Wordless Wednesday

10 Little Thankfuls

I really try to be truly Thankful for what I have in my life.  I get that things can be always much worse and I should really appreciate all that is good in my life...things can turn on a dime.  The big stuff; home, health, family and friends. 

And I'm Thankful for those little things too:

1.  Yesterday I walked Gracie in the afternoon wearing a short sleeved shirt.  It was 73 degrees.

2.  Tomorrow it should snow.  Probably when Veronica's plane is coming in, but we're not expecting too much so no worries there.

3.  I accidentally bought a turkey to make for Thanksgiving with one of those built-in thermometers.  Accidentally because I just wasn't paying attention.

4.  I have nothing to do today but knitting and laundry.

5.  The weather is nice...cool, gray and cloudy. I'll do my long walk today, hopefully before any rain starts.

6.  I have knitting tonight.  Yeah!

7.  I see my first born tomorrow! Double yeah!!!!!

8.  I get to eat dinner out tonight at knitting.  We meet at Panera.  Mmmm...some butternut squash soup sounds nice.

9.  I already have 12 inches done on the body of my new sweater I'm knitting.  And I've only worked on it two days. (size 8 needles help)

10.  It's almost time to listen to Christmas music, officially.

Bye Deb

I found out today on FB that my friend, Debbie has passed away.  I haven't seen her since we moved but think of her often and all the fun we had as roommates and friends.  There're in for some fun in Heaven now that she's there...

RIP Debbie G.!

Wuuuuuup!!!!

We had another house guest over the weekend. Right? I know. Another.  This one was the best kind!  Just one night!  haha...I'm kidding!!  Anyway, he's Mike's best friend since high school, Tommy.  He has stayed with us a few times, here and Florida. He's a pilot so when he can swing it, he's here to visit.  I love having him here, he's fun and funny, happily eats whatever I put in front of him, it's in the 40s and he's walking around in shorts and flip-flops...tells funny stories on Mike, makes the kids laugh (he yells "wuuuuup" as a greeting) and Gracie almost jumped in his suitcase to go home with him, she loves him so much! He calls her "the mutt".  And he calls Veronica "The Mean One" because when she was little she'd always shy away from him (she did that with loud people...haha). He calls Mike "Magooie". 

So we're watching football and I'm knitting, of course.  He must have been watching me knit because he asks, "Isn't that boring?" Well, yes.  I was knitting a kind of boring project (plain stockinette, around and around...as a gift too, so not nearly as exciting as knitting for myself).  So I tried to explain that not all knitting is boring...showed him my socks and other projects. (He asked twice, "You knit those socks?") I told him I like the calming repetition of it all, the feel of the yarn through my fingers and being able to be productive while sitting and relaxing was kinda cool too. He got it but I got the feeling he wasn't completely convinced.  He kept suggesting I knit booties for Gracie so her feet won't get cold in the snow...yeah, right! 

Our next visitor is the BEST...Veronica comes home from college on Wednesday night (in possible snowy weather...cool!!) and stays till Sunday.  

_________________________________________________________________

And on a side note:  I honestly didn't know that Justine has the week off school for Thanksgiving.  Why?  Because I'm loosing my mind, too many distractions, too many visitors, holiday crap...take your pick.  That's why. I remember when I was totally on top of it all and knew everything.  Thank God those days are over and life can surprise me again. Because no school for Justine means no alarm clock for mom.  I'm still up early (6:45 today) but no alarm is a much nicer way to wake up.  

And if you're the praying kind...please say a prayer for my friend Debbie Giamanco who is in the hospital struggling after surgeries due to cancer.  She's a tough gal but could use the extra thoughts and prayers.  If you've know me for a while, you know she was my roommate for years when she had a house in Crown Point.  Thanks!!

Holiday Concentration

Don't you find it hard to concentrate on Thanksgiving, the NEXT actual holiday, instead of Christmas?  What with all the ads on TV, catalogs in the mail, internet stuff and store displays? I do.  I even heard Christmas music playing in a yarn shop and found myself happily singing along as I squeezed a skein or two (or three, or four). It was like catching yourself eating too much of something wonderful...Crap! Did I just really do that?!

I LOVE Christmas music.  Really. Love.  I usually sneak in some listening about mid-summer just to get a fix.  This year I didn't because (again) I'm working on fine-tuning my Christmas Spirit which has been hard for me the past few years.  So when I hear those Yuletide songs, I can't help but sing along. (Ok, did I just channel my inner Dr. Seuss?)

I haven't listened to MY Christmas music...yet.  I'm waiting till the girls and I head out on Black Friday (early!) to do some shopping.  Then it will be non-stop listening...my stuff and the local station that plays all Christmas songs.  

So I'm also thinking about fun holiday baking, too. (Music and goodies to eat...always on my mind.)  FB is killing me!! I saw a post today with 25 different kinds of FUDGE!!  I even looked at the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge details.  Oh my, did it look delicious!  Then I remembered an old favorite:  Crack Pretzels!  They're fun and easy to make (not fudge I realize, but I have a wonderful recipe for fudge from Elise Morehouse that I always make)...they make a ton, so I can bring them to knitting or send some in with Mike to share at work, give to neighbors, etc.

I posted about it in December 2009.

Happy Friday!

So...how was your week?

Mine started out great...at the beach with my friend.  Sleeping in, comfy clothes all day, knitting, chatting, laughing, relaxing....ahhhh.

Came home on Tuesday, the same day Mike left for Canada (via Buffalo, NY).  Ok, so unless you live under a rock, you know what happened in Buffalo. They usually fly to Buffalo then drive across to Canada. The flew into Rochester instead.  He comes home today (another big snow day for Buffalo) via Detroit. I'm so glad he's getting away from that snow-covered mess.

Anyway....the point is, he's gone when I get home. This means I have to do his "stuff" while he's away.  That includes walking the dog late at night (when I would usually be in my pjs warm in bed, reading).  I really don't mind because I never get to be outside with the dog late...it's quiet and peaceful (if we don't meet any other dogs that is).  And it's been cold lately.  I'm not complaining about that either...I love the cold.  No, that's not it...I love wearing my knitted stuff because of the cold!  Yeah, that's it.  I have two bins, piled high with hats/mitts/mittens in one and scarves/cowls in another.  Going out in the cold?  Does your dog have to sniff every leaf and keep you out so long you're chilled to the bone? Is the wind blowing and making it feel like 20 instead of 29? Gotta cha covered...take your pick of knitted accoutrements' and carry on, leash in hand, sniffing dog at your side.

So Wednesday I took it easy, did a lot of knitting and caught up on my shows.

Thursday I went to the grocery store and got all the fixings for Thanksgiving.  I had to be sure to get a smallish turkey that would fit in my freezer and fridge. If you wait too long there are only 25 lb. turkeys left, no cranberries (canned or fresh), no stuffing/dressing bags, no disposable pans and no "kits" for prepping turkey for baking. Whew! Got em all! Sweet!!

Today is Friday.  I'm getting another cortisone shot in my shoulder to help bring about more mobility...with any luck. 

Tomorrow Mike is picking up his BFF, Tom in DC.  Tom is staying overnight with us and flying out on Sunday. He usually just stays over night, he's a pilot, so the quick layover thing, you know?  Always fun to see him, for Mike especially.

Sunday...nothing. 

Nothing but knitting. 

You saw that coming, didn't you?

TBT

Throwback to Campfire days with Veronica and the girls. This was our Valentines for Veterans project when my Dad and Al came to give a talk to the girls about their experience in the military. The helmet is from Marylou's father who was in WWI. 

Hi there!

Just checking in...

Yup, still here just busy with out of town guests.  Mike's folks left then a week and a half later, Mom showed up! She's staying a week and a half, so it'll be a while before a proper post.  I'll try to send photo posts from the phone but that's about all I can fit in for now.  It's really tough doing all kind of fun stuff and not blogging.  Insert smirk here.

The day after Mom leaves I'm headed to the beach with the girls for a much needed long weekend of hanging around, relaxing and knitting, with NO sight seeing. Just think how nice it will be when I return and you have post after post to read again!

I hope you're having a fun week too!  Work hard on your knitting projects...knit fast! I hear the Polar Vortex is coming back.

Dances around with joy about snow possibilities!

Ten for Tuesday...In the Queue

Here are ten potential knitting projects from my queue on Ravelry. I have yarn for all of them. I will, with any luck, knit them all very soon!

1. Plum Island Pullover by Alison Green

 2. Seasons Hat by Jared Flood

3. Trillium by Michele Wang

4. pour moi by Lori Versaci

5. Heart on Fire by Lily Go

6. Leaving by Anne Hanson

7. Peerie Flooers by Kate Davies

8. Thicket by Alana Dakos

9. Breton by Jared Flood

10. Natessa by Corrina Ferguson

Maybe I should cast one on today.

Have fun with your knitting, too.

Already?

I realized last night that I've become numb to the Christmas "sell" that arrives earlier and earlier each year.  Last night we're watching Once Upon a Time and a Target Christmas commercial comes on. Here it is if you want to see it.  It's cute, I watch...no comment.  Truth be told I didn't even realize it was a Christmas commercial till Mike says, "Christmas commercial, already?"  I'm like..."Oh yeah, Target...Christmas."  I wasn't even knitting...so I was looking at the TV the whole time!!!

I blame it on the time change.  Yeah, time change, that's it.