Thanks For Giving!

Giving #1: Thanksgiving is next week here in the states. We are planning to go to my mom and dad's for the holiday and the attached weekend (I mentioned this in my last blog - but I wanted to bring those people up to speed just in case they are new to the blog that I like to call my life) to celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same weekend. We are calling it "Thanks for Christmas" - Ok, maybe I'm the only one calling it this, but if I figure if I keep saying it, that it will rub in and vernacular will catch on. So needless to say since we are leaving next Wednesday and I need to have all my Christmas shopping for my side of the family done. Sheesh.....now that is pressure. I know that I said that I was going shopping last weekend and I did do a lot of window shopping to price some ideas - but nothing was purchased, well at least not for other people.... We bought new shoes for both my husband and myself (it was buy one get one half off - so it would have been a crime not to get 2 pair. OK, we probably didn't both need to get 2 pair - but you only live once). Plus we bought a movie for my husband and a new pot for my out of control aloe vera plant that is now so large that I can't even water it. Note: the pot is still just sitting in my living room unpotted - but I put it next to the plant to give it hope. So, we did manage to purchase things - just not for other people. So this is the weekend. Shop til you drop weekend...

Giving #2: My husband just returned from a business trip to France and being the good husband that he is he brought me home gifts! I got French perfume (ooh-la-la), a make up bag with samples of a lot of different cosmetics, hoop earrings, a T shirt, and bottle of wine. (I think he loves me). Here's a picture so you can see all the loot:
Giving #3: I have gotten some great e-mails lately and I'd thought that I would give them to you so that you can laugh too!

Black November

When I was a young turkey, new to the coop

My big brother Mike took me out on the stoop

Then he sat me down, and he spoke real slow

He told me there was something that I had to know

His look and his tone I will always remember

He told me of the horrors of Black November



Come about August, now listen to me

Each day you will get six meals instead of just three

Soon you'll be thick where you once were thin

You'll grow a big rubbery thing under your chin

Then one morning while you are all warm in your bed

In will burst the farmers wife to chop off your head

She'll pluck out all your feathers till you are bald and pink

She'll scoop out all your insides and leave you lying in the sink

Then comes the worst part he said not bluffing

She'll spread your cheeks and pack your rear with stuffing



The rest of his words were too grim to repeat

I sat on the stoop like a winged piece of meat

And decided on the spot that to avoid being cooked

I'd have to lay low and remain overlooked

I began a new diet of nuts and granola

High roughage salads juice and diet cola

As they ate pastries chocolates and crepes

I stayed in my room and did Jane Fonda tapes

I maintained my weight at two pounds and a half

I tried not to notice when the bigger birds laughed

But it was I who was laughing under my breath

As they chomped and chewed ever closer to death



Sure enough when Black November rolled around

I was the last turkey left in the whole compound

So now I am the pet in the farmers wife's lap

I haven't a worry so I eat and I nap

She held me today while sewing and humming

She smiled at me and said "Christmas is coming"

Got a Neck - Need a Cowl I Say!

I was going through other people's blogs and came across one that had a pattern for a cowl - AKA neck warmer (I apologize that I can't remember which one blog I found it on. It's funny how when you are looking for a site that you've already been to, how hard it is to find your way back. The net is definitely a super highway, and just like in real life, I seem to be lost.) . And I said to myself, "Self - that is a great idea!" The pattern actually used alpaca yarn that I had in stock from my last shopping trip with Nancy and called for exactly one skein - which again, I had just the perfect amount (which is why I still had it - because I needed 2 skeins at least to make a decent scarf - which when I bought it I hadn't realized). It was as if the knitting gods had looked into their pattern books and said, "On this day Angela will knit a Cowl with thy alpaca yarn-th that-th she-th already bought-th and then-th she-th won't be wasting money-th." (It's kind of funny that the knitting gods have a lisp - probably why they like to stay at home and knit :-). Plus I kind of needed a tiny break from the sweater that I'm also knitting, which is just on the knit- purl stocking stitch body part that gets a bit tedious. Plus I'm really trying to open my horizons to having several projects going on the same time so that I never get that feeling of panic when I go search for the next project to take on. So I know that you are getting anxious to see how the cowl turned out, so here it is:
I know you say that it looks good on arm - but does is it really functional around a neck? Since I'm having a bad hair day, George the wonder cat said that he'd step in and model even though he pointed out that he already has quite a full set of hair on his neck that keeps him quite warm. So without further ado, George the Wonder Cat in "Do I really have to put this on?":
Poor George - He is such a good cat - but more importantly such a great knitting model!

I also made a purchase last weekend to make some Christmas Stockings (I bought them on Patternworks.com if you are interested) to hang out for Santa. I have always wanted to make some hand knit stockings like the ones I had growing up. Ours didn't have this much pattern - but they reminded me of them and that's good enough for me. Plus they look big enough to put some really great stuff in- but small enough so that Santa doesn't have to break his back bringing it down the chimney. Plus, if my present is too large for the sock - he knows he can always just prop it up next to the fireplace or under the tree. Plus jewelry should have no problem fitting into the stocking (If anyone talks to Todd, that would be a good hint as to what I would like this year :-).
I'm going to try to put our names on the Stockings in place of one the Peace, Love, or Joy spots. I actually ordered the Peace Stocking - but in realty they are all the same pattern (minus the words) with just different color placements.

Well, since my side of the family has decided to celebrate Christmas on Thanksgiving - we are holding our first annual "Thanks for Christmas" celebration. I have to go shopping this weekend to get ready. If you need me, call my cell because I'll be at the stores. I'm hoping they won't be as crowded as when I normally shop. Plus the stores started decorating before Halloween here (the city of St. Charles already has their street lights decorated with Christmas trees!) - so I shouldn't have any problem finding presents. Wish me luck.