Recap of December Week One

While I am busy trying to finish up 2 final knitted Christmas gifts, there are lots of other great activities not to miss. I am excited to share photos of all the gifts I've knitted through the year - even though I've featured several in various posts already - but the "Christmas gift" post will have to wait a couple of more weeks.

For now, I want to share some of the events of this busy week, for MY viewing pleasure. And maybe you will enjoy them, too.

One of my knitting friends had a few of us over to her home for a Cookie Exchange. We brought already baked cookies to be embellished or DIPPED once we got together and then shared some of each to take back to our families. It was great fun. Our delightful hostess greeted us with yummy muffins, home made quiche, and coffee. Then we dealt with all the sweet Christmas treats and then we had lunch - paninis made with a panini press. What a fun time. We ate and yakked and laughed and ate and yakked and laughed and sampled and yakked and laughed. How therapeutic. Except maybe for all the eating and sampling!

Here are a few photos of all the fun. There were a few more ladies but they're shy of being pictured on-line. And who can blame anyone for that?

Another day this week, I got together with some dear old friends (old as in, I have known them a l-o-n-g time - never let it be said that I called them OLD!) We just met for lunch but it was so nice to catch-up with them. They live in the town from where I moved a few years ago so we don't get to see each other too often. This photo is from another time we met for lunch - TWO years ago. I forgot to take a picture this time. :^(

That same day was my youngest son's birthday. So I dashed home after lunch and made lava cakes for him.  The easy recipe is Paula Deen's and I got it at this website.

And here is the birthday boy, who just happened to be chilled and had donned his Fair Isle hat and hand spun hooded sweater, both of which I made for him. That's how love is knitted. :^)

And then, because it has been such a busy week, we took him out to eat at one of his favorite restaurants.

Other happenings, we've had a visitor this week to our bird feeder that always creates a stir inside our home - the huge Pileated Woodpecker. They are about the size of a hawk and eat a lot but they are a pleasure to see. We hear them often around here but don't see them so much, as they are fairly shy. The picture didn't turn out too well because if I move too close to the window, he flies away. But here he is. They can be seen better at All About Birds.

And speaking of knitting (oh, wait, was I?), I had ordered a protective case for my new mobile phone and it arrived a few days ago. It is so cool.
Huh? Huh? What do ya think?

I'm sure all you knitters and crocheters will want to know where I got it, right? I got it at Inspired Cases .com, where you can pay with PayPal. And at the bottom of every page on their website, I see that they invite your idea of what you want on a phone case. Check this out!

I've been trying to decorate for the blessed Christmas season but all the busy-ness has interrupted it. I am, however, almost finished. We will be having grandchildren around this year so I want to make it nice and festive for them. And for us, too. This is the one of the only times of year that over the entire world, attention is given to the Savior of all, the only Hope for our predicaments. I like to make this season a big deal.

One final bit of news - yesterday while I was praying, I got a call from a new knitting friend who lives in another town. She recently learned Fair Isle knitting from me and called to see if I would be willing to teach it at a knitting retreat in her town this spring. My answer was a resounding YES! I told her that even if they don't end up needing me to teach, I'd love to attend this weekend long retreat, needles and yarn in hand. 

The rest of the days until Christmas are more relaxed, with a lot less on the calendar. I look forward to that as I reflect on all that the baby Jesus - who was born to grow up and then to die to pay the penalty for the sin of the world - has done for me. Actually, I try to always keep that in mind all year long. Perhaps you do, too.