New Year, New Adventures

Well here we are in 2011.  I am still finding it hard to not write the 0 on the date but we are far into 2011.  So far our new year has been very busy.  After returning from Dallas for christmas my parents tried to come in for New Years.  They got here but because of a snow storm they got stuck in Tucumcari and got to experience small town New Mexico which is kind of like small town Texas but New Mexican.  Which for us is not normal.  The next weekend our lubbock friend Meredith came and visited for a weekend and the first day we had fun.  Then I had a kidney stone and made the rest of the trip not so much fun for anybody but we survived that funness.  We will have to have her back so that we can really show her a good time.  :)  Then the next weekend my husbands parents came to visit.  I was feeling much better and we had a good time.  The rest of January flew by fast with relaxing weekends.  Then February happened.


A massive snow storm flew into New Mexico and left a rather deep blanket of snow.  Whit was made to go out in it.  He was not a happy camper:

The snow was taller than he was.  As one snow day turned into four and gas ran out in New Mexico.  We saved energy during the day by turning down the thermostat, covered our windows with: blankets, pillows, towels, and Whit and I stayed in bed with the electric blanket.

He was much happier with those days that were filled with naps.  The snow stayed around for two weeks but is all gone now.  New Mexico winters are different than we have had but they have been a nice surprise for all of us.

Last week was my birthday and I got to go home!  I ate Tex-Mex and drank a Margarita every night that I was there.  I went shopping which was tons of fun.  I got to spend time with my sister and momma at Northpark mall seeing a movie and doing a little more shopping (H&M Preview).  Then my husband and I spend the night at a hotel in Plano where we had an interesting experience.  I don't think we will look back badly on the experience but we probably won't stay there again.  I am waiting for the day when ABQ becomes as familiar as Dallas.  I bet there are lots of shopping places I have not experienced but can't wait to find them.

Now for the knitting update:

The church that we have been going to had a Chemo cap day where you donate and spend time making caps and blankets for patients at UNM.  They call it Chemo cap but they offer these gifts to just about anyone in the hospital.  I was so excited to find a place where I can use my knitting skills to good use.  So I went with my knifty knitter and was the talk of the day.  No one had seen one and they were all excited about this new thing.  Several people have bought them and made hats.  After that I took some yarn home and made a couple of blankets for the event.

The one on the right I used two different cables and made up my own pattern.  On the left I used a chalice pattern that I found on ravelry.  Most people at church are crocheters.  I have been a lone knitter but I think there are some more they are just hiding in the woodworks.  I have just started a new blanket with a butterfly stitch and a knit hat.  I like the knit hat pattern and may make several different colored hats.

On a yarn update, when I moved to New Mexico I emptied my yarn stash into a cedar chest that my grandfather made for me and found that I had stuffed it to the brim.  My husband pretty much told me no more yarn purchases.  I have bought some yarn but have been pretty good about mostly using what I have.  In fact, I have been so good at this I can now see the bottom of the chest.  I have lots of odds and ends that will be used at some point but for now I am trying to use all of my simply soft up.

So more knitting ensues and time is flying by but we are taking it as it comes and enjoying every minute of it.