Hey friends,

Have you ever wondered what happens to your YouTube video when it’s uploading and processing for hours, and nothing seems to happen? I sure have! This morning, I did a live rocking chair knit and chat for 20 minutes, and now—poof!—it’s in the ether. Somewhere out there. I have no idea where.

So, since I don’t know when (or if) that video will show up, I thought I’d do a quick recap of what I talked about while sitting in my rocking chair, sipping my coffee.

First, I was working on my Northeasterly Blanket, but now it’s been put away. I finished up with it and decided to tidy up my space a little. This blanket is made from tiny pieces of spindle-spun wool—some hand-dyed, some not. I keep them in jars, and I now have two full jars ready to use. I’ll try to get a picture later.

Next up, my sock. This week, I made progress—I finished the leg, the heel, and now I’m working on the gusset. Then it’ll be on to the foot. I was hoping to finish it this weekend, but that might be a bit ambitious. These socks are for me, using the Vanilla Latte pattern and Tracy’s sock pattern. I’ll link those in the comments.

I also worked a little on my hat, which is a brioche knit with a double brim. It’s incredibly soft and poofy—such a nice pattern (also one of Tracy’s). I haven’t touched my sweater this week, so nothing to show there, but I did talk about fiber! I rolled up some Bluefaced Leicester, a Merino cross that I dyed with onion skins and avocado pits and peels. I’ve got about 200 grams total between what’s on the wheel and what’s waiting beside me. Not sure what I’ll make with it yet—ideas are welcome!

Now, on to Valentine’s Day. We went out for brunch at our favorite local apple store—no, not iPads, but actual apples! They also sell other local products and baked goods. We picked up some maple syrup (from St. Clements—so definitely within the 100-mile challenge!), and they were giving away free donuts. I bought a few extra of their little apple cider donuts because they are just too good to pass up.

While we were there, I also grabbed a bag of pre-packaged stew veggies—carrots, parsnips, onions, turnips, celery, and a quarter of a cabbage—all local, mostly within 100 miles. I also stocked up on potatoes and carrots, and I think we did pretty well with keeping our groceries as local as possible. The dairy and ice cream were local too, but chocolate? That one’s tough for me. Definitely harder to source locally! But we do our best and give ourselves grace where needed.

Speaking of keeping things local, I also picked up two plants. One is a mix of African violets for Valentine’s, and the other is an Iron Cross Oxalis. It looks like a shamrock but with a burgundy cross in the middle. I had one last year and, well, I killed it. I think I overwatered it, so here’s hoping this one survives! I got them from a greenhouse about 20 minutes from here—a great local spot full of flowers for Valentine’s Day. Instead of roses, I opted for something I can “keep alive” for a little longer. Fingers crossed!

So, what are my hands going to be working on this weekend? Hopefully, I’ll get some time at the wheel and make progress on my sock. The blanket is put away until next week, but I might pick up the hat again. We had our little date outing, which was fun, and for dinner, I’ll be using some leftover 100-mile chicken.

How are you doing? Do you have any questions about my sock? I’ve shown it a lot lately, but I love this pattern—it’s simple but so satisfying. The Vanilla Latte pattern is free on Ravelry. It’s a great go-to for an easy, cozy sock knit.

Oh! My phone rang, and I had a lovely chat with a neighbor. She was just calling me back to say she’s doing well, which is always nice to hear.

Anyway, I hope you have a fantastic weekend! It’s a long weekend here in Ontario, and we’re expecting a big snowfall—possibly 15 to 25 cm—so we’ll see what happens with plans. I’ll be live on Facebook Sunday morning for worship, possibly on Zoom if the snow makes in-person services tricky. But hey, it’s winter in Ontario—that’s just how February goes!

One foot in front of the other, right? Keep creating, keep making. Whether it’s fiber arts, cooking, journaling—whatever brings you joy. Just remember: if Doll can create, so can you.

Let me know what you’re working on—I’d love to hear about your projects!

Until next time, Doll