bits and pieces and random odds and ends

The weather is awful here today, rain, freezing rain, odd kinds of ice falling from the sky, ick in general.  I am glad that #1 son is leaving on the train tomorrow and not by sky bird, one less thing to be worried about.  I try not to think about #2 behind the ambulance wheel all night tonight with this weather nastiness making the roads "greasy" as they say out here, slick and treacherous is more like it.

we had a very low key holiday time.  I didn’t get much in the way of presents but could care less.  It does make me sad though that almost 50 I am still getting useless sorts of gifts from my parents because my mom thinks I should be opening presents even though I have told her repeatedly that I don’t want any more stuff:(  There were things in the way of edibles and a few other things that I would have enjoyed receiving but I am letting that go.  I am thinking of making a wish list on amazon or something so that if she wishes to get me something at least it will be something I sort of wanted.  I do care a bit more about my birthday but december gifts don’t matter, really they don’t.  I just want my kids to be happy.

Knitting you say, oh yeah that’s right, you came here to read about knitting not just to "hear" me whine.  I have been working on the last piece of a smallish,  lap sized probably, blanket for my #4 son.  His birthday is in mid january, he is also a large sized "man" and I am tired of knitting the strips for the blanket.  I am also hoping to finish my current dish cloth and to cast on something new, probably on new year’s eve, as a symbolic gesture for getting 2008 off to an auspicious start. 

There is yarn I would like to get for my birthday next fall, I have to knit up a bunch of stash first though.  I didn’t get the stitch markers made in time for solstice but I am going to give a bunch of them to my mom for her birthday in february.  I wasn’t having much luck with wire manipulation so I decided to cleverly use small safety pins instead after reading how some people just use safety pins.  I personally use contrasting pieces of yarn should I need markers.  We have LOTS of small gold safety pins, not sure why but we do. 

In 2008 I am going to do an updated version of my knit in peace zine because many of the links no longer work.  I think too that I might put together a new issue of my mini knit bits zine and make it entirely a kids’ themed one, children’s books about knitting, how to books for kids and a few links for places kids could send knitted squares etc.  to help those without or in need.

Books:  I am in line to get the following books from the library:
Dominitrix:  whip your knitting into shape by Jennifer Stafford
Knitting Bones by Monica Ferris
Joy of Knitting companion:  a knitter’s handbook by Lisa R. Myers
The knitters book of yarn:  the ultimate guide to choosing, using and enjoying yarn by Clara Parkes
Knitting never felt better:  the definitive guide to fabulous felting by Nicki Epstein

I know I have said this before, but here it is again, I love my public library:):)