A small group of Castoffs met at Leslie’s house. Marylane and Francy are out of town for Christmas, but everyone else dropped by for at least a while. Mary brought her grandson Moses, who seemed a little uncertain of all the loud women. He settled down though and played happily at Mary’s feet.
Every year, we wait in eager anticipation to see the Charlie Brown extravaganza that is Leslie’s Christmas Tree. Leslie’s trees are kinda… out there, and this one was no exception. Now, don’t get me wrong – we all really like her trees – they’re just a sprocket past normal. This year Leslie’s tree was wonderful, albeit not quite the tree seen in Miracle on 34th Street.
It does look slightly Middle-eastern.
Leslie displayed the three stockings that she knit for her daughter’s family, and she also had a charming Western Christmas scene that belonged to her mom. Definitely looking like Christmas at Leslie’s house. It will be perfect when little Mira gets there on Sunday.
Moses really liked the lights on the tree, too. He stared and stared – maybe he’d never seen such a wondrous tree before. Well, at seven months old, he’s probably never seen more than two Christmas trees anyway. This tree may set the season in his little impressionable mind. Leslie, you’re molding small brains to a bigger vision of Christmas! Yay!
Moses is such a cutie – and he loves his grandma so much!
Linda brought a basket of pretty yarns that she’s using to experiment for circles that will adorn the Chair. Since I forgot to bring the Chair with me – my bad – we just talked about different patterns and colors. We’ll get down to business about decisions for our project after Christmas.
Pretty jewel tones in Linda’s basket.
I knew that we probably wouldn’t be knitting too much, so I didn’t drag my afghan to Leslie’s house. Instead, I brought the blue vest that I STILL haven’t sewn together. My New Year’s resolution is to finally finish a few projects that have been hanging around my house. I love to knit SO MUCH. So much, that I avoid doing the little niggling finish work, like sewing the knit pieces together, sewing on buttons, felting, etc. You know – all the things that actually make a finished product. Well – this is my year to catch up with all that unfinished knitting.
My vest ONLY needs to be sewn together. And a crocheted edging added. And blocked. All the boring stuff.
Michele stopped by very briefly, but long enough for us to admire her finished mittens. The pattern she used makes a much more fitted mitten than the basic pattern I’ve used. Hers has definite left and right hands. My next pair of mittens will be like Michele’s. I tried them on and they felt great.
I love these mittens. They’d make a great stash project.
It was good to see Deb and Julie who came by in the midst of the excitement of the season. Deb’s son was just accepted into med school AND got engaged! Congratulations! Deb will have a wedding to go to this summer. Her other son is planning to do his student teaching here in Kalispell. Busy, busy. Julie’s kids are home for Christmas – Terra and her husband from Texas and Nate from Bozeman. Nate’s girlfriend just got a plum job offer as a nurse in a hospital’s oncology department. Good news abounds for Deb’s and Julie’s families.
I wish all the Castoffs and their families a very Merry Christmas and a wonder-filled 2013! We will not meet next week (Christmas week) but we’ll be together on Jan. 3 at Michele’s house. As I’m writing this, we have fresh snow on the ground and brilliant sunshine turning the snow to diamonds. Enjoy the warmth of the season, Castoffs, and I’ll see you all next year.
Merry Christmas to all!
