What I did on my Thanksgiving vacation

1. All that fleece? I finished the actual Christmas projects (and am now well into the self-doubt phase holiday crafting) and made this for us:



It's pretty wild and crazy but should be nice and comfy. DH did the stripe design in the middle. I'm going to put more fleece on the back. Have to measure it yet and figure out if I'm going to piece a back or just get a whole plain piece from the store. I had been thinking about making this from the scraps since the first batch of unmentionables and couldn't wait to get through the second batch so I could figure this little beauty out. Very quick to put together and really satisfying. And, I'm pleased to report that the stretch all runs in the same direction.

2. In other news, we began the big switcheroo. The monkey's room is "empty" (in a good enough for government work sense of the word) and I think it's all painted now. DH has started ripping up the carpet and tack strips and the Pergo is waiting in the hallway. Need to take another progress shot tonight.

We've been calling it "Miami Dolphins Teal". It's quite a statement.

Happy Thanksgiving!

In speaking to my sister last night, it turns out we both have the same Thanksgiving Dinner priorities. We were both having dinner with our respective in-laws today, and we're both making sure to bring the same thing - apple pie, pumpkin pie, and our dad's world famous cranberry orange relish (recipe is on the back of the bag of cranberries).

The apple pie recipe is from Rombauer. The pumpkin pie recipe (we never had pumpkin pie at our house growing up) is from the back of the pumpkin can.

Here's the cranberry one (link to the original):

Cranberry Orange Relish

1 bag fresh cranberries
1 orange (not peeled, but cut into chunks and de-seeded. Valencia is very juicy and has a thin skin)
3/4 - 1 c sugar (I lean towards the 3/4 end)

Blend (in shifts if necessary) in the food processor until it's evenly chopped and put into a bowl. Stir in sugar. Refrigerate until it's time to eat.

It was delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

It's been a while.

1. I'm in Ravelry as 2monkeys. If I seem to have randomly friended you, it's because I read (and enjoy) your blog regularly.

2. I've been working on Christmas presents for certain segments of my family. Here's what I'll show you:



3. I've packed for the hospital. I had a bunch of contractions last weekend and generally felt like crap. I think I'll be at 35 weeks this weekend. Here's a peek inside the bag. Click through to the Flickr page for it to see the notes.



4. I finished the first sleeve for DH's sweater and am almost 1/2way through the second. I'm pretty sure this is going to be a saddle shoulder sweater.



5. Of course, now that it's hard to move around on the floor and breathe when I lean over, I really want to start a queen sized quilt (never mind the 2 quilts I've got going right now.)

Finally Got Out the Ball Winder

I finally did it. I finally wound the yarn for the sleeves of the DH sweater. Now if only I could remember which sweater he picked out. This picture is much more "artsy" than I intended. The sleeves are fun to knit - I'm about halfway through the first one already.



While I was winding, I wound up the two skeins of STR lightweight that I have. After working on the Monkey Sock in Trekking, I am craving some squooshy sock yarn - these are my choices (from the top left) Colinette Jitterbug (maybe velvet olive?), STR Lightweight in Lucy, STR Lightweight in Thistle (frankly, it was surprisingly an Easter Egg version of Mardi Gras colors), and Cherry Tree Hill in Life's a Beach. Not sure which I'm going to pick, but it's going to wait until the second monkey sock is done, which probably won't be until after the DH sweater is done.


Here's the first monkey sock and start of the second. It's ready for the pattern part. I was trudging through all of this stockinette in the sweater and in the toe of the sock and I finally get through it and am in the mood for more stockinette? Actually, I think it's the texture of the wool of the sweater that I'm enjoying.