BABY BLANKET WOES

I started a Sea of Dreams by Aimee Alexander baby blanket last year some time and really enjoyed the knitting.   However at about 25% complete, I had an error in the lacy pattern (take heed - I had no lifeline!).  After being dared to complete some of my unfinished objects, I picked up the blanket again as I had a new goal, my granddaughter is expecting our 2nd great-grandson the middle of this month, so I actually had someone to make it for.  Anyway, to make a long story short, I could never find where I was in the pattern so that I could correct the stitch count.   I ripped back about half of the amount I had knit and still couldn't get back on track.

So.... I completely frogged the project and started a new baby blanket pattern two days ago:  Kollage Yarns Luscious Baby Blanket.   It's a very simple 2-row pattern:  One Row - k2p2, and 2nd Row - knit entire row.  I should be able to handle this one.   I know I won't get this finished before the great-grandson is born, but if I really kick it into gear - it should be able to be mailed off by the end of this month.    I love this yarn and color:  Madeline Tosh Sock in Composition Book Grey.    His mom has decorated the baby's room in grey - See it was "meant to be".

STASH BUILDING

I haven't gotten much knitting done this past week.    Our daughter, husband and 2 teenagers were with us for several days over Christmas and we thoroughly enjoyed doing things with them.
HOWEVER, I sure hit a couple of my favorite yarn stores in the Phoenix area, and purchased the below yarn with a gift card, and husband also told me to pick out my own Christmas gift from him, and I "went a little over" LOL, so the overage was my anniversary gift from him.   See how I worked that out???
Our Anniversary is today - December 30th - 52 years ago!!  I don't know how I was so lucky meeting and marrying this wonderful man.

AFTER CHRISTMAS BLAHS

I'm experimenting with a new site to post my blog.  Hopefully you lovely followers will find your way to this blog.
We had a wonderful Christmas with our Las Vegas family here.  This includes our daughter, son-in-law and two teenage children.  It seemed we spent 3 days doing nothing but eating.  However, the adults did play some wicked pinochle with lots of happy shouting.  Of course the teenagers were bored with we were doing, so they had their own activities.

Cascade Eco Duo - Latte                  Cascade Eco Duo - Vanilla

Cascade Heritage Silk - Como Blue

Hubby bought me these 3 skeins of yarn.  I actually picked them out!  Looking forward to casting on something new.

Then one of my daughters got me a gift card to a local yarn store, so I'm in 7th Heaven when it comes to new "stash".

The other daughter has been taking some book-binding classes and made me a beautiful journaling book.  It has real pretty paper on the inside and the cover is beautiful.   Almost too pretty to write in.

I'VE MOVED MY BLOG

I'm trying out a new place for my blog.  I hope you will continue to follow me over there:

http://knittingandbeading.wordpress.com

COUNTING DOWN!!

Well, I'm still way behind in my Christmas prep!  I still have candy-making and some baking to do.  Had to go out to the grocery store today for some ingredients and boy was that a mistake.  Terribly crowded - maybe it won't be so bad tomorrow as I still have a couple items they didn't have at the first store I went to and I wasn't about to try another one.

I did make 40 or so pieces of Slow Cooker Chocolate Candy this afternoon.  Talk about easy - you just layer dry roasted nuts, white chocolate, sweet chocolate and almond bark and let it melt on low for 3 hours, stir and spoon into paper muffin liners.  Remove paper when completely cool.   Here's the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/slow-cooker-chocolate-candy-recipe.html?soc=sharingpinterest

 

I had an unexpected guest yesterday - my brother from Oregon, which was nice to spend some time with him.  But now I have to work extra hard to get everything done before our daughter and her family will arrive on Wednesday to spend 4 wonderful days with us.

So, don't expect any more posts from me until after Christmas.  Here's wishing my followers a beautiful and memorable Christmas.

THE PRESSURE IS ON!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am sure behind in getting ready for the Season!   We do have our tree up and the outside lights lit, so it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

But, between both hubby and I having quite a few doctor appointments, getting last minute knitting done and sent off, I'm way behind.   I swear off "gift" knitting next year.   I'll just send knitted items to family members throughout the year - so no pressure!

Tomorrow I intend to go grocery shopping first thing in the morning, to get necessary ingredients for candy, cookies, cake, etc. and spend the rest of the day baking.  I'm actually kinda looking forward to that. 

I finally finished my Buttoned Cowl and I'm keeping this one for myself.  Love the Juniper Moon Farm yarn (40% Alpaca, 40% Wool, 20% Silk).  Oh so soft.

So with that, I want to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas, and I'll probably not blog again until after Christmas.  Our daughter, son-in-law and 2 grandkids will be here for a few days, so will be busy with family activities!

GETTING IN THE SPIRIT

Christmas, she is a'coming.   We're kinda slow getting any decorations up.  Maybe some later today or tomorrow.  Hubby wanted to get a new tree - but so far we haven't found the "right" one.

We did go to a Christmas concert in our community clubhouse last night.  It's hard to believe how much talent we have here.  We live in a 55+ community and there are 30-40 singers in the group.  Considering we're all "older" it's amazing the quality of the singing.

The palm trees are all lit up on the driveway into the clubhouse area.  I took this just as we were going in the front door.

This picture below was a photo professionally taken last year, showing the main

front entrance to the clubhouse.

I'm frantically trying to finish up a couple of gifts knitting, so I can get to other needed things.  Such as Christmas cards(maybe).   Do you still send out cards?  I'm thinking about no longer sending them.   I either see my friends and family, telephone them or talk to them on Facebook.  Besides, I'm lazy and postage gets expensive.  A lot of our friends and family just e-mail us a card or letter (which I don't have a problem with at all).  Let me hear what you do.