Happy Thanksgiving!

We had our Thanksgiving day dinner with a few of our kids. R. and I got up at 7 a.m. so that I could get the turkey stuffed and into the oven. We had bought an almost 24 lb turkey, thinking that one other son and his fiancee were going to be here to, but it didn't work out that way for them. Had the turkey stuffed and in the oven by 8 am. Our youngest DD showed up with our oldest DS in time for the Packer/Detroit kickoff.
Then our other DS showed up with his wife, and then we also had our 25 yr old DD here.
After I was all done, we ended having way too much food! LOL Turkey, stuffing, I made mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, baked yams, gravy, our youngest DD's favorite: brown-n-serve rolls, and Orange Tapioca Fruit Salad and pumpkin pies that I had made yesterday. Oh and sliced veggies, and olives, and pickles in a relish tray. And fish for our DDIL, who is a vegan.
I'm tired!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!! We sent some food home with some of the kids, and will have plenty of leftovers!!!!
The nice thing is it is still early in the evening, and everything is cleaned up and put away already. So guess that means I have time to do some knitting!!! Gosh darn it, I am so disappointed. NOT!
Hope everyone had a great turkey day! It's back to my diet tomorrow. I have lost 21 pounds so far, and want to lose another 15-20 lbs. I am starting to feel better, and have some more energy than normal. It's easier to be motivated when I can actually see the scales are reading less.
Don't eat too much!!!! LOLOL

Options Knitting needles!!!!

My DH had ordered me a big surprise for my birthday. Something I have been wanting for a long time, but couldn't spend the money on. Guess what? It was not one, but both set of KnitPicks Options circular needles!!!! He got me the silvalume set and also the Harmony Wood set that came out not too long ago!!! I have to say, I was so surprised, and happy, happy, happy!!!!!! I couldn't wait to try them out - so right now I have a baby hat on the Harmony wood, and a baby hat on the silvalume set! They are soooooo easy to work with!!!!! I feel like I am knitting faster! (of course that's probably all in my head :o) ) But they sure work slick!!!! And the Harmony needles are sooooo purdy!!!!! I love all the colors on the needle!!!! LOL

I've been wearing my Mobeius shawl that I made for myself last winter a lot lately! I have gotten a lot of compliments on it, which is comforting, because I knit it out of a bulky yarn that is a kind of a wild looking color-way. It has teal and blue, and yellow and orange in it. It looked great in the skein, but when I made it - I thought the colors were a little too wild. I was uncomfortable about wearing it for a while because of the wild color combo - but since I have been FREEZING lately, I decided not to worry about the color and think about how warm and cozy it is instead. (Since I got back from Mom's in California, I just can't get warm!!!!) I had one friend ask me if I would knit one for her, and how much would I charge. I have no idea!!! LOL I told her if she bought the yarn - I'd think about it and let her know, but I am thinking about not charging her anything. Anyone have any suggestions about how much I should charge for something like that? It is knit on size 15 needles, if I remember right, and works up pretty quickly...but I do have to find my pattern.

We don't have snow yet (we have had some flurries) - but I feel like its cold enough, that the snow must be just around the corner. And I have to say, I am not looking forward to it!

DH is going to be taking some vacation days starting tomorrow. Tomorrow we are going to go 'thrift shop hopping' and then he won't have to go back to work for another week. Thats going to be nice to have him around the house.

Well, I am going to go play with my options needles for a while, and do some of the 'laundry-that-multiplies-no-matter-what-I-DO!!!!' UGH!!!!

Santa Hat for Babies

Knitted Santa Hat Pattern




This knitting pattern fits a variety of sizes.

* For preemies, use a size 3 or 4 US needle and baby or sport weight yarn
* For newborns, use a size 6 US needle and worsted weight yarn
* For older babies, use a size 8 US needle and worsted weight yarn (as knit)

Yarn
Small amounts of white eyelash yarn, white worsted weight yarn and red worsted weight yarn (such as Red Heart Soft Yarn)

Instructions:

Holding one strand of the white eyelash and the white worsted weight yarn together as one, CO 54 sts.

Work in K1, P1 ribbing (k1, p1 across) for 2 inches. Change to red yarn and knit in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) until total length of hat (including brim) is 4 inches.

Start decrease as follows:

Row 1: *K4, k2tog; rep from *
Row 2: *P3, p2tog; rep from *
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: *K2, k2tog; rep from *
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: *K1, k2tog; rep from *
Rows 12-14: Work in stockinette stitch (purl one row, knit one row)
Row 15: K2tog across
Rows 16-21: Work in stockinette stitch

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail to stitch up the seam in the cap. Thread yarn through remaining stitches on needle and draw up securely. Stitch up seam in hat, changing to white yarn to sew the brim seam. Make a fluffy white pompom and attach securely to the top of the hat.

©Lissa Kadlec 2006 This pattern may not be reproduced, sold and distributed. You may, however, feel free to use this pattern to knit hats for charities.

Tabitha's Heart: Unexpected Blessings

Follow the link to Tabitha's contest site. Have fun!

Tabitha's Heart: Unexpected Blessings

Make My Life a Living Prayer...

I guess by now, everyones figured out that I am a big Alison Krauss and Union Station fan. I haven't heard anything they have done that I didn't love.

One of the musicians in her band is Ron Block, and he has released two albums that are two of my favorites! Of course the other band members have done the same, and they are good too. Ron's are definitely christian, and enjoyably...bluegrass.

I just took a look at a different video on YouTube.com, and then found this one by AKUS... "Make My Life a Living Prayer".

I love the song - and especially what it means. I want MY life to be a living prayer to God, also. More than anything. I am constantly aware of my 'human-ness' and how I fall short of the kind of person God wants me to be. But I plan on not giving up...knowing that to God, I am a work in progress...and with every breath I take, I want to be talking to my Savior ...asking for His help becoming the child of God that He has made me, and trying to let other people see Him in my life, and maybe...want to know Him too.

So...here's the video of the song, done on the Tonight Show by Alison and her band. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and I hope that it touches a chord in your soul.

Home again...for now...

I am back in Wisconsin again for a couple of months, depending on how Momma does. It's good to be back home. I am suffering from 'jet lag' tho...I really understand what that is now!
My plane arrived at midnight at the airport on Friday, and by the time Ray and I got home and took care of the birds, it was 2 a.m.
Then last night was Saturday, and we had signed up to volunteer at the Cup O Joy for a concert with Anthony Evans (son of the Pastor Tony Evans). What an awesome concert! Anthony has a great voice, and a really great sense of humor. It was a wonderful night, albeit was another late one. So I am hittin' the hay now...I can hardly keep my eyes open.
I'm posting a few pictures though...of my friend's twin babies, that are now eight weeks old. I got to spend some time with her and the babies a couple of days while I was in CA - she and her hubby are my Mom's neighbors.
Adorable babies....and the greatest friends and neighbors you could ask for! They are a very special family!!!
TaTa for now!!!
Enjoy the baby pics - yes, that's me , holding them..

Photos of GiGi's Summer Breeze Crocheted Sweater

As promised, here are some photos of the sweater I crocheted for GiGi.