Christmas projects

Hacky Sacks for 2nd cousins.
Yarn: Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton from stash
Hook: Don't remember, but it's a tight gauge
Pattern: My own. Maybe I'll write it up some day. Very ease, just used basic crochet knowledge.
Notes: Filled half full with polypellets



Octopus for one of the twins
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Hook: Don't remember
Pattern: Octopode Pandemonium (ravelry)



Octopus for the other twin
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Hook: Don't remember
Pattern: Amigurumi Octopus (ravelry)



Chapstick cozy for teen 2nd cousin
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Hook: Don't recall (I know, I'm so bad!)
Pattern: Chapstick/lipbalm holder (ravelry)



Mini purses
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver from stash
Pattern: My own
Notes: One strap is braided and the other one I crochet with two strands of yarn held together (loosely with the same sized hook). Buttons were found in stash.



Soft ball for a 2nd cousin
Yarn: Red Heart Supersaver and another unknown acrylic from stash held together
Pattern: Used the same pattern as the hacky sacks, just a bigger hook
Notes: Stuffed with Polyfill.

Happy Holidays!

(photos copyrighted by jcpenny, used with permission)

'noman

One good thing that came from the *dun dun duh* Arctic Blast 08 is that we finally got to make a snowman! My niece has been wanting to make a snowman since it started snowing two weeks ago. At first the snow didn’t stick, then it blew around all blizzard-like… When that stopped, it was too powdery. We finally got some snowman making snow a few days ago, but by the time she woke up from nap it was raining (well, freezing rain).

Then it started snowing on Christmas. Then it poured down rain. Then it snowed again! The weather has gone all schizophrenic on us. When it stopped snowing, we were finally able to go out and make the snowman. Good thing she got a snowman making kit for Christmas! There was enough snow left over to make another one, but people were getting cold and the turkey was almost out of the oven.

Which brings me to another good thing about the *dun dun dun* Arctic Blast 08. We cooked the whole Christmas eve dinner by ourselves (our generation: me, Richard, my sis-in-law and her sister). We had fried chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes and corn bread. Then for dessert we had blueberry swirl cheesecake!

For Christmas dinner, we at least had my mom there to help with things. It was our first turkey! We were supposed to go to my aunt’s house in Scappoose, but that wasn’t an option. We were going to deep fry it… Well, we had to bake it, but it turned out really good. Richard brined it and we baked it in the convection oven. Er… and we had green beans and mashed potatoes again, but that’s okay, they were gooooood! I even made gravy (yes, hell might have froze over). I personally think the gravy was the best part of the dinner, but I may be bias. We finished it up with more blueberry swirl cheesecake and peanut butter cream pie.

Today was back to work after having snow days all this week. My bus still isn’t running so I’m relying on others to get me to and from work. Hopefully it will be running by Monday.

Snow Day!

Dear Bloggers:
Sunday was a snow day in Portland (and surrounding areas). I love the snow. However, the silly East wind blew the whole time. This is my only picture, from my cell phone as I ran from the car to my brother's house. Yes, I did leave and take my precious baby across town in the blizzard to bake cookies... okay, it wasn't quite a blizzard, but I've never seen snow blown around quite like it was on Sunday.

It's going to snow tomorrow, perhaps. They aren't often right... but they were right about Sunday. Maybe it won't be so windy and I can bundle Sabrina up and get some pictures... if it does snow.

I got to work yesterday morning via public transportation (good ol' trimet). My building was closed, but the office was open. I decided to treat myself to a Seattle's Best eggnog latte and it was gross! I should have just crossed the street to Starbucks, but it was so cold! Learned my lesson...

I've let my flickr account expire. I've just been too lazy to renew it. However, I've exceded my monthly uploads already (from before it expired), so I might do that tonight. I have some pictures to upload of the kids playing nicely together (for all of 2 minutes).

8 months

DSC_0263, originally uploaded by a-chan.

8 months, really?

Stats:
Sitting
Almost crawling forward, but can get where she wants most of the time by rolling, scooting, crawling backwards and doing 360s on her bum.
Waving. Yes, she's an early waver (okay, not all that early, the interwebs say not all 8 month olds can).
Leans towards me with outstretched arms if she wants me to hold her
She says: "Ah-da-da-da-da" and "Mom-mom-mom-mom" and sometimes there's an "N" in there for "mnah-nah-nah"
Going slow on the food because of her eczema. It's hard to tell if she's really allergic to foods or if her skin is flaring up for other reasons.

Naps in the car and then won't nap at home (as in, 5 minute car rides from church to home or the mall to a restaurant across the street).

Up next: project info in that cute hat and the cornucopia I crocheted for Thanksgiving.