a new day

Already the pundits are at work dissecting--was it a memorable, historical speech? Does Justice Roberts' blunder make any difference? But all I know is that, for the first time in more than 8 years, I can watch our president speak and not cringe. I can listen and feel proud. I can be inspired for the hard work to come. It seems like we've reclaimed some sober, conscious, optimistic, measured, idealistic leadership in the world. Even if this weren't a historic day because of our president's race, it feels like a momentous one of reclaiming the right American values of thrift, hard work, sacrifice, and moral responsibility after so many years of neoconservative parsing of domestic and international law so that we could "legally" do unspeakable things, all behind an unprecedented veil of secrecy. Tomorrow there will be political decisions. Likely there will be moments of failure and compromise and falling short of what we believe is possible. But today, I'm terribly optimistic.

january is for hats

January and I are not friends. This year, however, the fallow stormy post-holiday blah and too much work busy have a side effect: my knitting addiction seems full of possibility, a luxurious use of time when there's no house to sell (2008) or baby to prepare for (2007). Suddenly all I can think about is knitting hats. I have great stash yarn for hats, have scoped a couple of gorgeous hat patterns on ravelry, coveted a friend's hat at my NYE party.

So I've decided to frog this (it isn't happy trying to be this cable scarf, but I think it wants to be a hat):

On another note: Madrona's just a few weeks off! It's my annual preserve-mom's-sanity weekend "away" from home. I can't wait to take classes on Latvian mittens, Yarn Harlot's knitting faster, Sally Melville's knitting essentials, Elsebeth Lavold's Viking cables, etc. Rumor has it there will be some Blue Moon sock yarn as well. Anyone going?

omg, it's actually an FO!

Leaf lace socks
Originally uploaded by on the sticks

And a short knit (for me). Great Evelyn Clark pattern but needed to make it shorter and with a stretchier cast-on and ribbing--wee bit too tight. Love the STR yarn, but I really like this pattern in lighter, solid-color yarns.