A Start on Decorating

 Good Morning!

Once again no TNT post...maybe after the holidays I'll have time to get back to stitching!  I hope!!  If not sooner.

Yesterday I had good intentions of starting to bake, but that did not happen.  However, I did finish wrapping presents that will be shipped out tomorrow.  And I started to put some Christmassy things out.  Definitely scaling back this year which is fine with me.  (I really do NOT want to tempt Mabel!!).

First up, my favorite birch log and the jewel tree behind it.  The log is one we found in the woods in Vermont and then Fletch drilled out holes for candles.  The jewel tree is one that Fletcher's Mom made and gifted to us.  I love it.

On the other side of the buffet we have the house that Zhongren built and gifted to me.  So darling!  And the fairy lights tree that I bought a couple of years ago.

I added a couple of things to Zhongren's house:  an elf and a snowman!

It feels all cozy and warm.  We did bring in the tree last night but have not decorated it yet.  So far, Mabel is ignoring it.  I'm finding that hard to believe, but it's true.  As of this morning, it was still standing where we left it last night.

Hoping to get to the baking today!  Time will tell.  First I need to pull on some wool socks and sneakers and head over to C&M's to feed Talbot & Marcel.  They are often standing on the back of the sofa looking out the living room window when I pull into the drive.  They cannot wait for C&M to return.  Just one week now.  I cannot wait either!

Weekending

 Well Hello!

Snow is still on the ground,  but the temps are warming up and I think by Wednesday it will be in the 50's.  Fletch did see/hear that we have a good chance of snow on Christmas Day.  Mailing's parents are hoping we can all go for a walk in Valley Forge on Christmas Day...we shall see.  I would love a walk in a snow storm!

Our tree is up and fully lighted now and we have decided to leave it that way - no ornaments this year.  I am missing seeing some of my favorites, but I am also really enjoying the simplicity of it and being lazy - lol.  It will also make the post holiday clean up that much easier!

Fletch was able to find a nice thin one that is perfect for the small space we have in the living room.  The tree is pretty fragrent and I love coming down in the morning and catching the scent of it.  Tyg has been sleeping under it occasionally!

We did put a wreath on the front door.  Years and years ago (like probably 35+) Fletcher's Mom gave us a pinecone wreath that she had made.  I will try to get a picture of it to share.  Right now it is just around 6 a.m. and still very dark.  And I put a few of our favorite things out on the buffet.  The jewel tree that Fletcher's Mom also made for us, the birch log we found on a hike years ago and then Fletch drilled holes for candles in it.

A bit of fresh holly and a little Santa in a canoe.  I love the snowflake runner too.

I managed to finish up the little kitty socks for Mailing yesterday afternoon.

The grey at the cuffs and heels is sparkly and wow!  what a PITA that was to work with...as well as the black yarn on size 1 needles.  Intarsia in the round is not (for me) an easy thing - a bit fiddly.  BUT, I do like the way they turned out and I hope Mailing likes them too.  I decided to not put the whiskers on these.  I like them just plain.

You all were so encouraging about going to the yarn shop that is closing...so I had to do that!  I drove over Saturday afternoon and my timing was good as there was only one other person shopping then.  The owner is retiring for a couple of reasons:  1) she has family moving back from CA and she wants to spend more time with them and 2) her "right hand assistant" for the past 10 years recently took a job in her chosen field of social work and is no longer helping/working at the shop.  She was thinking of closing by 12/31, but told me she may stay open into the first or second week in January because there is still so much yarn in the shop.  I found it to be pretty much picked over, but managed to find two skeins and everything was 45% off!

I've never knit with Berroco Sox before, but it is 75/25 and 100 grams (440 yards).  The Manos Del Uruguay Alegria I have used previously.  It is also 75/25 and 100 grams (445 yards).  I may use that yarn for a shawl.  Not sure yet.  But the two skeins set me back a whopping $21.00.  Not bad!  All books were $5, but I didn't see anything worth getting.  There was still a bit of Kidsilk Haze by Rowan, but the other Rowan yarns seemed to be gone.  I may or may not go back before New Year's and see if the discount has been increased.  There was some MadTosh sock yarn and a few other brands, but as I mentioned, pretty well picked over.

Today I'm heading back to the office.  Turns out I have two more packages to ship out via UPS for Christmas!  I also have a bunch of stuff I want to print in color, some things to print for Kevin and then overnight to him, and Bruce will be in the office and I need to meet with him.  I only plan to be there a couple of hours, but we shall see.

I'll probably not be on the computer much for the next week or so (or I may be!!).  There is wrapping that needs to be started (and finished) and some other things to do.  So, if I'm not on line much let me take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful holiday.  And...Happy Winter Solstice - we are hoping to be able to see the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter tonight (last night was too overcast).

A Little Decorating

Good Morning!

Another grey, wet and very mild (55 degrees!!) morning here.  Hard to believe we are supposed to get some snow (1-3") overnight.  The roller coaster continues.

Finally I managed to do a little decorating in the house.  We don't do a lot - I have tubs of things that I don't put out now (and more ornaments than can ever fit on our tree).  The buffet is done:

I love the simplicity of the birch log with candles (my Mom always had one on our dining room table) and a few favorite little pieces.

I love this little Santa and the tiny elf with a bowl of cranberries in his lap that he is stringing.  But, my most favorite decoration (I know I shared this the other year) is the "jewel tree" Fletcher's Mom made for us.

This is not the best picture, but you can see it.  Made with all costume jewelry pieces mounted on black velvet.  It sparkles so much with the candles lit.

Fletch is planning to move some furniture in the living room today to make room for the tree.  We will get that in tonight...he will string lights on it tomorrow and then we will decorate it Thursday when Colin is over for dinner.

I also managed to write some Christmas cards last night, and shipped out some packages yesterday.  I have a few more to wrap and ship (and wrapping for local gifts), but I feel as though I am making progress.  I do need/want to start baking a bit.

If you read Dee's Blog then you know we got together on Saturday and went to a Christmas market at the Mennonite Heritage Center.  As Dee mentioned, it was a smaller market than last year, not as many craft vendors and the farmers' market portion was smaller as well.  Still, it was a gorgeous day and nice to get out.  We also did a bit of shopping in Skippack (love Floral & Hardy - such a fun shop), had coffee and then went out to lunch.

The weekend saw the finish of the first green sock and the start of the second!

This picture shows the color much better than my previous picture.  Doesn't that yarn look pretty against my Christmas tablecloth?  The cloth is one my Mom made probably 50 years ago!!!

All in all a lovely weekend and I am sticking to my promise to not get frantic this holiday season.  Instead I am enjoying all that I am doing!  I hope you also are enjoying this season.

Three on Thurssday

Hello All,

 

Thanks for all your comments on my tale of woe yesterday.  My first item for today's Three on Thursday is...Verizon...

 

1. Yesterday when I got home I poured a glass of wine and then picked up the phone and called Verizon.  And…I got GOOD customer service!!  The person who answered the phone actually spoke English (with a Long Island accent, but that’s one I understand – LOL).  My empty box to ship back the cable box had never been ordered, so he took care of ordering that making sure the box would be large enough to accommodate both the cable box and the old router.  The gentleman was very apologetic about everything and gave us a one-time credit since we had such trouble.  Now, of course, the box hasn’t arrived yet and probably won’t for 5 days (for which he again apologized), but I am hopeful that everything has been resolved.  I had more wine to celebrate!
2. Fletch went out yesterday and got our Christmas tree.  We plan to bring it into the house either Friday or Saturday morning…let it sit a bit and then put the lights on by Saturday night.  Colin and Mailing will be over Sunday for dinner and will help us put the ornaments on.  Monday (the 11^th) is Colin’s birthday and when he was little we always decorated our tree on his birthday, so I’m looking forward to this little bit of tradition.
3. Like Carole. I have started to think of one word for 2018.  I haven’t make a final decision yet, but have some ideas.  Is anyone else doing this?  I don’t join the workshop, but I have liked having one word to focus on during the year.

 

We are almost at the weekend!!