December Light & Frost

The sun turned a few days ago and the days are getting longer each day. Right now we are having some really cold weather with temperatures around -25 C. Yesterday though it was only -15 C so Hubby and I went snowshoeing in the forest. It was so cold and quiet one could almost hear the frost jingle when it drizzled off the trees.  And as you can see it's not completely dark here during the polar nights. There is a pink, orange, purple or blue light here depending on the time of the day :)

Yarn Along

What are you knitting and reading this week? I'm joining Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along.

We are in the third day of cold weather here, the second with -25 C, so I'm feeding the woodstove and are drinking tea today.

Knitting: In one of the Norwegian groups on Ravelry we are trying to knit up our stash. And one way of doing it is by picking out about 600 g of yarn and try to knit it up by the end of April. Here's a photo of the yarn I found in my stash. and one of the balls of yarn I found was a ball of Freedom Spirit I have had in my stash for years. I think I got it in a swap and have never known what to knit out of it as it's just 50 g. But after some browsing on Ravelry I decided to cast on a pair of Nalu mitts. And they are turning out great :)

Reading: Last night I finished The Ice Twins. And what a heartbreaking story it was! So if you haven't read it you must. Tonight I'm starting The Husband's Secret.

Even though it's freezing cold outside, it's so beautiful and the sky makes promises of a returning sun.
It was cold, but still refreshing when I went for a walk yesterday. All bundled up in wool ;) But despite wearing a woolly tights, my butt and thighs were SO cold when I got home. I might have to knit a pair of Majas Mamelucker to keep warm ;)

FO :: Socks

I just love these socks!
It's such a great pattern for using up leftovers and those single 50 g balls of solid color in your stash.
I know I'll have to knit more in other colors.

Ravelry project page
Pattern: Socks with pattern (free pattern)
Yarn: Various, Fabel, Sisu, Ida and Senjagarn, 81 g total
Needles: 2,5 mm / US 1.5
Size: 64 sts

We went hiking to our lean-to today to stack up some wood there for the winter, made a bonfire and enjoyed a cup of tea and cacao :)  It's been a very dry fall/early winter here and no snow yet... It's great to don't have to shuffle snow and it's easy to hike in the forest, but I really would like some snow to lighten up the days now as the polar nights are coming.

And even if the sun is not high enough to shine on us, she makes the most beautiful sunsets!

Our Polar Nights Are Not Dark

Polar nights in norwegian is called "mørketid" and could be translated into "dark times".
Of course it is dark, but the light is incredible when the sky is clear!
Today when we went to our lean-to for some sledding, the sky was blue/purple with pops of yellow. But as it got later in the day, it turned more pink and orange until it looked like the sky was on fire.
Despite the pretty skies lately, I am ready for the sun to return with longer and lighter days!