Christmas Stuffing Indeed

Dishes At Christmas Dinner Prepared By My Sister
NO, I Am Not Kidding

• Baked ham
• Tortiere
• Lasagna
• Side crock of meatballs simmered in the lasagna sauce
• Mashed squash
• Peas and carrots
• Salad

I am not even counting the myriad plates of nuts, chips, cheese, crackers and shrimp spread throughout the apartment. On top of everything, all the cookies you see in the photo were baked by her and each guest was given a box to bring home.

The woman was cooking and baking for over a week. She is either crazy generous, or just plain crazy.

In My World Hedgehogs Are Purple

Pattern: Smith by Ysolda

Purple, only because these two colours were the most appropriately sized scrap balls in the stash.

I finally buckled down last night and finished this. Unfortunately, the knitting gods blessed me with inspiration at about 11:30 pm so I was up until after one. No matter. One must follow one's Muse.

It's remarkable how finishing a project does wonders for the mood. I've been feeling like crap for days and this little toy has managed to lighten that somewhat. I'll take it.

See that cute little pointy nose? The last ten rows or so were executed on DPN's! Yes, me, the DPN hater and despiser was forced over to the dark side by the pointiness of Smith's nose. I'm pleased that I managed the cursed things so well and that the end result is sufficiently cute.

Tree's Up

Well, the Christmas knitting, knitting of any sort in fact, is a big fail. Tree's up though. Ooo. Pretty.
Much storm and stress is going on these past weeks. Work politics have been out of hand and I've let myself get caught up in the whirlwind.
Time to take a big step back. The Daughter and I have trimmed our tree and will soon wrap the gifts. We'll see good friends and eat too much. Tomorrow, we're going downtown to look at the lights. Pretty simple stuff but just what's needed now.

Embarassing Moment #137

OK. On Sunday evening, I'm sitting at my dining table doodling and listening to Randy's Vinyl Tap on CBC, This is a typical Sunday night at my happening place. Anyway, the theme of the show is keyboard and well into the second hour, Randy plays Barry Manilow's Could It Be Magic as an example of blending of classical and pop. How cool is it that Randy Bachman - The Guess Who? BTO? Yes, that Randy Bachman - spins Barry Manilow on his radio program without irony or sarcasm? He just plays the record. The familiar opening Chopin chords send chills down my spine and I am transfixed to my radio. It's 1978 and I'm that girl, lying on the basement floor with my head between the speakers, listening to that song over and over again on my Barry Manilow Live album. I know it's schlocky but I actually believe in that kind of love. Someday, someone will feel that kind of passion for me, and sing "Come into my arms" to me. Baby, I want you now and hold on fast. I already feel all the joy and pain of that great love affair that I know, I know, will be mine.

Then of course tears are streaming down my face from the nostalgia of it all and then The Daughter walks in and rolls her eyes at me. She's used to this kind of behaviour from her crazy mother and walks right out again.

It's 30 years later and still no great passionate affair.

Fuck, it's a good song though.

Watch a clip HERE.

Mail Call

My Whimsical Little Knits 2 arrived in the mail the other day. I pre-ordered the collection on spec several weeks ago. Ysolda Teague has a very clever system whereby you purchase the collection and then are sent weekly email links to download the patterns as they become available. For a few pounds more, you also receive the printed book at the end of the run. I chose the book option but began having doubts about the economy and environmental friendliness of ordering the hard copy as well.
As soon as I opened my package, all doubts disappeared. There's just something about holding the little paperback in my hands and flipping through the patterns. The colour quality of the photos is lovely. If you're like me, you read knitting pattern books for entertainment. After all, you can't bring pdf's on the morning streetcar ride.
My next queued project from the collection is Smith the Hedgehog. It will be a gift for my former babysitter. The girl, or I guess I should say woman, minded my child years ago and is now having her own baby. We all know time flies by but the fact is brought home more so when someone I think of still as a sweet, somewhat awkward teenager, is now a beautiful, self-possessed career woman expecting her first child. Wow.

The Little Lost Shawl

Damson was literally off the blocking for about three hours when it went around the neck of The Daughter and out the door. That was two weeks ago and I haven't seen it since.

Hey Kid! Don't forget to bring it back when you return from Daddy's house!

This was a fast and fun knit. I particularly enjoyed knitting the final border and casting it off. So rhythmic. Ysolda Teague is fast becoming one of my favourite designers. She's mastering the whimsical (Hence her collection title "Whimsical Little Knits") and the feminine. I've already got another of her designs on the needles. It's a Christmas gift for The Daughter so I can't say anymore except that she'll not get it if I don't get my Damson back!