Let Advent Begin!

I know there is a lot of chatter of no Christmas until Thanksgiving.  I whole heartedly agree!  Except, when hand-made-ness in involved, then Christmas "things" are allowed.  I have completed my set, I now need to plan the devotions.  I purchased small brown bags, Christmas gift tag stickers,  and ribbon. Each ornament will hide in a countdown bag under the mantel, along with a devotion.  This year, our Advent daily devotion will be a true devotion, a song/carol to read and listen to, one of our wonderful picture books to read,  or an act of kindness.  I'm still creatively thinking about how to include the Santa, Santa hat, and stocking. I'm thinking along the lines of generosity and surprises for topics.

Here is a description of the last batch of knit ornaments:
Manger - brown "container" with hay-like insert

Baby Jesus - knit in the round, yep, I'm a pro now. (This is part of a wee nativity set, and Mary is almost done; she is tricky.  There is Joseph and a donkey; I may table this for another time.)

Santa Hat - knit in the round, which I've discovered hats are easiest to roundly knit

Bells - very fun, as I am a bell ringer, and believe it or not, knit on 2 needles (not round)

Snowman - this broke my rule of buying yarn for this project, I really wanted fluffy white

Santa - A red triangle with lots of pieces added, not my favorite end result, but oh well.

Stocking - my first sock, I now know how to make a heel flap and how to turn the heel (socks are trickiest to knit in the round)

Bauble - a fun, traditional ornament

Mitten - my first knitting in the round ornament; the thumb isn't perfect, but I now know how to make sure the stockinette stitch is carried throughout in the round vs. on 2 needles. Not really interested in re-doing it.

Gingerbread man - a very nubby stitch, had to make 2 and stitch the front and back together, lots of parts and processes

Star - to be placed on the top.  5 points made individually, then joined together and cinched at the end for the center. I may add shiny beads for a little extra

Just imagine all the yarn ends to weave in at the end.  Each one has a crocheted hanger to attach and hide ends.  These were great little projects, but I am glad that I am now done.  I have learned a lot and am a more comfortable knitter!

Advent will be fun, I can't wait to show you how these will be used!

Round and Round I Go

I have finally figured out how to knit in the round.  The last few ornaments in my Advent Garland depend on knitting in the round.  I am now approaching, and really not yet overwhelmed with starting the thumb gusset.  But just wait until I have to put 8 stitches on a safety pin to save for later, you know, for the thumb.  We'll see how this goes.  I initially thought making such a tiny thing in the round would be more clumsy than it really is.  But then, I realized that it would be a short project to complete, without making two.  Since it is an ornament, I don't need a pair.  I shall see how this progresses.

Still deciding on whether or not to make the pudding ornament.  Do you know of anyone that makes and eats Christmas Pudding?  I would like to consider crocheting or knitting some of the Nativity, baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and maybe a shepherd.  I would also consider making the holly and the ivy larger that is part of the pudding ornament.

Getting there, on schedule - which is pleasant!  Only 4 3/4 ornaments left to make!

Friendly Food Swap

I have been doing a lot of cooking, as of late, or so it seems.  But, not so much of eating what I cook.  I recently went home to MN to visit and help my parents in any way that I could.  One of those ways was to cook.  I literally made up my mind to just cook them meals there, since I can't pop on over on a weekday and just deliver a warm and tasty meal.  So I shopped as soon as Aldi opened, and showed up with my cousin's crock pot and bags of food.  I told my Dad that it was cookin' day, and I did not buy them groceries - I brought them meals.  So I planned out timing wise what order to prepare all the meals, and in what container and what cooking method.  We had 2 crock pots, two Dutch ovens, some things on the stove and some things in the oven.  After cooking, all meals were portioned and frozen flat in baggies.  Oh, and in between all that, we carved pumpkins and roasted the seeds and I met a cherished friend for a coffee visit!  A very welcome break.  Then there was dishes and mopping - I was grateful for all the helping hands!  I was tired, but the meals are in my parents freezer.  If they have not yet been enjoyed:

beef stew
pork roast with sauerkraut
chili
marinara sauce
shrimp with vegetables
shredded chicken for tacos

Then, when I returned, we put on our Halloween spread.  Treats are given to our neighbors as we trick-or-treat, and this year we gave mini-loaves of pumpkin chocolate chip bread. We serve hot dogs, have a huge crock pot full of chili, some fixins' and hot chocolate.  Good thing I helped myself to a bowl, because it was GONE by the end of the evening.  We had about 100 trick-or-treaters or friends stop by.  Our house is becoming a known stop.

Eric, today, went to the Bears game with his buddies, a yearly tradition where he always brings the chili for tailgating.  He makes it, not me.  But he starts it at night and when we awaken, the morning welcomes us with the aromas of chili. At 7:00, on a Sunday.  Chili for breakfast, anyone?  Not me.  But the guys seem to enjoy it by 10:00.

Then, after washing out that crock pot, I made a large batch of chicken enchilada filling.  Multiplied the recipe by 9, exactly.   Friends from church and I are doing a food swap, to help with the upcoming holiday preparation season.  We are each making one meal in a large quantity.  And then we will meet and swap, so we will get 9 portioned and different meals for the freezer.  Sounds like a good thing to me.  Ever buy that many ingredients at the store?  Well, it is interesting and I did get some funny looks and comments.  But when my freezer is full, I'll be content - and well fed!