Saturday, December 29, 2012

**December Days**

I might seem hard to believe, but there have been days this week that have actually topped my favorite day list ahead of Christmas itself.  

The glorious pre and post Christmas Day snow (and it's snowing again today:

 Snow Shovelling - only loving it because I don't have to do it!  I love watching the little clean paths appear.
 I love to watch the sledding and wish I was brave enough to join in.
 Finally finishing my diagonal stripe blanket:
 It was a chore.  I can't remember were I found the pattern exactly, but the pattern itself was very easy to follow.
 However, the stitches were not fluid or flowing.  You have to work into the side of a stitch, which I found very annoying. Oh and the yarn was "Impeccable Worsted", which although feels soft was sort of stiff to work with.   Anyway, Little J claimed it and declared it his favorite.
Bestest Best Day Ever in December - My Middle J came home! 
A total surprise last night in the middle of dinner.  I had no clue and the Mister had been able to keep it a secret all week. I cried. But those good happy tears.
His girls - Pigpen and Lucie - were VERY happy to see him.
I do hope your last couple of days of December and the year 2012 have been has wonderful as mine.

Toodles.....L

Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Wishes

Today in our little patch of the world, 
we have had our Christmas Wish come true!
Merry Christmas to all!
May your wishes come true.
 
Toodles...L x ♥

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Should I :: Shouldn't I

I started this scarf way back in September.
I chose the yarn so carefully and then missed the deadline for the intended recipients birthday.
I really set myself an unachievable goal.
 I love the yarn.
I love the pattern.
I love how it turned out.
Soft and snugly.
 
But I have lost confidence in making stuff to give as presents. 
Especially to non-crafty type person.
I *think* she will love it.
At least love that I made it, but I'm not sure.
Do you ever feel this way about giving handmade to non-crafty type people?
Toodles...L x ♥
P.S. the Mister thinks I am nuts. He said it is perfect and she will love it.  Now does he say that because he loves me and thinks it is great or just so I will shut up about it? Hmmmm....

Monday, December 17, 2012

Twelve Seventeen

I'm sick.
I've been sick for a week.
Maybe longer...
How do you know if you have a cold or allergies? 
This is something I need to know.
Anyway, I thought you should know this before you read any further...just in case.

Since I've been working from home I've become obsessed with this tree just up the street.
I took this photo on Friday just before the sunset.
Doesn't it look amazing?
 Despite feelings like my brains have turned to liquid and are exiting my nose at a thousand gallons an hour I have been hooking a few circles in between losing consciousness.
Of course it's not hard to figure out what I made.
Another bag!   
 Because the delirium (is that word) caused by this head cold I have, I was convinced, just simply convinced,
I NEEDED another knitting bag.
 

I'd like to tell you it is my current state of mind that drove me to make ANOTHER bag, but we all know I have a terrible addiction for making bags.
 
I need help.
 
Toodles...L x ♥
 
P.S.  Sorry for the crap bag photos, the light is terrible these days.
Blogger has also decided half my photos must be small. Silly blogger.
 

Monday, December 10, 2012

I Made This - Sweet Flower Scarf

I've lost track of how long it took me to make this scarf.
 So long that I actually forgot how to make the flowers, so they aren't all the same.
 But it's lovely and soft and looks beautiful with my grey coat.
That's all that matters really.
The flower pattern is my own creation and as previously mentioned, occasionally forgotten!  The yarn is Wool-Ease, lovely and soft.
Of course it was inspired by Lucy's lovely flower scarf.
 
Another make finished!
Not too many left now.
Must get cracking on all other works in progress as there is new yarn on order for Christmas.
 
Toodles...L x ♥
 
 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Fix That Chair

Little J found this chair in a junk shop.
I have a small chair addiction and can never say no to a good deal on a chair.
It cost him the hefty sum of $1.
Several pieces were broken off and it was covered in
dirt, dust and cobwebs.
But he HAD to have it.
We cleaned it.
Glued it back together.
Left it in the corner for a year.
Then, one night Big J was bored.
He turned this chair....
 Into this!
Using Little J's old T-Shirts and a good deal of
PATIENCE.
He needed that good deal of patience because has silly old Mum wouldn't leave him alone.
No, no, she had to stick her two cents worth in every five seconds and every three seconds she pleaded for a turn at 'weaving'.
Damn she was annoying!
But doesn't it look fantastic? 
He's quite clever that Big J of mine!
 
Toodles...L x ♥

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Pea Soup

We woke today to a really thick fog blanketing our little valley.  The tree from yesterday's post, which is just a few yards up the road is nearly hidden. Really quite pea soupish fog.  It lasted most of the day, with just an hour or two of blue sky, before more clouds rolled in again.  Despite the fog, the weather is unseasonably warm.  Today I've had the doors open and enjoyed the fresh air.
However, the weather this past weekend was very chilly.  We made a dash in the dark on Saturday evening to cut down our Christmas Tree.  Of course we couldn't wait till the next day when the sun was shining to choose our tree like normal people would.  No, no, instead trudged around in the pitch black, with only Big J's phone for a light while we argued over which was the best tree.  A real tree this year, which is unusual for us. I've not been fond of the idea of cutting a tree down just to enjoy it for a month, but it's growing on me.
As you can see I've only manage to place the angel on top of the tree.  For a fancy as this tree may look, the needles are devilishly sharp!  I'll have to don gloves and long sleeves to decorate it.

It does have the tiniest little cones growing.  Such a shame they won't get any bigger.
I have my fingers crossed it will hang onto it's cones and pine needles till after the big day, although it ceremoniously shed a bundle the minute we dragged it through the door. 
This is about as far as I have come with our Christmas decorations.  I was all excited after Thanksgiving to decorate the house, go pressie shopping and get ready for the festive season when we had a huge slight enormous disaster with our 100 year old plumbing.  I had to spend last week watching my bank account dwindle while some lovely plumbers created the worlds biggest hole in my tiny front garden.   I now have  delightful mud puddle the size of Lake Erie in my front yard.
Lucky me!
 
Thank you again lovely people for following me to my new blog.  So lovely to see you all over here.
 
Tomorrow I'll have a fabulous reveal of Big J's handy work.  You'll be amazed at what he did with Little J's old T-Shirts and a broken chair.
 
Toodles...L x ♥
 
P.S.  As I typed this post Big J presented me with the MOST delicious dessert ever - his homemade sticky date pudding.  Of course I've declared it disgusting, just so I can scoff the whole thing myself!!
 
P.P.S.  I can't believe I forgot to mention this, but my Middle J is finally HOME!!!  Well when I say that he is back on dry land down in Norfolk, Virginia. He's only here for a short stay before they sail off into the sunset again.  Fingers crossed I get to see him soon.
 
 
 


Monday, December 3, 2012

Starting Over.....

After a rather difficult conversation with Mister about why blogging was important to me and how he spends more in a week on coffee than I would in a month on my blog, I conceded defeat.  I know, I gave in too fast, but I realized he just DIDN'T get it. I could see the conversation going in a circle and would end badly, very badly. 
He didn't, doesn't, won't ever realize these 'virtual' friends I have are as important to me as my real world friends. 
Yes.  
That's YOU. 
I appreciate your words. 
I appreciate your support. 
Your little quiet visits.
Words of advice and the push to keep me going.
They mean alot to me. 
So now I'm here. 
And thank you for following me..... 
Let the new journey begin!

 A beautiful sunset on the first day of December.
The photo that just wouldn't load, but helped me turn a corner, not give up and to keep on going.

Toodles...L x ♥

P.S. I've been gone too much. I promise to be here more often.....more importantly I need to be here more often. ☺