Around the House!

I'm tired this morning, I think I need to go to bed one night and sleep until noon the next day. Do you remember those days? Those younger days of ours when we would sleep in and wake up with the smells of lunch in the kitchen?

Not that I could do that nowadays, I mean, I'm the one making the lunch LOL But I do miss waking up when I want to, when my body finally says "ok that's enough, you need to get up". It just feels like a roller coaster sometimes, the days merge into nights and back into days and you hardly get a chance to breathe.

I think during this time of the year it's worse with all the Christmas hoopla going on. I'm trying to get all the gifts finished and ready for the holidays but as always I'm sure something will get pushed aside, remain in the sewing or knitting basket with the promise of "there's always next year".

On thursday we have Nicholas' kindergarten winter concert, it's his first concert EVER and I'm so excited. I remember the first time Jasmine had a school show, it gives you that sense of pride but it makes you want to cry too doesn't it? Or is that just me, after all I tend to cry for everything. But really, I'm going to enjoy every second of his concert and of course there will be photos and videos posted for the family and friends to see.

The rest of the week, I'm spending finishing up the Crayon Rolls, some of you asked me earlier what they were, so here you go:

I'm thinking that if I have enough time, I may make them another one but for their coloring pencils. My children LOVE books and drawing and coloring and pens and papers and all that fun stuff, I have to admit, daddy and mommy do too. You should see us at Staples or Office Depot....like kids in a candy store I tell ya LOL

I'm also starting on the baking for the gifts, I'm making 4 different cookie recipes so that I can use an assortment for each one. These will go to the kid's teachers, each of the kids will also get some for Christmas and hubby as well. Not to mention the Homemade Caramels which I make every year and they're a huge hit.

Homemade Caramels
Snow Drops
Mini Chip Butter Crisps
Lemon Butter Cookies
Grandma's Gingersnap Cookies

That's what will be in the gift boxes this Christmas, and one of those boxes is probably going in the care package for the troops. We'll see.

Now do you want to smile and go ooooohhhhhh? Do you? Because I'm about to show you my lemon tree, it's literally exploded with lemons the past two or three weeks and I couldn't be happier, some of them are falling to the ground already and being picked up and stored for Lemon Drizzle Cake and Lemonade and Lemon Bars and Lemon Chicken and Lemon Tea and anything Lemon actually.

I tell you, I get so happy when I see these beauties on my tree, how perfect they are and how unbelievably amazing God is to create them.

While I'm not out staring at the tree, you can see me on the couch, or the bed, with this basket nearby. Just looking at it makes me smile and my fingers itch to knit more goodies. I've got quite a few dishcloths in my kitchen already. The kids scarves are finished and wrapped, so is Jasmine's Acorn bookmark. Now I'm working on knitting my first hat which is a whole other post because I've never knitted with circular needles and let's just say.....well....it's a little confusing and intimidating at first, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

And this is where I ask you for free patterns, would you be so kind as to leave me a comment with a link to an easy knitting hat pattern, or maybe you can tell me how to knit in the round?
I truly would appreciate it.

With all the knitting I've been doing, I decided that I deserved something for myself, something to make mama feel good. So I'm using all my leftover yarn and making a warm and comfy knitted blanket for me, nothing intricate or time consuming, just plain knitted squares sewn together. I usually knit one a day but I'm sure if I had more time, I would have the blanket ready by now, see I'm a pretty fast knitter and make a square every two hours.

I love the different colors and textures, I just can't wait to have the full blanket to wrap around me on a cold morning or to snuggle with in bed. The kids have already been eyeing it out and have asked me when I can make one for them, guess that's next on my list....maybe after the holidays and when things have calmed down.

So this is where I stand right now, surrounded by goodness, and by homey things that make me smile. Now I'm off to sew OR knit OR make a cup of tea and read a good book.....like the one I read last night. Yes sirree, I picked up Elizabeth Berg's "Dream when you're feeling blue" and read it in 3 hours. Goodness, I don't know how but I did. It was THAT good.

The story follows 3 sisters, Kitty, Louise and Tish through WWII. As Kitty and Louise say goodbye to their fiancee and boyfriend and then keep the home fires burning while they're away. Through letter writing to them and other men at war, these three sisters grow closer and find out things about each other.

A Rita Hayworth look-alike and her sister keep the home fires burning for young men going off to fight WWII in Berg's nostalgic tale of wartime romance and family sacrifice. Hoping her boyfriend, Julian, will propose before shipping out to the Pacific, beautiful redhead Kitty Heaney discovers not only is she not engaged, but she's enlisted as the delivery person for her sister Louise's engagement ring from Michael, her boyfriend, who has departed for the European front. Distance makes Louise's and Michael's hearts grow fonder while Kitty discovers independence through her job at a bomber factory. As the months go by, Louise learns she is pregnant and Kitty meets an attractive soldier (one of many the girls encounter) at a USO dance.

I've always enjoyed Elizabeth Berg and this is one of her books that I'm glad I picked up at the library. Next on the list.....who knows, whatever strikes my fancy.

God Bless,