Mmmm Pork Pie!

It is a Canadian French tradition to make pork (meat) pies at New Years. Holding true to my French roots, today I made my pies. The recipe comes from my father's great Aunt Sylvia Bousquet. (Correct me if I'm wrong mom.)

I can remember as a kid my mother would make, what seemed like a dozen of these pies and on a Sunday afternoon we would get in the car and deliver them to various family members. What a cool memory.

This isn't Mike's favorite of my recipes so, I only make 2 and only once a year.

Slow Progress

After posting the photo of my yarn stash Mom wanted to know what I had planned to do with the turquoise yarn. (Do you think she was eyeing it for next year's Christmas gift?) There may be enough left over mom after I finish the sweater I'm making for Haley.

With all the time I've spent playing with the kids over the past few days I haven't gotten very far on the sweater, but here is a photo of my progress.

The pattern is the February Lady Sweater, I got it as a free Ravelry download. The sweater is worked top down on circular needles, my favorite, and should work up fast. The yarn is Cascade 220. Which actually was a gift from a friend in Connecticut, Paula.

No Greater Words and Hat Not Good Enough

To a yarn addict there are no better words in the English language than, "End of Year Sale". Like music isn't it? The yarn shop in Connecticut is having just that and I couldn't help myself. Now that I have the cedar chest I've cleared space on the floor in my closet. (hee hee) After looking through a few pattern books and magazines I decided the new house needed a new afghan. The wool is now on its way to me from Connecticut. Woo Hoo!!

Here is a picture of the finished Jacques Cousteau hat I made. Intended for it to be a gift, but decided it just wasn't good enough. It looks pretty good on Jake though. (Looks like I need to fix the date on my camera. Whoops!)

A lovely gift.

My wonderful husband knows that I'm a knitting/fiber addict. I've been able to keep it under pretty good wraps. Or so I thought. As a Christmas gift, Mike gave me a beautiful cedar chest. The cedar chest was big enough to put all my stash in, so I guess I hadn't kept it as well hidden as I thought.

There are two layers of yarn you can't even see in this photo. To an addict, it is a beautiful thing!!

The two drawers in the bottom pull out to reveal velvet lined jewelry boxes. It is an incredible gift. Thank you Mike!! Thank you also for enabling my addiction. I love you for it.

We need to change this next year!

Not sure how the ritual started or when, but the day after Christmas has always been the day we take down our tree, and yesterday held true to form. Our tree is down and put away, and when you get on the roll of cleaning up, any sign of Christmas has been picked up and put away until next year. Other than having new toys to play with you would never know that Christmas was just 2 days ago at our house.

Don't get me wrong my A-type personality really loves having things back in order, but it feels a little sad too. At dinner last night Haley made the comment, "It feels like Christmas was a long time ago." This morning I'm feeling the same way.

This may need to be one routine we change for next year. Will someone remind me of this then, please?

The Day After!

Mom and Dad got their sweaters and they both fit beautifully if I do say so myself.

This makes me feel better about the items I made for Haley's god parents. Which will not make it to the recipients because they really aren't as good as we would have hoped for, Haley has decided on something different for them.

What a terrifice first Christmas in Virginia we had. The weather was lovely and spending time at home playing with new toys is always wonderful. We all woke this morning a little sore from playing Wii sports games, but no regrets and we are right back at it today!

Some things just can't be given away!

Well back to the ole drawing board. The reusable bag that was intended to be a Christmas gift has been completed. Haley and I are not too happy with the results and have decided it just won't do as a gift. When we filled it and picked it up it hung so low it was really awkward.

Haley has chosen an entirely new project that she intends to make all on her own.

Jacob however, has decided the original bag makes for a great Jamaican hat! So in the long run it is still a recycle/reuse item.

Knitting Feverishly!

Well maybe I shouldn't have taken the time to knit Jacob a sweater in November when all my Christmas gift ideas hadn't been knit yet. But, he kept after me to make him a new sweater that fit. (Yes, he outgrew last year's already!)

Now I'm spending every chance I get trying to knit and complete a couple more gifts. Gifts that need to get into the mail besides. Oh well! I love to knit and I'm really not complaining. However, these gifts will surely not make it until after Christmas now.

My sister-in-law Susan is Haley's god mother and we decided to make her a knitted re-usable bag. Susan is extra consciences about re-use and re-cycling Haley thought it would be an appropriate gift and I agreed. Haley has even done several rows of knitting herself. Here is a picture of it I took a few days ago, but you will get the idea.

Then for my brother Joe, (the one who protected me from biting Santa) Haley's god father, we decided on a warm winter hat. They live in Massachusetts and he should get plenty of use from it.

So, I'm off to do a little house work, help kids with school, and get back to knitting feverishly. Okay, maybe this isn't any different from most days for me!!

(I'm pretty sure Joe and Sue don't regularly read my blog so, I don't think I've ruined anything.)

A Long Standing Tradition

Every year, since Jacob was our only, we have had the tradition of making Christmas cookies. Okay, so do most people I know.

Today we followed through on that tradition again. Haley took these pictures of her masterpieces.

It is a lot of fun, and now that the mess has been cleaned up the memory is even better!! LOL

You Can Taste the Sunshine

Mom and Dad retired to sunny Florida about 8 years ago. Over the past several years they have sent us a package of oranges for Christmas. The oranges are always so appreciated, but I would have to say that this year's box was the best one yet!

As you can see the girls and I couldn't wait to dig into them while the men were out hunting. The box had 6 each, tangerines, red navels, navels and tangelos. They all taste soooo good!

Santa Bites?

I woke up this morning with a childhood memory. When I was most likely pretty young, I was afraid of Santa. Yeah, no big deal there, but I was afraid that Santa was going to bite my fingers. Crazy, or what? Who knows where little kid's fears come from, but I remember that fear so vividly!! My fear was so real that I even recall sleeping in my big brother Joe's bed one Christmas Eve because I was so afraid Santa would come in my room and bite my fingers. What a wonderful big brother to allow and put up with that!

So, Joe if you should happen to read this blog post, Thank You! I'm thinking of you!

Another Sweater Made

The other night I finished the sweater for Jacob. I'm so thrilled. I love it when I complete such a big project. I have been trying every winter to knit each of us a sweater and this is the first for the family this winter. I'm going to work on a few small Christmas projects and then I'll get back to the family knitting.

He plans to wear it to church tonight, and that makes me feel real good.

Our First Christmas in Virginia

In the pouring rain yesterday, we ventured out to get our Christmas tree. Cutting our own tree has been a tradition since before we had kids. This is a project Mike has always taken very seriously. My dear husband is very easy going and not an A type personality like myself. Until it comes to picking out a Christmas tree. In fact I could tell you a story about one year he had me hiking all over a certain tree farm with over 10,000 trees and none of them were good enough. After an hour of this I threatened to leave him there. I can't recall if we ever got a tree that day.

Anyway, one thing that really surprised us was how hard it was to find a tree farm to cut our own tree here in Virginia. We did prevail and found a very kind man who isn't usually available during the week, but was willing to meet us to get our tree. It certainly isn't as big as we usually get, but it will serve us well I'm sure.
This morning the girls were chomping at the bit to get the decorating started. They've gotten their dad to put the lights on and are now working on getting their brother out of bed to join their fun. Our first Christmas in Virginia, is going well!

Trying to Find the Spirit of Christmas Again

Not sure why it is I always struggle with the Advent/Christmas season. And this year is no exception. I have been playing the music, which always helps. Went to the town parade, had a great time there. Made the gingerbread house with the girls, it was fun. Have ordered our cards and expect to get them into the mail this week. All my shopping is pretty much finished, only have a couple of small knitting projects to complete as gifts. So, why is it I don't have that warm, fuzzy Christmas spirit feeling all the time? Is it normal?

Is it because this year I have mud to fight? Maybe I should take out our decorations from the move? Maybe we should go buy and decorate a tree? Is it because it is a new house in a new state?

I'm really not a scrooge, I just sometimes feel like one, and every year find myself trying to figure out why that is.

A Sweet Treat

I just couldn't resist a ginger bread house kit when I was shopping yesterday, and the girls couldn't wait to get it made when I got it home. While the men were out hunting yesterday afternoon the girls got to work. Here it is:

Full Day Out and About

Busy day today! The kids and I are taking "Maggie" to the airport this morning. Then I have a doctor's appointment with a new doctor for my annual check up this afternoon. So, since we will be in Lynchburg for the airport anyway the kids want to kill time between that and my appointment shopping and get lunch out. This should be fun! Think I can find some yarn for sale? May just have to replenish my supplies! Hee-hee-hee!