The New Year isn't officially here yet but I have fulfillled my resolution to learn something new. I started knitting in a cable stitch-----and in the process am using my bee-utiful new stitch markers---bees!!I hope everyone has a Healthy, Wealthy and Happy 2012

I think we are all set for this rainy, cold and dreary Friday nite. A somewhat roaring fire, a bottle of a quite good Merlot, 2 glasses, a new knitting project on the needles---a cardigan for myself, and a pot of chili on the stove. Oh and my honey sitting by me reading directions on how to assemble a model airplane(men always love toys) and a Bassett Hound asleep at my feet. All of this and no place to go but Home!!!

I've been photobombed! And I wasn't even aware it happened---even after I saw the picture. If it wasn't for my sons to keep me up on trends, I would be totally in the dark ages. And it was one of those sons that photobombed me! I am now going to photobomb someone else---perhaps a stranger!

Santa Claus looked especially handsome this year! And who knew that Santa had such a great sense of humor. This little girl seemed to find Santa charming too!

Whew! It was a wonderful Christmas--I wouldn't change a thing. Like everyone else, we get so wrapped up in preparation that it is sometimes hard to wind down. But yesterday I had no trouble finding some couch time with one of my Christmas present books!!

Can you find me in the photo? It was taken at the historic Toledo Club where they had a beautiful dinner and a Parade of Trees. Beautiful trees scattered throughout the elegant surroundings. Interested in a tree----all it takes is a minimum $300 bid and it may be yours--ready to pick up after Christmas! They had some beautiful trees and ideas but I will take my non-designer tree full of special ornaments collected over the years. Our favorite tree was sponsered by the Humane Society. The tree skirt was a "quilt" made from dogfood bags and the ornaments included dog and cat toys, yarn balls and painted dog biscuits. All in a purple and lime green theme!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours as we begin the "most wonderful week of the year". It's a hectic week for sure, but hopefully we all can find some joy in the season. I am recuperating from a very minor procedure but the time off from work has been extended by a few days. Luckily I worked hard to get my Christmas things done and that has left a lot of time for knitting---and making a yarn family, including the dog!!

It's not all Christmas at our house---just almost. This beautiful Amaryllis is blooming and gives a touch of Spring!In the summer I'll put the bulb outside and hopefully won't forget about it(as in years past and other bulbs) and next year it will bloom again!

Snowmen are beginning to gather. One by one and soon there will be a whole family of snow people. I had so much fun making these as gifts in past years that I am making myself a family--including a Magglio dog!! All they need now will be hats, scarves and gloves and then I will post a family portrait!

We may be a little quirky but we started a tradition last year(can the second year we do something be called a tradition?) where we pack up our Christmas cards, drive 40 miles south to a little town called Rudolph Ohio(the deerest little town in Wood County) and mail them. Once there, they are postmarked with a special Rudolph label. It is just a little corner post office---about as big as a closet. But still-----quirky but fun.

This is the reason the conservatory in the other picture is glowing blue---this beautiful tree with a million, trillion lights. Billions and billions of blue lights! Stunning!!!!!!!!

One of our most beloved Christmas traditions is a trip to the Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas and this year it was a reasonably warm nite. This is my favorite part of the visit. The conservatory arboretum which is a beautiful white structure glows blue in the light of the huge blue lit tree!! It glows like a fairy house!

This is how important Ohio State is to some family members. What started as a traditional Blessing on the slate board for Thanksgiving suddenly changed overnite with the huge announcement of our new Football coach. Apparently someone here thinks Urban Meyer is more important than family. If that be the case, then Urban Meyer can do my Christmas shopping for this family member!

nd I was going to post these pictures earlier in the season and just came across them. We were hiking in a State Park in Indiana and came across these chewed trees----beavers!!! While seeing a beaver dam isn't exactly on my bucket list, I have always wanted to see one---and this is the next best thing. We came across one tree and took a picture and then came across another and took a picture and then noticed that almost every tree was either chewed or fallen!!!!!