Jo Knits!

Silent night...

On Christmas eve we joined many people in Old Montreal to see fireworks, it was the 1st time the kids saw any. Christmas carols were the background music and the whole thing was simply magical, it felt surreal to be watching fireworks in the winter. The weather was perfect and after the show we went into a big snow fight, Carl, my mom, the kids and I. We were screaming, we were laughing a few dozens of people just stood there and gawked. We were just having fun and had a blast. Carl got snow in his coat, my mom was 'pushed' into the snow. We were trying to catch our breathes and the kids we just as pleased as can be. At that single moment everything was perfect, we were all just SO happy together. We smiled the whole way back home!

We were all blessed with beautiful gifts from Santa and each other. We each were truely surprised and some of the treats we received too. It was fun, not the big event most families I know have but it was us, small and with the closest of family members that we are. One thing that was really neat was doing our groceries on Christmas day, do you know just about no one does them? LOL! The lines were short, the people were happy and we splurged on a few extras. We walked around the neighbourhood and simply enjoyed our day. For supper as tradition wants it, we had chinese for supper, we've been doing that for about three years now, again it's just one of our quirks. We aren't enough to go all out and cook a big festive meal so chinese is good, everyone finds something they like and we always have enough for a second full meal.

I am so proud of how this sweater is coming along! I don't think it will be finished by the end of the year but that's ok. I have to learn that I am knitting something for myself not just to blog about my progress. When I started the sweater I had no clue if I'd have enough yarn to even finish it, how risky is that? Luckily I am confident that I shall be ok... Then again, the At Knit's End book should have taught me a thing or two! LOL! I started reading my "signed by the author" book a few days ago, it really is a laugh out loud kind of book.

It's with great sadness that I saw that Kerstin is leaving the blogging world at this time. I must say though that I feel the exact same way, I have for a long time but keep on blogging for now. I just blog less and choose what I talk about, which I never did before. I feel that I am like an open book and find it hard to limit myself in writting what I want.

Hope everyone is having a safe and fun holiday season. :)

p/s: The chicken pox have made a 2nd victim in the house, his name is Lucas and he is not enjoying it!

Joyeuses fêtes!!!

In Quebec most people say happy holidays in french and it is never a big deal like it seems to be in english. Perhaps it is because most celebrate Christmas and when we say happy holidays, what we really meant is have a merry christmas and a happy new year. It's just shorter to say happy holidays!

That said, Santa's coming!!! He's already left the North Pole, been to Australia and China too. We will be following the progress throughout the day with our two excited kiddos.

I have been knitting, these wristwarmers we done so quickly, I sure wish most of my projects went as fast. ;) I am also knitting a top-down sweater following a blend of some online patterns. It is going well for now, the only thing on my mind is... will I have enough yarn. HAHA!

I think it is the 1st time the kids aren't getting chocolate advent calendars, this kit is really neat, each get a box to open every day. This year there are no tree in our house, it is an expense we decided to skip although we will try to decorate a window to please the kids. I really thought Zoe wouldn't accept it but she was all for saving money if it meant we'd use it for a special activity this week. LOL! She had a blast on the last two days she went back to school, now we are on pox-watch for Lucas.

Nothing much is happening around here, so wishing you all a happy festive holiday whatever you celebrate.

hugs,

Chicken what!?

You'd think I am raising a mutant alien but instead my beautiful daughter is slowly progressing with the evolution of having the chicken pox. Luckily we expected it so we were ready, now it's only a matter of time before little brother gets it too. When we called school, the secretary said "let me guess, chicken pox?", seems Zoe isn't the only one. Last week a 1st kid got the pox and I'm guessing the whole class will be through it from now into the holidays. I am happy that the kids get it now while we are home too. Some things in life have a funny timing, we don't have family to visit or planned events for the holidays so nothing is cancelled. Even better it gives us an extra excuse to not see people. LOL!

In keeping with the reading club Zoe's doing at school, we had to find books that would ease her mind with her present condition. For now Caillou will keep her busy, still on the hunt to find the Zoe and Theo book. Yeah, those books are in french, give the girl a chance will ya!?

Today we got a real snow storm, finally we have a thick white coat everywhere, it's looking so much like Christmas. After shoveling for an hour though, let's just say the excitement of getting all that snow went away. It was fun though, the kids are so happy, it's magical when there's a lot of snow on the ground. This monster under snow is Lucas tractor that he wanted to use to clear out a few neighbours entries. Crazy kid! Let's just say it's not everyday we get 16 inches of snow throughout the day.

Pssst! Check this out!!! Not saying what it is 'cause it will jinx it I just know it. teehee!
hugs,

Will I ever knit a sweater?

SOS! I think I have found it, THE sweater that I can knit, that I can finish without too much trauma. I have already swatched now all I need is the pattern... Sigh... I thought for sure it would be easy to find an old Interweave issue but that's not exactly right. So if you have the IK Fall 2002 issue for sale (it better include pages 22-24 LOL!) or (how lucky can I be) to give, please let me know. I have been on many website and really the Retro Prep sweater is the way to go, I want to try my hand at it. I do have a question though for those who have knitted the sweater using Noro (it's been in my stash for two years now), how do you change the pattern!? I mean, the pattern suggests using Rowanspun DK is 200m/219 yards per 50g, Kureyon has 100m/110yds per 50g.

Now on with the sad part, I thought I'd be honest for a sec and let it all out. It's not going too well for us, everyone is healthy and we have a roof over our heads so it could be worst I guess. Right now the holidays are the thing I fear the most in the next few weeks. Basically we would qualify for a holiday basket/donation this year again and it's not fun when you know you qualify for that kind of help. Sadly back in october Carl and I were still in school with dreams in our eyes and hope that once finished we would have a job. Well it's been over a month since we 'graduated' and we are both without jobs. By january we will both have no more unemployment and it is pretty scary to start a new year without anything to look forward too.

We try to protect/shield the kids as much as we can about our fears and finances, please forgive my lack of enthousiasm with posting pictures, leaving comments and just plain old knitting. I have tried reaching out to friends but it's been hard. I am keeping to little energy I have to smile when the kids are awake and then cry as they sleep. It's tough, it's scary but we will survive, we have gone through thick and thin over the years and we always survive. Woke up monday with a pinched nerve and spent two days lying in my back with my thoughts. Let's just say it's been an emotional ride.

By the way Zoe got an A from her teacher in her report card, the meeting went very well. I am now confident that she is learning well at school with a loving teacher. I talked to her about my concerns of her discipline in class and she reassured me pretty well. The teacher actually took some time to explain to Zoe why sometimes she has to discipline the whole class instead of just a few people. It made my daughter accept it more and she is now happily going to school. Teachers strike is helping too, this week the kids are off tuesday and thursday. LOL!

Off I go once more, I am staying away from the computer for a few days. It hurts too much to see all the joys of the holidays on blogs when I just don't have the energy to be as happy. This too shall pass, no worries.

hugs,

Stripey stripey.

One stripey slipper down and one to go. For someone who needs a quick gift that can be knit in a day this is it. From babies to adults (that one fits my size 10 foot!) Theresa created a quick pattern to knit for the holidays, this is actually part of a series she started last year... or was it 2 years ago already? Anyways, these are the pay and download kind, so you can start knitting them tonight if you want too.

I can't wait to finish the 2nd slipper, then I MIGHT start on a pair for Carl. He rarely asks for anything to be knit for him and I got a great idea on the yarns to use for him. Gotta make him happy, he's been cooking rather impressively these days. teehee! The slipper in the pic is knit with Peace Fleece and Bartlett 2-ply yarns, I really have a 'thing' for knitting with rustic-like yarns. It feels more rugged, silly but it makes think I'm more of a 'real' knitter than when I use really over processed yarns, you know? Hey, I love my Lorna's Laces yarns but I do enjoy to knit with more natural yarns too.

Tonight I meet Zoe's teacher and we get her 1st report card, I am SO nervous. LOL! We did get her school portfolio this week and it had all great grades, Zoe's really doing well after all. It's nice to know and she has read 15 books already for her class book club. She even learned how to do a computer project with her name, a holiday picture and had to print the work. It's so cool that they get to learn on computers so early. Although I am stressed to meet the teacher, I know my daughter is doing well in learning.

Then it's off to Tim Horton's for a nice little hot smoothee and special dessert treat. Hey, we like to celebrate/reward hard work. LOL!

hugs,

Knitty's out.... finally! LOL!

Finally a reson to post, Knitty's winter 05 issue is out.

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I have started this sock but not sure I like it yet. It's the Jaywalker pattern offered at Magknits.

On the homefront, things aren't going too well, it's tough to find something happy to post so I try to not blog at those times for now. In this household we always say how from one minute to the next everything can change and it sure does. Now let's hope by the time I wake up tomorrow morning all is well and good and then I'll start posting more again. LOL!

hugs,