I should be working on these:

The May Day Socks.

Or this:

Ellie’s romper.

But instead I’m making a surprise for the individual who sent me all this:

I think I’ll keep Ellie’s stroller as a yarn tote when she outgrows it.

My friend, Judi, was brim-full of generosity in high school and one of the best gift-givers I’ve ever known. It’s nice to know that some things never change even when when friends move to the other side of the country and build whole new lives. You’ve heard my theory that inertia is really the most powerful force in the universe*? Well, inertia carried us straight through the past 15 years or so. This was a high school reunion year so the class officers have spent quite a bit time trying to locate everyone. (If you know who I married, I am the first google hit. If you don’t know, it is slightly more complicated.) Judi, who I haven’t seen in ages and ages although we were tight back in the day, packed an enormous box of fun stuff for Ellie (adding some chocolate and a book of Safe Baby Handling Tips) but decided that wasn’t enough and went in search of yarn. I can only hope she signed up for lessons while she was at her Local Yarn Shop – the selection must be amazing and Judi clearly has an eye for fiber. I have no idea what I am going to make yet (I may just keep it all here on my desk and pet it and reminisce for a while).

Knitters say “thank you” with wool. She is probably peeking, so I won’t give away the surprise. I do offer this hint:

That is all for now, I hear waking up sounds from this baby:

I should wipe her face before I take pictures.

*I just searched “inertia” in my archives and it turns out you haven’t heard my theory. In a nutshell: Inertia (that is, resistance to change) gives everyday life predictability and structure. Inertia is what causes ruts (I love predictability so I really don’t mind ruts). Inertia is why I haven’t written a long note to Judi, hate to travel, have yet to call Frank to fix the leak in the upstairs chimney and can’t seem to get outside to prune the crepe myrtles. Well, some of that might be due to my recent reduction in free time, but you get the idea.

My Apres Christmas Sock Swap package has arrived!

I suppose it is really a “parcel” since it was mailed in the UK.

Bryony was completely honest on the customs form, and mailed socks, yarn and chocolate! The Socrates yarn was originally intended for my Apres Socks, but due to circumstances beyond control, the vibrant Posh Yarn (I wish I had never seen their online store – the colors make my knees weak) became socks for me instead. This is more than fine with me: I have a pair to wear and a pair to make! The pink bunny for Ellie is unbelievably soft and, of course, no swap is complete without candy.

I’ll try to lose that last five pounds tomorrow.

There is a tiny bit of the in progress May Day Socks on the left. I probably need to pick up the pace on those, April won’t last forever.

Thank you so much, Bryony! And many many thanks to Abigail for hosting such a great swap!

It’s Monsoon Season here.

I could plant rice out there.

But torrential rain can’t stop the US Mail!

Lorna’s Laces “Uptown” and Seacoast Handpainted “Rain”

Created by the ScrabbleQueen, Ruth, these actually arrived a couple days ago. The rain had nothing to do with their arrival except for mercifully providing me with time to blog. A girl can’t walk or wash litter boxes or weed or figure out the grocery list when there is danger of drowning! That last part about the grocery list might not be true – I haven’t actually tested it. Thank you so much, Ruth! I love the wee tiny fluted banister and the flower photographs on your blog are gorgeous!

Even though I know the swap isn’t quite over yet (there are some socks that have to make their way across oceans and over borders) I want to let you all know how much it warms the cockles of my Wee Tiny Heart to see little socks all over Blogland. Thank you so much to everyone for making this a wonderful swap for me and your Wee Tiny Pals!