Ready for Christmas?

I don't think I am ready for Christmas. I feel like I have run out of steam and of course I wait too long to start some of my gifts. I freezer paper stenciled some t-shirts for my nephews, but I don't seem to be able to find the pictures on my computer. That's what I get for having the b oys download them for me, you never know where they're at. I also crocheted what I called monster balls for the younger nephews. They were a hit. Just round, soft balls with legs and a face, but the boys loved them. I will post pictures when they are located. I am working on a couple of baby sweaters and I am in the mood to try and crochet some socks. I am so much faster with crochet so maybe I can get a pair completed.

Survival

I feel like I could use a few days to recover from the holiday. There just seems to be so much to do when we get together with my family and the time is so short. We like to play games, video and card as well as other games. It can get pretty loud and crazy at times depending on which game is on the table. Always lots of fun and an abundance of food. My SIL likes to bake so there was a wide variety of goodies including fudge, pie and a variety of cookies. I think I will wait to step on the scale for a week or so. The handmade gifts were well received. I was a little worried. My MIL liked her shawl made out of Malabrigo. This was the first time I used this yarn and now I know of which the resst of you speak. I hope I can afford to make a sweater out of it sometime in the near future. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of it. I did get a picture of the hats I made for my nephews and brother.

I have one more to make and that is the 2 colorwork pattern which is a first for me. It is coming along quite well. I am a little proud of myself. Next up, I will try to tackle cables. I made the mistake of letting Bud's girlfriend go through my patterns and pick out a sweater she would like. She picked a zip-front cardigan with cables. It is probably the most difficult pattern I own. It is very cute, but I hope I can accomplish it. Of course, she also picked to have me do it in black. UHGGGG! Nothing like a challenge right?! I guess I won't be done with Christmas presents for a while yet. Well, I better get back to knitting. I'll post more Christmas pictures next time.

Presents......Done!

The Christmas shopping is done. Most of the extended family are getting handmad gifts. That didn't leave much time for me to think about knitting for the boys. I don't think they will be too disappointed. I do plan on making them all something after Christmas. With the way this winter is going, there is still plenty of knitting weather left. We have had nothing but snow and wind every other day, I swear! Needless to say, I hadn't bought a single gift for them, until yesterday. I made a trip to town with a list in hand-that hubby and I had agreed upon-and got it all done in a little over 2 hours and with one stop. Yes folks, that's right. I only went to one store. Walmart. I would love to support the small town shop owners, but I can't afford them most of the time and they don't have what I want. I couldn't even find a pair of winter gloves for Mr. T anywhere in our small town. That is just ridiculous. It's December people! I was pretty proud of myself and Mr. T liked what I bought, even if he wasn't thrilled about me going a little over budget. But seriously, $20 was for taxes alone and then I spent $20 on him and replace my snow boots that lost a zipper pull in the storm this weekend while I was taking care of chores. They are fake Uggs and are distressed silver. He thinks they look funny, but he's a guy and not that up on current fashion trends. Plus, they were cheap($12). Of course, that left the wrapping to be done, all by myself on top of doing all the shopping, by myself. Granted, I like to shop, but I don't like to wrap so much and hubby really dislikes gift bags. That is all done also and I am glad. I think the boys were beginning to wonder if they were going to get anything. They were extremely goofy last night. Since I did all of that, it leaves the housecleaning to him before his mother comes next weekend. We'll see how he does. I work a 12hr day today and then the boys and I head to my sisters early tomorrow while hubby works. No time to clean if I had to shop and wrap by myself. Sounds fair to me.
Everyone travel safe for the holidays and enjoy the ones you love!

Gusty with Gusto!

I was supposed to work the entire weekend, but Mother Nature had different plans. The winds are really starting to get to me. Today was bitter cold on top of things, but I finally made it to work late this afternoon. I did get some pretty pictures of the snow that I will post when I get them downloaded. There were pluses and minuses to be stuck at home. I was able to finish my Christmas presents and get them wrapped, but I have to use 25 hours of my vacation time to get my full paycheck. On top of that, the heater in my SVU can't keep it warm when it is below zero. I wouldn't have never gotten out of our driveway if it weren't for said SUV, which I love other than the heat issue and the low gas mileage. I guess there are trade offs with everything. I am glad to have my presents finished. That leaves tomorrow for cleaning the house. So much fun!
I want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas andHappy Holidays and I will, hopefully, have pictures to show of the handmade gifts when I return after Christmas. Stay safe and God Bless!

BRRRRR!

That says it all. I don't think the temperature reached zero today. My car doesn't like this cold weather and I felt like a popscicle by the time I got to work. My car just can't seem to warm it up much when it is that cold. It doesn't sound like it is going to be much better the rest of the week and they are talking snow tomorrow. Yesterday we just cuddled up in the family room and lit the fireplace. I love sitting in front of a blazing fire when the wind is howling outside. I felt sorry for my hubby (let's call him Mr. T) who had to go out and take care of the horses and chickens. We didn't even let the horses out of the barn this morning because they really don't have any shelter where we keep them in winter. So they got to spend the day in the cozy barn until the boys got home from school and then they let them out for a couple hours, until Mr. T got home from work. I have to work a long day today (8:30 a.m.-9p.m.) so I am keeping my fingers crossed and saying my prayers that the beast starts when it is time to go home tonight. It is not happy to sit outside all day in this frigid climate. I was going to try and figure out how to download pictures from the camera so I could add some to my post, but the computer seemed to be running extremely slow and with the boys home, I am lucky to get 5 min. on the thing. It is easier to just wait until the rest of the family is gone. That will be tomorrow. I have only the next 2 days to get the house clean, presents wrapped -after they are finished-and maybe some cookies backed before the kids and I head to my sisters for Christmas. Mr. T has to work so we will celebrate with him and his mother the weekend after Christmas. I don't know if the house will stay clean that long. Hubby said he would help and he does have that friday to tidy things up while we're driving home and before his mom comes on Sat.

I did get the scarf knitted for a friend that Mr. T works with. I forgot to see if he remembered to take it with him this morning. I did get a picture of it along with the Thorpe hats for my nephews. Pictures to come I promise. My mom so graciously loned me one of her digital cameras to use through the holidays. I'm still trying to figure everything out on it, but things are going well. Hopefully I will be able to get the computer to communicate with it and not have to ask one of the boys to help me. We'll see. Check tomorrow's post to see how I did.