We might get an earful from the kids about how they didn't get to go along and help choose this year's tree.  Or about how they didn't have a chance of getting the free candy cane and coloring book.  I am hoping the excitement of seeing it already at the house will make up for purposefully excluding them.  If not, oh well.  It'll be worth it.  It's not often I get a the ride in the old truck, a pretty tree, a tasty lunch and an hour alone in the middle of a Thursday with my man.

I have a secret stash of candy canes, just in case.

This morning I have been to the post office, Target and Toys R Us.  I think I have everything I need for the soon-to-be 8 year-old's birthday this weekend.  I snagged some goodies for Christmas, too.  Jones Candy Cane Soda, anyone?  Sounds delicious to me.  Gingerbread Man didn't sound as appealing, but if anyone has tried it, I'd love to hear your verdict.

Yeah, more knitting.  This time it is a Christmas gift for Kate.  A sweet hooded poncho like the one Kristin made.  The brown yarn in the bag is to make one for Jane.  So far, they haven't asked what I am making.  I think I am going to have to limit this to nights and carpool time.   Then they surely won't be able to figure it out.  They want me to make them hats, too, and are very specific that they have ear flaps and pom poms.  Allrighty then - that is what I will do.

I need to go outside and rake today.  It's supposed to be in the high 50's and then the temperature is going to drop so I think this is my last chance.  The Christmas tree will be put up tomorrow and decorated on Friday night just in time for the birthday party on Saturday.  I also want to start on my Christmas cards.  I ordered prints of the photos so I just need to get over my huge fear of my print gocco.  Encouraging words welcomed.

I am participating in the Holiday Ornament Exchange again this year.  Again, I am at a loss as to what to make.  I was thinking embroidery on felt like last year, but my design is rather elaborate.  I just don't think I could get 10 done and in the mail by the 10th.  I have two back up ideas, though.  I guess I should just pick one and run with it.

Speaking of runs, I could use some exercise today too.  Other than leaf raking, that is.  Time to get on it.  Later gators.

While I don't plan on becoming a one-woman hat factory like last year, I have managed to get two gifts checked off the list!

I used ggh Bel Air for the yarn and a pattern from O-Wool (can't find it online - sorry!).  They were very fast knits - I'd say a couple of hours each.  The yarn is super soft too....next up in the hat department is one for Fatty.  He thinks the one I made him last year clashes with his sweater.  We wouldn't want that now, would we?

Hello Monday.  It's always hard to see you after a long weekend.

We spent Thanksgiving in Chicago at my parents' house.  It was a lovely holiday and I ate too much.  Add a trip to Ikea, dinner with friends and a quick trip to Jo-Ann's and that about sums up the weekend.  Oh, and making lots of people into elves.  I highly recommend it.

Libby tagged me.  I am sure other people have tagged me too, but I generally ignore memes since I did the alphabet thing.  However, I am slow moving this morning so here you go.  Eight random things about me....

1.    My favorite tea is Chamomile Citrus by Mighty Leaf.  I love this stuff.  Second best is Passion by Tazo.  I like that one hot and iced.

2.    I'm in a huge nesting phase right now.  I just bough new sheets and some pillow shams are in the works.  I should be making Christmas gifts, but it feels right to get the beds in order for some reason.  It must be the cold weather.

3.   We still haven't raked our yard.  I was going to do it yesterday, but it started raining.  It is still raining.  There is just something wrong about having the Christmas decorations out and having to rake the yard.  I'm just saying.

4.    I am way behind on the Christmas gift procuring/making.  I am normally much more prepared.  Procrastination is about to rear its ugly head.

5.    Every spring I get mad at myself for not planting daffodils in the fall.  Looks like I will be cursing my own good name again in April.

6.    I bought myself some rain boots.  I have been looking for the right pair for a long time.  They came just in time (see number 3 above).

7.    I like eating leftover dessert for breakfast.  Friday and Saturday I had apple pie.  Yum.

8.    I like sappy chick flicks and teenage dramas.  I watched seasons 1 and 2 of The O.C. on DVD this summer.  I am about halfway through season 3.  Definitely a guilty pleasure.

I am not going to tag anyone.  Go ahead and join in if you want.

See you all later.

I made this t-shirt for an 8 year-old's birthday last week.  I finished at the last minute (of course) and gave it to her with the blue water-soluble marks showing behind the embroidery.  Her mom is in my craft swap and she laughed when I told her not to worry, the blue marks would come out in the wash.  See, my friends know me.  And so does my family.  They accept me for who I am, faults and all.  For this, I am thankful.

That is just one of my many blessings.   I am lucky to have many.  And so here I sit, the day after Thanksgiving with my pants a bit tighter than they were yesterday, grateful for everything that enriches my life and even some of the things that don't.  Because without those unfortunate events and unkind people, I really would never have grown to be the person I am right now.  Life's lessons are something for which to be thankful.  At least, I think so.  And so is the constant personal growth that comes from them.  I am growing and I like it.  Which makes me think that I am a happy camper indeed.

My coffee buddies both have birthdays this week - Suzanne's was yesterday and Geron's is tomorrow.  Yesterday, I bought the coffees and brought the presents.

For Suzanne, a green and brown number

and a pink and brown one for Geron.

Daria, I caught your disease.  I have pillowitis.  In a big way.  In fact, I think I might just have an affair with my walking foot.

Birthday shout out to my brother Nolan!

I'll be back sometime after Thursday.  Happy Thanksgiving!

So here are the details on Fatty's newest sweater.  A photo of the finished object is in the post below.

Pattern:  Cobblestone by Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed) from the Fall 2007 Interweave Knits
Yarn:  Cascade 220 Heathers (color 2438), 6 skeins for the 43 1/2" with about 1/2 of a skein left over.
Needles:  Size 8, addi turbos in 16", 32" and double points
Modifications:  I added 1 inch to the length of the body
Notes:  I started November 3rd and finished on the 16th - this was the only knitting project I was working on at the time.  I even took it in the car with me which I rarely do with a sweater.  I had gauge issues at the beginning - you can read about that here.  Suffice it to say, it worked out in the end.  I owe huge thanks to Sarah and Leslie for their words of wisdom.   You ladies always come through for me and I really appreciate it.  Also, garter stitch is not that forgiving - I made some mistakes and I can see every single one.  Ugh.  Overall though, I am happy.  And Fatty likes is so that says something.

Also, that kitchener stitch gets me every time.  I have found I am much better reading about how to do it than looking at a drawing.  This book has become my crutch.

Back tomorrow with some sewn things.  Enjoy your Monday!

I am so in love with this good-looking, bike-riding, beer-selling, book-reading, music-loving, wine-drinking, soccer-watching, foot-rubbing, pun-making, sunday-cooking, old blue pickup-driving, good-parenting, wife-supporting, hand knit sweater-wearing, kind, patient, smart, funny, loyal, considerate man.

He's pretty damn great.  But I am the lucky one - he chose me.

Happy Birthday Fatty.

More on the sweater at a later date.