Winding Down to the Holiday!

Hello All,

The sun is out and it is warming up!  The sliver of a crescent moon was so pretty this morning on my (dark) ride into the office.  It is so quiet here that I've decided to not bother coming in tomorrow.  I do have some things to get done today (after not being in on Friday), but after that I will relax and will not be back in the office till after New Year's!

My Uncle's funeral on Friday (well, burial/graveside service - the Memorial Service was on Thursday) was very nice.  It was just over a 2 hour drive for us down to Aberdeen, MD and it was a beautiful day for a drive.  We took all back roads and avoided 95.  We saw cousins I have not seen since I was a little girl!  We were able to get home before rush hour which was nice too.

Saturday Dee and I met up for some coffee/knitting/chatting/lunch.  Such a good time.  The two of us laugh a lot which is good therapy.

I did manage to finish the socks I've been working on:

The angle of this photograph makes the feet of the socks look HUGE.  Trust me - they are normal size.  I love the way these turned out and I would definitely use that yarn again.

Sunday I managed to knit a few rows on the Canary Blanket, but not enough to merit a picture.  I hope to get much more done on that beast over the holidays.

Tyg has been so funny lately.

He has started playing with old toys.  The funniest part is that he will play frantically for "X" number of minutes (usually 5-10) and then suddenly will run to the door to go out.  As soon as he is outside on the patio he pauses and shakes his head back and forth - like he is trying to clear his mind.  LOL  Too much catnip I guess.  At least he is not a junkie!

Yesterday I also made two loaves of Eggnog Bread (thank you Bonny for the recipe).  I thought I was finished baking, but then Bonny mentioned Eggnog Bread and the rest is history.  It turned out very well.  I also roasted some mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, cashews & Brazil) and then coated them in EVOO, minced garlic, minced fresh rosemary and a sprinkling of sea salt and red pepper flakes.  YUM!!!!

Yesterday also saw Fletch and I wrapping the last gifts for Colin & Mailing, Mailing's sister and her parents and my brother & SIL (who will be over on the 30th).  All the wrapping paper and ribbons and gift tags have been put away for another year.  That's a nice feeling.

This holiday season has been (and continues to be!) so relaxing for me.  I'm not sure how that happened, but it sure is lovely.  Tomorrow I can be lazy and read and knit.  Colin & Mailing are coming for dinner and to open stocking gifts.  Then we will be at their house on Christmas day.

Oh!  I almost forgot.  I finished "The Dutch House" last night and I did enjoy it.  The reading slump seems to be over.  Maybe I can pick up "Fever" on my way home from work today.  It's not available on Overdrive, but I think there are a number of copies in our library "system."

I probably won't post much over the holidays.  I'll check in before New Year's Day - or on that day - to reveal (ha!!) my word for 2020.  Wishing you all a wonderful couple of weeks.  Whatever/however you celebrate this season, may you find peace and joy.