Osterdalen is cast on

I did get Osterdalen cast on last evening. I finished the cuff, and am onto the vast expanse of black stockinette sleeve.

I used a provisional cast on for the hem, then turned it up and knitted it together with the appropriate row. Aha! No sewing up the hem later! Yay!




Paul finished putting the dishwasher in. He had supervisory help. George felt it was necessary to warm his rear end for him as he worked.




Chip felt it was necessary to entertain the cat. Eventually, everyone was shooed away, and the work was completed.


We made it outside to try the snowshoes. It reached a high of -2, so we zipped out for a quick one. The dogs were happy to be outside for more than just a bathroom break.

Blurry picture, but I propped the camera on the fencepost. Bare hands were required to set the timer, and I didn't spend much time getting the focus just right.




At last, after three months - meet our new dishwasher.

Yes, we're easily entertained...

Cold morning

-14 when we woke this morning!

A good day to stay in and do projects.

Paul's working on installing our new dishwasher. Yes, we are finally replacing the dishwasher that died in October. (Yay for handy husbands!)





Contrary to the belief held in our household that there is never first class mail on Saturday - only junk mail - my yarn came!

I can begin Ben's Osterdalen sweater!

And what a perfect day to start a new project. Don't you love being cozy in your warm house when it's subzero?









As long as I was ordering the Osterdalen pattern, I got a few more for the future. Love these Dale of Norway patterns!












We're going to get out and try the new snowshoes. Maybe a geocache, too. Then, I foresee a fire, t-bone steaks and wine for supper, and snuggling up under the new afghan.

The Girl of the House is gone for the weekend, after all...

I like to make birthday gifts for my co-workers.

In other years, I have given hand-knit washcloths, handspun woven bookmarks, small triangle bags made from left over surgical wrap. I started out making beaded wire-knit candleholders last year, but I really hated knitting them.

This year, I'm in love with these little box bags. Yesterday I made these four. When you're on a roll, they go fast. Three are for the January birthdays. The denim one (made from cut up bluejeans) was just a sample. Paul might take that one.

Disaster by dog teeth

Tucking the Girl of the House into bed, we discovered this chewed spot.

Aaaaaaargh - now I have to figure out how to repair this! I do still have some yarn leftovers from her Rambling Rows afghan.

We think this is puppy chewed. Truth be told, for a pup, we have had very few chewing disasters. One strap from a pair of GotH's dress shoes, and this. I guess we can tolerate it.






For someone who was reluctant to have one dog in the house, much less two, Paul is becoming a dog person. I know Chip is a Paul person...







The cardinals are sticking around. This morning I counted 10 at the feeders, among other birds. I had no idea we had that many cardinals around here!

There will be NO more snow in Minnesota this winter,

and our household will take full credit.

We had so much fun with the borrowed snowshoes, we bought some for ourselves. Now, that about guarantees there will be no more snow this winter!

It's our 14th wedding anniversary today, and our snowshoes came just in time. Yes, 14 years; the traditional snowshoe anniversary.

January of 1994 was a record setting cold month. On January 15, the high temp was -9 degrees. The low was -34 degrees. (Paul's friends had always said it would be a cold day in hell when he finally married.)

We discussed many options for honeymooning. I had been going to Sanibel island for many winters. He had been mountain skiing for many winters. After an extensive discussion, we went to Jackson Hole, WY for our honeymoon.

I had only skied in Minnesota. Going to the top of that lift at Jackson, looking down the mountain, I thought I must surely have lost my mind!! "You've got to be kidding - I can't do anything THAT steep!" Paul pushed, prodded and coaxed, and I made it down that hill. Now the only year we haven't mountain skied was the year Girl of the House was born. (She's a December baby.)

So, we're winter people. I haven't been back to Florida since 1993. Paul has NEVER seen the ocean. He'll get there sometime, but I suspect it will be in Washington State, on a summer trip.

Snowshoes are a terrific gift. Just remember who you need to thank for the lack of further snow...