Hey Nancy,
So this is where I'm picturing you right now, in the old front bedroom. I took this picture when I visited Mom & Dad last April.
Sorry I've been so out of touch, but I overbooked for the holidays. How insane. I've worked 5 days for the library and one day cooking at the Buffalo for the last two weeks, taking care of a friend's two dogs, and another friend's vehicle while she's away (she stashed it with me when she left on Amtrak for Seattle.) Also tried to get some shopping in with Christy, and make some stockings for my friends. Argh! But there, I'm not going to complain anymore, because I did it to myself. I'm going to make sure I never do it again! I haven't gotten any good knitting in for over two weeks now, and not much time for it in the next week. I'll send a picture of how Christy's mitten/gloves are coming as soon as I do the last kitchener stitch on the first m/g which is done.
Tonight: Fondue at the Blankenships. Tomorrow: brunch at our house. Everybody's gonna help out so that will be all right. Love to you and all the family in Mpls from all of us in Montana. Mary

Mary writes...

Speaking of mittens, check out what I'm making Christy for Christmas: You might recognize them from their first incarnation as the cover pattern on the summer issue of Knitty the Canadian knitting 'zine. But I didn't like them as fingerless gloves (even though I adapted the picot bind off to a scarf I knit last fall). So I knit the second one and made it into gloves with the cut off fingers. But I didn't like that either so...Christy loves her big mushy tweedy mitten/gloves and I thought I'd make her a pair. So I unraveled and off I went. Thus, the picked-up stitches on the back of the hand. These are interesting in the way the thumb is made - no gusset, just knit the first 7 stitches of a round onto some waste yarn, then knit them over again with the working yarn. Later, you take the waste yarn out and pick up the stitches around the hole you just made. Verrrry interesting and has implications for other holey stuff...hmmm. Which reminds me - check out a blog called Stitchy McYarnpants and see the hilarious holey yarn stuff on there. Also interesting in that it's a 4 by 1 rib, and stretches enough that I didn't need increases from the wrist to the hand. I'll send a pic when I get them done.

Love you,

Mary