as though I've accomplished all that much and yet I've been pretty busy. I've been making really good progress on my baby sweater but I've hit a snag and will have to consult my knitting friend for some advice. Sometimes there just isn't a substitute for a real live human being showing you what to do. My knitting book just isn't cutting it right now.

I'm starting to get in the Christmas spirit although I've been a bit late off the mark. I'm usually very prepared for Christmas ages before the big day. Thankfully, many of the items on my family's wish lists have been on sale recently. Woo hoo!

The weather people are forecasting some big snow for the next day and a bit. While I usually enjoy a good snow, this storm means that my dear friend wasn't able to visit. She was going to stay over tonight but sensibly decided to head home before the storm hit. SIGH sometimes its tough to be sensible.

The wind is howling outside and I'm glad to be snug inside my little house.