TRADITIONAL TRADITION

WE ALWAYS MAKE SPRITZ COOKIES AND SAND TARTS. THE SAND TARTS ARE FROM A RECIPE FROM MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY. DEPENDING ON YOUR HERITAGE, YOU EITHER SLICE THESE COOKIES OR ROLL THEM OUT AND CUT THEM. AS YOU CAN SEE WE ARE THE SLICING KIND OF FAMILY. THE SPRITZ COOKIES AND GINGERBREAD ARE TRADITIONS WE STARTED WHEN OUR GIRLS WERE LITTLE.  

GINGERBREAD

THESE ARE OUR TRADITIONAL GINGERBREAD COOKIES. NOTICE THE CHRISTMAS DINOSAURS AND OUR HOLIDAY SHARKS. 

CHRISTMAS PREP

GIFTS MADE AND BOUGHT - 100%
GIFTS ORDERED AND DELIVERED - 99%
GIFTS WRAPPED - 99%
GIFTS MAILED - 100%
CHRISTMAS CARDS DONE - 100%
CHRISTMAS CARDS MAILED - 100%
CHRISTMAS TREE BOUGHT AND UP - 100%
CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATED - 100%
DOOR WREATHS - DONE AND UP - 100%
COOKIE DOUGHS MADE - 100%
COOKIES BAKED AND DECORATED - 100%
FOOD ORDERED, MENU PLANNED - 100%

I think I'm right about on schedule. By Monday, most of these will jump from 0 to 90. The only ones that concern me, are the ones over which I have no control. This year our family Christmas will be on Christmas Eve. Our youngest leaves with her "friendly boy" (my husband's name for him) for India on Christmas day to attend a wedding. Exciting stuff!
Our usual Christmas Eve is a raucous friends and family party, which I have loved in the past. I have to say that I am looking forward to a quiet Christmas Eve for the first time in almost 20 years. There will still be lots of wonderful food and drink, but no cooking and baking for days before, and no cleaning up until 2AM.edited 12/17/05, edited 12/21/05
I am almost to that glorious moment when I can put up my feet and just let Christmas come!

END OF THE LINE

From left to right: 6ft. long swirly scarf -Linie 102 Allegro,
4ft. long slip stitch scarf with fringe - K1C2 Tartelette, 4ft. + cabled scarf - Hand Maiden 12ply cashmere
Frogged the cashmere scarf. I actually unwrapped it because the more I thought about it, the more I detested it. I am half way through reknitting it. I'm using the boyfriend scarf pattern from Last Minute Gifts. Much nicer and much more appropriate for the yarn. edited 12/21/05

I can say truthfully that I am now officially working on non-holiday items.
Aran Sweater
Ribbed Turtleneck
Shrug/Bolero Sweater
Finish Black Purl Clapotis
Winter Scarf for James (a specific request)
Junior Bolero Sweater from Debbie Bliss
All previously mentioned items not done and not listed above, will officially be moved to pre-frog status.

THE KITCHEN

Spent lots of time playing in the kitchen yesterday. I should have been cranking out cookie doughs, but I couldn't resist trying a new recipe from the new Food & Wine.
Results:
1. lots of parts and lots of time involved
2. definitely a company dessert
3. grapefruit is not something I will put in
this dessert again
4. this dessert would be fantastic with
lemon, lime, or orange
Today is cookie dough day:
gingerbread, sand tarts, spritz,

Knitting:
Finished cashmere cabled scarf. Working on two clapotis that were started months ago. No deadline for either
Post Christmas Knitting Plans:
Finish Aran Sweater and Bolero
Start Mia's bolero sweater, cashmere silk wrap, merino/silk turtleneck and finally something for ME (something wonderful, don't know what yet)

 

THREE LITTLE MAIDS ALL IN A ROW

CABLED CLUTCHES DONE!
These were lots of fun to make. Even though I hate to sew, I didn't mind lining them and sewing them onto the handles. They remind me of the flowers in the nursery rhyme; Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary. I actually made four of these cuties. One is running around in Brooklyn on the arm of my youngest daughter.

Time to finish the cashmere scarf, which will be my last knitting project for Christmas. I need to get busy making cookie dough and wrapping presents. I enjoy doing both, now that I have the time. 

ALI'S HAT

This hat was done in about 4 hours. After speaking with my sister about a hat that my niece coveted, I feverishly created this pattern with the help of a few pics on the web. It is Knit on size 10 addis 16" and birch double pointed. Again, I used bits and pieces of Misti Alpaca, Malabrigo, Lorna's Lion and Lamb, and MCY silk/merino. I couldn't be more pleased. The final judge will be my adorable niece, Miss Ali. Have to wait for Christmas.

Almost done with my pared down Christmas list. Some things were moved to Birthday list. Having trouble with my hands and certain types of knitting. The Aran Sweater has become quite a challenge. My hands go numb after 10 rows or so. Thanks to a tip about WendyKnits, I've started using the "no cable needle" cable method. Not sure whether that helps with my hands, but it certainly helps with speed. I used to spend half my time losing and looking for the cable needle.