It's my birthday today.....I can't believe I've made it this far or that I'm this old! LOL!

 Count those candles....there should be 69 of them!  I feel young...it's only when I look in the mirror I am startled by the old woman staring back at me! LOL!
Yesterday I was gone to Mountain Home to the doctor for a 6 month checkup for the RA.  I'm good and I stopped at T.J.Maxx and got myself a few little items........some body butter.....lemon and sage....

and some really yummy pine scented candles.....I love pine but most candles are a sad imitation.....but not these....they are the real deal and I am lighting them tonight!  Probably not all of them though....

I also treated myself to a Starbuck's Holiday Spice Latte............and what a treat it was!  Yummo!
I was early to my appointment so I sat in the waiting room and read but I should have brought knitting as it was loud in there!  People talking and their phones going off.  I've never seen the waiting room so busy before but I managed to read quite a bit of Outlander and it is very engaging.  I didn't get home until 4:00 p.m. so I was pretty tuckered out by then.  I fed everyone, got my jamies on and had a bowl of soup in bed.  Did I mention how cold it is here?  I think as you age you cannot tolerate extremes of any kind.....too hot or too cold....too salty or too sweet...too well done or not cooked enough......evidently it comes with the territory.
Being gone yesterday I had chores to do but I planned on having a nice birthday regardless.  I fixed a nice egg McMuffin with bacon and then cleaned up the kitchen.  I needed to call in prescriptions and pick them up along with some dog food and cat food.  I also picked up some butter pecan ice cream which was on sale for $3.50 for a quart of Edy's who has the best butter pecan.  I get it at the Dollar General.  I planned on pretty much taking it easy and just doing what I wanted to do.  One thing I REALLY wanted to do was cast on my birthday cowl!  I saw Little Bobbins knitting a cowl with her Advent mini skeins and I fell in love with it. It is a pay for pattern by Helen Stewart who is famous for her clear and wonderful patterns and I have been wanting to try one.  The pattern is based on the Nutcracker and is called The Land of Sweets.  I was so excited and made sure I had the right needles and I downloaded the pattern.  I cast on the required stitches only to discover my cable was too long.

  It called for 24 " and I measured but they must mean from needle tip to needle tip as there was no way I could join them into a circle!  I messed around most of the afternoon looking through my needles and cords but no luck.  I'll have to order one.....oh well....I don't have all the yarn either as it calls for 24 mini- skeins and I only have 3 but it's a start! LOL! 

 These are all Maker's Haven mini's that I purchased awhile ago........I love her yarns......

   Here's a picture of the cowl.........Helen's...not mine............everyone says it is a really fun knit and that is most important in my book!  Plus, it's pretty.......

Tonight will be Zuppa Toscana soup (leftover), Christmas Crack and some butter pecan ice cream while watching When Calls the Heart Season 4 on Netflix.   Even the girls will get some ice cream!  I read a bit this afternoon and tonight I'll work on my CMB or maybe drag out my sweater.....remember that one? LOL!  Oh, I did 10 rows on the washcloth today because I did none yesterday so I'm caught up.  Tomorrow will be some actual housework, I think. 
Happy Trails!!!