My Gram's Cookies

My Gram has 4 recipe boxes. They are neatly organized by category (poultry, salad, dessert, etc.) And then, she has an entire box filled with cookie recipes. My Gram & Gramp used to make several batches each of 10-15 kinds of cookies and have a stack of cookie tins for us to eat when we all came up for Christmas. Aunt Stella's, Nanny B's Shortbread, Cut-Outs, Pepparkakor, Ginger cookies dipped in white chocolate, Evelyn's Date filled cookies, Chocolate Crinkles, Spritz, Candy Cane Cookies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Dorothy's Coconut, Neapolitan, Special K, Chewy Noels, and Russian Tea Cakes were all in regular rotation. (I'm sure there were others, but those are the ones my Mom and Gramp remembered well when I asked this morning.) When I was a kid, it was my job to take out 4 of each and arrange a cookie plate to pass around the table after the meal. As the grandkids got older, my Gram asked us each what our favorites were, and she eliminated a few of the less popular tins. Then in the last years there were just a few. We visited my Gramp for Thanksgiving, and I decided to leave him with a few cookies (as well as a freezer stuffed with meals). The cookies were fun, but took hours. I made Nanny B's (named after my Great Uncle's Mother), Cut-Outs, and Peanut Butter (with out the kisses this time). I brought up Shortbread and Chocolate Chip from home. As I baked yesterday, I asked my Gramp if they made one kind a day from Thanksgiving until we arrived (usually around the 20th of December and stayed for almost 2 weeks). He said, some times they worked all day for days. I don't think as kids we ever appreciated all that. I know I need to make a few more kinds of cookies when I'm home to send up here.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I'm so thankful this year. I know when times are tough it's easy to look at what we don't have. I am surrounded by family. I'm making memories with my kids. I've got so many wonderful friends. I am blessed. If you're reading this...than know that you're one of the friends I'm thankful for!!! Happy Thanksgiving.

Ishbel Beach Fog!

I love this scarf. I didn't even know I had a perfect shirt to match when I bought this yarn.

I need to get myself a good shawl pin...but for now this old hair stick worked.

I should have put on nicer pants for the photo shoot...so ignore my black sweats for in these shots.

I definitely see more of these in my future. I've started one for me in the larger size. I think my mom would like one too. She mentioned I should knit one for my MIL too. The stockinette portion of this makes great "on-the-go" or "listening to kids" reading knitting. Have you knit an Ishbel yet?

Ishbel Blocking

My first lace. I took photos along the way. Here is Ishbel just after I cast off.

Here she is taking a bath in Lavender Eucalan.

Here's the first half pinned out on my bed. The boys went to basketball practice and my mom took 4 out for a drive. I had 1 hour to myself! I threw the sheets in the wash and blocked lace. =0)

Here's a close up!

Modeled photos in the next post.

List Update

• I blocked my Ishbel and I LOVE it. I CO for a 2nd one in the larger size.
• Started on the Right Front for my Hoodie. I've got the back and the left side done. I hear the hood takes forever. I'd like to have this for Christmas. (a fun gift for myself)
• Made a new hat for me. (a Thorpe)
• Made a hat for M. (a Hurricane Hat)
• I finished a Finish the scarf I was working on (a Feather&Fan scarf 2 Weeknights with Warrick).
• I CO a new scarf to have as a "in the car project"...except the pattern isn't really "car knitting". I'm knitting Ariel in Teal Disco Lights. It's pretty. I think I have to unknit the first 2 repeats because I was doing the PTBL wrong. I can't just unravel because of the sequins. So, I have to decide if I'll really notice 8 stitches that slant the wrong way over 2 repeats.

A list really does help. I still owe the blog a bunch of posts. I've got photos of Ishbel on my laptop. I packed up my Lexie Barnes with SO MANY projects. I might just get a report on how much I LOVE that bag. I'm cooking up a storm. I'll be putting that on my kitchen blog. I'm cooking big dinners every night to fill my Gramp's freezer. He'll have meals from now until Christmas. I'm making cookies...and I'm enjoying my Gram's recipe box. I miss her TONS still, but I'm thrilled to share her recipes with my children. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

A List for Me

I can not believe that I don't have 2 skeins of matching green. I have an assortment of greens, but not 2 skeins that would work for the crochet-along. And really....I have a long list of projects I need to be working on. Why have I lost my knitting focus? Can I really learn to crochet right now...before Christmas?

• Block my Ishbel.
• CO for a 2nd Ishbel (the larger one...in a pretty purple yarn).
• Finish the 4th Red Pear Mitt (from the KAL in Feb).
• Finish the Hoodie
• Make the 2nd mitten for 4.
• Make a new hat for me.
• Make a hat for M.
• Make a felted purse for 4 (can't believe I made them as gifts for a million little girls and my own little girl didn't get one).
• Felt 2 hats (they're already knit).
• Finish the scarf I'm working on (the ball of yarn is golf ball sized...I'm knitting until I run out).
• CO a new scarf to have as a "in the car project".
• Finish 3 2nd socks so I can wear them this winter.

I'm sure there's more...but this is what I'm going to focus on today. OK...I can't do all that today, but I will at least start.

I'm so tempted...

I'm not really a crocheter...but this Mystery CAL looks so fun. If I had 2 balls of any green yarn I'd be hunting for my 4mm crochet hook. I have so many green yarns, but go figure...I don't have 2 that match. And I should be knitting cold weather accessories.

Time for a title change.

My boy is 8! I'm not sure how 8 years have gone by so fast. I remember bringing home this tiny bundle like it was yesterday. M & I weren't sure why the had let us take him home from the hospital. He slept in his car seat that first night. On the middle of our bed. M on one side and me on the other. And this year the clothes he received for his birthday were size 10. He's grown 1 1/4" just since June! I feel like I'll blink and he'll be taller than me. Even more than I'm impressed with his stature, I'm in awe of his LOVE for JESUS. 8 accepted Christ just after his 3rd Birthday, and his first venture into evangelism was to try and get his little brother to repeat the prayer after him. Of course at 20 months, 6 wasn't sure what to make of all that. 8 has a heart for the lost. I love that about him. He is kind and generous. He's sensitive and sweet (he's wonderful to his little sister and her friends). He loves to cook (when he helps me in the kitchen, we're always on a 'cooking show'). He LOVES his LEGOs. He's building an Agent Helicopter right now (one of his gifts last night). He wants to learn to speak as many languages as he can...because that would make him a good spy. Or, he'd like to play in the NBA. I love childhood dreams. He has so much to look forward to. And I'm so blessed to be his mama.

I owe the blog a post....

this will either take 3x the normal post or have numerous typos. I just typed that 4 x. Last week, I injured the pointer finger on my left hand and now I'm wearing a fancy brace until I decide to go to the Dr. My bro...came over yesterday after the pumpkin launching contest at the local university...he taped it up for me. This really is harder than it looks. But the worst part of the injury...I'm a continental knitter...it's my left pointer...My Yarn Finger. Last week I was having a hard time purling, but I persisted. Now, I think I'm going to have to learn to 'throw' if I want to keep knitting.

I've got photos of the pumpkin carving and the pumpkin patch to share. I've got a boy turning 8 this week and there will be much cake to celebrate. I finished Ishbel, but she still needs blocking. AND...I won a contest over at Chan's! That's big news! There will be photos soonish.

My hunt and pecking is driving me nuts. Never take one finger for granted.