Party On, Knittahs!

Some years we have a party, 

and I blog it within a day.

Other years, the party comes and goes, 

like the one that got away! 

This year's Knitmas celebration 

was like none we'd had before, 

With gifts and goodies and laughter, 

and three cheese dips to adore!

Cookies on the tree, 

with gift bags all around,

that beckoned to each gifter 

to pass those stuffers out!

Of course there was the Snowman Poop, 

which is long gone today...

but not before its photo...

this year I remembered, yay!

My stuffer's not in the picture, 

but I did keep one back.

A jar filled up with glitter 

is a great de-stressing hack!

Breathe and watch that glitter settle down...

Food and fun, and lots of stitches, 

laughter in every position; 

I'm not the only one!

As usual, we made the time 

for our favorite-est of traditions.

Annual Sock Photo!

Face-time with Alice and feet that were missing, 

it's still the season of ick.

See Alice? On my tiny, tiny Fire??? Lol...

Luckily, to get those gifties out, 

we know a couple of tricks!

Does a mailing box come in a more perfect size?

Then time to just hang out, 

and laugh and knit and sing - 

It was a two-hippopotamus-Christmas, 

four eye-rolls did it bring!

Before it was all over, 

someone started shopping online...

Seven knitters bought 14 skeins 

in nearly record time!

Not that we "needed" new yarn...(but clearly we did!)

Overall the day was amazing, 

and we can't wait for next year; 

But now we're all on to Christmas...

Eek! It's almost here!

Whatever your winter holiday is (Hannukah starts tomorrow, I believe, and there are many celebrations of light throughout the current season), I hope you are ready to do the things that comfort your soul and bring you joy. 

And, if you're in the mood, maybe have a little party while you're at it, too! C'mon! It'll be fun!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

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!

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!

Merry Christmas!

The tree is up,  we've been to church,
And I've finished the dinosaur.
We've made the rounds, the sun is up -
Christmas is here with a rawr!

Merry Pretty Christmas to you and yours, from me and mine!

Merry Christmas 2017!

Merry Christmas, from under the tree!

May your day be merry and bright, and may you Knit in Good Health!

Comfortable Constant

After a lovely Thanksgiving with family, 

we had a nice, relaxing Black Friday at the Pretty house. There was no shopping (save for picking up a few groceries), but there was a bit of decorating.

Not much, just the tree and lights. The ornaments are still in the attic, and the cats are just getting used to this. I will probably grab the boxes and finish putting out the Christmas this weekend but at this moment, I am enjoying the quiet of my sleepy cottage, my Minnie pants and my first pair of Christmas socks this season!

I am sure there will be a couple of Christmas cats thrown in for good measure at some pont today, 

but for now they are happy over there, playing with their Amazon box. 

As it turns out, they LOVE the Christmas season, what with all its boxes, and dangly things and curly ribbons and crinkle-y wraps...and I am also a fan. There is just something about shopping for gifts (in person, online, however you do it), wrapping them, baking treats that make the whole house smell yummy, and glazing over in front of the Christmas tree with a holiday movie...and maybe some holiday knitting!

There is not as much secret knitting going on in 2017 as in years past, but there is some...yet I know that my dear readers will not spoil the surprise...right?!? Right. So, here's another peek...

This year will probably bring some new traditions, even though the grandkids will not be in town until after the big day...Christmas concerts and Christmas Eve services at a new church, hope and joy as the family finds new reasons to celebrate, and the tried and true traditions of Hallmark movies and It's a Wonderful Life!

So much same. So much different. Christmas is a comfortable constant, and I am thankful for this. I am thankful for a time to specifically celebrate the birth of a Savior...although this and his resurrection are something I celebrate all year, it is nice that the media gives me a constant backdrop of festive in December. I am thankful for the memories I hang on my tree each year, and a time to admire them and remember a little Christmas past (without a ghost!) all through the month. I am thankful for the hope of new beginnings that the promise of a New Year will bring!

I hope you will join me in celebrating this month. If you like the idea of Christmas concerts and festivities, maybe you will even consider joining me for an hour at church...it is just down the street, and I would love to share in the festivities with friends! Whatever your faith traditions are, I hope that you are thankful, and that you know I am thankful for your friendship.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit (and celebrate) in Good Health!