Good-bye 2011, Welcome 2012

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

I can't believe 2011 is just about gone in a few hours! It's been quite the year. There were lots of ups and downs and some big bumps in the road. One of the special "ups" was getting to meet my sister for the very first time when my sister and her husband journeyed by train clear across country to visit with me and my family here in Massachusetts. Then there were a few "downs" and  I have to be honest to say that I am looking forward to a brand new year. New projects, old friends and new friends and hopefully good health and much happiness  for everyone. Happy New Year!

Let's see, what have I been up to since my past post? You may not believe me....I have been trying to write this post for some time now (before Christmas to be exact), but life kept getting in the way. The time just flies by...it scares me. I'm here now, so here's the scoop....Christmas came extremely fast for me this year. We had a really nice Christmas. We celebrated my father's 95th birthday. Here he is blowing out his candles.

taken with Canon Power Shot SX110 IS

After dinner at my house, we piled into the car and brought all the desserts (vanilla and chocolate birthday cakes, apple pie, pumpkin pie and a new recipe that I tried,  walnut maple pie) to my Dad at his assisted living place. The walnut maple pie was a big hit and will be the one to make every year from now on. I love that it is made with real maple syrup and not that yucky high fructose corn syrup. This pie is not as sweet as the traditional pecan pie. I LOVE this recipe! Sorry no photo, but here's the link to the recipe -  walnut maple pie.

Despite the fact no one had any knitted items on their lists, I did manage to knit a couple of gifts. For my son's mother-in-law I knit her another pair of comfy socks pretty much just like the ones I made for her last year.

taken with Canon Power Shot SX110 IS

She had told me earlier how much she enjoys wearing those socks to bed just about every night. She was very pleased when she opened them up so that proved to be a good thing to give to her.  I also knit a little mouse toy for my son's and daughter-in-law's cat, Neko.

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

Poor Neko. They adopted her this past fall from a shelter and she was supposed to be about 2 years old, but when the vet checked her out the vet thought she was much older because of the condition of her teeth. In fact they were told she had thyroid problems and was diagnosed with lymphoma. It is so sad because they got really attached to her in a short amount of time. She's such a nice cat. I'm still hoping the diagnosis is wrong, but it seems from the ultrasound that the lymphoma has already metastasized. Needless to say she's being spoiled by all.

taken with Canon Power Shot SX110 IS

Here's Neko's mouse. She didn't get too excited when she saw it. I think she would have liked it better if it was filled with catnip. I'll have to find some catnip and make her another one soon :)

taken with Canon Power Shot SX110 IS

I got a new camera ( Kodak EasyShare Mini M200) for Christmas. I've been wanting a nice small one that I can carry with me in my pocketbook. This one fits the bill and it now resides in my purse. My non-smart cell phone's camera is lousy.  This one is perfect.

taken with Canon Power Shot SX110 IS

It only weighs about 3 oz as compared  to my good canon camera - new model link Canon PowerShot SX120IS. That one weighs almost 11 oz and doesn't fit in my bag.

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

I'm really impressed with the quality of the shots for such an inexpensive camera, plus it's super easy to use. I've taken a few shots of all the sweets I made for Christmas.

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

It was the first time I made gumdrops and caramels.

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

I also had a mishap with my chocolate chip cookies this year. No worries, for I threw the half baked cookies back in the bowl with the missing ingredient and reformed the cookies. Because some of the cookies were partially baked before I discovered my mistake, the chocolate chips melted and I ended up with chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Bet you didn't know you could do that. Neither did I, but I was determined not to waste all those ingredients. Actually I got tired of forming the cookies and dumped what was left in a pan and make some chocolatey cookie squares :)

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

Nothing wasted 3 bags of chocolate chip, brown sugar, butter, etc....I was happy. All's well that end's well...for the cookies were actually tasty despite my big mistake.

taken with Kodak EasyShare mini m200

Look what my sister sent me for Christmas... a row counter necklace. Love it to pieces, plus she personalized it with the leather and bead necklace. I'm really enjoying it immensely. I have a very thoughtful sister :) FYI-the above photo was taken at night without a flash...pretty good?

In case you are wondering, yes, I am still working on the circle cloth blanket. Still very slow going with not much progress. I have about 5 1/2 squares left to finish. I don't know why, but every time I sit down to knit on the squares it take about three or four rows and them I'm off to sleep...sitting up and head bobbing. I usually just give up and go to bed. I guess the TV shows I've been watching, plus the monotony of the squares just relaxes me so much that I can't keep my eyes open. I can't wait to start knitting some other projects. I'm half tempted to put the blanket aside, but I'm afraid I might never finish it. I just want it to be over and done with it. I doubt I'd ever tackle another blanket like this one....so it will be my one and only. Hope the recipient appreciates it :)

I'm wishing that this coming year will be very good one to all my friends. A happy and healthy new year to all. Happy Knitting :)

Kodak EasyShare mini m200

Copyright ©2006-2011 hakucho, All Rights Reserved.

Thank You

First and foremost I want to thank all of you who purchased my sister's Candy Cane Pony Pattern. Since my sister who is blogless and doesn't yet belong (I'm encouraging her to join) to ravelry, I'm helping her out by publishing her pattern on my ravelry design page. I usually offer my patterns for free, but this time I have offered the unique pattern for $2.00  through ravelry. I'm sending my sister all the proceeds from the sale after the fees are deducted. She is most appreciative for the money from pattern's sale and for my part in getting the word out about her cute Christmas ornament pattern.

The feedback so far on the pattern has been very good. It is a quick, easy little project. The candy cane ponies make great stocking stuffers, favors, little gifts, package decorations in lieu of bows. Here's some very festive Christmasy ponies made by knit2purlone. They can be unicorns if that's what you are into. Add a pointy shell for the unicorn and use pastel yarn...that's what SweetMama (ponies, no horns) intends to do. If you want to make a more permanent ornament you can buy Cane Cane Pens and use them instead of real candy canes. Check out Mary Gildersleeve's. Or you can use plastic candy cane ornaments like the ones I found in Michaels. They go for $4.99 a dozen , but I was lucky to get them half off. You could even make reindeer out of them using pipecleaners for the antlers and red pompoms for the noses. Too cute!

I've been trying to work on my Circle Square blanket for the Pine Street Inn. Very slow progress, but I feel the end is in site. I have just about one more row of seven squares to finish. I'm just about finished with the square on my needles right now.The countdown begins :) Hopefully I'll have it finished before the next Pine Street Inn Knit-a-thon in November 2012!

Not to disappoint you, but I'm not doing much in the way of Christmas knitting this year. No requests for knitted items on the wish lists this year in my family. I have to confess that it doesn't really upset me. I've been falling asleep at night when I sit down to knit so that's probably why I'm not accomplishing much. It is freeing to know I'm not under any pressure to make the big Christmas Eve deadline this year. I can just let the holidays happen. I have plenty of baking to do, so don't worry I won't be bored :)

I am looking forward to the new year with some new projects in mind. Until next time...hope you are enjoying your holiday time and you are happily knitting away :)

Copyright ©2006-2011 hakucho, All Rights Reserved.