December...and the Livin' is Easy

Friday night the weather peoples said we (the folks 0f Northern Utah) would not see as much snow (if any) as would the good citizens of the Central and Southern region.  It was cold, with only spits of rain, but it felt like soup weather and the craving for a good minestrone soup lead me to this recipe.   The addition of a few flavors, such as cooked prosciutto (about six slices), several Italian spices, and more veggies (green beans and zucchini) made it the best soup ever (at least Smith and I thought so).

Anyway...back to the weather (of which I am an obsessive watcher), by 6:00am Saturday we had a surprise of 2" and by 2:00pm, when it stopped snowing, we had 10+"!  It created the most beautiful black and white landscape, which felt like a living Ansel Adams photograph (not that my photos can compare in anyway to his).

Sunday the sun came out to play and the landscape changed to living Technicolor! If trees can't wear green, they should wear white, ch?  Days like this make it easy to live with winter.  More snow is expected later in the week...we might be onto something!

We all have a need to stay warm this time of year, so have you seen Kate's new mitten patterns?  Wintergreen is very cool, but I'm crazy over the Bird in the Hand...must, must knit it. The intrepid knitter doesn't let a snow storm get in the way of yarn shopping…and no, there was nothing in the stash I could use.  This is Cascade 220 in the color of the sky and I can't wait to start. Look Vicki! I'll Knitting Like a Latvian! 

December is a good for taking it easy.  I may not post 5 days a week because there are so many things going on; a crazy work schedule, parties, gatherings, Norma, KimG and Marcia are coming to visit, which could mean less time to write and/or take pictures. We'll just see how it goes.

I'm taking the knittin' easy, too.  No sweaters, no big projects, just mitts, gloves, mittens and Logan (which is about one third of the way along). Can you tell I'm all about keeping warm?  (Oh, and maybe some lace because snow that dresses the bones of trees just looks like lace, no?) The goal is to slide through December with a (mentally) healthy attitude and a renewed spirit...2008 must start off on the right foot. 

Please allow me to introduce AnneB who lived in SLC, and was an SnB grrl, until a couple of months ago.  She's moved back to Canada (where she's from) and has started a blog. She's funny, interesting and a great knitter.  It's going to be fun to keep up you, Anne!

Comments

[Manise]

I too think of lace when I see newly fallen snow on trees. Beautiful photos! What happened to good ole Kelly the cardigan?

[susan]

I'm so happy Anne is blogging. I miss her.

[Kim D.]

Now, that soup looks like an excellent idea for dinner tonight. We had snow all day Saturday and are expecting more today, so that recipe will be perfect.

Don't you find that this weather makes you so happy to just sit by the fire and knit.

[norma]

I bought Kate's new mitten pattern yesterday too. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Love the snow! So glad I will be coming to a white Utah.

[Anne]

A friend called yesterday (from Idaho) and since she just bought a new horse she is really anxious to ride, we both figure we are now due for a ton of snow. Isn't that always the way? :)

I'm glad for every flake we got.

[Vicki]

I've had the hankering for Latvian again lately -- must have something to do with winter and snow, shoveling and cold hands! I'm not sure Kate Gilbert has written a pattern that I haven't loved -- darn her!

[ruth]

Oh, the mountains! We had snow here in NJ, but just about 1/2 inch. Made the world look might pretty, though.

[Wool Winder]

Finally, snow! December is a crazy, busy month. I'm always glad when January gets here so I can rest. I'm also going to try to get through it with a healthy attitude, but it's going to take some effort.

[Anne B.]

Thanks for the shout out Margene!

I've enjoyed reading your blog over the years, its a special glimpse into a person's life. Thanks for sharing!
Anne
(Its -18 oC, but -30 oC with the windchill here today)

[Heather Joins The Round]

The snow's pretty, but you have a better attitude about it than I do! I must admit to a little crankiness about it.

[Heather Joins The Round]

Those are the cutest mittens!

[Karen]

The mittens are beautiful, I may have to knit a pair too.

[Theresa]

That's it - I'm moving to Utah. There's a big Navy presence there, right? :) Love the snow. And I'm with you on the Bird in Hand mittens. Just gorgeous.

[claudia]

I'm with you on the bird in the hand mittens.

[Birdsong]

I am so envious of your snow! The storm dumped on Reno, over the 'hill' rather than our side, which is unusual, and I am NOT happy to hear talk of a La Nina winter here. I love the mitten link, though, and may have to try those with some of my handspun. I love your December goals and look forward to seeing your Logan - starting mine is a December goal for me:)

[Cheryl S.]

The snow was just spectacular Sunday morning! I wish I'd had my camera with me.

[Carol]

I love anything Kate Gilbert designs. I may have to move farther north to accommodate knitting her stuff! Your photos are gorgeous, I miss the first snow and the hush and beauty it creates. Not that I'm an English scholar or anything, it's going to be fun to WHAT with Anne? I don't skim;)

[Kathleen]

I love that mitten. So pretty. Unfortunately, my mitten knitten bitch doesn't do worsted weight mittens. Will I have to add it to my own list to do??

[Chris]

Wow, over 10" of snow? Did you make a lot of happy snow angels? :)

[Rachel]

Snow, soup, little beautiful knits, what else does a girl need? Have fun in your December, your plan makes much sense to me.

[elizabeth]

Pretty mittens! You could win a lot of snowball fights with those.

[Zarah]

What gorgeous snow! And, as always, you continue to inspire me to keep a level head during the holidays and all the craziness of life in general.

[Carole]

I love the Bird in Hand mitten, too, but I need to practice with something simpler first, I think. So I started a pair from Folk Mittens this morning. My tension is kind of funky but I'm hoping it will get better with practice. Any advice?

[Wanda]

10", you guys got the motherlode of snow. It looks beautiful from your pictures too. We had sun Saturday and Sunday and 60 degree temps, if you can imagine this past weekend.

I feel like taking it easy for December too, but I also want to kick out a couple of projects at least. And you were so right, I worked on Ariann for the rest of November and it's finished, sans blocking and buttons. But that baby has been put to rest!

[Beth S.]

I love that last picture! It's just too cool. We had lovely frosted trees very briefly, but now it's just rainy and slushy and thoroughly disgusting out.

BitH is lovely, but Wintergreen is the one calling my name. How does Kate do it?!

[Grace]

I just purchased Kate's pattern, too! But I have not yet done stranded knitting and am taking a class to get some tips. DPN's? Circulars? Plus I am a thrower and am not that good at the continental style of knitting so I have no idea how to start, but Kate's mitten makes me want to try something new. I've got the lace and cable part down, but I love fair isle and am itching to do a bohus sweater!

I love your pictures of Utah-so pretty! Chicago is not so pretty but we got the cold sleety/snowy weather and I made a pot of Chicken soup.

[Tonia]

Such pretty photos of the snow. I am so jealous. They are saying that we are supposed to be getting some this week, but I won't hold my breath.

I love the Bird in the Hand mittens too. Sadly I don't like to wear mittens. *sigh* I am so going to have to get over that.

[Cayenne]

I love those "Bird in the Hand" mittens too. Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

[Margaret]

Gorgeous landscape! Thanks for the links to the mittens, they look like fun. Small projects really are just the thing for this time of year!

[Danielle]

I have the Bird in Hand pattern and yarn. As soon as I finish a holiday gift or two, I'll be casting on!

[Kelly]

10" my goodness! It looks like a winter wonderland! We had an ice storm today so everything looks all pretty and shiny. Those mitts are gorgeous and will be so great in those colors!

[Opal]

Oooh! Thanks for the heads up on Kate's new patterns! They're gorgeous.

I also just love the pictures of snow on the trees. I don't get to experience any of that, so I live for the vicarious thrill of photos.

[Sharon]

I love living in the Inter-mountain West and I can see you do too. You gotta live where its right. I grew up in San Diego and by the time I was nine, I knew I was living in the wrong place for me.

[Julia]

Ah, I love this winter post! I have similar goals for December...slide through, postivie attitude, knit things that reflect the season, etc. =) I'm also juggling a new busy work schedule which should add a little challenge to this! It will be somewhat fun, though: I'm taking over a third grade class for 2-3 weeks while their teacher has surgery.

Thanks for sharing your winter photos! I wish we had scenery like that here in Stockton, Ca.

[Ruth]

Hooray for snow! We got over 40 cm (16 in) last night - and then a day of freezing rain on top of that. Not so thrilled with the rain, but there's still loads of snow on the hill.

[Julie]

The best day - lots and lots of snow, great soup (there is nothing better) and knitting by the fire - bliss. Alas all we got was a ton of wind and rain! Lucky You!

[debbie]

the bird in hand mitten is beautiful and cute! thanks for the link to soup - believe it or not, we've been having soup weather here in hawaii too....

[Teyani]

what glorious photos of the snow.
we had about 2 inches here (now it's all gone :( )
I hope that more is one the way for all of us :-)

[julia fc]

Lace indeed. Dances with Wool Lena is all about lace in the winter, and frankly, my favorite ko this time of year is my mohair Wing of the Moth: so cozy on chilly mornings. The mittens? Most excellent.

[Laurie]

It's beginning to look a lot like ski times! I LOVE that last lacy tree picture, and YES, good inspiration.

[Kim]

Beeautiful snow, but it sure makes me glad I'm flying, and not driving! :)