Getting Better All The Time...

...as the Beatles sing.

And I am feeling better, but still holding back. I want everything 'to set' just right. I wouldn't want to mess up. Someone might disapprove!

I have sent Wonderful Guy out shopping...again. I called a local establishment, checked on two items, which they had in the correct color and size. I had them held in my name, and sent WG out on the mission. Home he came, with one item perfect and the other...a man's article of clothing.

Back he went after another phone call, correcting the misunderstanding with the establishment.

Poor Guy. It is cold and blowy today. But he really doesn't mind getting out. I, on the other hand, am glad to have a reason to stay in!

Middle Daughter called for a recipe. I love it when the offspring want my advice!

I have finished another 2 dishclothes, worked more on the all-silk scarf, and started an entrelac project. There is a learning curve to that one! Being my first entrelac, one would think I would pick a pattern and stick to it, but I am choosing to go my own way, to make the project fit the yarn.

Always a good way to go....NOT! I never claimed wisdom beyond my years.

Also, Barbie has a new dress. It didn't fit. It was too big, so I remade the top. Then it was too small, so I fixed it again.

No frustration. I have nothing by time, after all...

Today I was requested to touch up a photo of Wonderful Guy and myself at the Grand Canyon. It was some detail work, and I was barely up to the task, skill set-wise. So out came the book, blew off the dust, and I have spent some time with Photoshop, acquiring more mad skilz. Getting that book out was something that was on my list of things to do all year long.

It is a bit disconcerting to see that Christmas is next Thursday. And yet, the tasks have been getting checked off the list. Packages are sent. Cards are mailed. Gifts are getting wrapped. I've kept my peace mostly through it all, and Wonderful Guy has been very helpful. What a guy.

So it comes to me once again that I am best served when I can go with the flow, even when sometimes I jump in a little unprepared.

I'm Just Sittin' Here Watchin'...

...the calla lily grow-ow-ow-ow...

Making progress....

We had a hawk on our back fence, too.

That was a fun thing to see.

And I have Star Trek ornaments on my Christmas Tree. Several, as a matter of fact. All ships.

I think my Borg Cube is particularly festive. When we plug in the lights, the 'hive collective voice' speaks, saying, 'We are the Borg. Enjoy your holiday. Resistance is futile.'

I know. I'm such a geek.

I finished sewing the gifts.

I have knitted (is the past tense of to knit 'knit' or 'knitted'? hmmm....) two more dishclothes, and two other little things for stocking stuffers. (which I am NOT going to post photos of until after Christmas! So there, Eldest Daughter!!!) (But it is sooooo cutie wootie!) And another scarf is 1/3 done.

I think I am going to start an entrelac project...maybe...a shawl...maybe...

Two More Dishclothes...

...done, and a scarf started. Maybe some socks will go on the needles later today. But that might be too hard. I am surprised at how much effort thinking is taking. I ordered a gift on line today. The customer service person asked for my address, and I went blank. Totally blank.

I told Wonderful Guy I will never again underestimate the effects of anesthesia. He asked me (somewhat facetiously) if that's what I was blaming it on. I told him that was my story and I was sticking to it!

So back to the important stuff. Youngest Daughter and Grandbebe Girl came over yesterday to help how they could. Peanut butter cookies were made for gifts, and sewing was worked on.

Most importantly, Grandbebe Girl visited! She saw Grandmama's special beaded tree.

She was very impressed.

Grandbebe Girl thought the little gifts were just her size.

And she thought maybe something her size might be inside, too.

However, she put them down at little urging and picked up the little toys.

She drove them around the table, making the appropriate 'puttering' sounds.

According to Youngest Daughter, Bebe's Daddy taught her those mad skilz.

It was a cheerful day.

It Seems I Must Have...

...missed that part. I thought it was going to be a weekend recovery, but I find myself at home for two weeks doing very little. I was so excited about getting this little issue fixed that I must have skated right past that little part of being mostly inactive for two weeks. How does one who generally has all her ducks in a row do that?

Well, it happens. And embarrassingly so, I must add.

And I think my lesson here may be something along the line of having patience with others who sometimes aren't completely organized.

I don't have my Christmas shopping done.

Eldest Daughter is going to be here the week of Christmas and Wonderful Guy on vacation, and I am going to be mostly inactive, letting things 'get set'.

The good part is I am not feeling at all sliced and diced.

The bad part is I am not feeling at all sliced and diced.

Two days only, and I am tired of sitting and watching TV. Even though I watched some fun movies yesterday. THREE! actually. OMG, when was the last time I watched 3 movies, 2 Sex and The City episodes, a Tudors DVD, and MSNBC news, all in one day. (Wrapped up the evening watching the National Rodeo in Las Vegas. Steer wrestling and calf roping which looks hard, and bronc riding, which I think I could do, but not in the next couple of weeks. Never in my life watched rodeo...)

Three dishcloths and matchy matchy tribbles knitted. Today is calling for something more...challenging.

Also for those who asked, I scanned the well folded calendar page with the instructions for the Grace Kelly Scarf of last post. Embarrassingly simple!

Off (and back on) the Needles of Iron

Oh, the things I have finished! I have knitted up some very yummy yarn into some very nice articles, indeed.

First, modeling the object previously known as...unknown. I could not be more specific as it was for Dearest Sister's Christmas gift. As we exchanged our gifts while visiting together over the Thanksgiving holiday, she now knows what I created for her, and then followed up with another for myself, because I thought it so practical. Which it has proven to be. And simple to knit as well. Presenting the Grace Kelly Scarf from the pattern-a-day calendar from a couple years ago. (I have not been able to find any other information for more proper credit.) It is from a merino/silk/cashmere blend from Lambspun.

Next, one of three felted eyeglass holders (LionBrand free pattern) I knitted while traveling. Verra verra eze! I knit these with Caron Felt-It, and I don't think it felts as well as some other yarn I have used for that purpose. Just saying...

(I didn't knit the sunglasses....)

Third, I present my first ever mittens (Bernhard Ulmann Classic Mittens free pattern). A pretty smooth knit, with minimal snags.

And lastly, the matchy matchy scarf. Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun Scarf. I loved knitting this scarf.

First, I love the yarn. I bought one skein at Lambspun, at their semi-annual sale last year for 40%. It is some of their stuff, called Silverton Showcase, 70% merino, 10% cashmere, and 20% silk. 250 yards. I looked at it all year long, thinking what the heck am I going to do with just that much. At this year's sale, I found another skein. So I bought it at 40% off, too. (It has cashmere in it. It needs to be 40 % off for me.) It knit up like buttah! I made the mittens, then started on the scarf.

So second...Ms. McPhee's pattern was just right for this yarn. It was easy enough to memorize, but not tooooo boring. And I knit until I ran out of yarn. Maybe I knit a little too long. My scarf, she is 7 feet long....and I reiterate...MY scarf...this one, she's mine!

Oh. I just remembered Wonderful Guy's alpaca sox. Well, next round of photos I suppose. Really, they look like mine, only not so...graceful!

And what, one might ask, is on the Needles of Iron, lo, these 2 weeks before Christmas?

Nada, but a dishcloth!

Can you believe it?

Really, I must remedy that this weekend.