Hiking in Rinconada Canyon yesterday afternoon was beautiful... it's so quiet this time of year, and there are not so many people out. All the greens of the brush and grasses and purples and whites of the flowers have faded to their winter yellows and golds by now. It's a lovely hike, but it is getting cold and windy. I've started a new project out of neccessity: fingerless mitts. I always hike with Charlie, so having open fingers is helpful, but my hands were just so cold! I need a little help. I'm using Bijou Spun Tibetan Dream sock yarn - a fingering weight 100% yak down yarn. It's so squishy and soft! I have it in two natural colors - cream and brown - but I only have a photograph of the cream:

I'm winding up the brown right now. I don't have a picture but it's interesting: the cream is this lovely matte natural color, but the brown has a definite sheen - I hope it shows up in photographs. I think they'll look really pretty together in a slipped-stitch pattern (I also think they'll feel great on the hands that way; seriously, the squish factor is high). Jacob has the morning walk shift with Charlie, and it's even colder when he goes out, so he's getting a pair, too. I'm looking forward to swatching!

p.s. thanks for the Simple Things love over on Ravelry! It's been really fun to see all the hearts and watch the queue numbers grow! :) To anyone who knits it - I sure hope you like it! There are already some new projects in progress that are so, so pretty. Yay!