Thankya, Thankya; Gift Knitting; Shall We Unleash The Knitters?

The Thanky:

It was a very nice T-day.  We had all the grandparents who usually come but not the best friends, which was too bad.  The turkey was overcooked by moi who did not put the thermometer in until it was way, WAY too late.  I managed to overcook the pecan pie too, and advertised it as "blackened, caramelized pecan pie."  Despite being a wee bit, um, caramelized, it actually was quite edible.  As was the turkey when doused with some pan juices and smothered with gravy.

I was trying to take it easy, cooking-wise (I confess to a certain amount of obsessive behavior about thanksgiving dinner--my standard is no room for the plates on the table and more pies than people).  Somehow, we managed to have more food than could fit on plates despite missing salad and rolls and creamed onions and a couple of spare veggies and the homemade vegetarian nut gravy, etc.)  Maybe I'll dial it down again next year, even if there's no reason to.  Yeah, right.

Four days off in a row was kind of amazing.  We stayed home, unpacked (our closet shelves and hanging bars came Friday), puttered, and played.  Man, I needed that, and the kids did too.  I don't think anyone was trying to play me guilt-wise, but there were a lot of comments about how I wasn't at work and I was able to play and such.  We flew kites and went on expotitions and sat in front of the fireplace and watched the Wizard of Oz.  All good.

Coming back to work was hard, but it's okay.  I sure am looking forward to a week off at the end of the year.

Gift Knitting:

I've been starting the Yule sweater for the last three weeks.  Every year I knit a sweater for the person I draw in our family gift exchange.  It's usually a lopi sweater, but I thought this year's recipient might like something different.  Well, I've now been through two yarns and two patterns, I've swatched and ripped and knitted inches of sweater and yanked out the needles and now I finally think I've got something.  It's the Cabin Fever Top-Down Swing Coat and this thing is a blast to knit and it seems to be coming out vaguely the right size plus I can adjust it as I go, which after having ripped out this many times is the only thing likely to keep me sane.  Pictures when the camera, me, my computer, and a charged battery are all in the same place.  No promises.  Anyway, right now it looks like a big lump.  I'm about halfway through the yoke.  Elizabeth is on hold but might get finished when (if) I get sick of the Swing Coat.  She just needs a sleeve cap, some sewing, and a neckline.  Maybe three night's work, and I could wear her for Solstice.  Hmm.

Unleashing the Knitters:

So there's this guy who's doing a panel at the MLA, and he's checking to see how a meme or, depending on how you look at it, a chain letter, moves through the blogosphere.  We knitters have a rather populous corner of the blogosphere, and one that I think routinely buffaloes those who attempt to study blogs and blogging.  Who are all these knitters and what do they want?  (Wool.)  If blogging is concerned with social change, what the hell are all these people doing talking about yarn? (We'll get back to you when the plans for world domination are available in pdf format.)

Anyway, Jody explains it all in a way that is far more interesting and complete than I have the patience for, but do please play.  All you need to do is mention and link to the project, beg ask others to participate, and then ping technocrati.  Let's show the MLA a little knitting mojo, eh?

Comments

[M. J.]

That swing coat looks fun. I've knit the Cabin Fever top-down kid's cardigan several times. I highly recommend it if you draw a kid's name for next year's holiday knitting. I think they might make an adult-sized pattern as well.

[Carole]

I'll do the Meme and Ping thing for tomorrow. Sounds like a dance, doesn't it? Wheeeee.

[Pea]

I'm delurking again to make a request here. Not good manners, I know, but I can't help it. Vegetarian Nut Gravy? Can I beg for the recipe? I tried for a mushroom gravy this year, but it turned out a disgusting greenish-black color (no idea why) and had a not-quite-right taste. We ended up using the Vegetarian gravy you make from a little packet of powder and it just wasn't good enough for Thanksgiving...
Thanks!

[Martha]

Oh, fine, but only because you asked nicely. Well, that and the fact that I like the idea of showing the world our power. BWAHAHAHAHAH!

[Kathy]

I have that Cabin Fever pattern in my collection -- I can't wait to see a pic! It reminded me of the Einstein coat, only swingier (not a word, I know.) Will do the assignment, as requested :-)

[julia fc]

Great fun! I'll play (even if I am a phD dropout). Thanks, Cate!

[maryse]

i'll give it a go too since i'm a follower.

[Old Knitter]

I'll bet your Thanksgiving dinner was just fine. I think we all tend to be so much more critical of ourselves than others are of us. And....you developed a new pie recipe....good for you... :)

[Lucia]

I have 3 bloglines categories: religion, politics and knitting. I don't have to tell you where 80 percent of my feeds are.

Groundhog Day is my favorite holiday. Yule is my second favorite. (It takes until Groundhog Day for what happens at Yule to become noticeable.)

[Kat with a K]

I've never pinged technorati. Hmm. First time for everything...

[Emma.]

Ping !

xxx

[Jenni]

Long weekends rock like a big rocking thing that rocks, don't they? I'm so glad you were able to enjoy yours! Stress over the holidays looks so much smaller in the rear-view mirror, doesn't it?

[Laurie]

Nice, controlled holiday knitting. Sort of. Your weekend sounds perfect. Psychic baggage lightens. (Not quite a haiku.)

[Kristen]

I'll join in all of the linking and pinging and dancing and such later today - I'm all for blowing the (hopefully knitted) socks off of people who don't (yet) know the power of wool.

My email isn't working right now, but I wanted to warn you that yarn is coming to your house (to me, c/o you). I thought I'd run out of people to send things to (as to avoid the parents knowing how much wool is going to be mushed into my car) but then realized that potential green yarn could be approved by you.

(I owe you.)

[Jody]

I have no idea what Kaufman's finding, Cate, but man oh man, you've sent MY stats through the ROOF.

I didn't need to be schooled in the power of knitbloggers, but WOW.

I think I may have to get the Magic Cabin pattern and knit one myself in homage to your greatness.

Oh, and also because it looks GOOD.