The Free Range socks are done, so I can wear them.
The pattern is Front Range Socks by Lynn Zimmerman. I found a couple of minor mistakes in the pattern, but this pattern has been in my Ravelry library for some time, and the mistakes may have been corrected by now. The designer also has a different way of making a 2-stitch cable. I used the method I'm used to, knitting the second stitch on the left needle, then the first stitch on the same needle and taking them both off at the same time.
I needed something to work on in the evening when we watch TV, so I immediately dug out my Andean Chullo Hat, which I've been carrying around with me on various camping trips in case I finished what I was currently working on. I started it on circular needles, but then switched to my small double-pointed needles, because it was rather unwieldy with just a few stitches on such a big needle. Here you can just see the beginning of the design of the first ear flap.
I switched back to the circular needle when I had enough stitches to hold onto. The first ear flap is now finished and there's a good start on the second one.
We're heading back to Wisconsin for Christmas, driving first to Portland, either December 23rd or 24th, depending on the weather. We'll stay with Peter, Alexa and the boys and get a shuttle to take us all to the airport in Portland on the 25th. We'll rent a van in Minneapolis to drive to Onalaska. Charlie and I will stay in the basement guest room, and the kids will stay in a hotel or a short-term rental for the week. We got on the phone to set up the arrangements. We actually have seat assignments this time, and they're all together, all six of us.
I want to have the ear flaps for the Chullo Hat done and combined with the beginning of the body of the hat by the time we leave Portland, to make the project easier to handle while traveling, but I'll need to take all this in my "personal item," which will probably be my big knitting bag. (It will also have to hold my purse, my medications and my iPad!) I thought about putting the yarn into a zipper bag and sitting on it to squish all its soft loveliness down flat, but if I need to end one color and change to a new one mid-flight....
Charlie's brother, Jim, is coming to visit on the 19th, because we won't be able to be together for Christmas. I made some Pulla––two loaves, one to have for Jim's visit and one to take to Wisconsin. One more thing to fit into my personal item/knitting bag. They're both in the freezer right now.
The new book, Billy: Stories from The Doll's Storybook, was officially released on Friday. Amazon and Barnes & Noble have it listed, but as "on order." If you want to read it sooner than a couple of weeks after Christmas, ask your library to get it for you or get it from BookBaby. If you go to the big booksellers' websites and visit the page for the book, they are more likely to stock more copies. That would help sales.
Here's a look at the back cover.
I have copies I can sign and send to you if you're interested. All of the royalties on the books purchased from book sellers go to to support pediatric cancer research and treatment, currently St. Jude.
Remember my killer cold? I came down with it four weeks ago and had it when we went to Portland over Thanksgiving. Well, I'm still a little hoarse, but I'm mostly not coughing anymore, and I'm sleeping all night. I went to choir rehearsal Wednesday night and was comfortable singing, although not quite back to normal. Each day gets better, and I expect to be able to sing well enough for the Messiah Singalong on the 20th and Lessons and Carols service on the 21st. It's important to me this year because I'll miss singing for the Christmas Eve services. I sang with the choir on Sunday, and that went all right, although my low-treble notes are not very strong.
On Tuesday I had my annual eye exam. During this visit, I was told that my cataracts could be removed any time now, so I said, "Let's do it!" I'll have my left eye corrected to be nearsighted and the right to be farsighted, and then I will get driving glasses to correct the left eye for distance. Years ago, an older friend had his contact lenses made so one eye was nearsighted and the other was farsighted. I never thought I would want that, but when the cataracts changed my eyes to that very arrangement naturally over time, I found I got used to it and could see well. My vision isn't really bad right now, but I need really bright light to read fine print or do any close work, especially knitting a pattern with darker or multicolored yarn, and street signs are unreadable at night from a distance.
I've started cleaning the house for Jim's visit. I really should do some cooking, too, but the cleaning comes first.
Today is our older son's birthday. I can't believe he's already 58! Happy birthday, Timo!
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What's in The Doll's Storybook: Because Hanukkah began last night, I thought it would be good to rerun Emil's experience leading the lighting of the menorah. Here's Happy Hanukkah from The Doll's Storybook. Chag sameach!
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