Fresh Start

The decorations came down in dribs and drabs this year because one of my devotionals asked that they be left up until Epiphany, January 6, the celebration of the Magi. But I had to get some of them down ahead. It meant I wasn't exhausted and resentful on New Years Day. That's a pretty good start.

The hyacinth came out to celebrate January 1st. I don't have a window at my kitchen sink, so I try to have some flowers.

 I have been working on my Windows sweater. Almost at the point where I divide for the sleeves, but, as with all stages of this sweater, I am wracked with indecision. Should I steek the sleeves and just keep knitting in the round? Or should I knit fair isle back and forth and impose some shaping? Both are dreaded. I think I may just add stitches for steeking and get the thing knit. Boxy sleeves will be ok with a cozy sweater. Or maybe I need the tidiness of set in sleeves?

 Started the block a month knit along for my knitting circle. It's the Mystery Blanket Stitch A Long. We hope to have a good dozen of us knitting it together. I can teach lace and patterns through these simple blocks. The yarn was bought at the closing of a store many years ago. Good stash busting.

 Started Operation sock drawer. Finished the pink stripy socks and am pretty happy with the regular afterthought heel. In fact, I would remove the extra plain rows I knit. Others complain that it isn't deep enough, but I like it.
These are toe up Vandyke socks from Wendyknit's little box of socks. I am charmed by the way the pattern fits into my little sock project bag. I like the heavier sock yarn, Trekking 6. It almost feels felted. I'm still knitting on size 2mm. My foot is 10 1/4 inches long. So I knit 7 pattern repeats before starting the heel at 2 1/2 inches short of the foot length. I am trying to achieve better negative ease in my hand knit socks. This is my first "pair a month" to have 6 pairs by the end of the year.

 The hitch hiker is not getting much love. I already have blue shawls, but not green. Must make a decision to finish it before I start a new one.

 Started a double knit striped scarf for one of my youth group kids. She asked if I would knit something for her grad auction. Stabbed my heart! She is graduating from Sardis Secondary, our school, and our kids' school. Of course I shall.

 The amaryllis opened on Boxing Day. Lovely treat. The one at Hospice is just finishing it's second bloom, so I think I'll send this one over for it's second bloom.

 We took a quick trip up to the ranch for my sister's birthday. The Coquihalla Highway was just opened and I was a bit nervous, but it was pretty clear except for the summit. Three hours of knitting is a good way to help me relax.

 We were included in a pot luck. She made cookies and biscuits and cowboy beans and a cheese dip for  her own party.

 It was a blast! The community of Knustford is welcoming and close at the same time.

 Many candles!

 And one casualty.

 The next day was sunny and fresh, perfect for a walk to the lake.

 There was a little skating rink open on the far side of McLeod Lake, but we kept to the path.

 I opened gates for her while she fed the cattle. It's about the breadth of my skill set here.

Hoping you have a bright new year. May you knit what you dream of and dream of what you knit.

Merry and Bright

We dressed up in 1890's costumes for our Christmas Pageant which celebrated the opening of our building in 1898. I made the skirt from a length of fabric, just made a tube and sewed it to a waistband. My friend, Jean, pinned it for hemming. The kids wore our angel and shepherd costumes.

The amaryllis continues to amaze us. Almost blooming on Christmas Eve when the house was full of food and friends and family. I had revived just enough from my cough and cold to bake a ham and set a table with salads and buns. There were sweets on the sideboard, but not the usual overflowing. It was good, though. We still ate lots and laughed and visited.

I knit a big hat for my Paw. He has a prairie sized head.

I put a button hole, finger spot in Emily's mittens, so she can use her phone.

My FIL got a warm hat for his daily 3 mile walks.

DH and I walked on Christmas morning and the quince tree around the corner was blooming. I really want to plant one of those heritage trees. We had one on the farm. Uncle Nipper called it a Gyprock tree.

My Jean's son is going to Europe for a year and they hosted a 1920's Murder Mystery party for going away. DH won best costume and best actor. I was lost quite a bit of it.

Emily got into the role playing, too. It was fun having them home for Christmas. We had "just us four" for Christmas morning and enjoyed the quiet. Mom and Paw came for coffee and that was fun. Then up to MIL's as usual. The in-laws were pretty well behaved and the turkey was spectacular as always.

We are in the quiet days between Christmas and New Years. I worked yesterday and D made a big pot of spaghetti sauce, so we are in comfort mode. Scott went back visit his girlfriend's family and then back to work, and Emily is going to a party tomorrow and then back to the Island.
This year has been one of many small blessings and terrific friends. Most of the goals were achieved.
I am mulling over what I want next year to look like. Already the knitting list is filling up. But I have ideas in other areas as well.
Hope you were surrounded with good friends and warm feelings this holiday season and can enter the new year with a sense of freshness.

Under the Blankets

 It has been well below freezing here. This sign from our delightful Noodle Box in Vancouver. We are not used to the cold. The weather has cheered up, but I am under the blankets with a chest cold. Cough. Cough. I am worried that I will miss another nursing shift at the end of the week. The baking isn't getting itself made. Another reason I do so much ahead of time.

 A lovely hand-decorated snow man from the son of one of my co-workers. I love to play with him when he shows up on the unit.

 I was on the Cold Sheep board of the Stash and Burn group on Ravelry. It's a place where we encourage each other to resist the yarn buying and enjoy one's own stash. Ironically, I picked up a destash. Rowan felted tweed in duck egg at half price. I love it. I'm not safe.

 One of the amazing roses at the Granville Island Market. I'm not one for fakely dyed flowers, but I couldn't get enough of this.

 From our room, looking across Burrard Inlet to the North Shore Mountains. The clouds were gathering, but we did evade the freezing drizzle. The flags were at half mast for Mandela.

A quick trip to the Island to pick up Emily. I planned to stay over at her little apartment and take her, her boyfriend, and Scott and his girlfriend for dinner. We had a nice dinner, and even got to go back to Scott's place for tea and a bit of fun with his cat.
The Friday was planned for coffee with the Bartons and our friend Elizabeth from Africa. It was a bit wirlwind, but worth the effort. Barbara gave us her original sewing machine she bought before she was married. It will probably go to Mexico with us, because it is in good condition and mechanical instead of computer driven. They are so generous. I can see her sewing in their new home in the 1960's as missionaries in Uganda.

 Sunday was the pageant! There were 8 angels, but only 2 shepherds. That's how we roll. We presented Carman's "first" pageant from the opening of the building in 1898. Such great kids!

 The baby blanket is finished. I'm not sure I would buy something so wild. But it was a joy to knit, when I needed something simple, and it was surprisingly quick.

 Can we jump up and down together for icord cast off? Cough, cough.

And the cat cave is done. Truly a lesson in architecture! I made the yarn from tshirts, crocheted according to pattern and then reinforced with corrugated plastic (a blank realtor's sign). The mousey is adding catnip goodness. I hope Charlie likes it. He is an apartment kitty. Dallas did make sure to say that he loves the bed and the felted ball I gave him.
Christmas is coming. Hope you are well and enjoying the festivities. I'm going back under the covers with my dear friend Nyquil to try to mend.

Snowy Roads

Albert Herring was my first opera, and what fun! It was fun dressing up, too. My BFF and her son took me to the city on very rainy roads.

 The youth group is going well. We rolled pinecones in peanut butter and seeds for the birds in this snowy world. I did manage to bake shortbread and get cards out, but it has been a bit whirlwind.

 Drove up to Knustford. Our pathfinder loved the Coquihalla Highway, even on the summit with slippery ice on the road. I needed to see my sister and her family. Riley, her grandson is growing funnier every day.

 Her daughter in law has a new store for her very successful wedding events company.

 Prom dresses and wedding dresses are now on display.

 You can rent just about anything.

 And the photo booth! We had a riot!

 Riley with Grandma. He could melt anyone's heart.

 We had fun dressing up and dressing him up.

 120 hats to the Salvation Army for their Christmas dinner. I need to deliver the other 80 hats in my basement! She's wearing one of the three Santa hats I whipped up.

 D and I snuck out to Vancouver. Walked to Granville Island to have dinner with friends for our annual celebration.

 He likes his new "Breaking Bad" hat.

 We took the little sea bus across. Such a lovely clear night. But then it snowed. On the 30th floor, we could see the sidewalks turning white and the pedestrians slipping.

 St. Paul's Hospital, all lit up.

 Got to see my nephew and his wonderful little boy. So much energy and fun!

 These are the mittens I knit for him.

 And this is the cat cave. Not finished yet. What a huge project! And so silly. From making t-arn from tshirts, to crocheting the thing, and now reinforcing with corrugated plastic. Hope Scott's kitty likes it.

 Snuck in a hat for myself but only got to wear it once, running in the wind around our field.

What cat cave would be complete without a catnip mouse?
We got home last night. I put up the tree, went to anniversary dinner with the in-laws, and met with the sound guys for the Pageant on Sunday. Now I'm heading out to UVic to see the kids and bring back my baby girl. Hopefully I'll be done travel for a while.
Hope you can find the gentle stillness and hope of the season!