Christmas

We spent a quiet Christmas Day at home - well - quiet, except for the sound of packing.  But before that there was some stuff to do.  I went....

......... to get my hair cut.  This is Donna - she works at the Atrium (where Grandma Grace and Aunt Peggy live).  She does such a great job and cuts my hair exactly the way I like it!  On Dec. 23rd we met....

........ Aunt Lynda and Uncle Ernie for breakfast and had a great gabfest while we ate.  Then....

...we had lunch with Auntie Cecile, Auntie Colleen and Uncle Mark.  When lunch  was ended we went to have a last visit with Grandma Grace and Aunt Peggy - and I left my camera in the car!  I'll make sure to get pictures as soon as we return home in the spring.  We grabbed a bite of supper and then we went out to see some of the Christmas lights around town....

........ this one was outstanding and picture doesn't really do it justice, but it was beautiful.  Then the packing began in earnest....

......... I gathered up some yarn for evening knitting in Florida.... I think there is enough.  Then...

......... upstairs for the travel bags.  Taffy changed her mind a few times about what she wanted to bring, but I finally got it done.  After that....

........... with Poppa's help (of course) we started gathering everything near the back door so Poppa could pack it into the car for our trip.  I spent the evening working diligently.....

......... on Munchie's hat and mittens, in an effort to get them done before we arrive at his house on Boxing Day!

Christmas Eve

Yes.... it is here!  The time has flown by recently.  Our little boys have been quite busy....

....... Munchie had a Christmas concert with his Grade 1 class.  He is in the center in the black Bat-Moose shirt.  Curtie....

... also had a Christmas concert with his Junior Kinderegarten class.  You can see him easily with the number 6 on his shirt.  According to my reporter, they were both adorable and sang gustily.  They also....

.......... attended a couple of Christmas parties.  Here is Curtie sitting on Santa's knee, telling Santa what is on his wish list and getting his picture taken.

And of course, his big brother, Munchie also got that opportunity.  Then, this weekend, they came....

........ to visit us!  While Curtie was busy playing with Poppa....

.......... Munchie was busy seeing who was tallest - himself or Pumpkin.  The final decision was that Munchie was taller!  He checked then to see..........

......... if he was taller than both Pumpkin and Hershey - yep!  You can see his head peeking over both of them in the center.  Meanwhile....

......... Curtie was hamming for the camera with Taffy.  As the day wore on....

...... Munchie and the two big bears got worn out and took a nap!  After getting into their pj's, Munchie wanted this picture taken....

.......... so you could all see a better shot of his Bat-Moose sweat-shirt.  Once again, the time flew and they left for home where they are anxiously awaiting Christmas Day, so .....

......... they could open presents!

Deck The Halls

Here it is - time to think about Christmas decorations and Christmas trees and so on.

At Munchie's house this meant carefully unpacking all the decorations.  Then....

.... Munchie climbed up on a chair to reach the high parts, while....

............ Curtie carefully chose which ornament to put on the tree next (I love the expression on his face in this photo)...

......... and handed it to his big brother, or chose his own spot closer to the bottom.  Doesn't the tree look pretty?  Mommy says the letters have been sent to Santa and the count-down is on!

Weather Warning!

While I was doing some chores a few days ago, I glanced out the window.....

............ and saw Poppa outside with his shovel.  Yes....we got even more snow.  Because of some recent health issues that Poppa had - Squeegie and Taffy were keeping an eye on him.  Earlier....

.......... he had the snow blower out - and you can see it was quite windy and chilly and....

........... there was quite a bit of snow.  For a while........

........ both Poppa and the chap across the road were out dealing with the snow.  Later....

......... there was just Poppa - blowing the edge of the road so that the mail person could get to the mailbox and so there would be less snow for the snow plow to fill in the end of the driveway.  The shovel at the edges was the last step and thankfully he was finished for a while.  Since then we've had a couple of milder days - and there is actually less snow outside right now.  We did brave the cold weather and...........

............ go for lunch with Auntie Cecile and Auntie Colleen for our regular Tuesday get-together.  Another day....

.......... Auntie Jean came out for a visit.  She brought her i-Pad with her and we spent a while together figuring out how to do the things she would like to do with it.  When I went into the room reserved for our little grandsons to do some dusting, I was somewhat alarmed when I looked at Curtis' bed.....

....... to find this rather large fellow sitting there.  After a brief conversation, he said his name is Hershey and he is planning on staying!  Not only that...

........... his brother, Pumpkin, is settled in on Munchie's bed!  Oh gracious - just what we needed - two more bears.........

........ especially as they have been known to sneak into our space and take over Poppa's chair!  It appears that Squeegie and Taffy don't mind at all!  I sat in my chair anyway and worked on....

.... Auntie Colleen's sweater.  The arms and body are now attached and....

........ I am currently working on the yoke.  I'm hoping to finish it up in the next week or so.  It has been a really challenging and fun project after so many socks and dishcloths!  The weather?  Well it is still really cold outside...........

............. the bears bundle up before they go out in the car......... and..........

.......... when we're at home, they snuggle under blankets.

Overseas....

Our friends in the UK sent me this picture.....

........ of the Big Board at the London Stock Exchange.  As  you can see, this company just went public and is already moving up in value.  The people who are business partners in this company.....

......... are shown here as the opening bell sounds.  Please look carefully at the faces in the circle..... Yes!  They can be identified as David and Allison - our friends and the homeowners of the villa where we stay every winter in Florida!  How exciting that day must have been for them!  Congratulations!!!!

Yesterday....

....... I took this picture in the side yard!  Yes...........we had..........

..... 7-1/2" of snow over night!  Yes..... Poppa actually took his tape measure out and checked to see how much there was.  I was quite surprised..........

....... when I saw who was helping Poppa blow the snow from the driveway and the walkways!  Want a closer look?

Yep!  It's Squeegie in his snowsuit!  Is it time to go to Florida yet?????

Knitting? Of Course!

Last winter while we were in Florida, I came across a sweater pattern that called out Auntie colleen's name to me!  I just knew I had to make it for her.  Recently, I posted ......

........... this picture which was the beginning of the first sleeve.  I have been working diligently.  It is a rather complicated pattern - and required extensive use of a cable needle.  I'm always looking for a convenient place to put my cable needle between cable stitches.  And - I usually end up putting between my teeth.  After a while that becomes irritating, so I thought about it and then I....

......... found a teddy-bear part in one of my drawers - it was one I had made and then rejected because it was the wrong size.  It was already stuffed and it held my cable needle nicely, but it was too light to hang properly...........so I put two $2 coins in the bottom - kazaam - it stands up!  Then I just took a couple of pieces of cotton yarn and attached them to each side......put it around my neck and tied a knot at the correct length... and....

....... there was my cable needle in just the right location for grabbing and then sticking back in!  I'll try to come up with a prettier version later, but for right now.........

....... it sure makes the cables quicker and easier to do!  I have finished the two sleeves and.......

.......... have about 12 inches done of the body.  There are 411 stitiches on my circular needle and a long row to knit!  But, it is great fun and I am enjoying the challenge after so many pairs of socks! When the body section is long enough it will be joined to the sleeves in preparation for the yoke - which is a totally different cabled pattern.  I keep you posted!