let me first say that this is an abbreviated post since I have spent most of my blogging time being frustrated by Typepad. Yesterday I thought I was losing my mind somewhat when I saw my post – I was certain I had added a little sentence or two about it being my birthday and that was the reason for the picture of the fancy pig in pearls. When it didn’t show up on the screen, I figured I had done something wrong. Now this morning, my photos are being eaten. I have been trying to post these all as pop-ups, but it seems that Typepad feels these would be better as embedded images. Who am I to argue?? maybe I should seriously consider whatever our friend Snow has switched to…..

So here are pictures of my birthday presents. I was a very spoiled birthday girl who’s friends went way overboard! On the left is a package that arrived from Cara! yes, it’s true – presents from Cara as I live and breathe!! this is a piggy sampler pack – those square stacking barnyard creatures actually serenade you with a variety of songs! On the right are felted clogs from Kathleen – she stopped by Granny’s yesterday to drop them off and I wore them for the rest of the day. They are so comfy and cozy! gotta love the job where it is okay to wear slippers! and yes, for all of you who predicted that this job would end up costing me money … you were right, I am in the hole for $36 so far!

from left to right – a lovely Lantern Moon knitting basket, hand creme and stitch markers from Peggy, a pig platter from Claire and a rooster oil painting from Gail ……

then in things not pictured – a bread cookbook from Ricki, piggy banks from Jean, aroma oils from Lisa, a CD from the daughters and a Woolee Winder from the Boar! and all of this is in addition to being winded and dined!

you would think that with this kind of fanfare that I had turned some significant number ….. but no, I am 43, which is a very good age to be, but nothing to start tossing the confetti over …… I think I am simply spoiled and that is all there is to it.

unless they all caught wind of this bullshit and felt bad for me …..

this week’s letter is B ….

Boar!

and did you notice my favorite B is doing two of my favorite things? bossing the snowblower around while wearing his handspun berretta! Gotta love those weekend snowstorms where I am not the one out there behind that behemoth.

For the record, I was inside whipping up pancakes. We had an ice/snow/wind storm come through here on Saturday night – the roads were in awful shape yesterday (haven’t been out yet today to see if there has been improvement) and we had a tree come down, in addition to branches etc.

Now to the knitting news….. the Jaywalkers are officially on hold now while I wait for the arrival of some Koigu to finish them. I have cast on for the Chinese Sweater using the Brooks Farm Four Play that I picked up in Rhinebeck. I will ignore the calligraphy design and just knit it up as a wide ribbed tunic with the neckline detail. The sweater from Poor Miss Finch that I originally planned was possibly/probably not a good match for this particular yarn blend, so that will have to wait.