A Year in Review - 2008

And so 2008 comes to a close...



A Year in Review Photo Set - 2008

It was a good year full of fun, excitement and accomplishment. I knit more pairs of socks than ever before, I completed some sweaters and started others, I ran TWO half-marathons, went on two epic trips (one to Hawaii and the other a road trip to the South West) and attended three wonderful weddings.

In 2008, I also moved to Fremont and in with Scott, I started taking the bus to work almost every day and stopped driving so much, Scott and I got a new sofa and Kato the cat learned that I was just as lovable as his Scott.

All in all, a very good year. Here's to an even better 2009!

Frenzy with Mittens

My finishing frenzy continues unabated! I've been working on the Chevron Scarf but when I need a break from the slog, I've also been working on my Bird in Hand Mittens.



I've been knitting the left mitten with bigger needles than the right mitten but so far, I haven't noticed a size difference. Oh well, it appears these mittens might be a tiny bit snug and that I need to work on my stranded knitting gauge.



I do so love this mitten pattern though and think the little bird on the thumb is ingenious!

Raveled

And To All A Good Night!

Merry Christmas!



It was a fine day even though Scott and I were stuck in Seattle and not down in Portland celebrating with family.

We had our fun though. We woke up and exchanged presents. Kato even gave us presents! He's such a thoughtful cat. Then we had pie for breakfast before settling in to watch some movies and "Mad Men".



We enjoyed Happy Hour treats and some wine before consuming the Cornish Game Hens with stuffing, corn and cranberry sauce I made for dinner. Yum!

Chevron Scarf

I'm in the midst of a finishing frenzy as previously mentioned so last night I moved on to the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I started this scarf almost two years ago and I know why I stalled on knitting it. It's BORING! Oh I love the colors, I love how the scarf is coming out but I DO NOT LIKE knitting it.



It's incredibly boring and slow going. I knit on this for about 3 hours today and maybe got four more inches knit. Bah! I'm going to knit a bit more on this tonight and then tomorrow on Christmas, I'm going to knit something FUN!



Raveled

Finishing Frenzy

Since I've been snowed in, I've been on a real finishing frenzy!

I finished up my Sock Yarn Clapotis and last night finished the first part of my Alterknits Scarf.Shawl.Wrap. It was a bit too easy and I can't remember why I stopped knitting on it in the first place.



Now I just need to cast on for the shawl portion of this project and get knitting but first I have a few other WIPs to finish up.



Raveled

Snow-crop-alious!

Seattle is still covered in snow, so much snow!



While I had scheduled some vacation days around Christmas, I was supposed to work today and tomorrow. However getting there today was more difficult that I imagined. I took the bus with Scott downtown. That took about an hour with the walking to the stop, waiting for the bus and riding it in. I kissed Scott goodbye and headed down to the bus tunnel to wait for the 174 since my usual bus route had been suspended.



I thought the bus tunnel would be warmer than the surface street but I was so wrong! It was freezing down there. I waited about 40 minutes and when the bus didn't show up, I decided that if getting in was taking so long, what would it be like getting home? I made the decision to give up and headed over to Scott's office where I entertained myself with some knitting while he did some work. We then grabbed a bit to eat before waiting an hour for another bus to take us home.



Tomorrow looks like it will be another icy commute to work, one which I wonder if I'll be able to make!

I love snow but I think it is time for this snow to leave us!

Bird In Hand

Last weekend due to the cold weather (which continues for quite some time I've been told), I cast on for the Bird in Hand Mittens by Kate Gilbert.

I'm not very experienced when it comes to stranded knitting which I have found to be OK with this pattern. I love how easy it has been so far, well except for the braids but I think that was due to the worsted weight yarn and the size one needles. EEEK!



My only other problem is that I think my gauge is a tiny bit too tight in stranded knitting and so my right hand mitten is a tiny bit too small. I am currently blocking the crap out it to see if the sizing improves before I cast on for the left mitten. I figure I can adjust the needle size following Kate's directions if needed for the left mitten.

Raveled

366 Days Complete

Today I took my final 365 Days picture and of course that darn Betty Lou showed up!

I can't believe this project is actually over and that tomorrow I begin my 34th year. I'm so glad I did this even though
some days I really, really didn't want to take a picture of me. I got pretty sick of me as a subject about halfway through
the project but in the end, I had so much fun doing this.



In my 33rd year, I moved in with my love, gained a cat, started taking the bus to work, went to Hawaii, went on a great road trip with my love, saw a dear friend marry her love and on this final day, ran two Half Marathons and got my wish for a major snowstorm in Seattle.



Here are some stats from the past year:

Days Missed: 0 -- I know, A++ here!
Made Explore: 5

Most Viewed Photo: Day 168 with 15,940 all time views

With other people: 35
With animals: 12
As Betty Lou: 6
With Scott: 17
Cities taken in: 20
Taken after Half Marathon Runs with my Medals: 2
Showing my Knitting and/or yarn: 36
With Food: 26

And yes, I loved this so much, I'm considering doing a Year 2! First though I need to go and play in the snow!

Snowpocalyse 2008

After a disappointing day yesterday where snow was promised but not delivered, I woke up this morning with SNOW!

Let Snowpocalyse 2008 begin!



Luckily for me, I was already scheduled to be on vacation today and tomorrow so I have no worries about trying to go into work. And my vacation plans are not ruined because I planned to stay around the house and knit! I can totally do that on a snow day and without any lingering thoughts of going outside and being productive.

Finally Finished Socks

After many months of trauma knitting these socks, I finally finally knit a pair of socks on one circular needle and they are awesome!

Raveled

Tag! I'm It!

KarenJotagged me for this meme last week but I've been quite busy this week and am only now getting to this meme.

*Go to your sixth picture folder and pick your sixth picture.

*Pray you remember the details.

*Tag five others.

I just backed up all my photos to my external hard drive and so because I'm too lazy to go drag it out, I'm going off my Flickr folders.

But ummmmm didn't I just post this image when I went to Skillet last week? It's a photo I took of the Skillet truck (Yum! Skillet!) and I'd recommend that everyone go there. Yum!

I'm not going to tag anyone but if you want to do this meme, go for it!

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