Prepare the Way
Well a full week of Advent is almost done. Each morning I place an ornament on the Advent calendar that my mom made me when I was pregnant with my first child and living FAR away in Texas. I think about her and her generosity with her creative skills. I also remember past Christmases when I would receive one gift that was a craft. I loved spending Christmas day needlepointing something new, or sewing or beading. I also remember bursting into tears when I became frustrated. I set expectations high even as a child.
My mom would try her best to knit all the gifts and usually not make all the deadlines. She would wrap up works in progress, give them as gifts then ask for them back so she could finish them. This usually happened with sweaters. My cousin once just received all the yarn - it wasn't a work in progress at all... My mother was ambitious in her Christmas plans.
This year I scaled back on knitting madly right before the holidays. I tend to knit all year long and put my finished projects in a box. Then when it's time to give, I go through my box and decide who gets what for gifts. The system works most of the time.
Holly the cat is respecting the tree! I guess when you pull down a tree from last year, you remember the trauma. She loves to sit under this tree and purr away. Frodo doesn't even care about a tree in the house. For over an hour last night she was on the cat tree in the same room and he was blissfully unaware of her watching him. These peaceful moments are what I treasure most, it's like a window into the future.
He eventually spotted her and then the chase was on. In his defense, she was the one who moved and climbed down and hid behind the tv and caused the ruckus. They love each other in their own ways!
I started the pair of socks for my husband for Christmas, I'm enjoying the leisure knitting because I know I can get a pair of socks done in a snap if I have to, but I don't, so I enjoy each blessed stitch.
For reading, I did start Ulysses Grant by Ron Chernow. What a sad sack Ulys was in his early years. I'm enjoying his biography and also learning more about US history along the way. If I read this entire book before 2020 it will be a reading miracle! I have the hard copy which is not a totable book so I also borrowed the digital copy from my library. My kindle is always in my purse just in case I have spans of time to read.
My menu plan is set for the week of Christmas as well as a list of baking ideas. I'm not starting to bake yet because I'll eat them.
Our cats have always loved sitting under the tree (and often using it as an ambushing headquarters). Sounds like you are happily getting ready and enjoying the season, which is what it is supposed to be. I have finished my gift knitting, and have started decorating, so it's all good at our house. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteAll I've done is knit hats, get family gifts, wrap them, and bake cookies! I guess I need to decorate one of these days. You are obviously organized, getting ready, and enjoying it!
ReplyDeleteYour mother had a delightful and wise way, of gifting hand made items! Why doesn't every knitter, do this??????? -smile-
ReplyDeletePeaceful and at a gentle pace. If only we would do everything, this way!
Our Christmas is 'planned.' Not all that much to do, thankfully. Peaceful simplicity reigns. -smile- We had sickness, last Christmas. We are all the more determined, to have a peaceful/lovely one, this year. -smile-
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
I'm staying fairly relaxed. No decorating yet - hope to get started this weekend (but no deadlines or pressure). I started another pair of socks as a gift which I should have no trouble finishing. Shopping for gifts is mostly finished and I even have wrapped a few things! Sounds like you are relaxed and ready for the holiday!
ReplyDeleteI do like the idea of making things through the year and putting them away, I might just have to borrow that one. Your mum sounds like an amazing person, how wonderful that you have a homemade advent calendar, what a beautiful memory for you. I have been gift making and card making this week, that is about the extent of my preparations so far....
ReplyDeleteLast year I was inspired by your system and planning to do the same, but it didn't happen. My preperations for the Holidays consist mostly of letting go of most handmade gift ideas ;-) Maybe next year...
ReplyDeleteAh what fun! Those are adorable decorations! I hope you enjoy your knitting!
ReplyDeleteI just finished my hubby's socks....and clicked to your ravelry page to see if we made the same socks this year!!!! I think it happened once before!!! Tis the season...ho ho ho!!!! My only handmade gift this year other than the scarves that went for those dirty Santa gifts. It was sort of a relief not to have all those knitting deadlines!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your knitting projects. Also enjoyed your Christmas memories from childhood and making things for others from a young age. That is an ambitious book, but should be really interesting. Grant was a fascinating character. Hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe tree is trimmed here, and that last minute holiday crunch knitting is in full swing! I love that photo of Holly under the tree!
ReplyDeleteLove.
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny your mom wrapped up work in progress projects, I love that! It is so sweet she would knit you gifts each year and the day of you'd be crafting. This sounds perfect to me! I usually try to make something handmade for gifts, but this year I didn't plan to knit gifts. I think I will knit some small gifts and try again next year. Good Holly and Frodo are getting along and Holly looks so cute under the tree. I have most of my Christmas shopping done and decorated my apartment. I am enjoying the season so far and look forward to knitting ornaments and baking. Have a good weekend!
ReplyDeleteThe tree is up but that is all. No idea what to do about gifts and I’m not at all stressed.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are nearly ready for Christmas. The hats and socks will be loved. I am done making gifts for the Holiday, now to finish shopping. I see the finish line but am not quite there yet.
ReplyDeleteYou are so much further along in your preparations than I am. But, I do have a plan in place for planning this week. On the knitted gift front, I keep thinking I'm finished but I may have to whip up 4 hats, but 2 of them will be for small kids so it's not as big a task as it sounds. In other words, I'm not panicking yet. I'll save panic mode for December 23rd. :)
ReplyDeleteKind of stuck on a few family members Christmas shopping wise which is stressin me out a bit.
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