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  Dear Beatles modeling my last finish of 2014. My sock yarn double cowl is finished.  It has been almost done for months, just waiting for the circle to be joined.   I've cast on a new project to welcome in the new year.  The year of the SHEEP, 2015.  Rozzy made it through 2014.   We are blessed.    I finally mastered reverse shaping during 2014.  I haven't done it since..... Retiring was the most wonderful surprise of the year.  Every day I pinch myself.  Every night I dream I'm still stressed out at work.  I got to meet Judy from Stitchalongwithme blog fame. We had fun with Channon in Virginia...yet again!  We all know it was the year of the Trap for me.  I wrote the pattern author and thanked her this week. She was very touched.  Goodbye to a very good year.... Hello and WELCOME to our New Year.  May your knitting bring you joy and peace ...

This is so wrong of me.  I found this drawing on Etsy and can't find the artist.  I'll look again later.  She got it so right!  Didnt she? Even the squirrels need a warm woolen hat and mittens today in Chicago.  It's here. Winter is here.  After seeing INTO THE WOODS with Al, and Loving the movie, I had to find my Tracey Ullman Knitting Book.   She was so very good in the movie.  Her knit book has some wonderful patterns in it.  I had to post her funny rules: especially about the knitting on a plane.  This is what's new here: *eating whipped peanut butter...has less fat  *swearing off Beef and Pork again *Inspired by other bloggers to finish an unfinished by New Years....so its my sock yarn cowl . ... need to put the two ends together... And YOU?

  We know that 2014 was the Year of the Trap. (2015 is the Year of the SHEEP!!!!) This is my seventh completed Trap scarf. I used 2 skeins of a goldish Koigu and used up many leftovers for this 50 inch scarf.    Here, sweet Beatles models as usual.  On my needles now: fingerless gloves in the Dragonfly yarns Al gave me for Christmas.  I love to knit.  Knitting in the round means, you know, no purling!  Except I purled the first inch of the fingerless for contrast, so I didnt escape purling completely.   I'm reading!  I'm engrossed in Alex & Me about the famous African Gray who changed the way we think about the way they think. We are supposed to have below zero wind chills this week, so all Traps on deck!  Do you love to knit or purl?

  Before we get to Al's knitting, I must show you the funny Jam names on the jam that arrived yesterday.   An unexpected present arrived in the mail from Michigan friends.   MMMMMM, breakfast jam.      So this is one of Al's projects.  She is busy knitting between school semesters and while she is off of work.  The yarn is a bit more red than the image shows. So today, she left and we all had a good BOoo Hooo cry. She promises she'll move back to the Midwest when her schooling is over.  She wants to!  Hooray.  We saw INTO THE WOODS yesterday.  We loved it.   I want to see it again.  We also watched: The hundred foot journey and the Chef.  I loved the Hundred Foot Journey.  The Chef was cute.   Watching movies? are you? Knitting? I bet you are! (P.S.  Three Bags Full is having a big after Christmas Sale this week. I bought my yarn for th...

  And then there was yarn!  Allison gifted the blues to me.  Santa,  gifted  the Lorna's.  I'm in awe of both gifts. I'm rolling around pattern ideas for both. Will you kill me if I knit a Trap for ME? in the blues? I don't have a Trap for me.... In an effort to expand my horizon's I signed up for a glove class at Three Bags Full.  I immediately had regrets.  Why do I want something I have to make two of and fight with ten fingers too? So, I switched my class to  FIXING MISTAKES, and that's got my name all over it!  I also signed up for a class that teaches the Winnowing Shawl pattern.  That's my reach class.  It isn't until March....   Zach gifted me two great books and paperwhites.  I have already started the bulbs.  As for the books from Santa there were many of them in our house: Angel Cats, Divine Messengers of Comfort Jim Gaffigan: Food a Love Story ...

  Santa and Mrs Claus outdid themselves this year.  Wishing you peace amid the chatter, the laughter, the carols and the prayers today and always -

  This is our Christmas table only partially set, but use your Magical Christmas imagination.  Imagine the silverware and glasses....   Santa brought Al some madelinetosh that is indeed special. All proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders.  Win win!   I've waited until Today, Christmas eve to open the lovely canoe towel that my sister gave me for my summer birthday.  Beatles is in the Holiday Spirit.  However you are feeling today..... worked up, excited, congested, unwrapped, ready, not ready, Wishing you all, pretend friends far and near A Merry Christmas eve. 

  Val from Wandercat blog created the GOING MY WAY scarf. I've improvised and am creating my baby blanket out of leftover sock yarns.  This is a one row repeat and I am pleased to report I can knit this!  (while watching a movie at home: the Chef)  Thank you Val!  (The movie is 100% darling.)    Unexpected little goodies are showing up during the holidays. My friend Rem sent this Fig jam to us.  Zach loves figs and bacon....so I just need some bacon and we can have the same effect with toast and piggy.  My tiny light up snowman was busy a glowing last night.  Here are some of my favorite carols: Still Still Still Silent Night 12 Days of Christmas Children Go Where I Send Thee Some Children (see Him bronzed and brown..James Taylor version) Care to share?

  Al AL AL...that's all I blog about these days! Al is knitting her friend an heirloom baby blanket.  Casey didn't want a baby sweater, she insisted on a blanket. So here is her blanket creation, in malabrigo sock yarn.  She is making up her pattern. A lace part, a cable part and criss cross part.    I ran into Santa this morning.  Who knew?  I thanked him for bringing Al home for Christmas.  He loves nurses.  Once Santa was a hospital chaplain.  Who knew? We love hospital chaplains.  and we love Santa. Al's sweater is in a finishing time out.  She does not like the Noro yarn for finishing.  It breaks.  Kibous' Moriko jacket pattern is lovely I think.  Al made it a short sleeve sweater instead of a jacket.  Must be nice to live in Virginia.... where the warmth lives.  We are bringing it to Martha at Threebagsfull today for finishing.  Al ne...

  Al knitted her own creation for a pal's gift.  She used a variation of a broom stitch and alternated it with Xmitts Pattern.   The true color is below.  Where did she get this knit gene?  Below is a photo from last night.   Zach and Izzy are dating and they are so darn cute together.  Izzy is the daughter of a nurse pal, Rem.  They have so many common interests. Music, art, Spanish, and TENNIS. Oh and they have amazing mothers.... did I mention that?   Meredith mentioned she is a terrible wrapper of gifts.  SO AM I!!! I m so excited to hear this.  I love making and finding gifts, but I'm a lousy wrapper.  Oh well!   Are you wrapped and ready? 

  The night finally arrived.  We opened the duct taped Christmas cookie box last night.  Let the celebrations begin. Allison is home. Nathan is here. Zach and Izzy too. I have the opportunity to join a cookie swap on Monday... I'm thinking YES!  Knit a row, eat a cookie, knit a row,  eat a cookie.

  Fireman and I do love to visit our city. Yesterday was our anniversary.  We stayed a night at the Drake Hotel.  The prices were quite reasonable.  The manager sent up a complimentary bottle of champagne.    We saw horse drawn carriages, mounted police, and many little children waiting to talk to Santa Claus.  Chicago gets a bad rap.  It is very very safe to visit the tourist areas.  It is a very clean and green city.  Our Lake rivals the oceans.  We love our city.  We live and die with our Cubs, Sox, Bears, Bulls, Hawks and Fire.  Come visit us.   Summer is the BEST time in the city I think.   This was the spectacular view from our room.  So many people bringing their dogs to the beach, even in winter.  It was so fun to see the city ALIVE at all hours.  The carolers were part of the Drake's Ornate Holiday decor. ...

  Chicago....   Gnome   Paddle Smart IN a few words: Ripple blanket knitting love radiator steaming hot frost on the car window duct taped cookies still safe Christmas music all day long Annie tiny presents winter kisses

  I finished my Reader's Wrap.  I picked up the stitches and knit for the pocket as Nancy Suggested.   It is bulky, but it will do the trick around here when the winter winds start blowing again.   This old house has little insulation, so wraps are essential. This wrap can easily be flung off when the hot flashes start, too! The Santa towels are not to be used.... "they are for show, not for blow"  as my mom would say!  I often read Carole knits' Ten on Tuesday prompts.  Yesterday she said she had not gotten one LETTER in a Christmas card this year.  Personally, I think Facebook has pretty much eliminated that need. We see everyone's every move all year long.... no real need to have that dreaded letter unless you  are  sweetly, old school and you don't do Facebook.  Carole's prompt was: What would you put in your letter this year?  I'd put this in mine: We did not a...

Shhhhh, read quietly please.. Have I ever mentioned I'm not a morning person? I'm home alone this morning for a bit and the silence is spectacular. I can clean the whole house at 7pm,  but I barely move in the morning.    It is so quiet I can hear the refrigerator running.  I can hear a cat drinking water from the bowl.   It is like a pretty prayer.  ********* Anyhow, the image of the pocket scarf above is close to what I'm going for with my Reader's wrap.   I want my pockets to be flatter, however.   While I really love the wool look, it has to be acrylic for me.    I hope to finish mine today.  I love Christmas tree lots.  ******* Last night's dinner was crepes.  Fireman called Joe, another fireman who makes great crepes and got his recipe.  We had to mix the batter in the blender and let is sit for half an hour.  We filled them with br...

  I was not going to gift knit before Christmas this year. Necessity thought otherwise.    Yesterday, I found big chunky soft black yarn in my stash. Knitted a lengthwise garter scarf .....for the impossible Brother - in - law.   All garter. Today: back to my reader's wrap for me! As I won't use up all my sock remnants in the Trap I have on the needles, I was drawn to this baby blanket at 3 Bags, made of leftovers.   It's a free shop pattern.  I think I'm in.  Seems I'm always at a loss for what to make for dinner.  When I was working as a nurse, I worked two to three evenings a week.  I got out of cooking for those nights.  Marrying a fireman, means you have a good cook in the house.  My kids did not starve or complain when 'daddy' was the cook.  So I'll tell you what I've made for dinner lately.  Maybe you need ideas to? Stuffed Shells Porktenderloin roaste...

  This knitting tree garland is hanging at Three Bags Yarn Shop.  Rustic, I say.  Do you do tinsel?  We cannot do tinsel due to the cats in the house.  I love the glitter of tinsel.  Tank's first name at the shelter was Tinsel.  I digress..   These lotions bars are at 3 Bags as well. I'm not a fan. I have become a huge fan of oil free lotion.  It is very expensive, but I love it.  It moisturizes without any greasy feel. I like Neutragena oil free sensitive skin lotion.  You might ask Santa for some!    Have you seen Interweaves'  magazine :Make IT Knits? I love how the patterns are right beside the photos. I hope my library carries this periodical.... This lovely Rowan Sweater is hanging at the shop too. There was a day I would have loved it.  Now all I see is a big hot flash. I love winter now because whenever I have a hot  flash I can just walk outsi...