Revving Up

 We had a chilly and very windy Remembrance Day. It was exciting to play the bass drum for the first time in this parade. Because we are supported by the Agassiz Legion, that's where we march.
Later we joined the other bits of our band at the Legions in Chilliwack and Vedder and then on to the Anafvets. I remember doing medical support for the big parade in downtown Vancouver when I was in the Reserve Forces Medical Corps in the early 1980's. I never paid for a beer when I was in uniform, and once, a whole table of Royal Canadian Mounted Police were leaving, and they each put a glass of beer in front of me on their way out.

 The Magpie bakery has moved from Agassiz to just west of here. They have a brick oven and make (awsome!!!) croissants on Friday and Saturday. Maybe this winter won't be so cold.

But if it is, I made my Mom some thrummed mittens from a Fleece Artist kit I bought in Charlottetown. Casbah! Nothing too good for Xmas gifts.

Scott's Slade sweater is still languishing and waiting for buttons. It was acres of navy stockinette and I am not sure of the fit. Hopefully he will like it and wear it and we can get pictures.

 Charity knitting for our hand made hats collection. I raided my chunky bucket in the stash. This Fleece Artist Tosca just sang to me in the skein. But I hated it knitted up, even in a cowl. Lala to the rescue. Her Starving Artist hat pattern works for hand spun, so I thought I could squeak it through. Hopefully some teenage mom will appreciate the styling.

 I also whipped up a Janis hat and would make more, except I don't think the recipients want to look like a catalogue page. I may make another Starving Artist with a plainer yarn. These two hats count for the Stash and Burn Podcast's 15 Hats in 2015. I hope to make my hats before the fall fair so I can display them there.

 Toasty Cozy. Awesome pattern. This is made of chunky baby alpaca for my sister who does not believe in microwaves (no magic bag) but has to believe in sore joints.

 And one for her husband. I actually bought this merino chunky yarn because I didn't have anything as fine as the alpaca in the stash, and I didn't want to gip my BIL. He stayed here for a few days while he was working on his son's new house and was a delightful house guest.

 Too many things on the needles! I am still plugging away at the Baby Surprise Jacket. It is a lovely pattern that I have knit too many times to count, but it's unusual. I wanted to do a KAL with my knitting circle so I could support them through the disbelief. It's easy if you can follow directions, but it's amazing how hard that can be sometimes. This is for a December baby that I may never see, so the pressure is not on. I want to work on my Christmas list first.

 This is the November socks. I could easily finish it, but that would entail working on it, and I have Christmas presents to knit. I think I talked myself into finishing the sixth and last pair for Project Sock Drawer when I have done my gifts.
I am still working on a big something for my knitterly daughter who may read this if she is bored in her studies. I will post after Christmas. But can I say it will never end if I don't stop ripping back. Plus the yarn had a bad attack of moths (how did they get in to my stash!!!!) and I am having to piece and curse simultaneously.

 What do you do when you are overwhelmed by a to do list, sick at home with a cold and caught up on all your podcasts? You cast on a frivolous scarf for yourself. This is the Alpine Frost Scarf from an Interweave Crochet that I don't have. I dug around for some soft lace weight merino and downloaded the pattern. It is stupid simple, but that is a charm in itself. I have had a hankering for crochet and last year I had an irresistible urge to make a scarf that Rory wore in Gilmore Girls. Now I can sate both those impulses. But not right now. I'm practicing for our Pipe Band concert at the end of the month, preparing the Christmas Pageant and setting up the Christmas Cards. When I'm not knitting gifts.

Last night at practice, Big Al pulled out a scarf he is working on for his Grandma. You gotta love knitters and drummers.