Day after big surprise snowstorm. A good day to not have to go out into the world and I didn't. Did some work via email, mostly spent time in my sewing/knitting/needlepoint/office etc room sorting fabric, of which I have almost as much as yarn. Now I have the various collections of stuff I love, bought with specific projects or dreams in mind or just because I loved it and -- separately -- the stuff I don't love but can cut up to make 'comfort quilts' for charity. Felt great to do the sorting and to re-visit what-all I have. Next step is the yarn -- though that's in much better shape, organized by (a) projects under way; (b) intended projects; (c) enough yarn to make something, but I don't know what; (d) sock and shawl yarn; (e) baskets and baskets of scrap yarn pretty much sorted by color. Just need to visit it all again.

December 4

Sunday afternoon, snow on the ground for the first time, nice music, dog sleeping peacefully, husband playing a gig. Began a quick lacy scarf/shawl (2 balls worth so it's pretty big) with white and gold Gossamer. Did a black and silver one several years ago and had bought the yarn for a white one as well. At the time I didn't love the black and silver one, so I let it go, but I pulled it out yesterday to wear to a black and silver occasion and it was wonderful, so I'm having a go with the white one. I bought lovely wooden size 17's for the other one and managed to find them again. They are beautiful and a pleasure to handle, but certainly heavier and less sort of compliant than what I'm used to (bamboo and Denise). Anyway, I am finding I have to go very slowly, but it still comes up very fast and it's like growing a cloud -- appropriate just before Christmas.

I did a fair amount of research (in my books and on line) to come up with a decent way to do the short rows on the ruffle for the pink coat. Finally hit on http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2005/04/japanese_short_.html, a site with a great description of a really neat way to do short rows with a pin instead of wraps, looks and feels much much better than wraps. Makes me very happy.

Had a great time on Friday night sitting in front of the computer knitting and listening to knitcast podcasts and visiting the sites of folks she interviews. It's so amazing to be able to do this!

My next challenge will be to put a picture or two up. My daughter and I bought a card reader, so I should be able to do it, but it feels like a major leap in techno-knowledge.