364 days till Christmas

Last year, we had a white Christmas, which we do not have here in the Northwest. I love snow, and it should have been perfect, but it wasn't, because last year my husband was working in Iraq and we were separated at Christmas for the only time in the last 30 years. So perhaps it isn't weird that all of Christmas Eve, throughout that night, and all day Christmas, I just keep looking at him and thinking "I am so glad you're here."
Maybe that is why Christmas, this year, was as near perfect as it can be without being white.
My younger son and my daughter, my son-in-law and my son's sweetheart were all here on Christmas eve. We went to mass, had mexican food afterward and then came home for eggnog and a few gifts. We got up the next morning and over several pots of coffee we sat in our pajamas and showed each other how much we are loved through giving gifts. I know Christmas is too materialistic, but I love giving gifts to the people I most want to see happy. I love that absolute abandon of lavishing upon those people. I wrap the gifts with special care and they are beautiful-sparkly and tied with bows. And all of the recipients were surprised and delighted, I think. I hope. But then, appreciating gifts is another way we show love for each other.
I did knit something for each of the kids that were here-hats for son and SIL, a hat/scarf for my daughter and a scarf for sons girlfriend. It was fun, and for the most part I didn't have to stress about it. In fact, at one point, a couple of days before Christmas, I sat knitting, listening to Christmas carols, in a clean house and thought-"WOW, this is really how it's supposed to be". It helped that I took several days off work. There were lots of Christmas treats and decorations. I don't know. It is over now, happily so, but it was a wonderful holiday. And I have a wonderful family.

With apologies to Kiernan Foley

I like to do multiple projects-usually a pair of socks, because they fit in my purse in case I have to wait somewhere, then a fairly simple something for mindless knitting-say travelling or something. Of course a sweater-gotta keep up (kind of) with the nakniswemodo group, and usually something even more complex-say a shawl. So back in September-SEPTEMBER- I decided that I was going to knit something with this cone of I-don't-know-what that I got on e-bay a while back. It is probably cotton, maybe a little silk or rayon or linen, I don't really know. Anyway, it made me think of being on a cruise with a flowy cotton sundress, and there is a cool breeze and I need a light, pastel shawl to cover my shoulders. I started looking for a pattern and discovered seascape by Kieran Foley. It was stunning. Knit a little wider, it would make a perfect "cruise" shawl.

I know right away it was a poor choice. The yarn was nubby, which distorted the beautiful pattern. But I rarely tear out something I have spent hours knitting. So on I went. And finally, this morning, I finished. Steam ironing with my rowenta helped a bit. I don't even know if I will go to the trouble of a proper blocking, maybe if we book a cruise! I just wanted to say that I think Mr. Foley is a GENIUS, and I am so sorry for this shawl. As penance I promise to knit some other patterns designed by him and to do them beautifully. I may even knit seascape again. I love it madly. And his colorwork patterns are stunning. So this shawl is no reflection on it's designer.

That said, it is kinda purty from a distance. And the pastel colors in the garden just begged for a photo op with the new, nubby shawl, so here they are...