Date Night

Every once in awhile Pete and I like to go to dinner and a movie, just the two of us. Since the kids are older now, it's not all that difficult. Unless someone has to be somewhere, we can pretty much just go. We just need to make time. And tonight we are making time. We'll be seeing Fred Claus and will probably be dining at Red Robin. Fun stuff!

I spent the day yesterday decorating the christmas tree and putting some holiday touches throughout the rest of the house. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! One of the Rhode Island radio stations is playing only christmas tunes until the 25th. This station, in fact, annoyed me because they started this right after Halloween. Yeah, annoying! But now that it's December it wasn't so annoying anymore. Jingle All The Way!!!

There's been some knitting too. The Jo Sharp sock is on the left and an Araucania Ranco sock on the right. Nothing fancy. Just plain stockinette sock knitting. It's about all I can wrap my head around right now. I still need to get more Cascade 220 to knit the other Manly Mitt. Soon.

And finally, 20 years ago today I was due to give birth to #1 son, College Boy in Boston. Notice I said DUE! Stay tuned for the actual 20th anniversary of his birth. Hint: Be patient!

Back Among The Living

We had our 1st snow on the 20th. It really was beautiful. Unfortunately it melted as fast as it fell. Just in time for a 65 degree Thanksgiving Day. It was so freakin' warm. And then back to cold again. Global warming in New England. Crazy!

I last posted on the 16th. That night, I ended up with a fever that got nothing but worse. I NEVER get sick. I have the most amazing immune system. Seriously, I've had the flu twice in my life. Well, scratch that. Now I've had it three times. So, yeah, 103 fever for four days and now a God awful cough. Did I say I never get sick! Anyway, we almost had to postpone Thanksgiving dinner with my brother and sister. But, alas, the fever broke Tuesday and dinner went on as planned. Here's the delicious turkey Pete cooked! Yummy!

Because I was sick, I did not get to go to Jeanne's 40th birthday party which I was really bummed out about. I was really looking forward to it. Pete went by himself for a little while and brought my gift of sock. It fits perfectly so I need to get going on the second one. She did the usual "I hate to wear it. I don't want to ruin it." I suppose that's a compliment but I didn't make them so she could hang them on the wall and gaze at them. I think she understands that now. Anyway, she loved them and that's what matters.

I received my Christmas present early!!!!!

I've wanted a new sewing machine for years. It was a matter of finding what I wanted at the price I wanted to pay. I figured $400-$500 for a good, up to the next level machine. I saw this one on Martha Stewart's show a while back. Pete and I were out and about on Sunday visiting the new LL Bean store in Mansfield and buying a new faux Christmas tree so I suggested stopping at the Joann Superstore (awesomely huge) in N. Attleboro so I could see the machines in person. So we did. I got a demo of this machine and the next model down and was sold on the Confidence. So Pete got it and then told me I couldn't use it until Christmas. It was like he shoved a sweater's worth of cashmere in my hands and said don't knit it until Christmas. I was bummed but deserved it because 2 years ago I wouldn't let him use the power auger I got him early until after Christmas. But my Pete is a softie and he knew how happy I'd be if I could use my machine now. So, Merry Christmas to me! I am so happy!

There hasn't been much knitting. I have a bag that needs to be felted. I'm trying to use up stash yarn and had some pretty brown and rust Foliage and rust Ultra Alpaca that I held together. Pictures to follow.

I've gone on long enough here. Have a great day to those who were patient enough to read down this far.

Happy Friday and HOHOHO!!!!

An FO-Jeanne's birthday sock is done. No, she doesn't have just one foot. I knit just one because I'm not sure about the size. So I figured I'd wrap the finished one up with the second hank of Louet Gems with a note. The pattern is Rib & Cables from IK. It's a nice pattern so I just had to do it again. The first time was Muir's first pair of savior socks that never arrived. The surprise party for Jeanne is tomorrow night and will likely be rip roaring fun. Things get kind of crazy when the people in the 'hood get together. Good times!

Nishanna received her sock savior package last week and from her email is happy with her socks. I had a hard time letting go of those. I love pink and green together. It's a throw-back to my preppy days in the 80's at Fairfield University. But I was strong and let the socks go on their merry way.

For anyone who cares, for the time being, I am no longer annoyed with my husband. Tuesday he took my Camry to work. He NEVER takes it but on the rare occasion that he does, he usually asks if I have plans. Tuesday he didn't ask. I had plans. He left his Silverado which normally I'll drive if I have to go somewhere local. But I don't like driving it because I can't see over the utility box in the back. It makes a huge blind spot which is tough when I'm driving on the highway. Anyway, when I asked him about the car, he said I should have told him I had plans. He NEVER takes my car so why would I tell him I had plans. He made it my fault I didn't have my car and therefore had to change my plans for the day. ARGH!!! He got the silent treatment which he hates. Eventually I told him why I was pissed and he apologized and everything is back to normal. For now.

I leave today with a picture of my Gram O. Christmas cactus*. Or should I say holiday cactus. Because it's all about being PC, right. Bullshit! Sandy posted yesterday about mall Santas somewhere having to say "HaHaHa" instead of "HoHoHo". Because HoHoHo is offensive to women!?! What!!!! Are you kidding me? What is this world coming to? It stinks. Nothing is sacred anymore. Who are these people who deem such things as politically incorrect? I want to slap them in the head. How's that for politically correct! I had planned to post about it yesterday. Sandy was much kinder than I would have been so I left it alone.

Lastly, good luck to my friend, Linda, who is having surgery today. Lots of good positive vibes for Linda!!

*Pete's grandmother gave me a cutting from her CHRISTMAS cactus, oh, 20 years ago and this is what it's become. Gram O. passed a few years ago so I consider this my little piece of her.

"Tis the Season?

My Christmas stocking knitting is moving right along. And I think I managed to take a halfway decent picture too.

I need to make a statement here. Is it me or has Christmas marketing started way earlier than last year? Ok, it's a question not a statement. But really, folks, what's up with Christmas jingles in commercials BEFORE Halloween? We haven't even had Thanksgiving yet! The local department store has these God awful fake Christmas trees at their entrance and the local craft store set up it's tree and ornament display mid-October. What the heck?!? I realize that our economy is tanking but really, is it necessary to inundate people with the season so early? I know I sound like a Scrooge but I'd kind of like to enjoy fall and turkey and thankfulness before the Christmas season takes hold. That's all I'm saying. So why am I knitting stockings? Because those things need to be knit ahead of time.

There. I feel better!

A Christmas Stocking?

Yes, this will be a Christmas stocking. It's actually a nice, dark, christmas green but I know from past experience that greens don't photograph very well. Trust me, it's a much nicer holiday green. Anyway, I got this idea a couple of years ago to make my nieces and nephews handknit stockings. I have 4 siblings. We all have kids and have this rotating giving schedule. So each year each family has one other family's children. Perfect! I'll make them stockings. Wrong! Two years ago I made Bean a felted stocking. Last year I meant to make J and S each one and didn't. This year we have S and B. So in trying to make up for last year, I'm going to try to make FOUR stockings. I have the book Christmas Stockings with 18 choices. The first one is 1/4 done. Wish me luck!

I have also come to the conclusion that I take really SUCKY pictures!