Thankful

What am I thankful for--well, everything.  After four days of no power, I'm thankful that the electrical linemen are working so hard to help us all.  I'm thankful that my husband believes in being prepared, so we have a generator, a solar panel and the ability to cook on the gas stove top.  I'm thankful that we have enough food, enough wood for the wood furnace and the ability to keep each other's spirits up.

I'm thankful that after many, many days of freezing rain, snow, ice fog and rain, the sky is blue and the fallen trees have been removed so that the road is open.

I'm sorry that my children are in various parts of the world unable to join us, but I love them both and am happy that their lives are full and productive.

I'm a lucky woman!  Happy holidays to everyone, and good health and happiness in 2014.

Really? December?

December already, how can that be?  Today was one of those days where the air is warmer than the snow and the mist rises.  So pretty, but it's hard to get a picture to do it justice.

Many creatures were on the move overnight, from large ones

To small ones...

Now that American Thanksgiving is over we are inundated with commercials inviting us to buy, to give, to want.  Doesn't it bother you?  It bothers me more and more.  Sure, when my children were little there was magic and joy about gift giving and I did a lot of gift giving!  But now we all have so much already that it seems wrong to just buy more stuff.   We decide on what charities or causes we'd like to sponsor and give to them.  Our local hospital is something we always support and I'm very fond of buying a goat for someone through Plan Canada.  

I think I've always wanted goats, but my husband had them before we married and refuses to do that again!  I don't want to sound preachy, because we should all do as we wish and as long as we have someone to be with and invite those who don't, the day will be wonderful.  Plus who can resist singing along to Christmas music.

Anyway, back to handmade stuff.  For full disclosure, you need to know that most people I know get a pair of hand knitted socks this time of year, so I'm not a complete grinch!  But I decided to make something for myself (tired of socks) and made a Honey Cowl that I had bookmarked a long time ago and never got around to.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honey-cowl  I bought some beautiful Julie Asselin hand dyed yarn from our local yarn shop and enjoyed the whole process.  Don't you find that when a yarn just slides from one needle to another it's a pure joy?

It's grown considerably since the picture and all that's left is the bind off.  I should be wearing it by tomorrow.  

I also finished the baby quilt and mailed it off.  Baby C is still unborn, so maybe it will arrive in time.  I was pleased at how it turned out.  

I still am in love with the backing fabric.  I'm not usually a "cute" person, but I think I could be if someone encouraged me.  In other words, I need a grandchild or two!