Another Snowflake

I would rather have thread snowflakes than real ones. This one is design #64 in Lavori Artistici #11. It's made from this, found in a thrift store, on US0 needles:

Blocked like this, a brilliant technique invented by Pat S.:

And now looks like this, approximately 11 inches in diameter:

How Do You Say "Gorgeous" in Polish?

My friend Dagmara, who lives in Poland, is brilliant, beautiful and very generous. She sent me this wonderful book of Polish needlework. I d0n't need to know a word of Polish to appreciate the beautiful embroidery, crochet, lacework and other needlework in this book. I could, and will, spend hours admiring the beautiful work. If her goal is to persuade me to visit Poland, she's doing a good job of it.

Good Friends

Our friends Michael and Nancy spent the last 16 years sailing around the world. They and their boat returned to Tacoma just in time for rain, snow and ice. Fortunately, their boat is warm and cozy. Nevertheless, a warm hat is always welcome. These hats are made from Lamb's Pride Bulky on US9 needles. Michael and Nancy are the kind of people who will like the hats even more because the yarn came from a thrift store.

It's snowing again, maybe another 2 inches to 3 inches of snow so far. M&N, you're not in the South Pacific any more.

A New Bird

This guy showed up at the suet feeder today. Some kind of warbler, maybe? He's not quite as yellow as the picture might show, but more olive-yellow. If you know what this is, or have a good guess, please leave a comment.

The juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows finches and flickers are regular visitors.

Snow Plus Cold

This is what what we woke up to this morning in the back yard.

And in the front yard:

It never rose above freezing today and is supposed to drop to the teens and '20s tonight, which means that anything that melted slightly today in the sun, such as snow on the roads, will be frozen tomorrow. Looks like the bus or foot power for me. Yes, we are weather wimps.

The snow and cold didn't seem to bother the Northern Flicker that visits the suet feeder.

Snow

This has been one crazy winter in the Northwest. Record-setting rain in November, followed by record-setting wind in December, and now... snow.

Our area is expecting 2 inches to 4 inches of snow tonight; areas farther north are looking at 5+ inches. This is most unusual for the lower elevations around Puget Sound. We don't cope well. We don't drive well. We close schools as soon as the first snowflake hits. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Bits and Pieces

My "big project" is still the Knit One, Crochet Too Paint Box Tandoor vest. With luck and attention, it could be done by Groundhog Day. It would get done more quickly if I were not so easily diverted to other, smaller projects.

I would like to knit mostly from stash this year, which has a lot of diversions. One diversion was some Cascade 220 leftover from something. I started with the Summer Lace Shawlette from Interweave Knits Summer 2006 Sweet Somethings. Although it looks bunched up in the picture, it hangs nicely across the shoulders.

Then I was watching my friend Chris (she's also the new boss, but she was a friend before she became the boss and friend trumps boss any day) sit in her office wrapped in a blanket, freezing, teeth chattering, ice forming. Our office space is not particularly cold to me, but it is to her. So I decided she needed some Fetching mitts from Knitty, with longer tops to reach the first knuckles. I don't think she'll wear them for her upcoming wedding, but they should keep her fingers warm while she works.