Happy New Year! (and playing with reversible cables)

We have two of these wonderful Mexican boxes. Have no idea what their purpose is. We found the one below in a craft shop on Deer Isle, Maine and the one above at a Goodwill store. The people are playing musical instruments and everyone is having a good time. Seems appropriate for New Year's Eve.
I love reversible cables! They are perfect for scarves. The swatches below are all based on k2p2 ribbing. The pattern below is (k2p2 2x, k1p1) 3x, k2p2 2x. The idea is that the cable itself is k2p2 2x, so you can play with it however you like. I made two scarves for friends using a k2p2 rib as an edging and also in between the cables (instead of no edging and a k1p1 between the cables as it is below).
Below is a swatch with 4 k2p2 2x cables with nothing in between them.
I liked the "nothing in between", and the scarf below is five cables with no ribbing in between.
This sideways photo shows the squishiness, or thickness, of this pattern.
Best wishes for the New Year!

winter walk

This is a stressful time of year. The cure is to throw on your down jacket, pull on your big winter boots, wrap yourself up in your hand knit scarf, hat and mittens and go for a walk. Inspired by blogger dovegreyreader (books and knitting), who posts lovely photos of the English countryside around her home, I took my camera on a recent walk around the block.
It is, as you can see, winter here in Maine.

I love these old Maine farmhouses.
Dusk is the best time of day for a walk.
-Kathy

Page Farm and Home Museum Holiday Fair

We were a vendor yesterday at this delightful Holiday Fair at the University of Maine's Page Farm and Home Museum. Vendors were set up in the Museum, a huge 19th century barn filled with charming household and farming implements from the 18th and 19th centuries. The vendor next to me was selling these socks, which I snatched up. Yes, I should be making them myself, but...
I also couldn't resist these wonderful mittens made from Icelandic homespun, the sale of which benefited women in Appalachia. The lady who made them told me that making mittens to sell at this fair had freed her to just make what she wanted. Who could resist mittens knitted for the pure pleasure of it?
This is a display from the Museum.
The other side of the room above.
Gorgeous spinning wheel.
Kitchen displays.
There were also vendors selling locally made cheese.
I couldn't resist this delicious cheese from Olde Oak Farm. All their cheeses are wonderful but the Camembert is amazing.
My family are big fans of Daily Bread. The bread is scrumptious and it is a family owned and run (the parents, and I believe five children under the age of 18) business. I also bought a big jar of maple syrup. My husband loves to make pancakes or waffles on the weekend, and we smother them with maple syrup. Delicious and good for you! Of course, local is best.
We have been having a very warm and mild fall. Until last night.
Above is our side yard, below the view from my study window.
Lastly, thank you for your great response to our 2 for 1 sale! It continues through December.
Happy holidays from all of us at Knitting Out Loud!
- Kathy