2011 Creative Recap

I'd been wondering if it was in good taste to have a recap, but then I decided that this is for me. I have a hard time remembering what I've been up to, so seeing it all in one place makes me feel like I was productive. This year I've decided to separate the knitting into two categories: my designs and other people's designs. I've knit more than what will be shown, but I didn't take pictures of everything and I'm certain I've accidentally left some knits out.

First off are all my designs. The bottom left corner has four designs that are going into the book.
Row 1: Bear hat, Sheep hat, Fox hat,
Row 2: Giraffe hat, Bear hat, Bear hat
Row 3: Giraffe hat, Fox hat, Lion hat
Row 4: Lion hat, Appalachia, Blue footed boobie hat,
Row 5: Blue footed boobie hat, Sprig, Bear hat (with panda colors)
Row 6: Sprig hat, Free bees, Elven hero
Row 7: Silent snow, Scooter's blanket, The Book designs x4

This year I finished knitting my first ever sweater. I didn't stop there, though. I ended up knitting three adult sweaters and one child's sweater.
Row 1: Fireside sweater, Leyburns, Koolhaas
Row 2: Moose, Emilien sweater, Mitered mittens
Row 3: Mini socks, Gnarled oak cardigan

I also started to read more regularly in July. I finally finished the rest of the Anne of Green Gables series (#4-8), the Bible from cover to cover, Treasure Island, Tom Sawyer, Hans Brinker, Secret Garden, and Black Beauty.

I do have a few things in progress. My Rocky Coast Cardigan, a pair of Boromir socks, another secret design for The Book, and I'm reading 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.

Whew! 

Fernknits

My buddy over at Fernknits is releasing two pattern in the not too distant future. And to celebrate she is offering a quick contest where you can win one of her patterns. So go check it out! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Which will you choose? The Zest Cardigan or the Botanical Doubleknit Caplet? (Does anyone else have the voice from Street Fighters 2 Turbo saying the last few sentences in their head?)

These images belong to Fern. I scrunched them down a bit so they would fit my blog format better. 

Second Blogoversary

This year my blogoversary crept up on me. I've now been posting to this blog for two years! And to help celebrate this milestone, all my patterns will be 50% until the end of today, the 29th (PST). Just type in "bearearsblogoversary" into the coupon code section of the screen when it comes up. And in case you aren't sure where to find them, my patterns are at bear-ears.com.

Even Scooter is excited. 

And in keeping with tradition, I'll be at Green Planet Yarn. I just can't help myself. I always seem to end up there on December 29th.

California's Best Kept Secret

I'm going to tell you all a little secret about California. In the movies you always see people out on the beach in summer. But the best time to go is actually in the winter. 

Unless a storm is actively going through, the weather is gorgeous. And there are no crowds. None. A beach during the summer is a nightmare. It's boiling hot, no parking spots, and a bajillion people competing over patches of sand.

Scooter, Mum, and I went yesterday. I love taking Scooter to the beach. He loves the beach. When we drive up near the eucalyptus groves that edge the area, he starts making loud sniffing sounds. He knows where we are.

He makes loud whining noises. And as soon as we park, he paws at the door of his crate. It doesn't matter how fast you open that door. You are too slow.

A quick note about this picture. I'm overdressed. I would have been comfortable without the hat and sweater, but I was too lazy to walk back to the car.

Holiday Cheer

Christmas went well. We usually have a Christmas Eve dinner and go to a movie on Christmas. (This year we saw Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.) There isn't much done in the way of present or a tree. So I was quite surprised that my brother got me something. He never gets me a present. It was even a thoughtful gift! We'd been watching Venture Bros together and I mentioned that I didn't have the season 4.1 or 4.2 DVDs. He secretly went out and got them, wrapped them, AND labeled them. And while I deeply appreciate all the effort, there is one little thing that confused me. He spelled my name wrong. He said it was because he knows my name is spelled "the weird way" but the normal way looks weird to him, so he spelled it with an E. My personal theory as to why he didn't spell my name right is because he's never actually ever had to spell my name. The gift still made me feel special, though.

Mum has taken to decorating one of the house plants in lieu of a tree. I put Scooter's gift under it.

And he loves it. Or at least he can't tell me otherwise. I've been putting it on him every time he lays down so he might develop a bond with the blanket or something. He doesn't seem opposed to being tucked in at least.

Mum gives us all stockings. This year a donkey was donated to Heifer International on behalf of me. I put some mini knitted socks that she requested into her stocking this year.

I hope everyone has had a lovely holiday season. Does anyone else have any holiday traditions?

Turtle Rock

For the last two evenings I've gone up to Turtle Rock in the Santa Cruz mountains. Turtle rock is an Ohlone sacred site and it is said that when the sun set through the notched rock and hit the turtle's back, the back cracked open which set the souls of people and animals free.

It is only around the winter solstice that the sun even sets between the notch in the rock. And as the sun goes through the notch, it hits Turtle Rock.

 It is only at sunset that the light hits the base of Turtle rock.

My brother was a pretty good sport and went up with me on the 21st. Before we left I asked him if he wanted to borrow a hat or mittens. He said no. But once we got there he decided that he was cold. I had been wearing that hat, but he plucked it off of my head as I took pictures. I think I'll just bring an extra hat next time.

There was a group of people up at the rock and I overheard that if you spread your fingers a finger's width apart and line up your pinky with the horizon, each finger's width represents 5 minutes. It's true. I tried it out and within five minutes of my measurement, the sun had set.

My Mum went up with me on the 22nd. I spent just as much time taking pictures as we watched the sunset. It's simply magical up there.

Burnout

Moments ago I published a rather whiney blog post about feeling a little burnt out on knitting. After laying on my bed for a few minutes moping, I realized that it is pretty cool that there are people who would like me to knit for them. One of those knitted items is the Boromir sock test knit I did for my co-worker. It is a beautiful socks and the sizing is accurate. Unfortunately my foot is a bit long, so I need to rip a bit out so I can add an extra repeat of the pattern. I didn't realize that the toe was a little short for me until I was nearly done, so I thought I'd just finish the sock up for the test.

Boromir Sock

I have decided to let this sock sit for a little while before I rip. And hopefully I'll stop being mopey soon. There's a been some stressors in my life and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've fallen to pieces. But after getting a wonderful e-mail from kiwipurler, I'm feeling a lot better. And hopefully everything that's been stressing me out gets straightened out soon. (Or at least stops making me cry. This puffy eye thing is getting a little old.)