Hooray, I made it through another work week! Seriously, I'm finding it more and more difficult to go to work in the morning. IF I could just win the lottery.... Well, since that doesn't seem to be happening, I've taken to arranging meetings/appointments every day, so I tell myself I have a reason to go to work each morning. Otherwise I think I might use up some of that sick leave* I've accumulated over the past 19 years. Sigh, if I weren't so damned responsible. On a happier note I took another marble out of the jar last week. I've finally reached the jail sentence....two years less a day!
Things are going much better at home. Last weekend was Grey Cup weekend - the final game of the Canadian football league championship. Our Roughriders had a pitiful season this year; they didn't even make it to the playoffs. The two teams that played for the Cup were the Ottawa Red Blacks (guess what color their uniforms are...) and the Calgary Stampeders (whose uniforms are also the same colors). It really didn't matter to me who won, though I cheered a little louder for Ottawa because they were predicted not to win. In fact, many sportscasters and fans suggested Calgary would run over them. Ha! Shows what they know...instead Ottawa came out strong and by mid-game the Stampeders QB appeared shell-shocked. Calgary came back but in the end, Ottawa won the game in overtime.
While the game was on, I brought up the Christmas decorations and started on the tree. I say start because it takes me a few days to be satisfied with the ornament placement. It all depends on where I sit in the living room. I think, a week later, I'm pretty happy with it. Though Saku
just knocked one off the lower branches so that has to be moved....this was one of the approximately 90% of the ornaments that are shatterproof.
Since I wanted the tree in front of the window, I moved the cat tree to the side. Saku still uses it though he can't see out the window.
There are some new ornaments on the tree this year, including the little stuffed animals that I found at Costco in October (!). There are also a few large green balls and snowflakes that were on sale at Canadian Tire for $1.43 an $0.73 each....I couldn't resits.
The china cabinet has been dressed as well. It is as close as I come to having a mantel. I haven't hung stockings for years and when I did, they were tacked up on the wall.
The living room gets most of the attention, though I do have a vase of artificial flowers on the windowsill by the sink along with a ceramic snowman. The table will eventually be decorated, however since Saku tends to like to hang out there I don't put out anything that he might be able to knock on the floor. The light about the table is fair game.
The past few years I've hung the crystal icicles (plastic) from the light fixture. After Christmas I found these plastic snowflakes and added them this year. I love how they catch the light and I leave them up all winter.
These week I also finished a sweater I started shortly before I left on my cruise. Obviously it is for my grandson, and I expect it won't fit him until he's 6-9 months old.
It is knit from the neck down in one piece to the underarm, then the sleeve stitches are set on holders while the rest of the body is knitted. With a pick of a few stitches the sleeves are finished. I really prefer to knit this way as it means I don't have to sew any seams!
I found the pattern on the internet though, and the instructions were a little lacking There were no lengths provided so I made an educated guess (using other patterns). The boy's version is rather plain so I decided to add a couple of appliques. Pinterest is great! I found these little cars to crochet. The pattern had little black crocheted wheels but I din't have any black wool so I added buttons instead. When I appliqued the cars to the sweater I left the windows open so they are little pockets too!
There is one big mistake that is visible - I miscounted on the rows for the buttonholes. So I have one more button than I ought to have and the top two buttons are further apart than the rest. Regardless, as I said when I posted the photo on Facebook, it may not be factory quality but it was certainly made with love.
This weekend has been busy with the usual household chores, some grocery shopping, and...clearing the driveway of snow. We had some flurries on Saturday morning and while it wasn't much, it needed to be cleared or it simply packs on the driveway. Besides we're going to get cold weather next week; the forecast is for minus 16-18C (0-3F) daytime highs and colder still at night. I plan on staying indoors where it is warm as much as possible. (Except when I have to force myself out the door to go to work.)
On that note, I'll close this post, wishing you all a good week ahead!
*I'm fortunate to work where we are able to accrue sick leave. I have used some over the years, but have built up a bank of nearly 6 months. It's nice to know it is there, just in case. When I do retire, it will simply expire - it does not get paid out as some people think.
