scrappy afghan

It is fitting that I finished this afghan on a camping trip.  I started putting it together in the dark by the fire the last time on we were on the mountain.  I started with a Posie Gets Cozy granny square pattern.  Changed it a little bit so it made more sense to me (and sometimes the yarn I was using).  I also used a different connection method I had found.  All that combined means there was a lot of learning.  I also tried to fall down the rock as I was placing it.  Of course, my Beloved got that picture and I thought I would share.

It turned out well.  Even though there are a lot of bits I can tell I was not paying as much attention to the making of the square as I should have.  Also, there was supposed to be one more row each way.  That is what I get for working on it by fire light.  It does smell good.  

It is the perfect size for a small boy to fall asleep with.  Already tested that.  It made me smile.

I hope all is well

We are back.  I actually was at work today because there were three people on the floor.  But, as I explained to my family, the work I was doing needed not to be interrupted.  Very picky work.  A normal work day would have been hard to do it.  But when the application crashed (again), I decided I was being told something.

We went to one of our favorite campgrounds near us.  I could post the same picture most years of the camp site because we even stay in the same place.

My pajama bottom making frenzy came in handy.  I had made Small Mister two pairs of pajama bottoms and he used them both.  My Beloved made the comment that they need matching cargo pajama bottoms.  Since his bottoms have not been made yet, this can happen.  I did tease that I may just take Small Mister with me and have him chose the fabric.  It would probably be Lightening McQueen then.

The temperatures were cold at night and a sweater was needed most days.  I had yarn with me and I made Small Mister a pair of mittens.  But would he wear them?  Of course not because then he could not pick up "tiny rocks" and use "Gabriel's knife" (it is wooden).  

We did have a good time.  There were good people camped near us.  The deer were beautiful and this was the first time I had seen a buck of that size with this herd.  It is my favorite time to go camping but my favorite time of year to be in the office. It is very quiet.  What a dichotomy.

white elephant

The business unit I work for at the company I work for is having a Christmas lunch this week.  It is actually a fairly harried time which is very unusual for this time of year for me.  But if I do get a chance to go to the lunch, there will be a white elephant present gifting.  The cost was supposed to be $15 but my experiences of shopping for anything this time of year is that it takes three times as long as normal.  I had to go to the grocery store on Saturday.  I think the only saving grace was I got into a conversation with the gentleman working in bulk.  It saved the whole experience.

I have my normal reaction to the white elephant gift.  I make something.  One year it was a box of brownies.  Those were stolen a few times.  I decided to work on a funky hat since the comment was made that many of the gifts will be gag gifts in the invitation. 

I actually really like it.  It is all scrap yarn.  I know it is basically against the rules but maybe I can get it back for myself?  I know there may be only a few who will appreciate it around the table.  And if I do not get to the lunch, I now have a hat that covers my ears when my hair is up.  That is harder then you think especially when you share hats!

silliness

Tonight has been interesting.  It is the first night in more then a few years of nights where the beans were uncooked for dinner.  I had new ideas for serving the beans but uncooked beans just do not work.  Hamburgers were the replacement.  They were a good replacement but not what I was looking forward too.  Maybe tomorrow night.  And the beans are cooking in my old tried and true method, slow cooker.

My Beloved told me he needed a tag for the sweater I made him.  It had conformed to his body the few times he was able to wear it on our mountain to have a front and back,  I went through my scrap yarn to find something to make a tag with.

We were both very pleased and the tag is nice and soft.  Now I just have to decide what yarns I need for a white elephant present for next week.  Or am I going to spin the yarn for a hat?

11 days and two sleeves to go

The body of this sweater for my Beloved is done.  I now just have the sleeves to do and he wants it before we go to the mountain.  Eleven days.  Sleeves and weaving in ends.  The blocking may not be finished but I can hope.

I learned to do ribbing for this.  Or at least a different way of doing ribbing.  I admit that my hands were not very sure about it at all but I decided I really like the texture and the stitch.  

I am probably going to have to spin more "brown" yarn for this before I am done.  It is the background yarn and the yarn I am using for my sweater.  I like to spindle spin for my sweater but that is because that whole process is meditative.  At this point, I am just going to focus on this quilt.