To All of You

From our house to yours--



Whatever you celebrate, may it be full of love and good cheer!

See you in 2011!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

It's Thanksgiving and my turkey is in the oven and the house is starting to smell all Thanksgiving-ish. So I thought it would be a good time to list a few things that I am truly thankful for.

First is my Hubby. He makes my everyday warm and safe. Thank you baby!



My home. It may not be anything fancy, but it is a castle to me and I look forward to being here at the end of everyday.

Family. Mine and his. Good folks all!

Ann (see picture above). She's a special puppy and the one who makes me cry when I am in China.

Friends. Special people in my life, and if you're reading this then you are one of them. Thank you all.

Authors. With a good book I can go anywhere and be anything! Right now I am in England, mid 14th century, with Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt. Katherine by Anya Seton

Yarn Companies. For the hours and hours of enjoyment they give me!

My Country and Those who protect Her. Can't say enough about how much I Love living here.

I feel very fortunate to be able to say that there is really not anything that I need. My life is small and wonderful and I am happy to be where I am.

It's good to be back home this past week and jet lag is almost over I feel sure. It's been really tough this time around and not only sleeping but eating as well. I am truly sorry that there is lack of communication here while I am in China, but blogspot is blocked over there and I can't even get to my own blog! Maybe soon I will just create my own domain and blog away.

Hope that you all enjoy your day wherever you are and however you spend it!

Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming

We just walked in the door of our home in the US! It's been a long 29 hours!! I was so glad to see my baby, Ann. She is our Sooner rescue dog and we LOVE her and she LOVES us. Right now she is guarding the door to make sure we don't sneak out again.

Blogger was blocked for the entire time we were in China this go round, so I am sorry if you've been here and I haven't. Just think of all the blogs on blogger that I get to catch up on reading as well!!! You all know who you are! ;^)

It's 12:20 AM Thursday morning and I'm so tired that I don't know if I will be able to sleep, but I am going to give it a helluva try.

Good to be back home and will catch up with you all again in a day or maybe two.

I've missed you all!

Wishing for Winter

This has been the view from my deck for the last several days.





That is our pond and it has been frozen, until today. We had a very warm day today. Not Winterish at all!


Now I realize there are a lot of folks out there that don't particularly like Winter, but I'm not one of them. I LOVE Winter, and I Love the shorter days. I know this puts me in a very small minority, but I just can't help that. It's not because of Skiing or any type of icy sports, and I don't care to have to be in the cold any more than necessary. But I do enjoy coming in out of the cold and feeling cozy and warm in my home. Fixing a hot meal for Hubby and I, curling up on the sofa for knitting and a little tv (or my new favorite, BBC radio), or reading a good book by lamplight while the dryer is working. Ahhhh, gotta love that white noise.

For me Winter is a time of rest, when I don't feel like there's a million things left undone at the end of the day.

Soon I will be leaving Winter and going back to Chang'an where I will be back in warm, slightly tropical temperatures. There may be a few cool days but my cold weather will be gone and when I return here again Spring will have sprung.

I would really enjoy it if I could see one snow, however small or large before I have to leave. So, just for me guys and gals, please think SNOW!!!

On Thursday, I started my February Lady Sweater and it is proving to be a fun knit. It's moving along rather quickly and hopefully will be done in time to wear when I leave.

This is the view from my 19th floor balcony in Chang'an.

Man Versus Yarn

Hubby has been complaining that my stash is taking over his life. The closet door in the small bedroom won't close and it offends him to see all that yarn! IMAGINE THAT!!!!!

I ask you, is this too much of a mess for a room that is supposed to be my storage room for yarn? As you pass the room this is what you see from the hallway.



This is what you see as you enter the room to the left,





straight ahead, but these doors close and you don't see this,





and to the right.





Turn around and this is the offending closet.





Okay, maybe I admit that the mess in front of the closet could be organized. I will also not mention the trunk of my car that is still full of stuff from the shop that has to be put into this room somewhere.

Still, I ask you, Is this too out of control?

My first finished object of 2009? Clapotis! Yeah, I'm awfully late to this party, but I have to say it was amazingly fun and I will have the pictures as soon as it is blocked.

I'll leave you with a picture from China. A tea room and enjoying a tea ceremony and tasting.



I'll keep you all informed on the battle of the sexes as it unfolds.

A Beautiful Day

What a gorgeous fall!

I had a great weekend at the shop! Visits from many friends who came to enhance stashes and sit and knit and chat with me for a while. I LOVE to visit with my knit buddies!

Today I am cleaning house and getting ready for sweeties return on Thursday. Now cleaning is not the my favorite thing to do but I feel that he deserves at least a place to be able to set his luggage down when he walks through the door! Six weeks worth of stuff have accumulated and the laundry basket overfloweth.

This is what has caught my interest today, though.




Those guys were so adorable! Can you guess who my favorite Beatle is? Come on Guess!

Also found this.



I can't help it, I just Love Ozzy!

On the knitting, I am enjoying small objects right now. Instant gratification is what I need and have completed some Christmas presents that were quick but beautiful. I will post pictures soon.

Have a great day everybody!