I just might make it after all!

Things are moving along here at a brisk pace. I have finished making the cut out cookies with a hats off to Martha Stewart. She suggested rolling the dough out on a silicone sheet, covering the dough with clear plastic wrap. Now cut out the cookies, remove the waste dough around each cookie and slide the silicone sheet onto a metal baking sheet and bake. It was a glorious hint as there was no flour all over the kitchen and the cookies tasted the best ever. Now they go to the grandchildren who always decorate them on Christmas eve after dinner.

The croc socks are finished. I used the online pattern but found that they would be much to large if you followed the directions given. I dropped the needle to a 9 and they fit a man who wears a 10 shoe. Then I used a cast on of 28 stitches for the second pair and they fit a ladies size small. I may just need to make a pair of these for myself when all is quieter here.

Today on the list a little bit of wrapping and I mean very little. Then it is time to bake the biscotti. I have a son in law who says this is his favorite gift. I can not disappoint him. Last year I had foot surgery and there were no cookies or biscotti so I have to make up for all of that this year.

We leave tomorrow for a short trip to see Louis and Lillie and spend a few days of in my opinion pure joy. Even with 5 dogs, 1 cat and a guinea pig in the house.

My wish for all of you is a glorious holiday season and blessing in the new year.

Merry Christmas

Joan

Almost Ready

I have been very very busy. Now I am nearly ready. Just a pair and a half of croc socks to knit and a lace edge for a pillow case. I have one case finished. Hey I have until Tuesday. Knit faster is the motto. First about the tree. When I visit my daughter and grand children there will be 5 dogs in the house so I did a little tree all decorated with treats for them. Then there are the navy blue and white socks for our dear neighbors who asked for Penn State socks. I had Ruby Sapphire custom dye the yarn and I am most pleased.

Then the fingerless mitts. I actually have finished 3 pairs of these. I just did not have the other one ready for the phot.

Last but by all means not least are the socks that resulted from the yarn dying project over Thanksgiving. These are Miss Lillie's own colors. Bubble gum, cotton candy and blueberry. All of which she choose and did the dying. I was to knit the socks and make them I did. I think the colors came out great. Thanks to who ever thought up culinary colors as it sure is child friendly. I know she will love her socks.

The blue socks are the on line pattern for croc socks. I will admit they are larger than what the pattern states. They fit dear hubby as well as son in law. I dropped the needle size to a 9 and lengthened the foot. Now just perfect. I have one more pair to do and I will go down to a 6 needle I think for a ladies size. I don't feel I knit loosely but who knows at this time of year.

At any rate it is wild here. Packages are wrapped at this point and I have company coming for dinner tonight and a gift exchange as well as tomorrow for lunch.

Cookie baking is still on hold here.

PURE JOY

Yesterday while I was nearly having a melt down over the Christmas to do list. This arrived from my special friend. Now I am moving along with the knitting and all the rest. Pictures to follow later today on the knitting. That Susie is so special.

SPECIAL YARN 1

I am having the most wonderful time on my mini vacation. I am extending my Thanksgiving for a week and doing fun things with the grandchildren. Last night my daughter had the children dying sock yarn. It was great fun. How nice that the "Culinary Colors" dye is child safe. Lillie and Louis are dying sock yarn for special socks for Lillie's Godfather for Christmas. They dyed some other skeins as well. Kathy will knit up the special "God Father socks" and I shall do some of the others. It was great fun and we are now waiting for the yarn to dry. More pictures to follow. We are using the natural sock yarn from Knit Picks and this is something an entire family can be a part of. Note the garbage bag dying smocks on the children. My daughter was most creative with this. We had no spills or messes. Just a whole lot of fun and now to wait to knit.