What is Christmas, Really?

I've been working hard at not expecting Christmas to be like the ones of my youth: masses of people, mass, tons of gifts, a lot of noise, card-playing, tons of food and drink and a lot of people crammed into the same house, living together for a few days. 

 Nowadays, Christmases are minimalist: lights, a tree, some music and scents from SAJE, a couple tourtière, a cozy dinner for four around a fondue pot. Supper at a restaurant on Christmas day... V and I are not buying each other gifts as the renovations to the kitchen and now for the downstairs bathroom are taking up the cash flow. The kids prefer money to buy what they want and who can blame them? Now, if we need something, generally we buy it and so some of Christmas has lost its magic for this girl. 

 Did I tell you that T & A are expecting a baby around Valentine's Day? Now THAT is a gift! I am cautiously imagining Christmas with a little one and I say cautiously because our son and his spouse live far away and don't typically visit at Christmas time. 

 I've been listening to my favorite Winter Solstice Albums by Wyndham Hill. They are soft and easy listening.

I pair the music with diffused oil blends by SAJE and let my soul swell with the memories of Christmases past and imagining future Christmases with grandchildren, a noisy, packed house, a lot of noise, tons of food, good games of Catan, tons of gifts...

I have reread this and notice that I appear to feel sorry for myself.  Nope, I'm just a girl having feelings around Christmas given how the world and therefore Christmas have evolved.  I have much to be grateful for: a husband that I love who loves me back, two great boys and their partners, a lot of good friends, health, enough money to live comfortably and a good imagination.

A Little Crochet

My sister is a crocheter, not me. My Mom and my other sister crocheted too but me, I'm not as drawn to this craft. Are you? The good news is, I have finally found a knitting/crocheting friend and we get together every couple of weeks to advance together in our stitching crafts and Kim is a very talented crocheter so... A couple of years ago, I learned to crochet a basket and I am proud to say that I made a cat basket for my grand kitty Mulan. Here she is in all her torty glory sitting in said basket. Said basket reposes on her Mom's work desk and there, she keeps her company most days. O says that Mulan makes her work-from-home days more bearable. She loves the basket as it is made from a wool roving from Woolen Custom Mills in Alberta.

Having gained a little confidence, I moved forward to crochet a cotton basket to hold yarn. I enjoy knitting baskets, they are pretty and functional. Now, I'd like to crochet purses.

Yes, my ambitions are quite lofty for a non crocheter but when in the presence of greatness, one cannot miss the opportunity! Thanks Kim!

Christmas Knitting and a Few Good Yarns

Strathcona Sweater by Tara-Lynn Morrison in Lion Brand Thick and Quick Navy

 

The World's Simplest Mitts by Tin Can Knits in Malabrigo Mecha in 880 Hojas

 

Hi Everyone!  I have found my knitting mojo again!  It has been months!  I thought that any motivation to knit had died but here I am! I have finished another Strathcona Sweater and couldn't be more pleased.  This is a quick and easy knit.  In fact, I am helping my neighbor knit one and she is a beginner.  The only challenge is to M1L and M1R as this is a top down sweater. The rest is pretty much knitting and some purling for the ribbing.

The mitts are the most simple.  These are also a quick knit because I make them out of a bulky yarn. I can make a pair in a weekend.  This pattern comes in a wide variety of sizes and yarn weights and is free.  Check out the Tin Can Knits website for the FREE pattern.

Also on my needles are Beatrice Mitts by Leslie Friend in Turtle Purl Yarns Trenchcoat colorway.  These are adorable and may be a gift to the knitter.  This is fingering weight yarn and one skein makes two pairs! 

Here is the original photo by Leslie Friend

@Leslie Friend

And while I've been knitting, here is what I watched on Netflix recently.

From Scratch is a Limited 8 Episode Series that features a bi-racial, cross-Atlantic love story. I dare you not to cry.

Also, if you have not watched the Danish series called Borgen made about 10 years old but still relevant,  please do.  Then go ahead and watch the 2cd season made 10 years later.  Borgen means: 'the castle' and this series is about Birgitte, a female politician. It is a good look into female leadership in a male-dominated milieu.

If you have Amazon Prime, please watch Mrs Harris Goes to Paris.  It is a remake of the 1992 version featuring the late Angela Lansbury.  I love a story where things go well.  If you're in need of a lift, this will help!

I've also enjoyed reading these two gems recently:

These two stories are of the "things get better" kind.  With all that is happening around us, I am really grateful for a story that doesn't break my heart.  I am late getting on the Eleanor Oliphant bandwagon as it was an Oprah selection in 2019 but A Town Called Solace was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2021 and is a lovely story about a precocious little girl spying on her neighbor.

Deep Breath, 2022

 

Yesterday, my niece and her two boys came for brunch and we had the loveliest time talking about raising boys, my research on Ancestry and life in general.  That's when we spotted the rather large Pileated Woodpecker on our apple tree.  It's a 'she' a friend tells me because this one is not sporting the red moustache worn by males.

It seems that we are all in a holding pattern, waiting to exhale.  This evening, we will have our New Year's Eve meal which was cancelled because our host came into contact with someone who had come into contact with someone with... I am always up for a Raclette when it's -24C!

I've gotten ambitious and begun my first colorwork sweater called Fern and Feather by Jennifer Steingass.  I am pleased with the result so far but the rest of the body is almost all done in German Short Rows which although make the sweater have a fitted look, require concentration to the very end.  The project is in a short hiatus for the time being.

I've started on Christmas 2022 knitting with the 21 Color Scarf by Woolstock Fibres.  The endless switching of colors make this scarf knitting go faster than usual.  The rhythm of the needles and the feel of the yarn make time fly and calm my nerves.  Knitting as meditation.

Piles of books punctuate the decor in our house and a Simple Abundance Gratitude Journal is always by my bedside.  Every night I write down 5 things to be grateful for. Last night: My wool duvet, thick snow on the trees, sausage lentil soup in the Instant Pot, a text from our son and morning tea made and delivered to me every morning by V...

Lately I've added the Book Outlet to my list of gratitudes.  Free shipping with orders over 45$. I often find gems and enlist friends into buying with me.  It makes for a steady flow of entertainment.  I should add Netflix and Apple TV and Crave and HBO to the list...

I'm up for any book recommendations you might have for me!

Stay warm.