It's Beginning to Knit Alot Like Christmas . . .

Here's some pictures of the piles I have. This first is the pile of knitting that is done or almost done . . . minus a few items. I won't call out anything or anyone specific, but you can see that there are several lovely yarns and some interesting stitch patterns! Hehehe! It's so much fun to be making things for people. I feel like I'm my own little Santa's Workshop!




Next are some of the in-process things I've got going. Let's see, just for Xmas I have . . . umm . . . 4 things on the needles at the moment. I have yarn for several more items. If my quick calculation yesterday afternoon was correct, I have about 7-10 more things, total, to finish before gifting this holiday season. It'll certainly keep me busy, eh?



Favorite yarn so far: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted (the color I have isn't shown)- it's so soft and springy, I almost forget it is wool!
Favorite stitch pattern: will always either be plain stockinette in the round or cables
Favorite project: I don't know yet! More on this later!
Lesson I'm learning: sometimes the perfect gift for someone you love is just going to be boring knitting, but it will produce something so beautiful and refined that you simply must keep it simple.

I met another crocheter today, and he's an Entymologist. We were talking about crocheting little quick toy things like my neurons, and I got to wondering if I could free-hand some crocheted bugs. I think I might have to try it soon, but I should not let it distract me from Xmas knitting - what a conundrum!

Christmas Knitting

How am I going to find the time to do all of the Christmas Knitting that I want to do? Ack! I've got about 5 projects on the needles right now, but I've got oodles and oodles of people I'd like to knit for. Problem is, I also have a full-time job AND I need to sleep sometimes!

Let's face it, some people are going to have store-bought things this year. That's just all there is to it. I hate it, but dems da facts. Sigh.

There, I've said it.

But maybe I can take time off to do more knitting . . . . .

Planning for Holidays

I have 2 things on my mind today - how to schedule my staff during the holiday season and how to schedule my family time. These are tough choices!

I don't have much time to post today, but I will say this - I work for a fabulous library. We provide excellent customer service, and that includes around the holidays. We do, however, close for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We get paid for those closed days, too, which is delightfully generous! It throws a bit of a monkey wrench into our scheduling, but you know what? I love puzzles! I'll work it all out (in fact, I think it might all be worked out already) and I think all of my employees will even be quite satisfied with the results. We'll see!

Now for family! How do you schedule limited time off so that you can visit 2 sets of out-of-town parents, don't completely overlap time that other family members are sleeping in the beds you'll need, and still see everyone for the hols? Oh, add in that it's nice to visit with old friends who still live in those 2 towns, and you've got quite a scheduling cocktail, let me tell you! How do you all do it? Do you have one set thing you always do?

When Si was really little we made our families travel to us for Christmas, but now that he's older, and our parents are older as well, we travel to be with them. We'll make it work, especially since all 4 of our parents are wonderful, loving people who understand that they can't always be the center of the day. Everyone has always been so kind about sharing us with the others.

Jumble of Pics

Simon finally removed all the wrist bands he's been wearing and adding to for about 3 years. It was momentous. Look at the difference in his wrists! I'm surprised he didn't need physical therapy! He removed several months ago, but . .. well . . .you know. I'm just getting caught up!




Mike and I got away for a few days to go up to Lake Erie in October. We love it up there, and had a great time. This was at sunset, on the deck of our hotel.






I fished out a few pics of my in-laws at Xmas that I think they won't kill me for posting. We play Shanghai Rummy, and it was fun!






I love that Si is finally old enough to really be good at cards and other games.







This is Dodger, the oldest Terrier "Grand-dog" (my mom's got one grandson and now has 9 grand-dogs - LOL), with Jasper, the baby. Both are decked out in their winter duds.






OK - just one more puppy shot. Mike loved the little guy, too!








And sunset over Lake Erie. (Hey, I warned you it was a jumble!)

Christmases Galore!

I have finally uploaded pictures! Come to find out, I had 262 pictures on my camera that hadn't been loaded onto the computer yet. Yikes! I think I'll start with the most recent events and work my way backwards.

We had 3 Christmases this year. This is not unusual for us, since we end up traveling to my in-law's and then my family's, and we all love having multiple celebrations! First Christmas this year was with my in-laws. We had a great time, and got lots of loot. I took other pics, but I can't share them here because were in our jammies and my MIL and FIL would disown me if I published them. :-)

Christmas 2.0 was with the folks from the L. This is my new staff, and I made everyone hats. The best part of the night was having fun with them, playing games and eating great food.





I do have to admit to joy, though, that they all seem to like their hats (or most of them, anyway), and most of them are actually wearing them in the snow!



Our real Second Christmas was with my family over the New Year's weekend. We got to meet the new puppy that my Brother and SIL got (his name is Jasper).

I made him a little sweater, too, but I'm sure he's torn it up with wiggling by now! I'm going to have to find more stable patterns! He's a little ball of energy!



We had a great time with the family there making puzzles and playing games (and we got another load of loot, which was easier to transport because we also bought a van whilst we were up there).

Xmas Memories, vol 2

"Second Christmas" was at my parents' house. Again, there were great presents. I was especially excited to see my mom open the shawl I knit for her (she loves it, of course!)





To block it, I had to stretch it out on our kingsize bed (to give you some perspective), but it's so soft and light it feels like a cloud (without the damp cold).






We spent several days there since it's been months since we've been up there. We did puzzles, played games (together, and individually on their computers), and did some traditional Xmas things.





We spent time with my brother and his GF.







We made some traditional Swedish dishes (from my paternal grandfather's mother's tradition) of Sylta and Barley(made using the broth from Sylta and adding enough barley to choke a horse, then mixing in ground liver - not my kind of dish, but DH lurves it big time) DH has some good bonding time with my 'rental units by making this with them every few years.


and I made Swedish Limpa Rye Bread to go with it. I didn't use the linked recipe, but instead used one from an old cookbook Mom has from the Swedish church in town. This is about the only rye bread I enjoy. It's got a lovely sweetness from the molasses, and a bit of light tang and bouquet from the orange zest.







I also was able to get together with some old HS chums (thanks for having us all over, ma cher femme!)






And I got DH to pose with his new convertable glove/mittens. Isn't he cute? He lurves these, too, and gave them a test-run today for the annual Christmas Bird Count in the Hocking Hills.

Xmas Memories, vol 1

We started our official season a few weeks before Xmas when my sister and our friend Vicky came over for G-bread house decorating. This is Simon's. It's not just a house, it is a Viking Mead Hall . . .




complete with gumdrop Vikings. He had names for them all and regaled the younger boys (Vicky's kids) with tales of King Ragnar, Ivar, Goorton and Eric.





Our First Christmas was with my in-laws. They are really terrific people, and we love to visit with them. They were very generous with gifts, too! Simon is the only grandchild . . . in both of our families . . . so it's always a big deal to unwrap it all.

We take turns, one person at a time opens one gift at a time. We all agree that it's just as fun watching others open what you've gotten them as it is to open your own stuff.

Beau, one of their cats, was enjoying some sun in the afternoon . . . sharing the table with our Christmas Feast.







Simon and I had some fun outdoors trying to make his new RC Dragonfly stay in the air for more than 2 seconds (crash!)

We had a great time in Marietta. Check back later this weekend for more Xmas stuff . . . and at some point I'll have the whole load of pics on Facebook.

Xmas Meme

My friend, Netter, tagged me a while ago, and I've been so out of things (grouchy, petulant, self-absorbed) that I didn't even know til just now! So, here's me, finally catching up. . .

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? The tradition in my family, for as long as I can remember (so at least 40 years) has been, as much as possible, to wrap box lids and re-use the boxes with fresh (or gently-used) ribbons. Problem this year: we've had Xmas other places so much these last few years that I have no pre-wrapped boxes in the house! Gift bags are nicely re-usable, though.

2) Real tree or artificial? Artificial. I think I've had a real tree, maybe, 5 times in my life. For the past several years we've mostly used a very cheap 4 ft. artificial tree that I got on sale about 20 years ago. It doesn't even come close to fitting all our ornaments, but I like the way it looks in our front window, put up on my grandma's old sewing machine stand. We leave the lights on and store it, with lights, in a big garbage bag. We also distribute extra ornaments around the house on anything that has something sticky-outy and could hold an ornament. I love the haphazardness of it . . . and we have a tendancy to find random ornaments for months after, in odd places where Simon has hung them.

3) When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving, on a weekend when we have time.

4) When do you take the tree down? Usually at or around the beginning of January. One year, when Si was little, and we had a big tree in the livining room and the small tree in his bedroom, we left his small tree up til late Summer or later. Yea, we're just lazy that way.

5) Do you like eggnog? I think I've only tried it once or twice. I think I liked it, but to be honest, it's extra calories I don't need so I never buy it or take it if offered. I'm just as happy with black coffee or straight alcohol. :-)

6) Favorite gift received as a child? I’m not sure … the crocheted afghan my Aunt Ginnie made for me. It is what is now called "Rainbow Blankie" in my house, ever since my son stole it from my bed.

7) Hardest person to buy for? My brother. He keeps his thoughts/desires/feelings very close to the cuff, and is so un-assuming about wanting things that he almost never admits to wanting anything.

8) Easiest person to buy for? My mom. She loves what I love, so it's always a joy to buy/knit for her.

9) Do you have a nativity scene? I would love to have a larger collection of them, but we really have no room. I have 2 sets that are grown-up-ish (one plain stained wood silhouette set, one is the set from my childhood), 2 kids sets (one is almost like little tykes, the other is printed/stuffed cloth that my mom assembled) and a few smaller, self-contained creches.

10) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Stomach flu - about 6 years ago.

11) Favorite Christmas Movie? I love Christmas movies! I love "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Christmas in Connecticutt", even though they're both pretty schmaltzy. For TV specials, you can't beat "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Charlie Brown". I'm a sucker for shows that highlight the true meaning of Christmas.

12) Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High (I love the Glo-o-o-o-o-o-rias!)

13) Travel at Christmas or stay home? We used to stay in town for Christmas when Si was younger, but now we travel. Each year's agenda is different, but we hit both sets of our parents. This year we're just now ending 3 days w/Mike's parents and heading home. Saturday we'll go to my family's for about 6 days.

14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, why not? I’m all for recycling!

15) Favorite ornament theme or color? I prefer hand-made or ornaments with some kind of special significance (like ones we've found on vacation or ones from our childhood). I also have a special collection of pewter ornaments from Wendell August Forge that I display on long strips of red felt, hanging on the wall. I love them so much that I am considering leaving them up all year this year. Mom gets me one each year, and has for over 20 (nearly 30?) years.

Netter said to tag 5 others, so here goes:
Cheryl
Amanda
Kim
Shawn
Don
. . . and anyone else who reads and would like to do the meme - you all know how I love memes!

I'd love to tag both my moms (Hi Mom! HI MIL!), but neither have blogs. Please, if you're up to it, post answers in comments?

Poetry Friday!

Vacation Day

A peaceful way to knit and play
and move us t'ward this Christmas Day.
A mom's tradition, tightly held
allowing me to clean and meld.
I knit some gifts, the flour sifts,
the gingerbread with tangy wiffs.
My friends can come, the house is done,
contentment when the battle's won.

~ Cat

Several years ago, not able to take time off right at the holidays, I took a week at the beginning of December. It was bliss! Taking a few days off now means that I approach the holidays with MUCH less stress and worry. The house is ready (even though we're not really having guests this year), the gifts are bought (and I'll start wrapping soon), and I have time to finish knitting gifts (don't expect pictures til after they've been gifted!). I'm not baking much this year because of WW, but I will make Dad his sweetroll, and Si will want to make some sugar cookies, I'm sure. That'll happen next weekend. Although this week has been different than in past (had to work Mon. afternoon and Thursday, spent Tuesday with a good friend going through Chemo), it's been a blessing and a joy.

Deco and Bolo

We've decorated for Christmas! We might still try some outdoor lights, but the indoors is about as decorated as it will get, short of all the gifts being wrapped and under the tree!

It takes us about an hour to deco. We have a small artificial tree that we just pull out of a garbage bag, with the lights still on from year to year. Then we put as many ornaments as can possibly fit on (hanging 2-4 per branch and some from the bead garland, too).




We put Christmas music on the computer, decorate the tree, and then Simon, the self-proclaimed "crazed 14-year-old decorator" ran around the house hanging miscellaneous decorations wherever there's a place to hang something (ornaments on the lamps, etc). He also set up all the nativity sets (I have several - I sorta collect them).



I did hang some holly boughs on each of our doors, though, as our outdoor decos. It looks pretty, but the ugly, dirty screen doors sorta dull the effect.









The Bolo Ceremony
Today we went to a banquet for Simon to be awarded his special bolo for leadership training. Actually, it wasn't just going through the week of training in August, but to earn the bolo, the boys needed to set some high goals back then, and meet them (and have leaders sign off) by the end of October (or something like that).


I'm very proud of him for doing all of that! His goal was to work with his Bible Study leader to increase attendance at their gatherings, and he did!

Don't you just love handsome men in uniform?

Poetry Friday!

Christmas is so close now
I feel the deadline looming
I must do all my shopping,
the cleaning and the grooming.
There's so much still to do,
I can't quite fit it in.
So now I must prioritize,
Make lists and categoricize,
Knit this, clean that, now knit a hat
I wonder if it's this boy's size . . .

Or maybe what I need to do
Is focus on what I know is true.
This holiday is ringing clear,
Spend time with those that you hold dear.
Don't worry about each speck of dust.
Baking more sweets is not a must!
Find time to nurture, time to hug,
Slow down and spend time close, and snug.
Presents are nice, and cookies, too
But more important, is being with you.

~ sappiness brought to you by Cat, herself.

LIttle Boxes made of ticky tacky . . .

Yesterday was Sculpey Day! My BFF came over, with her daughter, and we sat around all afternoon playing with Sculpey and getting a jump-start on Christmas Crafting! I kept going until my back hurt too much to keep slouching over the table. I'm covering Altoid boxes. The darkish ones are all intended for men . . . Si's teachers, etc. Suggestions for what to put in them? I'm thinking M&M, or even mini M&Ms . . . any other ideas? I love the way the colors swirl and layer. Sometimes I cover the bottom of the box, too, but honestly, that nearly doubles the time, and taking a poll of the men in my house, I got a 100% that male recipients of these boxes won't give a darn.

Knitting Christmas

My mom with her vest. Lovely alpaca from my good friend, Nancy, at Peru Hollow Farms near St. Louis, MO.

My brother's hat.

My assistant manager's cap.

My brother-in-law with his hat on (with my sister).

My son and quasi-cousins, Andrew and Jay.

Yea, yea, {Insert here the usual apologies for neglecting my blogosphere public}, but I'm here now! Check back soon for some rants and more pictures. LOL

Crafty and Sneaky

Well, my loyal readers, I have been neglecting you. I feel the cold breath of Christmas on my neck and I fear it will arrive before I've finished all the gifts! I can't show you any more pics, either, because it's too close and what's left is for people who read the blog! Yikes!

So, to entertain you, I have pictures of our annual GBH construction! (Ginger Bread House, you silly.)

Here is my lovely sister Linda and her confectionary abode. Her classic use of green piping for the roof treatment, green chewy holley over the front door and marshmallow snow person make this a treat for the eyes.

Next, we have Andrew, Jay and Vicky with their cookie carnaval! I don't know if Andrew actually adhered any candy to the house (most of what touched his hands went directly into his mouth), but he and Jay, with Vicky's help, have made a great house, and you can see how proud they all are! I particularly like the snow person, even though he needs some assistance standing. Oh, and the jelly garden is quite enchanting.

Finally, you have Simon and myself displaying our 2007 entry. This is the first year we've done the cereal/thatched roof, and I do like it! Also note the coconut snow and the lovely jelly stained glass window on the end of the house (completely conceived and created by Simon). That mass of red frosting and chocolate covered peanuts is supposed to be a fireplace and chimney. Jay declared the chimney "really, really beautiful," so I feel appreciated.

I don't know how many years we've done these, but we always have a great time. I can't wait to do another one!

Oh, and a shameless plug here for the Wilton GBH kit. I can't believe we used to make the cookies ourselves! It would take at least an entire day to get the cookies made, and then we'd invariably have a damaged one or three, and have trouble putting them together because of unevenness or something. Don't do it! For $9.00 you can get one of these kits, complete with frosting mix and candy. We usually add more candy and stuff, but even if we didn't we'd end up with great houses. You can't even buy the baking stuff for $9.00 a pop, and frankly, our time is much better spent doing other things . . .like decorating! One tip - buy them early, early, early in the season. Last year I didn't get them til late and we ended up having to buy the huge size houses. This year I got them way back at or before TG, and it was EXCELLENT!

Christmas Knitting!

This is our gingerbread house. Lovely little abode, eh? Notice the little people on the front?



Jay, Andrew, Daisy (their new puppy) and Simon. It's really cool to see my own son playing with the younger kids and being sweet and wonderful about it. Warms the heart.



My dad and mom with their new scarves. You can see that Dad is wearing the hat I made him for his birthday, too - they are of the same yarn. Yes, they love their gifts! The moebious scarf is so long, Dad was getting creative in putting it on - looping it all around his body. I have decided not to share those pictures. :-\


A closeup of Mom's scarf. The yarn is exquisite, and Jan at the Merc found me the absolute perfect garment for it. It turned out perfect (well, except for a few well-placed mistakes so that we all remember that I am not perfect like God . . . or something).

Christmas, part 1

A few pictures from the present orgy of the morning with my in-laws. No pictures of them, or of me, as we were still in jammies and . . . well . . . to put it kindly, my FIL's hair was stupendous. ;-)


Mike was often honored to play matress for Sunshine, a very old kitty. She's frail now, and doesn't move well, but she does love body heat, and Mike is gifted that way.



These are the socks (and the feet) of FIL and MIL. They fit perfectly - yay - and they both seem to like them! I just hope they actually wear them and don't "save them for good".

My parents are joining us this afternoon, so I should have a few more pics later today or tomorrow.