Catch Up

Time is definitely running out for Christmas knitting. I haven't done a whole lot of it at all this year. So many things to do, so little time.

I did finish up a pair of socks, but these are probably going to get put away til next summer. I made them with BFF in mind. I made the cuff short in an effort to have enough left of the yarn (Austerman Step) to make a pair of ankle socks for another friends. However, when I wound the remaining yarn, counting stripes to figure it out, I am going to be just a wee bit short. So I guess I have to dig in the stash and find something to coordinate for heels and toes. The pattern in Traffic Island, ladies size 8, knit on 2.5mm needles, started November 3, finished on the 28th. Ravelry details here.

Last Saturday was the fire department kids' Christmas party. There was cookie decorating, as usual. This is one that the Littlest One made for me. I guess it's a good thiing I like sprinkles, lol.

Him with Santa, getting his treat bag.

The Oldest One with Santa. Neither of them sat on his lap, which I'm sure he was grateful for, lol.

Then after the party we went to tag our tree at the same lot we use every year. It was too weird, we were wandering around, looking for a tree, and Hubs saw a piece of paper laying on the ground, face down. He picked it up, and lo and behold it was a tag off of one of our previous trees! I have to go through my pictures and see if I can figure out if it's from last year or the year before. We found it on the opposite side of the lot from where our tree was last year, we think, but it could have blown across to where we found it. Too weird.

Our tree. We'll pick it up a week from tomorrow.

Then when we came home I got Hubs to help put some pine on our front railings. I bought some more led lights to wrap around the railings, but since they're narrow wrought iron I wanted some pine on there, too, to make it look better. Last thing I need is some lights for the two big bushes on either end of the house. I used to have net lights for them, but they don't work any more. I bought some led net lights last year, but the bushes are way too big, there wasn't enough to make them look good. I must say I like led lights on the power bill, but I still prefer the look of the old fashioned, energy inefficient bulbs.

I also finally got off my butt and finished painting the kitchen. When we moved in over 10 years ago the kitchen was wall panelled. I put flowered wallpaper (what was I thinking?) over it, then awhile back I hauled it all off. The white lines are the wall panel grooves that I put filler in before I papered.

The end going into the living room isn't wall panel, it's some kind of weird gyprock, but not normal gyprock.

After. The color is called Rosie's Gardenia, it's a light, kind of ivory color. It does look different on the wall with the living room doorway, it has more of a grey tinge to it than the walls with the panel. I'm hoping Santa brings me some new decorations for the walls, and a new computer desk. And new blinds for the kitchen windows. I have since put up some Christmas decorations, but I'll need some new things for after the holidays.

I'm hoping it doesn't chip too badly. Panel can be funky to paint. It was a rough kind of panel, so maybe it won't be so bad. I painted the hallway when we first moved in, but it's a really slick wall panel, so it has been all chipped to hell over the years from the kids beating things off the walls.

So that's the catch up for now. I'm trying to crank out some felted slippers for step FIL for Christmas. I also got a call from the lady who orders oodles of pairs of slippers from me, she needs a pair for next weekend, one of the family members wore his through, so he wants a new pair. I also told a friend I'd knit her daughter a scarf for Christmas, I was hoping to knit the Littlest One's two teachers something, and I know Hubs, the Littlest One, and the Oldest One all are looking for new knit socks. Plus I'd like to crank out some hats and mittens as well.... I guess I'll be keeping myself busy after Christmas!

Happy knitting!