December Happenings (Part I)

December is a busy time for just about everyone I would say!  Either you work retail, or you need to put on a Christmas event for family or friends or gosh the list goes on . . .  I feel the need to bring you all up to date on my December.  It is time to wrap up the year and look forward to 2017!

Early December I spent being miserable as there was no real snow to speak of and the skiing was not the best.  Followed by trying to get ski gear out to kids, finishing up the semester, and arriving at my Christmas HOLIDAY--- of FREEDOM!

Since this is my Blog I am going to go with a bit of a photo essay post! My goal is to get caught up and current before heading into 2017!

Early Dec. saw wonderful sea ice which I was fascinated by.  The girls and I spent a lot of time walking on the beach. It was a very  cold ride on the 4-wheeler to get out on the tundra. How could anyone pass up this amazing jumbled up sea ice!

The girls and I out for a ski on the tundra on the small ponds that will soon be covered in far more snow than this.  This is desperation skiing!

More sea ice this is about 4 to 5 feet high.  It is pushed up onto the beach from winds, tides, and waves.

Just loving being out in the cold!

My Ms. Sadie--my buddy!

Little Ms. Tally my other constant companion.

The ice was just stunning.  I just could not get enough of this stark beauty!

Sunset over Norton Sound part of the Bering Sea.

I melt down chocolate bars and add coconut oil to the mixture plus sliced almonds some dried fruit and let it all cool.  I will cut this up and use it for my ski snack.

A wonderful little set up of tea from my dear friend Lynn!

My wool hand knitted Long Johns!  I have found these to be the warmest things I own.  When the temps drop to below zero I will be skiing in these tights from now on.   PDS DK weight yarn.

More will come on this sweater . . . my current Lopi design knitted with Shetland Chunky and Unspun Icelandic Wool (which I have fallen in love with)!

A project that came out too large . . . before felting.

Saying goodbye to fall as we move to the solstice!

The story of Tomten #2 and not enough yarn!

The Tomten which is a design by Elizabeth Zimmermann is a favorite of many a knitter.  I too enjoy this rather brilliant jacket and I am currently knitting # 2 in the Tomten parade.  ONLY, I ran into a bit of a snafu!  I was dead on certain that I had one more skein of this wonderful green yarn upstairs!  The first mistake of a knitter, is one who is convinced they have more skeins of a certain yarn.  Of course I didn't have any more green!  None at all!  All gone! Zip--zero--none!  At which point knitting came to a grinding halt!

Do you see the right  sleeve is all done and perfect!

 The other sleeve had just run out of yarn, done, none, no more yarn!  I thought about making this left sleeve a fun wild crazy striped arm.  Then I stopped and thought this out a bit!  I could frog the other sleeve back use some of that green to knit a bit more on the other sleeve.  Ok, and then add some striping and get this project off my needles.  I am almost done with this sleeve adjustment.

Since running out of yarn is a bit of a topic on this post. Here is a completed pair of socks.  The goal was to use up some PDS DK Yarn.  I purposely knitted them as opposite socks, but ran out of green.  I knew I would runout of yarn but the goal was to knit up socks and use up some of the left over project yarn in my stash.  I now find this a bit funny as I realized those darn greens are the trouble makers here in my knitting!  I used up all the green and blue and tossed in just a bit of what is called fireweed for the toe.  I love this bright little toe as it certainly add a smile to any day!

Knitting . . . oh yes I am a knitter!

No matter what once winter arrives my life gets rather busy.  Working, coaching skiing, taking time for my dogs and husband (not necessarily in that order-oops!)---life just takes up a lot of time!  Then there is reading, knitting, yoga, working out, skiing, cooking . . . . the list goes on just like it does for every one.

I do want to get my knitting updated and posted.

Here is Tomten #1 which I  loved knitting.  This is good as I have yes 3 more to knit.  This design comes from Schoolhouse Press, one of my very favorite yarn and knitting suppliers/designers.

This Tomten wasn't knitted for this cutie but she is trying it on for size as she will be Tomten #3.

Here is the proud owner of Tomten #1!  Fits perfect and the smile says it all to her Great-Auntie!

These two photos are Tomten #2.

I am working on adding little color into the garter stitch.  This yarn is a wonderful rich green color way named mountain green.  I must knit something out of it for myself when time allows.

How can an Great-Auntie not love an aspiring knitter!  I order her one of my favorite knitting books for kids.  I even used this book a lot when I was learning how to knit as well.  Kids Knitting is a great book and full of very kid-doable projects!

The next project, I worked on this winter is an all time favorite of mine.  Felted Baby Booties that are wonderful to knit and every new mom I know requests a pair.  A long time friend of mine designed this pattern. The pattern can be purchased  at my very favorite local knitting shoppe in Montana.  If they don't have it please bug them about getting it republished!

I knitted this pair for a friend here who recently adopted a little boy.  The color combo is a mixing of the 2 Scottish flags as dad has a strong Scottish background.

I started this project in August when we were driving back up to Alaska for work.  I am not done but I am certainly closing in on finishing the "Long John" project.  I decided to name this pair of long underwear after a horse I used to ride long ago.  Long John was a 17 hand thoroughbred horse off the track.  He was blind in one eye but a love.  I am sure this is why I love big chestnut horses to this day.

The first leg is done.  I am using a yarn from Polk a Dot Sheep.  If you love color have a look at PDS yarns.   These yarns are so rich in color it is almost impossible to walk away from buying yarn in every colorway!

The legs are now joined and I am working on the BUTT!  I am doing some increasing in that area and German Short Rows  as well.