Wintry Wonderland

I'm not sure this snow is a wintry wonderland or just a wintry mess. Icy road conditions combined with hills in the Pacific Northwest means driving can be treacherous. Another big storm with wind gusts up to 80 mph is expected later in the afternoon and tonight. Two years ago a similar storm blew through and we (along with over one million of our closest friends) were without power for nearly a week. I'm planning to hunker down, make crab cakes, drink hot choocolate and knit.

I have a dubious history with snow - childhood tobogganing accident downhill into a frozen creek bed upon which I broke my elbow and wrist. Another sledding accident in which the resultant crash led to several stitches and a jagged scar over my left eye. Memories of a miserable 10 hour ski outing at Mt. Baker wearing improper outdoor clothing whilst facing a wind chill of 9 degrees. For all my grumbling about the snow, snow crystals and snowflakes are quite extraordinary. Definitely take a moment and take a peek at Caltech Physics Professor Kenneth G. Libbrecht's amazing web site to see more about them - "what they are, where they come from, and just how these remarkably complex and beautiful structures are created, quite literally, out of thin air" at
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/

I'll post an update on Nihon Vogue Year 2 projects later this weekend - Dolman, Raglan and Aran.... The top down raglan in llama and wool from Nihon Vogue Year 1 is turning out to be a warm and welcome sweater for this cold climate.

Happy Birthday wishes to my sister Paula today!