Thankful

Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I have reminders still of all that I have to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for Family: There were 20 of us for Thanksgiving, and being at my younger sister's house meant we could all sit in the same room together. Here's the table before we all sat down.

I'm thankful we have enough to eat. Here's my mom and others getting the meal ready, with plenty of room to be together. Having plenty of food to eat and share is a blessing. And wine too. Can't forget the wine!



I'm thankful for the kids in my family. Mine, and others. Here's my Absent-Minded Professor (red shirt) playing with his favorite male cousins.



Mayhem playing pool with her 6 year old cousin, Hadley.



I'm thankful that my 10.5 year old Lab, Bruno, still likes to play. His health hasn't been great off and on lately, but today he was feeling good. He gutted his "baby" and was having great fun showing off.


I needed to vacuum anyway.

I'm thankful I finished the Rainbow Blankie. See? Knitting and my knitting friends are a blessing in my life.


I have woven in the ends since I took that photo!

Good thing it's finished, too, because the recipient arrived yesterday, November 30! Meet my newest great-niece, Ansley Rose. I'm thankful she arrived safely and is healthy! Congrats to my nephew Andy, his wife Rebecca, and big brother, AJ.

I'm thankful for the love and support of my family and friends.

Public Service Announcement

Today is October 25.

That means

CHRISTMAS IS EXACTLY TWO MONTHS FROM TODAY!!

Feel free to commence with the panic.

In other news, here's a great photo of the decadently delicious caramel apple rolled in nuts that I treated myself to during the kidnapping trip... It's definitely drool-worthy! The apple inside is a Granny Smith. mmmmmmm My favorite!

Do you have favorite fall treats? My kids love making S'Mores outside over a fire. I love Pumpkin Spice Latte's from Starbucks. What about all of you?

The Day After The Day After

It was the day after The Day After. You know, not The Day After Christmas, or Boxing Day; it was the next day, December 27. Mayhem and The Absent-Minded Professor, exhausted from THREE Christmases, declared it "Pajama Day."

December 24th the kids were with me, and we celebrated together. A little dog embarassment was in order. Poor Bruno.

"I got an X-Box!"

Christmas Day, the kids were with their dad and his side of the family, while I was with Bill and the College Guys. (Somewhere there's a photo of me in a turkey-induced coma, snoozing on Bill... Thanks, College Kid!) Buying for the College Guys was tricky this year, but I think they were happy and surprised with their gifts.

The Day After was spent with my side of the family; that meant 20 of us were together, spanning four generations, and that didn't even include everyone! For us, the day ended with a 2-hour drive home.

At Oma and Opa's

The rules for Pajama Day were simple:

1. Participants could sleep in as late as they wanted, and had to stay in their jammies all day. (Mayhem was the winner, staying in her bed until Noon!)

2. Movies, video games, new toys, knitting and general R-and-R were required.

3. Christmas cookies and treats had to be eaten all day if available.

Later in the afternoon, I laid in my favorite corner of the sectional sofa, in front of the fire, watching light snow fall outside. My knitting and a book were in my lap. One of the Labs snored and dreamed at my feet. The kids were happy and not fighting. It was one of those rare moments when you know how blessed you truly are. The kind of moment you file away to revisit and treasure later on a day that's not so good.

Here's hoping you had moments that pointed out your blessings to you, too!

Gratitude

The other day I wrote that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and with it coming up next week, I wanted to take the time to make note of some of the things I am thankful for. Really, I am blessed and can't list everything, but it's good to think about it, you know?

Friends – you know who you are. My friends are the people who boost me up every day. They are the ones who challenge me to become a better person. I have found I surround myself with people, who, like me, see the glass as half full, and it’s something delicious with which to raise our glasses and make a toast! One never knows what life will bring, and there’s no point in spending time with negative people who bring you down.

Love – I am so fortunate to have found my soul mate. Bill is my best friend and the love of my life! We finish each others’ sentences, reach the same conclusions at the same time, and sometimes even buy the same greeting cards. Some of our most wonderful evenings are those we spend sitting at home knitting and reading together and not saying a word. When we’re apart, I feel as though a part of me is missing.

Family – I am so blessed to still have my parents and siblings here with me, despite some serious illness scares the past couple of years. We are close, and we are silly, and when we are all together we can be scary and a bit intimidating to outsiders. LOL I know how lucky I am, and I give thanks every day for my crazy family… all the way down to my parents’ great-grandchildren. On top of that, I am going to be step-mom to two wonderful college boys whom I love dearly. They, along with Mayhem and Absent-Minded Professor, keep me laughing and fill my heart with joy.

And then there are the daily things… coffee, knitting, sunshine, snow, my mom’s cooking, knitting, a warm house, snoring dogs, good wine, a job that pays the bills, knitting, my local yarn shop, modern medicine, knitting… the list goes on and on. Did I mention knitting?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo Ops

Easter weekend photos for you...

Mayhem with the knitted Wiener Dog, which has been named Pinky. Pinky goes everywhere with Mayhem. She loves, loves, loves it! Details? Encore Worsted, size 7 needles and the book Knitted Toys by Zoe Mellor.

Absent-Minded Professor during the Easter Egg Hunt at Uncle Rudi's farm. Hey, there are eggs in the tree!

Beloved Bill, who became fast friends with Louie during the Egg Hunt festivities.
My darling parents, out for a walk together. Aren't they cute? Dad will be 75 this week, and the entire family is gathering to celebrate.

Random musings... I have a knitting retreat coming up April 25-26 that I am greatly looking forward to! I am in the process of refinancing my house for a great rate, but so is half the country, it seems, so it is slow going. I would appreciate some good thoughts this week. I have an MRI and MRA (angiogram) later this week. The MRA is to check for aneurysms and weak blood vessels - related to my migraines. It's that time of year when Bill and I get into full gear for the Washington DC trip, too. This year my Absent-Minded Professor is in 7th grade and he's going on the trip. Mayhem is playing softball again, so we're also busy running her to practice three days a week. Busy, busy, busy...

Sunday I Saw A Camel

Sunday afternoon, I was driving over to Buddy Bill's, and I nearly got into an accident because traffic was backed up for a camel. Yes, a camel. A real life, very large camel. Cars were stopped all over the place for people to get a look.

What, you may be asking, does a camel have to do with knitting?

I'm going to tell you. (You knew I was, right?)

That was December 14, and the camel was part of a living Nativity on the front lawn of a church that I pass on my way to work, my way to Buddy Bill's, my way to Costco... Anyway, it hit me. Only ten more days until Christmas Eve! Wow, I still had shopping to do. (I still do, but it's OK.)

I'm going to digress for a moment here. As far as living Nativities go, this was above and beyond. It has to be fairly simple to procure a couple of sheep, since, being in NW Ohio, we are located close to some pretty rural areas. Living Nativity scenes here include a sheep or two easily. But a camel? A living camel? People were petting the camel and touching it and taking photos. It really was amazing to see. Buddy Bill's comment when I sent him a text message about seeing the camel? "I'll take 2 bottles of whatever you've been drinking!"

Now, back to the knitting. I promised photos of the Ribs and Ruffles scarf I made for my mother. Because it was so simple, and fast, and because, like potato chips, you can't stop at one, I have also knitted another in the meantime. Oh, there's another reason. We're having a gift exchange at work tomorrow and I (silly me) thought it would make a great gift to swap. It's safe, since I know the one male counselor is not participating.

The dark scarf is for my mom. This pinky-red one goes into the gift exchange. Hopefully it will be loved.

Are you ready? Done knitting? Gifts wrapped?

Itty Bitty

Yesterday was a lazy day. Buddy Bill and I went out to breakfast, napped, watched a James Bond DVD, stayed indoors and ate chili...

While watching the movie, I knitted a mitten ornament for Bill's little Christmas tree. The candy is included for scale. US size 1 needles were used for this itty bitty mitten, and some leftover sock yarn. Sorry for the cell phone photo. You can find the pattern by searching "mini mitten" on Ravelry (it's blocked to me at work!) or check out this link to pattern.

If you have some scrap yarn and 30-40 minutes, whip a couple of these up!

Holiday Knitting

How many days until Christmas? Oh yes, twenty one. 21. Sorry, I don't mean to alarm you!

Not being good with deadlines, I made sure to not commit myself to making many gifts for the holidays. Instead, I planned only to knit two for sure, and any after that would be bonus gifts. I love giving hand-knitted gifts, but rather than putting pressure on myself with deadlines, I knit them all year and present them as I complete them.

The mittens I showed in progress last time are finished, and I can now show you the felted clog slippers that have been completed. Both of these items are for Bill's boys, and they are really the only planned knitting for Christmas gifts this year. College Kid (the older) loves his socks that I made earlier this year so much, that I know he'll love warm slippers to wear in his big old rental house off campus.

Since completion of the slippers, shown before felting and after, I have cast on a scarf for my mom, using some yummy Misti Alpaca yarn. The pattern is here, Ribs and Ruffles, and uses just one skein of chunky yarn. I'm using the baby alpaca called for in the pattern. I am halfway finished, and might, maybe, make a couple more, since it's so quick and easy.

Are you knitting madly or taking it easy?

Thankful

There's so much to be thankful for, and I try hard all year to stop and acknowledge all I'm blessed with. Certainly friends and family, my steady job, health insurance and roof over my head make the list. Today I saw gasoline for $1.53, so that is making the list! I will be filling my tank before driving to my parents' for Thanksgiving on Thursday. Buddy Bill is joining my family this year, since my parents have invited him to participate in the family festivities. I'm thankful we'll get to spend Thanksgiving together!

Know what else I am thankful for? Knitting. When I am stressed or need to think, I can count on knitting to be there. The yarn sliding across the needles, the stitches slipping off the needles, the stitches forming a useful fabric, and the whole process calming me; soothing me. Knitting can be social, or solitary meditation. I can knit to pass a few spare minutes waiting in the car, or knit to pass hours in a waiting room.

Right now I am knitting for others; a few holiday gifts. Pardon the crummy cell phone photos, but these are holiday mittens for College Kid the Younger. Mitten number 2 is just at the point where I will put the thumb stitches on waste yarn and work on the hand of the mitt only.

Lamb's Pride Worsted from Brown Sheep is great mitten yarn!

I include all of you when I count my blessings! XOXOXO

In Memory

This long weekend, here in The UNITED States, is dedicated to honoring our Veterans. The countless men and women who have served so selflessly in our military, protecting this great country, and the freedoms of all who live here.

If you have never been, I urge you go go to Washington, DC and visit Arlington National Cemetery. See the Changing of Guard at The Tomb of The Unknown Soldiers, where the dedicated soldiers march in honor 24 hours a day, leaving a path on the cement.

Watch the Wreath Laying Ceremony that is performed over and over throughout each day. Participate.

Walk among the endless rows of white stones in Arlington, and see who is remembered, and how many more are not.

And be thankful. For ALL of them, be thankful.

Happy New Year!

Since I last checked in with you, the Ribbed Beanie found a home. Mayhem didn't want to model the hat that I finished the other day, remember? Absent-Minded Professor, on the other hand, loved the hat! He adopted the hat as his own as soon as he saw it. I didn't have a specific recipient in mind when I made the hat so I didn't have a problem with my 6th grader keeping it. How wonderful that my kids love the handknits I have given them so far. Even better, this morning it was only 10 degrees and my dear Professor wore the hat to school.

I woke up Jan. 2 intending to go to work as scheduled, only to find I had a fever, was ache-y, and had a cough. Ugh! I put myself back to bed, made arrangements to get the kids to school via their dad, and slept until 3:00PM. Today was pretty much a repeat. Tomorrow is Friday... I think I should try to go to work. You think?

Before being knocked flat, some good things happened, though. Have you ever been to the Detroit Science Center? This was a great time! Buddy Bill and I took Mayhem and Absent-Minded Professor and made sure to see the Our Body exhibit, as well as an IMAX movie about prehistoric Sea Monsters. The kids got to play in their own band, too. B and I were fortunate enough to be outside the booth! See how happy my Professor looks?

The deer that frequent the field we pass on the way home were out that same afternoon. AND I finally had my camera! From the stoplight I was able to capture five of them, including one buck, if you look carefully. It was even trying to snow. The kids and I have seen as many as 12 deer in this field at once. Being inside the city limits, the deer are safe from hunters.

New Year's Eve was a wonderful evening; waving good-bye to the old year and welcoming in a fresh New Year full of promise and opportunity.

Hope 2008 brings you health, happiness and a great deal of knitting time!

The Best Gift

Karen Claus brought herself a new camera for Christmas. That's a pretty amazing gift. It's even better than the previous camera that lived here before. That's not the best gift I received for Christmas though.

The best gift I received was something I wanted AND was knitting related! In fact, I had tried to buy this particular item myself, and it had been bought out from under me from Etsy back in November. This is a thoughtful gift, and useful gift. (No, it's not a toaster!) It's even more special because the giver listened to me and took the time to get me something I desired; not to mention something I'll use for knitting! Thank you, Buddy Bill.

I bet you want to see what that gift might be!



Personalized knitting needles! My photo doesn't do them justice, so be sure to check out the link to the original shop posting at Chelle's shop - K needles. The detail on these is amazing!



The sweater isn't done. I'm having sleeve issues, so the sweater is in time-out. I have been knitting on an Irish Hiking Scarf instead. The beginnings are here. I love the beginnings of knitting projects where you can just get a hint of what is to come later. Since this photo was taken, the scarf has grown to about 11 repeats of the pattern. That's Dream in Color Smooshy yarn, in the November Muse color. Find it at my favorite drug.. er.. yarn supplier The Loopy Ewe.




You all aren't done celebrating yet, are you?

Thanks, Santa Baby!

Santa brought my new camera right before Christmas! Hooray!!!

We now return to blogging in color. With photos.
Once in a while my kids act like they actually love each other. Of course, Santa is watching. ;-)

Friends for Dinner

There's been an interesting turn of events around here, right before Christmas.

Every afternoon, between leaving my school and picking up my kids at their school, I normally talk to Buddy Bill for a few minutes. Thursday afternoon, College Kid answered the phone since B was out running errands. I hadn't seen him since he arrived home for the holiday break. College Kid and I get along OK, but what happened next was a huge surprise. "Hey, I'm cooking dinner tonight and was wondering if you would come over and join us," College Kid said. If I hadn't been buckled into my car with the seat belt, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Even more surprising, when Buddy Bill returned my call, he knew nothing about it! Yes, the dear boy did it all by himself.

Dinner was great, by the way. Pasta with College Kid's amazing sauce, garlic bread, green beans. Yum.

Knitting news? I have cast on for yet another project! I have serious start-itis and am not finishing anything. eeeeek! My Dream In Color Classy arrived from The Loopy Ewe and it's gorgeous. It is fast becoming an Irish Hiking Scarf. A beautiful Irish Scarf. And if I had a camera I would show you!

I think right after Christmas I will be buying a new camera. Or tomorrow, if I decide to brave the stores.

Have a beautiful Christmas, dear friends!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

Well, you know. Christmas. We have 8" of snow and today was an official Snow Day. Yay! I have most of the gifts wrapped. The kids and I went out to lunch and had an otherwise lazy day. Absent-Minded Professor had some homework to get done that he's been procrastinating on, so that was taken care of after my being called a "mean mom" a few times. I guess I get coal this year.

Really, I was a bit surprised at the Snow Day. I managed to make it over to Buddy Bill's yesterday afternoon and back home around 8:00 last night. heheheh Normally it takes me about 12 or 13 minutes to get there and it took me 20 to 22 minutes. The side streets would be terrible for the buses today, though. I am not complaining about a day off when this last week of school before break will be crazy! I had to go over and check out the little tree that I left at Bill's earlier in the week. His place needed some Christmas cheer, so I found a mini tree and some little ornaments, along with one short string of lights. I dropped them off after an early morning doctor appointment - played Santa - on my way back to school.

The tree here is finally up and decorated. It took me a good part of Saturday, but it's done. The kids didn't want to help much, but Mayhem did find some of her special ornaments and add them to tree.

Today, for my random act of kindness for the week, I shoveled the neighbor lady's driveway. Normally her grandchildren would come and help her out, but they are now all serving in the military. She is 82 and there's no way she is going to shovel 8" of snow!

Now, can I finish a sweater in eight days? I don't think so. I might get there in the days after Christmas while I'm on break. Right now, though, since Mayhem stole my pair, I'm itchin' to knit mittens. Must. Resist. Casting. On. Another. Project.

Winter Storm Warning

Dare I say it? It is supposed to snow! The storm is still 24 hours away and we already have a winter storm warning and are expecting up to 8" of snow. Anyone who knows me knows without looking that I'm grinning like an idiot right about now. The only thing that would make it better would be for the storm to arrive late Sunday instead of on Saturday night. I could use Monday off to wrap Christmas presents since I have wrapped exactly one. Yep. One gift. All the kids' gifts are still hidden and as soon as the wrapping paper comes out I know the kids will smell it and start snooping.

I have declared tonight Putting Up The Tree Night to which the kids responded "Nooooooo! You do it!" How in the world did I raise such party poopers? Honestly, I think they caught that attitude from their dad. He has never been one to help decorate or even help put up the tree. Decorating the tree was always such a big deal when I was growing up. We all had favorite ornaments and would talk about memories attached to those ornaments while placing them on the tree. Even now, I get my kids each a new ornament of their own every year. This year Mayhem's ornament is one depicting a scene from the movie A Christmas Story, commemorating the day she stuck her tongue to the fence and got stuck this past winter. Can you tell me the scene? I'm still looking for an ornament for my Absent-Minded Professor. Maybe Charlie Brown since he's so serious?

Having a frequent shoppers' credit at The Loopy Ewe has just about been killing me this month! Remember, I donated my yarn money for the month to charity. Today, however, this was back in stock: Dream In Color Classy - November Muse. The Classy yarn is going to become an Irish Hiking Scarf for Buddy Bill. Last year I made him one for Christmas out of Plymouth Encore - my first cabled project ever - but it has been lost in his moving this year. The way I see it, using a shop credit doesn't count as buying yarn, right? Plus it's to make something for someone else, not for stash enhancement. Just nod and agree with me, OK? OK. What agreeable enablers you all are!

One last bit of news, and it's happy news: My sister finished radiation for her breast cancer this week! HOORAY!

For Those Who Serve

This weekend we observe Veteran's Day. Nearly everyone I know can think of someone who has served our beautiful country by spending years in a branch of our armed services. Let them know that their service was appreciated! Below the flag you will find one simple thing that you and family can do to spread good cheer.

Find a card or two - Christmas card, holiday Greetings, Thanksgiving Card, Get well Wishes, A funny card, or eve a Thank you card - and send them to the address listed below. You decide if you want to include your return address. Brighten the hospital stay for someone who has served our country!

Pass this on to others via email. Send it to your teacher friends so that their classrooms of kids can make cards. Share the love for these special men and women who are away from their families! Better yet, pack them up a scarf, hat or mittens when you send out that card.

A Recovering American soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington ,D.C. 20307-5001

C'mon, everyone, share the love!