Ferko / hippeastrum

Ferko has transformed herself into a lap cat. Wants to be on my lap almost all the time. She's hard to type around, though, and little clouds of white hair float through the air every time she moves or I pet her. I can't seem to groom her enough.

The biggest and plumpest of my seedling hippeastrum bulbs is now putting out a flower stalk, one that appears to be almost full-sized. This makes three so far.

Snow is forecast, to be followed (or so says the hyperventilating media establishment) bone-chilling cold. I wish these guys would turn down the alarmism. Still, I had best hustle to the crack dealer yarn shoppe and the Asian grocery this morning. Roy has already headed out to the sidewalk de-icer purveyor (hardware store).

White yarn and bok choi

I skittered out ahead of the alleged snowstorm to pick up the rest of the yarn for the christening blanked, and also to lay in some groceries from my new favorite store, the Big 8 market at 16th and Washington.

The yarn isn't especially fancy. It's Debbie Bliss 4 ply fingering yarn
http://www.loopyarn.com/Detail.asp?ProductID=51693

The suggested gauge calls for a #3 needle, which felt way too small, so I'm working with #5s, in the pattern called 'kimono' from the Folk Shawls book. It's a nice comfy pattern and I'm pleased to be working it.

The Big 8 has gone up a few more notches toward being my favorite store. It carries milk. Also, it takes credit cards. And it has these huge tins of low sodium biscuits from Malaysia, perfect for having with afternoon tea. I bought other tasty things -- a jar of galingale, a big bunch of cilantro, incredible quantities of baby bok choi and broccoli crowns.

I came home and made myself a soup of turkey broth (from the Christmas turkey), bok choi, onion, cilantro, and tofu, flavored with galingale and cayenne. Mmmmmmmm. A few low sodium biscuits and I am a happy camper. Now I think I'll go find a nice movie and work on the BenBen Blankie.