Hello Again!

 I spoke to my lovely mama on the phone today and she said she missed Pom Pom and I realized it has been a long while since I posted.  I think it's because when I DO open my laptop and start clicking around I can very likely spend over an hour enjoying myself and getting completely lost in Ravelry, The Woolly Thistle (great online yarn shop), Pinterest (you get the idea).  I do not like to miss your posts if you blog, but sometimes well . . . you know, the knitting, the reading, the writing, the drawing, and of course the home keeping . . . 

Here's my new calendar!  I wonder if I will knit birds.  

 Sam models her sweater. She's so nice.  

 Our trip to the American Girl store to buy her birthday doll was a quick endeavor.  After that, noodle eating.

 Thanksgiving was easy breezy.  I made trifle and let's face it, anything with that much whipped cream is delicious. 

These precious ones had a nice feast in Ft. Collins. They enjoyed a Glenwood Springs vacation prior to the holiday.  

 The next weekend while Sam had a sleep over with Miss Bug, Plum Cake and Millie came here.  We had fun! James and Noah joined us in the morning, so we went to the school to play.

This spoiled baby doesn't like it when the house is humming with people.  Does he look a little angry?

 I'm still decorating for Christmas, but I do love the fake fire I can display on the tv.  

We've been walking at the mall again.  The decorations are incredible

 We stopped at the grocery store on our way home from Thanksgiving dinner at Jenny's and bought a new Christmas tree.  We threw the old tree out.  It was bursting out of the tattered old box and every year it seemed to be harder to unbend the branches. We both love this skinny little tree.  

 While we were walking at the mall I got a much needed haircut.  

 Here is the local lap napper.  

Kim of My Field of Dreams and I decided to blog every day in December.  Her daughter Kessie is going to do it, too (I'll put her blog on my blog roll).  Would you like to?  

We want it to be part of our Advent ponderings.

Let me know if you'd like to join us.

I like this last week in November for resting a bit before we begin our full on holiday activities.  That's a bit of an exaggeration because our December won't be that crazy.

It's almost time to light the first candle.

Thank you for checking in (HUG!)

I've Got Those Christmas Feelings

 I've been watching The British Baking Show on Netflix. It's so fun to watch the bakers pull out the stops and produce such sweet treats.  I baked cinnamon rolls for dinner the other night (not just for us) and I used the frozen kind.  Cheater!  Not quite a star baker!

I finished two things!  This shawl/neck scarf thing.  It's kinda wonky so I must have made some mistakes.  Oh well!  It's done!

 I MAY have a bit of a wool hoarding problem.  Do you think so?

 This little sweater turned VEST is my next finish.  I am adding the rib to the armholes but I am waiting because I have been knitting too much and have knitting related aches again.

 It's hard being a teenager.  It's exhausting, it seems. 

 Here's Samantha's sweater.  I hope it's not too small.  I tried to stretch the sleeves.  Kids grow so fast and grannies are slow knitters!  Well, this granny is. 

 A cute guy says, "Hello, Beautiful!"

 I really should hide all of my knitting, so I am not tempted to knit.  It's hard.  

 I'm still loving looking at my gnomes on the red shelf.  My sister gave me most of the gnomes.  We give each other gnomes every now and then.  Our husbands are not gnome lovers, however.  

 I'm planning a knitty Christmas tree.  We'll see what I come up with.  I often get the Christmas feelings right before Thanksgiving.  I often think I should resist them, but maybe I'll capitalize on the happy anticipation because it might go away when I really need to feel all the holiday buzz buzz. What do you think?

 It's been cold for November.  I was out walking today and I tried to remind myself to look up.  I tend to forget my sunglasses and look down at the sidewalk instead of looking at the gorgeous scenery!  

I keep thinking about advent and the baby Jesus.  I want to memorize this:

Philippians 2:5-11

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 

Who being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself

and became obedient to death - 

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

This is TRUTH.  I promise you.

Thank you for popping in, kind visitor. 

Good November and the Festive Build Up

 I've been busy with our company, but now they have flown home.  They had to watch television by themselves at night because we are sleepy hosts and climbed the stairs early each evening. 
I read The Vintage Shetland Project by Susan Crawford (a huge treat of a book) and then I had to order some of her wool from The Woolly Thistle.  Delightful. 

 Look at the combo of festive stuff, Halloween trick or treat bags and Christmas wool balls!

 I've been watching Katie of Inside Number 23 (YouTube) and knitting away on my Norwegian colorwork jumper (smile). 

 . . . and drinking tea - yum!

 I took my brother and sister in law up to see Brad's gang.  We loved worshiping at Brad and April's church.  My brother and Brad had fun catching up. 

 We went to Garden of the Gods.  PRETTY! (My brother is funny! I love his brain.)

 My big brother and I 

 The trick-or-treaters were lovely!

 And scary!  (James is such an engaged little man!)

 Christie is a master baker (I think!) and whipped up these lovely offerings on Saturday!

 Here is the Cozy King, relaxing on the heated blanket.

 I've been tuning in to the fire video on YouTube since I can't have a fire (messy and wasteful) and I do love that.  So cozy!

 White hair on my shoulder in BOTH photos of perching Timothy.  I'm shedding, I guess.

I am thankful for November.  After being busy with guests, I feel like I am on holiday.  Things have slowed and I can enjoy the festive build up.  

I might cook a turkey soon because we're going to Jenny's and Scott is going to smoke the turkey, so our house won't have that roast-y smell.  Maybe I'll cook PART of a turkey so I don't have to wrestle with a carcass.

What is your November going to look like? Will you read?  Knit? Cook? Bake? Walk? Hug people?

Thank you for coming by, calling in to say hello.  YOU are kind.