Winter Has Arrived

We got our first snow yesterday.

It started out sunny and nice, then dark clouds moved in and it started raining. About 2:45 pm the rain turned to snow. The slushy fat-flaked super wet kind of snow. It snowed pretty hard until dark (around 4:30). After dark it actually warmed up outside-warmer than it had been all day, and rained all night long-melting the offending white slushy stuff away. I'm sure it won't be long before it finds a way to come back though.

The cats pretty much spent the day either sleeping, or staring out the windows and glaring grumpily. They hate snow. The skiers of the family are celebrating. They're getting lots of snow in the mountains this week. That means possible Thanksgiving skiing.

I finished another beaded ornament cover.


The pattern for this one is in Laura Jensens book The Beadecked Ornament Book 2. As you can see, I used some Hematite crystals, as well as size 11 seed beads in the hematite look (I call it silver black), ecru, and silver. Lets see, there's also some 8mm glass pearls, 6mm ecru fire polished crystals, 6mm smoky topaz crystals, size 8 silver seed beads, 3mm round silver beads, and 6 antique plastic black buttons.

I love Laura Jensens books. They are very well written, easy to understand, and have nice clear graphics. The designs are so pretty. I wish she'd write some more.

I am somewhat bothered by my newly gimpy leg. The swelling has not gone down all the way. It's still about 1.5 times larger than my right leg, and if I walk for any length of time it swells up more. When I get up in the morning it feels weird. There's a throbbing ache in the back of my thigh, and my calf feels like it's had charley-horse-like cramps in it. I hope it continues to heal, and doesn't stay this way. I wish I knew someone else who had/has this problem so I could ask them questions and get some advice. Phooey! It sucks. But, I suppose I should be thankful I can walk. A few weeks ago I couldn't.

More rain for today, and the next week, and possibly snow too. I'm glad I have knitting, beading, counted cross stitch, and all the other creative things I love to do. They help me get through winter when I can't stand to go outside.

Speaking of knitting, I've finished the first of the Deep Forest socks and cast on for the second one. I'm really enjoying the stitch pattern I'm using. It's fun.

Have a good day.