Merry Merry Christmas

Christmas was a little lonely when I was growing up. My immediate family was my parents, my brother and me. In high school, my brother was off doing his own thing so it was just me, mom and dad. We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve so Christmas Day was generally pretty quiet. I'm making up for it now with the ginormous family I've collected, as well as the one I married into. There are numerous houses to be visited over multiple days and Christmas morning is a glorious pandemonium. Five children multiplied by at least five presents each equals a room full of presents and at least a few smiles from each one. I shocked and delighted the 15yo with a Hollister sweatshirt - she had no idea I even knew the store existed.

I would generally agree that Christmas is all about giving and I was happy to give. But I have to admit I was happy to give the gift of receiving as well. My dh kicked off the season with the recently released Book of Yarn - an exhaustive explanation of all things fiber. I've only had time to read a few pages, but so far I'd say it's great.

It's really good I've got it because I need it to solve the mystery of one of my other gifts - the biggest balls of yarn I've ever seen from my world traveling cousin. They're from England, Ireland and Scotland. I have no idea how much yarn I have or its content. I'm sure I'll have fun figuring it out. I should have no problem figuring guage because dh also got my memo and bought me the knitpicks interchangeable needles. They are wonderful.

Dh also got me a Roomba - one of those little vacuuming robots. This may not seem on the face of it to be a knitting related gift - but it is, and here is why: It gives me more time to knit! Now, I can vacuum my floors and knit at the same time. How great is that.

My other great joy this season has been helping my mom knit a hat. She was crocheting and she enjoyed it a great deal but took knitting lessons anyway. When I asked her why, she said, "because I love you." We found her a pattern for a top down hat and I helped her cast on using the Magic Loop method. She watched me fumbling with those needles and said, "Honey, I can't do that." Of course, I knew better. Pretty soon she was knitting around like pro.

My husband says I have a knitting problem because I was critiquing the knitting of one of the chickens in Chicken Run - she was knitting a noose in the round on straight needles. Impossible. I'm perfectly willing to suspend disbelief for a movie - but don't you think that's pushing it?

I hope y'all had a great Christmas and that your New Year's celebration is wonderful