Waiting for Spring

This is what will keep me going through winter--spring is coming.  Much to my chagrin I did not go camping after I adopted Chloe because I was worried about how she would do.  She was not as good a camper as Molly was.  

Nature absolutely soothes my soul.  I stopped going hiking also because Chloe and I often ran into dogs off-leash and Chloe is not good with other dogs.  I will need to start making a point to go hiking without her, because getting out in nature-any time of the year-soothes my soul. Just looking at old pictures from camping brings back the good feelings.

Christmas is coming.  My radio station has already started playing Christmas songs.  Yes, I will call them Christmas songs even though the station calls them Holiday songs, which is ridiculous because we all know they are Christmas songs.  What is this world coming to if we cannot politically correct wish someone a Merry Christmas?  Evil is prevailing.

Anyway,  I am going to decorate for Christmas this week.  The Christmas season is too short, so why not start early?  I feel very sad and regretful that I did not not start planning for my gift giving this summer.  I want to make my gifts like the olden days, but I am running out of time.  One of my favorite things to make is socks.  One pair of socks takes me 2-4 weeks to complete.  Do you know how many pairs of socks I would like to knit?  Many.  Maybe I will submit coupons in the Christmas cards for an I.O.U.  

This is the last year our department will be together for the Holiday season.  People usually exchange gifts.  One year I made cookies for my "gift."  Last year I did not do anything.  Money was too tight.  This year I think I will make something for everyone.  I don't want to say what because I may make several of these items and give them to many different people.  People who read my blog.  The cost for materials is about $1 for each item.  Affordable.  I am told it takes about 5 hours to make one item.  A friend is teaching me how to make them today.

This is Sophie's favorite place to sleep: in Chloe's crate in the back right-hand corner.

Life is really good when you let it be.  I had an off afternoon and slept most of it.  But tonight I am feeling great.  Relaxed and rested.  I've been reading Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy for my book group.  Maeve Binchy is one of favorite authors.  She is from Ireland.

All my EZ (Elizabeth Zimmermann) books arrived.  I have a treasure.  If you are a knitter and have not read any of her books, I would highly recommend it.  I'm off to knit a hat, the first project in Knitting Workshop.  It lets you design your own fair-isle design for the hat.  Can't wait....

The Christmas Cactus I bought two years ago at Giant Eagle has several nice size buds.  Can't wait to see it in bloom.  I will take pictures and post them.

Happy Belated Halloween

I believe you can celebrate Halloween without indulging the evil aspects of the holiday.  I love custom parties and scary decorations.  Mandi and Ted threw a wonderful Halloween party, complete with roasted pumpkin seeds (a first for me) and plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.  I should have taken pictures.  Mandi was a queen bee, her two little children were small bumble bees, and her husband Ted was the bee-keeper.  It was very cute.

I did not dress up.  I did not get my act together soon enough to come in costume.  Next year I will.  The party is hosted annually.  A cute  couple in costume was a devil and angel duo.

Several houses in my neighbor would decorated very cute for Halloween.  It was fun to be out and around yesterday.  In the afternoon was the Halloween parade and in the evening the trick-or-treaters were out.  I think Halloween is a fun Holiday.

Happy Halloween!

Booooooooooooooo!