Goodbye 2018

It's the last post of 2018, and I have to say I'm happy to see the end of this year.  Let's just say 2018 has not been a good year.

I can now show the secret knitting since Christmas is over.  I knitted a replacement Mawson hat for the father type -- the first one I knitted for him is somewhere in the subways and trains of the city, lost forever.  Father type requested another, so that was his Christmas present for this year.

This is the first year I have actually purposefully knitted Christmas presents for everyone.  The Little Burr hat was for DS (although this pic shows it on father type).  It has a double brim and cables, which should make it nice and warm for Buffalo winters.

I knitted DD the Pine Bough cowl, which she really likes.  Stupidly, I didn't get a picture of her wearing it.

So that's it for Christmas knitting.  To continue on with finished objects, I finished the Galloway hat by Jared Flood using Peerie yarn.  Sadly, it came out a little on the short side.  I  will have to tackle it at some point and make it a tad longer.

I also finished my Advent project, which was a kit/advent calendar from Jimmy Beans Wool.  It's the Get Together Wrap by Joji Locatelli in the Sugar Plum Fairy color way.  Sadly, they decided to give me 4 different dye lots of the main grey color, which meant I ended up having to rip back twice (not realizing the dye lot problem).  I have discovered that super wash and garter/lace shawls like this aren't my thing, but I'm glad to have finished the project.

I'm currently knitting the Le Massif Scarf by Dianna Walla, which is part of the Chalet Collection put out by Espace Tricot.  Yes, I'm back to color work, which seems to be my happy place.  I'm using the called for Kelbourne Woolens Scout yarn in the called for colors.

I'm to the middle "lice" section of the scarf -- which is the boring part.  Hopefully I'll manage to plow through.  I do love how the scarf is essentially a very long, fat sleeve with two ribbed cuffs.  Fantastic!

We had a good Christmas, which was too short -- poor DS had to travel back to Buffalo the day after Christmas so he could go back to work.  But it was wonderful having both kids at home for Christmas, even if it was just for a few days. 

We made dumplings on Christmas Eve Eve since DS won't be home for New Years (and neither will DD, I believe).

We made the usual Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve as well.

This year, we had our first artificial tree.  The kids don't like artificial trees, but this year they let me have my way.  I compromised by getting a little tree, just 4 1/2 feet tall.  I love it!  Unlike Carol of Stitching Dreams, who went all out to make sure everything was perfect and decorated for having all her kids home for the holidays, I went easy and went small on the decorating.  lol!

The kids on Christmas morning.

Mia, in her usual spot, being disgruntled, on Christmas morning.  lol!  She doesn't like interruptions to her routine!

Christmas dinner.  We had ham, mac and cheese, biscuits, and a throwback from my childhood, green bean casserole (with cream of mushroom soup and French's onions!).  And apple pie for dessert!

I did manage to get a picture of DS in his Little Burr hat, building one of his Lego kits.

I hope everyone who celebrates had or is having a wonderful holiday.  All the best for a happy, healthy, wonderful New Year.