Well, it’s here. The shortest day of the year. Yay! Now, the days will start getting longer.

My weekend was a whirlwind.  That’s fine, but I keep waking up at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. and laying there.  My mother passed the “worry when there isn’t a darned thing you can do about it” gene.  I lay in bed and discuss this with myself, but myself just tells me that I need to pick up the pace.  I have told myself “Self.  There are no stores open at this ungodly hour and you do not want to bake this early either.  Lighten up!”  But, Self refuses to listen.  It gets more complicated because if I move too much Grover decides that this is a perfect time to go for a walk.  Then, Esau Marie comes in yelling at us both because we aren’t moving fast enough. To avoid this, I lay in bed and PRETEND I’m asleep.  I haven’t done that since I was a little kid on Christmas Eve.  And, to prove how lame I am.  Sometimes it doesn’t even work!!!!

So, I’m running on a major sleep deficit which makes focus the biggest joke.  I’m pretty unfocused most of the time, but right now.  fugedaboudit.   I really do not have much left to do, but the sleep thing is still occurring.  Just a few more days and maybe I can get a good night’s sleep.

Oh, and do you like my curls?  They are not very clear because I’m not a good photographer, but I’ll try again.  I took it last night.  I should probably try again when the sun is shining.  Or, rather, if the sun ever shines again.  It would be nice to get a little Vitamin D naturally again.  It has been so dreary around here.

Since this is the week of Christmas, I will leave you with my soundtrack for the day.  “The Carol of the Bells” by the Swedish Chef, Beaker and Animal.

Have a great Monday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!IT IS FRIDAY TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHAHAHAHA, IT’S FRIDAY TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is the final Friday before Christmas.  I would be panicky, but that was yesterday when I was seriously over-caffeinated.  I talked too much all day and kept on going into the evening.  It would have been kinder for somebody to just shoot me and put me out of their misery.  I promise starting today that I will try really really hard to caffeinate much less.  At least, after the holiday.  I so know myself and I will will caffeinate to within an inch of my life just to keep going.  Uberstrickenfrau (I miss her) had a banner on her blog that said “Drink coffee and you’ll be able to do stupid things even faster”.  That might not be absolutely correct, but I do know the sentiment is dead on.  And, it is so right.

I do this not because of the gifty buying or knitting.  It’s the baking that sends me into a dither.  I bake a Lemon Bread(more like a cake) that is absolutely wonderful.  I love it and I shouldn’t eat it (I do.  I can’t help it, it’s that good).  Anyway, it take about an 1.5 to 2 hours to make and bake two loaves and I decide early on to bake at least 8 or 10 loaves and after a marathon baking session, I decide maybe 6 will do.  I want to bake the 8 to 10 loaves this year.  There were so many kind people when Mom died that I want to share this with.  I would mail the breads, but I am afraid they would be just a billionish tiny crumbs when they arrived whereever, including down the street from me.  They’re fragile, too.

Today is hair cut and color day.  I wouldn’t do the color, but I need it……..bad!  If my hair would just go ahead and turn white or gray or whatever, I wouldn’t bother, but it’s at that bleh stage.  I think it will be very pretty once it gets around to finally turning.  I take after my Dad hair-wise.  My brother (who is quite a bit older than I am….about 23 months) is just starting to gray.  Who says God has no sense of humor?  So, I’ll be stuck at the salon for a couple of hours when I could be baking.  Maybe, I’ll just drink coffee and talk too much.  Whaddya think?

Our weather is becoming decidedly more wintery.  It is winter after all and I can’t argue too much.  I just hope we are spared icey conditions this year.  I have zero tolerance for ice.  I’m sure that’ll make a huge difference in the weather.  Just knowing I don’t approve.  It’s supposed to start raining this afternoon and then turn to snow.  Perfect baking conditions, don’t you think????

So, on that note, I need to get moving with the pup and the Queen.  They are in dire (and, constant) need of food and treats and snuggles.  Plus, the pup needs his morning constitutional.  Have a wonderful weekend.  Here’s my soundtrack for the day….The Sir Douglas Quintet and “She’s About a Mover”.  Somebody please explain these weird sets, please!

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, indeedy do, folks. I have finally finished the hat. Oh, it only took me more than a week to knit a simple watchman cap. But, it is complete and I’m happy because this little sucker is warm!  Here it is:

I’m so very happy to have it completed.  Now, all I need to do is knit the mittens, but those aren’t such a rush.  I do have warm gloves.  This is Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight ( 75% Acrylic and 25% wool).  It’s nice to knit with and holds its shape well.  I used about 190 yards for the medium size.  The crown shaping is boxy, but very comfy.  It fits like a dream over my very curly hair!!!!

I am going to leave you with another Beau Brummels tune .  It has the worst sound I have heard, but it’s also the only version I could find by the real band.  Here ya go……….”Just a Little”

Have a wonderful Wednesday all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best laid plans of mice and men……. I had big plans for the weekend and I did accomplish some stuff. Just not all that I thought I would.  One thing I did accomplish was the laundry.  Hence, the title.  Now, the hat is in a short time out.  I have been knitting this hat by the Magic Loop method and as I was pulling the cable through I managed to pull it completely out.  It seems my nerves have been bad, because my stitches are so tight I couldn’t get them pulled up and back on the needle.  So, time out.  Not for the hat, but for me. It really was turning out quite nicely, too.

A group of friends (and, I) went caroling on Saturday morning for elderly shut-ins from our church.  It was so amazingly gratifying, and fun!!!  I haven’t been caroling for many years and last year the group came to our house and sang for Mom.  I cannot tell you how much that meant to her, and me.  Saturday was bittersweet because we sang for one of my Mom’s dear friends.  A wonderful lady I have known almost all my life.  I feel so grateful to be blessed by so many wonderful friends and experiences.  I’m coming unglued because of the time thing (and, this is new how?????) at Christmas.  The rest of it has been frosting on the cake.  There have been a few crappy bits here and there, but I cannot hang onto the bad.  It just eats you up.  Nobody needs that.  Anyway, I was getting ready to go caroling and couldn’t find any clean clothes.  How humiliating.  I ended up wearing an old green sweatshirt (I do believe this is the ugliest sweatshirt in existence), jeans (those were fine), and a pair of purple handknit socks.  I could almost hear my Mom say to me as I left the house, “Dear, don’t you have anything nicer than that?”  I had to giggle.  And, yes, she did say that to me from time to time.  Poor dear.  She was a girly girl and I was and am a tomboy.  Thank goodness her granddaughters were girly girls.  Mom was perpetually trying to help me with some sort of style, but  I couldn’t be bothered.

Since I’m short on knitting content, I’m gonna get you going on your day.  Anybody remember the Beau Brummels?  I loved them, too.  Here’s “Laugh Laugh”

Have a great one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAY. Are you bored yet? Did I misspell any of them? Do you really care? Do I? (I still have quite a few question marks to use up before the January sales)??????  The December posts tend to be filled with punctuation marks.  I tend to save them all year and then, in December, go whole hog.

Now.  I’ll bet you expected to see a picture of a completed hat.  I could take a picture, but I haven’t figured out how to photoshop my knitting so that it looks done.  No hat, yet.  I am working on the crown.  I’m not decreasing yet, but I am knitting the crown.  This is not a case of me dawdling.  I’m just a bit slow.  I have tried to hurry and screwed it up every time.  Lesson learned.  I slowed down and am taking my time.  I would really like to have it done, but I also want it done right.  It will be done this weekend.  Then, I’ll show it to you!!!!  And, I will be able to wear it!  YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope to get a bit of Christmas shopping completed this weekend.  This year there is much less to do and I am just fine with it.  Life changes all the time and it is a gift to adapt.  It’s also hard as hell.  I am working on my adapting skills.  The gifts of life are varied and not always what we asked for…….just like Christmas.

I want you all to have a fabulous weekend.  Srsly!!!  We will close this week with another Eric Burdon & the Animals and my all-time favorite version of “Tobacco Road”.

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have been spared from the huge winter storm. Thank you! But, we are still getting colder. Here is where I was last night at 5:00 p.m.  I have added 1.5 to 2″ since.
There is a real good chance my ears will fall off on the walk with Grover this morning.  If not today, then I absolutely positively have GOT to get this baby done by Thursday morning.  It’s supposed to be 14F.  That is really cold for my tender ears.  I do love how it is knitting up.  The Plymouth Encore is a super heavy duty yarn.  I believe it will hold up to constant abuse for at least this winter.  I may need to think about the cold weather a little bit sooner than December in 2010.

And, here is my adorableness.  I was reading my mail and looked up and this was my view.

Using his bone squeaky toy as a pillow.  AWWWWWWW.  Such a good boy.  He is just really really bored.

So, it is Hump Day, Wednesday.  To send you rockin’ into the  second half of your week, here are the Animals again (I told you I wanted Eric Burden).

I’m a bit disturbed by the set design.

Have a great one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I realized this weekend, while walking with my big boy, that my hat was too big. I always knit the large size and they always turn out too big. Yup. I know it’s obvious. I just didn’t really think about it much until this weekend.
Upon realizing that my head was cold and my hats were slipping, I decided to knit myself a new cap. This time a medium size. I picked the Watch Cap pattern from Ravelry (or, Beanie #212).  It’s from World War II.  It also looks exceedingly warm and my poor ears get mightily cold.  I’m knitting it in Reynolds Encore color 7990 “Drifting”.  It’s a blend of pinks and greys.  Quite nice.  I’d show you, but my camera batteries are shot and I don’t have any that size today.  I’ll get some this week.  I also did get enough yarn to knit mittens.  As I said, I’m cold.

I’ve also been knitting on pressies for Christmas, so there isn’t anything to show there.  The pup and kitty have been so sweet.  OK.  The pup has been so sweet.   Esau Marie is mightily pissed that it’s cold and she wants heat, NOW!!!!  I have set her upon her magical mystery night-night bed, but her tiny little brain can’t do anything but handle pooping and peeing and vomiting on my rugs.  Oh, her tiny brain also compels her to chew on electrical wires.  I pushed her away and was moving a wire and it gave me a tiny shock.  I’m very concerned that it might be an addiction for her.  The buzz of the electricity through the wire as she’s chewing.  Maybe, it makes her high or stoned.  Does anyone know of a one step program for kitties?  They can’t count to twelve, so it has to be a one step program.  Let me know, will you?

So to send you on your way this gloomy Monday morn, here are the Animals and “We Gotta Get Outta this Place”.  I still have the hots for Eric Burden.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am currently enjoying a large slice of “Humble Pie”. Cookie remarked about the snow on my blog, but doof that I am I did not notice I had snow. It’s rather sad, isn’t it, yet Cookie was gracious enough not to rub my face in it.   BUT, IT IS STILL TOTALLY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe it is the very first FRIDAY of December, 2009. It is just so cool.  That, and the fact that I didn’t know it was snowing in my blog.  I did do it last year (the snowing part), but didn’t know it was snowing this year.  On the blog.  Never mind.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it’s a careless use of exclamation points, but we are getting close to the January close-outs and I’m going through them with abandon!  I still have alot to use up, so look forward to them until the end of the year.  Only on Friday, though.  It takes me all week to get this enthusiastic.

Knitting?  Sure, but not much.  I did finish a sock that I will show you soon.  I have another one to go.  I am grateful for two left feet.  Thank you.

I am sending you into your weekend with some rocknroll.  We all need rocknroll.

Dance into your weekend with the Stones!

I’m pretending this is not sending gender equality back 200 years.  I still love the song!

Have a great weekend.

Not surprising, I know.   Here is my shell pink Geranium on Tuesday, December first.

And, another view.

I cannot recall a December when we still had annual flowers outside, blooming in all their glory!!!  This is the end.  Today, it will drop to 30 and that will be the end until spring.  Some weird year, huh?

And, in keeping with my inability to actually compose a “Wordless Wednesday”, here is my soundtrack (it has sound, dammit):

Have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!

I had an epiphany this weekend(yes, another one).  I have only completed one and 3/4 sock and a scarf in the past 6 months. Pathetic. I knew I had focus issues, but really had no idea the extent of my problems.  With that realization came the acceptance that maybe I’m a bit off and should just mosey back into knitting.  Work a little every day and get back at it.  I wouldn’t even mess, but I miss it.  I miss the challenge and the joy of it.  The textures, colors and varieties.  I just plain miss it.

My weekend, including Thanksgiving, went just fine.  I sure hope you had a good Thanksgiving and weekend.  I did get my birdseed and the birds are quite grateful.  We are now in the stages of cooling down (finally!!).  By mid-week it will be in the 20’s at night and 40’s during the day.  That is about average for here this time of year.  But, we’ll be in December by then.  And, exactly how did that happen???

I don’t recall a couple of weeks in November.  Do you think we might get do-overs?   Ask for a Mulligan???

My soundtrack for today is something seasonal.  It’s Angela Lansbury as Mame with “Haul out the Holly.”  Enjoy.

Have a good one.