My Year So Far

This has been a heck of a week.  On Saturday, Miss Mew had to have an unexpected appendectomy, but the good news is she's home, and on the mend, and I get to spend some fun times with my daughter, who I miss more than I knew.  Another close family member has had surgery twice in the last 2 weeks, so it's been one thing after another.

I have been knitting and spinning to keep, somewhat, sane.


This is Borealhttp://www.ravelry.com/projects/Knittingham/boreal, By Kate Davies. I've admired this designer for years, beginning with her Owl sweater, and she has a great blog,.  Kate made hers in shades of green, but I decided to go for something different, and chose this magenta and natural colour. Lots of fun, and wonderful yarn to work.
I spun some Fat Cat BFL, for a shawl.  That was fun, in snowy gray shades.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

For laughs, I added to my Anne Taintor magnet collection- this is one of my favorites.


 "Let's get a closer look at that new camera........"






                                                                       

Bring It On

January 2nd of 2012. I remember when I was a kid, in the '60's, we were lead to believe that life would be like The Jetsons. I thought it would be so cool to whiz around in a spaceship. And have a dog named Astro.

Christmas was nice- we had a huge turkey, and decided that turkey on Thanksgiving is good, but not at Christmas. We'll change to something else, something that would be less work.

I got a new camera, and have been playing with some of the settings, the most hilarious being the fisheye lens.
My sister at New Years- snork.

FC's finger going up Todd's nose- snork. I did not make it to midnight, I was totally exhausted. But we had fun playing Trivial Pursuit.

I got this book. Diane Keaton is wonderful- quirky and funny, and most of all a real individual who makes no apologies for who she is. She adopted her daughter at 50, and her son at 55. The book also talks about her mothers diaries, and her sad descent into Alzheimers. A great read.

I guess Brigitte and I were on Santa's good list, because we both got this kit from VY. I will be making the gloves, so this will be a treat for when I've finished a few WIP's. I have taken stock of what I have, and what I want to get done.

As usual, I promised myself I would buy no more yarn or crafting supplies this year. Not even books. Last year, I learned to spin, and have a huge stash of fiber. I love spinning- and I love the spinning community. I have made alot of wonderful friends, so that was a gift to myself. I've also got in far better shape walking, and connecting with some friends, and losing some weight. That is another gift to myself.

This year, I will turn 50. That is a milestone birthday. Alot of great things happened for me and my family last year, and I hope 2012 continues like that.

And I hope the same for you- onward and upward.

Kitten Chow didn't make it to midnight either- big surprise.

From Kitten Chow

I probably won't get a chance to post before the big day, so I'm doing it now, before I descend into cooking, cleaning and laundry. My friend Jerry did the picture of Kitten-Chow last year, and I wanted to have a card made out of it. I thought I would share it, because it's great.

I got some Halflinger sheep slippers.

And this totally cool Emma Bridgewater jug. It's huge. My friends at Say Tea on Bloor ordered it for me. Every time I look at it, I smile like a fool. It just makes me SO HAPPY!

Have you ever wondered what to do with all those peppermint candy canes that no-one really wants to eat? Laura made these fabulous cookies, and I'll share the recipe with you.

Candy Cane Cookies

1 cup softened butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp peppermint extract (it really makes a difference)
2 1/2 Cups sifted flour
1/2 Cup crushed candy canes
2 tsp sugar

Beat butter and sugar together. Beat in the egg and extracts. Combine flour and candy canes and stir into creamed mixture. Roll into 1" balls, and place 2" apart on a cookie sheet. Flatten with the back of a fork, and sprinkle sugar on top. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Mr. Chow would like to wish all of you and the kitties a wonderful holiday, and copious mousies in all of your stockings.

Duke Nukem?

Some thoughts about Christmas, and the holidays in general. The state of affairs here is that it is going up to 13 degrees, it's raining, and it's being predicted that there will be no snow this year. However, it is cold in Arizona.

Suffice to say, I feel completely cheated. At this time we usually have the tree up, and decorations done, and the turkey in the freezer. That hasn't happened.

My dear friend and I made cookies this year, for she is the Queen of shortbread. After sampling some Lavender cookies earlier this year, we made some, and I can't tell you how good these are.
We baked these for 20 minutes at 325, so depending on your oven. You have to use culinary lavender, and lemon, and add only 2 tbsp of the lavender. I hope you make some, because your house will smell incredible too.

I'm making some Man Size mittens for FC. No thrills here.

I am on the last 2 braids of "Country Roads" BFL- and I am going to spin the rest today, as a treat to myself.

Some thoughts and observations:

- Why do people "text" when they are driving? On the highway? Bad enough they talk on the phone, but I see this all the time, and it scares me.
- Why do people wait until now to start Christmas shopping? I would be in such a state that I would have to be hauled off to the nearest psych ward. As it is, I have finished shopping, wrapped it, and am still in a pre-meltdown mode. When someone tells me they haven't started yet, I get a knot in my stomach. At least have a list.

- I am starting to think that there really is no point in wearing pajamas, unless there is Snoopy on them. I need to find some more.
-I always say I'm going to do things differently, but I never do. Maybe it's just something people say.
-I've decided that when I use up all the weird Christmas paper on rolls, I won't buy any more.(Unless there are kittens or Snoopy on them). Plain Kraft paper only, and I can doll it up with stickers or raffia. This will work for birthday presents too.
- My son has requested "Duke Nukem Balls of Steel" edition for his PC. Yes.
- I am going to watch "Black Christmas" a few more times, because it's a great movie that also really scares me.
- I'm thinking about how unfair it is that I can't have some more cats, or a nice dog. I would like a dog. I love animals- but FC, not so much.
-I am already getting depressed about New Years. And it's crazy to get depressed about something like that.
-If anyone else leaves a used kleenex in their pocket, and puts it in the wash, so it shreds all over the laundry, and you can never get rid of the little bits of it- someone will pay dearly, and will have to make other laundry arrangements.

Despite all of this, I am going to have a nice holiday, see some people I love, and not over eat. This middle aged dog can learn new tricks.

However, this aging kitty will not.

It's beginning to look alot like....

....uh, no. It isn't. The weather is mild, and it's raining. On Friday, I took a trip into Toronto to look at the amazing Christmas windows at The Bay, as well as in The Eaton Centre. Giant reindeers- I really love downtown when it's all lit up.

I met Miss Mew and FC, and we went the Grace Kelly exhibit, and we looked at her letters, clothes, her Oscar and a replica of her wedding dress. It was really interesting, and like alot of actresses from that era, she was tiny. Small waist- maybe they wore foundation garments.

A few weeks back we attended a showing of The West Wind at the McMichael gallery. The director and some of the people involved were there. I enjoyed the film, but I cannot believe the rudeness of the public in general. One woman behind us would not stop talking, and getting up during the movie, until we gave her the malocchio- and after it was over, I heard another lady speaking to the director, complaining at how loud the music was. Good thing I don't give into my urge to slap people, my hand would be sore alot.
In knitting news, I made this tam from this book. It was fun.

I haven't made too much progress on Lorna Suzanne...however.....

Miss Mew finished her first sweater- Eileen Mary. She used Peace Fleece in Perestroika Pink. I think she did an amazing job.

There is a back keyhole, and she added a rhinestone button.

As for Kitten Chow, he's been busy with his bag.

You Better Not Pout

Santa got here yesterday. The parade in Toronto had a Mrs. Clause this year, as well as a Santa cam- and he Tweets. The weather wasn't cold enough, and we had no snow, which just isn't the same. Anyway, now we can watch all the Christmas movies. Because Christmas is coming, whether we like it or not, so why not enjoy it?

On Saturday I went to a craft sale at one of my old primary schools- and they have since added a pool, and a few other things to the old building. It was alot of fun, and I ended up getting some cute Fimo sheep ornaments.

I've made about 8 of these- glass ornaments with knitted socks and toques. I have glitter everywhere- but these were alot of fun.

Mary Jane Mucklestone is a designer I admire, and I pre-ordered this a while back. I actually haven't had a chance to sit down and read it, but I am sure it will be a great resource.

I made these Autumn Fire mittens- these come in a kit, with gorgeous natutally dyed yarns from a lady in Finland.

I fell in love with this pattern, and since I have most of my gift knitting done, I have the pleasure of making it- I chose a colour called "Lupine" which always makes me think of that Monty Python sketch where Dennis Moore, the Highwayman, steals all the Lupines. Anyway, I love this designer, she's a bit retro.

As for Kitten Chow, he's feeling a bit displaced by drum equipment in the front room, and is looking for a happy place.

It's Not Always A Good Thing

This morning, I knew it would be a banner day, in the history of Chez Sheriff- and it's probably not a huge deal to others, but I got into my size 12 cargo pants- and they're even slightly loose. I've lost almost 15 lbs, with really, precious little effort on my part.

Also, on Monday, I sat down at the sewing machine, and almost finished the top of my basket quilt, that has been bugging me for 2 years now. The setting blocks were the wrong size, so instead of making my life more complicated, I used some plain ones, and it isn't prize worthy, but I am happy with it. Now I have to figure out if I am going to quilt it, or send it out.

On Saturday, we visited one of my favorite places, Recycled Displays, and I picked up this head. I have to admit, mannequins freak me right out, but I love her sweet face, and her twenties look, so she's perfect for modelling hats.

In knitting news, once again, I have succeeded in making myself nuts. Too many projects, too many cool things to knit, gifts to think about, blah blah blah. Currently, I am working on a handspun hoodie coat thingy, a pair of mittens, and waiting for some yarn for another sweater.
For sheer inspiration, I did get this:

There are some really great smaller projects which I plan to make, after the current yarn induced nervous breakdown.
Didn't you just know that it would only be a matter of time before Martha would make the cover of a knitting magazine? In all her photo shopped glory? She has a line of yarns by Lion Brand, which I normally don't bother with- after the poncho fiasco-but I guess it's a question of what sells magazines.

I don't know whether Martha is good or evil, I suspect it's a little bit of both. No question, the Martha Stewart Living magazine is top notch- photography, articles, it has raised the bar for publishing standards. But this whole "everything is perfect" propaganda- well, who needs it? Are we really expected to believe she tends all those gardens, in all those homes? Cooks all that food? Has time to even SHOP? Please.

Holiday time is approaching- and I give you permission to have an imperfect, messy, noisy time this year. So what if you're tree decorations don't match.

Kitten Chow does, however, dream of the perfect mousie.