Wishing you all a glorious weekend!
These socks were such a fun project. I have never knit children's socks before. Boy was that silly of me. They are so quick and easy. This pair knit up in two day! The intention was to have them done in time for Boo's birthday in January, I really thought it might take me that long. Well Boo is very particular about how her socks fit so I had to try them on her as I was knitting and now they are hers, way before her birthday I might add. She loves them but wants a GREEN pair. These are green you say - so did I, to which I was told in such a serious voice "don't you see the yellow, red and blue mom? I want PLAIN GREEN. So guess what I will be knitting for her birthday.
These fingerless mitts are just what the doctor ordered for me. They are made out of a handspun yarn from a local farm. They are so toasty warm and functional. I love having my fingers free when I do chores and such. Sliding the lock on the chicken coop and snapping pictures outside just became so much easier. The pattern is a quick knit from Abi at SpiderWomanKnits.
A quick wash cloth to accompany some handmade beauty products.
A pair of Toasty fingerless mitts to keep someone warm.
Wishing you all a glorious weekend!
I'm still working on the yellow sweater. The back on left front are finished! Hurray! Just the right front and the sleeves. It may be finished in time to be wrapped under the tree.
I've also cast on the scarf. A simple pattern with a wavy pattern. Hopefully it will be a quick knit and find its way under the tree for a special someone. Sorry the photo isn't very good. The yarn is Plymouth Kudo in shades of blue and green, really quite lovely.
As for the reading, we are still digging through the Christmas book basket. The girls picked out one of my favorites, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. And I am trying to spend a little time reading The Christmas Tree, the story of the Rockefeller Center tree.
Don't forget to hope over to Ginny's blog and see all the lovely projects and wonderful book suggestions.
It was cold as we headed out into the field. Everyone was a little sad that there wasn't any snow. We were a little late getting our tree this year and the pickings seemed a little slim. We had a hard time agreeing on the tree we would bring home. Sarah wanted a tall tree. Hannah wanted a small yet plump tree. Rebekah wanted them all! Papa was patient as we ran back and forth looking at each tree not once but many times.
Hannah's tree finally earned the approval of everyone. She was excited and helped dad cut it down.
Then there was the hot cocoa and spiced cider. We sat in the hut next to the wood stove for a while and then headed out to the bon fire. The views are just breath taking.
Papa strung the lights and Rebekah hung the first ornament. It wasn't long before our beautiful Christmas tree was completely decorated, and Papa added the finishing touch - Jack, the elf tree topper that his grandmother gave us last year. He's a jolly little guy that takes some getting used to if you are used to the more traditional star, but Dad has been wanting Jack to come and live at our house for as long as I can remember. He grew up with Jack and wanted to continue the tradition. I looked for many years without luck, so thank you Memere for Jack. 
Wishing you all a glorious weekend!
Balling the yarn to finish the yellow sweater. A few skeins waiting to be balled for a couple more Christmas projects.
My little helper is hard at work. This is one of her favorite jobs. She loves to wind the yarn into balls for me. I love to watch her and the swift. I find it relaxing somehow.
The sweater is coming along. I just hope I can finish it by Christmas. I have the tucks mastered, but the neck shaping, armhole shaping and dividing the back and sides all at the same time has me a little nervous. I'll just keep plugging away one stitch at a time and hopefully as I see it it will all come together.
Each one holds special memories and it always amazes me what the children remember about the specific trees. Most of them we have cut down ourselves. But a few, the ones with the holes in them, came from the local cider mill. Those years we weren't able to cut our own tree as mu husband had major back surgery. Those trees remind me of how blessed we are and how amazing God is and that his provision is always more than enough. A great thing to be reminded of this time of year when so many seem to want to much not even realizing how rich they really are.
These simple ornament hang in the windows of our living room. They are a daily reminder of Christmas's past and those still to come. They are definitely one of my favorite Christmas decorations.
Thank you so much to my lovely swap family. You made our day a little brighter. Hoping you enjoyed your swap gifts as well.
You will need
Simply begin by using the tooth pick to make holes in the peel where you want to place the cloves. Your designs can be as simple or elaborate as you choose. They can even be the random pokings of a three year old. They all turn out beautifully.
Here they are hanging above the kitchen table. Oh how they make the kitchen smell lovely. We may have to make a few more of these for the rest of the house.
A wet felted candle in a birch holder. These were fun to make. I even got out the power tools myself! We are thinking of making more to hang on the tree. Just need to dye some more yellow roving or find some locally. I really need a sheep or two. Ok not a need, but wouldn't it be fun?
These little felt trees look so adorable. We used the wonderful tutorial by the extremely creative Linda of Natural Suburbia. These are already on their way to a special someone. I think I will be making a set for our house soon. Just need to find a good supplier for wool felt - any suggestions?
This is one of my favorite gifts so far. Sarah is making a play mat for Rebekah to go with her collection of Ostheimer Farm and Family Figures. She has decorated the green felt mat with pathways, a garden, and a pond. She has even made a couple sections of rock wall. I can't wait to see Rebekah's face when she open it.
I've made quite a bit of progress on the quilt for Rebekah's doll bed. All that is left to machine quilt it and sew on the binding. I think it is coming along well for a non quilter. And it matches the blanket I knit quite well. Now Rosie (Rebekah's doll) will be warm all winter.
Wishing you all a glorious weekend!
Our version was so easy to make with items we had around the house. Brown lunch sacks, scrap booking paper, number stamps and some ribbon.
Each morning at breakfast we take down the appropriate bag. Inside is a slip of paper with a fun Christmas activity to do as a family. Some of them are traditions like cutting down the Christmas tree while other are new crafts or recipes to make. There are even a few simple treats like a Christmas book or Christmas movie and popcorn. Those I tried to put in the days I already new we had other commitments.
I'm hoping our activity countdown will help us stay more focused on the true meaning of Christmas. That we will slow down to enjoy each others company. And of course the planner in me saw a neat way to spread out some of our Christmas activities instead of waiting until the week before Christmas to tackle them.
How are you counting down the days and preparing for the season. I'd love to hear.
We have started reading Jotham's Journey. This is a advent story that the children and I read every few years. They really enjoy it and some day I hope to get the others by the same author so we can read them in a yearly rotation.
Stop by Ginny's blog, Small Thing to see what others are knitting and reading. It is so much fun to see the beautiful projects and watch your reading wish list grow.
Wishing you all a glorious weekend!
My next problem is the complexity of the pattern. Now please note I know this is probably simple for most, but I only taught myself to knit about 15 months ago. The pattern just has a lot going on at the same time - waist shaping, tucks, neck and arm hole shaping all happen simultaneously. I had to go out and pick up a few row counters in different colors so I could try and keep track. I have finished the first tuck and so far so good. I am really hoping to finish the sweater in time. Oh and I don't even want to think about the other knitted items on my list . . . I think I can, I think I can.
Needles to say my reading for the week has been this sweater pattern. That counts, doesn't it? Of course there was school reading with the girls and bedtime stories for the little one, but that doesn't really count.
The girls were so blessed to be part of another wonderful Children's Stage Adventure's production. I am still amazed at what two hardworking actor/teachers can do with 50 children in five days. If you aren't familiar with Children's Stage Adventures you really should visit their website.
Hannah was cast as a Londoner. I just think she is so cute in her cap and floor length dress. I was so proud of her. She isn't the actress in the family ans at first wasn't sure if she wanted to participate. However, even after the first day she was all smiles, learning the songs and practicing her lines.
Wishing you all a glorious weekend!
I finished up the sweater I was working on last week and have cast on the fourth Christmas sweater - yeah! I just might get them all finished. Of course I made the mistake of saving the hardest for last. This yellow sweater will be beautiful if I can figure it out. However, knitting an adult size sweater with lace weight yarn and using a pattern that has one keeping track of three different steps at the same time may have me pulling my hair out before it is done. Luckily we have a fabulous new yarn shop in town that I know will come to my rescue if I get stuck.
Ad for the reading this week, most of it is for my littlest. The older girls are in a play this week and aren't around much. So Rebekah and I have been having a wonderful time finding "new" book on the shelves. The Little Red Hen has been a huge hit, because Rebekah can "read" it along with me. It is a special book to me as it was my mother's. She even printed her name in it.
Here is the pile of Christmas sweaters that is slowly but surely growing. Hopefully, I'll get them all finished along with the other knitting and sewing projects.
Wishing you all a glorious weekend!
Cheesy Pasta and Broccoli Bake
Cook macaroni as directed on package, add broccoli when there is about two minutes left. Drain. To pasta and broccoli add 2 cups shredded cheese, milk, 1/2 cup parmigiano, onion, eggs and seasonings. Pour into a buttered 9x13" baking dish. Sprinkle with the reaming cheeses. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
So what are you serving for lunch? We love to hear and if you have a link to a recipe please share.
As for my needles, this is one of the sweaters I am making for a special someone for Christmas. That is all I can say, as I don't want to spoil the surprise. I do have a few other projects in the works as well. Seems that one knitting project is no longer enough. When knitting a sweater or other large project I need to have a small project going that gives me that sense of finishing something. Anyone else feel this way?
