Swatching

Hope your Thanksgiving was great, I have to say that around Casa Contessa it was FABULOUS! Three active and wonderful grandboys in the house and their mama (my oldest) as well. Lovely! My apple crumb pie, pumpkin pie and stuffing were announced the Best Ever. The farewell breakfast of peanut butter chocolate chip pancakes were given the title of Best Pancakes I've Ever Had In My Whole Life. Certainly makes cooking more fun I have to tell you!

Yesterday was spent in total quiet, in my holiday jammies if you must know. Pretty great. I've been swatching on a Super Secret Project. You know the kind.

I can tell you it is a tonal blue Ultra Alpaca------ and I really like the yarn a lot. Just fuzzy enough, nice and soft without going to total mush, and nice stitch definition. The tonal colors are very nice, muted and reserved but not boring, the color repeats not too long not too short.

If Oprah were a knitter I'm pretty sure she'd be holding this swatch on the cover of the new mag with the Favorite Things! Oh wait................... she IS!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Although there is much work to be done---- it's time NOT to do work. Well, at least the kind that pays the bills. Instead yesterday I spent the day cleaning *(right down to glorious floors)* and cooking like a madwoman. My oldest daughter arrives with husband and three great grandsons--- and let Thanksgiving begin! Turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes, two kinds of sweet potatoes, 5 cup salad, my favorite cranberry sauce and green bean casserole. Pumpkin and Pecan Pie---- and a deep dish apple crisp. As always it seems so much to do in order to eat in a fraction of the time. I played my apple game, the one where you challenge yourself to peel an apple with a paring knife and not break the long curl of apple peel. Once again I failed. With luck that will be the only failure of the day.

I do feel as if I've left out some important details. Popping over to the online presence of Butterball to check how long it takes to roast an unstuffed 17 pound bird (because I never remember)------ I found a checklist for the most perfect of holidays. Listed for the day before was:

• Make your table centerpiece. See our Dressing up your Table ideas.
• • Set the table.
• • Pick out your outfit and iron it.
• • Clear out the coat closet for guest coats.
• • Clean the guest bathroom and put clean towels in the bathroom

Darn, and I forgot to pick out my outfit and iron it. And double darn, there is no table centerpiece this year, not a Thanksgiving one anyway. I confess that I've decorated for Christmas already, for the boys naturally. So turkey napkins are happily residing on the table (which Ms. Butterball I set the day before) with Christmas bric a brac.

For The Big Day the fine folks suggest:

Thursday (Thanksgiving Day)
• Eat breakfast — everyone will be happier if they aren’t trying to get ready hungry.
• Make the stuffing in the morning and stuff the turkey right before it’s ready to go in the oven.
• Make sure to get the turkey in the oven early so that it will ready at the scheduled dinnertime.
• Get everyone involved. Assign someone in the family to greet guests, some to take coats, someone to pass around appetizers, someone to fill water glasses and get drinks, etc.
• Get containers ready for guests to take home leftovers.
• Enjoy your meal and enjoy your guests.

I have not eaten breakfast, I'm wrestling a turkey----- the stuffing is outta the bird. Scheduled dinnertime? And as far as getting everyone involved, I'm pretty much sure that ship has sailed! This crew strongly believes that everything is MY JOB. They tell me it's tradition. If I showed up with a nice pressed outfit they'd no doubt wet themselves.

Everyone heads out Saturday night to drive back to the East Coast, I'll be ready for some knitting and quiet but will surely miss the wildness of a house full of loved ones of all ages.

Hope you have a fabulous and very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Black Tie & Fish Eye

Okay. So we had to go to a black tie gala. I felt REALLY old most of the evening------ and confirmed what I already knew about myself. Instead of partying until all hours I would have rather have been at home by 9 knitting than watching those around me get, well outside of some alcohol.

While the photo makes me look a little trashed I remain ever emphatic that I did only have two glasses of wine and an after hours beer. The fish eye makes me look like a wild machine. Which I am not. Usually anyway.

Instead I remained a great sport, encouraged those around me who work really hard all year long to let their hair down (I give you exhibit a) and tried not to let anyone drive home in the bag.

We left at 11 and ended up closing a crazy bar at 3. I applauded to karaoke--- served cocktails, smiled and laughed and was a stand up broad. I was puked on about 1:45, that was kind of nasty as my purple satin skirt was unceremoniously "grazed" by the incident------ two people had to have cabs called. I do NOT do jaggerbombs and was able to quietly hide the foul tasting offender so graciously offered. When someone's lighter landed in said barf---- I did not jump to extricate, no matter the caretaker and smiling queen role had been assumed. Sorry, ain't happenin'.

I arrived home feeling like the pumpkin coach must be parked somewhere, absolutely exhausted, was in bed by 4 and wondered when I became unable to Party Hearty. I can still party with people mostly young enough to be my, well we will leave it at that. But I sure don't enjoy it as much.

What I did enjoy was waking up this morning at 8. A very late start for me but regardless, outside of being a little weary I did not wake up with my head in the potty as I'm sure many did. All things considered it was fun, and definitely outside the box for me----- these things keep you fresh they say? Maybe.

Maybe this old broad will get some knitting done later on. Just call me the Sage Crone! ;)

Get over and Be Inspired!

Run-------- really. Now, if you can. If you have not seen Amy's FABULOUS Christmas issue----- well, you have to. It's like the smiliest thing that has happened to me in a long time and that includes the new Vogue Knits!

LOVE IT! Bet it makes you happy too! Click below and let the smiles begin!!!!!!!