Another Covid Christmas?

Another Covid Christmas? Yep, that's right. We thought Covid would be over in 2021, but this virus will not give up. I know may that have been touched, both directly and indirectly, and 2021 has been a year of ups and downs. December has been a month of ups and downs. The cookie tree was an up, and it ranked high on the list of ups...even with the lights turned off! 

Wow, that was fun! 

But not many people got to see it after the knitters' party...the numbers kept going up this month.

The candy and cookie production was super fun, and Sweetie found the cutest containers for that Christmas candy!

But Covid took away some of the events for distribution, and about half of that is still on my countertop...just waiting for a safe opportunity to deliver it. 

The knitting was super fun, culminating with a rainbow elf for the 3-year-old!

But some of our joy was stolen when our son-in-law's brother passed away very unexpectedly on December 23rd.

To be sure, there has been much joy this December.

There has also been much grief. The past 12 months have taken a lot from us, including significant losses of loved ones and the comfort holiday traditions that just never materialized this year. 

So, while I'd like to end this year on a high note, I recognize that my high note may not be in the right here and now. Instead, my high note comes from the certainty that God is still good...even though we live in a broken world. With that knowledge in my grasp, I can continue on to 2022. 

How has your 2021 ended? I hope you are finishing up a great month, and that you and your family are enjoying health and happiness. But if 2021 has dealt you a bad hand, I hope that you will draw better cards for 2022. In either case, I pray that you will know the peace and joy of being loved, both now and forever. Love is the greatest gift of all. 

Thanks for stopping by this New Year's Eve! May you stay safe, finding joy, peace and love in 2022! Oh!, and Knit in Good Health!

Merry Christmas!

No more wake-ups, so Merry Christmas to all of you! 

Winter Lights at the Cleveland Zoo.

Busy day today, so short post, but I'll wrap up the year in a few days for you!

Until then, enjoy your holiday and Knit in Good Health!

CKW Christmas Party - 2021 Edition

'Twas two weeks before Christmas, and I was preparing

for knitters to join in the fun!

The tree was decked out with cookies and caramel,

everyone came, but the sun.

Our stockings weren't hung, they were bags on the floor,

just waiting for someone to stuff them.

As each knitter came in, she took off her shoes,

Sweetie made this shoe rack, so great to have!

and headed upstairs with no bluffing!

Then they all sat around, knitting and laughing, 

and we face-timed Alice right in (yay!);

We even remembered to take our sock picture,

to show off the fun of this day!

I love that Alice's "sock" is in the pic!

Of course there was food, my counters were ready,

for cheeses, and cookies and such.

We filled up our plates and ate ourselves silly,

knitters are quite the "foodie" bunch!

The party kept going, and we knitted some more,

then decided to open our gifts.

Brown sugar keepers, sachets, bags and baubles,

notepads and markers for stitches!

.

We had so much fun, talking, knitting and singing,

which earned us an eye-roll from Judy;

I think Brenda and Alice and some of the others

agreed with Judy quite fully!

Judy does NOT want a hippopotamus for Christmas!

Back to the kitchen, before friends started leaving,

packing up each knitter's load;

Our party is so fun, but Christmas keeps coming,

just one more shot for the road!

Still not great at selfies...
but I'm in focus...hahaha!

And as each knitter left, loaded down with her goodies,

that wind blew stronger than ever.

But I heard them exclaim, blustering out the door,

"My favorite Christmas party ever!"

Even the Elf on the Shelf is jealous!

Oh, man! What fun it was to host this year's party in our new home! Thank you to all my CKW peeps who joined and participated in Stuffers this year. Everything was delicious, and beautiful, and I love each of you dearly. 

For those of you not in CKW, these friends are part of why I knit. Knitting brought me into this circle, and I never would have guessed how much my connections with them would enrich my life. If you have not found your people, your tribe, your community, keep looking. They are out there.

"Somewhere, out there, beneath the pale moonlight..."

Oops! Still vying for that Judy eye-roll, I suppose! Anyhoo...I hope you are ready for whatever comes next in your world. For me, it is Christmas (next Saturday, what? when did this happen? I feel like 2021 has just flown by!). I think most of my shopping is done...perhaps I should start wrapping? Lol...yes! I should start wrapping (but not rapping, Judy...honest).

The cat will be napping...not rapping!

Thanks for stopping by in this busy season, and Knit (and shop and wrap and sing) in Good Health!

Knock Your Socks Off Fun!

Where are the Party People? They are at my house! Knowing that I would be hosting the annual Knitters' Christmas Party today, I worked ahead and wrote this post yesterday. Past Pretty can be very smart that way, because she knew that Present Pretty would be up to her elbows in food, fun and yarn!

"What happens at the Knitters' Christmas Party?," you ask?

Well, first of all, there are knitters, and they are probably wearing hand-knits...right down to their socks (most of them, anyway)!

2019 Socks!

There is time spent knitting, of course, but also time in the kitchen, filling our bellies (and taking sock pictures).

2011 Socks!

There may or may not be errant sock-yarn purchasing (and other yarn purchasing) from our phones, and there is (of course) the annual sock photo.

2012 Socks!

Some years there are many, many feet...

2015 Socks!

2016 Socks!

2017 Socks!

2018 Socks!

And some years, there are not quite so many...

2014 Socks!

And some years include feet that couldn't even make it to the party! (Remember that time we Photo-Shopped Corrie's foot in?)

2013 Socks!

Cleveland Knits West has celebrated Christmas together for more than 10 years (we've been having this party since 2008!), and we always seem to have a great time. Going back, these are the photos I could find...all the way back to 2010!

2010 Socks!

Here's last year's photo! Wait...

NO 2020 SOCKS?!?

...yeah, Covid. No party. No Sock Photo, Sooo Saaaaaddd!

But this year, I am hosting, and can't wait to get those feet in my photo lens...so pull up your socks and get over here, Knitters! 

My door and I wish you a Merry Christmas!

Oh, wait! You ARE here! Super yay!!!

For those of you who couldn't make it, or are not (yet) knitters, I hope to have you over soon...even though it may not be until after Christmas. Thanks for stopping by the blog today, and remember to Check back next week for the party review. 

Until then, Knit in Good Health!

December Dump (Photos, That Is...)

At this time of year, blogging is more difficult! I have a lot to say, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I just want to dump my photos...because Pretty takes a lot of pictures! For instance, when I finish a knitted thing, there are pictures, and when I am pleased with the thing, there are fun pictures!

A knitted wrap, a ruana, designed by Shanalines Designs!
This pattern will be released soon...I love it!

When dinner comes out just right...

...and you have the family hanging out on a great day...

...Pretty takes pictures! 

Sometimes my kids (or their spouses...lol!) ask me to take pictures, which is so much fun!

The outtakes are pretty fun, too!

All those GIRLS! How does he do it?

Sometimes they don't ask, but if there are stockings and silliness...

Decking of the halls and Christmas crafting (and finger-wagging, "No singing, Gramma!" What?!?)...

Smiles and snow...

Well, I'm gonna take pictures! Even indoors, my camera phone is always at the ready...especially if you start cracking up at something silly...just ask my daughter-in-law!

So, as you may have guessed, we visited the kids in Michigan after we ate our fill of Thursday turkey. We enjoyed Friday and Saturday leftover turkey at their house, and when we got home, the cookie ornament baking was fully underway!

The tree, our bellies and our hearts are full, 

and we are almost ready for Christmas. Just a few more last-minute gifties to take care of, and a few more decorations to go up, and we will be there. This is good, because there are only 21 more wake-ups!

Are you ready for the winter holidays? Are you celebrating now, or have you already celebrated? I'd be glad to hear about your winter holiday traditions, so pop a comment below to let me know about a few of YOUR favorite things!

One of my favorite things is certainly the Knitters' Christmas Party, which will be at my house this year. That's next week, so be ready for another photo dump soon! 

Until then, thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

One more of Jess and her boys. So adorable,
but not nearly as many outtakes! Lol!