***Holiday Planning, 2014***

[FelineFriend]

I have 6 ribbed hats to crochet by Christmas Day. I'll get marching in place and walking done, in between crochet moments, so I'm not getting too stiff by sitting.

[Nancy]

Hanukkah basket was a success yea! Got it delivered today.
One more Christmas basket to go, will wait a week on it after dsgson returns to his dad's.

[FelineFriend]

I made DGD a hat for her b-day next month, then decided to make her Mommy a matching hat, in different type of yarn, to match DGD's hat, and since I already made myself a 2-strand heather grey hat, DD said today on the phone, how she loves greys, black and white. I asked DD if she'd like to receive my recently made grey heather hat, she said she'd LOVE ♥ to! This will be 1 less hat to make! I've made DGS-14 a light brown hat, it turned out way tall, but it's a pattern I've never used before. I turned up the cuff 2 x, to make a nice, thick cuff, that's extra warm.

The instructions for the hat said to chain 56, for a teen-adult hat. I did, and it's meant for an EASTER ISLAND HEAD SCULPTURE instead! I'm on a red hat now, for DGS-11, and followed the pattern tips for age 10 - 14 heads, which, when I held it up to my head, with a cuff, after only 1 row, it fits MUCH-MUCH better! I'll follow the chain-48 pattern, go 33 rows, for a nice sized hat, for him, for his DGS-16 brother and DGS-17.5 brother, too.

When I'm finished with all these hats (I have 4 to go), the last person to make a hat for will be DSON-40.5. He rarely wears hats, but if it's icy/snowy and they all go sledding together, they can all wear their hats.

DGS-3.5 and DGS-5.5 are not getting hats for Christmas, from us, because I've crocheted them very *NICE* afghans and adorable bath tub puppets, too. Their hats will be for their b-days, in Feb. and April. Then, once they all get theirs, the entire family will be hat-friendly and have warm heads.

[blessedw2]

wrapped all the presents that I have. dd younger still needs a present but she needs to go with me
all the people that help us through the year have been given their gifts.
dropped off presents to some beautiful children

[Nancy]

One more Christmas card and gift ready to go.

[FelineFriend]

Am crocheting DGS-16 a forest green cap. It's a ribbed vertical pattern. I needed to re-work the pattern. NOW it is:

Using an "H" hook, chain 44, DC in 3rd chain from the hook and across the entire chain, ch-2, turn....
Then, you skip 1st stitch, DC in back look, from 2nd DC to end, chain-2, turn....
Continue until you feel you have a fitting hat... MINE are 34 rows, to fit an adult head nicely, not too snug or tight causing hat head, so with the fold-up-twice-cuff, it's a good, nice, warm style for men and women and teen boys alike. If I HAD a teenage DGD now, it'd look good on her, too....

But I made DGS-23-months 1, and did a chain loop pom-pom. It was in Giggles Bernat yarn and it's off-white and so SOFT. It matches her vest. Oh, what a sweet little outfit it'll be!

Left to do:
green-grey hat for DGS-17.5,
off-white hat for DDIL, to match her DD's hat, in the same color, with a matching loopy fringe pom-pom,
a dark teal blue hat for Dson, will be the last 1, if I have the time.

I have 11 days, counting today, to do 4 hats, if I finish on/by Christmas Eve. I have other things to do, upcoming, too, like an appt., get a license renewed, visit 2 nursing home shut-ins, and deliver gifts/visit 2 places, wrap/label everything, but things are coming together nicely, and DH helps around the house. This man states: "I LIVE HERE, TOO! I'M RETIRED! THERE IS NO REASON WHY I CANNOT HELP YOU, SO I'M HELPING!" Isn't that a "Sweetie"? ♥ So, since I lean on him to help, I can get time to crochet, and do other things needed, during the holidays, to keep from being "overwhelmed" or stressed.

[FelineFriend]

Got a Christmas card done for my editor, accountant and magazines staff, wrote how they're doing a fantastic job on each story and every issue, it's appreciated, etc....

Planned on my Home Journal 1-week-at-a-time, things for this week, which include many holiday gift preps, deliveries, etc..

[Nancy]

One more card & letter ready to mail yea!
Way to go everyone one your progress!

I only have one letter left to write.

[FelineFriend]

I received 2 unexpected cards today, so have 2 cards ready to reciprocate with, going out tomorrow.

DH delivered gifts to the neighbors, I didn't go, as I didn't feel well (G. I. "issues") and they're both very ill with coughing and bad colds, a. k. a. "The Crud," in these parts. They're glad I didn't come. I am, too. Didn't want to get ill. DH will try to deliver another friend gifts tomorrow, too, on his way to run errands, get prescriptions, and groceries.

I'm crocheting hat #5 now; have 2 to go after this one.

[FelineFriend]

Hat #6 is done; 1 to go and will wrap-wrap-wrap. Getting small gifts together, this evening, (I hope), for envelopes with Christmas paper notes inside, to individual family members. ♥