Christmas Eve 2010

Presents have been wrapped. The roast is resting in the fridge. The last mince meat pie in this city has been found and bought. The tree is still standing!

And hubster and I have started a new tradition. Instead of the Feast of the Seven Fishes--we had the Supper of the Three Seafoods

Lobster Bisque and Clam Chowder--both very tasty--



and yummy Shrimp Rolls.



Thank you, Luke's Lobster!

Wishing everybody a delicious evening!

The Saga of the Tree

On Sunday, hubster and I went to Zingone's for our tree.



The tree guy said, "I've got a great tree for you!"



The top of the tree was trimmed



and hubster hauled it home in our SUV (Sidewalk Utility Vehicle.)



Between giving the tree time to settle and me being busy, I didn't get a chance to decorate until Wednesday. So I blasted the Christmas music, made myself a cup of coffee spiked with eggnog and got to work.

As I added the many hand-made ornaments, I remembered the talents of loved ones who are no longer with us



and admired at the creativity of new friends.



And just as I was enjoying it all. . . . .



EEEEEEK!



After some tears and a phone call to the hubster at work, I assessed the damage. Not much. Only two ornaments were smashed.



Ornaments that were on the floor or were in precarious positions on the fallen tree were set aside in a bowl



and, when the hubster came home, we righted the tree. Next morning, more Christmas music and more coffee spiked with eggnog and I re-decorated.

And that's the end of the story--I hope!

Christmas 2010 in NYC

I don't need the grand scenes in this city to get me into the Christmas spirit.
(Click on each photo to make larger.)





The trees and wreaths and lights in my neighborhood are enough for me.











And sometimes the smallest unexpected Christmasy thing makes me smile.

Seen in NYC

See that hat? Let's take a closer look:



Yep, an entrelac hat. Love it!

This hat looks like it could be handknit and the yarn might be Noro. If I had been thinking and moving quicker, I would have stopped the woman and asked.

Ravelry has a few pages of entrelac hat patterns. This hat might be the Fourth Grade Hat or maybe even the Blustery Day Beret Entrelac Hat or perhaps the Cricket Hat -- but without the topknot--or it could also be Amanda's Entrelac Hat.

Anybody recognize the pattern, yarn or even the woman wearing the hat?

Here's a good tutorial for knitting entrelac. During the winter, I played around with entrelac and it was a lot of fun. Hmmmm. . . . I wonder if I have any Noro in the stash?

Parade Time Warp

Right now I'm sitting on my couch watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But let's go back a few hours. . . .

(Picture wavy lines, fog and spooky music here.)

Hubster and I stumbled out of bed at some ridiculous hour to dress in many layers and walked up to the end of our block to take photos of some of the floats being set-up.

These horses would soon be hitched to



the Calliope Wagon.



Yes, it was just about this dark!



Before too long, "rosy-fingered Dawn" appeared, (Bonus points to anyone who knows from where I'm quoting.



and it became easier to see what we could see.
(Photos can be clicked on to view in a larger size.)









Brooklyn cousins living in faraway places, this one's for you!








Because of the barriers set-up to facilitate a smooth-running Parade, we could only walk a few blocks. So we decided to get breakfast at Lenny's.





(Here comes the wavy lines, fog and spooky music again.)

And here we are in present time. Hubster is taking a nap before we go to Thanksgiving dinner with friends later today. And I'm viewing the Parade from a front-row seat--my couch!







Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Too Cute

Want to see something cute?



How about this.



These, too.



Here's a whole bunch of cuteness.



All of these sweet sweaters were made by my friend Roz--an extraordinary knitter. What pattern does she follow? None. Nada. No pattern necessary. She's made so many baby sweaters over the years that she can sit down and start knitting in whatever stitch and style she feels like at that moment.

And each sweater turns out perfect.

All of these cuties are gifts for babies present and future. There's babies who haven't been thought of yet who'll be the lucky recipients. I tell Roz she needs to make something for herself. She says she will---right after she makes another baby sweater.

Gawking

Everywhere I looked at the Knitters Review Retreat, there was a beautiful knitted creation. I wish I had photos of all of them----but, here's just a a few.