New Year's Eve

Don't know about yours, but our New Year's Eve was tops.  We started off going to Grace, the restaurant owned by Husker's son, Adam, for a glass of wine and to wish Adam and his beautiful wife, Caroline, a Happy New Year.  This was to be a short stop only because we were spending the midnight hour at Billy Bob's, World's Biggest Honky Tonk.  Husker's baby boy, Jon, is the bass guitarist for the Eli Young Band, the entertainment for the evening at Billy Bob's. 

Adam was happy to inform us that he was sold out for New Year's Eve, and that son, Jon, and fiancé, Sarah, were in the dining room.  So we had a chance to visit with both of Husker's sons and their beautiful ladies before going on to Billy Bob's to see Jon and the boys play. 

Upon arriving at Billy Bob's, we picked up our complimentary tickets and backstage passes, and learned that they were likewise sold out (that means 6,000 tickets).  For a bar/honky tonk, that is a lot of people.  The green room walls are lined with the logos and signatures of lots of big names.  It is humbling and amazing for Husker to see the band's logo on the wall alongside Willie, Loretta, LeAnn, and so so many others.  Husker thinks it is a very nice payback for all those music lessons, violins and guitars.  We also have another tie to a logo on the green room wall at Billy Bob's.  My nephew, Kerry, is the bass player for the Deryl Dodd Band. 

The crowd was amazing.  They knew the words to all their songs and sang along.  Mike Eli, the lead singer, always acknowledges to the audience their contribution to the band's success.  I think recognizing the audience's ownership of Eli Young is part of the key to their loyal following.  Some pretty good songs don't hurt either!  Check out Jet Black and Jealous, their last CD.  The next CD is imminent, and they sang the number that they expect to be their next hit, Crazy Girl.  Stay tuned.

Jon and Sarah's mothers were there, too.  Sarah is the aunt of Zach, for whom I knitted the Wonderful Wallaby.  Sarah's mom, Sue, said the sweater fit, he liked it, and pix would be forthcoming.  Until then, I am attaching a shot of the finished product.  You didn't think that I would NOT have something knit-wise in this, did you!  Happy New Year and many beautiful projects. 

Pulling off a Holiday Season Miracle

Husker and I have been carefully watching our weight this holiday season.  We both added a little during the Thanksgiving period, but succeeded in dropping the added weight.  We both dutifully recorded our carefully maintained sizes on our chart on Christmas morning.  Could we make it through Christmas day without gaining? 

This morning was the evidence.  We both weighed the exact same as we did yesterday morning!  In fact, Husker has been working on his weight much more diligently than I have.  That is a difficult thing to do for someone who loves to cook and eat.  We both want to look better for Jon and Sarah's wedding late in January. 

Speaking of cooking, Husker seems to have developed an especially good feel for making a great pot of soup.  No two pots are exactly the same.  What goes in the pot is dependant upon whatever is on hand.  At Thanksgiving, there was a lot of ham left. So Husker turned out two pots of distinctly different soups, one with navy beans and parsnips, and the other with split peas and carrots.  Both were so scrumptious!

Yesterday, there was also a lot of ham remaining.  So of course, we are about to experience another pot of soup that will include some ham.  Can't wait.

We had such a good time yesterday at my son's house for Christmas.  Lots of people, lots of good food, etc.  Children playing with their gifts, etc.  Here are a couple of the highlights that Husker managed to catch.  Laura Gale is the first great-grandchild, and she is a sweet girl, too. 

Something that I did recently -- in one of my feverish moments of cleaning and organizing -- was to clean out my jewelry box.  I put anything that I thought 8 yo Laura would enjoy for playing "dress-up" into a baggy and took it along.  It was not a Christmas present; it was a little lagniappe.  It went over better than the sweater that I made for her!  Note the two bracelets. 

However, the best thing about yesterday was not the success of maintaining our weight.  It was meeting Jesse James Otto (J.J.), Shilo's new baby boy.  The youngster arrived December 14, 2010, about a week early, and it was a good thing he was early -- he weighed 8 lbs., 1 ounce, and was 21" long.  He mostly slept through yesterday despite everyone taking turns holding him and trying to get him to open his eyes.  His most wakeful moments were when his grandma Dina gave him a bath.  After wrapping him in a towel, he was quite willing to open his eyes and frown at us.  He showed his disdain for the preceding events by pooping in the towel!  Aren't babies grand?

Jones Family Christmas

The North Texas Joneses go their different ways for  Christmas, but we have our own get-together ahead of time.  Last night was the time, and Jon and Sarah's was the place.  We started a tradition of having a Chinese auction/white elephant type of gift exchange.  This usually results in some really interesting gifts (what is it?) to "stealing" someone else's gift until it is officially dead.  We eat too much, drink too much, and have a fun evening with family.  

Even the dogs get into the act. 

Then the official day of Christmas rolls around and everyone goes to their significant other's family home.  Adam and Caroline will go to her parents' home, Jon, Sarah, Cavaliers Jemma, and Kingston are going to her brother's home, we will go to my son's home, and Barbara, Jennie, and schnauzer Sydney,  have their own plans for the big day. 

Jon and Sarah will deliver Zach's Wallaby to him.  So it results that Zach will, indeed, get the promised sweater by Christmas after all.

Zach's Wonderful Wallaby

During our Thanksgiving festivities, I met Master Zach Guinn, a charming 4-yo.  He was interested in my knitting.  He finally asked if I could make him a sweater -- and a hat -- and gloves.  I promised that I would try to have him a sweater -- and a hat -- and gloves -- by about Christmas.

After thinking about it, I realized that a Wonderful Wallaby would be just the thing.  The hood and kangaroo pocket would complete the requested items.  The Wallaby is about 4" from completion of the hood.  I am pleased with the project, and I hope that Zach will like it, too.  I am sending him an email today to show him a photo of the Wallaby to-date and let him know that the sweater will probably be there the week following Christmas. 

In addition, I am going to ask his Mommy to supply us with some photos of him with the Wallaby on.  That would make a very nice post.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

A Melt Down kind of day

The day has not started off well.  I went into the guest bath this morning to do some routine cleaning.  (Yeah, a guest is coming for lunch.)  This bathroom has a china pedestal sink, a blue-and-white-and-sage color scheme and is a nice place for visitors to see.  I got a shock as soon as I started to clean the sink.  It had a big star-pattern crack in it!  I could quickly figure out what had happened.  There is a glass shelf above the sink and it holds a heavy glass dish with soap.  It was apparent that the dish had been knocked off the shelf.  The dish did not break - just a minor chip, but it was heavy and obviously hit the sink in just the right way to shatter the corner of the porcelain sink. 

I do not use that sink often -- hey, I don't go into that bathroom except to clean it for visitors.  So who did this and did not have the guts to tell me?  Husker does not know either.  We cannot remember who was last here that would have been in the bathroom.  I do, however, know when I last used that sink.  On Thursday, November 18th, I used the sink to soak the sweater set that I made for a niece's newborn.  Funny, I cannot remember who has been in the house since then. 

Now let me ask you -- if you knew who the last person in the bathroom was -- would you confront that person?  This is going to be an expensive repair job.  I am upset and hurt that the person who did this has not told me. 

How Thanksgiving should be

Typically, Husker and I spend Thanksgiving with his family -- either here in Texas or in Nebraska.  Then on Christmas, we go to my son's house.

This year was the first holiday season for Jon and Sarah in their new house, so they wanted to host.  It turned into a really big event with 21 at a table stretching 24 ft. through the formal living and dining spaces.  Plus an infant and 3 dogs were present.  Jon and Sarah did an excellent job of setting up and coordinating the food.  Jon and Sarah were excellent hosts and made everyone feel welcome and comfortable.  Special thanks to others who helped make the day:  Barbara, Jon's mom; Adam and Caroline brought wine and other goodies (from their restaurant, Grace?);  Jennie brought in a ham; Husker baked 4 pies; and Sue brought in dishes, too.  LOTS of food.  Everything came together perfectly.

Husker's daughter, Andra, and family came from Omaha.  Sarah's parents and grandmothers came from Nocona, TX, and her brother's family came from Killeen, TX.  

Yes, I took my knitting along.  Sarah's nephew, Zach (age 4 yrs) was checking it out.  Charmer that he is, he convinced me to make him a sweater, too.  And a hat. And gloves.  And could I have them ready today . . . 

Today, I talked with my son and he was taking advantage of Black Friday by going to Home Depot while the rest of his family did the Mall shopping.  He has 4 daughters, 3 grandchildren plus one due shortly.  So, yes -- their Thanksgiving was also quite large.  That is how Thanksgiving should be.

Free Newborn Patterns

All Christmas gifts have been completed, plus a newborn gift for an expected newborn arrival on Thanksgiving Day.  Among the Christmas gifts is a newborn gift for a Christmas Eve newborn arrival.  Wow!

I just completed the Thanksgiving arrival's gift -- a girl's sweater, cap, and mitts set.  It is very girly with plenty of ruffles.  The cap features a swirl design in the crown decreases using SSK.  This little girl will be born in Omaha and will need plenty of sweaters and caps, etc., for the first few months of life.  The yarn is WonderSoft by Stylecraft, color Blossom, and machine washable. 

This follows on the heels of creating the newborn boy's sweater set for the Christmas arrival.  Making two newborn sets back-to-back allowed me to double-check the accuracy of the pattern.  After tweaking the instructions, and expanding it to include the particulars of making the pieces suitable for a little girl, I added a photo of each version.  You are welcome to use the pattern,  but kindly give me, Brenda Jones, design credit.  Contact me for a copy.

See the last posting for photos of the boy's sweater and cap.  

 Happy Thanksgiving!