What cold spell?

Last December we experienced a few weeks of cold weather that brought early (and awesome, according to my snowboarding brothers) snow, killed by little basil plant, and had us Californians digging out and grasping for cold weather accoutrements--coats, scarves, hats, gloves--like nobody's business.

As I scrambled around, I discovered that I have nary a knitted item of my own with which to keep warm!  Just a Clapotis scarf from October 2005; and a pair of fingerless mittens in garter stitch, from my first *real* knitting book (M. Falick's Weekend Knitting)--although, unfortunately--knitted in acrylic yarn (before I realized Michael's was not the sole source of knitting materials).  Sad, huh?

I pondered this while working on my first cast-on project of 2009: a pair of convertile mittens for my older brother.  They're pictured here basking in a moment of sweet sunshine during which I scampered downstairs to have lunch outside.

And then I decided.  2009, instead of being a year of finishing up any WIPs (there are loads!), will be a year of Knitting For Me.  To that end, it's my goal to get set up properly on Ravelry (though I can't make a full commitment to that as I'm still learning how to blog!).  Which shouldn't be too hard, since I reorganized my stash a few months ago.  Though it may entail learning how to make a light box for the photo shoots.  [Suddenly, it's a huge project...]

I'm already always caught up in the wealth of information available on Ravelry.  I'd really like to knit (instead of dream or talk about):  a sweater (Sideways-knit Cable Sweater, Urban Aran, Forecast?  Or maybe I'll frog and re-knit my two failed attempts (Apricot Jacke & Spring Fling)); knee-high socks; Chevalier Mittens; and a hat (Felicity [pdf], Urchin, Morgan, Trinity Stitch Beret, Selbu Modern[pdf]?).

But in the midst of my reveling and researching, and despite having opened up my email to headlines of a frigid wave sweeping the northern Midwest states to New England, and as far south as th Gulf Coast, we here in California have been hit with a spurt of record highs!

Off are the stockings, sleeves, and sportcoats!  This is the scene from today's lunch: clear blue skies and people enjoying things "back to normal."

Me?  I will persevere in my knitting nevertheless.  The convertible mittens are almost done, and I'm setting my sights on the next project.  Onwards, and happy knitting!