How did it get so late so soon?
It's night before it's afternoon.
December is here before it's June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Dr. Seuss
Some laugh at me, but with
five children, their partners,
Mom's, sister's and friends
my Christmas list is quite long.
I try to plan and make most ofmy gifts, avoiding the mass
produced store items if I can
and this take a lot of time. As
of today there are 315 days
until Christmas and I want
to be ready without causing
any undo stress in my life.
With the rain falling outside
and the temperatures continuing
to drop all day [hooray] it is the
perfect time to work on gifts.
There is a fire in the woodstove,
a hot cup of chai in my mug and
I am knitting the Shalom Cardigan
figuring if 6519 knitter's have cast on
before me it must be a great
knit.
The yarn is Plymouth Baby Alpaca,
it is baby soft and has just enough
acrylic that it won't lose it's shape
over time. Not only do I love the
color, it was in the sale bin!
The Olympics has consumed a lot
of my reading time so I am still
reading Wild, trying to read a few
pages each night before falling
asleep.
Joining with Ginny.
So nice to see some pretty blooms... such a lovely color, as is your Shalom! Hope you get a little snow and not much ice, if the storm is headed your way. Sounds like you have a great plan to stay warm and dry :)
ReplyDeleteI really love the color of the yarn and I have really been wanting to read that book so will look forward to your thoughts on it! Have a good week. Cold weather headed your way so enjoy some cozy time!
ReplyDeleteI have this pattern myself and have been thinking of casting it on for awhile. The yarn you chose is subtle and oh so soft looking. Can't wait to see the progress!
ReplyDeletethat is the prettiest shade of pink :) would you believe I haven't knit that pattern yet?!?
ReplyDeleteOh Tracey, it is going to be amazing in that yarn and colour. And way to go, I have started to think about Christmas, but nothing on the needles yet :)
ReplyDeleteMuch to love with this post. Those beautiful flowers with the rain drops. Love it. Now, that beautiful pink yarn...nirvana!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures! I have had that pattern in my queue for years. I just can't seem to find the right yarn for it! You have chosen a beautiful one though! I can't wait to see the progress on it :-)
ReplyDeleteLove all the pink!
ReplyDeleteWe won't see any sprouting flowers here in months...
What a pretty pink. It's going to make such a pretty sweater. I'm so jealous of you today - I would love to be sitting in front of the fire. Alas, I will have to wait until I get home tonight. I hope you are getting rain and none of that awful ice they are talking about!
ReplyDeleteOur tree is blooming, too. It's a little early for it, I think. But the flowers are so pretty (for the very short time that they last).
ReplyDeleteI'm terrible at starting gifts early. If I finish early then I'm tempted to just go ahead and give them away. Lately I've gotten to the point where I start too late and all my gifts are given after the actual event. I can't seem to find a middle ground. (:
What amazing colour those blossoms are. They look like magnolia blossom. The yarn looks so soft and cosy to wear. I've seen lots of examples of the shalom cardigan and they all look lovely. I think I saw Amanda Soule in an off-white one that she'd added long sleeves onto the pattern.
ReplyDeleteYour day sounds perfect, I wish I could pop over with my knitting and join you by the stove. Although I'm struggling a bit because I've cut my thumb so knitting is a little tricky at the moment. I can't wait to catch up though.
Enjoy your perfect knitting weather.
deb
what a gorgeous color...and how perfect----a spring color and spring flowers, but still that touch of winter cold.
ReplyDelete(love dr. seuss!!)
Beautiful blooms! Lovely lavender colorway! No laughing here at your year-long Christmas knitting...I think it's a fabulous idea. The daughter and I started a gift collecting bag after Christmas this year; we're buying/making/collecting items and filling the bag as we go so we can pull things from the bag when we need a gift. Sometimes we buy with a particular person in mind, sometimes we buy on impulse because an item is on clearance. I've got a Shalom in my future...
ReplyDeleteMagnolias, already? I'm so jealous!
ReplyDeleteoh, buds coming to life? I wish that was the case over here!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures aew breathtaking and make me ache for spring! Which is far off for us, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to cast on a shalom. .. I have some repurposed yarn all ready for it but have been too busy with smaller projects. I love the color of yours!
Love how you make handknits for all of your beloveds.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see it finished, Tracey. What a wonderfully soft color you have chosen, too!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful colour. I've been thinking of Christmas gifts already too, it's not just you! :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's wonderful you're planning for Christmas...but it's really nice to see some blooming things since I'm still firmly caught in winter! Love this pattern.
ReplyDeleteI love my shalom! I've been "layering" quite a bit lately and have considered making myself another one in a different color. The color you chose is very pretty!
ReplyDeletethat yarn is fantastic. it looks so cozy and fuzzy. i think it will be perfect for a shalom. i was working on one this past christmas but was not happy with the yarn choice. to heavy for AZ.
ReplyDeletethose photos of the flowers blooming... stunning, just stunning. <3
I adore baby alpaca yarn, and your color is beautiful! Your photos give me hope that spring will return again... someday.
ReplyDeleteI will look for the book you suggested...anything to help with my sock knitting:) I really enjoyed watching my sock grow and the heel look like a heel...
ReplyDeleteTracey..your pictures are so inspiring...
Hugs to you,
I hope those beautiful blooms outside don't get frosted with the cold weather coming your way! That is some gorgeous pink squishy yarn your knitting with! At least you know that your people appreciate your knitted gifts to them.
ReplyDeleteThe yarn is such a pretty colour, I just want to hug it! I also think being prepared for Christmas is a good idea, I have started my list already too! I'm trying to give evryone something handmade this year! Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteWow you're super organised working on Christmas stuff already!
ReplyDeleteChristmas gifts? what a wonderful idea! 314 days to go... :) m.
ReplyDeleteI loved knitting the Shalom cardigan (I've done it twice now)! Also - love how organized you are for Christmas! I think I'll start doing the same. I already have the pattern printed and yarn bought for a pair of Christmas socks so all I have to do is cast on!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous pink. Simply beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a beautiful cardigan and the yarn looks so soft and cuddly. Not that I want anything like that at the moment. The heat here is nearly unbearabel but we have been promised rain.
ReplyDeleteour japanese magnolias are usually beginning to bloom at this time but given our colder winter, we will have to wait.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this post, gorgeous sentiment and fabulous project.
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous yarn!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos! The pink is perfect against the branches.
ReplyDeleteLove those magnolias (of course). I love the way the flower emerges before the leaves. And what a find in that sale bin! You are so good being so organised - I promise myself every year to make an early start especially with homemade gifts.
ReplyDelete