Emptyknitster

We arrived in Iceland at 9am in the dark and remained in the dark until dawn which was around 10:30am. Even though we couldn't check into our apartment until 3pm, I was all for finding our new home away from home and then heading out for new territory. Hubby, however,  just wanted to head directly out from the airport on our first adventure. Where? Just go! After some false starts we were able to get on the same wave length and head in the direction of a pretty cool area of Iceland. Pingvillar National Park is where the Vikings established the first democratic parliament in 900AD.  Sessions were held at this location until 1798. Pingvellir (Parliament Fields) is where small individual chieftains would make decisions affecting all of Iceland. The breaking down of law and order led to Iceland being ruled by Norway in 1798 until Iceland regained it's power in 1843. The park lies in a valley that marks the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. ...

Hubby and I had a seven hour layover at JFK before the final leg of our flight to Rekjavik. I spent hours knitting, listening to podcasts and walking. I'm always on the look out for fellow knitters when we travel but I was surprised when I caught sight of a spinner! I asked her if she was a knitter and she responded that she was really was a spinner who had been told to knit so she could experience the flaws of her yarn but her true interest was spinning. I said I'd decided I was a knitter who hated to take time away from that hobby to spin yarn. Martha gave me several pieces of good advice about spinning on my Louet which I've vowed to try. We spent the next half hour visiting as though we were old friends and parted with each others email addresses.

For years Hubby has been resistant to any knitting for him. In the past I had knit a few things for him including a sweater I made many years ago which won second place in the county fair (I was young and chose to enter the sweater without weaving in all the ends. Go figure, I didn't think the judges would look at the wrong side of the sweater! The day I picked up the sweater I wove them in.) However, with the trip to Iceland looming in the near future he began to think about how the entire family enjoys their wool socks and are always happy to receive more.  He now has three pairs to pack in the suitcase and is a hand knit wool sock convert! Pattern: Vanilla Socks with a Fishlips Kiss Heel Yarn: Opal Der Albschaferweg Colorway: 9417 Hirtenhorn Needle Size: US Size 1

Adult Sweaters: 2 Socks: 27 pairs Afghan: 1 Baby Sweaters: 3 Toys: 2 Hats: 21 Cowls: 1 Shawls: 2 Mittens: 8 Grand Total of knitting in 2018: 67 items Favorite item: (I love using all my scrap yarn!) Favorite photo prop for knitted item: (Marta was happy to knit for a bit with me!) New skill learned this year: (Norwegian Mittens and Kimmie gets the award for most appreciative recipient of a knitted item for 2018,) Craziest thing knit this year: (Really not too crazy but am I crazy to make something that may not ever be used?)

I love this time of year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, snowy afternoons, but mostly the family. When they arrive we enjoy just being together. Usually we don't do anything out of the ordinary, games, puzzles, shopping, baking, planning and cooking meals. This year we added an escape room to the mix and had the best time even though we m-a-y-b-e got half way through. Good times... No sledding this year. The visiting family didn't bring cold weather clothes. When the family arrived it was fifty degrees out but the weather turned and there was snow the next day. Saved Grandpa manicuring the slope! The kiddos spent some time working on a surprise,  Everyone put at least a piece or two into the puzzle,  Christmas Eve arrived and a few select packages were opened,  And the kiddos were nestled all snug somewhere in the house....  if not in their beds! Before we knew it, the secret project was done... the puzzle put together... and it was time to re...

Although I have other knitting I want to complete before our winter trip, I've been knitting socks this Christmas break. There is nothing like a vanilla pair of socks to keep the hands busy while enjoying visiting with family. Pattern: Fish Lip Kiss Heel Socks by Sox Therapist Yarn: Regia Pairfect Colorway: Island Color Needle Size: US Size 1     Pattern: Fish Lip Kiss Heel Socks by Sox Therapist Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks Ragg Shade Colorway: Grey Brown Red Mari Needle Size: US Size 1

  The temperature was fifty degrees yesterday and today, Christmas Eve, SNOW! Welcome to Montana! The Julevotter mittens were finished just in time! I enjoyed participating in the December Mitten Knit Along and hope it is a yearly event! Pattern: Fabulous/Fabelatig by Wenche Roald (MKAL #Julevotten 2018) Yarn: Finulgarn Colorway: Medium Grey Heather  404 and Burgundy 444 Needle Size: US Size 4