First things first, the wedding was WONDERFUL!!! I tried so hard to get out of going, but I'm so glad I went. Saw a couple of Eric's cousins that I hadn't seen in a while and we really enjoyed ourselves a lot. My daughter was lovely as a flower girl and only tugged at her tights once while standing in front of the people who had gathered for the wedding. Even met some of my brother-in-law's friends and wondered why they hung out with him.

The real fun was that we went to Valley Forge before the festivities began. It was the 225th anniversary and they had big doings there. We went on a candle lit walking tour with a really loud tour guide. All the park staff were dressed in period clothing and talked about their "roles" in the encampment. I told my son he had to write a 2-page report about the place and he whined and cried the whole drive to Pennsylvania. Once he got into the spirit of things, he wrote down 4 pages of notes! I don't think he'll have a tough time with a 2-page report!

And since we were only 40 minutes from Gettysburg - on Sunday we headed over there. Maddie is a little confused, I think, between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars - but she's only 7. There's lots of time to get her straight with that. Gettysburg is amazingly well done. We bought a 2 CD driving tour package and it took us several hours to get through the park and listen and drive. Those battlefields don't look quite real. I'm not sure if it's because I've seen too many Civil War movies or the whole ground is somehow more holy because of what it went through. In any event, it was gorgeous and at the same time horrible.

I didn't finish the Dacapo - but only have 10 rows to go and the sleeve seams to stitch up. I have it with me here at my parents' house for the Christmas festivities. It should be finished before we begin our pilgrimage to the land of Disney (which starts on the 26th). I am working on an epic gauge swatch for the cashmere I bought at Stitches East. I want a set-in sleeve on a turtle neck sweater, rather close fitting (I was imagining the sweater as I knitted on the swatch on the ways to and from Pennsylvania).

Off to help with the dinner preparations. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Just had a lovely weekend doing nothing. We're heading out for Pennsylvania early on Thursday for my brother-in-law's wedding and yesterday was my last chance to just hang out. I did what we used to do before we had kids - wallow in bed. One of those days where I got up early, ate breakfast, knit for a while, and went back to take a nap - luxury!!

I am up to the band on the Dacapo. Then I just have to sew up the sleeve seams. I tried it on last night and the husband was very appreciative - "Wow, that looks terrific!" Nice feeling. So, with just a little bit to go, it must be time to pull out the next pattern!! I'm thinking about a nice pattern for the cashmere I picked up at Stitches East. I bought the Sweater Wizard software and I think it's time to take it for a test run.

Back to work - only 3 more days until vacation!

Today is a "Monday"...nothing going right and none of it under my control. Here's hoping the Dacapo is waiting for me at the doorstep when I get home.

And I forgot one more knitting kit that I have waiting in my small half studio (my husband has the other half filled with his fly fishing "junk"). My mother-in-law bought me a Philosopher's Sweater kit for my birthday and it hasn't even been out of the plastic after 2 months. Even though I loath knitting with more than 1 color (much more of a textured knitter) - this kit intrigues me. The sweater she bought for herself is finished and it is beautiful!! Now I want one too. This may be the first kit I dig into after the endless Dacapo.

Aaahhhh, knitting - I feel better now...

It's good to be back at work...

I spent the weekend in a "hangover haze." This was due to the work holiday party on Friday night, which was really a lot of fun. However, my boss is a wine pusher and it tasted so good that I just kept slurping it up. As a result of this haze, none of my plans worked out.

I need to finish the Hanne Falkenberg Dacapo jacket. My brother-in-law is getting married on December 21 and this is what I plan on wearing. The pieces are all together, I just need to finish up the left front and put in the band. I must say, all the praise for a Falkenberg kit is justified. This design is so clever, I found myself knitting faster just to see what came next! I have her Ballerina jacket and I want to start it right now - but I know that would be deadly.

I have no other holiday knitting on tap. Every year in about August, I think about making a to do list and then never get around to it. I supppose this is healthier for me - I never get the mad rush to get things done. [My mother reminds me every year about the Christmas Eve I sat at her house in the guest room in my underwear finishing up a mitten for one of my nieces - never again!!]

I have decided that 2003 will be the year of knitting for me! I have the materials for at least 4 sweaters...
1. the Kandinsky Kimono (from Interweave Knits)
2. cashmere bought at Stitches East (planning on a close fitting turtle neck)
3. Lorna's Laces silk/wool yarn (planning a cabled pullover)
4. Hanne Falkenberg's Ballerina Jacket

That should keep me busy well into next fall!!

I was trying to come up with an interesting and clever name for my blog this morning. A lot of people call me C.J., but the other day, someone said "I'll call you 'siege'." I liked it. So, I looked it up in an online dictionary. It means "a military blockade of a city," which I have been known to do on occasion (metaphorically speaking). Not so bad, but then I looked up siege mentality, which means "a defensive or overly fearful attitude." Not so nice, but oddly appropriate. So that's my bit of cleverness for today.

What I like to do:
Knit
Write
Read
Spin*
Swim**
Weave

*making yarn - not sweating in a gym
**something I haven't been able to do since July because I have tendonitis in my right shoulder - which sucks, but will eventually be healthy again (positive thoughts).

What I'm reading now:
"Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper - Case Closed," by Patricia Cornwell
It's a little creepy, but ultimately a good read. I find myself looking at the pictures a little more than I should. It's going slowly as I can only read for about 15-20 minutes a night or else I start to imagine that the sounds my house makes are really someone coming to get me.

Next up: "Crime and Punishment" - one of those novels I've always felt I should read...