Finished!

Nearly two years of knitting, and my first sweater is complete! It was cast onto my needles in February 2007 and knitted during many alone hours, a few car rides, in two yarn shops, propped up in bed, on an airplane, in front of the t.v., while visiting family in WV/VA/NC, during a move, and draped across my growing belly. I tried it on last night, and while it doesn't quite cover the belly, I'm content to just enJOY it folded there in all its finished glory!

Tree Topper

Christmas Cards

I didn't quite get around to creating our usual Christmas photo card this year. Gini sent me a box of these, though, and they couldn't be more perfect...my favorite word, my favorite color, and sparkly glitter. I'm hoping to find a few moments to send a couple out in the next few days. Thanks, G!

Little Pink Hat

This was my first project using double pointed needles.

I am so pleased with how it turned out!

Christmas Cookies

We're off to a Christmas party tonight. These Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are coming with us. Of course I had to sample one (or two) just to make sure they're edible. Scrumptious!

I found the recipe here.

Simple Wrappings

brown craft paper tied with JOY ribbons

Baby Shower by Mail - Part 5

I found this gift on the front porch as I was leaving for the grocery store yesterday. There was no way I could leave it unopened the whole way there and home again! With not much room to spare between the steering wheel and my belly, I tore into the polka-dotted paper showering the Jeep with pastel glitter. Inside I found these cute little footed sleepers and a sweet note from Cookie. When I got home, I draped the sleepers over a kitchen chair and set the card up for Lee to see. The sight of those little footsies dangling there makes me smile every time I pass them, so I've left them there. Why not enJOY their cuteness for a few more days before putting them away in her room? I didn't clean the glitter up in the Jeep, either. It's just so sparkly and fun. Lee took the Jeep to work today. Wonder if he's enJOYing the shimmer too ;-)

Thank you Cookie, Danny, Abby, and Emmy!

Grab 'n Go

I baked these blueberry muffins for Lee's breakfast treat this week. YUM! This batch includes King Arthur's white whole wheat flour as opposed to their all-purpose, fresh blueberries, and sour cream. The sour cream worked well, but next time I'll try the vanilla yogurt option for its added health benefits instead. I also sprinkled some demerara sugar on top before baking, adding a delightful crunch!

You can find the recipe here.

Breakfast Treat

Whole grain pancakes with bananas and pecans...delish!

Sometimes...

only a teacup and saucer will do!

I'm sipping Winter Chocolate Rooibos today and enJOYing Martha's Christmas Cookie issue. I don't subscribe to her magazine, but it often calls to me from the rack at the grocery store checkout. Her recipes and crafts tend to be a bit more than I'm willing to tackle, but I'm drawn to the gorgeous photos...perfect for illustrating my journal.

Rearranged

Our Pumpkin Spice centerpiece from Thanksgiving was beginning to droop. I snipped the ends off each stem, peeled away the roses' curling outer petals, gave them a fresh drink, and added a few fragrant sprigs of rosemary. Now we can enJOY it for another few days.

Busy

We turned our kitchen table and added a leaf to accommodate us all for Thanksgiving dinner. Even though it's just the two of us for awhile now, I asked Lee to leave it that way. Now I really have some room to spread out. I'm packaging up some December treats, working on my December journal, and writing thank you notes. It's a good place to be on a frosty December day.

Baby Booties

I adore these baby booties for two reasons:

*They're so darn cute!

and

*I followed the pattern all by myself, learning three new skills along the way...yarnovers, mattress stitch seaming, and I-cord.

I can't wait to see them on her little feet!

Baby Shower by Mail - Part 4

Box #4 arrived all the way from Hawaii! The wrapped package that I'm holding contained children's books...three sweet animal tales from the islands. There was a bag for mama with a tub of Alba Botanica body cream and a hibiscus flower rubber stamp...two favorites of mine!

Baby H also received a couple of footed sleepers. The fleecy white one has ears on the hood and paw prints on the feet...too cute! I can't wait to snuggle her in them.

Misty & David, thank you so much for your thoughtful words and delightful gifts!!