Felt Like Knitting

Drawer-a-Day Challenge

Well, it's that time of year...  A time when many of us reflect on the previous year and make resolutions or set goals for the year ahead.  I think the next year will be one of big changes for me.  Our daughter will graduate and go to college.  I'll try to figure out a second career and get a job.  And I've actually started to say "no" to some things so I'll have more time for my family and the things I used to do like sew, decorate, bake...

One thing I really want to do is get a handle on my house.  So I'm challenging myself to clean something each day - a drawer, a shelf, the spot under the bed.  The fun thing is that I'm not going to tell Steve about it and I'll see how long it takes him to notice things shaping up.  I'm making a few rules for myself - no cleaning on Sunday and I can clean ahead if I know I have a busy day coming up.  I'll probably post my progress but not every day because that would get boring to read.  :)  I'd love to have company so let me know if you want to join me in my endeavor!

                         Before                                          After

Since January 1 is a Sunday, I've already cleaned out my first drawer of the year.  Appropriately, I cleaned out the junk drawer!  Can you believe we had six rolls of tape in there?

Happy New Year to you all!

 

My little big kid

My daughter got her license recently and I have to tell you it is a really weird feeling to have her out and about on her own.  I've never had a problem with her being out with friends or whatever but one of us always dropped her off and picked her up.  And I want her to be independent...it just feels strange.

So how could my grown up girl want this?

Emma wanted a hat with ear flaps so I'm using Thorpe and adding the features of the other hat.  I feel like this project has been going forever because I haven't worked on it much.  Maybe I can finish it up this weekend while she's out driving around.  :)

Happy knitting!

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Hostess Gift Ideas


I love today's topic - not because of my list but for what others will be sharing.

1.  Muffins - When I go to a party, I like to take homemade muffins (and maybe some pretty napkins) to the hostess.  I figure that the day after a party, it might be nice to have breakfast ready to eat.

2.  Wine - tried and true...

3.  Kitchen handsoap and a handknitted dishcloth - Lots of nice scents from Bath and Body Works

4.  Candle - from Bath and Body Works or from Pier 1

5.  Ornament - I like giving ornaments at Christmas, especially the Li Bien ornaments from Pier 1.

6.  Flowers - another tried and true hostess gift.  Unless someone is allergic to flowers, I think most people enjoy receiving them.

7.  Plants - if it's spring or summer, I'd give someone a potted herb or flowering plant.

8.  Notecards - I love notecards.  They're so pretty and handy to have around.

9.  Tea - I'm not sure that I've done this, but I think giving someone tea or coffee would be nice.

10.  ??? - Totally drawing a blank here.  This is why I need to read today's list from other people!

What hostess gifts do you recommend?  Check out the ideas on Carole's blog.

Sick and tired

We are all sick.  Well, the dog seems to feel okay and Steve seems to be getting better.  But Emma and I are coughing up lungs over here.  I want to get the lights on the tree but so far all I've done is had Christmas cookies and tea for breakfast (a proven remedy for whatever it is I have), started a book (Running with Scissors but I'm not sure if I want to read it after I read a review.  I think it's going to get pretty weird.), and eaten lunch.

Are there any white lights left in stores where you are?  Around here only colored ones are left and most of those seem to be all blue or red or green.  I think I'll end up using big colored bulbs since most of my white lights have mysteriously stopped working.

Tomorrow's Ten on Tuesday is a great topic:  10 Hostess Gift Ideas.  I'm looking forward to getting lots of great ideas from Carole's readers!

Stay well!

WIP Wednesday: The mostly non-knitting edition

Things have been crazy busy here since the summer.  There has been knitting, but not a lot.  

Knitting - Still working on Vonica.  Picked it up yesterday for the first time in months.  Before that I made a pair of mitts for Emma, some dishcloths to replace our old ones, etc.

Teaching - I started teaching beginner knitting at my LYS last fall and I'm still going.  I've had a lot of fun meeting all my students.  Fortunately, my guitar teaching is done for the semestser.  I love all the funny things the kids say but I will enjoy not having class on Fridays during December.

Reading - House Rules by Jodi Picoult and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  I have to admit that I read the ending in House Rules.  The suspense was getting to me.  I can enjoy the book much more when I'm not worrying about what's going to happen to people.  My book club's selection for January is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.  The unofficial December book for those who can read it is Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie.  I'd love to read this but doubt I'll have time.

Family - We're deep in the robotics season now.  Combine that with Emma trying to finish up PE for school, making an appointment for her driver's license, going on school visits and filling out college applications, etc. and things are kind of hectic.  This fall, Emma was involved in a musical (The Pajama Game).  I helped with costumes and was the Board Liaison (volunteer coordinator plus other duties).  It was a great show but I was so glad for it to end.  (Bonus points for me:  I said no to having these same duties for the spring show!)

Church - This Sunday there is an orchestra concert at our church and we're hosting a cookie reception afterward.  The last two years we have gone through almost 30 dozen cookies.  When I checked the freezer on Sunday, there were four bags of cookies.  So I started baking:  Cranberry Oatmeal Walnut, Peppermint Patty Brownies, and Chocolate Covered Pretzels.  I'm hoping to make a few more kinds before Saturday.  Then there is the Christmas Pageant reception the week after, etc.

So...I will start knitting more in January.  What's keeping you busy right now?

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Holiday Traditions

Putting out the Nativity scene - I don't have this out yet and need to get on it!

Decorating the Christmas tree - This isn't up yet either and I'm not sure when it will get done.

Buying a new ornament for Emma - We finally had to buy a tree just for her ornaments.  

Going to the Christmas Eve service - I especially love the candlelight part.

Having friends over after the service - Growing up, we went to my mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve.  We've started our own tradition by inviting over friends.

Lighting luminaries - It's so pretty to see the streets lined with lights.

Opening one present on Christmas Eve - We've always let Emma do this.  My favorite year was when we bought a doll that looked like her.  I made a wardrobe of clothes and bedding for the doll and we bought a brass bed.  I think I was more excited about it than Emma was - so much fun!

Looking at lights - Ever since I was a kid, I've loved driving around to look at Christmas lights.  With our neighborhood, you don't have to drive far.  :)

Staying up on New Year's Eve - We don't go out but I do like to stay up to ring in the new year.

Eating sauerkraut on New Year's Day - Here in the south, people eat black-eyed peas for New Year's Day.  My German/Ohio upbringing has made my tradition the eating of sauerkraut.  Yum!  (Interesting note:  My grandma always had all of her laundry done and her house cleaned before the new year started.  I'm not sure if it was a tradition or a superstition but I've never managed to accomplish this goal.)