how I know fall is here

My goLite is back on my desk.

I bought mine at the end of winter earlier this year, so it was priced lower than it's available for now, but I'd say it's a bargain no matter what.

I was having a hell of a time getting out of bed last winter. By using the goLite [there are instructions with it that tell you how to do this] at specific times for specific lengths, it helped reset my inner [sleepy] clock. Here: you can take a test at the manufacturer's site that helps explain if you need the thing and how you'd use it if you do.

This morning, I woke up to rain and grey and could have slept another 2 hours [and I'd already slept in]. So I pulled out the goLite for the season. It's nice to know that even as it gets darker outside, I have a way out of the dark this year.

all done.

folded vertically for pretty. each duvet is about the size of the top of the mattress, so we both have enough for ourselves and quite a bit to hang over the edge of the bed. yes, they're wrinkly. why bother ironing duvet covers when you'll just crinkle them as soon as you get into bed?

besides, i'm having trouble getting up in the morning. :-)

fabrics include Amy Butler's Belle, Lotus, Charm and maybe even Ginger Bliss, and some choice Kaffe Fassett Roman Glass. very glad they're done.

oh. oh. ohhhhhhhh.

i was as a house afire last night. the top was together, and all i had to do was [oh, how simple, right?] overlock the remaining raw seams, attach the top to the twin sheet i bought for the purpose and sew 'em together.

it was as i was struggling with the latter that i remembered why i don't quilt much any more. sewing anything large-scale isn't fun for me, not at all. BUT! this isn't a quilt. it doesn't have to lay perfectly flat front to back. it's simply a big pillowcase for a fluffy duvet. fluffy is forgiving.

so i forged on ahead. discovered some shortcuts to make it easier, and also discovered that they don't really cut sheets on grain [do they? except where else do you get a piece of super-soft 70" wide fabric without a seam, so i sucked it up and kept going].

unwashed, i slipped the cover on the duvet and admired my handiwork. but it wasn't enough. so i slept under it. and i haven't slept that well in ages. there's something about the puffiness of a good duvet [our last one WASN'T a good one] and the inticing crackle of the high-thread-count cotton the duvet is made out of as you move in the night.

it's all mighty, mighty fine. and very, very pretty.

in order to keep motivated, i post no pictures and will not until the second is made and the bed is dressed properly. you want to talk about second-sock syndrome? how's second-duvet-cover syndrome sound??

going! bye!

whew

ripped.
reknit.
fixed. all better now.

i'm going to have to talk Tina into carrying this colorway [again? did she ever or was it ust an experiment?]. it's amazing.

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off to the MIL's house to eat the traditional xmas party feast. they're Guyanese-Canadian, so it's a bit of a mishmosh of black-eyed peas [yum], meat-based stuffing, [i don't touch the stuff. the idea of it scares me], black pudding [see previous, times a thousand], probably something macaroni-ish with cheese [yum] and the staple of the meal: KFC. i eat KFC about once a year now, and this is the time. gimme somadat crispy stuff with extra transfat, baby!

meanwhile, i got my jewish holiday fix when i was home with my fam for dad's party/chanukah. i even had a side order of latkes with my breakfast when we went to Max's deli in Highland Park.

so all is right with the world.

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it's quiet here in bloggy land, but i'm not going anywhere and am thrilled. some of the local knitfolk are having parties to take advantage of their weekday freedom, and the Purple Purl is having a pajama party/knit in on New Year's day that you'd have to chain me to my bed to miss.

oh, and it's pouring rain and 8c outside. and i just don't care. i'm off to eat the Colonel.

true love

valentine's day may be tomorrow, but you know it's love when your sweetheart brings you this when you tell him you're sick and you could use some tea.

i don't know why apricot tea is my drink of choice when i'm sick, but it is and has been as long as i can remember. it's soothing and i only want it when i feel like this.

one other thing i've been doing since coming back from the big big boat is to peek at where it is most every day. the cruise line shares the feed from the bridge web cam on the net, and i take full advantage. ahh, it's sunny in grand cayman today. i can almost feel it.