Yum!

Can you smell it?

Can you just taste it?

We had mashed potatoes with lots of fat grams too!

Ahhh!!! A New Quilt

Finally!  A photo shoot for a quilt that’s been done since November!

There’s nothing better than sleeping under a quilt.  This quilt is on the bed in the guest/mother-in-law/snoring hubby room.  I can’t seem to capture the warmth of the colors.  I pieced this a few years ago, but only recently did I get going on that quilt machine!  I’m very pleased.  It’s not perfect, but I’m happy.

Here’s a shot of the panto that I used for the center of the quilt.  I outlined the flowers and leaves in the border.

The quilt I made for The Genius is almost finished. I just need to finish stitching the binding.

There hasn’t been any quilting going on, and I haven’t knit much either.  Why?  The Genius is going to a different college for a year and we had to make a trip to find an apartment.  We leave December 23rd to move her.  I promise I’ll update you as we go.  For now, I’ll tell you that we’re getting as far as Nashville for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  We’ve got lots of fun things planned.  It will be a new adventure with lots of memories!!!

I should show you one thing that showed up today.

For Christmas last year My Hero got a gift certificate to Lobsters Anywhere from his employees.  We finally used the gift certificate!!!  In the back row are crab cakes and lobster tails.  In the front row is lobster bisque, bacon wrapped scallops, and HUGE shrimp.  Tomorrow night we’re eating shrimp and scallops.  I hope we can get the grill out of the snowbank to use it!!!

Rumor has it that this year’s gift certificate is beef!!!

I’m off to wrap a few gifts.  Tonight is Frankie’s Christmas concert.  And tomorrow???  The kids don’t know it but it’s general cleanup day!

I’m going to stay sane this Christmas if it makes me nuts trying!!!

Drumroll, Please!!!

I know y’all have been holding your breath, waiting to find out what The Genius named her puppy.  First, let me tell you that she didn’t take any of your suggestions.  You know those college kids.  They won’t take any advice from anyone!

So, what did she name the pesty little furball?

Let me introduce you to Gus!  It really is appropriate.  The Genius watched Cinderella several times a day when she was small.  Remember the mouse named Gus?  And one of his mousie friends called him Gus-Gus.  We’re hearing that a lot at our house these days.

Speaking of The Genius, her quilt is quilted, but not without a bit of ingenuity.  Let me show you.

What?  Don’t you sew with your sewing machine on the floor???  Let me tell you a story.  On Monday night I went downstairs to load the quilt.  I purchased 108″ Moda backing, which was absolutely gorgeous.  When I got ready to load the backing, I realized I’d forgotten to square it up.  That would mean going all the way with bare feet in the snow upstairs.  And to top it off, my cutting table was piled high with all sorts of junk.  So…….I decided to just tear the fabric.  I pinned one end and then realized that the other end was crooked too, so I tore it.

I do remember reading somewhere that you aren’t supposed to tear 108″ backing, but I couldn’t remember why.  Well….I probably lost 6 inches of backing in the process.

Over the next few days, I quilted the whole quilt.  On Wednesday, I got to the last little bit, and realized my backing was about 1 inch too short.  So, fortunately I had a fat quarter of that fabric.  I made a strip, and rather than unpin the whole quilt from the quilt machine, I took my regular sewing machine downstairs, and put it on the floor.  I just sat on the floor and sewed that strip on.  Smart????  Well, I had to make up for the stupidity of tearing that backing somehow.  Anyway, the quilt is quilted, and I’m over half done with the binding.  And The Genius loves it.

I also have some new garland for my tree!

The One Row Scarf is finished.  I used 3 skeins of Berocco Jasper.  It’s wonderfully soft!  I finished it at a band and choir concert.  I was so cold, I wrapped it around my neck and knit really fast!!!

Right now I’m working on Cluaranach.  The last time I worked on it was February!!!  It really is a gorgeous shawl and I need to finish it!!!

I’ll be back soon with more adventures from Crazyville.  You know…Christmas shopping, cards, baking, parties, concerts.  It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

I’m Chasing My Tail

Actually, so are the dogs.  The new puppy has been making life pretty unnerving for Georgie.  Poor Georgie.  She weighs about 4 times what the new puppy does, but she’s terrified of that little ball of fur.  Finally today, Georgie is trying to overcome her dislike of the little pest.

See Georgies ears flying.  They were moving!!!  Oh, and we’ll announce the puppy’s name by the end of the week.  The Genius gets home late Thursday night.  Look how cute he is!

I’ve been chasing my tail, doing all sorts of things.  We had our Thanksgiving dinner last night, since we ate Mexican food in Playa del Carmen on Thanksgiving day.  I cooked all day, and we ate in about thirty minutes.  Oh, well.  I didn’t have to do dishes.  Superblonde was just thrilled with the stuffing.  That is the best part, you know!

Oh, I’m sure you want to see the dessert, huh?

Of course it’s chocolate.  What did you expect?

On the knitting front, I finished all the miters for the Mitered V Capelet.  (rav link).  I took all the yarn with me to Mexico and forgot the book.  I messaged a couple people on ravelry and by that evening I had enough of the instructions to do the miters.

What you see in the photo is the back of the capelet.  I’m picking up stitches on two sides for the fronts.  One front will be black, and the other will be purple.  I’m using some of the yarn I purchased at Tess’ Yarn in Maine in October.  Her colors are fabulous!

Today I put The Genius’ quilt on the quilt machine.  I should be finished with the quilting tomorrow.  It needs binding and then it’s going in the washing machine.  Sometimes I like the new look of quilts, but this one is going to be washed right away!

Tomorrow night, a friend and I are going to do some Christmas baking.  It should be fun.  We’ll put on the Christmas music, and there’s snow in the forecast.  And I already got the groceries.  I don’t think I need to leave the house tomorrow.  I love those days!!!

I’m off to chase my tail some more!  It’s the most wonderful time of the year, you know!!!