Cooler Weather is Blowing In, But First...

So there's Hard Mountain Dew now?

 Advent puzzles were mentioned in the last set of comments.  There are some nice ones out there.  Some build to a large puzzle, others are individual small ones.

My collage (kitchen) table is being cleaned off as I am in the mood to do puzzles myself.

Am I the only one who's sick of "Wicked"?  And it hasn't even come out.

The other day, I looked up at a jet flying over, and instead of thinking "That's a plane" like usual, I realized that that was something with dozens of people in it.  Why that had never struck me before, who can say.  But there are people in those things, reading, adjusting their headphones, hoping there's Dr Pepper on the drink cart. . .  Oops, that's maybe just me.

Went to Barnes & Noble after therapy today.  Are your bookstores really light on knitting books all of a sudden? Crochet seems to be taking over the shelf space.  

Cross-stitching creeps in this petty pace from day to day until the last x has been crossed in time.

Holiday Fun

You know I like an advent calendar.  Look what got here today:

 

Notice the "in a matchbox."  Here's why:

 5 1/2 inches wide,

3 and maybe 1/4 inches wide.

Now, consider that there are 24 patterns, and fabric and floss for them in this box.  I am going to be a brave girl, though, and not open it until December 1st.  You will see when I see.

Bravery Takes Many Forms

My "marathon piece," as it shall now be known, is on 18-count fabric.  I think that's as high a count as I've ever worked with.  22 seems ridiculous to me, but kudos to those who take it on.

Working Toward Something

 This is the piece I wrote about the other day:

You can see that it's going to be a nightmare.

Honestly, though, my aim is to get some stitches in each day.  It will take forever to finish at that rate, but maybe it will keep my concentration high and my frustration low.

My ankle is still in good shape.  Fingers crossed.  One thing I cannot do yet is go down stairs "normally."  That flexibility without pain isn't there yet.  If that's the biggest issue, though, I can certainly deal with it.

Break Out the Thesaurus

Okay, ankle news.   Wednesday night, I was frantic.  The swelling hadn't gone down, the coloring looked worse, the pain was no better.  I was going back to the doctor Thursday.

Except when I woke up yesterday, the swelling was way, way down.  I could walk pretty well.  The coloring was better.  My last doses of doxycycline were for today, so I took a deep breath and decided to wait one more day.  And this morning, my two ankles looked very much the same!  There's still some discoloration, but that, I've learned, can last even after all the other symptoms are gone.  SO, one doxycycline left, and we'll see where things go.

Big game here tomorrow.  Lots and lots of traffic outside.  Time to hunker down.  Not this

but this

Hope your weekend is comfy and cozy, too!

I May Even Get to Wear a Hat!

Have you noticed that sometimes when people say,  "On 'three,'" they actually do it on what would be "four?"

I'm down to my last Creamy Coconut Dr Pepper, and I am guarding it with (practically) my life.  Why, oh why, do they have to be in such short supply?

I have started a cross-stitch piece that will not be any fun, but will be beautiful if I can get through it.

And, yes, in answer to my gripe the other day, it is kind of chilly tonight.  My little wren friend drives the point home.

Granted, (s)he usually takes up residence at the other end of the porch, but (s)he is a lovely, welcome sight.

Friends and Warmth

Well, I found a pattern for my "Oregon" yarn.

It's "I Just Want to Knit," from my friend Kelli Slack.  It's a pattern even I could memorize, and it's coming along.  Yes, there are eyelets at the bottom;  I just didn't pull down far enough.

The heat has been turned on for a protracted period today.  Was the Universe reading my post from yesterday?