Blogmas Day #27

Well, I got a good nights sleep last night and have had a very balanced day today....a little of everything.  I was too tired and there were too many calls yesterday to make my dinner so I am making it tonight....no camera so I am copying others pics.  I think I found a nice used camera for a decent price on Amazon.  I'll sleep on it and see  how I feel about it tomorrow! LOL!
I making prime rib.........from this recipe

a loaded baked potato......from this recipe

and brussel sprouts.....using this recipe

I'm sure mine won't look as good as these but as long as it tastes good that's all I care about!
I had a great Christmas yesterday....the kids called and we opened presents over the phone.  I think they all liked theirs and I LOVED mine!  I got so much!  I couldn't believe it!  One of the neatest gifts were 2 potholders that have artwork on them from Sam and Grayson!  I didn't even know at first they looked so good!  One was a mosaic heart drawing that Sam made and Grayson drew a butterfly.  Maybe it helps that their mother is an art teacher but I thought they did really good!  I got a cd, some charms,  cookies, melties called "Grandma's Kitchen" and 2 darling salt and pepper shakers that the boys picked out for me.   They are cute little chickens because they assured their mother that I loved chickens....."did you see all the chickens at her house, Mom?  She loves them!"  And indeed I do! LOL!  Today I received a lovely card from Uriah that he picked out and a box of Russian Cookies that they picked up in Chicago when they were there.  Ben is dating a gal from Russia so I'm sure that is the connection.  They're delicious!       
Today I put all the presents away, prepped for dinner, got the garbages emptied and out and watered my poor plants!  I managed to clear off my desk too.  I'm knitting my Christmas Eve cast on socks and I am loving the needles, the yarn and the self-striping colors.  I can't wait to show you when I have a camera! LOL!  I am knitting them concurrently so I have one cuff done and I am working on the other one so they will be done at the same time.  It is cold here but the sun was out today which warmed things up a bit.  I received more cards in the mail also and I have to work on mine!  Don't judge!  Remember the Christmas season actually goes until January 10th, I think.  I hope you had a lovely day today, kicking back and relaxing and basking in the post Christmas Day glow!
Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day #25 - The Birthday Party!

 Is this how you feel today?  I hope you are able to enjoy this wonderful celebration of our savior's birth and relax to your heart's content without having to work too hard entertaining.
This looks just like the church in my home town and I would have loved to have attended candlelight services there last night...........

Here's a picture of my cousins and I on Christmas Eve at my Aunt Alice's probably around 1950 or 1951.....I 'm on the left with the creepy Santa sneaking up on me...lol!  I had big feet even back then!  I swear if my feet  hadn't been so big I would probably be 3 or 4 inches taller!  As it is I am 5' 2" and wear a size 10 shoe!  See what I mean?  I think I am being reprimanded in that picture...I was always getting in trouble and I look pretty guilty. 

Did you have a big dinner today?  I was going to make one but there were so many calls that I decided to postpone until tomorrow.  I have plenty to eat and I did have my French Toast Casserole this morning that was quite filling and a little too sweet for my taste.  I drank a lot of oj in between each bite. 

This is a picture of my hometown in Winter..........I wish I could be there...maybe next year.....

This is what I plan on doing for the rest of the day............relaxing by the fire...........knitting on my Christmas Eve cast on sock and snacking the night away!  Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!

Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #26 and Blogmas Day #24

 I keep forgetting what day it is!  I knew it was Christmas Eve but I forgot it was Sunday and YOP!!!  What a great combo!  I'll be watching Santa and his reindeer tonight with the Norad Santa Tracker....my grandson Uriah will call me and we will track Santa!

 It's also Little Bobbin's annual Christmas Eve cast on!  I still need to wind the rest of my yarn and I think I have decided not to use Dani's Christmas Tree pattern even though I bought it but my yarn will not do the pattern justice so I will knit her socks after my vanilla Christmas socks.  In case you didn't see her sock pattern here it is....so pretty!

My camera broke so there won't be much visible evidence of my YOP progress until I get a new one.  You'll just have to take my word for it.  You didn't miss much this week as I've just been working on my Cozy Memories Blanket and have 2 more 4 square rows done yet when I measure it...it still looks like I have 4 more rows to go just like last week.....huh? 
I have been making a list of what projects I am wanting to do in 2018 though.  I have to settle myself down as I get so excited about all the great projects out there!  Once again, I am going to try and stick with a project for me, a gift (with no deadline though!), a charitable gift, a t.v. project (most probably my CMB) and of course, socks.  I want to do the Christmas Eve cast on, the Box of Socks for 2018 (I have yet to reach 12 pairs in a year) and I am going to save for a David's Tea Advent calendar and a Maker's Haven Advent calendar for next year.....or if I start dyeing my own yarn maybe I can make my own advent yarn calendar?  So many possibilities!  The Bakery Bears have several KALS starting in January and I found a beautiful sweater pattern by Joji Locateli where all the proceeds go to fund a community school for babies and infants in Argentina.  Here's a link to the pattern and no matter when you purchase it 100% of the funds will always go to that school.....forever!  What a gal she is!  I love the sweater as it is one that has lots of positive ease which I need!  This sweater is going on my list for sure.....as soon as I finish my other one! LOL!  Thank you, Joji for all you do!

Next week...maybe I'll have a new camera although it might be awhile but I will have my YOP list updated on my blog, my projects on Ravelry updated and hopefully a new yarn journal to keep track of it all!  BTW, the pattern is called All The Love!

 I'm off now to make French toast casserole for breakfast tomorrow, artichoke dip and shrimp cocktail for tonight along with a hot eggnog toddy with spiced rum and a warm fire to cast on my Christmas Eve socks!

 I'll also be watching Christmas Eve services on t.v. after tracking Santa with Uriah, of course.  I wish you all the merriest and happiest Christmas ever and don't forget the reason for the season.....our dear savior's birth.  Blessings to all!

Happy Trails!!!
P.S.  It snowed here this morning!!!  I almost missed it!  It is long gone now but it was here and I saw it!!!  It covered my car and all the trees but not the grass....it must have been too warm.   My family in Iowa got a white Christmas today too along with my hometown which looks very similar to the picture above.  Yes, I'm homesick.
 

Blogmas Day #23 ---- a bit late!

 Yesterday I had a bit more 'get up and go'...it's like every other day I have energy...lol!  Unfortunately at the time of year when I have the most to show you my camera broke so I have no pictures until I get a new camera which was NOT on my list to Santa!  I think it's too late to revise it now....maybe for my birthday? 

I managed to get some Christmas lights up around the mirror over the fireplace and put new batteries in my little tree on the table.  I prepped the fireplace for a Christmas Eve fire and even did a little housecleaning.  My daughter went to visit her brothers  and the cousins all got to play together which was nice.  Unfortunately, the brothers and Uriah did not receive their package.  I checked and once again it got to Iowa who then sent it to Memphis where it says 'it is in transit to the destination' .....yeah right!  Amy and her family got their packages several days ago but Uriah will not have his on Christmas.  These were all sent in time and Priority Mail....oh well....I did what I could to ensure it but maybe I'll have to mail them in the Summer.
I started winding this yarn for my Christmas Eve sock cast on but need to weigh it as I need 2 - 50 gram balls.  I love this yarn and it is self-striping....I've been waiting all year to use it!

   Dani, of Little Bobbin's podcast and the originator of the Christmas Eve Cast On event has come out with a sock pattern specifically for it!  She has a pattern for Christmas Tree socks!

I bought the pattern but I'm wondering if my yarn is too busy to show up the pattern?  Should I just make a vanilla sock and save the pattern for a plainer yarn?  What do you think?  I love the pattern...great job, Dani!  It's on Ravelry if you are interested.  Of all times of year for my camera to break...dang it!
Tomorrow which is really today (24th) because I am behind as usual.....I will be baking and making food for tonight and tomorrow...........

I finally dragged out my Christmas books too and started reading this book which I read every year at this time..........

I will be posting even though I have no camera.....I will have to get creative!  There will be another post for Blogmas Day 24 later today!

Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day #22

Evidently my Blogmas's will be short lived as now my camera isn't working!  I have some shots but then tomorrow it will be downloads and that's it, as the camera is not cooperating at all.  Oh well, I need to visit anyway and see what everyone else is up to this holiday season.  It's raining and even though "the roof boys" were here yesterday.....they did nothing and so I am using bowls that I need for Christmas baking for catching drips instead.  Please give me patience Lord!  In spades!
Here's my lovely Pioneer Woman bowl and this is heavy too!  I was amazed at the weight of it.
BEFORE:

AFTER:

   Today I've been working all day on the 2017 Collectible Ornaments.....and when I am done...I am going to make the 2018 Collectible Ornaments so I won't find myself in this position again! LOL!  Yeah right........I got no baking done at all so hopefully tomorrow?!?!?  One thing I did do was buy a frozen pizza for the next 2 nights for supper until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when there will be plenty!
Here's my Christmas mug and for the London Fog today I  used egg nog instead of the milk.....quite the taste sensation I must say!  I left out the vanilla but still added the honey.

I really look forward to this in the afternoons with a little sweet treat of which I have to bake........

I forgot to show you this the other day.  My daughter sent this in her box of packages also......too cute.....a little red truck with the tree and it's a racer! LOL!  That girl thinks of everything!  We both love the red trucks with the trees in them. 

I hope you're getting all your holiday tasks done and enjoying them at the same time!  The candles are lit tonight and it is a cozy, rainy night here in Arkansas.  I hope you are safe and warm wherever you are and enjoying this Friday evening!

Happy Trails!!!

Blogmas Day 21 - The Winter Solstice edition!

 I could live in this photo!!!

How did you enjoy the shortest day of the year?  I tried to pack in as much as possible.  I was up before dawn and wrote out my Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day menus plus all the baking I want to do for gifting and eating.  I got my grocery list all made and went off to Wally World and were they ever packed today!  I went today because I don't want to go on the weekend plus it is supposed to rain tomorrow and Saturday and maybe Sunday.  I filled up my tank with gas and got everything on my list and didn't break the bank!  Yay!  I even got a few things that weren't on the list...I know....shame on me! LOL!  I got a Christmas mug and a Pioneer Woman Christmas dish that looks so old fashioned but unfortunately they are in the dishwasher being washed so I will have to show you tomorrow.  I did get these.......110 of them!  There were no smaller packages.....that's Walmart for you but I like these little ones for hot cocoa and sometimes for my coffee or tea. Plus, they're just the right size for hanging on my little tree.  I had to really look for the regular peppermint ones as they have every flavor under the rainbow now.

I also got some Clementines.....I always got an orange at Christmas and Santa always put one in my children's stockings too. 

This is for Christmas Eve along with some artichoke dip and triscuits and some shrimp cocktail and hot eggnog with rum...the girls love this too (the summer sausage not the rum)...........not too much for them but it is a treat they love and a little cheddar cheese too!  After all...it's Christmas!

For Christmas breakfast I am making French toast casserole that you put together the night before and let it sit in the frig overnight.  On Christmas Day I am making prime rib (I found a small one just for me) with a loaded baked potato and brussel sprouts which is my favorite vegetable of all I think.
For New Year's Eve I am making Zuppa Tuscana soup which is the copycat from Olive Garden if I'm not mistaken.  I've made it before and it is so good!  I'll make some crusty bread and that will last me through my birthday too.  So there is my holiday menu along with some Christmas Crack, Salted Caramels,  Santa Crunch, Christmas cookies and maybe some biscotti.  I think I was hungry when I made out the menu!  But like I said.....Christmas comes but once each year!
I hope you had a wonderful Winter Solstice and tonight I am going to curl up and watch all the Vlogmas's and do some knitting.  I hope you are doing whatever brings you joy!
Happy Trails!!!
P.S.  The girl that checked out my groceries....it was her birthday today!!!

Blogmas Day #20

Well, It wasn't real Christmasy here today as I took a nice hot bath with my new heating element in my hot water heater and I washed my hair. I cleaned up the house and got a few bills out to the mailbox and cleaned the litter boxes.   But I did work on my Cozy Memories Blanket and was almost done with a navy square when I ran out of yarn so I ripped it out and grabbed another color and started it again.   Instead of the navy I am using that green yarn..........I love this blanket as I can pick it up and just start knitting....no fuss, no muss!

I did sit down this afternoon and work on some little gifts for my cat girls and one for my cat grandson...........

 They're little catnip mice that you crochet and I think I got the pattern on Ravelry.  It was free, I know that, and it is called the Easy Peasy Catnip Mouse.  You crochet most of it and then fill it with fiberfill, a bell and some catnip and then more fiberfil.  Unfortunately,  I had no bells but I did have the catnip and that's the most important thing....to my cats anyway.  I'm almost done and will finish them tonight.  I'll show you a better picture when they're finished.  Then there's the annual ornaments for 2017!  Oh my! 

 Today is also menu and grocery list for the holidays and although the rain never showed up now they are predicting ice and snow for the 26th and 27th so I had better ensure the larders are full!  Tomorrow is the last trip to the grocery store for 2017....hopefully!  I definitely can't forget the eggnog either!  Do you have any special foods or drinks during the holidays that you always fix?  We usually had snacks and hor' deurves on Christmas Eve because I was cooking for the next day and still wrapping presents after the kids went to bed! 
Here's a bit of Christmas that just came my way..........my grandson Uriah just called me to remind me to logon to the Santa Tracker on Christmas Eve.  He calls me and we spend time tracking Santa online.  That guy covers a lot of ground on Christmas Eve!
Oh, I almost forgot...........I cast on for my 21 color slouch hat kit that I got last year..........it called for a cable cast on which I had never done.  It was slow going but I got it cast on!

 Happy Trails!!!

Let the good times roll!!!!

Okay, the presents are all sent off....all the ones for now anyway and the bills are paid and laundry is done and I can take a little breath for now....yay!!!  Such a great feeling!  Oh, and get this...the plumber came yesterday and it was just an element and he fixed it very reasonably and said I am good to go for at least 5 more years!  That should give me enough time to save up for a new water heater don't you think?  LOL!
I am SO happy and now I can start MY little Christmas.  Today I got presents from my daughter and her family in the mail.  She is such a great shopper on a budget and look at how lovely she wraps everything.

so pretty.....and she gives the best gifts!  They don't have to cost a lot but she puts a lot of thought into each gift she gives.......and she shops all year long...........

She also had these in the box for filler I imagine.....lol!  I don't buy candy except at Halloween but I certainly won't let these go stale!  A sweet treat each night leading up to Christmas......

I was watching Little Bobbin's Vlogmas's and in one of them she made a London Fog (tea drink) from Earl Grey tea.  I Googled the recipe and although I did not have Earl Grey, I did have some Irish breakfast tea.
You make your cup of tea, put in a splash of vanilla and some honey and froth some milk.  I don't have a frother but you can put a bit of milk in a mason jar and with the lid on, shake it for 30 seconds and then take the lid off and heat it up in the microwave for 30-45 seconds and tada!  It worked for me and was really tasty!  Well worth the extra effort.

 I was able to sit and have my tea and knit a bit on my CMB using my favorite stitch marker from Maker's Haven...........she makes the prettiest stitch markers and project keepers.

 Tonight I'll be starting some presents for "the girls" and making my menu and grocery list for the holidays.  There's still decorating but if it doesn't get done it will be alright....I still have my Fall decorations up and some lights and baubles.  I'm just so happy I'm feeling better and I have hot water! LOL!   Plus, it is going to rain and rain for the next couple days and then when I go to the store on Thursday the sun will be out and 65!  Oh yeah!  Great shopping weather.  But come Christmas Eve it is supposed to go down to the low 30's and teens at night and snow is coming!!!!!  Oh be still my beating heart!  I am so excited and need to get the fireplace ready!  I've been playing Christmas music on my pc all day.  There's so many great playlists for Christmas music and it really puts you in the spirit and sometimes brings a tear to my eyes as I think of all the relatives that are no longer here that I have so many sweet memories of.  I'm sure they'll stop by over the holidays though!
Happy Trails!!! 
P.S.  What are you doing for the lead up to the big day?  What are your traditions?  Foods that you always fix?  Movies you watch or books you read?  I'm late this year but I think I will try and Blogmas from now until after the holidays.....just letting you know what I'm up to each day.  I love the Vlogmas's so why not a Blogmas?   Whatever you celebrate, I hope you are enjoying each moment!

YOP Week #25

The giraffes are done!!!!  Ta Da!!!!  There was a moment when I wasn't sure I would make it when I got sick but all's well that ends well.  The pictures aren't the greatest because it is a rainy day (so happy about that too!) and it is really dark out so I had to use artificial lighting.  This picture is blurry but it's the only one where you can tell they are different colors................

Grayson's is orange and yellow........

and Uriah's is gold and rust colored...............

I'm so glad I ordered the pom pom maker from Clover...it was a godsend!
They'll be getting wrapped and packaged up today to go in the mail tomorrow..........
There's still the annual ornaments and baked goodies but I will send those later.
For sanity I have been working on my soothing Cozy Memory Blanket.  This project is so relaxing that I can't work on it too long or I start dozing off......but I do love this project.............plus it is all stash!  I did 9 squares since I last posted and working on number 10.  I measured it and decided after consulting with you all that I would not tuck it in but I would have it go down the side of the bed a bit.

 So, I figure I have about 4 or 5 more rows to get it wide enough and then I will start doing the length part.

I need to wind up my yarn for the Christmas Eve sock cast on.......I got this last year for this year's socks...........I love the colors and also the name...."You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" from The Christmas Story movie?.........she also included a cute Christmas pencil............

I need to get my Christmas socks that I made last year for the Christmas Eve cast on to wear for this Christmas.  Today is wrapping and packaging, hopefully some cards written and mailed too tomorrow.  There's the grocery list for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and of course, there's still cleaning and decorating and baking plus...I still want to make my soap!  Will I be able to squeeze it all in?  Probably not but the fun is in the journey....no rush........I'm already planning my handwork for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day if there is no company. 
The Bakery Bears podcast and Ravelry group have 2 KALS starting January 1st so check those out and please let me know of any others as I am free to join them now!  I've already started a list of projects for the second half of YOP.  It seems I have been tied to the gift making for so long that I can't wait to work on some of my projects and ,of course, cast on a bunch of new ones! LOL!  Don't forget Little Bobbin's Christmas Eve Sock cast on....she is having it again I hope?  Also, is Yarngasm having her Box of Socks for 2018?  I  have yet to get 12 pair made but maybe this will be the year?
So much to enjoy and look forward too if I can only afford the yarn for all of it! LOL!  Also, definitely enjoying all the Vlogmas's...they really put you in the Christmas spirit.
Our next posting for YOP will be Christmas Eve...I'll be there and I hope you will too.  I'm getting excited for Christmas and just so Santa knows.....I was a VERY good girl this year so bring it on!!!
Happy Trails!!!