Not your normal end of the year post.

  Normally this time of the year is when I run around my house and look for all the things that need only a few minutes to finish them, and then get them done.  Since I have started a "bonus" job, I don't have as much time.  You will see that there one though.

  I will take advantage that this is the last day that anyone can use this joke.  There are quite a few pictures with this joke on them, but I liked the glasses in this one a lot.

  This only needed 10 stitches bound off and one end woven in.  Mr. Jag is over there asking me why it took me so long to finish it.
  He is feeling a lot better from his skin infections.  The bacterial one was super easy to deal with.  He has gone through two rounds of the anti-fungal so far and the vet thinks he will need the other two as well.
  I had hoped that the knit-a-long would end before the year ended, but my mom had some Christmas knitting, Cathy and Andrea only cast on, and I didn't want to get too far ahead.  That's fine, I'm not upset about it.  We will get them all done in time.
  Now to go get ready for one going away party and one super-close friends party.  I hope everyone gets to spend the end of one year and beginning of the new one with those they want to.

Another kind of virtual cat.

  Lots of people love games with virtual animals in them.  You can play with them but don't have to worry about allergens, or vet bills.  This website combines the fun of playing with cats on your computer with real cats.  iPet Companion has put camera in the kitty rooms of some shelters and lets you play with them digitally.  You get two minutes to move three toys in the room.  It can be tons of fun, and if you choose a shelter near you, you might find a kitty that you could even go and adopt and keep for yourself.

  I have been mentioning starting some fingerless mitts since I finished the socks.  I still have not started them, but I have been working on my Spectra.  I am getting closer to the reds and yellows.
  This is the yarn I am thinking of using on the ribbed sections of the mitts once I start them.  Kris from Monday night was going to make a hat, but she wasn't feeling it in this yarn. 

  Juniper Moon Farm is hosting a fundraiser by selling the wooden cut-out animals on her Etsy shop (linked below). A portion from each sale of the wooden animals is being donated to Heifer International.
  Allison from Monday night got a bunch of us some of those little bunnies and sheep. This one isn't mine, but I did get one just like it.  Juniper Moon Farms suggested using some scrap yarn to make sweaters for the alpacha, sheep, bunnies, and goats.  Susan Anderson had another idea and posted a tiny flock of sweaters for good.  They are all so cute!  The one pictured above is not one of those, but something that was made-up on the fly.

  I'm off to go finish wrapping presents.  I hope everyone has a super awesome holiday season!

Radio silence.

Sorry for the unexpected silence.  I have been feeling kind of crummy since before Thanksgiving, but it really hit me hard.  I have been sitting on the couch and drinking a lot of tea and orange juice.

  I had not heard back before Monday, so I cast on.  I was going to post about it, but then I got a fever and spent a lot of time on the couch.

  I went to dinner with my mom when I was feeling better and here is the beginning of my jacket with a Red Lobster biscuit.  Since then I have gotten past the decreases and have started the increasing.  My mom is also working on Christmas presents, so I might start those fingerless mitts so I won't get too far ahead of her.  Not that I don't have two scarves on the needles that could use some love or anything.

  Though I haven't been doing as much for my make-up bags, I saw this post on FaceBook and thought about it.  That was really cool what Dollar Shave Club did.

Finished the socks in time!

 

  I did it!  The socks were done with two days to spare.  Though I started late, my HiyaHiya Flower Lace Socks Oct/Nov KAL is done.  I have some plans on using the lace pattern to make some fingerless mitts, but those will probably have to wait until after I finish the Baby Surprise knit-a-long.

  One of the other people from my Monday knit-nights has a group of knitters in her neighborhood who also want to knit a Baby Surprise jacket.  I asked her if they have a start date yet and have not heard back.  If I don't hear back by Monday I plan on starting.  So unless you hear anything different from me, plan on casting on around Monday.  Some of us do refer to it as Cast-on Monday in my area.

  Carola is at it again.  The group had been given a few finished duck heads.  Most of the people seemed confused, but I figured it was for crochet taxidermy.  Andrea had never heard of it before, but now loves the idea.

  Since I'm waiting to hear back about the start date I decided to work on my 10-stitch blanket some more.  Ravelry doesn't have an option to put that you are working with US size 18 needles.  They have US 17 and US 19, but no US 18.  Here is my proof that I really am working with some.

  This is the 10-stitch blanket my mom finished.  The little squares that the yarn made are really cool.  It has already been passed on to Renae's son, so he will be getting a blanket made out of the yarn that was intended for that.