December 31, 2005
goodbye 2005
Happy, happy new year, my blogging friends! Here's to 2006!
December 30, 2005
Welcome to Christmas, Part Deux
I have heard from so many women that are in the same funk that I am. Here's a comment from Laura, in case you missed it:
Since everyone seems to be in the same boat, maybe we could call this Post Traumatic Christmas syndrome and crack open that New Year's champaigne a bit early
PTCS. I have it. Maybe you do too. Perhaps we should be making promises that our wonderful husbands and significant others will be pitching in a bit more next year. Or maybe ordering out is the answer. I'm not sure. I do know that YOU have helped me. That and sitting near comatose on my couch watching tv with absolutly no knitting or other distraction going on, including frivolous conversation.
But yesterday marked the end of my doldrums. For a couple of reasons. The first being that I got up and got dressed. In clothes. Not sweatpants. I believe this has a lot to do with healing. Makes a person feel like they are part of the real world, like it or not. After getting dressed, I got in the car and drove to Saugus, dropping Bethany off at hockey practice. This was a good sign too. Me. Out IN the world. So, what's a hockey mom to do? Shop at Target. Well, they had lots of sales. And that was good.
Then I came home and had a bit of a setback. You see, I read about SOME people knitting 50 items last year, or some such nonsense. There is only 52 weeks in my year. Holy NORma! I am a slacker extraordinairre! And then SOME others have knit 10 pairs of socks in like 3 days or some such drivel.
Okay, I then accepted that I am a knitting slacker. What of it? Does it make me a bad person? ~Please do not have the Sandy is an evil person debate linger on in the comments for too long. I have feelings too, you know!~
:)
Once I got over the great feelings of inadequacy, I went with a friend to the new IKEA. It is an hour's drive, without traffic, which is as rare as a spotted elephant. A long ride, let's just say. But we were game. Driving up to the store, the mammoth building looming over head is an experience. Shopping there was extremely pleasant if not a bit overwhelming, but frankly where else can you start your shopping with a plate of swedish meatballs? Really? Where else? No where, that's where.
And I bought, dear blog reader. I shopped. I bought woven rugs, new dishtowels, hanging stars, a roller blade lamp for Bethany's room, various lingonberry preserves along with wasa crisps. See? How could I stay in a slump with so much to do?
My favorite and most impulsive buy was this:
A cute bread basket made of tin. It is just the right size (not too big) and cute as a button. How could I resist?
After coming home, reveling in my newly discovered happy self, I then read Marcia's post. Well, the I read the first part of her post. I promised her I would go back and read the rest today. And I will. Stop nagging. I sat at my computer with chills and goosebumps, sort of reliving the instant of Bethany's car accident and the realization of what is really important in life. And it's not a dirty dish free sink or clean floor, let me tell you.
So, a happy sequence of events, culminating in a Marcia kick in the pants brought me to my senses. And I thought I'd share the process with you. Feel free to use this method as your own personal therapy, if needed.
And there's some knitting too, but this has gone on long enough, hasn't it? Really?
December 28, 2005
The mood is dismal, the sky is blue
I know I should do a long overdo mitten update. But I just can't for some reason.
I know I should vacuum the living room. But I just can't for some reason.
I know I should do the sinkful of dishes that I thought was a good idea to leave last night and it turned out to be a birdbrained idea. But I just can't for some reason.
I know I should wrap phase 2 of Christmas gifts. But I just can't for some reason.
I know I should knit. Anything. Just knit. But I just can't for some reason.
It seems like everything is just taking way too much concentration and I can't be bothered. This is not a good sign, is it?
BUT: The sky IS blue. And that's a good thing.
December 26, 2005
day after
Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, they are all sleeping in.
~
I know, I'm no Clement Moore, that's for sure!
A wonderful day was had by all here, I hope the same for you. Was there wool under your tree? I have a great gift certificate to Halcyon Yarn to spend and I'm thinking Malabrigo! What do you think?
I thought of you, dear blog reader, right during my Christmas dinner yesterday. It's true. As I prepared the ham for the oven (and by "prepare", I mean, unwrapped and put in oven) I saw the tag. Yes, the ham tag. And I thought "I'm blogging this!"
And so I am.
PRACTICALLY SERVES ITSELF! Now THAT is a ham! It was delicious but it did not jump onto the platter itself. I forgive it!
A story in pictures of a cat and his scratching post!
A happy ending for all. And for all a nap is in order. And a girls hockey game! Let's hope we see less bench warming and more hockey!
December 24, 2005
And to all a good night!
I wish each and every one of you peace and love in this wonderful season of joy. I am ever thankful that you take the time to share a bit of your life with me. Whatever your holiday, I hope it's the happiest!
And lest you think I have not been knitting, here's a little going on:
The cuff of the Aran Mittens from Folk Mittens in some wonderful cream cascade 220. This was a fun cuff to do. I am currently stuck a bit on the next part, but hope that I can sit and concentrate to understand the pattern. Perhaps Santa will bring me some quiet time this year?
~~~
Here's the peanut butter kiss cookie recipe, especially for Linda.
18 ounces creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
chocolate kisses
~Mix all ingredients. Roll about a tablespoon into a ball. Bake 12-14 minutes in a preheated 350F degree oven until dry and cracked looking on top. Immediately press an unwrapped chocolate kiss into the center of cookie when it comes out of oven.
Eat.
Enjoy.
Repeat last 2
~
Seriously, there is no flour in them. They are peanut buttery and rich and yummy. Bet you can't eat more than one! Okay, Andy can, but he is the equivalent of the cookie monster! The man loves his cookies!
~~
And yes. The title of yesterdays post was Sugar High from the movie Empire Records, which is one of my favorite movies to watch. It's one that gets funnier on each view. Have you seen it?
~~
Fig is still waiting. One more day, little one!
~~
2 of my favorite things hanging on the tree
Who wouldn't love a pig ornament? Really.
Swedish skier, he looks happy, doesn't he? And why shouldn't he? He's not stuffed in a box in the basement!
~~
Don't forget to track Santa's progress tonight!
December 23, 2005
sugar high: a song from one of my favorite movies. Do you know what it is?
Sleep is over rated, don't you think?
HECK NO! I hear the resounding cry. It's almost midnight and this creature is stirring while the mice are asleep. ( I know. See? At midnight this seems like it's a version of The Night Before Christmas. And clearly it's not anything like it. At all)
Specifically, I'm stirring cookies. Okay, not stirring them persay, but baking them. The last batch before going to bed.
I have one more day of work and then a week off. One glorious, yarn filled week where I get to do nothing in particular. Or everything I ever dreamed. That's the beauty of vacation!
Okay, okay. One day of "WORK" is an exaggeration. I need to go into my place of employment, armed with cookies and plenty of them, where I will munch and visit my way through the morning before heading home well before noon. Not too shabby a day of work. And if my boss asks, YES, I am busy at work.
And she will get some peanut butter fudge to sweeten the deal.
The 2005 Cookie menu:
~peanut butter kiss cookies. Have I ever given you the recipe? They are the easiest with 3 ingredients, not one of them flour.
~jam thumbprints. Easily my handsdown favorite cookie of the year!
~sugar cookies gone lazy. No shapes for us. Just ovals. I meant to do circles, but they are now ovals. I doubt anyone's Christmas will be ruined for it!
~snickerdoodles. Doesn't the name crack you up? Who thought of that?
~easy peanut butter fudge. Yum.
I will pack them in bags. I will bring them on plates.
Dr. Seuss could do something with those lines. Not me. Not at midnight.
Now it's 2 days before Christmas. And this elf is going to bed.
December 19, 2005
Warming up my bench!
Well, I found my Christmas spirit and it was in the form of a little furry face with green eyes peering up at me, hoping that he will get his gift a bit early. (he's not!) Fig sat by his scratching post (swear not to tell!) giving me the pathetic eyes and it dawned on me that Christmas is the JOY of the gift. Not the price of the gift. I will try hard to remember that as I go through the next several days. I'm sure that I will forget at times, but I'll just find Fig and get another dose of therapy!
I attended my first BHS girls ice hockey game on Friday night. It was so fun to watch the girls. I was ever the proud mom as my daughter was the star!
Of benchwarming! Bitter? Me? A bit, but truly someone has to do it. And she is still learning the game, but she should have seen some ice time. I hold out hope for the next game. In the meantime, I encouraged her to talk to the coach. I was sure to tell her, sincerely how absolutely proud I am of her hard work. And I have to hand it to her, I would have wanted to quit right then and there, but she went to the rink with her Dad and brother to work on her skills all weekend.
Some kid, huh?
And Andy? Almost got killed doing it. He took a hard backwards fall hitting his head on the ice. I'm sure he's hurting today.
And all I can think of is, "Great! I don't have time for you to DIE".
Cripes!
December 17, 2005
I see your scrooginess and raise you a bah humbug!
Rats. It's happened again this year. The scrooge within is making it's appearance. It's the gift buying that does it to me. What should be a joyous thing always seems to turn me into a Scrooge. Somewhere along the way in the halls of the mall, I lost my Christmas spirit. If found, please return.
This is the time of Christmas that I start making that list of gifts bought and then it all feels inadequate somehow. I'm sure that I did not find the perfect gift for anyone. Everyone gets tomatoes this year! I wish it were that easy!
Somewhere in my psyche, there is this feeling of Christmas inadequacy that I did not get enough. I start going though the list of people, thinking, "Did I get enough for (Insert name)". When I perfectly believe for myself that ONE gift is plenty. For me, it truly IS the thought.
A gift for me? I'm happy! A stack for me? I'm feeling a bit unworthy.
A gift for YOU? I feel cheap. A stack for you? I feel good.
It is clear that my Christmas giving barometer is out of whack.
I wonder what's up with that?
What about you? Do you have the gift giving guilt? Or have you mastered it?
Anybody willing to give me some free therapy?
Today I wrap gifts. I think I'll drink some eggnog too while I'm at it. A nice glass of wine is in order later today. Must wait until 5 pm.
Yeah, yeah, stop your bitching and show us the knitting!
I've got knitting too! Don't rush me!
:)
Spey valley sock, from knitting on the road, Trekking XXL yarn and US1 needles. Do you see the braid that borders the cuff pattern? That is called a vikkel braid. I love it! How I enjoy when I learn a new knitting thing. Helps the mojo out a bit!
So, I guess I'll wrap gifts, drink eggnog, plan a festive menu and knit through it all and the Christmas spirit will find me.
I hope.
December 15, 2005
Enjoying the season, are you?
The house is quiet, the tree is lit. I should be wrapping gifts, but I'm not.
I should be making a list.
And checking it twice. But I'm not!
I should be baking cookies. But I'm not.
I'm noodling around on the computer and now I plan to put my feet up and knit by the light of the Christmas tree.
There's always Saturday, right? Why rush into things??
December 13, 2005
So, would YOU peek?
When I was a young girl, my best friend Debbie lived across the street from me. She hated surprises. She always searched for her Christmas gifts ahead of time. Her mother, catching on to the snooping Debbie, always wrapped them before hiding them. Debbie found them, slit them open, peeked and then rewrapped them. She also always read the last chapter of a book first. She hated surprises. Me? I loved them. But, being the wishy washy type girl that I was, I went along. Debbie wanted me to search for my Christmas gifts one year. We found it! A brand new organ! Not as big as the one in this picture, but impressive nonetheless to my 12 year old self! I was thrilled! I supressed my knowledge for the weeks before Christmas and then a funny thing happened. Christmas morning came and I had no reason to get up. Sure, I'd finally be able to play the organ, but I had no surprise to run downstairs for. I faked what I thought was a suitable reaction, but in reality, I'm sure it was fairly overdone. To fake surprise is not a 12 year old's domain!
Since that day, I am wishy washy no more when it comes to peeking. I am stalwart in my non peeking. A gift can be placed next to me for a month and I will not budge!
I am a freak like that!
:)
So, tonight, a package was delivered to my home. I looked it over and decided that I had not ordered it. I had Bethany open it and take the receipt out, knowing that the package was from my BP! (better secret pal, in case you don't know) I know that those Amazon people do not care about surprises! But I do! Bethany destroyed the evidence, leaving me just the gift!
So, BP, winter style, your secret is safe with her!
Here it is! It's enough to make me lightheaded!
Marvelous mittens!
Sensational Socks
and
The Best of Lopi
Well, Bp! You have outdone your mystery self! Thank you!
Now, excuse me, I have some reading to do!
December 12, 2005
Frapp a sock!
Okay, here's the thing. When you lose your knitting mojo, it feels really really good to get it back!
This is the Spey Valley Sock from Knitting on the road. I do believe I could make my way from one end of that book to the other. The yarn is trekking 105( look familiar Carol?)
The sock is fun, the yarn is yum, what more could a knitter ask for?
We put up our Christmas tree tonight. Lights only. Decorations tomorrow.
Fig could have cared less!
He could at least open an eye!
~~
Don't forget to Frapp me! It really IS fun. If you haven't yet, you must.
Be sure to check out the Warm Hands Update too! Lots of mittens!
December 11, 2005
My Christmas cards are made out! That may be a world's record!
Friday we had the biggest snowstorm I have ever personally witnessed. Not the biggest snowfall, but the biggest, baddest snow. I never before truly understood what a white out was. I did not really get it when people abandoned their cars in mid-drive. Until Friday, when I was out driving in a white out. It took me over 25 minutes to get home from the grocery store, which is, at best, a 5 minute drive complete with red traffic light. The wind was howling but worst of all was the scary, scary lightening and deafening thunder. Snow thunder. I thought the world was going to end. I was never so grateful to arrive home. Then I did what any self respecting blogger would do. I took a picture. What else could I do? It's in the code!
The view out my front door. Down the driveway, across the street, you can barely see the huge tree and the church is missing. It's okay not to be able to see out your front door. It's not okay to not be able to see out of your front windshield.
I hope to never see a storm like that again. Or that lightning.
The storm still raged over the ocean when it was done with us. The sky was such an angry shade of gray. I guess when it's white all around, the gray up above goes unnoticed!
Mom Update!
Mom had her surgery on Thursday and came home Saturday. Yeah, no dawdling due to sickness around those hospitals! The operation went well, she is feeling as you would expect: sore and tired. But hopeful. The doctor told her everything looked good and Mom will get the results of the biopsy on Friday. The woman in the bed next to her, a 49 year old woman, wasn't so lucky. Her cancer had spread and the doctor had to tell her that she couldn't get it all and when she comes in on Friday, she will start her chemotherapy. Mom felt a bit humbled by her good fortune.
But, Mom is a stubborn, stubborn woman. I went to Mom's house to spend the night and "HELP" her. Ha. That woman does not need help. She needs to sit. Now, it is apparent where I get that. Having not done the backing for Mom's wonderful counted cross stitch Santa tree skirt yet, I brought my sewing machine along. Procrastination is my best trait!
And I sewed!
And sewed!
~another craptastic picture for your viewing pleasure. Sun behind makes picture taking hard! It's hard work!~
~Backing against the front!
So, here's what I ended up doing. I backed it with light blue fabric (jolly ol' St. Nick, number 906-55) sandwiched it with Thin cotton batting, edging it with lace. I then tied it in several places to resist shifting, towards the back, hardly noticeable on the front.
And I have to say, I love the finished product! My sewing machine, after having a long, long sabattical in the basement, was not too keen on running. It was questionable for a while! It did come back to life though.
Tomorrow, I plan to do a mitten update. Yup. AND, I'll show some knitting. Heh, who would have expected that?!
December 08, 2005
Don't make me beg!
I know. I'm probably the last person in the world to Frappr. I tried resisting, but there are claims that it makes a person happy. So, without any further ado,
Don't make me come over there. Where else can you be a pin up?
Silly comments welcomed!
**
I believe I have fixed the map. Sigh. Nobody told me having map friends was so confusing!
December 07, 2005
Ick
Laurie suggested that life is throwing Lemons at me. That may just be true, if indeed those lemons were filled with rocks. There has been a lot thrown at me lately, but, hey, I am woman, hear me roar! But knitting has been miniscule, sleeping has been top on the list, for more reasons perhaps than just sickness. But you know, this too shall pass.
But I am super concerned about knitter apathy. I can't concentrate on anything. I don't feel the love.
For this, for instance:
It looks nice enough in this photo, I'll admit. But photos lie. I hate the yarn. (jamieson's spindrift, in case you are wondering) Hate it. It's scratchy as all heck and icky to work with. Keep in mind that I have had an ongoing love affair with the andean treasures yarn. Alpaca. Need I say more?
So, review: hate the yarn.
Also, hate the cuff. Sure, it looks cute. In this photo. It is a bear to knit. Hate. It. Too fiddly and fidgety.
The pattern is Anu's mittens from Folk Knitting in Estonia. It has adorable snowflakes on it. See?
There's one now.
Hate it. I look at it and all I can think of is SCRATCH, SCRATCH.
So, no knitting love. At the time when knitting love is important!
Perhaps there will be a knitpick order in store for me soon. Just purely for therapeutic reasons.
Of course!
~~Would anybody like some cheese with the whine?
December 06, 2005
Flowers for Olive
PHE-YOU! What a couple of days! My head spins! Needless to say, the Monday mitten update will be very late this week, perhaps even a Wednesday update! So, keep the warm hands coming!
Tonight we had Andy's Aunt Olive's funeral. She was 87 years old and unfortunately limited by a stroke, living in a nursing home. She showed remarkable strenghth and character over the 10 years of her challenged living and I now choose to remember that strength and her lovely smile. She was a great woman and her funeral was a testament to her life.
But family funerals make for short personal time. That and coughing through the nights, oversleeping the mornings. That pretty much sums it up around here for me. Jealous?
Tomorrow: An actual knitting update!
December 04, 2005
Marcia made me do it
Marcia tagged me for a meme. I have to be honest with you, I don't usually do them. I ignore them like the plague. But this one seemed up my alley, which perhaps is why Miss Marcia picked me. Or she had no one else, either way.
So, here's the rules, Every good game must have rules, no?
1. FLIP open a dictionary and point to a word.
2. Type the word into Google images.
3. PICK an image that strikes you.
4. Write a 10 line RIFF off the image.
5. Use the word or the meaning of the word at least once within the first 5 lines of your riff.
6. Tag 3 other bloggers on your list.
Lifted shamelessly from Marcia. (Have I said the word Marcia enough yet? no, I did not think so!)
Are you scratching your head and wondering what a RIFF is? Mever fear, Marcia has solved this dilemma.
And I quote: According to Miriam-Webster it can mean A short, succinct, usually witty comment.
Okay then. I do not have to start drumming, which is a good thing.
Here goes!
I open my dictionary, a rousing version of Random House Webster's, and point!
Okay, the word DAB did not do it for me. When I searched images for DAB, first thing that came up was a naked woman photo. Now, I'm not a prude, or maybe I am, but I did not want that. What did that have to do with DAB? I wondered. Oh, Olivia d'Abo. See? D'AB-o. Makes sense, doesnt' it? Apparently Miss Dab will do nude scenes. I know. For sure.
And although I feel like perhaps I have already DONE a riff on the non clothed woman named DAB, it just did not feel right. I was not riffly satisfied.
So, I searched for
DABBED;
Look at this:
Yup. This is it. The imaged to be Riffed.
ahem:ACHOO: 'scuse me.
Before we riff, please check out the page of A. Surely I cannot make up that there is an A on that page that is specifically named DABBED. There is also one called GRANNY but that is not this riff.
Back to our A. I never knew an A could be so different. You might think, as I did, that all A's are alike. Not so. By definition, that A is characterized by lightly patting or striking gently. By this definition, Fig just dabbed at my head when I wouldn't get out of his way while I was trying to see the computer. He makes a better door than a window. I never thought of dabbing an A. But why shouldn't we? Why should A's be left out? A's are just like any other people! They deserve to be....dabbed, don't they?
~~
I did not follow the riff rules. Surely that makes me riff raff.
Who should I pass it on to? I'd pick Norma, but she doesn't DO riff raffing. Hmm. Carole? you?
No, I choose you. 3 of you.
Yes, I'm talking to you.
Did you just dab at me?
Hmm?
December 02, 2005
Pass a tissue
Airborne fizzing in a Tom and Jerry jelly glass.
What? You have silly jelly jar glasses in your cupboard too, don't you?
I guess I know what I'll be doing this weekend:SNEEZE:COUGH!
Rats.
While I'm going to the store for more tissues, I may as well make sure I have the ingredients to make Carole's chocolate cake. Cake can't hurt, right?
December 01, 2005
Do you know where your Christmas gifts are?
Caution: This entry will be characterized by randomness. It does not all make sense together. You've been warned!
~~
24 more days until Christmas. Is your shopping done?
I went Christmas shopping for one hour today after work and spent 600 bucks. Hmm. That is $60 a minute**. I'm into speed shopping!
~~
I don't think I can resist casting on with these yarns. I've tried. But I'm powerless. I haven't finished the Liidia mittens yet. But I feel the irresitable pull to start another mitten.
~~
Here's some good news for you. My Mom had her consult with the oncologist who believes that her uterine cancer is in the very first stages. She is going to have a hysterectomy, along with ovaries and lymph nodes in the area removed. If the lymph nodes are free of cancer, which she fully believes they will be, Mom will have no further treatment. So, she's getting an operation for Christmas. Good news, huh?
~~
And just because, I decided to have a Fig photo shoot. He wanted nothing to do with it, as you can see.
I hope he's not trying to give me the finger in that last one!
** Note: I have been found out to be the math stooge that I am. It was suggested that I could fix the mistake and no one would be the wiser, but lets just leave well enough alone, shall we? I mean, if you love me, you love me even with my shortcomings. And the number one shortcoming? MATH, baby!