Merry Christmas! (2025)

I've spent the last 3 days trying to remember how I felt 3 days post-hysterectomy and 3 days post hip-replacement, and I'm still not sure I can pull up those memories. But I did manage to heal from both, and I'm sure I'm on the right track to recover well again. Hopefully I'll forget this pain, too, and God is still so very good!

Today I am thankful for modern medicine, ice, my TENS unit and my sweet hubby. Couldnt get through this without you! Oh, and Jess. She's also been a peach. 

I hope your Christmas is good, and that you find the light and love of Jesus today. Thanks for stopping by, and Merry Christmas to you while you Knit in Good Health! 

The Ginger-what?

I know you've been waiting, and here is the post you will wait for no more:

Welcome to the Ginger Hood!

Despite the fact that I have a job that gives me a decent break for the winter holidays, I am feeling the pressure to do all the things before Monday, my first official day off. (More about that later.) For now, let's just say that this has been a productive week, from the baking (last Saturday) to the construction phase (on Thursday) 

to the decorating that we did today, 

it's been another, banner, Gingerbread House Year, and the 2025 Ginger Hood is officially in the books! Which is your favorite?

Whichever house is your favorite, I think my favorite moment of the day was when my daughter tried to draw a tree on her own tongue, for fun...does it look like a tree???

Except, when you ask that question with a tongue-ful of icing, it sounds more like, "Huz ick houk yike a heay???," which I did not understand at all, lol!!! I made her eat the icing, ask the question and re-draw the tree for that photo, and I am not sorry!

After the candy was all on the houses, we sent that sugared-up crew home, with their houses, plus a house and candy for their cousins that they will see over winter break. All I have left now are a few, tiny, starter homes displayed on the table. 

Very pretty, and if you visit me in the next week or two, you may even go home with one!

I'm preparing to have more visitors than usual in the next few weeks, because I'll be sidelined following a medical procedure on Monday (I said I'd get back to it, didn't I?). A little back surgery...as little as back surgery can be, I think, because I should be home the same day...and it boggles my mind a bit! But they say that there's no place like home for the holidays, so it should be all good!

I know that God is in control of this, and of all things, so I am as calm as can be expected in the face of a procedure that requires general anesthesia. Still, if you are the praying kind, or the "sending good thoughts" kind, I'd welcome all you've got. I'll also welcome visits in January, as long as I am up to it. I anticipate being off of work for the month, and on limited activity...so if you're coming to see my clean house, please make an appointment for some time in March. (Sweetie will be my housecleaning hero, but he will also be busy caring for Pretty!) But if you're coming to visit and maybe watch a Hallmark movie, I will welcome that warmly from my recliner. 😘

That's about all I've got, except to wish you a Merry Christmas! The next time we talk will likely be December 27, just 5 days post-surgery! I hope you are surrounded by love and finding joy in this winter holiday season, friends. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

PS - I've finished another pig...we have pigs in abundance at Pretty's house!

All About the Snowmen

I started this week with the Knitters' Christmas party on Sunday, and it was another great one! From the awesome Stocking Stuffers

(mine included chocolate, peppermint and snowmen)

Trivet from Michelle, dryer balls (and spray) from Julie,
tool kit from Lisa L, chapstick holder and keychain from Lisa R,
handmade soap from Judy, granola from Andrea,
cross-stitch from Stephanie...all so good!

to all the yummy treats, 

we had a great afternoon! 

While we laughed and chatted, most of us were also knitting. I was working on a Secret Santa gift, and since the reveal was on Sunday, I can show you what I made! Starting with one of my fave patterns...

Mochimochi Snowmen

I added creative touches that branched out into a wise message, but something was missing...

Jess told me it was carrots, and she was so very right!  

I mean, just look at the final product, on my co-worker's desk! 

Those carrots brought all the wisdom. As you can see, these guys without noses look like they made some pretty questionable choices at the office party...

Slumping snowmen aside, it was a winning week, but I'm so far behind on the Christmas prep! I usually have a gingerhood by this time in December, but I haven't built a single house yet, and even the tree is feeling a little picked-over... 

while I've been side-tracked by snowmen! And a handful of teacher gifts for my grandsons...

Sketchy, by Shanalines Designs

Where are you in your holiday preparation schedule...are you ready? Or are you running behind, like me? 

Either way, thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

PS- the pig has returned...🤦‍♀️

Has Anybody Seen My Pig?

Grandsons, are fun. A bunch of boys also bring more chaos than the girls ever did, tho. Take my pig, for example. This is the last place I've seen him, and that was last Sunday...just after I finished his new sweater.

The boys delight in hiding this pig, and that was super cute when they hid him on top of the toy box, under a bed (with his nose poking out) or in a closet. As they've gotten older, they've also gotten better at hiding (I think Mommy helps sometimes?), and this is good for their brains and provides loads of fun for them. Yay!

But I want my pig back. Im sure he's not as cold and hungry as I imagine, but I miss him.  If you find him, please send him my way? 

In other news, I have managed to find my Christmas socks, 

and I've stashed my regular socks until after Christmas...

There were a couple of casualties in those well-loved, and oft-worn, handknit socks.

I looked at the hole in that sock when it came out of the washer, then I looked at the darning that had already been done...and I saw that it's mate was heading down the same road. 

It was a hard decision, I loved this "Good 'n Plenty" pair (made in 2015), but sometimes it's just time to let them go. Darn! That was a good pair of socks! Heres a pic from when they were new! 

Just about everything looks better when it's new! Just ask these friends, celebrating their first Christmas season. 

But some of the old standby toys are still looking pretty good...remember the Alphabet Soup from 2012? The boys really enjoyed it on their recent sleepover! 

They also enjoyed puzzles

and Magnatiles

and rock climbing at the Y

But mostly they enjoyed hiding my silly pig! Again, if you see Snonk, please send him home. Thanks. 

Happy Saturday, friends. I hope you have all your holiday [pigs...and elves?] in a row, and that December is shaping up into a good month for you! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!