Rushing

For reasons unknown, I've been unable to post the last few times I tried. Watching the Firefox spinny thing spinning fruitlessly has only amplified the displaced anxiety quotient roundabout Exit 151. The obvious (to me) conclusion: holiday knitting must take precedence on the knitting queue!

My gauge tends to become variable during The Holidays, not a big deal for some projects, disastrous for others. So my dilatory NaKniSweMoNorovember Rosedale has been put in time out for the duration. Here she is languishing in her storage bag, moments before it was unceremoniously squashed and stuffed under the bed... out of sight... er, hold that thought.



Stowing Rosedale didn't accomplish anything beyond getting her out from underfoot, yet I felt strangely liberated, as if sprung from a knitterly Azkaban. I've worked with people who clear their desks during The Holidays – similar principle, but hard on staff.

Anyway... tralala... here's a holiday Odessa by Grumperina, worked in Peer Gynt colorway 664 (prize yarn from Kristen) and 6/0 Czech glass beads. Thanks again, Kristen! I love how the cap looks like a carved and ornamented pillar of ivory.



Margaux mentioned she collected sufficient afghan squares, so I'm stashing the ones I made for a future drive. No doubt they'll be needed soon enough.



Knit Unto Others has concluded, but Margene has indicated more mittens are wanted (and also commented sagely on holiday guilt). I sent two pairs to the Soaring Eagles Project, Child's Mittens by Sivia Harding, worked in Mission Falls 1824 Wool, colorways 21 Denim and 26 Zinnia.

As expected, the second Country Christmas sock isn't quite matching the first. Oh well. I like 'em. The mere thought of what they'll look like peeping out of my snow boots makes me smile. It's been snowing roundabout Exit 151, although not enough to need boots – and I'm still raking leaves.



It was announced on Tuesday that the magnificent essayist Elizabeth Hardwick passed away last Sunday. Her writing always makes me think of the kindling of many small lights from a great bonfire, perhaps an especially apt image during the holiday season. Must pause and haul out a book of her essays and read a bit.