The Christmas Season...

My weekend in Chicago went too fast. After a few delays, Aunt Linda, Traci and I made it. We really missed having Audra there. Even so, it didn't deterred us from shopping. We've hit the usuals, Ann Taylor (wow, did they love us that day!), Eddie Bauer, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, Victoria Secret and Marshall Fields. We said our sad goodbye to Marshall Fields, as this was their last Christmas. Next year it will be Macy's. Our Annual Cheesecake Factory dinner was yummy. The Rob Thomas look-a-like waiter was awesome. And of course we had a few giggles along the way...

Traci has progressed with her annual knitting. We visited We'll Keep You in Stitch to start our first day out. Traci picked up a ball of Blizzard for half off. I taught her to knit a hat in the round when we returned from shopping around 7p. She finished at 3am...She jsut couldn't put the needles down! Those words are sound familiar to anyone?

Audra had her baby on December 22. I'm proud to say my Aunt Linda found true comfort in knitting for the first time while waiting for her 1st grandchild to be born. Allie was pretty stubborn during her arrival. Aunt Linda's knitting is especially meaninful because she was using the yarn she bought on our Chicago weekend.
It was sad not to see Allie and her parents over Christmas, but we are so thankful that she is happy and healthy! I am extremely honored that she has already been sporting the hat her "Aunt Piper" made her. It was supposed to be a pair of socks made from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for her mom, but I gave up on the short row heel. Sorry Audra...you have a pair of socks coming soon!!



After my weekend in Chicago I had a short 3 days at home before Chris and I drove to Peoria on Thurs. I don't find the 13 hrs car ride that bad...hours of guilt free knitting. Our trip "home" consisted of 5 Christmas', a trip to Chicago and The Quad Cities. It was a whirlwind trip, something I wouldn't miss for the world. I so miss being around family. My nieces loved their mittens and my nephew looks too cute in his hat.

It was an extra special Christmas for me. One of my grandmothers gave me her White Sewing Machine which is built into a wood cabinet, that she purchased the year I was born. The day I got back I took it to get a tune up and can't wait to use it. I've never done much sewing, but am so excited to have such a special machine. Hopefully this will inspire me to take up another hobby (like I need one...)
We drove back to Charlotte on the 29th...had to be home for the Bobcats Game on Friday (lost to the Suns, at least it was a good game!)

We rang in the New Year with Shannon and Brian. We felt honored that Brian would spend his first New Year's Eve off in 7 years with us. We had Shannon's Yummy fondue, steaks, Chris' zucchini cassarole and an assortment of Dean and Deluca's desserts! We almost missed the ball dropping we were having so much fun playing Scattagories and "Gin 13". "Gin 13", a game I've been playing since childhood and can't seem to win!

Now it's time to get back in the groove of things. I have started knitting the Backyard Leaves from Scarf Style. If you enjoy reading graphs, you'll enjoy this one. I am also doing a sample for the store in Louisa Hardings-Impressions (one of my favorites) I chose the English Lace pattern from a sweater in the Loop-d-Loop book.