Merry Christmas ~ but so glad it's over !!

well, I survived another Christmas. as always it was quiet but nice. my daughter and I brought the labs, and headed to my parents for too many presents and an awesome dinner. afterwards we sat downstairs to enjoy a roaring fire, some coffee and open our stockings. this year it was fun because we got stocking hangers that were frames, and put pictures of the 4 of us when we were all young. all in all, a good day !!

Boxing Day meant hitting the mall. this year Kelsey and I went to Erin Mills for a change. it was busy, but not as bad a before Christmas. we both spent some money, I got a couple of sweaters, and Kelsey got some CDs and a DVD. after we got home, we were busy putting away some of the disaster created by Christmas, and then Kelsey headed to her dad's for a few days ... I spend the rest of the evening puttering around, and trying to recover on the couch.

got my felted back done, which turned out great .... the Harris Tweed socks for Kelsey aren't quite done yet, but will try to finish them tonight or tomorrow. I've posted a pic of the bag, but wont post the socks until they are done.

back to work today, but lucky to be able to work ... back in the office tomorrow.

Cheers !

Yoga Mat Bag ~ another Christmas gift done !!

Yoga Mat Bag
Originally uploaded by knittedpiper

well, I'm very pleased with the way this project turned out !!!

only 2 comments for if I every do another one:
- knit using circule needles so I dont have to sew it together afterwards (I HATE that part)
- dont rely on the pattern ... use the finished product to judge how much cording should be bought for the handles (I bought the 60" as described in the patter, but feel that it should have been a wee bit longer)

hopefully my Mum will get alot of use from it after Christmas, when she goes off to her yoga classes !!!

Happy Birthday and a sad farwell

well ... it's a day filled with mixed emotions. Today is my good friend's Birthday (happy 30 12), but unfortunately we also said good-bye to my Parent's cat Suzie.

Suzie was a miserable, cranky old puss. she was great with me, until the day I brought my baby girl home in her wee car seat .... from that day on, she hissed at me every chance she got. that being said, she was with my parents for a good 20 years, and was a much loved member of the family. as cranky as she was, complaining first at me bringing my daughter into the family, then when I started bringing my dogs ..... she eventually learned to tolerate my daughter, and ironically looked for my dogs when ever I came to visit (especially Hasia ... who she'd go nose-to-nose with at every opportunity). the strange thing, she never hissed at the dogs, she never hissed at my daughter, but for 16 years she hissed at me every time I came round !!!

Happy Birthday Wendi

R.I.P. Suzie ... God Bless, we'll miss you.

Chosen Soldier ~ touque

I got my new "chosen soldier" assignment this week, and I"m thrilled. this is my second soldier, and the first one that I'll have for Christmas. one of the suggestions are touques, slippers, etc .... so here's a quick one that I knitted up. if all goes well, my first box will go out to him by the end of the month.

my foster puppy, Maisie, was graceous enough to try to model for me .... but it was kind of difficult to get a nice shot .... so here's a picture of the hat sitting on my piano. hopefully it will look nicer on Cpl Miller.

Celtic Knot Scarf

here's another gift (to be).

it's knitted in a lovely aran wool, and not only does it look great but it should be nice and warm too. I wont know until Christmas, but I'm sure it's going to be enjoyed !!

Cheers!

Breast Cancer Slipper-Booties

well this is my first "knitting-related" posting ... and after all, that's what this blog is SUPPOSED to be mostly about.

my friend and neighbour was struck with some bad news a couple of months ago. she went in for a check-up, and a lump was discovered. then the biopsy, and finally the mastectomy. unfortunately, her husband is also going thru some medical issues, so the timing is just brutal. fortunately they have a great care system from their children, and my friend is a very strong & independant woman ... who I know will come thru this just fine.

a couple of years ago, one of my best friends when breast cancer as well. thru her, I learned about the non-medical difficulties that one goes thru when they have cancer .... the loss of hair, and about all the hours sitting around the hospital when you are going thru your tests & treatments. because of her, I started donating up-to-date magazines to the Credit Valley Cancer Centre, participating in runs to support the hospital itself & Cancer Support Services. I also started knitting for my friend. I knit chemo caps, slippers, shawl & lap blankets ... oh and a "falsie".

so, back to this posting, now that you have the history ..... with my friend & neighbour just recently beginning her survival journey, I thought a pair of nice "pink ribbon socks" would be great to knit for her. they turned out lovely, but because I used baby weight yarn and not "sock yarn" they turned out to be more of a slipper/bootie and thicker than a regular sock. I tried them on and they are great. originally the plan was to have a sock with 3 pink ribbons going up the leg, but as they ended up bootie-like, I stopped at just the one.

take a look ... I'm quite pleased with the results. I dropped them off on Friday evening with a jar of home-made organic vegetable & bean soup (and my prayers and good wishes)

More Birthdays ~ Betty & Maisie

ok, so again this has nothing to do with knitting (or piping), but it is about my dogs. today 2 of my (4 current) dogs are having their birthday.

in August, my daughter adopted Betty, one of our foster puppies that disqualified from the DogGuide program. Betty is a beautiful purebread black lab, that was being trained to be a CVC (Canine Vision Canda) Dog (or seeing eye dog). unfortunately, due to her highstrung nature, she disqualified after almost making it thru the program and only a couple of months from being partnered with a client and graduating. our Betty-Boop has been Kelsey's special puppy, and Kelsey has talked about wanting to adopt her (just in case) ever since Betty was recalled for training. Betty is our first foster puppy to be home for their birthday (until today the only), and she is now 2 years old!!!

Maisie is a chocolate purbreed standard poodle, and my foster puppy. co-incidently, she also shares Betty's birthday of October 17 and the honour of being our 2nd foster puppy to be home on their birthday. Today Maisie turns 1 year old !!!

I love all my puppies ... but today our Betty (Boop) and Maisie (Mutt) are special. Happy Birthday !!!

Happy Sweet 16 to my "Baby Girl"

well .... this is my first posting, and the perfect day to do it (even though it has nothing specifically to do with knitting).

16 years ago today, at 12:53 am, at the Markham Stouffville Hospital, I was blessed with a 9-lb 10-oz baby girl. 21 3/4 inches long, red hair and light blue/grey eyes. she is still the joy in my life, and my proudest "accomplishment" as I watch her continuing to grow into a beautiful young woman.

I love you "baby girl", and am so proud of you.

love,
Mama