Brrr!

Greetings from the frozen tundra! Okay, not really, it's just Minnesota which only feels like the frozen tundra today.

I listen to the news in the morning while getting ready. Today, they kept saying things like "coldest day in 5 years" and "schools closed" and "the end is nigh". All of which made me think that I needed to assess the situation for myself.

I first checked the super cool digital weather station that we have (the top line is supposed to be outside information).

Hmm . . . it doesn't seem to be reading any temperature at all. Odd.

So then, I checked the gauge outside the back door . . .

Well that's not promising. Crap, but it is pretty old.

So, I resigned myself to my fate, put on my warmest coat and mittens, grabbed my purse and headed out the door for work.

I knew it was really cold when the car complained about starting. And it's new. Ugh. As I sat there shivering, I remembered that I have an outside temperature reading thing on my dash. Well, there's still hope. It can't possibly be that cold. let's just see what that says . . .

Yeah, I guess it really is as cold as they say.

I'll be here huddled in my warm coat until the thaw, maybe in June. Send yarn! And firewood! Ooo! And one of those dogs with the little barrels of brandy on its collar would be awesome too. Thanks!!!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas . . .

I have decamped to the Pacific Northwest for the holidays and am enjoying tons and tons of snow. While we in MN are very well equipped to handle this, Seattle and Portland are not. We are doing a lot more walking than driving and enjoying the cities just the same.

I've never been to either city before and am doing my best to enjoy them despite the poor weather conditions. I am a Starbucks addict, so we made a point of heading down to Pike's Place Market in Seattle to visit the flagship store.

And you know I hit some knitting store out here too. I heartily recommend Hilltop Yarn in the Queen Anne are of Seattle, Twisted in Portland and the Dublin Bay Knitting Company, also in Portland. Thank you so much to the gracious staff/owners I met in each. I hope to return one day soon.


Also on the knitting front, I finished and blocked all of my Christmas knits before we left - hooray!!!!! I hope my family and friends love them (or at least humor me and pretend to).


Today, we are in Portland and tomorrow we are heading out of the city a ways to spend Christmas with my husband's family in a town called Dufur. In-laws . . . think happy thoughts for me.

Have a wonderful and joyous holiday season and stay warm!

The World's Cutest Pug Strikes Again

Updates on holiday knitting coming soon (spoiler - I finished!!).

For now, I give you this:

A Letter

Dear City of Saint Paul,

Hi! So, it's starting to be winter around here again. I'm sure you've noticed what with the flurries and feezing rain and all. Um . . . so . . . not to be picky, but would it be too much to ask that you sand/salt the roads in the more "urban" areas of the city? I do enjoy the snowy weather, but much more so appreciate being able to stop my car from sliding through major intersections. I'd like to live at least until Christmas so I can give out all of these gifts I've been working on. Thanks!

P.S. Um . . . So, street sweeping? Are we not doing that in every neighborhood this year? Because, yeah, I've seen you guys out, just not near me. I have some leaf goo all over my street that I would love to see gone before it gets too snowy. Thanks!

A Semi-Quiet Weekend

Not much crafting news to report fromt his weekend. I started and am almost finished with this hat for my husband, but that's about it. I did spend several hours on Saturday raking and gathering up leaves. Oy! We have a lot of leaves (I raked a pile taller than me) and all from 1 tree! Talk about your workout.

I did some shopping - I am almost done with things that need to be bought which feels really good. I need to get some sort of big gift for him which is always a challenge. Maybe a watch? Tools? Ugh!

I set myself up for some more crafting insanity by buying glitter, stamps and paint because apparently I really need to make some ornaments for people and, of course, stamp up my own gift wrap. Yeah, I'm a little insane. I hope to work all of that up this week and will post pics.

How was your weekend?

That New Yarn Smell . . .

Even kitties love it!


My cat, Cooper, was excited to get a whiff of the awesome Lorna's Laces sock yarn that Heather (aka The ADD Knitter) sent. Thank you so much, Heather!



And, on the Holiday Craft Spaz Out-a-Thon front (see button on right), I have some finished items to report:

That's 2 Hurricane Hats (blue for my Dad and grey/tan for my brother-in-law) and a Morningside Neckwarmer for my father in-law. This leaves me with a hat for my husband and a cowl for my step-mother-in-law to finish. Except . . . oh wait . . . yeah . . . I'm crazy and really think I need to make myself a pair of these first. And maybe some mitered mittens, and I really should make a dog sweater . . . Help.


Cooper loves finished objects too!

It's Here!

Snow has officially come to Minnesota. When I left for work this morning, it was dark and it looked more like rain. It wasn't until I got in my car and saw the windshield that I realized it was rain's chillier sibling, snow. Darn . . . I just don't feel ready for all of the wet pant hems, crappy driving and manual labor (shoveling). Oh, well. Welcome, snow!