Dyed and gone to heaven

I have been wanting to do this for a long time and finally did - I dyed some sock yarn with Kool-Aid. I used tangerine and cherry. It turned out very well! It is a variegated orange, red, pink, and white yarn. I have one sock nearly done.

Also, I played with my two new toys - a swift and ball winder. Thanks honey! Kyle wants me to dye him some yarn and make socks for him too. Hmmm - I wonder what color a pre-teenager would like from Kool-Aid colors?? I'll have to think about that one. If anyone has suggestions, I'd like to hear them!

I'm looking forward to start my first Dale sweater, Lappland! Lots of moving around will be done over the next few weekends as my other son, Kris, will be moving in. After that, I should have my yarn to start my sweater! Yippee!

My first fair isle

Last March I gave my sister my very first fair isle sweater I ever made. I really didn't get a decent picture of it before she took it home. Lo and behold! She e-mailed me a picture of it... here it is! Thanks for sending it, Sis!

The Mystery Santa

Many years ago a cousin had a writing assignment in class. I'm not sure exactly what the assignment was, but he wrote a story about a Christmas he experienced. I wish I could scan this so you could read it as it is in my cousin Lyndon's handwriting. I have not changed anything and have typed it exactly as written.

Reading this brought back memories of turkey cooking in the oven, the antique oak dining table we all sat around, the countless hours playing games with my cousins and sister, and of course, my father.

As this is Christmas Eve, I thought I'd share this story with the readers of my blog. Receiving this story was a wonderful surprise. The memories I have about Christmas weren't about the gifts or how much they cost. Instead, they are of the times spent with my family and all the fun we had. Over time we have unfortunately drifted apart. As I share this with you, I feel somehow that are again together once again, even if through a story.

Written by Lyndon Ray
Dated December 8, 1978
Title: The Mystery Santa


It seemed like an endless drive but we finally arrived at Guthrie Center. We walked through our aunt's kitchen door without knocking.

My aunt was in the kitchen and shouted, "They're here!" She threw her arms around me, my brother Bryan, Mom, and Dad, and wished us a Merry Christmas.

Uncle Marlowe came to greet us and our cousins Jewel and Marlys were excited, and everyone was talking at once.

We smelled turkey and dressing cooking and Mom had brought a pecan pie, cookies, and other of our favorite foods.

"Mom," I said, "I can hardly wait until dinner time."

My brother and I went into the living room with our cousins. We looked at some presents and played a few games.

Dad and Uncle Marlowe talked about the weather, about business, and things like that.

Marlowe is a game warden and always has interesteing stories to tell us.

Aunt Joyce and Mom were in the kitchen, getting the meal ready . They laughed and visited. Every now and then they would ask one of us to help set the table or run an errand.

Sometimes we would snitch an (illegible) or a piece of celery off the relish try on the dining room table.

Aunt Joyce called, "Marlowe, come out to the kitchen and carve the turkey."

He gave each of us a piece of turkey. Aunt Joyce ran and got her camera and made us pose for pictures.

We sat down for a big meal, but not before we posed for more pictures. Aunt Joyce got out her tape recorder to record our conversation.

After we had finished eating we went into the living room to open our presents.

Their Christmas tree was lopsided. It was decorated with icicles, ornaments, and small white envelopes which were gifts for baby Jesus.

Cousin Jewel handed out the gifts and we opened them.

There was a loud knock on the front door. A man came in wearing a Santa Claus suit.

"Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas!" he said. He knew each of us by name and gave each of us a candy cane. He wished us a Merry Christmas again and left.

I was 7 years old and the youngest. We all knew there wasn't a Santa Claus. Everyone tried to guess who he was, but no one was sure.

Aunt Joyce and Mom and the four cousins went to the lake. We skated for a while and our mothers stayed in the car.

After a while we went into the country to look for deer as they came out of the timber in the evening.

We went back to their house, played some games and before we knew it, it was time to go home.

Since then we have asked many people if they were the mysterious Santa, but have never found out who he is.

My relatives did find out that he visited many homes in their neighborhood that day but no one knew who he was.

No Pi for my cats!

As nicely as the kitty bed turned out, they would not have nothing to do with the Pi - not even a slice! They sniffed and decided it wasn't for them. I'm going to move it around to their favorite spots and see if they are interested. As for knitting tonight, I'll work on my socks. Who knows? I might even go through some of my Dale leaflets and start on a hat or something!

I decided to pull out everything in my stash to remind myself what I have (and of course don't have). I forgot I had some yarn on cones that I had planned on using for felting something. Looking at my poor pathetic fur babies I decided to use Wendy's "Lucy's Kitty Bed" (Kitty Pi) pattern and knit a bed. I finished it and it felted beautifully! Just need to wait for it to dry and then we'll see if anyone of them is interested. I'm still hoping for a digital camera from Santa!!

I'm only working 2 days this week and will be out and about on Wednesday (yes I know it's Christmas Eve) finishing up the shopping. I do have to work on Friday, but I hope to settle in for a nice relaxing weekend filled with what else?? Knitting!! Might go to a movie, though.

I am going to order yarn for Alice Starmore's Donnegal sweater. I think I will do it in the Earth colorway. I need more time to knit. I need my job to support my habit, darnit.

I finished the Aran Afghan last night! I'm so glad that is over. It gets boring knitting the same thing again and again.

I have done some shopping and found some great for my Dale sweater. It's at a price that I can afford. I'm going to be knitting Lappland. The yarn should be here the first week in January. Meanwhile, I've started another pair of socks, Happy Stripe, Lorna's Laces. I'm doing them on US 0 and I'm using Wendy's Generic Toe up pattern. This will be my first pair from the toe up.

Today is Kris' (my 1st son) 20th birthday. I went to his work and brought him a cake, balloons, and present. He's all growed up! :sniff:

I'm off to baking more cookies and doing the Christmas thing with my family.

I'm nearly finished with the afghan - about time! I've been busy trying to find the holiday spirit this year, but it's just not happening. Losing half of your income just before Christmas really puts a damper on one's hopes and dreams. I've received more yarn samples from several other places. I had hoped to start a sweater after the first of the year but it's getting put on the back burner for a while.

It's a perfect weekend for knitting - cold and rainy. The sun peeks out here and there and I'm quite content curled up knitting the Aran afghan. I could possibly finish it this weekend.

The only knitting I got done today was at lunch. I think I did 3 rows on the afghan but it sure is a pain hauling that big thing around. I think I'll leave it at home and hope I get time on the weekends to finish it

I got my yarn samples from School House Press today. Oh man........ just like a kid in a candy store, well the next best thing any way. :-)