Hoping for a white Chirstmas, if only in my dreams

A happy, peaceful merry Christmas to you and yours.

Christmas FO

I finished my mother-in-law's scarf. I cast on 16 stitches and did a rib stitch, cast off and added fringe. I used malabrigo in a pinky orangy burgundy with a tiny bit of green color. I also used an orangy kid mohair. I think I am allergic to mohair--every time I knit with it I would get a weird headache. So, I was going to knit the same scarf for my mom, but I decided to drop the mohair. I started my mom's scarf last night and will be giving it tomorrow. No pressure! :) I didn't take a picture of my mother-in-law's scarf before wrapping it. I'll try to be better about my mom's scarf. :)

Off to bake a chocolate cake for Christmas Eve dessert!

I'm Weird!

I was tagged by Lisa from Saratoga Knitting. This is my first meme and I am ridiculously excited to have been tagged! :)

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things about you." People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly.In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

1. I write with my pen resting on my ring finger, instead of my middle finger.

2. I don't like my food to "touch". When I was a kid I would eat all of one thing before eating anything else. For example, all the meat, then all the potatoes, then all the veggies.

3. I don't like cheesecake. Odd, I know.

4. I have to have everything in my car just right before I turn off the ignition. Heat turned all the way to the hottest setting, defroster on, second to highest setting for forcefulness of heat, and everything else turned off.

5. I work with people, and sometimes I go extended periods of time without talking to my friends because I get tired of talking and listening to people. Email is ok though.

6. I know all of the words to the ob tampon commercial from the 80's.

OK, 6 people to tag OneMoreRow, Christina's Attic, Dysfunktional Knitter, Continue In Kind, sheep in the city, and Poor Miss Finch.

Thanks for the well wishes. I had a massage and acupuncture today and I am feeling better.

Timing

I have not been posting much because I have been feeling under the weather. I have a chronic health issue that usually appears about every three years for about a month. Basically I'm in pain, need to sleep a lot and take ibuprofen. Not a big deal, but puts a crimp in my style. Of course, the timing is annoying. Right in the middle of Christmas. So, I took today off from work and I don't go back until Tuesday. Actually, I told my supervisor and another person above me that I was considering taking today off depending on how I felt this morning. My supervisor told me to take it regardless and the other woman crossed my name off of the schedule. It is wonderful to feel supported! I slept nearly 14 hours last night, PURE BLISS!

Totally Freaked Out!

Please, please, please tell me there is a very rational explanation.

I went to Amazon.com to look up a book for myself. I understand why they are showing books about Paris, knitting, babies, contemporary fiction and gluten-free eating on my "home page". But, I am COMPLETELY freaked out that they specifically recommended books for my "history-buff father-in-law"! How do they know who I am giving what books to?

Seriously FREAKY!!!!

Finished Object

Last night I kitchenered for the first time and finished my first pair of 2 socks on 2 circs. Not too happy with my kitchener skills. I love finishing a project and being able to wear them right away! They are a little big. Next time I will shorten the foot and maybe cast on a few less stitches. I used Cherry Tree Hill yarn in the colrway Earth. It 100% merino wool and autumn colors. Lovely! My camera batteries are dead so I will have to take a pic another time.

December WIP Update

So, here is my monthly WIP update . . .

Finished Objects:
My mom's Saratoga Shrug . . . FINALLY! I started this Christmas 2005 and gave it to her Thanksgiving 2006.
Easy Peasy Baby Hat . . . started and finished and given.

Actively Working On:
2 Socks on 2 Circs with Cherry Tree Hill Yarn . . .I'm on the toe decreases and should have them finished this week.
Toe Up Socks with Rock Candy . . . still on the foot of the first sock.
Malabrigo & Kid Mohair Ribbed Scarf . . .I cast this on Saturday 12/2 it is either for my mother or mother-in-law for Christmas. When I finish this one I will cast on a second one.

Haven't Touched (since last update):
baby sweater
cabled purse
illusion knitting tote bag
crocheted market bag
Lara sweater
2 hand 2 colored headband
cabled mittens
At some point I will finish Lara, the cabled purse, the mittens, and the baby sweater. The others, I'm not in love with so it will take FOREVER for me to finish them.

As I mentioned before, I am dieing to start that great big felted bag. It is a great stash buster! I haven't gotten the pattern yet, which is just as well because I have other priorities right now. I am also waiting for the next class list from my LYS. I heard that there will be a class for the Fiber Trends felted clogs. I have everything I need and I want to make them, so I will probably sign up for the class. I also want to cast on my Socks that Rock on 2 circs as soon as I finish this pair of socks. It is my goal to always have 2 socks on 2 circs going. I have a ton of sock yarn, and the only way I will ever knit it up is if I always have a pair on the needles. :)

I have been listening to Lime N Violet podcast rather obsessively. I had a bunch of mindless paperwork to do at work yesterday and I listened to 5 or 6 episodes in a row. Anyhoo, they have done this great holiday wish list to help the loved ones of the fiber obsessed. It is fab! Check it out!

Oh, and have you caught that Knitty Gritty is now on the Home & Garden network at 11am weekdays? Today is a holiday special. I DVRed it about half way through--ah well, at least I caught a little of it.

Off to decrease some toes . . .

Easy Peasy

Here is my Easy Peasy baby hat. The pattern is from Cherry Tree Hill Yarns and the pattern is for booties and the hat. I used left over Mountain Colors yarn from my first pair of socks. Once again, the lighting is poor because it was taken at night, but directly under a bright lamp. I cast on Monday and cast off Wednesday. My kind of knitting!! :)

This hat is for my former boss/friend. She is due on Monday. It is a quick and easy knit that always gets lots of "oohs" and "ahhs" from the muggles (non-knitters). Her mother-in-law examined it carefully and went on and on about how much talent I have. Teeheehee . . . if she only knew!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today is my grandfather's birthday. He was born on December 1, 1911. He was VERY proud of his Irish heritage and made sure his children and grandchildren were as well. He taught me how to put the "Irish Curse" on a local traffic light to change it to green whenever it stopped us. He also danced through his living room to entertain me and loved his "cream". Anyone in our family would understand this to mean ice cream. I am the youngest grandchild, so whenever he called me I would wait through all of my aunts', mother's, sister's, and female cousins' names before he would finally come up with my name. It would irritate and frustrate him to no end that he couldn't come up with my name first, but I always found it charming. I would also kid him and say, "Well at least you didn't call me the dog's name."

My grandfather died in January 1997. Almost 10 years ago. He is missed terribly. I don't remember exactly what the date was that he died. But, ya know, it doesn't really matter. I want to remember his life, and celebrate his life, rather than mourn his death.

Happy Birthday Grandpa! Please know that you are loved, missed, talked about often, and thought of all the time! Enjoy your birthday cream!