Christmas list evaluation

I've gotten a lot done, but there is quite a bit to go.

• One childrens mitten for a coworker who is putting together a really neat Christmas gift for her nephew and needs only one mitten :) (estimate: 1hour)
• One ****** for Jennifer (estimate: 7 hours)
• One pair of Knucks for the hubby for our Anniversary Dec 22 (estimate: 6hours)
• One awesomely manly scarf for Dad (estimate: 10hours)
• Pair of mittens, also for Dad to match the scarf(estimate: 6hours)

And then there is the 'If time allows' list:

• Socks for step-sister
• Toque for step-brother
• Toque or mittens for Jane

What does this mean? Put down that Arwen you crazy lady and get knitting! There is 30-35 hours of knitting on the 'must make' list, and roughly 20 hours on the 'If time allows'. Repeat after me, I think I can, I think I can...

Secret Pal Reveal

My Secret Pal is a secret no more! I received my reveal package just today and I must say OMG OMG OMG! Awesome!

• Flower basket shawl - I've only been dying to get my hands on that pattern for some 5 months now. Thank you so much Vera! And I can't believe the trouble you went to, to get your hands on it, although I suspect any yarn crawl isn't really a hassle ;-) I cannot wait to cast on.


• The yarn will be used as a pillow tonight, for sure. Anytime Handpainted and Merino come together in a label, I drool slightly. Seriouslly. hmm drool, pillow, maybe that's not such a good idea. This will definitely be on the knitting needles shortly.


• The candles are heavenly


• The little cards are adorable (and just in time for two baby showers I'm attending)


• Frog ornament is totally me (33 sleeps till xmas) a.dor.able!


• The felted soap looks interesting in an exciting way. Something I don't think I have ever seen or heard of before and really looks like it has the potential to be the coolest thing ever. I will let you know how it turns out.

Moving right along...

1. Grama is better, but not great. She was taken home today as far as I know and we are now having to look at assisted living for her. She's not happy about it, but agrees that it's really the only option since she's too stubborn to live with any of the family, but definitely cannot be alone any more. SO happy she's feeling better!

2. Thank you for your input as to the next sweater project. Cardigan for Arwen it is! Just waiting on the yarn now.

3. Mom's sweater is finished, including buttons! wahoo!

4. Started Dad's scarf (Henry pattern from knitty), but we'll see how my patience goes as it's a lot of stitches per row.

5. End paper mits!

Darnit!

So remember that Diamond Fantasy Shawl? I made it with the intention of wearing it the two Christmas parties I have to attend this year. Weeeellll... I found an outfit to wear (hurah!) and was too excited that it actually fit to be concerned with the fact that it really doesn't go with the shawl. Like. At all. So I can't wear it to the party. Then I get a call that my husbands work party is actually on my birthday, and there is no way I'm sitting in a room full of car salesmen all night on my birthday. So really I would have only worn it once anyways.

And finally, and this one is kinda sad, my Grama is sick. I was just told yesterday evening that they had to admit her to the hospital with chronic bronchitis, which is apparently really bad especially considering her age (almost 92). She'll be there for at least a week and they'll re-evaluate. I love my Grama more than words can express, and I am so sad at the thought that she might not be here much longer. Anytime she's sick, which isn't much, I get SO scared. I'm giving the shawl to her. She is the one that taught me to knit, and I know she would be so proud and treasure it. So it's hers, all wrapped up and ready to go. For the rest of the week I will be admittedly distracted just hoping I don't get the phone call to hop on the ferry to say good bye. Part of me thinks I'm over reacting, cause damnit she's tough. 91 and still driving, still living at home alone. She's such an amazing woman. But still I wait, and I fear that phone call...

I heart long weekends

Until now I've been feeling very behind on Christmas. After a very productive long weekend I am now feeling quite satisfied that I will be ready on time. Last week me and Greg decided we would only do stockings this year and instead little gifts for each other, we would go on a vacation. So for January 6-11th we will be up at Mt Washington skiing our hearts out. I am so excited! And that solves a lot of my Christmas shopping fears. That being decided I thought it was time to tackle the rest of the Christmas list. I made Salsa and Antipasto for a lot of our gifts (please note the antipasto recipe from Best of Bridge, makes A LOT of antipasto... A LOT!) . This will go to friends and some family. We taste tested some last night to be sure it was 'gift-able' and it SO is! Yummy!


I also finished of Greg's socks which will be part of his stocking stuffers. And wrote up all of our Christmas cards. I will be stuffing them into envelopes tonight! Mad. Progress.

I finished one sleeve of my Mom's Christmas cardigan, attached it, and did the neckline. I've also started the second sleeve and expect the whole kit and caboodle to be done by the end of the week. Assuming I can find buttons... Anna?

I also got my Grandparents and my niece finished and ready to be wrapped. Phew, I'm glad that's almost done. The only thing I haven't had luck with is my outfit for the two company Christmas parties... my waistline isn't agreeing with me. I don't believe I can be the only person out their experiencing a bit of a tummy that is shopping for a dress or something fancy... but the stores proved me wrong. Apparently I'm the only chubby girl looking to go out this season hahhahaaha oy, the search continues :) Please don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy about being a bit 'thicker' this year, I know I'm healthy, I'm just perplexed at the lack of options for my size (is size 9 really considered chubby anyways?) .

Fall is definitely coming to a close and winter is just around the corner. You can see the leaves are almost all gone. There is quite a strong windstorm over Vancouver Island today... Dena is observing the construction progress across the street. She makes such a good supervisor :)

So all said and done, it was a great weekend. It was relaxing and productive, which to me is the best kind of weekend you can have :) Now I'm off to knit some more on the Cardigan and stuff some envelopes... unless I cast on for some endpaper mits... hmmm..

Banana Bag

I whipped up that market bag out of banana fibre on the weekend :) And what better to put in a Banana Bag than bananas:

I really enjoyed knitting with this fibre. I don't think I'd do it again as it's really sticky so it's pretty time consuming to knit with, but it was fun. And hey, now I can say I knit with banana fibre! Thanks Secret Pal!

Sweater Choices

Okay so I've come up with a top 5 list of choices for my new sweater. This will be out of the Berroco Peruvia from my SecretPal in a light grey. Here's what I'm trying to decide on and would really like your input:

1. Cardigan for Arwen


2. Bristow... yes I know I just made this for my mom.


3. Samus


4. Rogue


5. Demi (would require purchase of this book)

Which one do you think I should make?

Bristow Cardigan Update

As promised, there has been much progress. I was able to finish up the last front last night. I even managed to finish up the button band and button hole band to boot!

Somehow I managed to use ChartA from the pattern and not ChartB so all the cables are going in the same direction... oh well it's too late now in my mind to go back. So I'll just make sure to continue the mistake throughout and it will end up looking intentional :) All that's left is the sleeves (which are always quick), seaming in all together and the neckband. Too easy. Hmmmm I'll also have to decide on some buttons...

I went to Beehive yesterday and ordered more of the Peruvia that my Secret Pal bought me. It's way too nice to be something small. I ordered enough for a sweater, and will be perusing Ravelry most of the morning looking for the perfect pattern :)

Most of the Christmas catalogues from various stores were delivered this weekend, Canadian Tire, Sears, London Drugs, etc. I don't know why, but this year I'm just not into it. I'm normally the person who has their decorations up on Nov 1st if Greg will let me. This year I haven't even started my Cards, and I should have because normally I make them all... perhaps this will be a store bought year :(

Baroo?

It's been a busy week. Between busy work issues, hockey games, Halloween parties, trying to patch things up with my dad, and then Halloween itself time just seems to have been lost. The good news is, knitting has not been lost :) There has been much progress, although it's not much to photograph at the momment. I've finished the back, the left front and half of the right front on my mom's cardigan. I suspect the right front will be finished this weekend, although my schedule seems to be full again - I really don't know how that happens.

I have climbing tomorrow after work, and a rushed dinner before a Salmon Kings game (my work gives these tickets away all season and it ROCKS!). I plan on going for sushi lunch and a thrift store knitting needle mission with AnnaK on Saturday (absolutely cannot wait. weeeee!). Followed by a night out with another couple. Soooo Sunday, yes, Sunday I will knit this right front. And I will finish it damnit! Only 53 sleeps till Christmas!

I was also called tonight and informed I will have house guests on Tuesday night. This unfortunately means I will have to postpone Knit Night... and I can't even do it the following Tuesday as it's our strata AGM, yuck. Ack, and I will need to take the Wednesday off of work... I hate giving late notice for these sorts of things.. but I can't very well kick family out at 6:30AM... Can I?