'Twas...

Crystal Days...

Crystal Mountain Range...
(Click! to enlarge)

We just returned from a few days at Crystal Mountain, WA. The first two days the weather truly was frightful, but when we woke up on our third (and last) day, the sun and blue skies greeted us in full glory!

What a wonderful way to start the Holidays!

Birthday!

Today is my dad's 77th birthday! Gefeliciteerd Paps! 
(haha, I never call him that...)

I can never find good cards in the shop, plus I must admit that with the distance involved I have to send the cards at least a week in advance, and that just doesn't happen...

So anyway, I made him this fun birthday card in Photoshop. He used to work in the stationary/ office business so I added some binder clips and a stapler etc. The picture was taken in the year I was born!

--  **  --  **  --

In the mean time, my two men have finally arrived home late last night. It took Mr. G. 11 hours there and back, the roads were that bad! Needless to say, they are both still asleep as I am writing this...

While I was waiting for their return I finsihed knitting my first ever hat! I didn't want it to form- fit my head so it is a little bit large but I like it that way. Look at the fancy top:

I am quite pleased if I say so myself!
I used circular needles with the 'magic loop' method, plus double pointed needles. I didn't have the right size for the latter so I knitted a few rows with two double pointed needles together! (never again!) I love the little tail detail at the top and I added the pompom myself. I might add some embroidery to the hat, but that will have to be later. First I want to spend some time with our son today and hear about all his finals tribulations etc.

Have a wonderful 4th advent weekend everyone!

PS Almost all the snow has disappeared again. Good thing we enjoyed while we could!  {smile}

Let It Snow!

Click! to enlarge...
(find the Snow Angel)

Not only did we get a snow delay, they ended up closing pretty much all of the schools in the area! {smile}

Above you see Miss M. wrapped in her blankie on our driveway. (the Ghost of Christmas Past?)  <wink> These pictures were taken very early in the morning (before 7am), but around 9am she and I headed out to the Tolt River and of course we took tons of pics. Here is just a small selection...

Mr. G. will be leaving in a little while to cross the mountain passes twice today to pick up Master C. He couldn't have finished on a worse weather day, but he still has finals today so no choice there. Snow chains, ice scrapers, blankets, a lantern and lots of snacks (chocolate milk, beef jerky and salt & vinegar chips) are in the back of the car, just in case...

Small Gifts...

Every year in our cul-de-sac we receive lovely small gifts from our neighbors to celebrate the season. This is what we have prepared for them this year...

Click! to enlarge...

Well, tomorrow might be our last school day of the year. Quite a bit of snow is in the forecast for the morning commute so school might actually be cancelled! {smile} 

The bad part is that Mr. G. is driving across the mountains tomorrow to pick up Master C. from Gonzaga. Winter storm advisories are posted all along his route and then they still have to drive back also. (at least 9 hours there and back) It is going to be a long day...

Mid-December Day...

These pictures were taken yesterday when we were on our way to IKEA.
The last pic shows the Olympic Mountains in the distance...

This week has been a little bit cloudy, a little bit wet and just plainly said a little bit quiet. This is what I needed since I was a little bit under the weather. A short head cold that thank goodness didn't go any further than that. 

I took a few days 'off' so to speak and fiddled around with some sewing and some couch reclining etc. I had a nice run outside this morning after a two week break. First it was too cold to run and then I actually caught that cold, so it was nice to get out there again.

This upcoming week is Finals week for both kids, never fun. At least the end is in sight and a long (two weeks for Miss M. and three weeks for Master C.) Holiday period will be there to be enjoyed by all...

Here is my latest dress that I finished only a few minutes ago. It will be great for in the summer as is, or now in the winter time with warm tights and a cardi. I really like the lines in this and there weren't too many pieces  involved so I might just make this one again. We shall see...

Happy 3'rd Advent Sunday everyone!

Bobbles & Birdies...

I have to smile when I look at this cowl. What a funny (and fun!) piece of knitting. I obviously did not use a pattern (nobody would design such a thing on purpose) but just tried out different techniques. I knitted using size US 13 circular needles and with this thick yarn it all came together rather fast. I love how the bobbles came out. They are huge!  {smile}

I think I will be wearing this cowl today. I'm feeling a bit 'krakkemikkig'  (i.e. under the weather a tad) and just want to curl up on the couch with the latest Mollie Makes that I gifted myself yesterday. Candles are on, the x-mas tree lights are on and the x-mas radio station is on: just right!

I'll leave you with a few fun birdie pictures I took a couple of days ago...

Evolution of a Bobble...

A couple of days ago I received a lovely Sinterklaas package from my sister at Pike Street. It included several very yummy kinds of Dutch Sinterklaas candy, a couple of magazines (101 Woonideeen was one of them!) and a knitting book for cowls and hoods: yay!  {smile} 

The picture of the Bobble Cowl immediately got my attention. First I attempted to follow the instructions in the book (bobble #1. and #2.) but those didn't quite work out. Then I went online and on You Tube found a really nice and clear video of a how-to et voila, two really nice Bobbles (#3. & #4.) if I say so myself!  <wink>

This black one was just a sample, I'm actually knitting in pretty much the same color as the cowl on the front of the book. I'm using needles US #13. and fat yarn so it is going pretty quick. We'll be needing these warm knitted items for a few days more: this morning it was 12F = -12C!!!! Brrrrr...

And on another note, I finished my Moss Mini Skirt Grainline pattern yesterday. I really like the model, with a real front fly (= zipper) and all, but it was way too big! (Or in other words: I am way too thin!  <wink>)  I will have to fiddle around with the waistband a bit to make it fit better in that area. I usually wear skirts with something over it anyway so you can't really see the waistband, but still, bummer...

Click! to enlarge for more detail...

And I have one more newsworthy item: halfway on my way to school yesterday afternoon I noticed the car 's engine was overheating (the temperature gauge was at its highest point! very scary!). Mr. G. managed to drive it home (with me in his truck behind him) and the verdict is a broken water-pump. The total cost will be around $900!!!  Bingo, and that right before Christmas....

 

Baby It's Cold Outside....

And man, it really is cold outside: 27F and it feels like 18F! (= -3C and it feels like -8C) 

That is nothing compared to the temperatures Master C. is experiencing in Spokane right now: 15F and it feels like 1F! (-9C feels like -17C!!!) His poor room mate who is all the way from Hawaii...  Brrrrr! 

Anyway, I wanted to show you my first ever proper knitting project: the Lacy Keyhole Scarf! I'm mighty impressed if I do say so myself. This little project has given me enough confidence to start another knitting project. I signed up for a hat knitting class (also on Craftsy) so maybe it is time for that... How exciting!

Otherwise things are fairly quiet over here. It is cold, but bright and sunny out here. I just received the cancellation call on my lesson at Little Bit. Thank goodness I now don't have to venture outside for an hour and a half with twenty layers on. 

Tomorrow is the Makers Market at the Tolt Yarn & Wool store and in the evening we will celebrate the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony here in our little town. They always serve hot chocolate and chili and things like that for free and we will need it with this cold! I think we might take the car this time! 

Two more weeks of finals etc to go and then The Holidays will be here! We've planned a few days on Crystal Mountain again (remember these pics from last year?)...

... and we will celebrate X-Mas in Tacoma with the in-laws. Otherwise nothing is planned which is just fine with me...

Hope everybody is staying warm and dry this weekend!

The Stitching Circle...

Picture taken from the inside looking out...

Last night I went to my first ever knitting stitching circle at our new local yarn store: Tolt Yarn & Wool. It felt just right...  {smile}

Click! to enlarge...

Oh Oh Christmas Tree...

Click! to enlarge...

Haha, this is what woke us up at 5am this morning!  We now have to figure out a new system of keeping this 12 foot/ 3 meter tree up, what a mess...

But, first things first, Master C. came home for the Thanksgiving weekend and we immediately put him to work:

After a week of very cold temperatures it suddenly became very mild so we decided to put up the outside x-mas lights before the actual Thanksgiving day! (unheard of ...)

We had a lovely Thanksgiving afternoon with the in-laws. We had a ham and mashed potatoes, two kinds of vegetables and two kinds of pie. (chocolate cream and a pumpkin pie of course) Fairly simple fare but very tasty and we had a good time chatting and laughing, just how it should be. {smile}

The next day we went out to cut down our tree. Yes, the one you see lying down  in our living room in the first picture. It is way too big as usual so I'm hoping that next year I can finally convince our lovely daughter that a smaller tree will do just as well... <wink>

We had a good time though trampling around all the x-mas trees in a field here in the valley. After we put it up we had 'poffertjes' together and added a few more ornaments and decorations throughout the house...

Great family times!  {smile}

Master C. and Miss M. in good form...