Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year....YAWN

Well, its New Years Rocking Chair Eve and we're going to party like it's 1899! Woo Hoo! The old folks are hot tonight. Why Golly! We might even stay up last 10:00 p.m.! Let's break out the sparkling cider and let the bubbles go to our head. Maybe dance on the lawn in our flannel nightgown/nightshirt and nightcaps. Besides, we need clear heads for all the FOOTBALL tomorrow. We will eat the tradditional New Years food of our ancestors: for my family - clam dip; for Bob's - kiebasa and saurkraut. Thank God neither one of us smokes because if someone lights a match in our house tomorrow night the whole place is gonna blow!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Finished the Denim Oddball Scarf


YAY! I finished my "Denim Oddball Scarf". I really like the yarn (Bernat's Denim Styl;e) It is very comfy. Can't wait to wear it. I need to go throught all the UFOs that are laying around and finish them up and start coming up with ideas for Christmas 2008. Need to start now if I want to get everything done!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Friday Ramblings

Rain has returned. This is the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up by a fire with a good book or some knitting. If you only had one word to describe weather in the Valley this time of year it would be “grey”. If its not the clouds, it’s the fog.

I have hooked up with a group called “Macuwita Sni”, which is Lakota for “I am not cold”. We are providing warm hand knit items for children on the Lakota reservations in South Dakota. I have a ‘School Spirit Scarf” cast on in purple and gold (one of the high school’s colors). I am also getting ready to cast on a hat with the left-over yarn from Mr. McClymond’s warm wooly hat. I should have enough to make a child’s beanie. Its hard to imagine how cold it gets in the winter in South Dakota. I shiver when it drops below 40!

I am looking forward to a quiet weekend. Bob & I have been invited to family dinner at the McClymond’s homestead. Mary and her family are out from Tennessee and Sue drove up from Pasadena. It will be nice to sit and visit with them. Its so strange not having Peggy around anymore. We try to get up to see Mr. McClymonds a couple of times a week and bring him dinner. He makes great oatmeal, but that is about the extent of his cooking abilities. The McClymonds kids have adopted me as a little sister. Its fun to do the family dinner thing at the holidays again. I bought all 4 of the kids “Merry Christmas from Heaven” ornaments personalized with Peggy’s name. Mary opened hers on Christmas Eve and started bawling and hugging me. She didn’t see the personalization until I pointed it out to her and that started another flood of tears. She and I got to know each other over the summer while she was here caring for Peggy. She has become like a sister to me.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

I've created a monster!

Christmas is over. It was very nice and quiet for us. We spent the day calling family members, napping and watching videos. Mr. & Mrs. Claus were pretty worn out from Christmas Eve deliveries.

I think the funniest part was talking to my sister-in-law Kelli. Her daughter Kayla has expressed an interest in learning how to knit so we bought her a beginning knitting kit and a copy of “Stitch and Bitch” so she can learn some of the basics. Kayla is so excited because she can now say “Bitch” and tell everyone she is referring to the book.

I love my new knitting basket from Bob and the knitting bag that my Mother-In-Law made for me. I was so excited about the handmade bag that it wasn’t until she called and asked if I looked in the pocket that I realized there was a gift card for Joann’s.

One of the biggest surprises was getting a gift card to Babetta’s from Josh, Bob’s lead at work. I made him a pair of fingerless gloves last month and he just loves them. He tries to be a real hard ass and would be mad if I said this to him, but he is such a nice guy. It has been amazing watching him grown up in the time he has worked with Bob.

Sitting on the couch with Bob, I was just feeling so blessed. Its not the gifts that we give or get each other, it’s the love of family and friends that is the best gift at the holidays.

Monday, December 24, 2007

New word of the day!

Chuck, our “adopted son” has given us a new word for the day: “Flumtuous”.

While at Christmas Promise tonight, they were selling sweatshirts with the Christmas Promise logo. Bob wanted one and I decided that Chuck needed one also. I thought about getting one for myself, but they did not have my size. When I came back to the truck, I gave them each their sweatshirt.

“Why didn’t you get one for yourself?” Bob asked.
“They did have one that would fit my fat ass”, I replied.
“You’re not fat!” Chuck protested. “You’re flumtuous!”

What the Hell does that mean? Sounds like a disease! I can only hope he was trying to say “voluptuous”.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

On His Way...

Bob is on his way to Ohio to visit the boys. I dropped him off this morning at 5:00 a.m. and I miss him already. One week is going to seem like one month. I know he will have a great time with the boys. His sisters are so excited that he is "coming home". His suitcases were crammed with handknit Christmas gifts for all the family. He has also assured me that he will be showing off his Cleveland Browns beanie and socks to everyone he can!

Saturday, December 1, 2007

December is Here

Well, here it is. The first day of December. I have been knitting up a storm trying to finish Christmas gifts. My problem is I have a terrible case of startitis. I want to knit something new! I have all this stashed yarn that is calling to me. I have to be strong and not listen. I have to finish up the projects left for Christmas. Or at least free up some needles.


Hubby is starting the outdoor decoration of the house. I have to monitor his progress or our house will look like the Griswold house in Christmas vacation. I think his ultimate goal is to have the house visible from space. I just hope that we do not overtax the wiring on the house. We learned last year that if the Christmas lights are one you can't use the microwave or you will blow the fuse. (Rewiring the house is on the big to do list). I also help with design features. ("No Honey. I don't remember the bible mentioning a snowman bring gifts to baby Jesus so put the snowman elsewhere.")


We are getting ready to get our tree. Having a tree and 3 cats is always an experience. I have learned that they do not like tree skirts. (Cats are so good at expressing their dislike of things with bodily functions) I remember the first year I had a cat. I was sitting on the couch reading and suddenly I saw an ornament fly off the tree and across the room. This was odd. Suddenly another flew in the opposite direction. At that same moment I noticed that my tree had suddenly grown a tail. I parted the branches to find a very innocent looking Sayuri looking at me trying to convince me that "it wasn't her!" When I was a kid we just had a problem with dogs eating the popcorn strands and the occasional piece of tinsel. (Made for very festive poops in the back yard!) Mom always hung bells on the bottom of tree so she would know when someone was messing with the tree. (Kids are as bad a s cats & dogs) I continue that tradition of the bells.


Found this in the paper and I can relate!