I have a pair of socks that are ALLLLLLLMMMMMOOOOSSST finished. (I decided to wait on a photo until both were done). They're a slip stitch pattern using Lorna's Laces "Watercolor" and I'm extremely happy with how they're turning out.

I'm coming to the conclusion that for busy variegateds (as opposed to variegates which are just shades of the same color), slip stitch patterns are one of your best bets, as they cut way down on the tendency for those yarns to "pool" or "flash."

*****

I almost went back and changed my shoes this morning. It's supposed to be unnaturally warm (at least, I think unnaturally warm for January) here today (the precursor to a huge winter storm system coming in - the low pressure up to the north and west of us is sucking up all kinds of warm wet air from the Gulf). So I'm wearing an outfit I more typically wear in early fall, and I put on a pair of little bone-colored semi-sandals that I have. (Mainly because I was sick of wearing the only other pair of dress shoes that go with this outfit. I have three pairs of dress shoes: a black pair, a brown pair, and the pair I am wearing).

Then I realized: it's between Labor Day and Memorial Day. You're not "supposed" to wear light shoes or dressy sandals this time of year. And I looked at my feet and I wondered if anyone would make some kind of a crack about my inappropriate footwear.

Then I remembered that I work in a biology department. And frankly, at some schools, it's a good day if all their biologists are even WEARING shoes.

And besides: when it's going to be as warm here in January as it is in Northern Michigan on Memorial Day (which is usually where I am on Memorial Day), you can't blame me for being confused about how I'm supposed to dress.

*****

The other end of this low pressure system is leading to a "winter storm watch." We might (or might not) get sleet and freezing rain Saturday or Sunday. I had some minor weekend plans for Saturday but I've decided to scrub them; the movements of fronts and such is unpredictable enough and I'd rather not be driving home Saturday afternoon and run into sleet.

Besides, I have plenty to do at home. I'm going to try my second new recipe this weekend (honey-hoisin chicken done in the slow cooker). And I've got my quilt, and knitting, and books to read, and a big stack of CDs I haven't listened to in a long time.

As much fun as my Saturday plans were going to be, it's also kind of fun to just stay home when the weather's bad, and feel a little smug because you've got dinner going in the slow cooker, and a cup of tea, and a good book, and something nice to listen to on the stereo.