That yucky feeling

I have just eaten "too many" chocolate covered pretzels from a gift tin in my office. I feel not-so-good. Don't ask. Sometimes I just need chocolate.

Knitting progress: the mate to the Lativian sock now has nine of the needed ten pattern repeats on the leg. I did manage to pick it up and work a couple rounds here and there during the Christmas preparations. I went to take a picture of the progress, and the camera tells me the batteries are exhausted. Well, aren't we all? Those batteries do not hold a charge for beans. They were charged three days ago. I received a new cell phone for Christmas that takes pictures, but I do not have the time or energy to read the manual to learn 1.) how to take photos, and 2.) get them from the cell phone to the blog.

I leave for Maryland tomorrow, so I may not update for a few days, depending on how busy the grandchildren keep me.

Before I go, I do have to share one picture:

A Merry Christmas

I host the Family Christmas Eve Dinner every year. Being surrounded by those I love and who love me is truly Christmas for me. Oh, we eat the festive dinner and exchange gifts, but just being together is best of all. My sister's family comes from Chicago, as does my brother. My parents and my sister-in-law and neice and nephew come from their homes here in town. My son comes from Arlington, VA. This year we had to do without my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. The grandchildren live in Maryland and it is just too far for a three and five year old to travel this time of year. So they are having Christmas in their own home and starting their own Christmas Eve traditions. We exchanged phone calls several times during the evening and the next day.

Here are my Mom and Dad opening gifts. Thanks for giving me the gift of life.

I did indeed finish the Gryffindor House Scarf, here modeled by the recipient, my nephew.

My sister loved the House Elf Socks.

A Merry Christmas to All!

Down to the Wire

The Gryffindor scarf now has 13 of 14 repeats done. So, one repeat, plus 27 final rows of the main color, cast off, wash, block, cut 108 pieces of main color yarn 8" long, and attach fringe with crochet hook. I have today, tomorrow, and Friday to do this. Actually, it's the blocking that will really take time. I may have to set up a fan to blow across the scarf to hurry the drying process.
Incidently, I watched The Chamber of Secrets and the Prizoner of Azkaban on cable tv over the week end. The perfect movies for this project!

Finished the Shopping? Ho Ho Ho. Not.

I have done so little shopping, I'm not certain why I am so laid back about it this year. I should be in a panic, right? Every evening on the way home from work, I think to myself, "Self, you should go to the mall tonight and pick up a gift or two". But the weather has been so nasty (sleet and freezing rain yesterday) that I just head for home. I did have the chimney sweep here this week, so I can now use the fireplaces without being paranoid about burning the house down.

The car is in the shop tomorrow morning for an oil change and a new head lamp. Then I'm attending a wedding in the afternoon with a 6:00 pm reception. That will shoot Saturday. I invited friends over for dinner on Sunday evening, so between church, a vist to FIL in the nursing home and actually doing some cooking, Sunday is pretty full too.

Knitting progress: The Gryfinndor House scarf now has 9 of 14 repeats completed. I'm trying to complete one pattern repeat a day (38 rows of 90 stitches each). If I can do that, I'll finish it.
I did cast on for Latvian sock #2 while waiting for the yarn for the scarf to arrive in the mail. I haven't touched it in a week, but did complete the picot hem and one pattern repeat. It will have to wait until after Christmas. The yarn for the Whitby socks has also arrived. So much yarn, so many projects, so little time. Oh, why can't I retire and knit all day? Oh right, no work, no money for yarn. Ah well. Maybe I'll win the lottery. If I buy a ticket. Wait, that's more shopping!

Must stop here and do some actual work before the employee Holiday Party starts!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It has been a cold, snowy December in Cleveland. These are views out the window where I work. At least the sun is out this morning, although it's still very cold. How cold? I would rather not know, thank you. I cope better.

The finished House Elf Socks:

The left sock is a bright red, not the rose color in this picture. I think my sister will love them and they certainly make me laugh!

I promised myself I would not knit gifts for Christmas this year. You know how it is, you always think you'll have the time. LOL. So no knitting for Christmas this year. Then I drew my teenaged nephew in the family gift exchange. He's been a huge Harry Potter fan since the first book came out. And then there is the Weasly Knitalong on Alison's blog to tempt me. All those Weasly sweaters and so on. Guess what I'm knitting?

The Gryffindor House scarf as seen in The Prisoner of Azkaban. I'm using a size 7 circular needle and Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Hollyberry and Daffadil. The wool is a bit scratchy, so I hope it will soften with washing. I've completed five plus repeats of the trapped bar pattern out of the required 14. It is December 13, will I finish it? Stay tuned.

Missing in Action

The House Elf socks are finished and I cannot find the stupid camera. There will be no picture of them today. Actually, they turned out pretty well, kind of ugly-cute. I had to frog the leg of the first one. The color work section did not stretch enough to go over my heel. This was solved by casting on and knitting the next size up. Then I began on the short row heel. It had wraps, which had to be picked up. The first attempt was awful and I frogged it. The second attempt, after consulting knitting references to be sure I was picking up the wraps correctly (and I was) was better but still messy looking. I frogged and gave it one more try, but it was no better. It must be something about my technique. I gave up and simply knit a classic round heel. Much better! The second sock knit up quickly as I didn't repeat the mistakes of the first sock.

I cast on for the second sock of the Lativians. I have just the picot hem and one repeat done. I'm just working on them as a break from another project that is not going well. I can't explain without photos, so that's all I'll say today about that.

I should know better than to decide to knit Christmas gifts. This year I swore I wouldn't do that to myself, but I am weak! I intend to knit two Gryffindor scarves for my nephews who are Harry Potter fans. I ordered the yarn, worsted weight wool of the Andes last Sunday from Knitpicks. Last time I ordered from Knit Picks, the yarn arrived the next day! I think their warehouse is in Ohio. But of course it is December and package delivery is slower. I wish now I had paid extra for two day delivery. It is now Wednesday and the yarn has not arrived. Hopefully, it will come today. I also ordered some Louet Gems Opal in sport weight from Kirtland's Yarn Barn to knit the Whitby socks in the KOTR-knitalong. These will be a gift for my brother. My plan was to knit the scarves while waiting for the sock yarn. We shall see, they may all get gift cards from Borders.

I knew that!

The Noble Princess
You are just and fair, a perfectionist with a
strong sense of proper decorum. You are very
attracted to chivalry, ceremony and dignity.
For the most part you are rather sensible, but
you are also very idealistic.
Role Models: Guinevere, Princess Fiona (of Shrek)
You are most likely to: Get kidnapped by a stray
dragon.

What Kind of Princess are You? - Beautiful Artwork (Original Music is BACK!!!)
brought to you by

It's Snowing

And that is an understatement. It appears that lot of weekend time will be spent digging out. I'm also anticipating knitting in a nice warm house while watching the snow fall. It has been snowing steadily all day and isn't supposed to stop until tomorrow night. Ah, lake effect snow!

Another sample of the knitting I have done in the past month. This cap and mittens were for Katy, and I knit a similar pair in red, white, and blue for Jack. I interrupted the knitting of my Lativian socks to do them.

Here is the one lonely Lativian sock, waiting for me to cast on it's mate. But, ah, I confess to being distracted by a House Elf Sock pattern.

I reread Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire recently. The house elf Dobby gave Harry Potter a pair of hand knit socks for Christmas. One sock was red with a pattern of broomsticks. The other sock was green with a pattern of golden snitches. Dobby believes that a pair of socks should not look alike, and if they do, you should take them back to the shop! I just had to knit a pair and then I found this pattern. What can I say, I'm easily distracted. And these socks are just plain funny!

Conwy Socks are Finished!

Actually I finished these socks on October 30, but, well life got away from me for a while there. I love the Lorna's Laces yarn and will definitely use it in the future. I followed Nancy Bush's pattern for Conwy exactly, and I'm pleased with the way they fit without being loose in the ankle. I have also finished one sock in the Folk Sock Knitalong, which is the Lativian pattern. I don't usually experience second sock syndrome, but don't feel very enthusiastic about casting on for this one. It's those size 0 needles. Sigh. But I'll get to it eventually.

I really have been knitting but just not photographing it and I feel like I can't post if I don't show what I'm working on.

What else has happened in the past month?
Well:
1. Hosted a Bridal Shower for 24 in my home
2. Father-in-law in hospital for one week.
3. Father-in-law in my home for two weeks with home health aide, visiting nurse, physical
therapist paying visits
4. Father-in-law back in hospital for five days
5. Father-in-law transferred to long term care facility for skilled nursing care
6. Cooked Thanksgiving dinner for 16 people
7. Daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren from Maryland visited for five days
8. Son from Virginia visited for four days
9. Hospital where I work had an accreditation survey (I'm responsible for preparation and coordination of survey activities. We passed the survey. Whew.)
10. Planned and held hospital's annual Quality Improvement Celebration
11. Had episode of "non-specific" chest pain, hospitalized overnight, but no problems with my heart were found. Just stress, no doubt.

Anyway, I have been busy. Even though my husband and I are separated, I help care for his father, who is 90 years old. We've been separated three years now and have found we can be friends.

Must stop here and actually do some work.