Staying Warm With a Tuesday Night Cowl

Yesterday I heard one of the weather people say that we have already had more snow so far this winter than in the past 3 winters combined. And that was before we added about 5-ish more inches to the tally last night. The fresh, fluffy, white, snow does look pretty and it's certainly better than seeing my nasty, strawlike lawn.



Usually I welcome the snow. I know that I'm in the minority there but I just love to watch it fall and if it keeps me home watching movies and knitting instead of running around doing errands - so be it. Right now though, the snow is stressing me a little because they're predicting a wicked storm for this weekend which could cause big problems for us. See... we are supposed to be at a family event in another city this weekend. Non-refundable dresses and gifts have been purchased etc, etc. We must be there! I acknowledge that the snow is likely to keep our cars parked at home but, where there's a will there's a way. I'm stubborn like that.



No matter if we stay or go, I know I'll be warm because I have a lovely new cowl to wear. It's the Tuesday Night Cowl by Susan Lawrence.

I already had a cowl, made out of my handspun a little over a year ago, which I was wearing a lot. It was nice and soft and working just well enough to make me wish I had one that worked better.

I know that some people aren't fans of cowls but there are many positives to them. They're small enough to tuck in a pocket or a bag and go on so fast without long ends that might drag or get in the way. Ideally they fit right up against your skin and cover your tender throat so that even if you're running around with your jacket unzipped *ahem* you're not quite as cold and exposed.

The problem with my old one is that the ends - both top and bottom - roll excessively. It's still pretty warm and really nice and soft but I wanted something that would really keep me warm.



I loved the Tuesday Night Cowl immediately. I saw it's poential for keeping me warm and, as an added bonus, I had 2 skeins of Manos that had been marinating in my stash for about 3 years that would be perfect for it. It is and it isn't. It turns out that the Manos is a little scratchy. not fatally so but jus enough to be noticeable.

The pattern is really clear and I knit it up in 3 nights. After a good soak and a few days spent drying it was ready just before last weekend's storm.



I wore it everywhere and I can say without a doubt that this pattern is a winner. The folds created by the cabling are wonderful for trapping heat and keeping my neck warm. Mostly I wear it scrunched down but it could easily be pulled up to shield my lower face too. So versatile!

Stay warm!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Household Tasks You've Been Avoiding

Ugh, if I admit that I'm avoiding them then do I have to buckle down and do them?

Here's a little something to pretty the post up before I get down to business. On Sunday, I went out to take some pictures of the snow and I noticed this bird's nest in my neighbor's tree.



Here's all the stuff I'm procrastinating on around the house. For all the world to see in black and white. Much of it is familiar from my list of goals for the year.

1. Clean out my closet - and dresser, and night table, and ... you get the picture.
2. Clean out the storage area in my basement and sell all the stuff we don't need.
3. Reorganize the books in the rec room shelves. - Once upon a time they were shelved alphabetically. Hopefully they will be again.
4. Organize the stash. - It's a little out of control.
5. Repaint my bedroom - I think that the color isn't quite right. Sadly it's a bold color which will take many coats of paint to cover.
6. Weed around the mailbox - It just looks sad
7. Replace the flag and repaint the mailbox - ditto
8. Divide and replant my irises - one year I'll finally get around to doing this.
9. Organize all the crafty stuff - Some of it's from college and I'm sure there's a bunch of dried out paint there.
10. Fix the darned kitchen!

That list includes an awful lot of organizing. Is it any wonder that I keep putting it off. It's soooo daunting.

Define a Dusting

This past weekend was cleared long ago so that I could help out with Tech Weekend for the middle school musical which DQ will be in. I planned to spend most of my time painting sets and I actually got up early (for me) on Saturday and went to the school to get to work. Unfortunately, no sooner had I poured the paint and developed a flow to my work than the school, and our endeavours, were shut down.

Apparently the weather people were wrong again. We didn't get a dusting of snow. We got about 6 inches which, in Virginia, is enough to shut everything down. Being a stubborn New Yawka I decided to go shopping rather than going directly home but after seeing a few cars ahead of me fishtail and go off the sides of the road I gave up and went home.



At home I sat on the couch and knit until the roads were clear again on Sunday afternoon. I got a lot done but none of it will help get the production ready for opening night in 2 weeks! I have a feeling that I may have a few late nights at the school this week.