My Kind of Party!

Last night we had quit e the treat! Friends of ours, S (Hi!) and D (and daughter, A... the one I made the curly cue topped hat for?) had us over for dinner-- Yumm-o! S is a very good cook and we had a nice time visiting. (S- I am posting my cookie recipe at the bottom, so keep reading!).

One topic of discussion was the fact that there are always "two groups" within any social group. I.e. people who love music break down into people who think rap is music and people who don't. get it? I was asked if among the knitting groups (and I think more importantly, the knit-blogging group) are there two groups? I answered yes, b/c my first thought was "process vs. product knitters." I am a process knitter. I know product knitters. But, then I thought: sweater kntitters vs. lace knitters vs. sock knitters... the list continues! But, unlike the majority of non-knitting groups, we have found peace among our differences. There are even spinners who are friends with knitters! ha ha ha.

What do y'all think? Do you "feel" the pressure from your counterparts in the knitting world? I have heard people say "I feel like I have to try lace, b/c it's the next step." next step to where? Knitting graduation? My godmother was a wonderful prolific knitter who only knit fisherman knit sweaters. No intarsia. No stripes. No lace. No socks. No mittens. Just fisherman knit sweaters. In worsted weight. No dk. No sport. No chunky. Did she somehow fail to move-up as a knitter? I don't think so, but I am wondering about your opinion.

Our night last night was complete with great conversation, yummy dinner and good friends. No knitting accomplished and I am very okay with that.

Hopefully, sock photos tomorrow or Friday.

:) mini

Recipe for Cookies:
Pre-heat to 350 deg F
Ingredients;
1/4cup shortening
1/4cup butter
1/2cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg yolk
1/2tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2tsp salt

Directions:
Cream shortening, butter, egg yolk, sugar, and vanilla together. Add salt to flour- mix. Add flour mix to butter-sugar mix. Dough should come together fairly quickly. Roll into small balls and roll through granulated sugar (optional). Place on cookie sheet and use thumb to make "divot" in the cookie. Add 1/2 tsp jam to each divot. Bake 8-12 minutes.

Makes: 30 cookies

Brand New Friend

Santa didn't bring it...I got it for myself after-Christmas. :) More later when I figure out how to load photos onto the computer. Keep posted for more interesting photos in the future... Did I mention the new telephoto lens I got too??

Feeling Thin

In so many ways, I am feeling thin. Pants that were just a smidge tight on my DC trip are comfy. Total holiday poundage: -1lb. Amazing, huh? I think stress burns calories. I need to hit the gym tonight. Jinann and I are keeping each other motivated with our yarn and food diets. She's a fellow Norweigan-American.

Thin feelings: unloaded a bunch of my yarn last night at a yarn swap and brought home some new yarn.... yarn that I will use. I am not opposed to trading at all. I got some really cool 100% superwash in a gray that might be nice for a sweater. And some merino. Oh, and some cotton for baby washcloths for M's baby-on-the-way. Yes, yes... this kid's not even going to have commercially made washcloths on it's wee bottom. :)

Thin feelings: time. Before the holidays, I worked 7-4pm, went home (or to the gym, but usually home), made dinner, cleaned up a bit and hung out with PC. Now, I am running to knitting, guild meetings, away for weekends (one weekend in Feb for a visit with a friend in NC, weekend retreat for the guild) and every other thing i have to do. Oh, did I mention I applied to graduate school? Yup. At night. Ugh. And, in April, tennis lessons start again, and seriously, I am taking tennis lessons again.

I just feel so impossibly spread thin. And, the laundry's piling up, the house needs a good cleaning and I need a nap. I am getting home at 9:30-10pm and going to bed at midnight... and waking up at 5;45am.

On a positive note, PC and I are way more social this year than we ever have been before! More entertaining, more being entertained, more "doing stuff", but (are you reading this honey?)--- I need some quiet time on the couch with PC. I need a day of going into town and a long lunch and ... hell, let's do this on Saturday, huh? then come home and watch the football game.

SPA: Ok, I was going to stay over in Maine this year, but there is not a hotel room to be found under $140 a night and well, with being a maid-of-honor (twice!) this year, a trip to Disney on the horizon (PC"s parents rock!), and a move and a potential new-car purchase... that's getting a little rich. Did I mention grad school?? Not.free. A day trip will have to be my option. One of the women in my guild that I like very much (hi Andi!) suggested a day trip and I offered to buy lunch--- I think we have a plan! So, as much as I love Mexican food with Carole, I am sure it's not the last chance i'll get. Next year, better planning and early hotel booking. :)

And... this made me giggle for hours yesterday:

2008

Ahh, that time of year again. It's -4 degrees outside in Boston. It's going to be cold today. Mittens are needed!

My knitting guild is knitting and accepting knitted mittens (machine washable only) for kids at Boston Medical Center intake unit (for transfer to foster care, relatives, etc). If you live in the Boston area and are interested in dropping off (or mailing) a pair of mittens BY JANUARY 15th, please email me for directions/address/more info.

I am not extending any prizes or accepting any hats or anything like that. This is a quick, last minute kind of thing. Any and all mittens appreciated.

Onto the Resolutions, but first the accomplishments of 2007:
1) I stayed smoke-free for 1 year on March 3, 2007. As someone who chain-smoked for 14 years, this amazes me.
2) I made a sweater for PC's mom and it fit!
3) I collected over 1700 hats for kids in Boston
4) PC and I celebrated 5 wonderful years together
5) I knit 3 pair of socks, 9 pair of mittens, 8 hats, 2 baby sweaters, 1 adult sweater.

In 2008,
1) I will work out more and be more "on-point" with Weight Watchers.
2) I will knit myself a sweater. Maybe two.
3) I will learn intarsia
4) I will be more charitable
5) I will be more fiscally responsible. PC and I are getting there. We started contributing more to our 401ks and savings.
6) this leads to.... yup. Yarn diet. I am going to knit from my stash unless it's baby or gift knitting. My good friend is pregnant with her first and long-awaited child. this kid needs handknits.
7) I will knit 10 pairs of socks for me this year. :)

There are some others, but they are not for here.

See you tomorrow!