Sigh...

I've been back in the hospital since last Friday. I was smart enough to bring a knitting project with me. I started the Rasta Hat while I was waiting to be seen. I had most of the ribbing done by the time they got me moved into a room. I'm almost ready to start the decrease rows. I should have had it finished by now, but I have just been so tired. Did I mention that I had surgery on Saturday?

If the Knitting Gods are with me, I should have this one finished tomorrow and that should give me enough time to get the Orca Tails scarf finished by Christmas. I absolutely *LOVE* the Noro Silk Gardens yarn that I'm using for this project. I wish I could afford to use this for several projects. I think I might go ahead and use it for the Entrelac class. I want that scarf to be the yummiest thing ever!

Ever had really crappy customer service? Well, I had the best customer service ever this afternoon. A couple of weeks ago, while working on the Orca Tails scarf, one of my Harmony Options needles broke! I was so disappointed and sad. One of my pretty multicolour wood needles was now in pieces. I had been meaning to call Knit Picks to see about returning a cable that had a rough join and just hadn't gotten around to it. So today, when I got Knit Picks weekly email, I was reminded that I needed to call them. The woman that I spoke with was so incredibly nice! She's sending out replacements for both items and said that I didn't have to send the defective items back! Now that is fantatical customer service. It's service like the Old Viking used to give when Irwin Helford was still the boss. It's what all customer service should be, no matter what the company.

I've always recommended Knit Picks needles when someone would ask about interchangable needles. Now I can not only recommend them, but I will sing their praises from the highest mountain. Not often do you find a superior product with excellent customer service. Does my little heart good to know that it's still out there somewhere.

Finally! Snow!

It's not really sticking, but it's actually snowing. Good sized, fluffy flakes. You know the kind that makes you want to stand there with your face tilted up towards the sky. I always looked forward to that first tasty bit of winter falling on my tongue.

I've got another rasta hat almost halfway done. I really am loving the way that this yarn knits up. Who would have known that Paton's made such a wonderful fiber? Such beautiful colours! So far I've worked with three different colours: Natural Plum, Natural Earth and Natural Geranium. I think I may have some Natural Violet, too.

Time for some knitting and snuggling down to watch tv, maybe flip through the new Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts issue.

Stay safe, warm and happy!
Tammy

Let it snow!

They said we'd have snow today, so I want some snow! Anything to entertain me while I sit here and look out of this hospital room window. I should have been at the Embellishment class last night at Twist, but nope, I was in this darned hospital room. At least it's one of the new rooms and ironically, it's the same room I was in for one day during my last stay in November.

They are talking about doing an actual surgery to connect a couple of wounds and hopefully that will get them to heal faster. And they're also talking about putting a wound vac back on me.

So start thinking of something fairly quick and simple that I can work on while I'm here.

Come on, Snow! I need a little Christmas, right this very minute!

Wooohooo!

I finished the first of a pair of clogs that will be felted. I really feel like I have accomplished something. The pattern for these definitely leaves something to be desired. There should probably be a bulletin board or a Yahoo group for people to compare notes on this one. It's a good thing that Jackie and Becca had already done one of them. At least they knew where the bugs in the pattern were and how to get around them. I'll try to get a picture of these once I get both knitted up and then one after they've been felted.

I've really been enjoying my knitting lately. If the weather hadn't been so cruddy tonight, I would have gone up to Twist and hung out. Rhiannon went with me to class today. Connie's daughter, Mimi, was there. She and Rhiannon really get along well. Rhiannon had her laptop with her and they goofed around playing the Sims. Mimi hadn't really played the Sims before and she was really starting to like it when she had to go home. Rhiannon had a chance to show off her artwork, too. She pulled up the Artsonia website and showed her stuff to Mimi and to Jackie. Jackie is thinking about sending her kids to Monart's Winter Drawing Camp which starts the day after Christmas and goes for three days. Rhiannon's thinking she might want to go to it. It would give her something to do for the time between Christmas and New Years Eve. I told her that we would go out for a special dinner on New Years Eve. For the last 4 years, I've gone to Kwan Court for their sushi buffet on New Years Eve. Even though it's a tradition that was started with my ex, I would like to keep it up with my daughter. The food is good and it's fairly close to home. Did I mention that the food was good? *grins*

Yes, I did say my ex. The divorce was final this last Monday. Property will be settled at a later date...most likely after the dirtbag is sentenced and in jail. But that's enough about that unpleasant bit of mess. Have I mentioned how much I'm loving my knitting lately?

I've finished a three hats (okay, two of them ended up being so small that my cocker Spike can wear them) and a clog. And that's just in the last two weeks. I'm on a roll! I have a decent yarn stash and there is a plethora of free patterns to be tromped through on the 'net. The hat that I finished was the Rasta Hat from Knitty Gritty. It was really a fun knit and I'd like to knit it again. I did this one out of Paton's SWS in Natural Plum. Wow! I love the way this knits up! It took almost two balls, but it was really worth it. I think I might make another one for Becky for Christmas. I have a scarf to finish for Chuck. It's a really neat pattern from Orcawinds. Kind of a fishtail thing, but really cool.

I'll try to update with pictures later on. So for now, I send you happiness and love and the hopes for a wonderful holiday.