Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm finally sitting down after a really busy day. I managed to get to everything but one item on my day-before-Thanksgiving-schedule accomplished. I have two yummy looking bundt cakes for tomorrow. I'm about to put Tessie down for the night and then, I'll begin knitting. Yay! I'm so ready to relax.

I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen today. I have to admit that the kitchen was a complete disaster and I'm about to run the dishwasher for the third time today. The other day Sammy told me that he wanted a dog that did dishes. Sammy saw Snoopy washing dishes and thought that we could get a dog like that. After today, I want a dog that washes dishes! Anyway, I'm so thankful that the bundts turned out nicely. Now, I just need to make the glazes for the cakes.

I'm thankful for so many blessings in my life. It's a good life! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The day before Thanksgiving Schedule





  • Oatmeal for breakfast
  • Balance Checkbook
  • Renew books online...hopefully, they're not already overdue
  • Clean kitchen
  • Bake both a pumpkin and a chocolate bundt for tomorrow
  • Cast on for custom knit ruffle hat for a little girl
  • Read the Thanksgiving picture books to the boys
  • Throw in some laundry
  • Plan birthday getaway for my hubby and me
  • Re-schedule dental appointment
  • Go to the grocery store if missing some ingredients, but hopefully, we won't have to go.

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!



      Saturday, November 21, 2009

      My reluctant model






      She really doesn't want to wear this hat that I knit this week. I admit I am trying to use up a lot of my yarn stash right now and I had a lot of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease. It makes me so happy to get to the end of a skein beause it means that, well, I can buy new yarn! Okay, Tessie, you can take the hat off now!

      Saturday, November 14, 2009

      Thinking about Advent, Christmas and what I'll knit

      It's a cozy winter-ish Saturday afternoon and I'm multi-tasking. I'm rolling a skein of sock yarn into a ball while I type this post and I'm also downloading some books from the library for my son onto the MP3 player. So far, I've downloaded A Christmas Carol, Around the World in 80 Days (both narrated by the very talented Jim Dale) (thanks Jenn) and the audio drama, The Fellowship of the Ring.

      We're expecting probably a foot of snow later today. I've made my peace with the snow, well, at least for today. Right now, we have just a dusting of snow. It's perfect knitting weather and that leads me to thinking about Christmas. I have several projects on the needles right now that are Christmas gifts. Suddenly, I realized that it's mid-November already. I truly want to have all my gift shopping done before Advent begins. I want an unhurried and calm Advent and that means getting all the shopping done early. I just don't want to be distracted with shopping during December. This is usually my goal, but I never quite make it, but I truly desire some peace in the Advent and Christmas season and knocking out the shopping is key. I really do enjoy gift-giving, but I don't want it to dominate my thoughts when I should be preparing for Christmas. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Well, I'm mostly done with the shopping and I'm not too worried about the knitting projects because well, knitting isn't shopping. It's usually relaxing. In fact, I find that knitting is the one activity that gives me a real sense of calm. I'm working on a cabled scarf for Paul in Spud&Chloe Sweater yarn in the colorway Rootbeer which I mentioned in an earlier post. I'm also working on some baby and toddler hats hoping to use up some of my small stash. I have to admit that I do get overwhelmed with too much yarn! I have plans to make this for Tess. I know it's a Spring Garden tee, but I bought yarn in a deep garnet color and I thought she could wear it this winter with a long-sleeved white t-shirt underneath. I'm feeling pretty inpsired right now. Currently, quilting projects are on hiatus until the new year. I had plans to make her cupcake quilt and have it ready for Christmas, but it will keep.

      Well, back to winding the sock yarn into a ball and possibly baking a pumpkin bundt. I'm going to be busy busy the next couple of weeks! I hope you will all have calm and cozy Decembers as well.

      Monday, November 9, 2009

      He still holds my hand

      Recently, I realized that I didn't have to lean over anymore to hold my older son's hand. He's grown so much over the last year and I've known for a while that he won't hold my hand forever. In fact, I know those days are numbered, but I'm joyful every time he grabs my hand and we walk hand-in-hand. Every time he does, I try to cherish it because I know it might be the last time that he does. I try not to act like it might be the last time, but inside, I know it's coming and it breaks my heart just a little bit. I don't know of many 10 year-olds who still want to hold hands with mommy and daddy. I hope he doesn't think he's too old any time soon.

      Wednesday, November 4, 2009

      Settling in to the rest of the year


      I'm a little late getting the Halloween pics posted, but here's our little flower.


      Batman and the Landshark

      Land shark

      "I'm just a dolphin."

      Jack O' Lanterns!

      Somehow, Paul and I get stuck with all the dirty work when carving pumpkins.

      I knew we'd find a use for this hat.

      The deck after our recent snow storm.

      Snowed in with a good book
      More snow

      The pumpkin patch

      posing with pumpkins

      riding in the Ergo while wearing a very cute pumpkin hat (I might add)
      I've got the cutest pumpkin.


      Now onto November and the rest of Fall...