A Little Fishy?

Sometimes I plan well for birthdays and other occasions. Other times, I wake up on the morning of the party thinking (with my pointer finger lightly tapping my pursed lips and my eyes searching way up into my own brain), “I know what I can make before 5:30!” I’m not sure where my reality check is during these moments, but it certainly is NOT in my brain, and its failure to provide that check often leaves me scrambling to finish a gift as I walk out the door! Something's fishy there, for sure...

Enter this little shark, knit for a friend who LOVES shark socks, shark movies, shark jokes, shark week, and…well, you get the picture. As I sat on the sofa, the morning of the party that I had agreed to attend at least 7 days earlier, I searched available patterns for sharks on Ravelry, and I found a little one I thought I could finish in time. So, I started to knit…and I finished my shark just before the party, true to form.

Also true to form, I amended the pattern as I went, because I cannot ever leave well enough alone (especially not on a deadline)! As I amended, I realized that this had become a new pattern, so I published it. No testers, no editors, and only one prototype, so be warned. I'm sure it is not a perfect pattern, and I am also sure that you will have something fishy if you follow it...lol. If you would like to give it a try, you can knit a cute, little Teensy Great White of your own. Here's the free pattern on Ravelry: Shark Pattern HERE

Not on Ravelry? It's free to join, and if you make a lot of things with yarn, it's a great way to keep track of them! (Not a sponsor, just a member with roughly 1220 projects logged there since 2007.)

By the way, it was a really fun, shark-themed party last night! Thank you for having a birthday (with Karaoke) Ann...and thanks to Erin, Amanda, Nicole, Marcie, Jill and Jason (otherwise known as "Moms of Grace, and Jason" for the trivia game) for letting me join your table for a super fun evening! (We won! Yeah! Woo! Hoo!) It was so good to see everyone and have fun together!

Thanks also for some extra photos on my phone, Erin, which was left unattended for a bit...lol!

If you have friends, treasure them. If you have yarn, knit fun things. If you're invited to a party, start thinking about what you might knit for the guest of honor...preferably well before you are on your way to the party! Or not, I mean, who am I to judge? There's really nothing fishy about last minute knits...I think we all do it from time to time, and there are far worse things to procrastinate about. After all, I am sure most of us have bigger fish to fry on a day-to-day basis, so don't sweat the small stuff (or the small knits).

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

PS, if your mom is still around, wish her a happy day tomorrow. If she's not, I'm sorry, and I hope that you have fond memories of her to treasure. If you do not, I'm sorry, and I hope your Sunday does not stink. Mine won't because my grown kids have given me this shirt. Yes, I DID do a great job...YOU are both awesome! Wait...something seems fishy about that sentiment...hahahahahahaha...!

Knitmas 2024!

Well, wasn't that a party? Yes, Virginia, our Knitters' Christmas last Sunday was great fun! Here's a peek, for those of you who couldn't make it...

Festive feet, tangled yarn, Not wine...maybe...

...food, friends, fun...

...and presents!

I sometimes pop this post up, complete with photos of our Stocking Stuffers, as a bonus post mid-week, but this year I didn't want to spoil anything until all the stuffers had been delivered. So I dropped off a bag to Judy this morning, and now that that's done...here's the haul:

Thank you, Friends! 

As usual, the food and time with friends was fantastic, and we all had so much fun! We did forget the annual group order of sock yarn (sad face here), but we remembered the group photo! 

If your foot isn't pictured, and you'd like it to be included next year, mark your calendar now! While I can't say for sure whether it'll be on Saturday or Sunday, there's a good chance the party will be held the first weekend in December!

Since last Sunday, I've been indulging in all the Christmas I can, including handmade (not by me) peppermint soap for my shower...

Cookies, definitely made by me, on the tree for my stomach...

and board games with little boys for my soul! 

Only 10 more wake-ups, and I'm excited for another chance to celebrate with family this Christmas! What am I gonna do to pass the time? Oh! That's right! The knitting! 

Teacher gift, requested by 6- year-old!

I hope you're having a fun December, too, even if it's busy and distracting! 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Time to...

Time to what...make the donuts? No.

...go to school? No.

...eat a cookie? No. Well, yes, but they're not baked yet!

...bake cookies? While I do like that idea, and cookie-baking is on my list for the weekend, 

there is one thing that comes first...

It's time to put up the tree! Because that window-spot is mighty empty, and because we decorate the tree on Thanksgiving (after dinner), I really need to put down my knitting and hop to it on the tree. 

Trees are typically the first Christmas decor to show up at the Pretty House...then cookies and caramels to hang on the tree. Batch 2 of chewy goodness is ready and waiting!

I had thought about starting this process a little early, but last weekend was full of birthday fun,

Board games,

And bubble baths!

This week has been busy as well, and I'm happy to report that the turkey has landed...

...squarely in the fridge for defrosting! Today, I'm enjoying an after-lunch, second cup of coffee while I blog...

...and, while I haven't transitioned yet to Christmas socks,

I know that the holidays are now squarely upon us! We'll have 12 on Thanksgiving, and there may be a photo (or two...hundred...) in next week's blog...but right now, I'm going to tackle that tree!

What are your plans for Turkey Day this year? I hope the holiday season finds you in a stable state of mind, and wearing your stretchy pants for the food parade!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Knitmas 2023

December the 10th was just last week, and wasn't that a party? We had a blast at Knitmas 2023!

CKW planned a party 

for Christmas, and then

The knitters were headed 

to my place again! 

No stockings were hung, 

for we have no hearth,

But for this day, stockings 

don't have enough girth.

So I set festive bags

under the lit tree, 

And the first knitter to add 

little gifts would be me. 

Each knitter arriving 

added something else nifty

Until each bag was filled up

with fun, little gifties!

There were plants, real and crafted, 

ornaments and teas;

Special treats, tokens, and cookies, 

may I have one now, please?

And the food! Oh, the food -

Cheese dips, chili and more!

We ate and we ate, 

and no one kept score.

Don't forget the traditions... 

yes, most ordered more yarn*;

And hand-knit**, holiday socks 

made of wool, so warm. 

There was laughter and fun, 

but little singing this year;

Not sure where the hippo was, 

she was not here. 

Julie wins the prize for finding this in the sofa! 

All in all, a success 

was this Christmas bash! 

The first of the season, 

definitely not the last.

There's more gifts to be finished, 

things to be planned; 

Nine days until Christmas! 

Yarn's under my command!

The party is over, and yes, I'm still knitting like a fiend! This is the first year in quite a few that our son and his family will not make it home for the holidays, so I have a couple of boxes to ship still...I'm getting there, I promise! I am also trying to take a breath here and there, so I don't lose my Christmas mind.

Online shopping has helped, and I've had some things shipped directly to the kids (thank you for doing my wrapping, Christy!). But the knitted gifts and homemade goodies are all on me...still not quite sure how to send the gingerbread...

How are your holiday plans coming along? Do you have any fun events to attend? Gifts to ship? Projects to finish? 'Tis the Season! 

In the middle of it all, thanks for stopping by, and Knit (and bake, and shop, and wrap) in Good Health! 

*Don't remember how it started, but we usually do a group yarn order at the party...and so we did this year, as well!

**Not all of the socks are hand-knit/wool, but our feet are festive, and they know it!