Who'll Carry the Torch?

Today I decided to put up my tree. Unfortunately, I'm doing it alone. I feel that if I didn't, it wouldn't get done. I've done my best over the last 27 years or so to make Christmas traditions meaningful. I asked my son what he thought of putting up the tree and he said he couldn't care less if it went up or not. What? What happened to the little boy who would critique and tweak the placement of holiday decor? What happened to the kid who used to take care of the Advent calendar every year? "Couldn't care less?" I used to put up a little village of houses every year and haven't done that in forever, in fact, I don't recall the last time I did put them up. Nobody around here really cares. That's odd because everyone in this house has added to that collection at one time or another. I got 90% of those little village houses as gifts. Guess what? Since this is probably our last Christmas in what's been our family home for 15 years, they're going up too.

Last year's tree

I say phooey to all those grinches I live with. The tree is up. The lights and decorations aren't up but the tree is hogging space in the family room. Tonight, I'll light a fire, make some cocoa, put on some holiday music and force the family to gather round the tree to help me decorate. I may need some good threats. How about no helpie-no giftie? And no horseradish encrusted beef tenderloin with port reduction for dinner on the 25th! We could have Manwich instead and start a new Christmas tradition. Ummm. That sounds yummy!

The picture at the top is my idea of a personalized gift bag. This sock is filled with wine and the outside is decorated with store bought wine glass charms (I got the charms at Sur la Table). I forgot to take a picture of a different one I made where the outside of the bag was decorated with knitted grape leaves and bunches of grapes. It's a really fast knit (about 3-4 hours start to finish) made with Lamb's Pride bulky in 3 different shades and completely knit in the round on US 10.5 dpns. The charms are like pierced earrings and I hooked them on after so they aren't knit into the sock. Some of my friends here are attempting to knit in the round-this project would help make you feel successful-especially since there isn't a heel to make and turn. No gussets either. The bottle sits flat because at the bottom, I've knit a purl row which gives the bag a turning edge and then did the decreases like you would with a hat. I didn't dream up the pattern but did adapt from one that was knit flat and seamed. If you'd like the pattern, I'll try to work it up again and send it to you.

Anyone for cocoa?