Holiday Gifts are finished and wrapped

Last night, I casted off of Swell and that completed my holiday gifts. I didn't get a picture of it, because my brain tooted and I wrapped it practically instantly afterwards. I'm pretty worried that both of the hats that I made won't fit, but I can always just make another one if they don't. I also decided to give my aunt that pair of socks that I originally made for her.

It took me a long time to finish the holiday knits because I basically took about a week and a half off of knitting. I re-started the Harry Potter series and got totally wrapped back up in Hogwarts... so there ya go. Today is actually my last day of work this year (I have a ton of overtime and won't even have to use any vacation time) and I won't be back to work until January 7... so I'm going to be winding yarn for my trip and organizing projects. I will be working on: toe up socks (duh, did you have any doubt?)' Seraphim Shawl in the amazing Socks that Rock Raven Coloray - Rooky (dudes, this is beautiful and I'm super stoked to have a cuddly shawl all on my own... what makes it even better is that it's kind of witch-y and I'm super obsessed with witches); and a Pinwheel Blanket of scrap sock yarn (this will be an ongoing project to use up scraps). I'm also going to take the 5th and 6th Harry Potter, just in case I decide to do some reading.

We're leaving the state Saturday morning and HAVE to be back in Austin by Jan 7 because I have to do an orientation session for new students. Other than that, we don't have serious plans. About a week in Arkansas, a day or two in Manassas, and about a week in New Hampshire. Dude, I am STOKED!!!! I want snow, I want the mountains, I want a fire, I want cuddly-cuddly-boo-boo.

So all my gifts are tagged, wrapped and ready to pack up. I've begun the yarn winding and will hopefully finish that off tomorrow (I try not to do too much at one time, because that's when I start knotting things), packing shall begin tomorrow, and maybe I'll start Seraphim by Friday.

If I have any readers out there, I hope you enjoy your holidays. Get lots of rest, get lots of knitting and reading done, get lots of family time, and enjoy any break you might have. See you after the break!!

Holiday Reorganization

My commute it draining me. In the morning, I have no problem at all - I leave my apartment at 6:30 and catch the 6:40 bus, where the traffic is smooth and easy going. I'm able to read, knit, or nap on my way in. The bus is crowded, but not unpleasantly so. I don't get headaches, grumpy, or in an otherwise foul mood. I usually get into my office by 7:20, and usually my supervisor doesn't get in until after 8 and I'm able to leisurely slide into my day (except on the days when she gets here before I do - then it's a whole different story). However, I leave my office around 4:50 and ruuuun up the hill to catch the 5:10 bus. Sometimes, I don't make it out the door early enough and have to catch the 5:25 bus. No matter, because both buses are packed. Standing room only. I am usually able to get a seat, because I catch the first stop at the university (there are 4 stops along the perimeter of the university) and only people who work in the government offices downtown beat me. However, I'm not usually able to knit on the way home because it's hot, cramped and just plain uncomfortable. I can't read, because the traffic is stop and go and I get nauseous. Sometimes I sleep, but that can be hard too because there are so many people on the bus and they're all on their cell phones. So I sit in traffic, and rarely get home before 6 - usually it's around 6:30. By that time, I usually have a splitting headache. And that headache really cuts into my knitting time! Lately, I've been coming home and eating a snack... then around 7:40 or so (a little bit before TheBoy gets home from work), I try to cook a dinner for us to enjoy. That's actually helped a lot, because now at least I have some sort of goal for the night: cook dinner and clean the kitchen afterwards.

I'm ready to become a Yarn Harlot and find a way to work from home!

Last night was really disappointing for me. I wanted to watch the finale of Heroes and the special 2 hour Closer (I was going to catch the repeat from 10-12), but I wasn't able to stay up for the Closer. Maybe I'll catch the repeat this week? Tonight I am planning to watch the second and third installment of Tin Man on SciFi, so yay!

I managed to finish two things this weekend:



Pattern: Wendy's Generic Toe Up
Needle: US 1½ / 2.5 mm
Yarn: Zitron Trekking (XXL)
Colorway: 167



Pattern: Branching Out by Susan Lawrence
Needle: US 8 / 5.0 mm
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Solid
Colorway: Denim



Branching out still needs to be blocked, but for the purposes of checking off lists, we'll call this done. I titled this post "Holiday Reorganization" because I'm shifting around the holiday gifts.

The Trekking socks were supposed to be for my aunt, but I decided that it was dangerous to give someone a pair of socks when I don't know their foot size. So they're going to me instead :p I'm going to give my aunt a scarf that I recently knitted (about 2 years ago - I'm sorry, I'm just so tired of all of the holiday knitting... I'm ready to make something for MYSELF!!!). The Branching out is for The Boy's Sister (H). I was going to give her Clapotis, but I'm going to give it to TheBoy's Mom instead (because of the hole in her gift). All that's left is one little hat, which I started last night. Whew. I'm almost there!!! Here's an updated rundown of the gifts:

The Boy's Mom: Clapotis
The Boy's Sister K: Anemoi Mittens
The Boy's Sister K's boyfriend: Hat
The Boy's Sister H: Branching Out


My Mom: Icarus in Lane Borgosesia Periwinkle Purple
Dad: Socks
Aunt: Basketweave Scarf
Brother: Hat

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... choo choo!!