They Stole Our Tree

This is not the tree we took home.  This is the one we picked out that someone else, after removing all identifying markings, cut down and took home.  I hope if falls on the head of someone in their house -- I have very little Christmas spirit about this.  

OK.  The Sunday after Thanksgiving we pile everyone in the car and drive about 45 minutes to go to a family-owned Christmas Tree farm near home.  Have been going there almost 20 years.  Love the place.  Love the people.  Follow the instructions for tagging our tree.  Put multiple white ribbons and a sold tag on the tree with our name.

Sunday, pile everyone in the car to go cut down and bring the tree home.  Can't find the tree.  Check the photo we took on the cellphone.  Still can't find the tree.  Come to the grim realization that some idiot took our tags off the tree, cut it down and took it home.

The folks at the farm were very apologetic.  Had any of the tags been left on, they never would have sold the tree.  But someone was sneaky.  Someone who deserves a lump of coal in their stocking.  

What kind of person cuts down another's tree at Christmas?  I'm not happy.  I'm not having a Christian attitude and have wished that many bad things happen to these people.  Next year, we'll just cut it down on the spot and take it home.   

Christmas Crazies

OK.  It's that time of year.  You know the time, when you don't have a moment to breathe.  Yet, this year, that seems OK.  I've kind of been dreading this Christmas, what with my dad dying this year.  

So, here we are, off to the races.  Thursday, the giving tree gifts are due at school.  Got the shopping done, now have to wrap.  (That means finding Christmas wrapping paper at home.)  Saturday - husband's holiday party for his company -- two hour drive each way.  Fun.  Still need to find something to wear.  Sunday, pick up Christmas Tree. (Need to find boxes with lights and decorations).  

Before next Wednesday, need to get older daughter black pants and shirt for holiday concert.  Need to go to holiday recital for both girls for piano.  Need to figure out what I'm cooking for Christmas dinner.  Need to do Christmas cards.  Need to buy gifts.

The busyness of it all would normally make me crazy, but this year not so much.  I miss my dad so much.  He loved this time of year and it will be very hard not to have him with us -- singing loudly and off key at Christmas eve services.  But being busy keeps me from crying.  

Well, no time to blog-- must do something Christmas related!

Some Photos, as Promised

I promised photos and here are some.  Still don't have a photo of the cardigan for daughter 1.  However, here is dear husband showing off his Intercostal Mitts.

Now, we also have one of three coffee cozys -- lightly felted, for holiday gifts.  

Three felted coffee cozys for paper coffee cups.  Used remnants of Cascade 220, knit in the round on size 5 needles.  Will be teaching a workshop at Ewe and I on these on December 7.  The intent is to get a cup from the recipients favorite coffee shop, put in a gift card and put the felted sleeve on the coffee cup.  Very quick and easy.  Horeshoe cable, owl cable and standard CB4 cable.  Handfelted in the sink with a bit of Eucalan.

I have six of these in my future for holiday gifts -- maybe more.  Need to get them started.

Happy Birthday, Big Guy!

Today is my husband's birthday.  It is not one that ends in zero, like last year's which required much fuss and a big party.  This morning he received birthday hugs and kisses from the three women who share him and some special handwarmers I knit.  

See, DH owns 25% of the shop.  He says it's so I can ask him to move boxes to the basement, move stuff in the stock room, change lightbulbs I cannot reach, etc.  So to justify his ownership interest, he is now the proud owner of a pair of Intercostal Mitts.  These were the perfect gift, as he hates to wear gloves or mittens, particularly when driving.  To make it even better, I knit them from Jade Sapphire 6-ply Mongolian Cashmere in the Film Noir colorway.  I used just over one skein.  Had I been more careful, I could have gotten them out of one skein, but I didn't.  Looks like I might have enough left over to make myself a pair of Fetching, which I have always wanted.

Now, about the birthday boy.  He is the love of my life.  He is my soulmate.  We met online debating whether Bill Clinton should have to testify in the Paula Jones suit during discovery on a political list-serv.  Eventually, we realized we only lived about 20 minutes apart and had dinner.  That was 11 years ago this past May.  We'll be married 11 years in January and I couldn't be happier.  He is my best friend.  He is a wonderful father and we are very lucky to have him around.  How many other men would put up with their wife buying a yarn store instead of practicing law!  Truly, a rare breed.

The Intercostal Mitts are a quick fun knit.  I cast them on at the shop on Wednesday and only knit on them at the shop as I had time.  It turns out my husband notices what I knit.  When I pulled out a project that was not my sweater, he announced "That's not your sweater!"  So much for stealth knitting at home.  Anyway, I don't get a whole lot of time to knit in the shop, but was able to whip these out.  Cast off last night around 6.  I'll try to pry them from him for a photo.  

In other knitting news, after I finished the wedding stole, I cast on a hoodie for my older daughter.  Knit in Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Chunky.  Great yarn to work with.  I rewrote the pattern as I went.  All went well until we got to the hood.  I ripped it four times before I got it right.  It's done.  She loves it.  Maybe I'll get a photo of it someday too.

Also in the works, a pattern for a child's ponytail hat.  As you may notice from the photo of the girls with the bride from August, both girls have very long hair and tend to wear ponytails to school, which makes wearing hats in cold weather tough.  I'm working on a modification of the Hannah pattern from magknits in worsted weight yarn for elementary aged girls.  Will be posted soon.  

Finally, on the knitting for me front -- which doesn't make noise often -- I'm knitting the Dandy sweater from the Kaffe Fassett Colourscapes book.  Wow, it is lovely.  I'm about halfway up the back.  Will keep you posted.

And -- dear husband -- happy, happy birthday.  Let's celebrate many more together.  I love you.

I Voted - Did You?

At 7:40 a.m., I was voter number 70 at my ward/precinct polling place.  I vote at about the same time on both primary and general election day -- usually before 8 a.m. as I bring the kids to school.  Usually, my voter number is under 20.  

One precinct in Philly reported that by 9:15 a.m., 115 of 500 voters registered to that precinct had voted.  WOW!

This may be the most important election of our lifetime.  Please go stand in line and vote.  Wear comfortable shoes.  Bring a sock to knit on in line.  But please, exercise your right to vote -- even if it's the only exercise you get today.

Exercise, but Don't Sweat

Folks who know me IRL, know I have very strong political views. I have voted in every primary and general election since I was eligible to vote lo those many years ago. Havent. Missed. One.

Don't intend to miss one either. I'm thrilled that both my girls (ages 9 and 5) are talking about the election and who they are going to vote for in school. I'm hungry for the updates of the board in the fourth, fifth and sixth grade hallway tracking the presidential candidates progress.

We live in a swing state and are being inundated with commercials from both sides. Some of you in states already declared red or blue may feel that your vote does not count. IT DOES.

This is a unique opportunity. You can exercise without breaking a sweat. Take some extra time on Tuesday, go to your local polling place and pull the lever, push the button, punch the chad --- whatever it is your jurisdiction does.

What matters is that you go vote. I'm not going to opine on my view here. I'm only going to say that in my almost 30 years of voting for presidents, this may be the most important vote of my lifetime given the economy, the international situation and everything else we are facing.

Please, go vote.

On the knitting front, I am knitting the hood on the hooded cardigan for the 4th time. Ripped it out three times. Should be done soon. One thing I can say - Debbie Bliss Donegal Chunky rips and re-knits really well. Pix to follow.

Remember to get some exercise on Tuesday.

Another Half of Sandwich

I've mentioned before that I'm part of the sandwich generation.  We'll here are a couple of updates from the deli counter of my life.

1. Dear husband calls MIL on Thursday evening to see how she is.  She announces, "I'm in a nursing home now."  Well, yes, Mom, we helped move you into the assisted living home.  You did?  P.S.  Friday morning she fell, hit her head and spent a few days in the hospital and is now in rehab.  
2. Mom comes to visit for dear daughter's birthday.  See above post.  On the way home, she rolls into someone at a red light.  When the light changes, she pull over on the other side of the intersection.  The other car is still near where she hit it.  Mom drives away.  Her reason:  "The other driver didn't get out of the car and wave to me, so I assumed everything was fine."  

Is there a service I can register with which will take my car and license away from me when I'm 80 to avoid the burden on my girls to have to deal with it?  

On a better note, Daughter 1 wanted a hooded cardigan.  She choose Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Chunky in a pretty purple.  Front, back and sleeves are done.  Now I must join the blasted thing before I can pick up for the hood and do the button bands.  I hate joining things, but it must be done.  Will post a photo when sleeves are on.

To all my Jewish friends -- may you and yours be inscribed in the book of life for another year -- much health and happiness.