Happy New Year

I hope everyone made it through the holidays well and happy. I certainly did. This was the first time in a long time that I didn't exhaust myself, feel grinchy or have some sort of anxiety fit. I owe it all to my lack of a thyroid, really. Those things screw with you when they don't work properly.

I baked, bought, wrapped, decorated, ate, drank and generally had a good time, with no real ill effects. We had our annual New Year's Day Lucky Lunch with black eyed peas, rice, cornbread, greens and of course dessert

Orange Almond Cake with Chocolate Glaze:


The kids had to go back to school on the 2nd, so I've had a little vacation here for a week or so, without them. I've been knitting and planning projects and thinking about going back to work. That starts up next Monday, and I'm prepared so, not much to worry about there.


As for knitting, I've made 3 hats out of some red and blue Lorna's Laces worsted or heavier. I lost the band, so I'm not sure of the weight. It's heavier than worsted, but not seriously bulky or chunky. It's my first time using this weight of LL and I love the yarn. Hate the color, but love the yarn. The boys picked out the color, and the hats are for them, so who am I to complain? (Sandra, #2 is not yet betrothed, so I say we get to planning a wedding).


I finished another fair isle using the Cascade Ecological. This time for #1. This is terrific yarn. I've got enough to make one more kiddie sweater and maybe a couple of hats. Here's a pic of the yoke. It's still blocking and I won't make #1 wear it till it's dry.


I picked up my Basic Blue again. I finished the back and the left front well before Christmas, and got sidetracked with the fair isle sweaters, so it's been sitting around waiting. It's weird to knit with finer yarn when you've been working with bulky for a while. I'm in no hurry with this sweater, so it's kind of relaxing to be able to pick it up whenever I feel like it.


I'm still in stash busting mode. I've got some ideas for using single skeins and scraps. I bought enough laceweight from Knit PIcks last fall to get me through the summer at least, but I doubt I'll resist buying more yarn, here and there.