St. Stephen's Day/Boxing Day Yarn Along Version

I doubt there's a Yarn Along today, but I thought I'd start with that anyway.  I haven't any real knitting to share today, a sock here and there maybe.  I've had a cold since last week and didn't even feel like knitting.  But I wanted to share what will become a Yarn Along post some day.  Look what my lovely Mommy got me for Christmas:

FIVE beautiful balls of Knit Picks' Preciosa!!  It's really hard to get a proper picture.  It's much more 'purply' in person.  The colour is called 'petal' and it is soooo soft and squishy.  It's 100% merino.  Don't get me wrong, I love my local yarn shops, but Knit Picks have such beautiful yarn (at good prices too).  I've never been disappointed.   I'm not reading anything right now, but look what Ella got from Grandma -we'll be reading for a while.

Our day got off to a great start.  Santa brought Ella the pillow pet she's wanted for years.  A crazy rainbow unicorn  :)

Someone got spoiled this year.  Auntie Belinda and Uncle Stefan got Ella an Android Tablet.  Her Explorer is dying and for the cost of replacing it, apparently, they got a Tablet.  You should see her using this thing!  She's an expert already.  Ella's best gift was from Momma and Daddy.  We got her her American Girl doll.  Ella was almost in tears opening the package.  She was so happy.  The doll is now named Olivia and much loved.

This is the kite Daddy got Daddy Ella.  You can't even see Daddy holding it!  Of course we had to take it out yesterday morning.

Colin's Dad could see it from his house.  And a raven came over and checked it out too.

Momma got well spoiled too.  We got a great new camera from Belinda and Stefan (Nikon touch screen).  Ella and Grandma got me a great new set of pots and pans.  And Colin got me a pasta maker (that I've wanted for years) and a beautiful necklace.  

Colin's gifts were mostly useful but he liked them.  Here he's reading the instructions while wearing his solar powered welding helmet.  He's also got on his new winter barn coat.  He was very happy to get that since it has a zipper that actually zips.  

Santa also gave us a new mail box.  Daddy has wisely decided to wait until spring to put it up.  That way the snow plow can destroy the old box instead  :)

Daddy and Uncle Stefan all Christmassed-out!

O Christmas Tree!

We've had really spotty internet the last few days, so I haven't been able to share our Christmas tree adventure.  

This year we went to a new tree farm.  There is a ridiculous lack of tree farms in the upper end of the Valley.  So we headed towards Ottawa and checked out the Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm.  Boy did we pick a great spot.

Of course, Daddy couldn't resist getting a picture of Momma and Ella.

I'm a little taller than normal because my boots have heels.  But that really is how tall Ella is getting.

We hopped on the wagon and headed out.  This year we wanted to try a Fraser fir.  I've heard they won't drop needles and were nice and strong (I have heavy old ornaments).  The trees were gorgeous.  Nicely trimmed but didn't look like bottle brushes -I hate that.

Someone missed coffee break on the way down (bad Momma) and had a bit of a meltdown because we were taking too long.  But it made a cute picture.

We finally found the perfect tree.  Luckily we had Daddy along, he's perfect for measuring tree height.  Daddy stands tall and reaches up, that's just about right for our 9 ft ceiling.

Heading back to the pick up location.  Standing around waiting isn't Ella's cup of tea, so she and I walked back to the main building.  Daddy had a bit of a sad time waiting for the tractor.  He kept thinking Mom would step out from around  the trees.  Mom loved finding the perfect tree.

Meanwhile, Ella was having a grand time on the sledding hill.  This is her first time sliding down a decent hill.  Before she's only had the snow pile in the yard. She had so much fun, but thought there should be a tow truck for the return trip up hill.

Then we headed inside for some lunch and hot cocoa. Prices were reasonable and the food was delicious.  And the staff really friendly.  Daddy wanted to bring the whole building home for a house .  In fact it was bigger than our entire house!

Ella would have been happy if we could have stayed all day.  She loves playing on these large 'square' bales.  They also had a regular play area.

We had a great time.

Ella did a great job decorating the tree.  She had most of it done by the time I had all the special stuff unwrapped.  The tree isn't really on a funny angle, our living room isn't big enough for me to get a good picture.  Also, you can't really see out silver star, but it's there.  I've really got to get my wrapping done today.

Christmas Countdown 2012

It's that time of year again!  Time to pull out our Christmas planners and get our houses ready for us to enjoy the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Week One starts this week and finds us making our plan of attack and starting with the front door/hall.  Start now and it won't seem so daunting come December.

On the Sixth Day of Christmas...

I thought I'd share the highlights of our Christmas so far:

Christmas eve day found Colin and me heading for Toronto.  Ella had gone down with Grandma because she didn't think it fair that Grandma drive down alone.  We drove through a winter wonderland.  Unfortunately the closer we got to Toronto the greener things got.  The grass in Toronto actually looked like it needed mowed again.

It was so wonderful to go to midnight Mass at our home church of St. Mary Magdalene.  St. Mary's has a nice new priest, but I miss Father Harold.  It's also getting sad because the people that remember my family are slowly leaving this world.  My Grandpa Rees was a member of the ritual choir.  His sister, Auntie Ella, was a member of the gallery choir under Healey Willan.  My Grandma was basically raised by the Sisters at the church school (after her family moved to Manitoba).   My Dad was a 'boat boy' (I have a picture somewhere) and even my Mom was Confirmed there before her wedding. We left Ella at home with Daddy and Uncle Stefan, she decided 'midnight mouse' wasn't something for someone only 5, maybe she would try next year when she's 'almost 7'.

As per usual, Auntie Belinda and Uncle Stefan spoiled us all terribly.  Ella's favourite gift was the new Pet Pal 2 game for her Explorer.  Her next favourite gift and the one she can't wait to get into is a Magic Kit.

Millie the cat loved the felted mouse I knitted for her.  I've never seem Millie play so much.  And before you ask, Millie has been on diet cat food for years, it seems she's just big  :)

 

All our presents were well received.  Uncle Stefan really seemed to like his Tardis socks.  I got a fabulous gift from Belinda and Stefan - a yarn swift!!  It's been on my list for a while.  It's great.

Which is great when you see what I got from Colin and Grandma:

Grandma got me enough Berroco Vintage to make this sweater.  That's right, a sweater for me!!  It's hard to tell in the picture, but it's a beautiful blue/teal.  The marble is also a hat for me (new Piecework pattern).  I'm trying to decide if the Knit Picks wools (middle row) got together.  I have a shawl pattern I want to make and can't decide if these would work or if I should buy more wool.

Off to Great Grandma's.  Uncle Dennis (great uncle to Ella) gave her a great Melissa and Doug building block set. Now she's got 100 multi-shaped blocks to build her castles.  Cozy jammies and slippers from Great Grandma were welcome too.

A nice quiet evening at Petra's, our favourite Bowmanville area B&B.  Petra even left a present for Ella.  Ella loves Martin's fish.

After a nice visit with my dad and step-mom we had an uneventful trip home.  Christmas presents opened at home and some more Melissa and Doug.  Grandma got Ella a really cool cupcake set.  Ella can even use marker 'icing' tubes to decorate the tops.

Ella loved the fairy house I made for her.  She really liked the peg people too, but will be happier when I get the faces painted.  Next time I'm in Ottawa I have to pick up some plastic canvas though because the base didn't felt enough to stand on it's own.

Grandma caught Ella mid thank you hug, but she looks so happy I had to share this one.

We are having a wonderful Christmas.  Lots of time with family and just enjoying the Season.  Not looking forward to getting back to work when it's over.

Merry Christmas!!

Hope everyone is enjoying a blessed Christmas day with loved ones.

Our Tree

I forgot to share a picture of this year's Christmas tree.  It's an 8 foot beauty and so far it's not dropping needles (knock on wood).

Ella surprised me with an early Christmas present, two new ornaments.  And considering the great help she's being with the baking, they are very appropriate.

And now Figaro has her favourite sleeping spot back.

Handmade Holiday -28 November 2011

I finished up some fingerless mitts for my Stepmother.  I have a canvas bag with an Ella picture, but it just didn’t seem enough.  I whipped these up in no time.  I used Marble, an acrylic so they are easy care too.

Here’s another present.  I love the yarn I used, it’s so soft Ella can wear it with ease.  Colin do NOT follow this link.

I’m trying to get a few new dresses made.  I also have a few more Christmas things to make/finish.  So what did I do last night?  I started my new mittens 


I wonder what the others are doing for Handmade Holiday?

Homemade Holiday 2011 -Week Two

Another Christmas present to share this week.

I finally got Grandma's shawl blocked.  It's much finer looking than the one in the pattern, but I like it a lot.  I did change the edging, I just didn't like the way the original one was working.  But that's the beauty of knitting, you don't have to follow ALL the directions for it to turn out.  I used a ball of the Misti Alpaca hand paint sock wool.  I know what you are thinking "but it has alpaca", it'll be ok because Grandma lives in a turtle neck and sweatshirt from September to July.  This shawl will never actually touch skin  :)

Handmade Holiday 2011

A word of warning, if you are one of my immediate family members STOP reading this post right now.  Come back tomorrow  :)

I've been busy for a while now planning and knitting this year's Christmas presents.  I love making hand made presents.

Hats for the guys.  Fair Isle one for Colin's nephew Jared.  Cable one for Grandpa Jack and the watch cap one for Uncle Glenn.

Felted oven mitts for Grandma Isobel and Auntie Lizzy.  I love making felted things.  It's so much fun to put this giant 'thing' into the washing machine and have it come out something else.

For the amazing Uncle Stefan I made Tardis Socks!  He is a huge Dr. Who fan and will love these.

Another felted project.  This bag is for Auntie Belinda.  I used Briggs & Little instead of the usual Paton's Classic Wool.  It felted beautifully, but be warned.  A lot of colour came out in the water.  Luckily it was the only thing in the machine at the time.

I can't seem to find the picture of niece Brittany's purse, so here's the Ravelry link.  Don't worry about having an account, I've discovered how to share stuff there without you guys needing an account.  I still have to line the purse, but that will take no time.

Christmas Present Number One -Done!

"Ignore the man behind the curtain" -or in this case the man holding the purse  :)  I finally got the straps finished for the purse.  I'm quite happy with the way it has turned out.  I may even make one for myself! 

First item on my Christmas to-do list is done!!

If you want to see the changes I made to the pattern, check out my Ravelry page.

Christmas Round Up

Christmas is over but here are a few of our favourite things:
Cross country skis from G&G Fletcher

Big girl camera from G Rees and bunny ears provided by Uncle Stefan.


    "best Christmas ever!!" -provided by Momma and Daddy.  I finally tracked down a Littlest Pet Shop Animal Rescue Centre -or amnimal hosipal  :)




Momma got a nice big new bundt pan, it's by Nordicware which is the best pan company if you ask me.  Can't wait to get back to baking.
  And to go along with my new pan, my sister picked up a whole whack of Pam for baking.  It has flour in the spray and is perfect for fancy shaped bundt pans.  It's also impossible to buy in Ontario, so Belinda bought a bunch when they were in the States Christmas shopping.  Along with the Pam I also got a whole case of my guilty pleasure -Cherry Coke.  Yummm!  It's also something I can't get here in Ontario.

Of all Daddy's presents, I think the 'funny' present was his favourite.  I got him this 'Elmer Fudd' hat from Princess Auto, it was kind of a joke, but mostly a 'it'll keep him warm regardless of how it looks' type gift.  But he loves it and I think it looks pretty good on him.  Colin says it will be great this winter/spring when he starts cleaning seed again.

Finally I want to share a picture of our Christmas tree.  We haven't had the heart to take it down yet and here's why:  

Our tree is growing.  We have new branches about 2 inches long.  I've had trees start to bud before but nothing like this.  It's amazing.