Well, I've started planning Christmas 2008. I should have started earlier but I've been distracted and rather neglectful.  I am going to go through my beloved yarn stash and see what I have and what is possible ... I am thinking :

SOCKS - lots of socks. I've written several friends whose foot size have been lost over the year due to computer mishaps. I think several size yarns -- a pair of worsted weight for in the house, a sport yarn pair and several fingering weight pairs to fit into most normal shoes. Lots of socks. I may write one or two friends more - but I don't want to get crazy, socks are time consuming and rather difficult for me.

Fingerless Gloves - a pair for each lady friend and even, perhaps for the males.. we have
S. & R. - older couple
N. & S. - a little younger than us
L. & D. - lots, lots younger than us.
 and M. - a lady friend who is 70+
B. & D. - family who are both near our age. I haven't asked them about shoe/foot sizes.

I considering the possiblity of at least one skirt, perhaps two --- and have asked for waist and length of favorite skirts with this in mind -- both S. and N. are lovely ladies and would look great in a crocheted skirt.

I've never made sweaters because, God knows, they are very time consuming and fitting is a must --

I've considered making afghans but they are month long projects at their simplest. There are only 6 months till the big day.


I need a break from shawls and hats -- but I am considering, perhaps, some lighter weight hats and scarves and shawls.. more like summer weight.

I think some tatting -- book marks? a nice fancy doily ? - got one of those done, already.

What about escaping knitting and crochet altogether and sewing some gifts? Hmmmm... I have a lot of projects in mind, including some shopping bags in heavy fabrics. If my bags are successful some of my friends may be getting some, also.

Jewelry -haven't made a necklace in a year or two and my personal selection is getting rather thin and pathetic... so, yep -- necklaces, earrings and bracelets.  -- finally, some excitement, people !!!

I've been thinking purses for a while now... I crochet and decorate my own. This is a definite possibility.  I've never done cross stitch for a friend because it is so time consuming as to be unrealistic. I don't have a long list of friends and family but I don't have time to do any but the smallest cross stitch project.

I've actually considered giving several of my closest friends a short story and part or all of my novella to read as a Christmas present.. not sure what the response would be. The short story is that little thing about a Star exploring Cat I posted. It is nearing completion and needs a lot of work but could be done well within the 5 month limit. The novella, the Amethyst Rose is doubtful. I still haven't done the research I need to do to complete the story.  I blush to think what my friends will say when they don't get nice cozy things for the season.. a story ?? dare I????

So anyone out there  doing this kind of planning, yet?? Get to it, folks, Santa's coming in 6 months !!!

 Happy summer and a Merry, Merry Christmas to all !
And to all a good night !!

http://www.interweave.com/needle/piecework_magazine/
Out did themselves this month. It is a fine issue about lace - knitted, crocheted,tatting & bobbin varieties! A beautiful article about knitted fans! (I don't knit lace, but I think this article could get me started.) Look it up.
I haven't even begun reading and I am already enthralled.

The hat and scarf are done... bought the yarn Sunday and finished the set Monday Afternoon, not bad if I may brag a wee bit - Leon did most of the hat and I finished it with a little edging. I'd take a picture but my study is even more a wreck than usually and I'd have to take them off the line and put them on a table in an artistic manner so not to embarrass myself before you all - maybe tomorrow morning before I wrap them? We will give it to our dear friend tomorrow and say fare-thee-well.
I went to Ross for less and took advantage of the over 55 Tuesday discount - the sales lady even said I didn't look 55 - as you know, I am 56 going on 57 this summer. We poor females - I look in the mirror and only see imperfections and aging skin... others see something totally different and my husband only sees the woman he married 32 years ago and loves, still. My measurements are not obeying the rules of the modern fashion universe and parts of me are size 18 and other parts are medium - about a size 12/14.. my waist is still 39 and so is my bust is sort(of) 39 and so are my hips. I am a smoke stack ?????
I can't find pants to fit me quite right, again, its the waist which isn't keeping up with the rest of me...
On the more serious side, I must find time to write more... I don't know how or when. I feel that I am juggling all these balls in the air and about half of them keep falling to the ground. I am suffering from insomnia for some reason and must find a way to overcome that problem - right now  I am using simple herbs I don't approve of stronger drugs.
 I also will soon pull out my summer clothes. I don't expect many of them to fit nicely - I've lost 50 lbs since I put them away, when I do that, I will decide what I can make and what I will buy. I haven't been a fan of shorts for decades so I will buy some Capri pants for the warmest days - that means the sewing machine comes out and gets used. I also have another plan.. to make covers for the Boeing Surplus tables - bought that fabric last week and its time to do it.

Speaking of Crocheting - I am dreaming of new sweaters & tops to make once I know what my final shape is ... OH MY ... lusting after beautiful threads and yarns ... fingers itching .. dreaming of new things to make. OH MY .......
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Star Trek, the Original show - just for the fun of it,They now have many of the original shows on the Net at the site I linked to above.  I admit it : it's not great by our standards, today, we've all been spoiled by later classics like Babylon 5 (a personal favorite) and Firefly -- but without Star Trek- Classic, would Science Fiction as a Genre ever become main stream? I think not. I remember what it was like to hide my science fiction novels & comics from my parents and my mom begging me to read something other than that low-class junk !  And, yes,  Our computers, cell Phones, Blue Tooth, and monitors are more advanced, than they could have imagined in the 1960s and we aren't any where near the 23nd. century  - but the show  is real science fiction, great fun and sometimes, very funny and not always unintentionally funny, either, so enjoy !  (And, darn, people they did try to give us a optimistic view of the future!) I love B-5 and Firefly but the pessimism of this era is annoying sometimes, more honest, I admit, but annoying.

A dear lady, a local tech at our library is leaving the area... I am busy crocheting a scarf to give her before she leaves ... so, well, back to work - almost done, so no lazy Sunday blog today. KathyM

Christmas rush continues.
 Here is a list :
I need to
 1. make my comprehensive list of gifts and put them in the 'green book'.
2.Wrap gifts all ready prepared/bough
3.Return Donny's shirts to LL Bean - they are too small. (Donny is Leon's brother.)
4. Wash and wrap all hand made gifts. Stretch out and dry all hand made gifts that need to be blocked. I might do this first?
a. don't forget S.'s  tatted doily, sew down knots, wash & block.
5. Christmas cards.
6. make several jewelry pieces from beads bought this weekend.
a. N.'s necklace
b. S.'s "
c. my "
d. Check L.'s gifts to see if you need to make her something
start planning more projects for next year.

7. order dishes and knitting needles from websites
9. get up earlier so I can knit in morning????
10. finish socks for S. & start ones for N.
11. look for motorcycle insurance info tommorrow.
12. get the lead out, pretty please.

Merry Christmas season everyone !!!! Don't forget to enjoy the season & let the joy flood through you.  All is good, all is good. Rejoice!
 I will decorate my site soon, I promise. Love you all !!   HO, HO, HO !!!!!!
Kathy Mary H.

The legends are completely true: it rains here most of the time when it doesn't it is usually rather cool (55 is the normal temperature for Federal Way in winter, spring and fall.) even into June and July we often have cool days. We do have some 70 degree days in May - and this is one of them. Every so often it actually gets up into the 80's and 90's but I wouldn't hold my breathe !

I am going to work out the Patio and clean it out and weed out the rest of the yard's edges - so it is yard work today. I miss HOT weather of the south but I admit this day is absolutely perfect.
I am crocheting myself a new purse and I think I may take pictures and post a pattern of sorts. It will require my level of knowledge of follow it because I am so inexperienced writing patterns.
Well, have a great day everyone. If I have time later I will write a real blog.
Kathy Mary