Trimming the Tree

The girls and I spent the latter part of yesterday at my parents to decorate the Christmas tree and eat my mum's famous roast beef dinner. Mmmm. The grandchildren hang all the bows and ornaments, and we rest. As all traditions go, a picture must be taken annually in front of the decked-out tree, and it never fails that one of the five must be noticeably dragged into the photo. This year, it was Olivy Bean's turn. So this was my picture from left to right - little brother poking big brother, big brother with "stupid" a.k.a. little cousin, little sister leaning on big sister, biggest cousin bargaining with littlest cousin to smile, and littlest cousin defiantly not having any of it. I suggest that next year we serve the chocolate as soon as they walk in the door.

After dinner, we played Sequence! Have you played Sequence? I love Sequence. We ALL love Sequence! We played Sequence for hours. Truly the best fun I've had in ages, and not just because my team won 6 of 7 games. My dad and the kids gave us a run for our money - it was NOT easy.Today is a day for chilling, tackling the mountains of laundry accumulated over the week, sweeping up the dust bunnies, and cooking up the wilting produce in the fridge and making room for the fresh stuff. I can cross off apple crisp, and next up is soup.

Happy Sunday, everybody!

N

Give Thanks

Today is American Thanksgiving and the pie is baked, the football game is on, and the chicken is brining. Since it's only Mr. T and I this year we're going for a mini sized but traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I've just got potatoes to do and the dressing, which Mr. T's mum so thoughtfully emailed the recipe for.We have much to be thankful for this year. For one, the wedding of our dreams with all of our family and friends present. It was what we had wanted and a million times more. We are thankful for our families, which get bigger and bigger each year. We love you all. We are thankful for our health as there were no major health issues this year. We are thankful for our jobs because in these times of uncertainty, a job, albeit frustrating at times, is better than no job. Sometimes Mr. T and I reflect on how generously we've been blessed and it's hard to comprehend how and why we are so lucky. But then we remember not to question and to just enjoy and be grateful everyday.

A Sunday Song of Sweets

Mmm. Molasses Crinkles - B's favourites. I'm surprised I still have 8 left. I keep counting them.

Here's that slipper I knit up yesterday, and my Hedgerow sock to show the size of the slipper before felting. That's BIG. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Michaels still has Patons Classic Merino Wool in Petal Pink, because I am definitely not going to have enough for slipper #2.

Kata's Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is a definite favourite around here with everyone except little B who doesn't like chocolate sprinkled through her cookies, but she still sampled a bite. That's okay, I know three people in the immediate vicinity who will finish that half-eaten cookie regardless. It's all good. Kata, if you're reading this, you need to post that recipe pronto for the rest of the blogging world - they are missing out big time.

Are you like me and can't throw out a magazine to save your life? Well I found just the thing for you! B and I whipped up this uber-cool Christmas tree after our early morning cereal ritual. Fun times, I promise. I'll probably make a hundred of these. Just saying.

I'm showered, dressed, and fed, so I am off to visit a friend and finish off those groceries. It will be good for me to step away from the couch for a few hours. I will miss you, dear couch, but I won't be gone long.

Ooh, and T, I dare you to look at this and keep waiting for the right time. Seriously. I think I feel my heart swooning and my knees buckling. Totally makes me consider having a third.

N

Splashed with Sunlight

I've spent the day lounging in my pyjamas, and I've gotten so much accomplished.

I woke up shortly after 7 a.m. (this is my every day wake-up time). I poured myself a giant bowl of bran flakes, drenched it in 1%, and sprinkled it with sultana raisins. The littlest shuffled into the dining room in her bright pink, fleecey robe and demanded alpha-bits - "in a bowl with milk and a spoon." We ate our cereal in silence with the exception of me blurting out quickly that I loved her. She didn't look up but nodded, continued to eat and made a positive 'm-hm' sound. This is our morning routine every single day.

Eventually J woke up and joined us, so I threw on a pot of coffee with a pinch of cinnamon dashed on the grounds and a squirt of maple syrup on the bottom of the pot to make it a little special with it being Saturday and all. It was snowing hard, so I slid on some old grey sweatpants and a purple sweatshirt over my pyjamas, and I booted up to go outside and shovel the driveway. I made some small talk with the older lady who lives across the street, and then I started up the car and drove to the library to pick up my holds. I popped into Michaels for some jumbo double-pointed needles and into the grocery store for a few little items to tide me and the girls over until tomorrow when I could do a proper grocery shop. I returned home by 10 a.m. so that Josh could have the car for work. I peeled off the sweats and continued padding around in my pyjamas.

I spent the morning making a corn chowder and MORE potato & leek soup. I did laundry. I knit up a slipper while watching three episodes of The Office on the laptop under my wool mohair blanket. I drank a pot of tea. I dug up some old CDs and sang loudly and mostly off-key. I watched a bright red cardinal eat berries on the grey tree covered in white fluffy snow. I thought about having a shower and getting dressed, but I took one glance at the clock and figured I would be heading to bed in another few hours, so what was the use? What a pleasant day! It was perfect. I need more days like this. :) It' s the only way I am going to be able to finish all this holiday making!

Back to the couch,
N

Lookin' Good, Baby

This very adorable picture was sent to me from this little guy's mommy. He has an uncanny resemblance to his stuffed bunny toy and even more so when he has on the rabbit ears hat that I knit for him. There's just something about babies with animal ears that puts a smile on your face. Hope everyone has a happy weekend!

It's Catching!!

The littlest crafted ALL on her own. I brought home a craft book from work about a week ago, and I just left it on the hutch and promptly forgot all about it. The kid picked it up, asked for a paper bag (we only had lunch-sized), and she found the oil pastels and her little scissors. Following the pictures in the book, she made a ladybug costume for Flower (that's her bear's name). I feel a little 'not needed', but at the same time, absolutely thrilled. She got that 'craftiness' from ME!!! Woo-hoo!

Oh, and after several struggles about playing with water on the dining room table, she coloured a paper plate blue and drew in a fish, and now the Polly Pockets and all the Littlest Pets can go swimming without getting wet. Ingenius!!

She may not be a smartie-pants at school, but in creativity, she's all A's.

N

Forging Ahead on Holiday Knitting

Mittens! I returned to my mitten roots. This is the Warmest Mittens pattern from Knitting Pretty. It makes a very fitted mitten which I believe will keep hands the warmest. I used two different worsted superwash wools, and I am very happy at how well they feel. I'll post the details on Ravelry to avoid boring the non-knitters. :) I did modify the pattern a little bit, and I mastered the magic loop! I can cross that off my goals!

Seeing all those hats that T made, makes me want to whip up some hats too, and I've been doing a little charity knitting myself. I've been working on some little baby stuff for a very young mom who is scheduled to give birth to her first baby - a boy - next week. The doctors already know that the baby will have special needs, and I believe his first operation is scheduled shortly after. This mom is going to need all the help and warm thoughts and prayers she can get. When I heard her story, I immediately decided to finish my cotton baby kimono, and I knit up a little wool-blend hat as well. I am currently working on some baby slippers.

You were right, T. That kimono was easy!

Back to my making,

N