After this row . . .

I WANT TO KNIT SOCKS- with a passion!  I read about people having sock on needles and I am consumed with a passion to knit socks!  However, i have NO IDEA how!  NONE, ZIP, ZILCHE, NADA!

I will learn to knit socks on December 26!  I will be done with the Christmas Knitting and due to the joy of teaching will then be off work until Jan 8!  I should be able to teach myself in that time- right?

I want handmade socks, made by my hand!  I want wild colorways working thier way up my leg- It scares me how much I want this!  I don’t think this is normal!

http://acephalous.typepad.com/acephalous/2006/11/measuring_the_s.html

Some person who works for MLA is tracking something on the internet.  We knit bloggers (big & tiny) want to confuse the MLA (as an English Major- this joys me to no end!) with the massive numbers of Knit blogs in the universe!  If you read this- click through to the link- if you have a blog- link to it! 

Let’s unleash the knitters

OK- I have admitted before that I am a yarn harlot junkie.  Her books helped take me from “yep- I can knit” to “gotta knit NOW-”.  So as I approached my first Christmas as a kniter (i gave 1 scarf last year- garter stitch on big needles- only 10 st wide, doesn’t really count- but the yarn was so pretty …), I have been scared to come up to IT-

I got smart- made a spreadsheet (I love me a spreadsheet) and made a plan.  Money is tight this year, so the challenge was to make as much as possible from the stash- if you already owned the yarn before you thought of the gift- the gift is free, right?   I am doing pretty good- I picked small things- no sweaters, lots of hats and purses and such.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel- it si close and totally doable. . .

then I saw these: http://www.masondixonknitting.com/, felted boxes at Mason Dixon.  I want to make them NOW!  I want to rush out and get the book and make them NOW!  Lots of them!  Many colors!  I want to use up all my wool on boxes. 

I am now going down the spread sheet and thinking “no, she won’t use a scarf in the cold, snow place she lives, she would much rather have a small felt box to keep her spare change warm”  I think I have gone off the deep end.  I know, many of you think I did that a long time ago. 

I think it is just that I am hatted out.  4 hats in 1 week- each a new pattern or color, but that is still a lot of hats.  This isn’t counting the hat for my son that is tucked in my purse at this second- it is 1/2 done, should finish tonight.  Green 3×3 rib-  It is dull!  But he keeps stealing the hats I have made for others.  So there will be one in his stocking.

I found a cute pattern for felted, don’t have to turn a heel, slippers for him last night.    I think I will whip those out too.

Is it a sign of IT if I am still adding projects (all from stash!) the day before December?

Did I mention, we don’t get out of school here until 12/22- not many days of pure knitting before Christmas.  I am trying to get as many long family fieldtrips in as possible, there is a lot of knitting time in the car. . .

I know this is a bit late- but it is still important.

This year I am thankful for so many things:

My family- it goes without saying that my family is amazing- and HUGE.  We did a family project for preschool this weekend- I had to count my son’s family- 1 set great-grandparents, 4 grandmas, 3 papas, 11 Aunts, 9 Uncles, 14 cousins!  Those are just the blood- this does not include my best friend and her family etc.  These are just those with whom he shares blood or a last name!  It is amazing!  In a time where family ties are weak at best, I am so thankful for my family.  we are close and we love each other.  Do we always get along- no.  Do we always like each other – no.  but LOVE- you bet your butt!  And for that I am so Thankful

I am thankful for my Husband and Son.  They make the world a better place by breathing.  I love seeing Zae see the world.  Oh to have the faith of a child!

I am thankful for Faith.  For the peace that it brings me and the friends I have made being a member of my church (also called Faith).  The joy of fellowship with people who see the world through similar eyes is amazing.  The peace of knowing that I am loved, no matter what i do or don’t do- to be loved because I am- is greater than i know words to say.

I am thankful for what I have.  We are not rich by American Standards (far from it).  But I have a roof over my head, and I never wonder if I will have food for my child.  It will be a small Christmas, but it will still be Christmas.  I want new boots, but I have shoes to wear (too many pair if you ask my husband).  I have yarn to knit, books to read and family to enjoy.  What else do I need?

I am thankful to have a job, and a job that I love.  I am thankful to get to use my skills in order to support my family.  And I get to “make a diffrence.” Again, whatelse is there?

I am thankful for my health and the health of those I love.

I am thankful that I live in a country where I can be me.  Where I am free to think what I think, say what I say and believe what I believe without facing down the government to do so.

I am thankful for my life!  I am so blessed in so many ways- and today I give thanks for it all!