In some parts of the world, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. But that sounds much too strenuous to us. We’re all tuckered out from the festivities of the weekend. The trip to my sister’s. The unwrapping of presents. The playing with new toys. The eating, the treating; the giving, the getting. All of it has left us kind of tired, so that a quiet day at home, viewing much of it through the shadows of drooping eyelids is preferred.

Okay, so none of us has napped as much as Chappy. That doesn’t mean we’re not tired, too! It’s been cloudy all day, but we did get him out for a walk, and I even made tomato sauce for supper. And Chappy did summon up the energy to play with his new soft-sided flying disk toy–which he is absolutely loving. He actually brings it back to be thrown again, something that rarely happens on the main floor of the house. (He brings back the one squeak toy he has in our bedroom, and he’ll bring back the tennis ball when we play in the backyard, but on the main floor of the house? I think since he has so many to choose from, he just doesn’t bother.)

  I wouldn’t want you to think I’ve been neglecting my knitting. Not only have I restarted (for the third time) the Jaywalker socks I mentioned yesterday, but I’ve been plugging away at my Karabella cabled cardigan in Orange Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I’m liking this sweater a lot. I love the cables, and oh, compared to the Union Square Market Pullover, it’s coming along so fast! I’m into the armhole-shaping for the back already, and have only been working on this since the 17th–that’s one week ago, people. I know that for some people, size 6 (4mm) needles are tiny, but it’s all relative, right? Compared to the size 2 (3mm) I used for my USMP, and the Aran-weight yarn rather than Fingering-weight yarn, this sweater is just flying.

  It looks gorgeous, too. I just adore this rusty-orange color, and I love the feel of the yarn, the heft of the knitted fabric. It’s been a while since I did cables, too, and these are a pleasure–easy enough to remember after just a couple of repeats, and simple enough that I can do them without a cable needle, thank heaven–and yet a pleasure to look at.

The bonus for today? Remember a couple days ago when I was saying that my Christmas Tree Hat must be lucky? Well, I’ve got further proof. First–when I wore it on Thursday, I got lucky three times–the prize at work, my SP6 box, AND a phone call from my best friend, unexpectedly home from California for Christmas. She was here just last month, so this was an unexpected bonus, and tonight she braved her allergies, and came up for dinner–something that has not happened in years, but which was a regular occurrence back when we were in high school. We had a good visit, and chattered away like old times.

And then, on Friday, I wore my hat out Gloating, Mom and I stopped at Nonna’s Yarn Cafe so I could show them my hat and my lovely Suede bag I’d made with yarn I bought from them, and while we were chatting, they offered to make us some coffee, just because, just for the visit. Wasn’t that nice of them? They are such nice ladies, and it’s a pleasant little shop. They’re carrying Elsebeth Lavold yarn now (oooh, I was eyeing the teal Classic AL, sooo pretty!), and some Jo Sharp, and mentioned a couple other good ones I’d love to see them carry–it’s good to see them expanding into some more yarns that I’m interested in. And, really, I was considering buying some of that yarn for the stash and they told me it was better to wait until I had a project in mind. Is that nice of them, or what? (grin)

Sigh. It’s been such a nice weekend . . . what a shame I have to go back to work tomorrow!

Tags: Family, General, Knitting/Spinning // 3 Comments »