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 !!

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

I've got that foggy,weird distorted feeling I used to get when young and working on weekends with my mom in the Abby kitchen. I try my best never to exhaust myself to this stage, but here I am. I used to cry, I would get so exhausted I could nothing else.

I sent the last gift box out this morning  - but funny, funny - when I went to dry the wash later, I found 3 scarves that I had totally forgotten about. Oh, well - Maybe that is why Leon's brother's wife's gifts seemed a little skimpy this year? I also have a store bought shawl that should go to someone, I just don't know who  -- Me?
I try for evenness and coverage of all ... but sometimes I just muck up, if only a little. I promise to perk up later, really I do!

Wednesday is Mail -Day. Help me, oh, Lord ! I have to wash and pack everything we made - and I am still working on several projects. I erred,too,  when I wrapped several hand made items before photographing them - I wanted them for bragging rights, here, but also as a help in future years so I don't make the same exact things in the years to come.

All my dearest friends and family seem to be across country. Leon's brother & wife, for instance, are in Virgina, his home state. Other friends, we met here are now scattered across the country in such varied places as Boston, Michigan and Indiana - so everything must travel at least 2000 miles - in two cases, 3000 miles. Really, sad, in a way. It is far more fun to hand a gift to a friend and watch them open it, particularly when you made it, yourself.
 I miss them all both friends and family.

The snow fell but disappeared by morning. The low lands here are not prone towards snow in any large amount - a real snow storm is a very rare thing and even those tend to melt in a day or two as warm tropical air from the Pacific, again, asserts itself. We must go the foothills or the mountains to really see snow nearly every year. As it is I am shivering some as I sit here.

After all this work is done I will settle down some, clean and dust the house - put away a lot of yarn, at least for now, and then, decorate !  I can barely believe another year is its decline. It doesn't seem possible.
Well, the dishes await my presence with a stink rarely smelled in civilized society so duty CALLS !
Sunday afternoon: they are predicting a windstorm tonight or tomorrow.  Just what I need ---- a windstorm ! The chimes outside have been ringing all day,  as it is.  They are saying 60 MPH on the coast but they aren't saying much about inland, that means it could 60 MPH inland or it could slow down to 40-45 MPH. <sigh>
So do I have the clothes washed ??? Are cats carnivores? completely washed - just a few washcloths and I think I will wash those, too - heck I may even iron some, now that the kitchen is caught up! 
I am going to massively irritated if we lose power.

I have no idea what picture I would use for this post... one of those old Doan commercials. I have been wrapping gifts for hours. I am not nearly done but my feet and back hurt, hurt, hurt and I still haven't washed dishes or clothes. The only cure for my back and feet is sitting down a moment and relaxing both. Its going to snow tonight, hence, the decoration today on this website ---  I will believe it when I see the snowflakes, myself.  Leon would have  a fit if he actually thought I wanted snow.
NO MATTER how hard I try I never get the presents quite right - I am giving L. gift shawl to B. because I didn't have enough for B. - etc. somehow it will all even out, I suspect, but I buy/make gifts over months so sometimes I over buy/make for one while neglecting another... is this unconscious favoritism? Don't answer that question, it was rhetorical.  Does anyone else ever do that kind of thing ... now, lets see - 10 gifts for A. and 2 gifts for B. How do I even this equation off. A (10) + B(2) = A (6) B (6)  =   what have I done?
(why do they have no variety of smiley faces on this site?)
Well, I have to clean up. I forgot to weigh myself today - I more than likely lost more weight. Last time I weighed myself it was 182 and that was the day after Thanksgiving - perhaps tomorrow I will remember to do it. Today I got up with Leon and as soon as he left and my coffee was made I started moving things around and getting my supplies out to wrap.
++++
When at last the day is done,
last things said,
let it be
that I was generous to my friends
(to a mighty and surprising fault!)
and rather a puzzle to all.
++++


Tis' nearly December, people ! I must mail, mail, mail by the 5th. or be put to shame ! Merry Christmas to all and a busy week to Santa's many elves.
HO, HO, HO

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.

Hi, everyone -
I am being held at the North Pole. Santa says he's not letting me go until I finish the Christmas presents I have been neglecting. I pulled all outstanding projects, varried as they were, out of bags and have begun tying off ends, hiding ends and generally washing & finishing all the projects but you know how Mr. Santa Claus is - What an elf !  Don't try to ransom me !!!! I got'ta do the work like a good Italian Elf or there will be hell to pay!!!!! But please, though, send vegetables and a little chicken soup, for mercy's sake. Even the houses here are made of candy and I don't want to  destroy my diet. When I asked for my daily rations I was handed hot peppermint soup with floating candy cherries  and loaf of dark chocolate.  The dessert was german chocolate cake. I resisted all temptation and hung my head in both sorrow and wonder but I am going to lose control without some vegetables.  Help !!! send vegetables, soon.
Kathleen Mary H.
North Pole,  international waters
November, 15th, 2007
P.S. Santa is allowing me to watch a real interesting history video about gunslingers in the Old West, so he isn't completely without mercy, nice of him, no?