Christmas 2013 in Pictures

Christmas Day was celebrated at home. Joe cooked a chicken and sausage gumbo with potato salad. I baked a carrot cake for dessert. Also made pumpkin bread and homemade yeast bread (in the cast iron pot from Pinterest).

 

We drove to Lake Charles to see most of our children and grandchildren. (Grandchildren - Alexis, Crosby, Sophie, Gabby, Alec, Jack, Jayden, Jacob, Matthew and Kayla). It was a fun trip with lots of food! We came home Sunday evening. (brought home boudin balls from Peto's - my fav!)

 

There are three grandchildren we haven't seen yet! Aiden, Hannah and Halaina will get their presents soon!

It has been a wonderful Christmas for Joe and I! We are sharing a few pictures -

 

 

 

Knitted Christmas Wreath in iPurl

Erica Knight Maxi Wool

Knitted Wreath

 

Getting our Tree Up

(Giggling - Joe is helping)

 

Bella Napping in Front of the Fire

 

Audrey Opening Presents

(Audrey was the only grandchild at our house Christmas Day)

Audrey

 

Granddaughter Kayla

 

Matthew and Kayla Decorating our Tree

(Just after Thanksgiving)

 

A Few Decorations

 

New Grandson Jacob in a Box

 

Grandsons Jayden and Jacob

 

Jacob

(The baby in the family this year)

 

Knitting on the Trip Home

 

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House - Back on the Market

The couple backed out of the sale of the house. The old man decided he wanted to back out. So, 10 days from closing, with most of our things packed and in storage, an apartment rented; we are regrouping! The busy months for selling a house are past and we are going into the holidays. We have had to go get some things from storage. Almost all of the kitchen was packed and stored.

 

We are going to focus on the days ahead.

 

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Moving - Think of It as an Adventure

Our house has sold! We were thinking that it would take a little longer because the house is out past old Magnolia. The third family that looked at our house bought it. We have agreed to be out of the house by September 30th. A really nice couple bought our home. Joe and Earline. We are moving to the city and they are moving to the country.

Daughter Pam said the best way to handle it is to think of it as an adventure. It really is an adventure of sorts. Moving is always an experience to remember. Things will not always go as planned. It's more of a lesson in patience and the ability to be flexible and adapt to the unexpected.

I have already been boxing up BUT the real moving starts this weekend. Small furniture will be going into storage along with everything getting boxed. Joe and I both have moved more than most people in our first marriages. I am organized and Joe expedites! I think you should always start with the kitchen getting ANYTHING you would need to cook boxed up first! You can choose not to label those boxes making sure you find those boxes last! (Just kidding)

We will be moving into an apartment close to the shop while our next home is being built.

Just getting started -

 

I will be boxing all day tomorrow. I don't mind packing. It's the perfect time to sort and discard things you don't want or need any longer. I packed glassware until about 8pm.

Daughter Kim said she didnt know the last time she was at our house would be the LAST time she was at our house! I think we all feel a bit sad - there have been many wonderful memories made here! All the boxing makes Bella nervous!

 

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Especially for Jack - Zombie Doll

Jack is our grandson who LOVES pumpkins. Everything pumpkins! Every other year or so, I knit him a new pumpkin hat. He wears it all the time everywhere and carries stuff in it; absolutely getting the very most fun out of his hat.

Joe got a phone call from his Mom not long ago saying Jack was asking for a knitted zombie doll. He has a DS zombie game that he enjoys and we guess the idea came from the game. I knew Ravelry would have zombie dolls. It didn't take long to find Zombie Monster! Patterned after Danger Crafts monsters, he seems appropriate for Jack!

And so, here I go - gathering all the materials I think I will need for this project into a basket. I am using Cascade Cotton for this so it will be washable. You know, it's for a little boy. The doll's hair is acrylic yarn from the clearance bins in the back of the shop. I am using safety eyes also - we have those at the shop too!

 

Now, that I have got all the pieces knit, it's time to stuff him, do his face, hair and sew on his arms. Simple to say, a little more involved to do!

 

Began here last Thursday (I took the day off). It took the better part of the day - about 5 hours to get to the pic below.

I took him to work with me Friday. He was very popular with everyone! Zombie seemed to like sitting surrounded by yarn!

It took a total of 21 work hours to complete this project,

 

 

Decided to give Monster a tooth! See what you think.

 

Hoping Jack likes his Zombie!

 

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Jacob

Pam and Jacob have been at our house for a whole week! Through an unforeseen circumstance, Pam needed to be out of her house for awhile. I drove to Beaumont, meeting them about halfway, and brought them home with me! Ryan stayed home with Jayden, the 6 year old big brother, who had come down with the adenovirus at his swim class. It's been awhile since Joe and I have been around a baby for a week! It was nice!

Being about two months, premature, Jacob is still being kept away from the general public. Specifically avoiding people who are sick and children who could possibly be carrying germs he isn't ready for yet. Although they took him off of oxygen on Father's Day, Pam still brought a canister just in case. So, we knew we would be staying in.

Sometimes the best visits are those with no plans. No shopping or running around. Bella had a great week - she was so excited about the baby being here! She would sit close and quake with excitement!

On the 4th, we had BBQ with baked beans, pasta salad, cole slaw and key lime pie. Wade and Christa came for the day bringing Audrey and Aiden. We all had a fun family day eating and visiting!

Every Friday evening, our routine is TexMex and margaritas. All our children want to go to The Blue Iguana when they are here. So, I picked up dinner from The Iguana on the way home! They make THE BEST chunky avocado salad ever!

Pam's iPhone had been acting up and she really needed to go to the Apple Store while here! Saturday evening when I got home, I babysat Jacob while Joe and Pam went to the Mall. They picked up Buca di Beppo on the way home. I rocked Jacob the WHOLE time they were gone! Our family believes babies are supposed to be held and rocked. We realize they aren't little for very long so you better hold and rock while you can! When Alexis was small, I used to get everything done so I could sit and hold her while she took her 2 hour afternoon nap. She just graduated high school. Now, I rock her new baby brother.

Yesterday, we drove back to. Beaumont, meeting Ryan at Pappadeaux's for a late lunch. Pam and Jacob went home.

Rocking Jacob

(That's a big blue binky)

Jacob Napping

 

Sweet Baby

 

Watching the Baby Channel

Jacob watching the Baby Channel

 

Playing in Mom's Lap

 

Pam with Jacob at Pappadeaux's

 

Ryan and Pam with Jacob

It has seemed really quiet today. Missing them!

 

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At Home - Cleaning out the Pantry

Getting close to putting our house on the market, I am energized at the thought of getting very close to being finished with all the preparations.

My chore today is cleaning out the pantry. It's a nice roomy pantry that has gotten over-stocked. Joe isn't happy with just A bag of chips, he wants several kinds of chips. You get the picture! Let me show you - it is jam-packed as my Grandmother would say. I have items grouped, on twirlies, canned goods thingies, risers and so on but there is just too MUCH!

 

I prefer to stop at the market every couple of days, buying fresh fruit and veggies; maybe a bit of meat. Joe prefers stocking up for the long haul and the dreaded snack attack.

 

I have the bottom shelf emptied - three more to go. Checking expiration dates and maybe boxing some things that can go with us! Then I can put back the things we will be using over the next couple of weeks. Sigh! In the meantime, the washer and dryer are happily chugging along.

 

After 2.5 hours, I have gone through everything. Checking all expiration dates, organizing and wiping down the shelves. After six years, the shelves still look great. They won't need to be painted.

Closer -

Now, to sit down with a nice glass of iced tea and talk to Bella!

 

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WWKIP DAY IS THIS SATURDAY

World Wide Knit in Public Day is this Saturday! The purpose of this world-wide event is to make people aware of knitting and crochet by knitting in public (KIP) places. Many of us who knit KIP throughout the year! I think most people know about knitting and crochet these days but its still fun!

There are 2 WWKIP events being held in our area this Saturday.

1) South Branch Library on Lake Robbins Dr in The Woodlands 10am - 2pm. They have yarn bombed the library, inside and out! It is spectacular - A MUST SEE! (sponsored by the Houston Guild)

2) iPurl on College Park Dr in The Woodlands 10am - 3pm. We are having a FREE raffle drawing every 30 min. You do not have to be present to win! McAlister's and Willie's have provided coupons if you would like to lunch close by and KIP! Bring your knitting/crochet along with your bag chair and come join us for a fun day! The last drawing of the day will be for a selected Offhand Designs knitting bag!

 

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Joe Wants to Move

Joe is ready to go ahead and get moved! Now, we need to do a few things to get our house ready to show. I am going to clean out a couple of closets and start packing personal photos and decorative items. Shouldn't take us long. We try to keep everything maintained and orderly but we all have our "stuff" that makes a house our home. Realtors like the "stuff" put away. It is a great time to get rid of things we don't need or want any more. Less to move, Joe says with a smile. It's amazing how quickly things can accumulate.

We tidied the front flower beds this past weekend. They were neglected a bit while we worked getting the shop going. I will be taking a "start" of some of our plants - not digging up whole plants - just a small piece to get a start! The ever-blooming hydrangeas, lilies, Knock Out roses and lantana are beautiful this year. They can easily be replaced. I have an unusual small plant called Pink Button from Arbor Gate in the front bed that they don't always have. I will take a small pot of that. I will want to take a start of the lilies too. They are spectacular and there are many of them. I have forgotten their names.

We planted two Mimosa trees in the back yard three years ago. They are blooming right now and are so pretty. Once a staple in every Southern yard, they are very hard to find in nurseries now. Joe had to order them online! My grandparents had a large Mimosa tree in their front yard. Sometimes when we stayed the night, they pulled the rollaway bed outside under the tree. We would sleep out under the Mimosa! They lived way out in the country on a small farm where you could do that!

It makes me sad to think about moving yet I know it is the best thing for us to do. We have many wonderful memories here! I think there are 5 or 6 new homes in our neighborhood. People are moving farther out and we are moving in closer! It is truly all in what you like to do!

 

A few photos of the yard -

Lily

 

Knock Out Roses

Lilies

Back yard

Lantana

Climbing Rose from Antique Rose Emporium

Hydrangeas

 

 

Pink Button planted under an old burro wagon

 

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Taking a Day Off to Recharge

My plan is to putter around at home making neat which always seems to help me find my center again. My mind is a direct reflection of our home space! Home needs to be neat, clean and peaceful!

Of course, I have spent about an hour+ going thru iPurl biz looking to see what needs attention today - orders, shipments, customer emails, web sales and financial stuff. Now, I have put those things away and hope not to look at them again today.

I took the time to go thru Knitsy one delicious page at a time - slowly - reading articles,looking at patterns, clicking on ad links, watching videos and so on. I have to say I LOVE Knitsy. It is out of the UK which makes it interesting for me. I like to see what is current there compared to the US. If you love all things digital, you will love Knitsy! iPad stores it in your Newsstand along with your other magazines like Vogueknitting and Southern Living. Don't forget to check out Louise! I forgot to say it is totally FREE!

It's very breezy today as a cold front has arrived. Isn't this May? I enjoy the sound the wind makes as it moves through the trees all around our house! We've had a cute young adult raccoon wandering the yard and on our back porch recently. They are cute but can be such a nuisance. So far, he has been behaving. I have also spotted a few hummingbirds. Joe needs to get his feeders out. Everything is so green right now - hope that continues throughout the Summer.

Along 1488, on my way to work, there are several trees that have come down taking down the fence too! They are dead - didn't survive the drought. When the wind starts blowing like it is today, many more trees will be coming down! I told Joe to drive in the inside lanes! Some of the trees are so tall, they are falling into the road.

Based on the weather forecast and standing out on the front porch, I switched from air conditioning to heat for the night and probably the next couple of days! Mother Nature has evidently misplaced her calendar!

In the few hours of free time in the evenings (while watching baseball), I have been knitting newborn size socks. They really are kind of addictive! They have bright colors, not a big time investment, just enough detail to keep you from getting bored and are very useful for keeping small feeties toasty warm!

I have been asked for the pattern several times, so thought I would post it here - the size is 0-3 months

It is in socknitters language - if you have knit socks before, you will have no problem with the instructions.

 

NEWBORN BABY SOCK

CO 40 sts

Knit in rib - 2.25 inches

Knit 6 rounds stockinette

Heel flap - 20 sts - knit 16 rows with the 1st purl row being Row 1. End with a knit row.

Turn heel -

1) Slp1, P12, P2tog, turn

2) Slp1, K6, SSK, turn

3) Slp1, P6, P2tog, turn

Cont rows 2 and 3 until all sts have been worked and there are 8 sts remaining

Work gussets accordingly

Knit foot to 3.5 sts and begin decreases as follows -

K2, K2tog, around

K around

K1, K2tog, around

K around

K2tog around - 10 sts remain

Cut yarn leaving 8 inch tail pull thru remaining sts and work in ends.

 

In just a couple of hours, you will have 1 super cute baby sock! They can match or not!

 

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