So THAT'S Why! - Google Changes Something Else

Over the past few weeks I've noticed my followers dropping. Now that just includes my GFC followers, as I don't really know who follows in various feeds that don't get counted by Google--I don't think I'm savvy enough to figure that number out. I'm used to a follower or two here and there deciding they don't want to read my drivel anymore--fair enough. But a drop of about fifty in the past month left me thinking "What did I say?" I know my blogging has been sporadic and sparse (something I want to rectify), but I didn't think it was bad enough to lose so many followers, either.

I'd still be in the metaphorical dark if I hadn't read a post this morning by Daryl at Patchouli Moon Studio. I'm not the best at keeping up with Blogger 'news' and I know that if Google were to email each blogger individually they'd crash their own server as the number is immense, so I'm grateful that others have a watchful eye on things.

Anyway, Google has made some changes to their GFC (Google Friend Connect) service. Previously, emails-other-than-gmail were able to follow via GFC. And THAT's what changed. If you don't have a Google account and previously followed via GFC you'll need to sign up for one and RE-follow my blog. This irks the business out of me, because it forces people to have another email account, just to read blogs as they have done with no trouble for years and years. Not cool, Google. I fear those who have been dropped due to this change may not see this post, and therefore might not be aware of these changes.

This also brings up something else--I believe it has affected blog comments. I used to get an email every time someone left a comment. This made it very easy to respond in a timely fashion. That doesn't happen anymore unless commenters have a google account. I have to remember to go to my blog post and check the comments there. This makes me feel quite rude in my lack of response as I have to develop the habit to go to each post and check for comments, something I've never had to do before.

So, to sum up, if you want to follow via Google and don't have an account there, you'll need to sign up for one and re-follow. Alternatively, in my sidebar I have a 'follow by email' button that might suit you better. Of course, if you use a separate reader service (like Feedly or Bloglovin') then you don't need to do anything. And apologies on my part if any of you think I ignore your comments--I didn't realize until recently that I simply wasn't seeing them.

Hopefully this picture of Charlie staring at me while I eat a cookie-that-I-didn't-share will convince you to still be my friend.

Old Man Winter Doesn't Like to Be Called Old (it makes him angry)

I'm not sure how widespread the weather coverage was over the weekend, but you may (or may not?) know that a blizzard came to visit over the weekend. My personal feeling is that they played pretty fast and loose with the term blizzard (Laura Ingalls Wilder was laughing from the beyond, I'm sure, as to what we modern-day folks call a blizzard), but that's not to say there wasn't a lot of snow (22 inches in Philadelphia) and that it wasn't windy. There was, and it was, but I didn't find it to be so much worse than any other storm we've had recently (and we've had several). ANYway, it snowed a lot on Saturday. And I had a perfectly good snow day--I drank lots of tea, I knitted, I took a class on Craftsy and started another on Creativebug (I'll share more soon, I promise).

This year, or I guess last, we made an executive decision to buy my dad a collective Christmas present of a snow blower. He has balked for years, but let's be realistic--nobody wants to know that person that keeled over while shoveling or be involved in that situation. And although the general attitude was "Yeah, it saves some work" he was secretly overjoyed to have it. When you have a lot of property to dig out, even with help it's a major chore. I almost ran to Home Depot to get another one, haha.



We thought we bought the biggest model we'd ever need, but it seemed really small amidst all that snow. However, he was determined to get almost every flake. My sister, my mother, and I were all standing there with shovels ready to help, but he got angry if we tried to dig as he was hell-bent on getting the most out of his new toy. So my sister went to help a neighbor, and then I went to help, too, so I could feel useful. I was counting on shoveling being a nice chunk of exercise this weekend, but I guess not (not really complaining, though).

The dog was a bit confused. Some of the yard was bare to the grass due to the blowing and drifting, and other sections were so deep he needed a boost. He was happy to go back inside where all surfaces are stable and warm.

The snow had that deceiving crust that felt firm, and then after about two seconds you'd sink straight down to your knees. Impossible to look elegant (not that I'm exactly known for that).

I bought those boots at Target a few years ago for twenty dollars. And they're awesome. I love them. They're warm, and ridiculously comfortable. A few years ago we got snow (in varying amounts) almost every day. I practically lived in these, and felt sad when I had to put on real shoes.

The sky was such a brilliant shade of blue, and the sun so warm, it was hard to believe snow had fallen for twenty-four hours (although I'm quite sure the plow operators could believe it--some of them probably just went to bed this morning).

It always amazes me that people are always saying "I can't believe this!" And I just think "You live in Philadelphia, and it's January. It snows." But maybe I'm biased. I'll take snowy days any time over those hundred degree heat waves we're prone to on the flip side of the solstice coin.

Januarying

Januarying. It's not a word but it should be. How else do you describe what you do the month after Christmas, when the bustle dies down, the decorations are stored away, and people are back to their grumbly selves and good will to man (or woman) be damned for another eleven months?

Some people wish it was spring already, but I love winter. The weather finally turned cold, but some recent snow just missed us by thiiiiiiiiis much. Curses. It's the month of pottering about, keeping warm, drinking copious amounts of hot beverages, and using the indoor time (if you're me, anyway) to snuggle up and knit (or just to snuggle up, wink-wink).

I know people dislike the early darkness, but I love it, and I feel it quite noticeably creeps away not so long after the solstice. Just before Christmas, leaving work, the sky was back. Tonight, leaving work, those lovely colors of winter sunsets started to make their appearance. I will always and forever stop and gaze skyward when those pink clouds are out and about.

See that weeeeeeee bit of the moon? By the time I made it home, it was truly dark. I ran inside for my camera, and directed it towards that smiley little sliver trying to warm up an icy night sky (if I wasn't a city dweller I'd have tried for the stars as well, because they were out in full force).

I mean....don't you just love the moon? Do you wish on the full moon? I do. I honestly think it works. I'm a finger crosser, and a first-star-I-see-tonight sort of wisher (that's all kind of a secret, so hush-hush if you don't mind), but the moon seems to work best.

It's been a quiet couple of weeks around here. I had intentions for sock-making, but didn't like the feel of the yarn for socks, so I've decided to make a hat. After miles of stitches I've almost got the brim finished (it looks small but it's streeeeeeetchy):

I'm using Knit Picks Hawthorn yarn in Arbor Lodge, and I'm quite interested in how that pink zig-zag is going to turn out. The pattern is Sockhead, and can be found on Ravelry. It's very easy, but I'd suggest binge-watching something as you go as sock yarn is skinny and the needles are small, and it's an adult-sized hat.

Of course I was almost at the easy peasy stockinette section when I remembered someone asked me for a dozen dishcloths, so I hauled out the cotton stash and will be working on those.

And finally, I was having a rough few days last week. One of my best friends (whom I also happen to work with) dropped a present off at my desk because she knows that little things make me happy.

Ain't it grand when people just...know you?

Slouchy Cap, Fingerless Mitts, and a Wee Pattern

I had so many things I wanted to get done during my week off from work. And I didn't really do any of them. I decided I absolutely without-a-doubt I had to knit up one last project, which led to one other project and a game of yarn chicken from which I just barely emerged the victor. But you know what? I can do all that other stuff on any other day. Holidays are made for whatever you want. And I wanted to knit.

The yarn is Chroma by Knit Picks, worsted weight, in the Vermont colorway. I had received this ball of yarn free with a purchase of such-and-such-a-total that I don't remember. It seemed like it had a kind of loose twist, so I didn't jump to knit with it. But let me tell you, this stuff is gorgeous. I did a very light steam block, but it barely needed it. 

The colors are a little more muted in real life as these are evening photos in not-great lighting, but they're not far off. I found the pattern (free!) on Ravelry and followed it exactly as written. The only change I would make is minor--there is one round with increases, and it's a kfb increase, which is visible. I would use a make-one increase, as it's pretty invisible. However, the increases are evenly spaced so I'm not twitching over it. 

This is my new favorite kind of ribbing--the mock rib. It's just as stretchy as regular ribbing, but I really like the look of it much more.

The gathers formed by the decreases of this modestly slouchy hat make a really pretty effect on the top of the hat, especially when combined with the soft stripes. I started off on sixteen-inch circulars, and then transferred to double-pointeds for the decreases. 

It took me two evenings to finish the hat, but it was a pretty relaxing pace. I had enough left over that I thought I should be able to get something out of it, so I weighed the remainder (I used a digital kitchen scale, this one to be precise), figured out how many grams per yard, crossed my fingers, and then uncrossed them because you can't knit that way and went for it with a pair of wrist warmers/fingerless mitts.

The pattern is actually quite simple, and I've written it out here (they end up about nine inches long, maybe?) and fit my hand nicely at just under four inches across.

Using size 8 US dpns, cast on 30 stitches, and divide these across three needles in multiples of three (I did nine, nine, and twelve).

Rounds 1-14: k3 p3 rib all the way around

Rounds 15-35: knit 

The thumb-holes are knit back and forth, starting with a wrong side row. So for this section:

Row 1: sl 1 purlwise, purl across

Row 2: sl 1 purlwise, knit across

Repeat these two rows five times for a total of ten rows. 

Now we're back to knitting in the round.
Rounds 45-49: knit

Rounds 50-55: k3 p3 rib around. 

Bind off in the ribbing pattern, or with this stretchy bind off (which I wish I had done, actually). 

Not bad for a free 100g of yarn, eh? The hat used 56g, which left me with 44g (or 22g for each wrist warmer). I wasted not a single inch of this stuff, and am oh so pleased with my new duds. Now if it would just get cold I could wear them.

When the Bells All Ring, and the Horns All Blow

Hello. Or should it be goodbye? The past week has slipped by without me noticing, and what seemed like an endless expanse of days has now wound down to those dreaded last few days before back to work and life and routine. It's been tea-filled and cozy, as well as rainy and chilly and not at all seasonable.

But the year is tired, unlike this guy who's supposed to be napping right now (after a little nephew sleepover last night)--

--and the tree has had enough--

The decorations know they're about to go on another eleven-month vacation.

And the poinsettia leaves are curly and drooping.

Even this project, in a huge game of yarn chicken (where you see if you'll finish the project or a wee little yarn end will have the last laugh) came with that sudden poignancy of the last project of the year.

While people generally don't understand why I feel this is the saddest day of the year, I don't understand celebrating the passage of time. However, this year, I'm trying something new. I'm changing my mindset and hopefully changing myself. I'm going to bust a hole in my long-standing shell, and make a sincere effort to be a little more open, to share a little more of myself, and to banish the nerves that hold me back at times. There, I said it. It's on the internet, so you know it's true or will have to be true because that's the way it works.

But just in case I get cold feet (literally), I'm wearing these babies out tonight.

Yes, out. I'm starting those resolutions early--I'm breaking my long-standing rule of not venturing forth on New Year's Eve (but doing so with some trepidation as all the crazies will be about as well). I don't want to say what's the worst that could happen (believe me, I know and it's why I stay in), so I'll flip it and say what's the best? I know that, too, actually--I'll be missing what they market as Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, which is nowhere near how nice it used to be. See? Time passing is sad.

Anyway, on with the day and on with the new year. It's got no mistakes in it yet, and 366 days to fill with whatever you want. Happy new year!

This Is My Wish

Every year I tell you how much I love Christmas. And I do. I love the lights, the glitz, the aromas associated with this time of year, the cold weather (which has been absent this year--rainy and warm all December long), the good cheer, the hearty wishes for a merry day, the church when it's all lit up, the movies, the giving spirit that prevails--every last bit of it, both secular and sacred. Top to bottom, all around, and back again.

I do have a confession, though. I often find myself low on Christmas spirit. Gasp! I know. How? I'm in the running for chief elf, I get very Bob Cratchity with my "But it's Christmas!" urgings, I'm a charitable being, and so on and so forth. But I find myself mentally lamenting (a la Santa Claus via Ed Asner in Elf) "There's just no Christmas spirit anymore!"

And then, this year, I realized my mistake. I was looking somewhere else for it, as though songs on the radio or just the right candle scent hold the key to holiday happiness. That's not how it works, apparently. It comes from within you. It's a teeny bit of light that grows brighter and warmer the more that you let others in, until you're consumed by yuletide cheer. I've been looking for it all month, and I found it today.

My Christmas wish for you: may your candle burn bright.

Love and hugs, you glorious beings!

The First Christmas

Welcome to the last stop on our tour. While most of this museum has a large amount of fifties Christmas kitsch to it, this last part is all about the oldest and most sacred of Christmas traditions--the nativity/creche.



Here you can take a seat in front of this replica of Bethlehem, while a recording of the gospel plays. The whole thing starts off dark, and different parts light up as they are brought into the story.



If sitting and listening is not your speed, there are numerous representations of the essential figures gathered from many countries around the world.




Of varying intricacy and materials, there are numerous display cases of the essential ingredients of the scene--the Holy Family, as well as the angels, the shepherds, the magi, and a few animals. Made of wood, clay, plaster (and even corn husks), many figures are made in the likeness of people known to the creators, making each one personal and individual.

The next part is very unlike the rest of the museum. Designed to look like the town of Bethlehem over two thousand years ago, there are many scenes that one may have actually come across in one's travels.

Entering the scene you are greeted by a Roman centurion reading the decree that everyone must head to town and be counted for the census (see? Government was just as annoying even then). Traveling a little further, we come upon some home scenes with some pieces that could be right out of that time period (I don't know if they are genuine artifacts, but they do set the scene quite nicely).

Many dwellings had no furniture, but utilized straw mats and other such items to serve as seats and beds. Animals were often brought indoors (!!!) at night to protect them from predators, and also to provide warmth when the temperatures plummeted. 

Proceeding along the winding streets, we come upon carpentry shops, and an oasis marketplace where weary travelers could rest for a bit and replenish their supplies. Musicians provide a nice distraction from the monotony of such travel. The hardships that Mary and Joseph faced during their journey are outlined in great detail. There is no mention of a stable in the gospels; most likely the scene took place in a small cave or grotto, places that would have served as a stable in the small middle-eastern town of Bethlehem. Such a place serves as the final scene for the journey that started as a trip to take part in the census.

Upon emerging, we are greeted by one final scene.

Thought to be around one-hundred years old, these three-quarter life size figures were stored in a warehouse for about eighty years. Originally displayed at Marshall Fields, these twenty-two pieces are thought to be among the best in carousel figure art. Target Stores actually donated these pieces to the museum. Each is extremely intricately carved, and quite life-like up close. If you look just left of center, you can see a bag-piper, which suggests that this display was carved by someone (or several somebodies) from the Austrian-Italian border. In Italian nativity scenes, it is very common for a bagpiper to be included. As bagpipes were used by shepherds to calm their herds, it's not a far stretch to imagine that those fellas in the fields keeping watch over their flocks were a fair hand at the instrument.

This brings us to the gift shop. If you were hoping you'd find replicas of things you saw you'd be disappointed--it's very similar to things you see in your everyday shops (which was good for my wallet, because I don't even want to imagine what could have happened if the stuff in Woolworth's was available).

I don't know if you've enjoyed the tour, but I've enjoyed writing about my visit. Obviously I'd highly recommend this place if you're ever in south-central Pennsylvania. You can read more about it here on their website. See you soon! And don't forget to tell your friends! Or don't--this is a pressure-free zone.