Not a pretty sight

That's how my front porch looked when I got home Saturday; depressingly devoid of packages. I'm beginning to doubt the fates want me to have that grain mill after all.

At least I was able to work on my ILG sock at work Saturday. I finished the leg; now I just have to find my notes on what I did to center the pattern before starting the heel. I take some small comfort in the fact that it won't be long now before I can wear these lovely socks.

I also started another pair of socks for CIC in one of my favorite colors. There's nothing like wool in pretty colors to cheer one up after a disappointment!

Worth the wait?

A couple of years ago, I bought a cheap grain mill, since I like freshly ground whole grain flour. I did a little research and bought one that most users liked. The first time I used it, it worked great. The second time, it seized up and I couldn't make that handle turn for nothing. The b/f examined it and said things like "out of round" and "metal galling". I didn't want to try to return it to the manufacturer (in Romania), so the b/f fixed it and it worked again, but it's harder to use than it should be.

Ever since, I have been dreaming of a good grain mill. I researched and read forums and reviews and descriptions of parts and designs. The fates seemed to be in my favor when I received my year-end bonus just after I discovered the mill I wanted was on sale. So, on Dec. 7, I ordered the Retsel Uni-Ark Special.

Since then I have been waiting. Yes, that's right, it's been eight weeks, and I'm still waiting. I started out being very patient, accumulating recipes I wanted to try, checking out local sources for whole grains (it's very hard to buy corn these days; perhaps it's all going into our fuel tanks?). But for the last three or four weeks, I have been increasingly antsy. I was about to just cancel the @#$%! order when, finally, they notified me it had been shipped. My mill was handed over to the P.O. on Wednesday, Jan. 23. Since it is coming Priority Mail, it should arrive today. There was a possibility it would be waiting on my porch when I got home Friday, but no such luck. Which is just as well, since I'm working today, and it would have been very hard to leave it behind after such prolonged anticipation.

So, I'm watching the clock hands crawl around the dial, bouncing in my seat hoping-hoping-hoping when I get home I'll have a new toy to play with quality tool for creating healthful foods. If it's not there, I'll probably just throw a tantrum.

I'm going to hide out until I know it's safe;
she's really getting way too excited about this.

More better

This cold is hanging on something fierce, but I am feeling a little better. I did manage to command enough brain power to graft the toe on the socks for CIC:

Lion Wool, Ocean Blues colorway, my usual toddler sock pattern. These make pair #4 in my personal Magic28 challenge to make 28 pair for charity. Luckily, I've set no deadline for myself!

I was going to pick up my Weekend Sweater and join up all the pieces, but as best as I can tell, I need a longer circular needle. I thought I bought a longer one, but I can't find it. It's about 50/50 which is faulty; my memory or my ability to find it. So, I'm ordering another needle; as soon as it gets here, I plan to really focus on finishing that sweater. It's cold, dammit, and I need more wool!

Speaking of cold, it's supposed to be brutally cold here today; temps are supposed to drop down to 8 freakin' degrees. I have become a total wimp when it comes to cold weather; I used to be OK as long as it stayed above 0. Now, I start kvetching when it gets below freezing. Anyway, my plans today involve staying inside, resting (to chase away this lousy cold), maybe watching a movie. If I get really ambitious, I might bake a little. Carbohydrates are very good for a cold.

Make room for me, kids; I'm joining you.

The perfect yarn

I am very slowly getting over the cold I got hit with last weekend. That's my excuse for sticking with super-simple knitting and ignoring the Weekend Sweater and the ILG socks.

I finished the socks for CIC, except for grafting one toe:

I made a washcloth (Chinese Waves), although it turned out smaller than I had planned (only about 7.5 inches square):

And I started another pair of mindless socks, since I finished the Wildfoote socks on New Year's Eve:

I'm using Lang Jawoll in a lovely cobalt and black marl. When I was looking through the stash, I was thinking how much I wished I had something like this in a sock yarn. And, lo and behold, there it was! I think I scored it on eBay sometime back. I think it's lovely when your stash gets big enough that you forget what's in there. Then you find nice surprises like this one.

"Oh Lord, she's come up with a justification for letting her stash grow beyond reckoning."

Bad timing

Today is unseasonably warm, and I would love to do some work in the garden. I had planned to spread compost in the vegetable beds, then cover them up with cardboard so they would be ready for planting come spring. The cardboard keeps the soil moist and holds in the warmth, promoting worm activity while supressing weeds. Come spring, I just have to remove the cardboard and start planting.

Unfortunately, I am laid low with a sinus infection, and don't feel like doing anything but lying on the couch breathing through my mouth (such an attractive picture, isn't it?). If I feel energetic, I may work on this a bit:

Socks for CIC, in my usual pattern, with Lion Wool, Ocean Blues colorway. Yes, these are the ones I started earlier, trying to adapt the Little Sky booties pattern. Just didn't like it, so I frogged and started over. I've knit this pattern so many times that I hardly have to think about it. Hardly thinking is about as much as I can handle today.

This warm weather is supposed to last a couple more days, which I figure is about how long I expect to feel crummy. Is pessimism a symptom of a sinus infection?

Hilfy's happy

Hilfy likes it when we receive packages in the mail. Especially if they contain crinkly paper.