there are HOW many weekends until Christmas?

It has been a bit of a rough week coming back from the mountain.  I had people waiting for me at my locked office door every morning this week.  I had the ten minutes before I left "can you do this for me?"  There was a newly minted three year old in the house who loves to help but also loves when Grandma Eli plays with him, especially quiet play that time of day.

I looked at the calendar on Friday, wondering how many weekends were left until Christmas so I could plan Christmas baking and the mailing of packages.  I realized that I needed to have everything done by next weekend.  The biggest issue for me was the bits and pieces that I put in the boxes that have nothing to do with baking but a bit to do with shopping and making.  What made me cringe was the shopping!

I got the most of the shopping today.  Got the baking supplies and tree.  Laughed so hard at the glee in the eyes of the gentleman working on the trees when I asked what he was going to do with the branches he was cutting off the trees.  He would have filled my truck bed full of branches so he did not have to deal with their disposal!  I had to go to two fabric stores.  I controlled myself well but not well enough.  And I realized that I should not be allowed to go to a hardware store unsupervised.  Especially when you get home with the haul and the comment is made, "you never bought tools like this for me!"  I get told frequently enough that I am not like most girls to believe it.

Now I have simple tree up which I figure Small Mister and I will make not quite so simple with cookies.  Fabric is bought and washed.  There are enough supplies for baking.  I have yarn and a crochet hook. 

I just need a few more hours in each day . . .

by the fire

We have been having some odd weather here this week.  It is very damp still but more fog then humidity.  It is also neither warm or cold.  Which means that my body is hurting and anything that is aggravated by the damp is not happy with me.  My right ear was hurting today at work today so I wore my new hat in the office.  The proof of the pudding was that I needed to make it a little tighter to keep my ear warm.  Warmth makes my ear feel better.

The boyos had built a fire in our pitiful fire pit this morning.  They kept it burning all day.  When I got home from work, I pulled out my crochet hook, took my hat with me, and sat at the fire to rip it out and rework it.  I actually simplified the shell stitch to which made for a nicer band.  It was just a very nice bit of quiet after a week of having people needing me all the time.  I have people waiting for me at my office door when I get to work.  This quiet was very nice.

My hat fits better too!  I was thinking that I need to make some rug yarn but I am not sure I have the right tools.  A rug made by a fire.  That would be nice.  Now how to make the yarn . . . ponder.

back from the mountain

We are back.  After a very Monday Monday, I would not mind being back on the mountain dealing with wet and cold.  Though this week may be snow and cold.  The most people on the mountain at one time was 13 with the addition of a dog.  There was a leaking tent and the shed became the cook house and sleeping quarters. 

There was also strawberries roasted like marshmallows.  I need to try roasting them here and making jam.  Ideas are lovely.

This picture says it all.  I did find a place to sit on the side of the mountain and crochet while overlooking the valley.  I just needed some quiet.  I am still working on that hat.  It is going to have two yarns that I spun in it.

There was twenty two people at my parents.  There was lots of conversation and lots of food but few leftovers.  I did get pumpkin pie for breakfast though.  It did make my day.  I brought out my Turkish Spindle and worked on yarn while I talked.  Fascination from one of the short people who had never seen yarn being made before. 

We raced the weather home and did not have to deal with snow or very cold.  That was very nice.  We also brought Small Mister back with us for about a month.  Life is pretty nice.

my sewing machine was calling

I have been working on the cleanup of my worktable since I started talking about it here.  I actually have done something everyday and I have a ways to go.  I need to be better about cutting scraps into strips or quilt squares as I go.  But I am not.  So now I am doing catch up.

I have been doing lots of spinning in the evenings while watching videos.  But yesterday and today, my sewing machine has been calling.  The break has been nice just because.  Doing something different can be a nice break in the routine but I really do not like being away from my sewing machine for too long.  The time with my machine helps keep me in balance.  So does time with the spinning wheel and crochet hook, hands in dough. 

I have another dress done except for hems.  I hope to finish all of that tomorrow.

quiet Saturday

I am taking a quiet Saturday.  I have been sleeping a lot this week.  Ten to twelve hours a night.  It started last week with allergies and then we had a sudden cold front come through.  I do not even wish to think about what sickness is wandering around work!  There is a lot of coughing, sniffling, and sneezing going on.  My body says sleep, so I sleep.  I think I will be taking a nap today even though I slept eleven hours last night.

Bread experimentation may be the only thing I finish today.  I started some crocheting last night because I wished to play with yarn.  I also started the bread experimentation.  I am still cleaning and organizing my work table.  I am getting many more quilt squares!  And I finally have the binding cut for the quilt I am working on.  I have a sheath dress cut out that I wish to start working on.  And much fiber to spin.  This is my life.

The main thing though, is to stay healthy.  The top possible number on the mountain the days before Thanksgiving is fourteen.  This is why healthy is key.  I kind of wish to just open "the doors" and ask if anyone else wishes to come.  Then I laugh and go drink tea.