Thor’s birthday gifts to me took my breath away.
Package No. 1: This is the newest addition to my essential knitting supplies – purchased at REI. This head lamp (the Cosmo) by Black Diamond allows me to knit in all levels of (low) lighting and in the dark. I use it several times a day (depending on where I sit and the time of day, of course)! It has a ratcheting swivel head lets me set the light’s direction as well as the brightness of the beam. It also has a strobe and red light feature too, but I haven’t yet found them useful for knitting. 
It rests on the bedside table and, if I am traveling, goes in the knitting travel bag.
Package No. 2: Soft and squishy, I opened the package to discover 50 grams (400 yards) of 100% bison down yarn (Buffalo Gold from Paradise Fibers)! As soon as I felt it I knew I wanted to knit something that 
could sit on my shoulders or wrap around my neck. I experimented with lace swatches but ultimately decided, though beautiful and rich, chocolate brown is simply not my color. So I was left pondering how to show case the buffalo but 
get some color into it. I popped by Artfibers and decided to knit a simple shawlette called Deep Triangle designed by Alice Schulman (Esila on Ravelry). I held one strand each of the bison down and Tsuki (color #10), a 2 ply lace-weight mohair/silk blend. It was a fast and easy knit (save for the tendency of Tsuki to slip), and I added two rows of drop stitch patterning toward the bottom. (The bison was a little unevenly spun but very springy.) By the way, look at the difference lighting makes. Both of these pictures were taken with my iPhone; I took the one above in Artfibers’ studio; I took the (closeup) picture on the right on my desk.
Package No. 3: I was excited to open my last package and discover the 1968 edition (6th printing) of Sara Kasdan’s classic Loaves & Knishes: An Irrepressible Guide to Jewish Cooking. For the last couple of years I have been on a quest to revise some of Kasdan’s recipes, updating ingredients without ruining their comforting, traditional taste. (For instance, I do not use schmaltz (chicken fat) and substitute ground turkey for ground beef lung.) The book is in inscribed “To Cousin Martha, With Love, from Doris, May 13, 1959.” I will guess that, given the perfect condition of the book and jacket, that Cousin Martha did not cook much. (If you are wondering what this gift has to do with knitting … I knit a lot while baking. )
I feel spoiled.
Happy Birthday, Karen!!!
Thank you … I no longer want to count the years, just celebrate meeting them!
Happy birthday! I have one coming up very soon. Maybe I will also request some fibre-related gifts
Do ask for the special fibre-related gifts! Thor gets me the best ones! He is on the emailing list of a couple of places so often buys neat stuff in advance at good prices.
Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great one =)
I did – I had a wonderful one! And it started with my daughter presenting me with a traditional Norwegian breakfast. It was great (though my grandchildren made faces when I was eating the sardines).
Oh sounds really lovely! Haa…children, got to love them
Great gifts! Happy Birthday!
I thought so!
Happy birthday! What thoughtful gifts.
And who knew that the headlamp would be so useful for knitting?!
I never knew what schmaltz was. Yick.
I think using schmaltz was great in the old days when people labored in the fields, walked everywhere etc., but now days I am happy to substitute some traditional flavor for cardiovascular health.
I think I usually hear that word as an adjective. Schmaltzy. I think it means sentimental. Wonder what the connection is.
Happy Birthday! I appreciate all gifts, but I love it when a gift works out perfectly like this. It’s almost magical. -Nizzy
I agree … it is magical!
Also, maybe you can point me to a really good matzo ball soup recipe? I owe this dish to a friend and I want to make sure it is delish.
I am happy to share mine … Gets rave reviews. ??
Excellent! I just sent you an email.
happy birthday!! knitting while baking i should try it !!!
I regularly do that – something really homey about great smells wafting from the kitchen while yarn slips through my fingers!
Q – Happy Birthday! I love my “hang over the neck” light.
I have some buffalo just sitting in the stash. Like your idea of knitting two stranded with a different color.
I think the silk/mohair strand I added also provides some strength. I haven’t tried the hanging neck lights, though I’ve seen them. I will have to give that a try.
Happy birthday! I love your buffalo blending result. Very resourceful!
The bison would probably be insulted! I have about 22 g remaining and plan on knitting a pair of simple wristlets and sewing on a line of small buttons if I cam find them to match the blue !
Great post, made me feel happy. Have a great year!
Thank you! So far so good!
Happy belated birthday!
Thank you … My loved ones always spoil me.
You have no idea how many times I’ve contemplated buying one of those REI headlamps. So glad to know that it actually works for knitting. Happy Belated Birthday!
Oh yes – amazing for knitting! And they also work quite well as instant night lights should you need to find something in the dark. We each keep ours by our side of the bed. (You can probably find last year’s model at a discount rate at REI’s outlet.)
I’m definitely going to look. It will be perfect for all those road trips coming home from basketball games in the winter.