Happy 2012

Start as you wish to go on.
There will be no washing today as I want no one in my family washed out. That means no laundry or dishes. There will be nothing taken out of the house before something comes in. No trash taken out, no money spent and no leaving home. These traditions work for me as it allows me to start as I wish to go on. No, not with a messy house (we will not talk about that today), but with coffee beside me, needles in my hands and a new project for the new year. We have a winter storm warning going on here and mother natures plans are for 8-12 inches of New Years snow. A good reason to stay snuggled up and knitting.

I decided on the Alpine Boots Slipper pattern and will make them up in Patons Classic Wool in Chestnut Brown with Fun fur (gasp) effects and a beige contrast stitching.



This is all out of my stash, so I am not spending money.
I want o step into the New Year with a smile on my face and Bev Galeskas patterns are so wonderful I know I will be happy knitting it up. I am not sure if I will do a short boot or try for the long boot. I will see as I am knitting on it and how I think it will fit.

Thank you all for stopping by and I wish you all the happiest of New Years.

Finishing Up 2011- Planning 2012

Happy New Year's Eve!!

I decided to finally finish up some projects that have been on the needles or in need of blocking.

Costa Rica



NYCO 2010- Raglan sweater



Take 2- November Wrap



I am also planning my NYCO for 2012 and have decided to Step into the new year with a pair of slippers. My slippers that I finished in 2007, have worn a hole in the bottom. I am not sure if I will use the same pattern and make a fresh pair, or if I will make up one of these patterns:
Alpine boots, Lady Finkaas , or Men's Slippers .

Sarge and I are still deciding how we will spend the evening, but at least we will be together. I hope that you stay safe on New Year's Eve and that you all "Step into the New Year" with passion for what you love.

Merry Christmas!

From our house to yours.
May you have the happiest of days.

Yule Time Fun

I am telling you! It is Santa Claus NOT Sandy Claws



You think coal is bad in your stocking? Just wait for what I will leave you!



Only a good Reincat for two seconds



Oh the humiliation! What if the other cats see me this way?!



Maybe if I put holes in it the humans will not make me dress up again next year...



Just getting a bit of the Holiday spirit here.

GEEK (Cut) OUT

Pinterest has become a new time suck for me. It is a site about pinning things that interest you. However, a lot like Ravelry, it allows me to take from the site and use my creativity to make things. Most of what I pin are recipes, but I found some geeky fun that took up my afternoon.

This is my front door!

Yep, those are Star Wars snowflakes!!!

You can find the PDF's to make them here

Let the Holidays Begin

Kerstmarkt is a Christmas market in the traditions of the Netherlands. They are outdoor markets that spring up all over for local artisans to sell their wares. This is a market I have wanted to go and shop at for a few years now. With weather the way it is here in west Michigan, I was just not able to make that happen until this year. The day after Thanksgiving, yes, black Friday, Sarge and I went down to this market and had fun walking around and seeing the booths. It was a very warm day for the end of November and well worth the 30 minute drive down to Holland.


While walking through the marketplace, we saw fur dealers, which brings to mind what trade was like here in West Michigan in the olden days. Fur trappers and traders were a major money maker in Michigan back when the state was first established.

Yes, those are deer skins, but there was also sheep, caribou, bear, raccoon and others available for purchase. None came home with me.



Hand blown glass ornaments and jewelry from another vendor.



Shady Side Farm was there with not only the wool they raise and sell, but also harvest items from their farm. I pick up some heirloom beans to make up some soup.


Sarge really like the local photography booth and picked up a coffee mug to add to his collection.


I also came home with a new hand turned wooden spoon to replace the one I had broken this year. I do love kitchen items. I did not get a picture of the booth, sorry.

While we were there we also picked up two of the yummiest molasses cookies (no sugar added recipe) to munch on while we walked around. It was a fun way to spend Black Friday. Not out amongst the big box stores, but shopping locally at a market that is just a little bit of history being passed on to future generations.

Permission Slip

We all suffer through the holidays. I have been reading both Twitter and Plurk the last couple of days and find a lot of my friends are having stress over the upcoming holiday. Family stresses about going somewhere, not going somewhere, dietary issues that might arise. What I wonder is if people are really wanting to be part of a holiday where you are miserable or if this is just the tradition that they feel they must adhere.
Well here is your permission slip to say no!
Get off the guilt train and declare you are no longer on track with their trip. As it is their trip, not yours. You do not have to be miserable this holiday season! You can be happy! Start your own tradition for the holiday. Gather your friends or just your family (if you have moved on and have one) and have a day that you can enjoy.
Don’t feel like you can cook a turkey (it is very easy) then get turkey breast, cutlets or even a chicken or Cornish hen for one. If you don’t like bird, make what ever the heck you want to make! (Lasagna anyone?) If you like stuffing but not yams- DO IT! Enjoy yourself.
Here is how the family here does it:
MIL/FIL likes to go to a buffet- so they go.
BIL/SIL likes to hold a dessert party in the evening- so they do- not required to attend.
SIL x2 like to go where they are invited by friends or family and this works.
I normally host Thanksgiving, but this year my son is, so we will go there and I will make a turkey breast on Friday or Saturday for leftovers. I will also make cranberry sauce and Stuffin’ Muffins for the day of, but that is not a big deal and we like it.
If you want to watch football, the parades, or movies, do so. If you want to BBQ the bird and have a game of horseshoes, do so. If you want to curl up in the corner of your couch reading a book or knitting all day, do so. This holiday is not about family- It is about giving thanks. This means thanking yourself for being the person that you are and allowing yourself to enjoy the day as much as everyone else.
This is your permission slip to be happy on Thanksgiving and do what you really want to do. Enjoy!

Holiday Weekend in Review

This last weekend was busy.
On Friday I opened up our new wheel. Review is on the latest podcast.
I got it all put together



and started spinning some BFL I had picked up on the last trip



On Saturday we recorded the podcast and relaxed around the house.
Sunday we had some friends pop oer, so a quick clean up of the house was in order, then Sarge headed out to paint the shed. The community had given us a deadline to get it painted by this weekend, so it had to be done.




You can see the ugly green it used to be. It did not match our house.



Sarge hamming it up



Monday was the Fourth and as tradition here, we had a dinner picnic at the channel before the firworks are set off.

Smiles from Little Bear





Kisses too





Grampa is a sit-upon



Deb showed up before me!



We brought ear protection for Little bear...they are almost as big as he is!!



Getting close to fireworks time



We got the grandkids glo necklaces. Notice how Little miss Z is wearing hers...



The musical fountain went off and the fireworks were wonderful.

Today I finished the yarn I started on Friday.


Back to regular blogging soon.

Cinco de Mayo

Today we do not celebrate the Independence of Mexico (September not May) but the victory of the Mexican army against the French which was the turning point of the war that lead to Independence. It would be like Americans celebrating the victory of The Battle of Trenton. However, I love Mexican food and any excuse to have it for dinner is taken advantage of.
I have another reason to celebrate...
My Soldier is back on US soil.

Soon he will be back home.

It's the Little Things

In marriage that make you smile.
We really have had a lot of time apart in our relationship. This has not only been due to the military, but also because of past circumstances with family. He is my best friend and I really enjoy his company.
Before Sarge left, he told me that he wanted to get more into my hobbies so we can spend more time together. He also asked me to get more into his hobby and I agreed.
His part of the bargin came in yesterday.

Babe Fiber Gardens FiberStarter



Manly looking (his words) and fun to spin on.

My part will come when he gets home and I get to choose my pistol.

As a couple we have never celebrate Valentine's day. We both feel it is a "Hallmark" holiday and not one we plan for. The man surprised me today with a delivery.

He is my Knight and made my day!

Traditions for the New Year

As the new year is approaching I do a few traditions to harvest luck and prosperity. I am not superstitious, but what can it hurt?

Tradition 1: Put coins outside by your entry way on New Year's Eve. Do not bring in until the morning. Bringing the money is a tradition that goes back years, but I could not find where it began.

Tradition 2: Donuts eaten at breakfast bring luck. This year, I bought sour cream donuts as I am not making donuts if I am the only one to eat them.

Tradition 3: Clean on New Year's Eve. Start the year off clean and fresh and the the rest of the year will stay that way. On the same note, do not clean on New Year's Day. No taking out of trash, no doing dishes. Only good comes in, not bad going out.

Tradition 4: On the first day of the year do what you wish to be doing the rest of the year. For me, this means knitting and spinning.

What are your traditions?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

Grandchildren with Tree.



Little Miss Z knew just what to do this year!



Daddy needs tea.




Boo needed cookware for her new apartment



I needed dishes. Now all of mine match !



Bear gets to make beer!



Mr. A loves a good laugh, so these movies are perfect!



Ms. Bear will have warm feet!



What Christmas is about-- the smiles of children.






And after- what did Little Miss Z want to play with...
Why my shoes and my knitty Noddy of course.
Future spinner??



Later we plan on Skyping with Sarge, so we will all be together today.

Hope you day was as blessed.