Merry Christmas

I hope you and your family have had a wonderful, safe Christmas. We are winding down at our house, but having an 11 year old and a 2 year old here all week has made it very fun!

They and their parents arrived last Friday night and after dinner since it was such a nice night we drove down to NC to this light display. Nikki was fascinated with all the lights, little decorated cabins, train sets, etc. It was great to see her enjoying it so much.

Saturday night we celebrated Nikki's 2-year birthday! She didn't really get the concept yet, but loved the cake, being the center of attention, and the presents!

Knitting and blogging have definitely taken a back seat to cooking, trying to keep enough clean towels for the next shower and clean dishes for the next meal. That and playing have occupied most of my time!

Christmas pictures later!

Cookie Exchange

Yesterday a group of friends got together for our annual Christmas brunch/cookie exchange.

These were my cookies - cranberry/macadamia nut cookies dipped in white chocolate. I made some with dried cherries and some with cranberries. Both were delicious.


Doris, our hostess, had her house beautifully decorated.

First things first, let's open the wine!

Our brunch was delicious - filet mignon bites wrapped in bacon, Jewish coffee cake, cream cheese cinnamon pastry (sorry Peggy - don't know correct name, but it was wonderful), sausage pinwheels, cheese pinwheels, ham/cheese brunch bake, cheesy apples, spiced cider, wine, coffee.

The whole group - we missed those of you who couldn't come.

From left, Doris, Donna, Kathy, Evelyn, Peggy, me, Judy

After eating, we played Dirty Santa and exchanged small gifts.

Just a few of the fun gifts.

Our cookie assortment!

Just before we made our way around the table dividing up the goodies.

Good friends, good food, a great Christmas tradition I hope we have for many years.

No Knitting Today

or much of anything else. I had the day off yesterday (Friday) and planned to help daughter move. I got up feeling a little queasy, but kept thinking it would go away. I managed a shower and got dressed and then it all started - both ends - I know TMI! Amy had this last weekend and husband had an abbreviated version on Tuesday so I should have expected it, but I thought somehow I had dodged the bullet. Not so.

I made my way to the couch and wrapped up in a afghan and told my daughter & husband I would come to help as soon as I felt better....well, that never happened. I had one of the most miserable days of my life. In between trips to the bathroom I wrapped up from head to toe on the couch just to keep my teeth from chattering. I couldn't stand lights on, or noise from the TV and later when husband came home and turned on the TV I had to move to another spot! I slept for hours and still went to bed at 9 pm. I'm better today, actually drank a little ginger ale, ate some crackers and tonight had part of a baked potato, so I'm back in the land of the living.

I can't knit though, not yet.