I’m getting ready for Christmas.

I know it’s only February but you can never get too early of a start. Last year in November I started my Christmas knitting. Suffice it to say not many people got a homemade knitted item. So this year, I started early. I plan on giving everyone on my husbands side of the family a home knit item.

I made this Rivolo for one of my nieces. I hope it’s a style a 20 something would like.

I made these socks for a sister-in-law. Good thing they don’t read my blog. I don’t even think they know what a blog is. Well the 20 something nieces probably know but wouldn’t be caught dead on their aunts.

I also received another wonderful swap package. This is from Susan who I met last year at the Spring Fling.  Honest to God, this package took over an hour for me to unwrap everything.  Everything is soooo nice.

Here’s a close up of the stitch markers. I just love them.

 

 

And here’s my favorite. They’re little labs. You know how I love my labs.

Now, I must go because someone is waiting for me in bed.

 

No no, not her…….him.

I’m in a rut!

This winter has put me in a rut. I just can’t seem to get my mind together. I normally love winter but I have to say I’m ready for spring. Uncle, uncle, uncle. There I’ve said it.  I have been busy since I last talked to you. I’ve been knitting several secret projects, all of which I have forgotten to take pictures of. But I did get out some projects I’m working on for me. First here’s the Anemoi mitten I’ve been working on. The first time I saw this pattern I was in love!

 

Then I’m making Denmark socks from the Knitting on the Road book. I’m using Rio de la Plata yarn and I love the contrast in it.

I also got a swap package from Barb on Ravelry. She sent me the nicest box of surprises. Thank you Barb.

My friend Barb,not the Barb who sent me the package,  just started a blog. She is an amazing woman. She’s really into health food, unlike myself. But the amazing part is she likes me anyways. She even makes her own deodorant and toothpaste! We travel a lot together because we’re both in a ski club ,(Neither of us ski either), and she always has her little homemade remedy kit with her. I LOVE IT. Anyway her blog is call The Big Red Barn because they bought a barn that they’re rehabbing. Check it out.

I’ve been very blessed

My father-in-law died today. He had been going down hill for awhile and this weekend when we were away, we got a phone call that he had been admitted into the ICU. On Saturday when I called they said he was getting better so we stayed on our get away. But Sunday night as soon as we were almost home we got a call that he had taken a turn for the worse. We went immediately to the hospital and we could tell right away it wasn't going to be long. We had him brought back home so he could go surrounded by his loved ones. Even his faithful dog was by his bedside. He went very peacefully and all but one out of the six children were there with him.
The reason I am so blessed is because I have such wonderful in-laws. This is my second marriage and I'm still very close to my first in-laws. My father-in-law who just passed loved the fact that my husband was marrying a woman with teenagers. You see my husband was a pretty rebellious teen, and he really wanted him to know what it was like to be a father of young rebels. He was always there for us when we needed him. Two years ago he and my mother-in-law took us all to Italy. That was his last trip. It is something I'll never forget.
So here's a few pictures of him. This is for you Jim. I love you and will miss you immensely.

This is him as a young boy. He was the youngest of 6 children.

Here he is on his wedding day. My mother-in-law and he were high school sweethearts.

Here he is with his 6 children. My husband is the oldest boy.

 

And at our wedding.

And here he is on our Italy trip. This is one of my favorite pictures of him.

God speed to you on your new journey.

I've been busy

 

Boy have I been busy. But don't worry, I plan to blog more this year. Hahaha. Yes, it's one of my New Years Resolutions. Along with losing a bunch of weight, that's gonna happen. Then there's giving up smoking. I might as well wish BIG. So to catch you up on what you've missed. We had the baby baptized the weekend before Christmas. Here he is with one of his Great Grandma's.

Then we had Tom's family Christmas. This is his sister, Liz. Let me tell you, if anyone is perfect, she's it. When I was learning to knit, she was learning to knit with me. My first project was a stockinet scarf. Hers was a cabled fisherman's sweater for her boyfriend. She's a gourmet cook, her house is immaculate, everything she does is beautiful. I'd love to hate her, but she's too darn nice!

I didn't take any pictures on Christmas morning when I hosted, I was too busy cooking. But the day after Christmas, we took our son, Casey, and his wife on a ski weekend. Tiegan and I shopped while the guys went skiing. Tom and I are going on another weekend getaway next weekend too. Whoo Hoo.

Now, my New Year's Resolution is blog at least once a week. I wish I could do it everyday, but honestly, I don't have that much to talk about.

It's that time of year

Man,oh,man am I busy! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I got to see my twins! They are soo cute. Here's Kaye giving us her best Reindeer impression.



At least that's what I think she was doing. Then here's all the girls of the household. My poor brother is the only male.



I've been doing some Christmas decorating.






And finally, I finished this baby sweater for my boss. I really like the way it turned out.

give away

Sometimes I wonder if it's good to announce that someone is having a give away because if two people go over there from here and sign up then my chances are slimmer. But this girl is so talented that if you haven't been to her site you should really go over there.
This is what she's giving away.


Ok. I posted it. You can find her here.

Catherine Holman

Now don't rush off and go over there and try to beat me out of it. OK, go ahead.

It's 12:30am and I'm still not ready

I know I haven't blogged in like forever. I've been so busy. Tomorrow we're leaving for my brothers were I can relax! I'm handing off my mother to him and hiding in their basement for the next couple of days. YES. I'm still not ready to go. I'm on my gazillionth load of laundry. I'm too scared to go up to the attic at this time of night to get my suitcase. So everything is stacked on a chair until tomorrow morning.



I made this cute little advent calender for the twins. The hard part was finding things small enough for the drawers.


And I woke my husband up so I could take a picture of him in his hat I made for him.



This is why I married him. He just wiped the sleep out of his eyes and put on a smile. Isn't he wonderful?



A special thanks has to go to Pat from Pat's Knitting and Quilting for the emergency help on the pattern that I accidently left on the train.

Then finally here's the mittens that I made for myself. Ohhh, they are so warm. That really helps in Chicago winters.







Well, the dryer just buzzed so I can finally go to bed. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. When I come back I'm starting to decorate for Christmas!